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.
Two people were injured after a semi tractor-trailer carrying 32,000 boxes of saltine crackers struck a sport utility vehicle on Highway 136 near Unionville, Missouri, a KTVO3 report states. Missouri Highway Patrol officials say the semi, driven by a 50-year-old Iowa man, hit an SUV that was stopped in traffic in an attempt to make a U-turn. The SUV rolled over and came to rest on its top. The driver of the SUV, a 29-year-old Missouri man, was taken to an area hospital with injuries, as was the driver of the tractor-trailer. However, neither suffered serious or life-threatening injuries, the report stated.
In any truck accident case, it is extremely important to get a qualified and experienced Missouri truck accident lawyer on your side as soon as possible. Why is time of the essence? Truck companies work hand in hand with their insurance companies. Within minutes of the truck accident, their representatives will be on scene. They’ll send out their investigators to the crash scene, very often, even before the police are done with their investigation.
What trucking companies try to do is protect their interests and dodge liability. They do not want to be held accountable for the actions of their employees. When you retain the services of an experienced St. Louis semi tractor trailer accident lawyer at Page Law, we will make sure that important evidence or records are not destroyed. We will fight for your legal rights every step of the way and make sure that you get the justice and compensation you rightfully deserve. We are always on your side. Call us at (866) 620-5757 for a free consultation and evaluation of your Missouri truck accident case.
Source:http://www.heartlandconnection.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=371826
Truck accident lawyers in Missouri are relieved that no one was seriously injured in a Jefferson City truck accident when a big rig hauling a load of ice lost control and rolled over. According to a news report, the accident occurred at the intersection of Missouri Boulevard and the Whitten expressway. The delivery truck driver was reportedly injured. Police believe that the brakes on the truck may have failed and that the truck rolled over as the driver attempted to turn right from the eastbound 50 to Missouri Boulevard. The 28-year-old driver was taken to the hospital by private car and another passenger in the truck did not seek medical attention immediately.
Lack of proper maintenance is usually a common reason why truck accidents occur. A situation can really get dangerous on the highway when a large truck loses its brakes. It is the trucking company’s responsibility to make sure that its vehicles are running in good condition. If an accident occurs because of lack of proper truck maintenance, the trucking company may be held liable in the event of an accident and resulting injuries. In such cases, victims may claim compensation to cover medical expenses, lost earnings and other related damages.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or involved in a Missouri truck accident, please call an experienced Missouri truck accident attorney at Page Law to find out more about your legal rights and options. Our skilled personal injury lawyers have experience handling a variety of traffic accident cases, especially large truck accidents. We have a successful track record in obtaining fair compensation for victims of truck accidents. Please call John Page, at Page Law today for a free consultation and evaluation of your truck accident claim.
Source:http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=358196
A Missouri truck driver has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of negligent homicide in Oklahoma where he reportedly caused a seven-vehicle accident that killed 10 people. The 76-year-old driver turned himself in to authorities and entered an innocent plea in Ottawa District Court, according to a news report in the Joplin Globe. The fatal accident occurred on June 26, 2009 when the truck driver who was driving a tractor trailer rig for a grocery company failed to stop or slow down for congested traffic on the Interstate 44. According to traffic investigators, the large truck struck the back of a Land Rover, causing the catastrophic chain-reaction crash.
Negligence on the part of a truck driver is a very common occurrence in many catastrophic truck accidents. In this case, investigators say the truck driver did not stop for slowing traffic and ended up rear-ending one of the vehicles, leading to the fatal crash.
Rear-end truck accidents occur when the truck is not able to brake in time. In Missouri truck accidents, we see this commonly when the truck driver is fatigued or when the truck’s brakes fail due to overloading or poor vehicle maintenance. An experienced Missouri truck accident lawyer will be able to determine whether the truck driver was driving in a tired or fatigued condition. There are federal laws that require truckers to maintain logs that show how long he or she has been behind the wheel. A skilled truck accident attorney can piece together the truck driver’s driving history for the hours, days, weeks and months leading up to the accident.
If you believe you have been seriously injured as a result of a negligent truck driver or trucking company, please contact experienced truck accident lawyer, John Page, at Page Law for a free consultation. We will fight for your rights and make sure you receive the justice and compensation you rightfully deserve. Call 866-620-5757 today.
Source:http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_266230723.html
