Lexington Truck Accident Lawyer
Legally Reviewed by Stephen Vicari: July 01, 2026
Tractor-trailer accidents on South Carolina highways can be devastating, especially when they happen close to home. In Lexington, where I-20, U.S. Route 1, and Highway 378 converge, heavy commercial truck traffic is part of daily life. When a tractor-trailer collides with a passenger vehicle, the consequences are often catastrophic. Victims may face severe injuries, overwhelming medical bills, and long-term financial hardship.
Attorney Stephen Vicari is a licensed member of the South Carolina Bar with more than 10 years of experience representing truck accident victims in Lexington County. When you work with Stewart Law Offices, you receive personal case handling, direct communication with your attorney, and ongoing support from your first meeting forward.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Lexington, SC, the experienced attorneys at Stewart Law Offices are here to help. We fight for full and fair compensation and provide compassionate legal support every step of the way.
How Our Lexington Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorneys Can Help
After a collision with an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer, one of the most important things to know is this: the trucking company’s insurance adjusters are not on your side. Their priority is protecting profits, not your recovery. They may:
- Shift blame onto you or other drivers.
- Pressure you into giving a damaging recorded statement.
- Offer a quick but unfair settlement.
- Delay your claim in hopes you’ll give up.
Without skilled representation, it’s easy to be taken advantage of. At Stewart Law Offices, we have more than 30 years of experience taking on trucking companies and their insurers. We know their tactics — and how to beat them.
Some of our past tractor-trailer accident results include:
- $3.5 million in a tractor-trailer accident case
- $3.0 million in a semi-truck wreck
- $1.1 million in a truck accident claim
(Results vary by case. Past outcomes do not guarantee future results.)
Our Lexington tractor-trailer accident lawyers can:
- Investigate the crash and collect critical evidence.
- Identify all liable parties — driver, carrier, cargo loaders, or manufacturers.
- Calculate the full scope of your losses, including future care.
- Negotiate aggressively for the settlement you deserve.
- Take your case to trial if necessary.
- Send immediate spoliation letters to prevent the trucking company from destroying or overwriting critical evidence such as black box data, ELD records, and dashcam footage.
- Work with accident reconstruction experts and medical professionals to build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
Why Truck Accident Claims Are More Complicated Than Car Accident Cases
Many truck accident victims assume their case will work the same way as a car accident claim, but the legal and practical reality is significantly more complex. Here is why:
- Multiple liable parties: In a standard car crash, liability usually comes down to one or two drivers. In a commercial truck collision, the truck driver, the trucking company, the cargo loading company, the vehicle maintenance contractor, and even the parts manufacturer can all share responsibility. Missing any liable party means leaving potential compensation on the table.
- Federal regulations: Commercial trucks and their drivers must comply with detailed rules issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These cover hours of service, electronic logging devices, driver qualification, drug testing, cargo securement, and vehicle maintenance. A violation of any FMCSA rule is powerful evidence of negligence, but only if your attorney knows how to find and use it.
- Higher-value insurance policies: Commercial trucking carriers typically hold policies ranging from $750,000 to $5 million or more per accident. These insurers deploy experienced adjusters and defense attorneys immediately after a crash. Matching that capacity on your side requires an equally skilled and resourced legal team.
Catastrophic injury severity: The size and weight disparity between a loaded semi and a passenger car mean that even moderate-speed impacts can cause life-altering injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, and permanent disability, which generate enormous long-term costs far beyond the immediate medical bills.
Common Causes of Tractor-Trailer Accidents in Lexington
Because of their massive size and weight, tractor-trailers present unique risks on the road. Some of the most common causes of these wrecks include:
- Driver Fatigue: Federal hours-of-service violations leading to exhausted drivers
- Distracted Driving: Cell phone use, GPS navigation, and other distractions
- Speeding: Excessive speed for the weather or traffic conditions
- Improper Loading: Overloaded or improperly secured cargo causing instability
- Mechanical Failures: Brake failures, tire blowouts, and steering malfunctions
- Weather Conditions: Rain, fog, and ice on Lexington’s highways
- Inadequate Training: Insufficient driver education and safety protocols
- Aggressive Driving: Following too closely, improper lane changes, and road rage
Trucking companies are required to follow both federal trucking regulations (FMCSA) and South Carolina traffic laws. When they cut corners to save time or money, innocent drivers pay the price.
