High-Risk Areas for Truck Accidents in Greenville, SC

Greenville is becoming one of the more dangerous places to drive in South Carolina, in part due to the high volume of commercial truck traffic.

In fact, the Department of Public Safety reports that Greenville County led the entire state in both reported motor vehicle accidents and fatal motor vehicle accidents in the most recent year with available data. The agency reports that there were 16,640 total collisions and 71 fatal collisions in the county that year.

However, not all parts of Greenville are equally hazardous for motorists. Certain areas stand out as particularly high-risk for truck accidents, including I-85, I-385, and surface roads like Woodruff Road and Wade Hampton Boulevard.

If you have been injured in a truck crash and believe that a truck driver or carrier was to blame, contact The Melonakos Law Firm right away to discuss your options with an experienced truck accident lawyer in Greenville. The consultation is free and comes without further obligations.

Why Certain Greenville Roads See More Truck Crashes

Certain roads in Greenville stand out in terms of their potential for serious truck accidents due to their:

• High freight volume — Greenville sits along the I-85 corridor, one of the Southeast’s most important freight routes, carrying a constant flow of commercial trucks between Atlanta, Charlotte, and the Upstate’s industrial centers. The sheer volume of tractor-trailers on local highways increases traffic density and creates more opportunities for collisions involving large commercial vehicles.
• BMW manufacturing corridor traffic — The Greenville-Spartanburg region is home to major manufacturers, including BMW and Michelin, as well as hundreds of automotive suppliers that rely on daily truck shipments. Heavy truck traffic moving to and from factories, warehouses, and distribution centers places additional strain on roads such as I-85, creating conditions that can contribute to serious truck accidents.
• Lane mergers — Areas that force vehicles to merge can be particularly dangerous for big trucks and the other drivers around them. Large trucks require more time and distance to change lanes and stop safely, so merging areas often become conflict points where crashes are more likely.
• Congestion — Rapid growth throughout the Upstate has led to increasing congestion on major routes, especially along I-85 and I-385. Heavy commuter traffic in areas of changing traffic conditions can increase the risk of rear-end collisions and other crashes involving large trucks, as these vehicles require greater stopping distances than cars.
• Road design — Certain Greenville-area roads feature complex interchanges, closely spaced exits, sharp curves, and high-traffic intersections that can be challenging for commercial drivers to navigate. When roadway design combines with heavy truck traffic and high vehicle volumes, the risk of serious accidents can increase significantly.

Statewide, commercial motor vehicles were involved in 2.2 percent of total collisions but 11.6 percent of fatal motor collisions, according to Department of Public Safety data. Three-quarters of the fatalities were people who were not in a commercial motor vehicle.

I-85: The Busiest Freight Corridor in Greenville

I-85 is not just one of the most dangerous roads for trucks in Greenville. It is also one of the most-traveled truck corridors in the state. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety’s review of the latest available data, I-85 in South Carolina saw:

• 16 fatal collisions resulting in 21 deaths
• 15 serious injury collisions resulting in 16 persons seriously injured
• 516 other injury crashes resulting in 761 persons injured
• 3,104 property damage-only crashes

All told, I-85 was the second leading roadway in Greenville County in terms of total collisions, and its connections with S-492 (Pelham Road) and US-276 (Laurens Road) ranked first and second in intersection collisions. The I-85 interchange with SC-146 (Woodruff Road) had the fifth-highest number of collisions in the county.

I-385 and the Laurens Road Corridor

I-385 is a spur of I-85 linking Greenville and I-26 in Laurens to the southeast. I-385 is one of the leading locations for 18-wheeler accidents in Greenville.

SCDPS reports that, in one recent year, I-385 experienced:

• 4 fatal collisions resulting in 5 deaths
• 9 serious injury collisions resulting in 12 persons seriously injured
• 136 other injury collisions resulting in 210 persons injured
• 577 property-damage-only crashes

I-385’s interchange with S-183 in downtown Greenville saw the third highest number of intersection collisions in Greenville County, according to the SCDPS study.

Woodruff Road, Wade Hampton Blvd., and Other High-Risk Surface Streets

While interstates get considerable attention for truck accidents, they do not have a monopoly on commercial motor vehicle crashes. According to SCDPS, more than 22 percent of all fatal truck accidents and almost 13 percent of all serious injury truck accidents in South Carolina happened on secondary roads in the most recent year with available data.

Surface roads present unique hazards not found on interstates, such as intersections, sharp turns, and non-motorized traffic.

According to WSPA, a high volume of traffic accidents has spurred Greenville city leaders to pursue safety projects on the following roadways, which they refer to as the “high injury network”:

• Woodruff Road
• Laurens Road
• North Pleasantburg Drive
• Wade Hampton Boulevard

What Makes Truck Crashes on These Roads Different

In many ways, truck crashes on I-85, I-385, and the “high injury network” roads are no different from those on other roadways. Serious collisions occur for many of the same reasons, including truck driver fatigue, distracted driving, aggressive driving, and improper vehicle handling. The main difference is the volume of accidents, as the sheer number of both commercial and non-commercial motor vehicles on these roadways increases both the risk of collisions and the severity of the resulting injuries.

Steps to Take if You Were Hit by a Truck on a Greenville High-Risk Road

Were you hurt in a truck accident that happened on a high-risk road in Greenville? Once the dust has settled and you have received medical treatment, you can take the following steps to protect yourself and your right to compensation:

1. Follow through with all recommended medical treatment and keep records of your appointments.
2. Save copies of accident-related documents, including medical bills, repair estimates, and any correspondence you receive from the trucking company or its insurer.
3. Keep a journal documenting your symptoms, pain levels, and how your injuries affect your daily life.
4. Do not speak with representatives of the trucking company or its insurer, and do not agree to a settlement before you get legal guidance.
5. Consult a truck accident attorney from The Melonakos Law Firm who can protect your rights and pursue a claim for compensation.

Contact The Melonakos Law Firm if You Were Injured in a Greenville Truck Crash

The Melonakos Law Firm wants to help you if you’ve been hurt on any of the most dangerous roads for trucks in Greenville. Contact us today for a free consultation about your case.