First, the top two causes of fatal car-truck crashes caused by truck drivers and by passenger vehicle drivers were the same. Illegal, abrupt, or unexpected lane changes were most common – 11 percent of truck drivers and 26 percent of passenger vehicle drivers had set off an accident by making an improper or unexpected lane change. Speeding was the second most common behavior that caused a deadly accident; 8 percent of truck drivers and 23 percent of car drivers had been speeding at the time.

For truck drivers, the third most common cause of fatal accidents by truck drivers was distraction. Six percent of drivers were not paying attention to the road. For passenger vehicle drivers, however, intoxication was the third most common cause of fatal accidents. Sixteen percent of deadly passenger vehicle accidents involved a drunk or intoxicated driver. In contrast, only two percent of truck drivers were intoxicated by drugs or alcohol when the deadly accident occurred.

Understanding what causes most serious truck accidents can help drivers protect themselves by driving more slowly and using caution when changing lanes. However, car drivers can’t always protect themselves from a large truck accident. If you’ve been injured in a tractor-trailer crash, the experienced Missouri big rig accident attorneys at Page Law can help. To learn more, call Page Law today at 314-322-8515.

The study reviewed reports of fatal tractor-trailer accidents from 1979 to 2009, examining reports of accidents that were entirely or partly caused by weather conditions. Researchers found that the number of crashes attributed to weather has decreased every year since 1979, although the rate of decrease had leveled off in the early 21st century. Since changes in climate can create larger and more dangerous storms, however, the researchers had difficulty predicting whether the number of weather-related deadly truck accidents would continue to go down, or whether bad weather produced by climate change might push the numbers back up again.

Since many truck accidents also involve events like driver fatigue, driver distraction, or the inability to new drivers to cope with sudden and unexpected changes in weather, the report concluded that FMCSA should study how weather changes and driver behaviors are related. Researchers believe that these studies will tell them more about how to prevent weather-related truck accidents.

If you’ve been injured in a Missouri truck crash, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced St. Louis tractor trailer accident attorneys at Page Law. We will help you understand your legal rights and options and fight to hold any negligent parties accountable for their actions. For a free consultation, call Page Law today at 314-322-8515.

The sheet of ice fell through the windshield of a driver’s Chevy Cavalier. The Cavalier was driving in a middle lane of the interstate and the truck was a few lanes to the right of the Cavalier. The driver saw the ice blow from the truck, but was unable to move from the ice in time to prevent the ice from hitting her windshield. The ice broke through the windshield and struck the driver on the side of the head. The driver was driving approximately 60 miles per hour and was able to come to a stop without incident. Fortunately, she had only a minor concussion as a result of the accident, and did not have any cuts.

During this winter season, police have been warning motorists to clear as much snow and ice from their vehicles as possible. In addition, drivers should try to stay away from big trucks as much as possible. In the wintry weather conditions that Missouri has experienced so far this season, it’s not unusual to have one or two inches of ice under any snow on their vehicles. Sheets of ice can be very heavy and can do serious damage to vehicles.

If an object flies from a tractor-trailer and injures another driver or their vehicle, the trucking company and the truck driver can be held legally responsible. If an object from a truck strikes your vehicle, it’s important to be able to identify the truck if possible, and to keep documentation of your injuries or property damage. Contact the St. Louis tractor-trailer accident attorneys at Page Law, LLC if you have been hit by debris from a large truck. Call us today at 314-322-8515 for more information.

The study found that large trucks were the cause of the crash in 55 percent of accidents that involved large trucks. Among those crashes, the truck drivers were to blame 87 percent of the time. The top five contributing factors that led to the accidents when truck drivers were at-fault involved:

• The use of prescription drugs;
• Speeding;
• Being unfamiliar with the road;
• Over-the-counter drug use; and
• Inadequate surveillance.

Accidents were also frequently attributed to a malfunction with the truck – most frequently, a brake problem.

Another common cause of accidents involved the environment. The top environmental factor that caused a truck accident was found to be an interruption in the traffic flow. Problems with the roads and truck drivers failing to stop at traffic lights or stop signs were also frequently cited as causing crashes.

The study also discovered that in crashes involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle, trucks were to blame in 44 percent of the accidents, and passenger vehicles were responsible for 56 percent. Among those accidents, the overwhelming majority were caused by driver errors.

An accident with a large truck can be devastating to the accident victims. If you or a loved one has been involved in a tractor-trailer accident in St. Louis, contact the skilled Missouri truck accident attorneys at Page Law, LLC today at 1-314-488-2433.

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 Law will be able to help injured victims and their families understand their legal rights and options in such cases. Please call Page Law at (866) 620-5757 to schedule your free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.

Source:http://www.nbcactionnews.com/mostpopular/story/3-Injured-in-Semi-Truck-Wreck-on-71-Highway/OzE7MLaG6kCBVKMS3-Ci6w.cspx

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

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

Officials have said that a majority of these tractor trailer accidents in Missouri were caused by truck drivers’ failure to use their discretion with regard to speed. On heavy snow days, trucks are asked to stay off the road. Even so, there are still some trucking companies and truck drivers that allow the pressure of getting work done on time to overshadow the importance of safety. Some of these drivers put their job ahead of their own safety and the safety of others on the roadway.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Missouri truck accident, you need skilled legal advice and representation. The reputed personal injury lawyers at Page Law will remain at your side and make sure that your rights are protected. Our experienced Missouri tractor trailer accident lawyers may be able to help you receive compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost earnings. It is critical that you contact a knowledgeable attorney as soon as you can after your accident. Call Page Law today at 1-866-620-5757 for a free consultation and evaluation of your St. Louis truck accident claim.

Source:http://www.stjoenews.net/news/2009/dec/13/semi-drivers-asked-use-more-caution/

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.

This situation existed until the Obama administration worked out a deal recently with several safety advocacy groups to reconsider the Bush administration’s 11th hour rule. But here’s the worrisome part. Until the government is done reconsidering this rule, public safety is still in jeopardy because of tired truckers.

Missouri truck accident lawyers know that truck driver fatigue is a significant factor in many tractor trailer versus car, motorcycle, or other auto accidents. When a truck driver falls asleep at the wheel while operating an 80,000-pound vehicle, there is no question about the damage and devastation such a situation has the potential to cause. In a recent survey, 20 percent of long-haul truck drivers admitted to falling asleep at the wheel. That statistic in itself should tell us how often these dangerous situations are created on our roadways.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a tired, sleepy or fatigued truck driver, please contact Page Law to get more information about your legal rights and options. Our personal injury law firm can immediately alert our truck accident team and begin taking the same action as the truck company and their insurance company. Failure to file your claim promptly may forever bar your claim. The statutes of limitations vary 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 skilled attorney John Page today at (866) 620-5757 for a free consultation and case evaluation.

Source:http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/5188/driving_their_lives_away/