The leading causes of accidents involving large trucks and 18-wheelers
Charleston, South Carolina is a coveted city for people to live and work. We have a vibrant Lowcountry culture alive and well, supported by much of the Port of Charleston. The port creates jobs for local residents ranging from Moncks Corner and beyond to Folly Beach and surrounding areas. However, the bustling activity in the Charleston area also adds to the amount of traffic and drivers traveling on interstate highways through Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties.
Big 18-wheelers add an extra element drivers need to be aware of when navigating I-26 and I-526, Highways 17 and 41, and the often congested avenues. Truck drivers must be trained to operate large vehicles. However, accidents keep happening.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the three leading causes of accidents involving 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers are:
1. The truck leaves the travel lane, which may be in another lane or off the road (32%)
2. The driver loses control of the truck (29%), often due to
has. traveling too fast for conditions
b. a change in charge distribution
against general failure of vehicle systems
d. bad road conditions or other reasons
3. Rear-end collision with the rear of another vehicle in the truck traffic 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 caused directly by the truck and three percent are caused by the environment. Truck driver errors typically fall into four categories:
1. Failure to comply: the driver fell asleep at the wheel; he had a heart attack or seizures; or was otherwise physically impaired
2. The truck driver was distracted, inattentive, or failed to observe surrounding road conditions;
3. The driver was traveling too fast for the conditions; he misjudged the speed of traffic; the truck driver was following too closely
4. The driver of the 18-wheeler panicked, overcompensated, or lost control of the large truck.
Truckers have the backing of large corporations and their insurance companies. That’s why you want to make sure that if you’re involved in a semi-truck accident, you get proper representation from an experienced personal injury attorney who knows how trucking accidents affect people who live and drive in and around Charleston. . cities including Summerville, Moncks Corner, Awendaw, Hollywood, McClellanville, Harleyville, and Jedburg.