Dangerous Truck Accident Locations in Lexington
Based on our experience representing tractor-trailer accident victims throughout Lexington County, we’ve identified several high-risk areas where serious commercial vehicle accidents frequently occur:
High-Risk Interstate Corridors
- Interstate 20 West: Heavy truck traffic heading to and from Georgia creates dangerous conditions, especially during rush hour
- Interstate 26 North/South: Major freight corridor connecting Charleston to the upstate, with numerous truck stops and weigh stations
- I-20/I-26 Interchange: Complex interchange near Columbia where multiple highways converge, creating confusion and congestion
- US Highway 1 (Two Notch Road): Major commercial corridor with numerous truck-related businesses and heavy industrial traffic
- US Highway 378: Connects Lexington to Columbia and sees significant commercial vehicle traffic
Urban and Commercial Areas
Many truck accidents in Lexington occur in commercial and urban areas where large vehicles navigate narrow streets, busy intersections, and congested shopping centers. These areas present unique challenges for truck drivers unfamiliar with local traffic patterns.
SC-6 (Platt Springs Road) and Edmund Highway: These secondary roads connecting Lexington to West Columbia and the Cayce area carry an underappreciated volume of commercial delivery and industrial vehicle traffic, creating collision risks at major intersections near schools, neighborhoods, and retail zones.
Types of Tractor-Trailer Accidents Our Lexington Attorneys Handle
Not every commercial truck crash is the same. The type of collision determines the legal theory of liability, the evidence needed, and which federal regulations are most relevant. Our Lexington truck accident lawyers handle all of the following types of cases:
- Jackknife Accidents: Caused when a driver brakes suddenly or loses traction, causing the trailer to swing outward at a dangerous angle, blocking multiple lanes and creating a multi-vehicle chain reaction.
- Rollover Accidents: Often caused by improperly distributed cargo, excessive speed on curves, or sudden steering corrections. Our attorneys work with engineering and cargo experts to establish whether loading violations or maintenance failures were responsible.
- Underride Accidents: One of the most deadly truck accident types, where a smaller vehicle slides beneath the rear or side of a trailer. Federal standards require rear underride guards, but many are poorly maintained or defective.
- Rear-End Collisions: A fully loaded truck traveling at highway speed cannot stop as quickly as a passenger car. When a truck driver follows too closely or fails to react in time, the results are catastrophic for the vehicle ahead.
- Override Accidents: When a truck collides with and rides over a smaller vehicle, the consequences typically include crush injuries, amputations, paralysis, and fatal outcomes.
- Backing-Up Accidents: Trucks reversing in loading docks, parking lots, and distribution centers near Lexington’s commercial zones can strike pedestrians and vehicles, and such collisions are entirely preventable with proper safety protocols.
- Tire Blowout Accidents: Debris from a blown truck tire at highway speed can cause devastating collisions. Blowouts resulting from improper maintenance or overloading can create liability for the trucking company or maintenance contractor.
- Wide-Turn Accidents: Semi-trucks require a wide arc to complete right turns. Drivers who swing left without adequate warning can crush vehicles in adjacent lanes, a recurring risk at busy commercial intersections on US-1 and at the SC-6 and I-20 intersection.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident?
Truck accidents are complex because multiple parties may share responsibility. Potentially liable parties include:
- The truck driver, if they were negligent or reckless.
- The trucking company, for unsafe schedules, poor hiring, or inadequate training.
- Cargo loaders, if improperly loaded freight, contributed to the accident.
- Maintenance providers, for failing to properly service the vehicle.
- Truck manufacturers, if a defect caused the crash.
- A government entity, if a dangerous road condition, missing signage, or inadequately maintained road surface contributed to the crash on a state or county-maintained roadway in Lexington County.
A skilled Lexington tractor-trailer accident lawyer will investigate thoroughly, reviewing driver logs, maintenance records, black box data, and accident reports from the South Carolina Highway Patrol to determine liability.
South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence rule under SC Code § 15-38-15 allows you to recover compensation as long as you are found less than 51% at fault. Trucking company insurers routinely attempt to exaggerate a victim’s share of fault to minimize their payout. Our attorneys are experienced in countering these tactics.
