Truck crashes occur every day. Regardless of why they happen, they can result in devastating injuries. If a tractor-trailer collision left you or a family member injured, you probably have many questions. You likely want to know the reasons why your wreck happened and what you can do to get help with your injuries and other losses.
An experienced injury attorney from Holland & Usry can help you find answers to your questions regarding the common causes of truck accidents in Spartanburg. We can perform a free case review and help you fight for accountability and justice.
Most 18-wheeler crashes occur because of driver mistakes. Truck drivers have a duty of care to drive responsibly and follow all road rules. Unfortunately, many truck drivers ignore those duties, some because they rush to complete their deliveries as soon as possible.
Commercial truck drivers have a difficult job. They often drive alone for long hours on unfamiliar roads, which can lead to problems. Some of the most common driving mistakes that can result in truck wrecks in Spartanburg include:
Truck drivers need to follow specific rules for driving outlined in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). One of these rules is adhering to strict hours-of-service limitations, which restrict how long a trucker can operate their vehicle and require certain hours of rest time. Violations of the hours-of-service rules can lead to driver fatigue, distracted driving, and other issues—which can increase the risk of accidents.
Holland & Usry can investigate your accident to check if it occurred because of driver error and if the trucking company is also legally responsible. For instance, the truck driver’s employer could be liable if the trucking company encouraged or allowed their drivers to violate the driving time rules or failed to provide new drivers with adequate training on how to handle a truck.
Even when truck drivers do their best to adhere to the rules of the road, tractor-trailer accidents can still occur due to other factors.
Semi-trucks are inherently less stable than cars due to their boxy shapes and massive sizes. They can become even more unstable when cargo is improperly loaded. Unsecured cargo can spill, creating a hazard for others on the road. Imbalanced freight could make a truck harder to handle and present a jackknife or rollover risk. Loading companies should ensure that freight is secured correctly and balanced to prevent accidents.
Defective or worn-out components of a truck, such as faulty brakes, burst tires, and steering problems, can increase the risk of accidents.
If a crash occurs because a driver lost control of their vehicle due to poor weather conditions, the driver could be at fault for not modifying their driving to account for the weather. The trucking company that employed the trucker could also be responsible for forcing their drivers to operate in dangerous weather conditions, or not properly training drivers how to handle them.
A lawyer from Holland & Usry can investigate your Spartanburg truck accident to identify the causes and the potentially responsible parties.
After being involved in a serious collision, you probably want to know why it happened and who was responsible. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you learn about the common causes of truck accidents in Spartanburg and how to file suit over them.
If you suffered injuries in a crash with an 18-wheeler, schedule a free case review with Holland & Usry to explore your legal rights and options.