Steinberg Law Firm Wins $1.2 Million Settlement in Two-Truck Collision

Attorneys Wilson Jackson and Catie Meehan recently secured a $1.2 million settlement for a Steinberg Law Firm client who was severely injured when a commercial truck crashed into his dump truck. The case reveals the severity of our client’s injuries and the oversights in the trucking industry.

The Facts of the Truck Crash

Our client, a 56-year-old South Carolina man, was driving a dump truck. While idling at a red light on Savannah Highway in Charleston County, a commercial tractor-trailer crashed into his dump truck from the side. Our client suffered severe neck, back, and shoulder injuries as a result of this collision. 

Over the months that followed, our client continued to experience lingering pain and other issues from his injuries. He received physical therapy and epidural steroid injections to manage the pain, swelling, and other health issues. However, doctors advised that our client may need cervical fusion surgery in the future to address the problems with his neck. His estimated future medical costs totaled nearly $400,000. 

Settlement and Compensation

Attorneys Jackson and Meehan thoroughly investigated the case. They consulted with experts, filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, and took other steps to gather facts and understand the causes of the collision. 

Their work led to a total settlement of $1.2 million for the injured client. This total includes nearly $30,000 in medical bills our client had already incurred for his medical treatment. It also includes over $393,000 in “life care plan” costs, intended to address the estimated cost of future surgery and other needs. 

Broader Issues in Commercial Trucking Safety

Steinberg Law Firm’s investigation of the collision revealed that it wasn’t an isolated incident. Instead, the collision was a predictable outcome of a series of lapses by the commercial trucking company. 

Our client’s case investigation revealed three major safety issues with the commercial truck that collided with our client’s vehicle: brake and tire issues, safety compliance issues, and driver oversight. These are common problems on South Carolina highways and local roads. 

Brake and Tire Safety

Most commercial trucks use air-powered brakes. On a tractor-trailer, air is compressed by the tractor’s engine. It is fed to the trailer brakes through air hoses connected with “gladhand” connectors. 

On the commercial truck that injured our client, attorneys Jackson and Meehan discovered that the air brakes weren’t working at the time of the crash. Problems with the gladhands and hose leaks were so severe that they were audible when the truck ran. 

The trucking company should not have been surprised by the brake issues. A FOIA records request revealed multiple citations for brake and tire issues, dating back several months before the collision. Yet, the issues hadn’t been corrected. The truck’s brakes weren’t working properly, reducing any chance the driver may have had to prevent the collision. 

Federal and State Safety Compliance

Issues with safety compliance reached beyond this truck and its broken brakes. Further investigation revealed the trucking company had not renewed its Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) operating authority. 

Operating authority provides federal legal authorization for commercial vehicles carrying cargo or passengers in interstate commerce. It ensures that trucking companies meet minimum FMCSA safety compliance requirements. 

The trucking company also lacked essential safety management protocols. If enforced, these protocols could have prevented a crash like the one that injured our client. 

Driver Oversight

The trucking company’s negligence in vehicle maintenance and maintaining its operating authority was repeated in its lack of driver oversight. During our investigation, the Steinberg Law Firm discovered that the driver of the truck that hit our client had a history of unsafe driving habits. These included past citations for excessive speeding and failing to maintain vehicle control. 

Driver oversight is an essential part of safe trucking company management. Companies must provide adequate training. They must also screen their drivers for drug use, unsafe driving habits, and similar issues that could increase the risk of a crash. Trucking companies must also ensure their drivers adhere to federal and state safety regulations. 

Issues like these are far too common in the commercial trucking industry. This case provides a single example of a larger problem affecting South Carolina and the entire United States. 

If you’ve been injured in a commercial truck crash, don’t wait. Speak to the team at the Steinberg Law Firm today.