The trucking industry generates almost $100 billion in U.S. revenue and moves over 11 billion tons of freight in a single year, according to the American Trucking Associations. Unfortunately, despite this substantial revenue, many trucking companies still focus on maximizing the income they’re bringing in — instead of consumer safety.
With large trucks weighing as much as 80,000 pounds (or more with a special permit), the most crucial task for drivers and trucking companies is to ensure that these commercial vehicles don’t put others at risk. When truckers or their employers put profit above this goal, this can lead to accidents that change the lives of victims forever.
If you or someone you love was the victim of a truck crash, the good news is that the law allows you to hold the driver, and sometimes the trucking company, liable for your losses. You can pursue a claim to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other economic and non-financial losses.
You’ll need to be able to navigate the legal system, though. Marc Brown Law Firm can help with that. Our experienced legal team has fought for crash victims, and we are prepared to stand up to big trucking companies and make them pay for the damage done.
To find out more about how our firm can fight for you, give us a call or contact us online today and schedule your free consultation with a South Carolina truck accident lawyer.
How does the trucking industry put profits over safety?
Truck drivers and their employers make many dangerous decisions in their quest for more profit that increase the risk of collisions. Some of the most common ways the trucking industry puts profits over safety include:
- Prioritizing speed: Trucking companies set aggressive deadlines for drivers, while often paying them too little. This incentivizes drivers to engage in unsafe behaviors like speeding or violating hours-of-service limits set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Speeding and driving while fatigued both significantly increase the risk of a crash.
- Overloading trucks: There are strict cargo loading requirements set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Truck weight limits also apply. Unfortunately, in an effort to move more goods faster and more cheaply, trucking companies sometimes overload trucks or pressure drivers to do so. This can increase the risk of tire blowouts, result in longer stopping distances that lead to rear-end and override crashes, and increase the risk of rollover crashes by affecting the truck’s center of gravity.
- Deferred maintenance: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also mandates that trucks be properly maintained and inspected to ensure their safe operation. Unfortunately, trucking companies focused on profits may not hire qualified mechanics or use manufacturer parts. They may also delay repairs and fail to perform proper inspections. This can increase the risk of problems like tire blowouts and brake failure.
There are also other ways that trucking companies put profits over safety, including working drivers too hard and causing stress, and not hiring qualified drivers. All of these failures can create a serious risk — and they can also result in the trucking company being held legally liable when a crash results.
Getting help from a South Carolina truck accident lawyer
If you or someone you love was hurt in a truck crash, Marc Brown Law Firm can help. Our legal team has the knowledge and experience to identify trucking company failures and help you hold the company and trucker accountable for the loss you experienced. Call our South Carolina accident lawyers today to schedule your free consultation and find out how we can fight for you.