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 Law 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.
