Missouri Truck Accident Blog
Archive – 2010 – March
Missouri Semi-Truck Accident Injures Three
Three people sustained injuries in a Missouri truck accident on the southbound lanes of the 71 Highway. According to a KSHB news report, the 57-year-old driver of a semi hit a 2008 Mazda driven by a 24-year-old woman. That woman sustained serious injuries in the crash. Her Mazda then struck a 2002 Toyota, which in turn collided with a 2008 Dodge Caliber. The semi then went on to strike a 2004 Ford Ranger. The drivers of the Toyota and the Dodge thankfully sustained only minor injuries. The driver of the Ranger suffered moderate injuries. No charges have been filed pending an official investigation.
Based on this news report, it appears that the large truck was going out of control. It is indeed fortunate that this accident did not result in more devastating injuries and damages. Similar truck accidents can happen under a variety of circumstances. For example, a truck can go out of control if a driver is fatigued and falls asleep at the wheel. Brake failure in tractor-trailers is also a more common occurrence than many motorists realize. This can happen either due to overloading or poor vehicle maintenance. A large truck in the hands of a distracted or impaired truck driver can also wreak havoc as we have seen in a number of Missouri truck accident cases.
When a truck accident is caused by the driver’s negligence, injured victims may be able to seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, long-term care and other damages. An experienced Missouri truck semi injury accident lawyer at Page Cagle will be able to help injured victims and their families understand their legal rights and options in such cases. Please call Page Cagle at (866) 620-5757 to schedule your free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.
Driver Injured in Missouri Truck Accident
The driver of a semi-truck was injured after he lost control of his big rig and crashed outside Neosho Airport on Cockrell Road. The Neosho Daily News reports that the semi-truck veered off the roadway and overturned. Emergency personnel who responded had to extricate the driver who was trapped inside the vehicle. The trailer’s load of corn spilled across a nearby field. Officials say there were heavy winds at the time. They are still looking into what caused this accident.
In 2008, 117 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes in the state of Missouri. These truck accidents resulted in 124 deaths. Of the 4,291 non-fatal truck crashes, 1,486 involved injuries. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are more than 3.5 million truck drivers in the United States. Because of their large size and weight (about 80,000 pounds or more), big rigs are harder to control and more likely to cause serious injuries and damages to occupants of smaller vehicles.
When a truck crashes, the debris that is spilled on to the roadway can also cause serious auto accidents. Often times, we see that Missouri truck accidents are caused by overloaded trucks. It is the responsibility of the drivers and the trucking firms to make sure that the vehicles are not overloaded and are maintained in good working condition so they do not pose a danger to others on the roadway.
If you or a loved one has sustained serious traumatic injuries in a truck accident, please contact an experienced Missouri big rig accident lawyer in St. Louis at Page Cagle to find out more about your legal rights and options. Our skilled truck crash injury lawyers will make sure your rights are protected; immediately initiating the same action as the truck company and their insurance company. Call us today at (866) 620-5757 for a free and comprehensive consultation.
Source:http://www.neoshodailynews.com/news/x2102348307/Single-truck-accident-traps-driver
Collision between Semi-Truck and SUV Causes Injuries
At least one person was injured in a Missouri truck crash on the Interstate 44 after a semi-truck struck a Cadillac Escalade SUV, the Springfield News-Leader reports. The accident was reported at mile marker 78. Missouri Highway Patrol officials are saying that there may have been additional injuries in this truck crash. One injured person was having difficulty breathing immediately after the crash and another person was unconscious, but breathing, officials said. An investigation is ongoing.
In such cases, it is very important to determine who was at fault for the accident. Very often, these large truck accidents are caused as a result of negligent truck drivers or trucking companies. Some of the common causes of truck accidents in Missouri include alcohol or drug use; fatigued drivers who are working longer hours than they are legally allowed to work; poor vehicle maintenance; and driver distraction.
Whatever the cause of a Missouri truck accident, if you or a loved one has been injured as a result of the truck driver’s negligence, you may be able to seek compensation to cover your injuries, damages and losses. However, that is easier said than done. Trucking companies usually have an aggressive team of insurance adjusters and defense attorneys who will go the extra mile to defend their client against your case.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, please contact an experienced St. Louis semi truck collision lawyer at Page Cagle to schedule your free consultation today. Our skilled attorneys have helped several truck accident victims receive full compensation for their injuries and losses. Call Page Cagle at (866) 620-5757 to find out how we can help protect your legal rights and make sure you receive just compensation in your case.
St. Louis Tractor Trailer Attorney Discusses Consequences of Fatal Crash
A 57-year-old Jefferson City man was killed after his 2003 Toyota crashed into an oncoming tractor-trailer on the U.S. 54 near Heritage Highway, The News Tribune reports. Missouri Highway Patrol officials said that a 33-year-old passenger in the Toyota was transported to a local hospital and was listed in fair condition. The 67-year-old driver of the tractor-trailer suffered moderate injuries. Both the occupants of the car were not wearing their seatbelts, but the driver of the big rig was buckled up, officials said.
Tractor-trailer accident attorneys in St. Louis are well-aware that truck crashes are among the most devastating of accidents on Missouri roads and highways, especially for occupants of smaller vehicles. The sheer size and weight of larger trucks is unfortunately no match for a small automobile. In such incidents, it is important to establish fault for the tractor-trailer collision as soon as possible.
