Two tractor-trailers collided in the early morning of January 9 on the eastbound interstate at mile marker 56, according to a WYFF4 News report. As a result of the crash one of the trucks, driven by a 54-year old Florida truck driver, burst into flames. The truck driver died at the scene while the other truck driver did not suffer injuries. If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck accident, contact an experienced Charleston truck accident attorney right away as you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
By the Numbers
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released data from 2013, which showed that fatalities related to crashes involving large trucks totaled 3,964. This number is a 0.5% increased from 2012. Approximately 15 million trucks travel the nation’s roads, including 2 million tractor-trailers.
Under federal regulations and state law, these tractor-trailers (known as 18-wheelers) may weigh as much as 80,000 pounds and be as much as 83 feet in length. As a result of the massive size and weight of these vehicles, the chances of an accident on our highways increases and so does the risk of severe injury or death. The massive freight that is carried by these trucks can be hazardous, flammable or even toxic.
South Carolina truck accidents can lead to serious injury – or even death. Some injuries that may occur as a result of a truck accident include whiplash, bone fractures, head and/or neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, as well as cuts and/or lacerations.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Even the most cautious truck driver may be involved in a serious or fatal truck accident. While driver error is the leading cause of most truck accidents, other factors may take place in causing a collision. These may include, but are not limited to:
· Driver distraction;
· Failure to yield;
· Speeding;
· Rollovers;
· Blind-spots;
· Brake failure;
· Underride accidents; and
· Driver fatigue.
Statistically, driver-related factors contribute to 31 percent of truck accident fatalities, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Fatigue is attributed to 40 percent of all truck accidents, which is why the law imposes strict guidelines upon how many hours in a row a truck driver is allowed to spend behind the wheel – and on the road – without a break.