What To Do After a Truck Accident on I-85 or I-385 in Greenville

Knowing what to do after a truck accident is not simple. When you are on a fast-moving, jam-packed interstate, like I-85 or I-385 in Greenville, you are faced with risks just getting out of your vehicle. When a truck accident happens in South Carolina – and statistics show they happen often – protecting your rights starts with knowing what to do next. At HawkLaw, a Greenville truck accident lawyer is always a phone call away and ready to provide you with the critical information you need.

What Makes I-85 and I-385 in Greenville So Dangerous?

If you heard of an accident on I-385 today, do not be surprised if it involved a truck. It is not uncommon to see news reports of box trucks overturning on I-85 or tractor-trailers veering off the side of I-385 outside of Greenville. What’s leading to all these truck wrecks?

• Congestion: There’s heavy commuter traffic on I-85 and I-385, which travel to Columbia, Asheville, and Atlanta. Tourism, especially near state and national forests, also contributes to this congestion.
• Truck traffic: Numerous industrial areas are located along the I-385 route. Several large manufacturing facilities line the area, including Nutra Manufacturing, GE Advanced Manufacturing Works, and the Reynolds Company. That means there are many more tractor-trailers and big trucks entering and exiting the roadways in these areas.
• Construction: I-85 has been widened in recent months. Drivers are unsure of how to navigate the area, and the roads become even narrower when construction is underway.
• Interchanges and merging zones: Busy spots like the Woodruff Road/I-385 interchange see a high number of crashes every year. Tight lanes, short merge areas, and heavy traffic leave little room for error, often leading to sideswipe and wide-turn accidents.
• Reckless drivers: The number of reckless drivers in the area is also relatively high, with trucks trying to meet their delivery times and other drivers cutting them off at the last minute. Those instances put other drivers, including you, at risk.
• Fatigued drivers: Even though truck accident laws aim to minimize such risks, truckers are often tired, and that often means they are less responsive to changing road conditions.

Every one of these accidents can be terrifying. If you are facing serious injuries from a big rig accident, do not hesitate to contact our legal team for guidance.

Local Hotspots for Truck Accidents

• I-85 at Pelham Road: Heavy commuter and truck traffic creates constant congestion and frequent wrecks.
• I-85/I-385 Interchange: One of the busiest interchanges in the Upstate, with tight merges and high crash rates.
• Woodruff Road Exits: Known for gridlock and aggressive merging, making it especially dangerous for trucks.
• I-85 near White Horse Road (US-25): A major freight corridor where commercial traffic mixes with local drivers.
• I-385 near Haywood Road: Dense retail traffic and sharp merges raise the risk of serious collisions.

What to Do After a Truck Accident to Protect Yourself

After South Carolina interstate accidents, you may not have a lot of time or the physical ability to do much but wait for help. Always prioritize your safety and that of others. However, to protect your right to full compensation after South Carolina injury claims, you need to know what to do and how to act.

Protecting Your Immediate Safety and Security

Right after a highway collision in Greenville, move your vehicle to the side of the road, call 911, and wait for help to arrive. From there, assess the situation to determine if it is safe for you to get out of the car to:

• Take photos of everything you see. That includes damage to your car, the truck, and structures. Document the placement of the vehicles and any debris in the roadway.
• Tell the police what you saw and experienced. Avoid providing too much information that is speculative.
• Get the name and contact information for everyone involved, including witnesses.

As soon as possible after the accident, get medical care. This includes any situation in which you have a serious injury, but also when you do not. If you hit your head, were struck at a high rate of speed, or were involved in a rollover, you still need medical attention even if you don’t feel like you’re injured. Some trauma can take time to manifest, and some symptoms can be hidden by the rush of adrenaline.

Over the next 24 to 72 hours, put your health first. Then, contact an attorney at HawkLaw, P.A.

Protecting Your Claim and Right to Compensation

In the coming days after a commercial truck collision in Greenville, there are several additional steps you can take to protect your rights to fair compensation:

• Focus on your health and recovery above all else. Follow the instructions provided by your doctor.
• Avoid social media. Avoid providing any updates on your condition or providing statements about what happened. It may be used against you later.
• Inform your insurance company of the incident. We can handle this for you if you call us right away.
• Keep a log of how you feel. Write down the impact the tractor-trailer crash in Greenville is having on your well-being and health.
• Call HawkLaw, P.A. Working with an attorney familiar with South Carolina interstate accidents can help. We can focus on the insurance company and the case so you can focus on healing.

Avoid filing a claim with the insurance company until you speak to our lawyer. We want to preserve your right to fair compensation.

Possible Truck Accidents on I-85 and I-385

With sections of I-85 stretching to six lanes in each direction, these interstates see some of the heaviest commercial traffic in the Upstate. That congestion creates constant risk for devastating truck crashes, including:

• Rollover crashes when a truck takes a curve or ramp too fast
• Jackknife accidents where the trailer swings out of control
• Cargo spills along freight corridors that scatter debris across multiple lanes
• Mechanical failures such as blown tires, brake failure, or engine problems
• Rear-end collisions caused by trucks that can’t stop in time in heavy traffic

Other dangerous scenarios are common on these highways as well, and every one of them can leave victims with catastrophic injuries. If you were hurt in a crash on I-85 or I-385, HawkLaw can fight to protect your rights and demand the compensation you deserve.

What to Expect After a Truck Accident With Multiple Vehicles

When a crash involves several cars and a commercial truck, the situation is more complicated than a two-vehicle collision. In addition to the usual steps you’d take after any wreck, keep these added factors in mind:

• Expect multiple insurance companies. Each driver may have their own carrier, and the trucking company’s insurer will be involved as well. Collect policy details from every party if possible.
• Track witness statements separately. With several people involved, stories can conflict. Make note of who saw what and keep their information organized.
• Pay attention to vehicle order. In chain-reaction crashes, knowing which vehicle struck first (and how the impact traveled down the line) is critical for determining liability.
• Look for commercial connections. If more than one truck was involved, note company names, logos, or trailer numbers. Multiple carriers could share fault.
• Anticipate finger-pointing. In pileups, blame often shifts rapidly between drivers. Detailed photos, video, and written notes can help cut through disputes later.

Multi-vehicle accidents demand a higher level of documentation and attention because liability gets spread out – and insurance companies will be quick to deny responsibility.

How a Greenville Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help

Truck crashes on I-85 and I-385 often leave victims with catastrophic injuries, overwhelming medical bills, and insurance companies that fight hard to minimize payouts. HawkLaw is built to level that playing field.

Our team has secured significant recoveries for clients injured in truck accidents, including a $3 million* settlement for a driver who was rear-ended at a red light and a $105,000 recovery for a client who was forced off the road into a ditch. These results show our commitment to pursuing full compensation, whether through settlement negotiations or by taking a case all the way to trial. As experienced trial attorneys, we know the tactics trucking companies use to avoid responsibility, and we are ready to challenge them in court when necessary.

When you hire a Greenville truck accident lawyer from HawkLaw, you gain an advocate focused on protecting your rights and demanding accountability. From the first conversation through the final resolution, we prioritize your case and fight to secure the outcome you deserve.

*Past results do not indicate what you could get on your case.

HawkLaw Knows What to Do After a Truck Accident

When you know what to do after a truck accident, you can respond faster and get the support you need. Contact HawkLaw, P.A. now for a free consultation*. Our lawyers serve the areas of Greenville, Columbia, Spartanburg, Charleston, and Anderson. The Anderson office is by appointment only, and most clients will be served from the Greenville office.