St. Louis Truck Accidents Lawyer
Have you ever been traveling on the highway and found yourself tensely driving in between two 18-wheelers? Nervously tried to get out of the way of a tractor-trailer following you a little too close for comfort? Large trucks can be intimidating to share the road with, and for a good reason, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). In 2019, 135 individuals died in accidents involving large trucks in the U.S.- the highest number in the past decade. Of these 135 deaths, only 20% of those killed were truck drivers.
These statistics may be shocking, but they come from a variety of factors – some easier to address than others.
- Height: Because trucks are much taller than cars, they are a lot less likely to get stuck and trampled beneath other vehicles in collisions
- Weight: A standard truck weighs 10,000 pounds, almost 30 times as much as a standard car. This difference makes truck collisions that much more forceful, especially when up against smaller vehicles. It also makes trucks much harder to control, especially in bad weather.
- Brakes: A truck fully loaded with cargo requires 40% more distance to stop than most cars, leading to rear-ending due to sudden stops.
- Fatigue: Although truck drivers technically have regulations limiting them to 11 hours of driving in one stretch, many truckers surveyed admit to going beyond this regulation. Studies have shown that driving drowsy can be just as dangerous – if not more dangerous – than drunk driving.
These factors and the dangers associated with them have not gone unnoticed. The trucking industry is closely regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT), and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Thankfully, these regulations ensure trucking companies and truck drivers are held accountable. Companies and drivers are required to maintain adequate liability insurance to cover any damages, injuries, or fatalities that may arise from a truck collision.
Missouri is a “comparative fault” state, which means each involved party will be held responsible for damages equal to their percent of the fault; this means there can be multiple parties responsible for the accident.
- truck driver: negligently operating vehicle, speeding, overloading cargo, exceeding 11 hours-of-service restriction
- trucking company: improper training, falling short of licensing requirements, failure to conduct a background check, failure to confirm driving records before hiring, vicarious liability
- truck manufacturer: faulty parts, improper equipment installation
The statute for limitations for asserting a personal injury claim in Missouri is five years; this means you must bring a claim for your truck accident within five years of sustaining your injuries, or you will be prevented from recovering any damages. Strictly enforced statutes of limitation make it extremely important to contact an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible. Our team at Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry has the experience you need to investigate your case and fight for you. Contact us today so we can assess your case, answer your questions, and get you on the road to recovery.