SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. – An accident unfolded in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, resulting in the loss of a passenger when a van collided with a flatbed truck carrying extended steel beams.
The passenger has been identified as 28-year-old Andres Perez-Lopez of Greer, South Carolina.
The collision occurred at approximately 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday along Highway 14, near its intersection with Interstate 85, about three miles south of Greer. Preliminary findings indicate a van was traveling west on Highway 14 when it collided with a flatbed truck that was turning into a driveway.
Mr. Perez-Lopez, seated in the right front seat of the van, suffered fatal injuries when the van impacted the steel beams that extended off the back of the truck.
Further updates and relevant information will be provided as the investigation progresses.
Failure to Follow Truck Overload and Size Limits Continues to Cause Deaths
Large truck fatalities in the United States continue to remain high. In 2021, 5,700 large trucks were involved in a deadly crash, a staggering 49 percent increase in the last ten years (National Safety Council, 2023). And while no two accidents are the same, many of these truck collisions often have a recurring pattern: driver error, failure to adhere to regulations, or negligence on the trucking company’s behalf. Even when it appears the cause of the crash is clear, further investigation is often needed.
When a truck driver or the company they work for fails the public with unsafe practices on the road, they need to be held accountable. One way to do this is by making sure trucks follow load limit laws and maximize precautions to avoid these types of incidents and fatalities.
Every state has its own load and size limits. So when a driver has to make a delivery across states, the trucking company must have a permit for each state it is passing by if the truck and load exceed that state’s legal size or weight limits. In addition to state limits, all large trucks must adhere to federal regulations and guidelines concerning load and size limits.
In the grievous accident of Mr. Perez-Lopez, we do not yet have all the details, but we know that the truck had metal hanging off the back, and it must be determined whether all precaution was taken to protect the driver of the van and the passenger, Mr. Perez-Lopez.
We had a recent case where a woman was killed when her vehicle was sideswiped by a load too large for the lane. The trucking company tried to blame our deceased client. However, evidence showed the driver failed to follow federal rules regarding oversized loads, putting the motoring public at risk of an accident. Truck drivers must take all reasonable precautions and follow load limits to prevent this type of accident.
Additionally, truckers must ensure their vehicles are properly lit to operate at night. We know this accident occurred a little after 8 p.m. We still do not know if the truck had the appropriate safety equipment, such as warning flags, signs, flashing or fluorescent lights, banners, and all the tools that create a safe environment and save lives. If the driver failed to have safety equipment in place or the trucking company did not adequately provide these tools, they may be held accountable for the untimely death of Perez-Lopez.
Many accidents need further investigation before fault can be determined. Trained professionals must find the answers to these questions. If any wrongdoing is found on behalf of the truck driver and/or the trucking company, they must be held responsible for their actions.
Mr. Perez-Lopez’s family deserves to know all the details of what happened and to receive compensation for immeasurable suffering.
While facts continue to come to light, I give my most heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mr. Perez-Lopez.
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The Ammons Law Firm represents clients nationwide in truck accident cases, with extensive experience in dealing with commercial truck accidents.
Disclaimer: This post is not legal advice. Information contained in this blog was compiled from third-party sources or is the opinion of the author. Please inform us immediately if false or misleading information is contained in this post.
