Tractor Trailer Accident

Missouri trucking accident attorney John Page explains what’s called a contingency fee, which is important for injury victims who are seeking legal consul and representation to be familiar with. A contingency fee has to do with a law firm fronting all costs associated with the case, such as paying experts, researching medical records, and more. If the law firm doesn’t win the case, they aren’t paid. Learn more by watching the video.

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Claims and lawsuits relating to truck accidents in Missouri can be complex. Many people who are injured or have lost a loved one in a tractor trailer crash may be wondering what the difference is between a truck accident claim and a Missouri truck accident lawsuit.

While a claim is typically filed with the insurance company, a truck accident lawsuit is filed against the truck driver and the trucking company, or anyone else who may be involved. To understand important differences between a claim and a lawsuit and why contacting an attorney to file a lawsuit on your behalf may be beneficial, please view the following video:

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Two Columbia residents were injured recently when their car spun out of control and crashed into a tractor-trailer, according to The Columbia Daily Tribune. The twenty year-old driver and his eighteen year-old passenger were traveling toward Lake Mykee at about 2:45 in the morning. The driver attempted to exit Highway 54 in Callaway County at a dangerous rate of speed. While attempting to navigate a curve at 60 miles per hour, the driver lost control of the car and crashed into a truck sitting at the intersection.

Both the driver and the passenger were treated for moderate injuries at Boone Hospital Center and later released. Both were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident. The truck driver, who was also wearing his seatbelt, did not seek medical attention after the accident.

Although no driver who shares the road with tractor-trailers can guarantee his or her own safety, there are a number of steps drivers can take to reduce the risk of an accident, or to reduce the risk of severe injury if a trucking crash in St. Louis occurs. Always travel at or slightly below the speed limit, even when passing a truck, and leave plenty of room between the back of your car and the front of the truck before you change lanes. Also, simply wearing a seatbelt can help protect you from severe injury or death.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Missouri truck crash, you may have the right to seek compensation from a negligent driver. The experienced St. Louis truck injury accident attorneys at Page Law can help you understand your legal rights and will fight to win you the compensation you need to live your life again. Call Page Law today at (314) 322-8515 for a free and confidential consultation.

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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.

Source:http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/st-louis-crime-beat/st-louis-county/2010/01/trucker-faces-summer-trial-in-fatal-crash/

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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 Law 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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A judge in Oklahoma has issued a warrant for a truck driver who was charged with negligent homicide in connection with the deaths of four family members, all from Joplin, Missouri. The fatal truck accident occurred on March 9, 2008, when the truck driver rear-ended the family’s car. He told police officials that he might have fallen asleep at the wheel. He was scheduled to go to trial, but did not show up in court.

St. Louis tractor trailer accident lawyers are concerned about the continued presence of fatigued truck drivers on our roadways. Federal law allows 10 hours of driving within a 15-hour on-duty period after eight hours of off-duty time. The law also prohibits drivers from driving after their 15th hour on-duty in a workday or after 60 hours on-duty in seven consecutive days or 70 hours on-duty in eight consecutive days. The increased pressure to deliver loads within a certain amount of time causes truck drivers to continue driving when they are tired or overworked. In a recent survey, 20 percent of long-haul truck drivers admitted to falling asleep at the wheel.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a truck accident caused by a fatigued driver, please contact an experienced Missouri truck accident lawyer at Page Law for a free and comprehensive consultation. Our skilled legal team will jump on your case right away and begin taking the same action as the truck company and their insurance company. There are time limits in the state of Missouri to file personal injury claims. Please contact our office today by calling 866-620-5757 so we can evaluate your truck accident claim.

Source:http://www.koamtv.com/global/story.asp?s=7995367

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Officials say that a Missouri truck driver, who recently jackknifed his semi on U.S. Highway 75 in Oklahoma and died, may have suffered a medical condition at the time of the crash. According to a news report, the 61-year-old man was driving north on the highway when his truck left the roadway, struck a culvert, and turned on its side. The driver was not wearing his seatbelt.

