Myrtle Beach Truck Blocking Accident Lawyer

Much of the food and other goods we rely on every day are shipped around the country on semi-trucks. These large vehicles are useful for carrying lots of stuff, but they can also present a serious safety hazard for other drivers. This is true even when trucks aren’t moving, as they can still cause serious injuries and major property damage if another driver collides with a truck that’s blocking traffic. These crashes are known as “blocking” accidents.

The Myrtle Beach truck accident attorneys of the Law Office of William J. Luse, Inc. Accident & Injury Lawyers are here to help if you’ve been injured after colliding with a stopped truck. Even though your vehicle struck the truck, the crash may not have been your fault, or you may not be fully to blame. This means you can potentially recover compensation for your physical injuries, lost income, medical bills, and other losses that resulted from the accident.

Our highly experienced South Carolina truck accident lawyers are standing by to investigate your case and determine what compensation you may be able to claim. Visit our contact page or call (843) 839-4795 to learn more.

What Are Blocking Accidents?

Blocking accidents occur when a truck is stopped or backing up on a roadway while blocking traffic, hence the name. Though many blocking accidents occur at relatively low speeds, the sheer size and weight of large trucks mean they can still inflict massive damage on people and property if a crash happens.

How Often Do Blocking Accidents Occur?

Reliable statistics on blocking accidents are hard to find, but one report from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) offers some clues. In their report, FHWA researchers concluded that about 18.8 percent of all truck crashes are caused by passenger drivers striking or nearly striking trucks that are stopped in traffic, parked on the side of the road, or moving slowly in traffic.

Additional research supports the FHWA’s conclusions. The latest available data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) indicates that 398 of the 2,344 fatal truck accidents nationwide in 2019 happened when a passenger vehicle struck the truck at an angle other than head-on or from behind. That’s about 17 percent of all fatal truck accidents reported that year.

How Do Blocking Accidents Happen?

A truck does not necessarily have to be fully stopped for it to block traffic and potentially cause an accident. Here are a few of the most common ways blocking accidents occur:

• Trucks stuck in traffic — If a truck is stuck in traffic, it’s easy for another vehicle to hit it. A truck driver that isn’t paying attention to what they’re doing might cause an accident and end up blocking one or more lanes of traffic, which could lead to additional collisions. Bad weather can also cause trucks to become stuck in the road, and with poor visibility conditions, other drivers may not be able to see the truck in time to avoid a crash.
• Trucks backing up into other vehicles while blocking traffic — Truck drivers need to be especially careful when reversing their vehicles, as they’re unable to see directly behind them if they’re towing a trailer. What’s worse, the large size of trucks means they can easily block other vehicles behind them from shifting to the side or pulling ahead to get out of the truck’s way. A driver who doesn’t take proper precautions when backing up can easily collide with another vehicle and force the vehicle under their trailer.
• Trucks blocking driveways, parking lots, etc. — Trucks often have trouble parking on the street or in parking lots. This means they sometimes park in a way that fully or partially blocks driveways, intersections, or entrances and exits to parking lots and buildings. A driver trying to maneuver around these parked trucks could collide with the truck or another vehicle.
• Trucks parked in unsafe locations off the road — It’s an unfortunate fact, but many truck drivers have problems finding safe places to park when they’re done driving for the day. A trucker who’s desperate for a place to stop might park on the side of the road, on a freeway on-ramp or off-ramp, or another unsafe spot. Because these spots are so exposed, it’s easy for another vehicle to inadvertently hit a truck that’s parked where it isn’t supposed to be.
• Trucks parked around blind curves in the road — In bad weather or after suffering some kind of mechanical failure, a truck could end up stuck in the road around a blind curve. This is an extremely dangerous situation, as any vehicles coming up behind the stuck truck will likely have little or no warning to be able to avoid a potential crash.

Common Injuries from Truck Blocking Crashes

Truck accidents generally cause more severe injuries than other kinds of car accidents, and blocking accidents are no exception. Some of the most common injuries stemming from blocking accidents are:

• Multiple broken bones or fractures
• Severe internal bleeding
• Damage to internal organs
• Back injuries
• Spinal cord damage
• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Amputated, crushed, or severed limbs
• Disfigurement
• Burn injuries
• Mental trauma

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Blocking Accident?

Depending on the specific facts of a particular crash, there are several parties who could potentially be found liable for a blocking accident. These parties include:

• The truck driver — The first place to start after any blocking accident is to look at the truck driver’s actions. If the driver was distracted, impaired, reckless, or otherwise negligent, they could be held responsible for your injuries.
• The trucking company — Trucking companies are supposed to monitor their drivers’ actions and hire drivers without a prior history of safety issues. The trucking company could be held liable for an accident if they knowingly allowed a negligent driver on the road, or if they failed to thoroughly vet the driver before hiring them.
• Vehicle or parts manufacturers — Many blocking accidents are the result of trucks getting stuck after experiencing some kind of mechanical failure. In cases like these, manufacturers can be held responsible if the part that failed had a manufacturing or design defect.
• Maintenance and cargo workers — Some blocking accidents are caused by slipshod maintenance or cargo loaders not taking enough care to make sure the truck’s payload is properly balanced and secured. This can cause the initial crash that leads to a blocking accident later on. If a maintenance or cargo worker didn’t take enough care when performing their duties, they could be held liable for a blocking crash.

Potential Compensation in a Blocking Accident Claim

With help from the right truck accident lawyer, you could recover significant compensation for your injuries after a blocking accident. This could include compensation for:

• Your lost income
• Your medical bills
• Your reduced earning capacity
• Your damaged property
• Your physical pain and suffering
• Your emotional distress and mental trauma

How Can a Truck Accident Attorney Help?

Hiring a personal injury lawyer after a blocking accident makes it much more likely you’ll recover fair compensation for your losses. While you’re resting and healing, your truck accident lawyer can investigate your case, identify the liable parties, and begin negotiations for a reasonable insurance settlement. And if a fair settlement can’t be reached, you’ll want help from an attorney to bring your case to trial so you can get the money you need.

Blocking accidents are terrible tragedies, but you still have options for getting the money you need to put your life back together. Contact the Law Office of William J. Luse, Inc. Accident & Injury Lawyers today for a free initial consultation.