Horry County, South Carolina – One person died, and four other people were injured when a Chevy box truck slammed into a 2015 Mitsubishi head-on on North Highway 701 Bypass and Waccamaw Drive. A 2021 Nissan was also impacted in the collision.
Christine Hardy, the Nissan driver, was killed, and four others suffered injuries, including the truck driver, the Mitsubishi driver, and the two passengers in Hardy’s Nissan.
Medical personnel transported all injured parties to the hospital.
Thoughts on Head-on collisions caused by large trucks
The National Safety Council reports that in 2021, 5,7888 people died in large truck crashes. Seventy-two percent of those deaths were occupants of other vehicles. Because there is greater potential for loss of life, serious injury, and significant property damage in accidents involving CMVs, the FHWA’s regulations (in 49 CFR Part 383) hold drivers of commercial vehicles to a higher standard of conduct than other highway users. This also applies to trucking companies and commercial companies. They, too, must take every precaution to ensure drivers are properly trained and ready to operate on public roadways.
An investigation by trained professionals will determine whether the truck driver and the trucking company held a higher level of safety on the road. Many head-on collisions happen because of fatigue or distraction. Did that happen here? Did the driver feel pressure to drive more than the legal amount allotted to meet deadlines? Was the driver distracted?
Mechanical issues can also play a role in head-on crashes (mechanical failure accounts for 10% of all fatal accidents). Trucking companies are obligated to keep their trucks up to date on maintenance and conduct inspections regularly. If a detected mechanical problem goes unfixed and a terrible accident happens, the trucking company should be held accountable for any harm caused.
Having safe drivers and safe commercial trucks on our roadways is a must. When fatal accidents happen because of someone else’s neglect, all wrongdoers need to be held responsible. The family of the deceased and those injured deserve answers. May they receive them, along with the help and support they need during this difficult time.
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The Ammons Law Firm represents clients nationwide in catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation, with extensive experience in complex auto/tire defect and commercial vehicle cases.
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.
