Steinberg Law Firm’s Recent Case Result Makes South Carolina Roads Safer

Truck Accident Highlights Poor Company Training Policies

Some personal injury cases have the potential to go beyond securing monetary compensation for a client and bring about industry-wide changes that improve public safety. A recent case Attorneys Steven Goldberg and Wilson Jackson handled achieved just that by addressing systemic failures in a trucking company’s safety practices and securing new policies to prevent future incidents.

Truck Accident Case Background

Our client suffered injuries to his shoulder that required surgery when a tractor-trailer failed to slow down and rearended his vehicle that was stopped for traffic on a rural highway in Ridgeville, South Carolina. A dash camera video of the collision revealed that the tractor-trailer did not slow down before impact. Further investigation into the trucking company revealed that the trucking company had several out-of-service violations for brake-related issues, including failures to properly maintain the air brake systems throughout its fleet of tractor-trailers.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and the South Carolina CDL Manual require pre-trip inspections to detect leaks in air hoses or other issues that could impair functionality of the air brakes. During depositions we exposed the following:

1. Truck Driver’s Admission: the driver acknowledged that he did not know how to perform a proper pre-trip inspection, including the critical air brake leakage test.
2. Safety Director’s Admission: even more alarming, the company’s safety director—responsible for training drivers—admitted he also lacked knowledge of the required inspection procedures.

These revelations demonstrated that the company’s systemic failure to train its employees adequately contributed directly to the collision.

Settlement and Company Training Policy Change

While securing a settlement for our client’s injuries was a key objective, we also recognized an opportunity to address the root causes of the trucking company’s negligence. As part of the settlement, we negotiated terms that required the company to implement new safety training policies, including Comprehensive Pre-Trip Inspection Training—ensuring that all drivers receive proper instruction on conducting air brake leakage tests and other critical safety checks.

These measures were designed not only to address the immediate issues uncovered during the case but also to create a safer operational environment for the company’s entire fleet. By compelling a trucking company to implement new safety training policies, we not only achieved justice for our client but also contributed to a safer transportation industry in South Carolina.

If you have been injured in an accident involving a truck in South Carolina, our top-rated truck accident injury attorneys have the experience and determination to secure the compensation and justice you need and deserve. We offer free consultations and no upfront fee.