Getting rear-ended at a red light is frightening enough on its own. When the thing behind you is a fully loaded semi, a routine stop can become a life-altering event in a split second. That is what happened to our client. He was sitting at a Greenville County intersection when a commercial truck slammed into the back of his car. David R. Price, Jr., P.A. secured a $1.15 million truck accident settlement in South Carolina on his behalf, resolving the claim for the full liability limits of the trucking company’s insurance policy.
What Happened
Our client was stopped at a red light when a semi-truck rear-ended him with enough force to push his car more than 20 yards down the road. That distance told a story. It showed essentially no braking before impact, meaning the truck hit a stopped vehicle at highway speed.
The person behind the wheel was 17 years old and did not hold a commercial driver’s license. Federal law does not allow that. Under 49 CFR § 391.11, a person must be at least 21 years old to drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce. This driver was underage and unqualified, and the motor carrier that put him on the road had already received numerous federal motor carrier citations.
The Challenges We Faced
The hardest part of this case was time. Our client’s injuries required an extended course of treatment, and serious injuries do not resolve on a schedule that happens to be convenient for a claim. Settle too early, and an injured person can be left without the money they need once the full picture of their recovery comes into focus.
In addition to numerous orthopedic injuries, our client also suffered a traumatic brain injury. Brain injuries are among the most difficult harms to put a dollar figure on, because their effects can be lasting and hard to measure. Insurance companies know this, and they often try to downplay what they cannot easily see on a scan.
If a truck crash has upended your life, do not try to navigate the aftermath alone. Contact the attorneys at David R. Price, Jr., P.A., to talk through what happened and what your options are.
How We Built the Case
We investigated early and went straight for the data. Our team pulled the truck’s electronic control module reports for the two months surrounding the crash, and what we found regarding the manner in which the truck was being driven built a strong case for punitive damages, in addition to the driver-qualification issues.
The numbers were alarming. The truck hit a top speed of 94.5 mph one month and 89 mph the next. It was being driven faster than the posted maximum speed limit of 70 mph on South Carolina’s interstate highway system, roughly 35% of the time. The data also showed frequent hard-braking events, a signature of aggressive, inattentive driving.
Those records mattered. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations set strict standards for commercial trucking, from the minimum driver qualifications in 49 CFR § 391.11 to the hours-of-service limits in 49 CFR Part 395 that cap driving at 11 hours within a 14-hour window. When a company ignores those rules and puts an unqualified, speeding driver on the highway, that FMCSA violation becomes central to the case.
The Injuries and Damages
Our client’s injuries were severe. He suffered multiple right-sided rib fractures, a shattered right shoulder that required surgery, and a traumatic brain injury. His medical bills totaled nearly $140,000, with an additional $150,000 in economic damages, including lost wages.
Those categories of damages matter in every South Carolina injury case. Economic damages cover measurable losses, such as medical bills, lost income, and property damage. Non-economic damages encompass pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Where conduct is especially reckless, punitive damages may also be on the table, which is exactly why the truck’s speed data mattered so much here.
The Result
We resolved the case for $1.15 million, the full liability limits of the trucking company’s policy as well as the limits of our client’s UIM policies. The wreck happened in May 2023, and the claim was resolved in September 2024.
“This recovery did more than close a file,” said David R. Price, Jr. “It helped validate our client’s injuries and the magnitude of what happened to him. When a truck hits you that hard, the harm is real, even when part of it cannot be seen on a scan.”
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different.
Talk to Our Greenville Truck Accident Lawyers
If you or someone you love was hurt by a commercial truck, the trucking company and its insurer are already building their defense. You deserve a legal team that moves just as fast to protect the evidence and your rights. Our Greenville truck accident lawyers handle these cases from the early investigation through resolution, and there is no cost to talk with us.
Contact the attorneys David R. Price, Jr., P.A. for a free consultation. Call 864-674-1482 today.
We serve clients in Greenville, SC, and throughout the Upstate, including, but not limited to, Spartanburg, Anderson, Laurens, Pickens, and Oconee Counties.