Post South Carolina Truck Accident, Residents Complain of Defective Highway
Last week, a woman was injured in an 18-wheeler accident in Lancaster County, South Carolina; residents in the area insist the crash was the result of a dangerous highway.
The accident happened when a mini-van tried to turn off highway 75 in Lancaster County on to Hector Road. Apparently, the driver of the mini-van did not see an 18-wheeler that was coming directly toward her. The large truck crashed into the back of the van and then skidded, overturning in the middle of the road. The truck was hauling tons of wood chips, which were strewn across the highway.
Residents near the Indian Land rural road, where the accident took place, insist that the road is particularly risky for speeding big rigs and cars. They claim there is very little patrolling on the road, which results in motorists and 18-wheeler drivers speeding and breaking traffic rules, with sometimes disastrous consequences. However, state troopers have a different story to tell. According to them, highway 75, where the wood chip 18-wheeler accident took place, is no more dangerous than any other road. In fact, it is not in the top 25 on the list of Lancaster County's most dangerous roads. Troopers are placed in heaviest concentration on roads that have a high number of serious or fatal accidents.
Rural roads tend to have less traffic and fewer accidents. However, that does not mean these roads are free of defects. A dangerous highway can go unnoticed when traffic volumes are lower. As neighboring populations increase and the number of passenger vehicles and 18-wheelers using these back roads increases, the risk of accidents also increases. It is important for law enforcement agencies to take into account, not only the number of accidents and injuries that take place on these back roads, but also the increase in traffic volume. State enforcement agencies, however, tend to have their hands tied due to limited staff and resources.
Dangerous Highways
A major accident, one that involves injuries and fatalities, usually works as a catalyst for state agencies to make the road safer. If there is a defective highway in a rural area that seems to have an increased risk of accidents, it is the responsibility of state authorities to post more troopers and take other steps to make the road safer for motorists and truck drivers. There should not have to be serious injuries, fatalities, or involvement of truck accident lawyers for authorities to correct dangerous highway conditions.
If you've been injured due to a dangerous highway, a truck accident lawyer can help you recover from your injuries.
Contact a truck accident attorney, at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free evaluation of your case.
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The multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 5 began when an 18-wheeler was traveling through a tunnel. As the driver traveled at more than 65 mph, the truck jackknifed, crashing into a wall. Vehicles behind the truck were able to slow down and avoid hitting the 18-wheeler. Further down the tunnel, however, other big rigs, pickup trucks, and cars were not as lucky. Several vehicles crashed into one another and fuel from large trucks set off a raging fire. Motorists were forced to abandon their cars and run for safety. The tunnel instantly became an inferno, killing 3 people. One was a 6-year-old boy who managed to survive the crash, but burned to death. In all, the accident included 33 trucks, 26 of which were consumed by flames.