It is safe to assume that every object in your home spent some time on a truck. Whether those were things directly delivered to your doorstep or they were something you bought at a store, a big rig was likely part of the supply chain. The vast majority of those deliveries happen without incident. Unfortunately, transporting heavy loads over long distances increases the risk of a trucking accident.
According to the National Safety Council, 2022 saw 120,200 crashes involving large trucks that led to some type of injury. That represents a 2.5% increase over 2021. Suppose you find yourself involved in a crash with a semi-truck in South Carolina. You’ll benefit by talking about what happened with an experienced Hilton Head truck accident lawyer.
At The Solomon Law Group, LLC, we offer free consultations to discuss the rights you have in your case. Call or email us to discuss how we can help you secure compensation for your losses resulting from a tractor-trailer crash in Beaufort County.
Common Causes of Trucking Collisions
As with most auto accidents, driver negligence is one of the major reasons truck collisions occur in Coastal South Carolina. Truckers have to be especially alert and diligent when carrying their heavy loads. Speeding and recklessly changing lanes can certainly lead to a truck crash. Other factors that can include:
Fatigue
Drowsy driving is a genuine concern for every trucker. It is also a concern for the federal agencies tasked with regulating the trucking industry.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets the limits for driving time and mandates rest periods for truckers. However, even when a truck driver officially stops driving for the day, they could spend a few more hours getting their rig sorted out before they finally get to rest.
In other words, a mandated 10 hours of rest might only turn out to be six. That can make a truck driver drowsy when they hit the road once again, leaving them vulnerable to causing a Hilton Head trucking accident.
Driving Under the Influence
Even though a truck driver has added responsibilities and challenges when carrying their cargo, it doesn’t make them immune from driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Driving a truck that weighs upwards of 80,000 pounds while drunk or high puts not only the trucker but also any motorists they’re sharing the road with at high risk of causing a devastating Beaufort County tractor-trailer accident.
Mechanical Failure
Truck drivers are required to inspect their rigs before every trip. They’re supposed to follow a standard checklist that is notated in their driving logs. If a repair is needed, it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure the repair is made by a reputable mechanic. There are many steps in that inspection and repair process that could be incomplete and lead to a mechanical failure and residual semi-truck crash in Hilton Head.
Unsecured Loads
Many truck drivers back up their rig to a loading dock and turn over the loading responsibilities to a third party. In other words, whoever ordered the delivery is in charge of packing up the truck. The FMCSA also sets the rules for how to secure cargo. That packing has to be secure enough to withstand inclines, declines, and sharp turns. If the load isn’t properly secured in place, a truck wreck can occur.
Types of Hilton Head Semi-Truck Wrecks
Truckers have to go through rigorous training and receive multiple certifications. Despite that additional training, trucking accidents still happen in South Carolina. The following are some common types of truck-involved wrecks:
- T-Bone accidents
- Truck rollovers
- Sideswipe accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Wide turn accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Jackknife accidents
How a Hilton Head Truck Accident Lawyer Helps You Identify Responsible Parties
Many trucking crash victims hesitate to hire a Hilton Head truck accident lawyer to represent them. They do so because they think that they’ll only file an insurance claim against the trucker who directly struck them, just like they think they easily do themselves. While you may certainly file an insurance claim with a trucker’s auto carrier, there may be other defendants, such as the following, that you may opt to hold liable by filing a truck crash lawsuit in Hilton Head:
The Trucker’s Employer
A trucking company, the entity that employs truckers, needs to hire qualified and reliable drivers. If it fails to do so, it could be held responsible for any trucking accident they cause. The company can also be held responsible if it doesn’t properly maintain its fleet of vehicles.
The Truck Manufacturer
A thorough accident investigation can reveal that the cause of the truck accident was a manufacturing defect. That could bring the truck manufacturer into the case if they did not take proactive steps to warn drivers of potential dangers their vehicles posed or offer to recall their trucks to make repairs.
The Cargo Loader
As mentioned, the truck driver often does not load a truck’s cargo. If the load shifts while being transported, it could lead to a rollover. Cargo loaders need to comply with packing regulations. If they slack on those regulations, their loads could be compromised. That can lead to everyone who had a hand in loading the cargo being named in the lawsuit.
Call for a Case Evaluation With The Solomon Law Group, LLC.
Being involved in a truck accident in Hilton Head can be emotionally and physically devastating. You want to find a fast and fair resolution. At The Solomon Law Group, LLC, we can help with those goals.
Our work together begins with a free case evaluation. At that meeting, you can tell us what happened leading up to your collision with an 18-wheeler and share any preliminary evidence you’ve collected. A Hilton Head truck accident lawyer can answer the questions you have and provide you with options for pursuing compensation.
Call to schedule your consultation today. We’re eager to hear from you.
