Missouri Truck Accident Blog

Missouri Truck Accident Spills Hydrochloric Acid on Paseo Bridge

According to an article from the Kansas City Star, a tractor-trailer hit a barrier and overturned, spilling about 400 gallons of hazardous hydrochloric acid (HCl) on northbound Interstate 35 at Front Street in Kansas City, Missouri. Northbound lanes of the Paseo Bridge are still closed while the southbound lanes reopened late afternoon on Monday, November 30.

The truck driver was taken to the nearest hospital. Two police officers and a construction worker were also hospitalized after inhaling fumes. Several others in the area also went in on their own accord because of eye and respiratory irritation. Numerous hazardous material crews, along with state and federal officials and contractors, were at the scene for cleanup and decontamination.

Police believe that the truck driver was going too fast for passing a narrow and curving roadway near a construction zone. Investigations of the crash are on hold until the remaining chemicals are removed.
Hydrochloric acid is a highly corrosive inorganic compound that is often used for industrial processes. In high concentrations, HCl forms a cloud or vapor plume that has a toxic effect on lungs, trachea, skin, eyes and intestines. About 20 million metric tons of HCl are produced each year.

In other words, truck accidents and toxic spills like this one affect not only the victims in the crash, but the surrounding area and people. Tractor-trailers, semi trucks and 18-wheelers encompass 15% of fatalities in Missouri. If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, you need an experienced Missouri semi truck accident attorney at Page Law to hear your case and recover the compensation you deserve. Contact us at (866) 620-5757 for a free truck accident consultation and learn your rights.

Source:http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/1601350.html

Drug Use among Truck Drivers Prevalent, Study Finds

A recent investigative report by the Associated Press showed that tractor-trailer and bus drivers who tested positive for illegal drugs continue to get hired and return to work without the required treatment or testing. According to a study performed by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), 19 out of 37 commercial drivers who had a positive drug test in the last two years were hired elsewhere less than a month later. Their previous test result was not revealed and employers, apparently, never asked them about it or even tested them before hiring them.

How did these tractor-trailer and bus drivers who tested positive for cocaine or amphetamine use get around a pre-employment drug test? The study says that they either did it by “quickly going clean” or using products such as synthetic urine to clear the test. Federal drug regulations for truck drivers require prospective employers to request drug testing records, with the driver’s consent, from previous employers. But it seems as though trucking companies are hardly investigating new employees. They are apparently just too eager to put them to work.

The findings of this study are deeply disturbing. Alcohol and drug use is one of the causes of devastating truck accidents. It’s frightening to imagine a truck driver under the influence of cocaine or methamphetamine handling an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer.

If you have been injured by a drunk or negligent truck driver, you can file a claim against the trucking company to seek compensation for your injuries, damages and loss. Trucking companies will try to protect their employees and shift the blame on innocent victims. The skilled and experienced Missouri truck accident lawyers at Page Law will fight for your rights and make sure you get fairly compensated for your tremendous loss. Call Page Law today at (866) 620-5757 for a free consultation.

Tired Truckers Rule the Road

The Obama administration is reconsidering a poor decision made by the Bush administration to extend truck drivers’ hours of service. This previous decision has placed the driving public at the mercy of fatigued truckers who are a genuine threat to public safety. According to a news report, the Bush administration, urged by the trucking industry, issued a federal rule allowing truck drivers to put in up to 11 hours a day and cut down the rest time they must get between work weeks as well. Before this rule was passed, truckers were allowed to work only 10 hours behind the wheel each day. Going over opposition by federal courts and the government’s own Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the White House passed the rule anyway in October 2008.

This situation existed until the Obama administration worked out a deal recently with several safety advocacy groups to reconsider the Bush administration’s 11th hour rule. But here’s the worrisome part. Until the government is done reconsidering this rule, public safety is still in jeopardy because of tired truckers.

Missouri truck accident lawyers know that truck driver fatigue is a significant factor in many tractor trailer versus car, motorcycle, or other auto accidents. When a truck driver falls asleep at the wheel while operating an 80,000-pound vehicle, there is no question about the damage and devastation such a situation has the potential to cause. In a recent survey, 20 percent of long-haul truck drivers admitted to falling asleep at the wheel. That statistic in itself should tell us how often these dangerous situations are created on our roadways.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a tired, sleepy or fatigued truck driver, please contact Page Law to get more information about your legal rights and options. Our personal injury law firm can immediately alert our truck accident team and begin taking the same action as the truck company and their insurance company. Failure to file your claim promptly may forever bar your claim. The statutes of limitations vary from state to state and could limit the amount of time that a personal injury victim has to file a lawsuit. Please do not let this happen to you. Call skilled attorney John Page today at (866) 620-5757 for a free consultation and case evaluation.

Source:http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/5188/driving_their_lives_away/

Missouri Truck Accident Injures Driver

A truck driver had to be extricated from his tractor-trailer after he collided with vehicles at westbound Interstate 470 near Interstate 430, according to a KMBC news report. The tractor-trailer spilled about 200 gallons of fuel on the roadway. The truck driver was injured. The report did not mention whether the occupants of the other vehicles were hurt. Officials are trying to determine what caused this Missouri truck accident.

Truck accidents in Missouri occur for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, the driver of the passenger vehicle may be at fault. But quite often, we see that a truck accident occurs because the truck driver is fatigued, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or because the big rig is not properly maintained or is overloaded. When a truck accident is caused by a truck driver’s negligence or as a result of the trucking company’s negligence, then the injured victim or the family of the deceased victim can file a personal injury or wrongful death claim against the at-fault truck driver and trucking company.

