In Need of a Truck Accident Lawyer in Spartanburg, South Carolina?
Our David W. Martin Truck Accident & Injury Lawyers in Spartanburg know how dangerous it is to share our roadways with a negligent tractor-trailer driver because there are so many things that can go wrong when these potentially 80,000-pound vehicles are recklessly operated.
Over 8% of all fatal crashes in South Carolina last year involved a semi-truck, accounting for 83 fatalities and hundreds of life-changing injuries, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. When these crashes are preventable, it is our clients who pay for the truck driver, trucking company, or another third party’s negligence that left them injured or caused their loved one’s death.
Our Spartanburg County truck accident attorneys are here to help provide the legal solutions our community needs to hold these individuals or companies liable for our client’s complete financial recovery, so they can get the medical care and time away from work they need to fully heal.
If you have been hurt or have suffered the tragic loss of a loved one during a South Carolina
truck accident, contact our skilled personal injury lawyers in Spartanburg today to schedule a consultation to discuss your case.
What are the Major Causes of Semi-Truck Crashes in Spartanburg, South Carolina?
Truck accidents are unique from other vehicle collisions because they require an extensive investigation to determine the cause of the crash, which may be the result of more than one person or party’s negligence.
The potentially negligent parties may include the truck driver, the trucking company, or another third-party, with the major causes often involving:
- Speeding
- Distracted Driving
- Failing to Account for Blind Spots
- Driver Fatigue
- Poor Company Hiring & Training Practices
- Mechanical Failures
- Vehicle Defects
- Overweight or Unbalanced Loads
It is important to discuss your 18-wheeler accident with an experienced truck accident attorney in Spartanburg to ensure all parties are held accountable for your full financial recovery.
What are the Most Common Injuries Associated with Truck Accidents in Spartanburg, South Carolina?
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were over 116,000 people injured in semi-truck collisions throughout the country last year.
Some of the more common semi-truck accident injuries may include, but are not limited to:
- Seatbelt and airbag injuries
- Broken or crushed bones
- Rib and torso injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Neck injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Paralysis
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Wrongful death
Semi-truck accidents cause catastrophic injuries for many obvious reasons, including the size and weight of the big rig and its ability to crush a much smaller passenger vehicle.
Depending on the speed and force of the collision, survivors are often left with permanent, life-changing injuries that negatively impact our client’s day-to-day activities and their long-term quality of life.
At David W. Martin Accident & Injury Lawyers, our Spartanburg semi-truck collision attorneys will review your injuries and investigate your case to ensure no detail is left to chance while we pursue the negligent person or parties liable for your financial recovery.
Can I Pursue a Negligent South Carolina Truck Driver Who is Responsible for My Loved One’s Death?
When someone is killed in a collision with a semi-truck, the number of people affected by the tragedy is seemingly endless.
When it is determined that the accident that caused their death was preventable, the grief becomes overwhelming.
Unfortunately, the pain is often more than emotional. When families lose the financial support their loved ones provided, the fallout can be devastating.
Funeral and burial costs, lost compensation and future earning capacity, and the loss of consortium, companionship, care, services, support, and advice the deceased would have provided can all be outlined in financial terms, so our clients can take the time they need to grieve without worrying about their ability to take care of themselves or their families.
If you have lost a loved one in a semi-truck accident in South Carolina, contact our experienced personal injury attorneys in South Carolina to discuss your eligibility to file a wrongful death claim against the liable party during a consultation.
Do I Need to Hire a South Carolina Truck Accident Attorney if the Driver Was Definitely At Fault?
Even when your truck accident and injuries were clearly the tractor-trailer driver’s fault — possibly while under the influence of alcohol, speeding, or distracted — it is important to partner with an experienced and skilled semi-truck lawyer who can take on the insurance company and produce results.
The truck driver’s or trucking company’s insurance companies — or both — are going to investigate the truck accidents thoroughly and are only interested in obtaining evidence and information that helps strengthen their case.
This will allow the liable insurance company to delay, undervalue, or deny your financial recovery by skewing the data in their favor.
With an experienced Spartanburg, South Carolina truck accident attorney by your side, we will conduct an independent investigation into the driver, the trucking company, and all potential third parties that may be responsible for your injuries, while aggressively negotiating with each insurance company that may be responsible, so our clients can pursue the maximum amount for their case.
Moreover, partnering with a skilled truck accident law firm in Spartanburg will allow you to concentrate on your physical and emotional wellness, while we pursue the financial outcome you deserve.
The Rising Threat of Commercial Truck Collisions in Spartanburg, South Carolina
Spartanburg’s economy depends on trucking. From the major distribution centers along Interstate 85 to the industrial corridors connecting the Upstate to Georgia and North Carolina, heavy commercial traffic moves through the city every hour of the day. Unfortunately, this constant movement also increases the risk of serious and fatal collisions involving large commercial trucks.
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS), nearly 3,700 large-truck crashes occurred statewide in the most recent reporting year, with more than 1,000 resulting in injuries and over 90 resulting in fatalities. Spartanburg County consistently ranks among the top five counties for truck-related collisions, primarily due to its dense network of interstates and distribution facilities.
Each of these numbers represents far more than a statistic. Behind every crash is a family facing medical bills, lost income, and the trauma of a tragedy that could have been prevented.
Why Spartanburg Sees More Truck Accidents Than Other Areas
The Upstate region’s geography and economy make it one of the busiest trucking zones in South Carolina.
Several factors contribute to the unusually high number of collisions:
- Heavy Freight Traffic: I-85, I-26, and U.S. 29 serve as major commercial arteries, carrying thousands of tractor-trailers daily between Atlanta, Charlotte, and Greenville.
