Interstate 26 acts as a major trucking route between Columbia and Charleston. Hundreds of tractor-trailers travel these high-volume highways every day, with many stopping in Summerville.
If you were injured or a dangerous tractor-trailer driver killed a loved one, you need the experienced truck crash attorneys at Gil Gatch Law. These unique accidents often trigger high-value commercial insurance policies, but they may also involve multiple claimants. Our Summerville truck crash attorneys assist victims and their families in pursuing fair compensation from negligent truckers, fleet owners, and commercial insurers.
Dangerous Truck Accidents on South Carolina Highways
Truckers need special commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) because tractor-trailer crashes pose unique dangers. These include the following:
- Rollovers: When truck drivers take turns and make sharp turns too quickly, the trailer’s size may cause the entire vehicle to tip over. Rollover accidents in Summerville may also occur when drivers misload cargo, resulting in an imbalance.
- Tire blowouts: Federal regulations require 18-wheeler operators to check their tires throughout long-haul trips. Cargo weight quickly wears down even commercial-grade treads, and tire blowouts may cause a dangerous loss of control, leading to crashes on Route 17.
- Jackknifing: When semi-truck drivers brake hard, especially while speeding or in slick conditions, the tractor and trailer may fall out of alignment. The truck will fold into an L- or V-shaped configuration, blocking multiple lanes of traffic and causing serious chain-reaction crashes.
- Undercarriage: Fatal underside or undercarriage crashes often occur when smaller passenger vehicles strike the trailer and become trapped beneath it. This can also happen if the truck driver stops short or immediately following a jackknife accident.
- Rear-End: Most 18-wheelers require airbrakes to stop. When truck drivers speed or fail to maintain a safe following distance, it often results in fatal rear-end collisions.
Our experienced semi-truck crash lawyers often collaborate with dedicated commercial accident investigators to determine the cause of tractor-trailer crashes and advocate for fair compensation for truck accident victims in Summerville.
Investigating Berkeley County Tractor-Trailer Crashes
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates the U.S. commercial trucking industry. As such, truck drivers and owners must follow federal safety regulations, including:
Hours of Service (HOS) Laws
Federal law regulates commercial driving hours to prevent the dangers of long-haul truck driver fatigue. These service hour regulations generally require drivers to take mandatory breaks, limit driving to 11 hours in a 14-hour window, and rest for at least 10 hours between driving shifts. HOS violations may result in strict liability for accidents.
Liability Insurance Requirements
Most commercial trucks are required to carry between $300,000 and $5,000,000 worth of personal injury liability insurance. These polices ensure most truck accident victims receive fair compensation after mass casualty events, but this cannot be enough if you suffered from catastrophic brain or spinal cord injuries in Summerville. Discuss recovering needed compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering with our experienced South Carolina commercial truck insurance settlement negotiators.
Skilled Semi-Truck Accident Injury Lawyers
Although most trained truck drivers pass through Berkeley County safely, even a single negligent semi-truck driver can cause a catastrophic mass-casualty collision. Special federal commercial truck driver regulations and insurance laws apply to tractor-trailer crashes in South Carolina, necessitating help from our dedicated Summerville 18-wheeler crash team.
Call (843) 800-2020 or contact our personal injury litigators online to schedule a free and confidential truck accident consultation.