In 2009, a Missouri truck driver slammed his tractor-trailer into a line of motor vehicles stopped on an Oklahoma interstate at about 70 miles per hour. After the wreck, three cars were pinned under his truck. The driver was 76-years-old and was found to be severely sleep-deprived at the time of the big rig accident. He had been driving 10 hours at the time of the accident, and did not attempt to brake or swerve as he hit the cars.

The accident caused 10 deaths and several injuries. Eight of the victims sued both the truck driver and the company he was driving for and recently settled the case for $62.7 million. Two other accident victims had reached an earlier settlement. The truck driver served 30 days in jail and is currently on probation. The accident has caused the trucking company to re-examine its driver training and safety procedures.

This fatal truck accident illustrates both the dangers of tired truckers, and the importance of trucking companies implementing safety procedures that address trucker fatigue. If you have been injured in a Missouri tractor-trailer accident, contact the Missouri trucking attorneys at Page Law. We have extensive experience in Missouri big rig accident cases. Call us today at 314-488-2433.

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 Law 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