Sioux Falls Truck Accident Attorneys

A Law Firm Committed to Fighting for the Compensation You Deserve

If you or a loved one has been in a serious accident involving a semi-truck, you don’t want to hear statistics about how serious truck accidents can be, the lives they shatter, and the financial toll they take. Instead, you want to hear how you are going to be able to move forward in your life – financially, physically, and emotionally.

At King Law Firm, we understand the pain, turmoil, and frustration you are going through – and we know how to help. For over 35 years, we have been fighting for the rights of motor vehicle accident injury victims throughout Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and northern Iowa. Our focus is on winning, and we won’t settle your case for less than what you’re due.

Schedule an appointment with our truck accident lawyers in Sioux Falls by calling us at (605) 250-3209 or filling out our online contact form today.

Understanding Your Rights After a Truck Accident

Being involved in a truck accident can be a traumatic experience, and it's essential to understand your rights and the legal options available to you. The aftermath of such incidents often involves complex insurance claims and potential legal battles with trucking companies. At King Law Firm, we believe that you should be informed about your rights and how to protect them.

Here are some key rights every victim of a truck accident should be aware of:

• Right to Compensation: If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you have the right to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
• Right to Legal Representation: You have the right to hire an attorney who specializes in truck accidents to help you navigate the legal complexities and advocate for your interests.
• Right to Access Evidence: You are entitled to request and receive evidence related to your accident, such as police reports, truck maintenance records, and driver logs.
• Right to Fair Treatment: You should not be pressured or intimidated by insurance companies; our skilled attorneys ensure that you are treated fairly throughout the claims process.

At King Law Firm, we empower our clients by providing them with the knowledge and support they need to make informed decisions. If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident, don't hesitate to reach out to us for a free consultation.

Common Causes of Trucking Accidents in Sioux Falls

Trucking accidents often result in severe injuries and devastating losses. Many of these crashes are caused by preventable factors. Understanding the common causes can help determine liability and strengthen your compensation claim.

Driver Fatigue

Truck drivers spend long hours on the road, often pushing their limits to meet tight deadlines. Federal regulations require rest breaks and limit driving hours, but some drivers or trucking companies ignore these rules to increase profits. Fatigued drivers have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and an increased risk of causing catastrophic accidents. If a trucking company is found to have committed driving hour log violations, it may be held liable for any accidents that occur as a result of driver fatigue and may face significant fines and penalties.

Equipment Failure

Commercial trucks undergo significant wear and tear, making routine maintenance critical for safety. When brakes, tires, steering systems, or other vital components fail, accidents can occur. Some trucking companies cut corners on maintenance, while defective parts from manufacturers can also contribute to equipment-related crashes. Defective trucking equipment can be a major factor in many truck accidents. Determining liability may require an investigation into maintenance records and product defects.

Reckless Driving

Speeding, tailgating, aggressive lane changes, and distracted driving are dangerous in any vehicle, but they become even more hazardous when an 80,000-pound truck is involved. Reckless truck drivers put everyone on the road at risk, and when an accident occurs due to negligence, they and their employers may be held accountable. Reckless driving is often a symptom of a larger problem, such as inadequate training or supervision, which can be a sign of trucking company negligence.

Overloaded or Unsecured Loads

Trucks must adhere to strict weight limits, and their cargo must be secured properly to prevent shifting or falling debris. Overloaded trucks take longer to stop and are more prone to rollovers, while improperly secured loads can spill onto the road, causing serious multivehicle accidents. Trucking companies that fail to follow loading regulations can be held responsible for the resulting damage.

Compensation in Truck Accident Claims

If you’ve been injured in a truck crash, understanding your rights to compensation is critical. In South Dakota, victims of truck accidents—whether involving semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, or other commercial vehicles—may be entitled to recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. Because trucking companies and their insurers often act quickly to limit payouts, it’s important to have an experienced advocate on your side.

An 18-wheeler accident lawyer in Sioux Falls can investigate the crash, gather evidence, and negotiate aggressively with insurers to seek the full compensation you deserve. Our firm is committed to protecting your rights, building a strong case, and helping you pursue fair compensation after a devastating truck accident.

What Is Important in a Truck Accident Investigation?

Accidents with semis, tractor-trailers, and other large trucks can have multiple causes, including driver error or fatigue, faulty truck components, negligence by the trucking company, improperly loaded cargo, and many others. 

To determine what happened to cause your accident, we will investigate the accident and the driver, as well as:

• The road conditions at the time
• The driver’s accident history
• Eyewitness accounts
• Police reports
• Accident scene photos
• Truck inspection data and maintenance logs
• The driver’s logbook
• Black box data

This type of evidence allows us to craft a case for the considerable compensation you and your family will need to cover your medical expenses, lost income and benefits, and pain and suffering.

Car Accidents vs. Trucking Accidents

While both truck accidents and car accidents can lead to severe injuries, trucking accidents present unique challenges due to the size and weight of commercial trucks. A fully loaded semi truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds – 20 times the weight of an average passenger car. This size disparity means truck accidents are far more likely to result in catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, and fatalities.

Legal claims involving trucking accidents are also significantly more complex than standard accident cases. 

Unlike car accidents, which typically involve only the drivers, truck accident liability can extend to multiple parties, including:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company
• The truck manufacturer or parts supplier
• Third-party maintenance providers
• Cargo loading companies

Additionally, trucking companies and their insurers aggressively defend against claims to minimize their financial liability. They have teams of attorneys and accident investigators working against you from the moment the crash happens. This makes it essential to work with an experienced injury attorney who understands federal trucking regulations, industry standards, and the tactics used by insurance companies to reduce or deny compensation.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, don’t face the legal battle alone. The experienced team at King Law Firm, is ready to fight for you and secure the compensation you deserve.

We Offer Serious Legal Help in South Dakota

When you have a lot at stake – your health, your financial well-being, your family’s stability – you need an attorney who works as hard as you do, takes your situation as seriously as you do, and knows how to work within the legal system to get you the compensation and peace of mind you deserve.

This is especially true in truck accident cases. At King Law Firm, we can:

• Help you stand up against the big guys: After a truck accident, the truck driver has a team of experts already lined up in his corner – insurers, investigators, lawyers, and union reps, to name a few. We have the experience you need to deal with this team of experts and understand what needs to be done to get results.
• Fully investigate the cause of the accident: Many truck accidents are caused by truck driver error. At King Law Firm, we will thoroughly investigate your case to determine if your injuries were caused by truck driver fatigue, improper truck maintenance, equipment failure, or some other type of negligence.
• Help you recover just compensation: After a truck accident, many victims are offered quick settlement offers by the trucker’s representatives. Accepting a quick cash settlement, however, is often not the best course of action. Our Sioux Falls truck accident attorneys will carefully review every aspect of your case to help you get fully compensated for your injuries.

We Will Fight for You

Tractor-trailer, 18-wheeler, and truck vs. car accidents can be extremely serious, and you deserve serious legal representation to protect your rights, recover the compensation you deserve, and help you put the pieces of your life back together. At King Law Firm, our clients are more to us than just another case – we truly care about their well-being and their future. And “We Fight For You” is more than just our motto – it’s the truth.

To schedule a free consultation about your truck accident case, contact us online or call (605) 250-3209 today.