Types of Injuries in Lexington Truck Accidents
Truck accident victims often suffer severe or permanent injuries. Common examples include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Multiple fractures
- Severe burns from fires or explosions
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Amputations
- Wrongful death
- Crush injuries caused by override collisions
- Facial injuries, concussions, and chest injuries caused by underride collisions
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other long-term psychological injuries
These injuries often require emergency treatment at facilities like Lexington Medical Center and may involve long-term rehabilitation, surgeries, or permanent disability.
The Challenges of Pursuing a Truck Accident Claim in Lexington
Truck accident victims face an uneven playing field from the moment of the crash. Trucking companies retain their own legal teams and accident investigators who may arrive at the scene before you have even left the hospital. Their goal is to begin building a defense and limiting the company’s exposure as quickly as possible.
Common challenges truck accident victims face include:
- Trucking company investigators arriving at the scene and gathering evidence before the victim’s attorney is involved
- Black box and ELD data are being overwritten if a preservation demand is not sent immediately
- Insurance adjusters are contacting victims directly, sometimes within hours, attempting to get recorded statements before they have legal counsel
- Pressure to accept a quick, lowball settlement before the full extent of injuries is known
- Complex insurance structures involving multiple carriers for the truck, trailer, cargo, and driver
- Federal and state regulatory violations that require specialized legal knowledge to identify and use effectively
At Stewart Law Offices, we begin working to counter all of these challenges from the first day you contact us. We handle all communications with the trucking company and their insurers, so you never have to face those conversations alone.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Truck Accident?
If you were injured in a tractor-trailer accident, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses (emergency care, hospital stays, rehabilitation, medications).
- Lost wages if you cannot work during recovery.
- Loss of earning capacity if you cannot return to your job.
- Pain and suffering for physical and emotional harm.
- Property damage to your vehicle.
- Wrongful death damages for families who lost a loved one.
Insurance companies often undervalue these claims. Having a lawyer ensures your settlement reflects the true impact of your injuries. Our experienced attorneys work with medical specialists and financial professionals to calculate the complete current and future value of your losses, including projected lifetime care costs for permanently disabled victims, before any settlement discussions begin.
In cases where the trucking company’s conduct was especially reckless, such as knowingly permitting an unqualified or over-hours driver to operate the vehicle, punitive damages may also be available. Under South Carolina law, punitive damages are capped at three times the compensatory damages award or $500,000, whichever is greater, under SC Code § 15-32-530.
Federal Trucking Regulations and Your Case
The commercial trucking industry is heavily regulated by federal agencies, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT). Violations of these regulations can be crucial to establishing liability in your truck accident case.
Key Federal Regulations That Impact Truck Accident Cases
- Hours of Service Rules: Strict limits on how long drivers can operate without rest
- Vehicle Inspection Requirements: Mandatory pre-trip and post-trip safety inspections
- Driver Qualification Standards: Training, licensing, and medical certification requirements
- Drug and Alcohol Testing: Pre-employment, random, and post-accident testing protocols
- Cargo Securement Rules: Proper loading and securing of freight to prevent shifting
- Vehicle Maintenance Standards: Regular maintenance and record-keeping requirements
Our experienced Lexington truck accident attorney will investigate whether any of these rules were broken and hold the responsible parties accountable.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Lexington
The actions you take immediately following a truck accident can significantly impact your ability to recover fair compensation. Here’s what you should do:
Immediate Steps at the Scene
- Ensure your safety and call 911 immediately
- Seek medical attention, even if you feel fine
- Document the scene with photos and videos
- Collect contact information from witnesses
- Get the truck driver’s license and insurance information
- Note the trucking company name and truck number
Important Actions After Leaving the Scene
- Follow up with medical care as recommended
- Keep detailed records of all expenses
- Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance companies
- Don’t sign any documents without legal review
- Contact an experienced truck accident attorney
- Preserve all evidence related to the accident
- Do not post anything about your accident, injuries, or activities on social media; insurance adjusters actively monitor claimants’ profiles
- Do not repair or dispose of your vehicle until your attorney has fully documented the damage, as it constitutes important physical evidence
Don’t Wait – Act Quickly
South Carolina has a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, but evidence can disappear quickly in truck accident cases. The sooner you contact our legal team, the better we can protect your rights and preserve crucial evidence for your case.
