South Carolina Truck Accident Attorneys

Big truck or big-rig accidents are among the most tragic accidents with the most serious consequences and catastrophic injuries. A big truck can weigh more than 80,000 pounds and when such a large vehicle slams into a passenger vehicle, the results are of course disastrous. Big-rig accidents cause major injuries and often fatalities.

According to statistics released by the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are about 500,000 truck accidents each year and about 5,000 fatalities. About 12 percent of traffic deaths in the United States are caused by truck accidents. In South Carolina, there are more than 3,000 truck accidents each year. Many reports also show that when a tractor-trailer or big-rig collides with a passenger vehicle, the occupants of the passenger vehicle are most likely to suffer major injury or death. This is especially true of tractor-trailer accidents.

The fault factor in these accidents varies from incident to incident. A common myth is that most of these accidents are caused by truck drivers, but that is not true. Only about 25 percent of big-rig crashes are because of the truck driver’s fault. Often, the accident is caused because of an error of the driver of other smaller vehicles involved in the crash.

That said, in cases where the accidents are caused by the truck driver, the following are the most common causes:

• Driver fatigue caused by long shifts
• Failure to maintain the vehicle properly
• Distracted driving, such as use of cell phones
• Tailgating
• Aggressive driving or speeding
• Overloading the truck
• Failure to install blind spot mirrors
• Jackknifing
• Alcohol or drug use

If you or a love one has suffered major injuries in a South Carolina truck accident, call the experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorneys at the Louthian Law Firm. If the accident, the resultant injuries or death was caused because of the truck driver’s negligence or because of a trucking company that ignored the federal hours-of-service regulations, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries or loss. Trucking firms are required to maintain detailed logs of the hours their drivers have worked to make sure they are in compliance with the law.

We will make sure that a thorough investigation is conducted in your case and your rights are protected. Call us today to schedule your free appointment.