Experienced Missouri truck accident lawyers know that trucking firms have insurance adjusters and attorneys at their beck and call and can get them to the scene of the crash in a moment’s notice. On the other hand, most injured victims are not aware of their legal rights in such situations or how important it is to collect physical evidence at the scene as well as getting information from eyewitnesses. Without eyewitness reports and physical evidence, it may be more difficult to prove your story as an accident victim.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Missouri, please remember not to make statements on the scene to any insurance adjusters or attorneys for the other side. Do not sign any forms or agree to any settlements without first talking to your own attorney. Call a skilled St. Louis tractor-trailer personal injury lawyer with Page Cagle at (866) 620-5757. Our tractor trailer accident law firm can immediately alert our truck accident team and start gathering evidence that can be vital to your case.
Source:http://www.newstribune.com/articles/2010/03/08/news_local/nt298local35veltrop10.txt
Tractor-Trailer Accident in Missouri Causes Loss of Life
A 54-year-old man was fatally injured in a Missouri truck accident on Highway 60 after his pickup truck collided head-on with a tractor-trailer. According to a news report in the Joplin Globe, the man was going east on Highway 60 when a westbound tractor-trailer crossed the centerline in an attempt to avoid striking a stopped vehicle on the highway. The driver of the pickup truck died at the scene of the accident, Missouri State Highway Patrol officials said.
Maneuvering a large, 80,000-pound vehicle in traffic can be quite a challenge. That is why truck drivers need to be trained with regard to how they handle their vehicles, how to maintain them and how to keep them properly loaded. When truck drivers lack training or when they drive recklessly without following basic safety rules and standards, the consequences can be catastrophic and tragic, as it was with this fatal truck accident.
If a fatal accident is determined to have been caused by a negligent truck driver, then both the driver and his employer can be held liable for the individual’s wrongful death. A St. Louis wrongful death claim in any auto accident is filed by the immediate family members of the deceased victim. Wrongful death claims seek compensation for medical or funeral expenses, loss of earnings, loss of companionship and other related damages.
If you have lost a loved one in a Missouri tractor-trailer accident, please contact the skilled St. Louis truck accident wrongful death attorneys at Page Cagle. We have extensive experience and a successful track record representing truck accident victims and their families. We will make sure that your legal rights are protected. Call our tractor trailer Missouri crash lawyers today at 866-620-5757 to find out how we can help.
Source:http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_014010503.html
Driver to Face Trial in Fatal Missouri Truck Accident
A driver, who caused a fatal Missouri truck accident that left three people dead and 15 injured, will face trial on manslaughter charges this summer. According to a news report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the accident occurred June 21 when the truck driver plowed into several stopped vehicles on the highway while reaching for a cell phone. The driver told police that he reached across the dash to get his cell phone, flipped it open and looked back at traffic when the collision occurred. The truck driver is now facing three counts of second-degree involuntary manslaughter, which allege that the deaths resulted from criminal negligence. If convicted, the truck driver faces up to four years in prison.
All available research and statistics about cell phones, texting and driving show that it can be extremely dangerous to text or use a hand-held cell phone while driving. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute recently reported that large truck drivers increase their crash risk by 23 times when they text and drive. Merely reaching for a communication device or dialing a cell phone increased the chance of a car accident or a large truck accident by six times. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says that more than 1 million auto accidents each year are caused in North America as a result of distracted driving or driver inattention.
Truck drivers not only face criminal charges, but also civil liability in cases where their negligence causes serious personal injuries and fatalities. In such cases, the trucking firm can also be held responsible for the injuries, damages and losses caused. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Missouri truck accident, please contact an experienced St. Louis tractor trailer crash lawyer at Page Cagle to schedule your free consultation today. We will fight hard to protect your legal rights and make sure you receive the justice and compensation you rightfully deserve.
Missouri Truck Accident Possibly Weather-Related
A 55-year-old woman sustained injuries in a Missouri truck accident on Missouri 76 two miles east of Branson West. According to a news report in the Branson Daily News, the woman was eastbound when she lost control of her vehicle on the ice-covered road and was struck by a 1998 Freightliner dump truck driven by a 31-year-old Reeds Spring man. The woman was transported to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries, Missouri Highway Patrol officials said.
We see a number of Missouri truck versus passenger vehicle accidents being caused these days as a result of icy roadways or wintry weather. When the weather gets worse, please remember that you need to be extremely vigilant on the roadway. This is especially true for truck drivers, who have a tough challenge maneuvering a large rig on an icy roadway. Very often, we see truck drivers traveling too fast given the unsafe weather conditions. In this case, it was the driver of the passenger car who lost control of her vehicle and struck the big rig. However, there are many examples of Missouri big rig accidents where the truck driver is traveling too fast or overloaded the rig, thus causing loss of vehicle control.
If you have suffered injuries in a Missouri big rig accident, you require skilled legal representation. Remember that the large trucking firms usually have their insurance company and investigators within minutes on the accident scene. Evidence can get destroyed very quickly in these cases. And very often, this can be evidence that can make or break your truck accident case. Please call the Missouri truck accident law firm of Page Cagle to find out how our knowledgeable and experienced truck accident lawyers can help you. We always offer a free consultation to truck accident victims and their families.
Source:http://www.bransondailynews.com/story.php?storyID=14682
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