There is no question that as consumers, we need trucks to transport goods. We depend on trucks to transport freight and even the food we eat. But, it is also important that these trucks and their drivers abide by traffic laws and drive carefully and responsibly, respecting the safety and well-being of others on the road.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Missouri truck accident, you need skilled legal representation. You need an aggressive St. Louis tractor trailer accident lawyer from Page Law, who will remain at your side and make sure that your rights are protected and that you receive compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost earnings. It is critical that you contact a knowledgeable attorney soon after your accident. Call Page Law today at (866) 620-5757 for a free consultation and evaluation of your St. Louis truck accident claim.

Source:http://www.kmbc.com/news/21631347/detail.html

The Danger of Truck Underride Accidents

Truck “underride” occurs when a passenger vehicle rear ends a big rig and goes under the large truck or trailer. In such cases, the occupants of the vehicle could suffer catastrophic injuries or death. In some incidents, severe head injuries or decapitation may result from a truck underride accident in Missouri. Rear guards on commercial trucks first became a requirement in 1953, but those guards were too high above the road, too narrow and too flimsy to prevent the danger of underride accidents.

After a lengthy debate and much deliberation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a safety standard mandating safer and sturdier rear guards on all new trucks effective January 1998. Trailers and large trucks that were manufactured before that date still travel along our roadways and are not covered under this safety standard. Those trucks still pose an underride hazard.

In fact, more than half of all fatal car-semi truck accidents are said to involve truck underrides. Other than rear guards, there are other steps trucking companies and owners can take to prevent or minimize the probability of such a devastating truck accident. These include using flashers when parked on the side of the road; using tail lights or reflective tape; regular inspection of brakes, and keeping a safe distance behind other traffic.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an underride accident in Missouri, or any other type of truck collision, please contact an experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyer at Page Law for a free consultation. We have the experience and resources it takes to recover the damages you deserve for your injuries and suffering. Please get in touch with one of our Missouri truck accident attorneys today to find out how we can help. Call (866) 620-5757 for a free consultation.

Man Injured in Missouri Tractor Trailer Accident

A 22-year-old Springfield, Missouri man sustained injuries in a truck accident on Highway 96. According to a news report in the Joplin Globe, the man was westbound on the highway and was stopped in traffic when he was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer operated by a 66-year-old man. The injured truck accident victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment of his injuries, although the extent or seriousness of his injuries is not known.

Tractor trailers are responsible for more than 25 percent of fatal vehicle accidents. In fact, each year, many personal injury and wrongful death claims are filed by victims and/or family members with the assistance of a Missouri big rig accident attorney as a result of tractor trailer accidents. Because tractor trailers can weigh 80,000 pounds or more, they can cause tremendous damage, especially to a smaller vehicle, when they are involved in a collision.

Rear-end accidents are extremely common with tractor trailer accidents on Missouri highways and these collisions can be deadly. Such accidents may be caused as a result of a truck driver going too fast for existing traffic conditions. He may have neglected to notice traffic slowing down. These accidents may also occur due to fatigue, especially if the trucker hasn’t had enough rest or taken the time he is mandated to take off under federal law. In many cases, rear-end tractor trailer accidents occur because of brake failure. This could be caused either as a result of poor vehicle maintenance or because the tractor-trailer was overloaded.

If a truck driver’s negligence caused your injuries, both the driver and the trucking company could be held liable. You could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, therapy and other accident-related expenses. If you have been injured in a Missouri truck accident, please call the skilled attorneys at Page Law for a free consultation. Our experienced tractor trailer accident lawyers will discuss your case with you, answer your questions and address your concerns. Our truck accident team will act quickly to protect your legal rights and preserve your best interests. Call us today at (866) 620-5757 to find how we can help.

Source:http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_324005240.html

Missouri Authorities Slap Trucker with Citations for Reckless Driving

Many Missouri semi truck accidents take place because truck drivers make unsafe movements and maneuvers. A large-sized truck weighing close to 80,000 pounds, when out of control, can cause significant damage. That’s exactly why truck drivers should take additional care to be watchful on the highway and follow all traffic rules.

A recent news report on KWQC illustrates that truck drivers don’t always pay attention to what’s going around them on the roadway. Investigators in Scott County, Missouri, are looking into a bizarre accident on the Interstate 80 that sent a semi tractor trailer onto a road below the highway. Officials say the semi tractor-trailer was going west on Interstate 80 when it passed a minivan.

As the big rig tried to move back into the right lane, the driver realized he did not have enough clearance. It was too late. The truck hit the van. The van veered into a ditch and the semi went flying off the highway and down onto a road under the overpass. Miraculously, neither the truck driver nor the van driver was hurt. However, officials say that the semi driver is facing several citations for driving recklessly.

It is extremely fortunate that no one got hurt in this Missouri truck accident. However, that’s not always the case. Recent data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shows just how deadly truck accidents can be. Although trucks make up less than 4 percent of all passenger vehicles on U.S. roads, they are involved in 12 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities. More than 4,000 people die every year in truck accidents and more than 80,000 are seriously injured, according to the federal safety agency that monitors trucking companies.

If you have been seriously injured in a Missouri truck accident, please contact an experienced St. Louis personal injury lawyer at Page Law today. Trucking companies will usually get their insurance carrier and attorneys on a case right away. As a victim, you need a skilled truck accident attorney on your side, fighting for your rights and protecting your best interests as soon as possible. Contact John Page at Page Law today by calling (866) 620-5757 for a free and comprehensive consultation.

Source:http://www.kwqc.com/global/story.asp?s=11539959