Truck Accident Injury Lawyer in Charleston, SC
With its busy port and booming economy, the greater Charleston area has a significant volume of interstate truck traffic. Unfortunately, this success comes with some danger. An accident involving a truck and a car or other passenger vehicle often has tragic consequences for the occupants of the passenger vehicle. Because of the danger that trucks pose to other vehicles on the road, federal law requires trucking companies to carry insurance coverage with much higher limits than are required for passenger vehicles so that individuals injured in truck accidents can receive full compensation for their injuries. Nevertheless, insurance companies often try to undercompensate victims of truck accidents. If you have been involved in an accident with a truck, you need someone on your side with a track record of success. Richard Hricik has been representing individuals injured in truck accidents for many years. He is experienced in dealing with truck company insurers.
Across the United States, more than 100,000 people are injured every year in truck crashes. And, on average, there are approximately 11 fatal truck accidents every single day in the United States. About 1 in 10 traffic accidents that results in a fatality involves a truck. Factors contributing to truck accidents include:
- Poorly maintained equipment. Commercial trucks are driven tens of thousands of miles each year and must be rigorously maintained to ensure safety. Truck companies or drivers fail to monitor their equipment or may delay needed maintenance to save money or time. This can lead to accidents or compound damages. This is particularly true where brakes or tires are concerned.
- Lack of safety features. According to the American Truck Associations, only 10% of trucks are equipped with active safety technology. A proposal to require truck tractors to be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC) to prevent rollovers and loss of control has not yet been successful.
- Overworked or fatigued drivers. Because of a shortage of truck drivers, it is not uncommon for companies to overwork their drivers. The driver responsible for causing the 2014 crash that seriously injured Tracey Morgan and killed another comedian, had been awake for 28 hours when the accident occurred. Fatigue leads to reduced reaction time and poor decisionmaking. Multiple scientific studies have demonstrated that a severely fatigued driver has a similar reaction time to a legally intoxicated driver.
- Vehicle Weight. Large trucks weigh as much or more than 40 passenger vehicles and, the distance required for trucks to stop is much longer than for passenger vehicles.
- Aggressive driving. Aggressive driving by truck drivers or by passenger vehicles attempting to pass trucks in an unsafe manner and may lead to accidents.
Resources Related to Truck Accidents
CNN, Truck Accidents Surge: Why No National Outcry?
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Facts: 2012 Data
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts: 2012
U.S. Census Bureau, Transportation: Motor Vehicle Accidents and Fatalities