Our South Carolina Truck Accident Lawyers Help Victims Rebuild Their Lives After Commercial Vehicle Crashes
When a commercial truck crashes into a passenger vehicle, the results can be devastating. The immense size and weight difference between an 80,000-pound big rig and a 4,000-pound car often leaves victims with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and uncertain futures.
At the Law Office of Sean M. Wilson, we understand the unique challenges truck accident victims face. From dealing with aggressive insurance companies to uncovering critical evidence before it disappears, our experienced South Carolina truck accident lawyers know what it takes to build strong cases against trucking companies and their insurers.
Common Causes of South Carolina Truck Accidents
Understanding the cause of your accident helps establish liability. Accidents often have multiple contributing factors, but our skilled South Carolina truck accident lawyers will thoroughly investigate the crash to determine its cause.
Driver Fatigue
Federal hours of service regulations limit commercial drivers to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour workday and require detailed logbooks to track their hours. Despite these rules, some carriers pressure drivers to falsify logs and exceed these limits to meet tight delivery schedules. Fatigued driving severely impairs judgment and slows reaction time, sometimes leading to drivers falling asleep at the wheel.
Poor Maintenance
Federal law mandates systematic inspection and maintenance programs for commercial vehicles, focusing on critical systems that affect safety. These include brake systems and pads, tire pressure and tread depth, steering components, coupling devices, and lighting systems. When carriers or drivers neglect these essential maintenance requirements, the result can be catastrophic mechanical failures on the road.
Distracted Driving
Truck drivers face numerous distractions in their mobile workplace, from cellphones and text messages to dispatch systems and GPS devices. While South Carolina law prohibits texting while driving for all vehicles, commercial drivers must also comply with additional federal restrictions on mobile device use. Additional distractions include eating and drinking while driving, adjusting entertainment systems, and reading maps or paperwork.
Improper Loading
Safe cargo transport requires proper weight distribution and secure loading practices. Problems arise when loads are unevenly distributed, exceed weight limits, or aren't adequately secured with appropriate tie-downs. Shifting cargo during transport can cause drivers to lose control, leading to rollovers or jackknife accidents. The responsibility for proper loading falls on both the loading crews and the drivers, who must verify that cargo is correctly placed and secured before beginning their journey.
Weather Conditions
Hazardous weather demands additional safety measures from truck drivers, including reduced speeds, increased following distances, and extra caution on curves and ramps. Professional drivers must constantly monitor weather conditions and adjust their operations accordingly, including proper use of lights and signals in low visibility conditions. In severe weather, drivers have a responsibility to either adjust their driving to match conditions or suspend travel until conditions improve.
Why Truck Accident Claims Are Different From Car Crash Cases
Truck accident cases involve multiple factors that set this type of personal injury claim apart from typical car crashes.
Severity of Damages
The sheer size and weight difference between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles means these accidents often result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. The extensive damages involved require thorough documentation and expert testimony to properly value claims. This includes not just immediate medical costs but long-term care needs, lost earning capacity, and life care planning.
Federal Regulations
The commercial trucking industry operates under strict federal oversight through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These regulations govern everything from maximum driving hours and mandatory rest periods to detailed maintenance schedules and load security requirements. This regulatory framework creates an additional layer of evidence and liability that doesn't exist in typical car accident cases, as violations of federal safety rules can establish negligence per se.
Multiple Liable Parties
Unlike car accidents that typically involve just the drivers and their insurance companies, truck accidents often implicate numerous parties in the chain of responsibility.
- The trucking company may be liable for inadequate driver training, pushing unsafe schedules, or failing to monitor compliance with safety regulations.
- Vehicle manufacturers could bear responsibility for defective parts or design flaws.
- Cargo loading companies might be accountable for improper weight distribution or inadequate securing of freight.
- Maintenance contractors could face liability for negligent repairs or insufficient inspections.
- Third-party vendors who supplied truck components might share responsibility if their parts failed.
Specialized Evidence
Truck accident cases involve unique forms of evidence not present in car crashes. This includes driver logs (both electronic and paper), maintenance records, GPS tracking data, and onboard computer data. Additionally, trucking companies are only required to maintain certain records for a limited time—making quick action essential to preserve crucial evidence.
Complex Insurance Coverage
Commercial trucks typically carry multiple insurance policies with varying coverage limits and requirements. These might include primary liability coverage, excess coverage, cargo insurance, and separate policies for the truck and trailer. Understanding how these policies interact and which coverage applies to different aspects of the claim is a crucial aspect of maximizing your compensation.