It is inevitable that drivers will not only have to share the road with other passenger vehicles, but with large tractor-trailer trucks, as well. While most truck drivers and companies employ safe driving habits and adhere to trucking regulations, far too many fail to regard the safety of other drivers and violate regulations put in place to prevent accidents from occurring. When this happens, severe collisions can occur. While any accident has the potential to be devastating, those involving 18-wheelers are more likely to be catastrophic due to the sheer size and weight of these vehicles.
At the Goings Law Firm, LLC, our Orangeburg County team believes that the negligent party or parties responsible for these collisions should be held accountable for the irreversible harm they cause victims. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a semi-truck, we know that you already have a lot on your plate as you deal with the physical and emotional repercussions of your accident, and we firmly believe that you should not also be forced to cover the financial burdens associated with your injuries.
Causes and Consequences of Truck Accidents
While some accidents are unavoidable, far too many truck accidents are caused by the negligence of the driver themselves or wrongdoing on the part of their employer. Some unfortunately common causes and consequences of these kinds of accidents include:
- Drunk Driving: Truck drivers have a responsibility to keep other drivers on the road safe by always being fully aware and alert when getting behind the wheel of such a dangerous vehicle. Unfortunately, however, many 18-wheeler drivers operate these vehicles while drunk or on drugs. The consequences of driving drunk, especially in an 18-wheeler, can be truly devastating. Victims may be left in financial, physical, and emotional turmoil through no fault of their own.
- Mechanical Defects/ Malfunction: Just as any car can have defects or malfunctions, 18-wheelers can as well. Even worse, these defects are often preventable when trucking companies properly inspect and maintain the vehicles in their fleet. Whether a brake malfunction or tire defect occurs, the accidents that can result can be life-threatening.
- Employer Negligence/ Liability: Trucking companies are just as responsible for the safety of all motorists on the road as the actual truck drivers they employ. Unfortunately, employers can endanger other motorists in many ways. For example, employers can be liable for trucking accidents when hours of service violations occur or when they fail to train employees properly. Employers can also be held responsible for negligent hiring or disregarding the inspection of trucks.
- Truck Driver Error/ Negligence: Truck drivers are expected to follow all of the rules of the road but unfortunately, many drivers exhibit unsafe driving behaviors, including failure to use turn signals, driving with an overweight load, speeding, and other aggressive or careless actions. Any of these behaviors can lead to a devastating accident.
- No-Zone Accidents: Similar to a car’s blind spots, 18-wheelers have no-zones, which are large areas around the vehicle that are difficult for a truck driver to see. When drivers do not take proper caution to check these zones before changing lanes or turning, they can easily collide with another vehicle.
- Wrongful Death: In the most devastating truck accidents, individuals can lose their life because of a truck driver or trucking company’s negligence. Along with mourning, victims’ loved ones are often left with extensive financial burdens resulting from their untimely and unexpected loss.
Truck accidents can be some of the most catastrophic and life-changing automobile accidents that occur. Fortunately, our team at the Goings Law Firm, LLC, knows just what it takes to help accident victims pursue both justice and compensation, and we want to put this experience to work fighting for you.
Contact a Truck Accident Attorney in Orangeburg County
If you or your loved one was injured in a truck accident, the lawyers at the Goings Law Firm, LLC, want to help. We have years of experience upholding the rights of truck accident victims and holding truckers and trucking companies accountable for their wrongdoing, so let us fight for you. Call our offices at (803) 350-9230 today to learn more.