Wrongful Death Claims After a Fatal Lexington Truck Accident
When a tractor-trailer accident takes a life, surviving family members have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim under South Carolina law. Under S.C. Code § 15-51-20, eligible claimants include the deceased’s spouse, children, or parents.
Recoverable damages in a wrongful death case can include:
- Medical expenses the deceased incurred before death
- Funeral and burial costs
- The deceased’s projected lifetime earnings
- Loss of companionship, care, and consortium for surviving family members
- Punitive damages if the trucking company’s conduct was especially reckless or willful
A companion survival action may also be filed by the estate to recover damages the victim would have been entitled to personally had they survived. Both actions are subject to the three-year statute of limitations beginning on the date of death. If your family is grieving the loss of a loved one killed in a truck crash on I-20, US-378, or any other road in Lexington County, please contact us today to discuss your rights.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Lexington Truck Accident Lawyer?
At Stewart Law Offices, we handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no attorney’s fees unless and until we win compensation for you. Our fees come from the recovery we obtain, not from your pocket. There are no upfront costs and no hidden charges. You can speak with an attorney for free and begin your case without any financial risk.
Visit Our Truck Accident Lawyers in Lexington, SC
Contact a Lexington Truck Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Lexington County, don’t wait to get the legal help you need. The Lexington personal injury lawyers at Stewart Law Offices are here to fight for your rights and help you pursue maximum compensation.
The insurance companies are already working to minimize their liability; you need experienced advocates fighting for your rights.
Our experienced Lexington truck accident lawyers are available 24/7 to discuss your case. We offer free, confidential consultations, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.
FAQs About Lexington Truck Accident Claims
Truck accident claims are often more complex because they may involve multiple liable parties, the truck driver, the trucking company, cargo loaders, or even manufacturers. Commercial trucking companies also carry higher insurance policies, meaning insurers will fight harder to minimize payouts. Federal and state trucking regulations add another layer of complexity. An experienced Lexington truck accident attorney can sort through these issues, identify all at-fault parties, and build a strong case for maximum compensation.
Key evidence in a Lexington truck accident case often includes the truck’s black box data, driver logbooks, maintenance and inspection records, dashcam footage, witness statements, and police crash reports. Photos and videos from the accident scene are also crucial. Because trucking companies often control much of this evidence, it’s important to act quickly. A lawyer can send preservation letters to prevent evidence from being destroyed or altered while building your claim.
Yes, under South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence rule, you may still recover compensation if you were less than 51% at fault for the accident. However, your total recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were found 20% responsible and awarded $100,000, you would receive $80,000. Insurance companies often exaggerate a victim’s share of fault, which is why having a skilled Lexington truck accident lawyer is so important.
Most truck accident attorneys, including Stewart Law Offices, work on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t pay upfront legal fees. Instead, your lawyer only gets paid if they secure compensation for you through a settlement or court award. The fee is typically a percentage of your recovery. This arrangement allows injured victims to access quality legal representation without worrying about additional financial strain during an already difficult time.
Yes. South Carolina courts have jurisdiction over injuries that occur within the state, regardless of where the trucking company is based. If the driver was operating under a different state’s authority, federal FMCSA regulations still apply. Your case may involve both South Carolina state law and federal trucking regulations, and in some circumstances may be heard in federal court rather than state court. Our attorneys are experienced in handling cases involving out-of-state carriers and multi-jurisdiction freight operations.
South Carolina law and federal FMCSA regulations recognize that trucking companies can be vicariously liable for independent contractors when the company controlled the manner of the work, required the driver to operate under the company’s USDOT number, or failed to properly vet the contractor’s qualifications and safety record. Courts look at the actual working relationship rather than the label in the contract. Carriers sometimes misclassify drivers specifically to avoid liability, but our attorneys are skilled at piercing that classification in litigation.
The timeline depends on injury severity, the number of liable parties, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Cases with clearly documented liability, moderate injuries, and a single defendant may settle in three to nine months. Complex cases involving catastrophic injuries, multiple defendants, disputed liability, or a trucking company that refuses to negotiate fairly can take 12 to 24 months or longer if litigation is required. Our attorneys never rush your settlement; we calculate future costs fully before any agreement is reached, which protects you from accepting less than your case is truly worth.