Although this truck driver may not have had a pre-existing medical condition, Missouri trucking accident lawyers have represented several injured victims whose accidents were caused by sick truck drivers who should not have been driving in the first place. According to a recent report by the Associated Press, hundreds of thousands of tractor trailer and bus drivers in the United States carry licenses to drive these vehicles in spite of qualifying for full federal disability. Far too many truck drivers also suffer from serious health conditions such as seizures, heart attacks, or black-outs that occur suddenly while driving.

Allowing medically unfit truckers to operate these large commercial vehicles has resulted in devastating truck accidents. According to a U.S. Department of Transportation report, 5,300 people died in accidents involving large commercial trucks or buses in 2006, and about 126,000 were injured. Thousands of these accidents each year can be avoided if trucking firms and the regulatory authorities make it tougher for truckers with serious medical conditions to be on the road.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent truck driver, please contact Page Law to get more information about your legal rights and options. Our Missouri semi-truck accident lawyers can immediately alert our truck accident team and begin taking the same action as the trucking company and their insurance company. Failure to file your claim promptly may forever bar your claim. The statute of limitations varies 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 Page Law today at 1-866-620-5757 for a free consultation and case evaluation.

Source:http://newsok.com/medical-condition-may-have-contributed-to-truckers-death-in-okmulgee-co./article/3423457

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A 31-year-old man was injured in a Missouri truck accident on U.S. Highway 160, the Joplin Globe reports. The man was driving east on the highway when his car collided with an eastbound tractor-trailer. The man apparently attempted to make a U-turn at Route O when the collision occurred, the news report said.
In Missouri, we do see some cases where error on the part of passenger vehicles causes serious truck accidents. However, we also often see that truck driver error causes significant injuries to occupants of passenger vehicles. The size and weight of these trucks play a significant part in the injuries that are caused.

There are many ways for drivers of passenger vehicles to effectively avoid getting into a truck accident. First, be mindful of large truck blind spots and move away from them safely and quickly. Remember, if you cannot see the truck’s side mirrors, the driver cannot see you. Always pass large trucks on the left. Especially in winter weather conditions, make sure to leave plenty of space between you and a large truck. If you witness a truck driver who is driving aggressively, recklessly or speeding, inform local law enforcement authorities at once. You may help prevent a serious accident from occurring.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Missouri, please contact the experienced St. Louis tractor trailer accident attorneys at Page Law for a free and comprehensive consultation. We have the knowledge and resources to conduct a thorough investigation and obtain the evidence that will help strengthen your claim and help you secure the compensation you rightfully deserve. Call Page Law today at 1-866-620-5757.

Source:http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_351005901.html

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A truck driver was killed in a tractor-trailer accident on Missouri Highway 116 after he hit a jackknifed big rig. According to a report in the St. Joseph News-Press, a 45-year-old driver lost control of his 2000 International tractor-trailer on the snow-covered road. His truck then crossed the centerline, struck a rail on a bridge, and jackknifed in the road. The tractor-trailer was then hit by another big rig which was being driven by a 35-year-old man. The 35-year old big rig driver was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of the collision. The driver of the truck that crashed initially was not injured.

A number of truck accidents in Missouri this month are being caused by truck drivers who are not exercising caution while driving on snow-covered roads. Officials say excessive speed often results in tractor-trailers jackknifing and posing significant risk of injury or death to others on the road. That’s exactly what seems to have happened in this particular fatal truck accident. Such tragedies are easily prevented by truck drivers who operate their large trucks carefully and slow down in bad weather conditions.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Missouri big rig accident caused by a negligent or reckless truck driver, please contact a reputed St. Louis accident truck injury lawyer at Page Law for a free, comprehensive and completely confidential consultation. We will get our legal team working on your case right away and help you secure fair compensation to cover your losses. Call Page Law today at 1-866-620-5757.

Source:http://www.stjoenews.net/news/2009/dec/09/snowfall-slick-roads-cause-two-fatal-accidents/

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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

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