- Industrial Growth: Spartanburg is home to major manufacturing and logistics companies, including suppliers for the BMW plant in Greer. This concentration of warehouse and freight activity increases truck volume on local roads not built for heavy loads.
- Driver Fatigue and Scheduling Pressure: Long-haul truckers often operate on strict delivery deadlines. These schedules encourage long hours with insufficient rest, increasing the risk of fatigue-related crashes.
- Mixed Traffic Conditions: Passenger cars, motorcycles, and delivery vans share the same corridors as commercial rigs, creating dangerous conditions when drivers misjudge stopping distances or merge too closely near a truck’s blind spots.
While these challenges are common across the Southeast, Spartanburg’s growing industrial sector and its proximity to major transportation hubs make local highways particularly hazardous.
Federal and State Safety Regulations Often Go Ignored
Trucking companies and drivers are subject to strict safety rules under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These include limits on the number of hours a driver can operate without rest, mandatory vehicle inspections, and requirements for proper load securement.
Unfortunately, violations of these rules remain widespread. FMCSA compliance data shows that in a single recent year, more than 150,000 truck drivers nationwide were cited for hours-of-service breaches and nearly 220,000 vehicles were taken out of service for mechanical issues ranging from defective brakes to worn tires.
When trucking companies cut corners to save time or money, they put everyone on the road at risk. Even a single missed inspection can lead to a brake failure, tire blowout, or steering malfunction that causes catastrophic harm.
In South Carolina, when such negligence results in an injury or fatality, both the driver and the trucking company may be held liable – especially if the company failed to enforce safety standards or pushed drivers beyond legal limits.
The Role of Evidence in Building a Successful Truck Accident Case
Because truck accidents often involve multiple vehicles and complex factors, determining precisely what caused the crash requires careful investigation.
An experienced legal team will typically examine:
- Driver Logs and Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs): To confirm whether the driver exceeded federal hour limits or falsified records.
- Maintenance Records: To identify whether the trucking company properly maintained its fleet.
- Black Box Data: Commercial trucks are equipped with event data recorders that capture speed, braking, and engine performance leading up to the crash.
- Cargo and Weight Records: Overloaded or improperly balanced trailers are a leading cause of rollover and jackknife crashes.
- Communication Between Driver and Company: Emails or dispatch logs can show whether the company encouraged unsafe driving practices to meet delivery targets.
Securing this evidence quickly is essential. Trucking companies and insurers often act fast after a crash to control information and protect their financial interests. Immediate legal intervention helps ensure that no key data is lost or altered.
The Long-Term Consequences of Truck Accident Injuries
The force of a collision with an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer is life-altering. Survivors often face a lifetime of medical treatment and physical rehabilitation.
In addition to traumatic brain and spinal injuries, truck accident victims frequently experience:
- Orthopedic injuries requiring multiple surgeries.
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and emotional trauma.
- Loss of earning capacity due to permanent disability.
The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that the average cost of a disabling injury from a large truck crash now exceeds $160,000. In contrast, the price of a fatal truck accident averages more than $12 million when factoring in medical care, lost wages, and quality-of-life losses. These figures underscore why insurance companies fight aggressively to limit payouts, and why victims need strong advocates to protect their interests.
Economic and Community Impact of Truck Collisions in Spartanburg
Truck accidents have ripple effects beyond individual victims. The resulting congestion, emergency response costs, and property damage affect the entire community.
Local data from the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) shows that crashes involving large trucks often cause multi-hour closures on I-85 and I-26, disrupting commerce and delaying emergency transport. Each serious crash costs the region an estimated $1.2 million in combined medical expenses, lost productivity, and property damage.
Moreover, as Spartanburg continues to expand its logistics infrastructure, more trucks will enter residential and rural roads where the margin for error is small. Without stronger safety measures and accountability, the upward trend in commercial vehicle collisions is likely to continue.1
The Importance of Identifying All Liable Parties
Truck accident cases rarely involve just one negligent individual.
Multiple parties may share responsibility for the crash, including:
- The Truck Driver: For speeding, distraction, or fatigue.
- The Trucking Company: For unsafe scheduling, poor training, or maintenance failures.
- Cargo Loaders: For improper weight distribution or unsecured loads.
- Manufacturers or Mechanics: For defective components or inadequate repairs.
- Third-Party Contractors: For neglecting safety oversight in outsourced operations.
Identifying each responsible entity is vital to ensure full compensation for victims. A single oversight can leave victims without access to the full insurance coverage available.
A Community Committed to Safety and Accountability
Every truck crash in Spartanburg is a reminder of how fragile life on the road can be. These accidents devastate families, strain emergency services, and leave lasting scars on the community. By demanding accountability and emphasizing prevention, residents and local leaders can help make the Upstate’s highways safer for everyone.
At David W. Martin Accident & Injury Lawyers, our goal is to ensure that every injured individual and grieving family in Spartanburg has access to truth, transparency, and justice after a commercial truck crash, because no one should bear the cost of negligence alone.
Contact Our Experienced David W. Martin Truck Accident & Injury Lawyers in Spartanburg, South Carolina Today to Schedule a consultation
Getting hurt or losing a loved one in a South Carolina truck accident is life-changing.
Our experienced Spartanburg truck accident attorneys at the David W. Martin Accident and Injury Lawyers want to help you get your life back on track by calling 803-258-6199 today to schedule a consultation to learn more about your legal rights and options to hold the negligent party liable for your complete physical, emotional, and financial recovery.
We provide consultations for all personal injury cases in South Carolina, and never charge any legal fees unless we deliver a positive outcome for your unique case.