North Charleston, SC Fatal Truck Accident Lawyers

Wrongful Death Attorneys Serving Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley Counties

Few motor vehicle collisions are more horrifying than South Carolina semi-truck accidents. Semi-truck and other large commercial automobiles are enormous vehicles capable of causing extreme damage. While most truck drivers understand the seriousness of their job and do everything they can to remain safe at all times, unfortunately, that is not always the case. 

At the Steinberg Law Firm, our North Charleston truck accident lawyers represent victims, and their families in personal injury and wrongful death claims to help them recover financial compensation after a tragic accident. Unlike other North Charleston personal injury law firms, the Steinberg Law Firm advocates are unceasingly committed not only to our individual clients’ cases but to society as a whole. We want to make North Charleston a safer place for our children by holding negligent truck drivers and their employers accountable for their actions. 

Truck Accident Statistics

National Statistics

In 2022, a total of 4,764 people died in crashes involving large trucks nationwide, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Of those deaths:

• 66 percent were in a car or other passenger vehicle,
• 17 percent were a driver or passenger in a large truck, and
• 16 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists. 

Fatal truck crashes climbed 51 percent between 2009 and 2022. The year 2009 marked the lowest year for fatal truck accidents in the US since the nation began collecting truck crash death statistics in 1975. In 2022, 83 percent more occupants of large trucks died in these accidents than in 2009. 

Eleven percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths in 2022 happened in a truck crash – even though large trucks make up only about 4 percent of all traffic on the nation’s roads. Of these crashes: 

• 73 percent of fatal truck crashes involved a tractor-trailer, and
• 28 percent involved a single-unit truck, such as a box truck.

Some crashes involved both types of trucks. 

In 61 percent of fatal truck accidents in 2022, two or more people lost their lives. In 39 percent of crashes, only one person died, although others may have been seriously injured. 

While fatal large truck crashes can happen on any type of road, some roadways saw more of these accidents than others. In 2022:

• 49 percent of truck crash deaths occurred on major roads that weren’t interstates or freeways – roads like state highways.
• 35 percent of truck crash deaths occurred on US interstates and freeways.
• 16 percent of fatal truck crashes occurred on “minor roads,” including neighborhoods, side streets, and rural roads. 

South Carolina Statistics

Large trucks were involved in 131 fatal traffic crashes in South Carolina in 2022. These 131 collisions made up 12.9 percent of all fatal traffic crashes that year. In total, 3,159 large trucks appeared in traffic crashes in the state in 2022. 

In South Carolina in 2022:

• 131 fatal large truck crashes occurred,
• 138 people were killed in a large truck crash. 

In addition, 134 crashes caused serious injuries to 169 people. 

2023 saw a slight decrease in fatal truck crashes in South Carolina, with 106 recorded that year. In the first half of 2024, 75 fatal crashes were recorded.

Trucks traveling in interstate commerce were more likely to be involved in deadly crashes than other types of large trucks. In 2022:

• 63 fatal crashes and 64 deaths involved an interstate carrier,
• 26 fatal crashes and 27 deaths involved a South Carolina-only carrier,
• 27 fatal crashes and 32 deaths involved a large truck that wasn’t involved in commerce or belonged to a government entity, and
• 2 fatal crashes and 2 deaths involved more than one type of carrier. 

South Carolina mirrors the national statistics when it comes to where deadly truck crashes take place. Like the rest of the US, South Carolina saw more deaths on major roads than on interstate highways in 2022. Also, like the rest of the country, South Carolina had no roadway types that were free of crash deaths. 

In 2022, South Carolina experienced:

• 27 fatal crashes on interstate highways,
• 35 fatal crashes on US primary routes,
• 36 fatal crashes on SC primary routes,
• 28 fatal crashes on secondary roads,
• 3 fatal crashes on county roads, and
• 2 fatal crashes on highway ramps. 

In fatal crashes of passenger vehicles, drivers aged 25 to 34 are at the highest risk of death. In large trucks, older drivers face the highest risk: the largest age group of truck drivers in fatal South Carolina collisions are typically between 55 and 64 years old. 

