The Main Causes For Accidents Involving Large Trucks and 18-Wheelers
Charleston, South Carolina is a sought after city for people to live and work. We have a vibrant Lowcountry culture alive and well, which is supported in a large part the Port of Charleston. The port brings jobs to local residents spanning from Moncks Corner and beyond all the way to Folly Beach and the surrounding areas. However, the bustling activity in the Charleston area also adds to the amount of traffic and drivers traveling the interstates through Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley Counties.
Large 18-wheeler trucks add an additional element that drivers must be aware of while navigating the often-congested I-26 and I-526 interstates, Highways 17 and 41, and parkways. Truck drivers must be trained in order to operate the large vehicles. Nevertheless, accidents still happen.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the top three causes of accidents involving 18-wheelers and tractor trailer trucks are:
1. Truck leaves travel lane, which can be into another lane or off the road (32%)
2. Driver loses control of the truck (29%), often due to
a. traveling too fast for conditions
b. a shift in the distribution of cargo
c. general vehicle systems failure
d. poor road conditions, or other reasons
3. Rear-end collision with the back of another vehicle in the trucks travel lane (22%).
When a tractor trailer is in an accident for one of the above reasons, the driver is the primary cause of the crash nearly 87% of the time. Ten percent of accidents involving big rig trucks are directly caused by the truck, and three percent by the environment. Errors by truck drivers normally fall into four categories:
1. Non-Performance- the driver fell asleep at the wheel; suffered a heart attack or seizure; or was otherwise physically impaired
2. The truck driver was inattentive, distracted, or otherwise failed to observe the surrounding road conditions;
3. The driver was traveling too fast for conditions; misjudged the speed of traffic; the truck driver was following too close
4. The 18-wheeler driver panicked, overcompensated, or lost control of the big rig.
Truckers have the backing of large corporations and their insurance companies. That is why you need to be sure that if you are involved in an accident with a semi-truck you get proper representation the form of an experienced personal injury attorney who knows how truck accidents affect people living in and driving throughout Charleston and in the surrounding towns, including Summerville, Moncks Corner, Awendaw, Hollywood, McClellanville, Harleyville, and Jedburg.
