Trucking is a major industry in South Carolina, with over 21,730 trucking companies operating in the state. However, poor maintenance of large trucks can lead to catastrophic crashes and hazards on South Carolina’s roads. Understanding the impacts of improper truck maintenance and how it relates to legal liability is critical for improving road safety. Our personal injury attorney in Greenville, SC is ready to take on your case today.
Truck Maintenance Problems in South Carolina
Common truck maintenance problems in South Carolina include:
- Faulty Brakes: Worn or defective brakes greatly reduce a truck’s ability to stop safely, especially when traveling at high speeds while fully loaded. Brake violations account for many truck out-of-service violations in SC.
- Bald Tires: Worn tread on truck tires can cause blowouts and diminished control, increasing the chances of rollovers or jackknifing.
- Broken or Loose Parts: When truck parts like mirrors, lights, or mufflers are broken or unsecured, they can detach and become road debris. Truck parts striking other vehicles leads to accidents.
- Leaking Fluids: Leaks of oil, brake fluid, or coolant can spray other vehicles, obscure windshields, or create slick road conditions if not addressed. Fluid leaks contribute to many South Carolina truck violations.
- Cracked Frames: Stress fractures or cracks in truck frames jeopardize stability and render trucks unsafe for hauling heavy loads. However, these serious structural issues may go unnoticed without careful inspection.
Why Do Haulage Companies Neglect Truck Maintenance?
Haulage companies often struggle to keep up with needed truck maintenance due to tight budgets and the pressure to keep trucks in service. With narrow profit margins, maintenance is one area fleets may try to cut costs by delaying repairs or extending service intervals. However, the savings are typically short-sighted.
Deferred maintenance leads to more severe mechanical issues and breakdowns down the road, taking trucks off the road for longer and costing more in the long run. Additionally, haulers need to balance maintenance needs with the demand to keep goods moving.
Prioritizing maintenance, even on tight budgets, leads to savings and safety over the lifetime of the equipment.
Consequences for Road Safety
The results of chronic truck maintenance issues are frequently felt on South Carolina’s highways. Between 2016 and 2020, there were 584 fatalities involving large trucks in South Carolina. Commercial trucks are responsible for around 10 deaths per month in the state, as well as many more injuries.
Common consequences of improperly maintained trucks sharing the road include:
- Collisions due to brake failure: Trucks take much longer to slow and stop than passenger vehicles. Brake problems dramatically extend stopping distances, making rear-end crashes more likely.
- Cargo spills from unsecured loads: When truck parts come loose or tailgates fail, cargo can end up strewn across travel lanes. Debris fields force sudden stops or dangerous swerving maneuvers.
- Decreased control from faulty components: Issues like broken side mirrors or bad steering linkages reduce truck drivers’ control over their vehicles, leading to weaving or jackknifing truck trailers.
- Tire blowouts causing rollovers: Bald tires are susceptible to blowouts, especially when overloaded. The sudden loss of tire pressure can force a truck to roll over, blocking multiple lanes.
Liability Impacts for Trucking Companies
In addition to endangering everyone sharing the road, running poorly maintained trucks heightens legal and financial liability for trucking companies and their drivers.
Federal regulations establish minimum maintenance standards that truck owners must adhere to. Violations of vehicle safety regulations can result in fines, inspections, and loss of operating authority. Trucking companies may also face civil liability if a crash leads to injuries or wrongful death.
Common bases for liability lawsuits include:
- Negligent Maintenance: Failing to address known mechanical defects shows negligence and disregard for safety. Plaintiffs can seek punitive damages in addition to compensation for injuries/losses.
- Respondeat Superior Claims: Trucking companies are generally liable for driver negligence under vicarious responsibility laws. This includes operating an unsafe, company-owned truck.
- Hours of Service Violations: Driving unsafe trucks beyond legal time limits demonstrates willful negligence. It is an aggravating factor for accident liability.
- Violation of Federal/State Safety Regulations: Proof that truck maintenance issues directly violated applicable safety standards strengthens the case for hazard-based liability.
Talk to a Truck Accident Attorney
If you’ve been injured in an accident in South Carolina involving a commercial truck, consult a truck accident attorney. An experienced lawyer from Monge & Associates can investigate if truck maintenance failures or safety violations contributed to the crash. We can advise you on your legal options and the best path to pursue fair compensation for your losses and damages.
We have offices in 32 locations and 19 states, including South Carolina, Alabama, and Ohio.
Contact our law firm online or call (888) 477-0597 if you have been affected by a truck accident.