In 2022, 44.6 percent of drivers in large truck crashes were from states other than South Carolina. Drivers from neighboring states such as North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida comprised over half of this group.

North Charleston Truck Accidents

In the first nine months of 2022, 87 truck crashes were recorded in North Charleston. While none of these crashes caused deaths, over 40 resulted in at least one serious injury. Most involved more than one vehicle, with two separate accidents involving a five-car pileup. 

Types of trucks involved in North Charleston truck accidents included:

• Tractor-trailers,
• Single-unit transport vans and enclosed box trucks,
• Flatbed trucks,
• Open cargo trucks carrying grain, gravel, and similar materials,
• Dump trucks and
• Dedicated garbage trucks. 

The majority of large truck crashes in North Charleston in the first nine months of 2024 were collisions between a truck and another vehicle. Other crashes involved a truck hitting a fixed object or a truck running off the road. Approximately 11 accidents occurred when a large truck hit a parked car. At least two crashes involved a truck rolling over.

Proving a North Charleston Wrongful Death Claim After a Fatal Truck Accident

Losing a loved one is always an exceptionally challenging time for a family. However, when your loved one is ripped away from you in a preventable accident, the tragedy becomes magnified. Yet, each year, dozens of families are forced to go through the unimaginable tragedy of losing a loved one in a fatal truck accident. 

South Carolina law allows families who have lost a loved one in a truck accident to pursue a claim for compensation against all responsible parties. These are called wrongful death claims and must be brought by the executor of the personal representative of the accident victim’s estate. In many cases, but not always, this is a family member.

While an executor or personal representative is the person who must file a North Charleston wrongful death case, they will bring the claim on behalf of the accident victim’s surviving family members. Typically, this includes the spouse and children of the deceased. However, if an accident victim does not leave behind a spouse or child, the claim can be brought on behalf of the deceased’s parents or other heirs. 

A wrongful death claim is essentially a personal injury claim. Both personal injury claims and wrongful death claims are based on the legal theory of negligence. To prove a wrongful death claim arising out of a truck accident, a party must be able to establish that another person’s “wrongful act, neglect, or default” caused the death of their loved one. Legally speaking, this requires they meet the four basic elements of a negligence claim:

1. Duty – The truck driver owed the accident victim a duty of care;
2. Breach – The truck driver violated the duty owed to the accident victim through some action or failure to act;
3. Causation – The truck driver’s breach of the duty owed to the accident victim resulted in their death; and
4. Damages – The accident victim suffered damages as a result of the truck driver’s negligence. 

The final element of the negligence analysis is not at issue in a wrongful death claim, as the tragic loss of life certainly meets this requirement. However, the remaining elements can pose challenges to families hoping to recover compensation for losing a loved one. 

For example, truck drivers and their insurance companies often argue that the truck driver’s actions did not constitute a breach of the duty they owed to the accident victim. Alternatively, they may claim that the deceased accident victim contributed to the cause of the accident. Given the challenges inherent in bringing a North Charleston truck accident claim, families should work with a dedicated attorney with specific experience handling these claims. 

While wrongful death claims arising from fatal truck accidents are similar to other motor vehicle accident claims, one major difference is the possibility of naming the truck driver’s employer as a defendant. Under the doctrine of vicarious liability, accident victims may be able to hold trucking companies responsible for their employees’ negligence. Doing so is important because truck drivers may not have the assets to compensate a family for their loss fairly. By establishing a trucking company’s liability, families are much more likely to recover the full amount of compensation awarded if their case is successful. 

Finally, while filing a North Charleston wrongful death claim may be the last thing on a family’s mind after experiencing a major loss, families must act quickly to bring a claim. Under South Carolina law, an executor or personal representative has only three years from the date of an accident victim’s death to bring a claim. Cases filed after the statute of limitations expires will almost certainly be dismissed. 

