The trucking industry is responsible for hauling goods and services throughout the United States. While performing a valuable service as well as providing jobs for millions of people, trucks and their drivers often get a bad rap in terms of road safety. While safety programs within the trucking industry have done much to raise safety awareness, accidents still happen. Car accidents involving large trucks cause serious and potentially fatal injuries. Here is what you need to know about the trucking industry in South Carolina, the percentage of accidents involving these trucks, and how you can help to protect your loved ones while sharing the road with these commercial vehicles.
South Carolina Trucking Industry
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Commercial transportation is a huge industry in South Carolina, and commercial truck drivers are responsible for providing over 80 percent of the communities within our state the food, clothing, household goods, and other products we use on a daily basis. Over 420,000 tons of manufactured goods are hauled by truckers each day, and through the state, the demand for experienced truck drivers has remained steady. According to the South Carolina Trucking Association (SCTA) , the Palmetto State is home to close to 7,000 trucking companies, many of them small, locally owned business. In addition to providing one out of every 17 jobs in the state, the trucking industry also contributes over $400 million in taxes and fees each year.
Truck Safety
Despite their contributions to the state and local economy, truckers often get a bad rap. Motorists complain about sharing the road with large trucks and transport vehicles, despite the fact that trucking safety has improved dramatically in the state over the last ten years. Unfortunately, trucking accidents do still happen, and when they do they often cause serious and life threatening injuries. According to the latest figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 95,000 people were injured due to trucking accidents in 2013, and another 4,000 suffered fatal injuries. Statistics from the NHTSA show that South Carolina had over 60 fatal accidents involving trucks in 2013, and seventy one percent of the people killed or seriously injured in truck accidents were people in other vehicles. To increase your safety when sharing the road with trucks and their drivers, follow these safety tips from the National Traffic Safety Institute :
- Remember that trucks have large blind spots called ‘no zones.’ When sharing the road with a truck, be careful not to drive too close behind or in front of a truck, and avoid driving right alongside them.
- Remember that it takes longer to pass a truck than it does a car. Make sure you have plenty of open road, maintain a consistent speed, and allow plenty of room before moving into their lane.
- Be aware that trucks need additional turning space, and do not try to squeeze past a truck making a turn.
- Trucks carry additional weight, making them harder to stop than a car. Be aware of traffic conditions ahead, and avoid slamming on your brakes when a truck is behind you.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has been involved in a trucking accident, contact our experienced South Carolina personal injury attorney right away. At the Lauren Taylor Law, our attorney can provide the aggressive representation needed in these types of case to assist you in getting compensation for your injuries. You may be entitled to recover damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Serving Greenville and all of the Upstate, call or contact us online today for an initial consultation.
South Carolina divorce attorney Lauren Taylor practices family law in Charleston and Greenville. She graduated from the Charlotte School of Law, and has been practicing for more than ten years.
Since the firm’s inception in 2012, Mrs. Taylor has helped hundreds of people navigate the uncertainties surrounding the family and criminal court process.
She has cultivated a team that ensures each case has a strategy crafted specifically to the clients needs and desires.
Her commitment to top notch service has led her to open two additional offices in the low country where she now resides with her husband Michael and her golden retriever, Buster.