At the Steinberg Law Firm, we have represented families in North Charleston wrongful death claims since 1927. We understand the substantive legal principles that govern these claims and what our clients are going through. For this reason, when you choose to work with our firm, we will always take the time to get to know you and how the accident impacted your life before we offer any advice. We respect your grieving process and will never pressure you in any way. We are here to support you and help you bring a claim against those responsible for the death of your loved one. 

Causes of North Charleston Fatal Truck Accidents

There is no doubt, a truck driver’s job is not an easy one. They operate huge vehicles that are difficult to control and can take a long distance to stop. However, that is no excuse for negligence. The majority of fatal North Charleston semi-truck accidents are not the result of well-meaning truck drivers who fall victim to unforeseeable events outside their control. Most truck accidents are caused by truck driver negligence or, in some cases, faulty truck equipment. The most common causes of Fatal North Charleston truck accidents include:

• Distracted driving
• Overcorrecting
• Disregarding traffic signals
• Drug or alcohol use
• Aggressive driving
• Improper passing
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Drowsy driving
• Following too closely

In addition to these driver-related errors, some truck accidents are caused by mechanical failures. Semis and other large trucks have many complex systems that all must work in tandem for the truck to operate safely. When one system fails, the truck driver may lose control of the rig, or the trailer may detach, potentially leading to a fatal truck accident. Some common equipment failures that can easily lead to an accident include:

1. Defective lights
2. Tire failure
3. Overloading cargo
4. Misloading cargo
5. Steering failures
6. Defective brakes
7. Trailer-related defects

Regardless of the cause of the accident leading to your loved one’s tragic death, the attorneys at Steinberg Law Firm can help. With more than 95 years of experience assisting families in pursuing the compensation they need and deserve, we have the dedication, knowledge, and skill to effectively bring a claim on your behalf. We also work closely with a team of experts who will help prove your claim should the need arise. 

Damages in a North Charleston Fatal Truck Accident Case

Families who have lost a loved one in a fatal North Charleston truck accident not only must deal with their tragic loss, but they also incur economic costs related to the accident. Through a wrongful death lawsuit, families may be able to recover for both their out-of-pocket expenses as well as non-economic damages. 

Economic damages available through a North Charleston wrongful death claim include:

• Medical bills, including emergency room treatment, subsequent hospital stays, follow-up doctors’ visits and more;
• Lost wages consisting of the income that an accident victim would have earned had they lived to a normal life expectancy;
• Loss of benefits, such as medical coverage of pension benefits; and
• Loss of inheritance resulting from the victim’s death.

Most economic damages are relatively straightforward, as these represent the actual costs stemming from the accident victim’s death. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are much harder to quantify. 

Examples of non-economic damages in a wrongful death claim include: 

• Family members’ pain and suffering;
• Loss of support and companionship; and
• Loss of consortium (for spouses) 

Maximizing both economic and non-economic damage awards requires a skilled attorney to present the judge and/or jury with the full impact that the accident victim’s death had on a family. Our knowledgeable and compassionate team of truck accident lawyers at the Steinberg Law Firm work closely with grieving families — answering all questions while respecting the grieving process. We pride ourselves in offering families comprehensive representation from the moment we are brought onto a case, taking care of everything so our clients can focus on overcoming their loss. 

Reach Out to a Charleston Fatal Truck Accident Lawyer Today

If you have recently lost a loved one in a fatal North Charleston truck accident, contact the wrongful death attorneys at the Steinberg Law Firm. Our compassionate team of personal injury attorneys is here to help you every step of the way. We recognize that this is a challenging time for you and your family, and we cater our representation accordingly. If you choose to allow us to file a claim on your behalf, we will aggressively pursue maximum compensation for your economic and non-economic losses while still allowing your family time and space to grieve. With more than 95 years of experience helping North Charleston families obtain the compensation they deserve, the Steinberg Law Firm can effectively guide your family through the recovery process. To learn more about how our committed personal injury lawyers can help with your claim and schedule a free consultation today, call us at 843-720-2800. You can also reach us through our online form.