Many Missouri semi truck accidents take place because truck drivers make unsafe movements and maneuvers. A large-sized truck weighing close to 80,000 pounds, when out of control, can cause significant damage. That’s exactly why truck drivers should take additional care to be watchful on the highway and follow all traffic rules.
A recent news report on KWQC illustrates that truck drivers don’t always pay attention to what’s going around them on the roadway. Investigators in Scott County, Missouri, are looking into a bizarre accident on the Interstate 80 that sent a semi tractor trailer onto a road below the highway. Officials say the semi tractor-trailer was going west on Interstate 80 when it passed a minivan.
As the big rig tried to move back into the right lane, the driver realized he did not have enough clearance. It was too late. The truck hit the van. The van veered into a ditch and the semi went flying off the highway and down onto a road under the overpass. Miraculously, neither the truck driver nor the van driver was hurt. However, officials say that the semi driver is facing several citations for driving recklessly.
It is extremely fortunate that no one got hurt in this Missouri truck accident. However, that’s not always the case. Recent data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shows just how deadly truck accidents can be. Although trucks make up less than 4 percent of all passenger vehicles on U.S. roads, they are involved in 12 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities. More than 4,000 people die every year in truck accidents and more than 80,000 are seriously injured, according to the federal safety agency that monitors trucking companies.
If you have been seriously injured in a Missouri truck accident, please contact an experienced St. Louis personal injury lawyer at Page Law today. Trucking companies will usually get their insurance carrier and attorneys on a case right away. As a victim, you need a skilled truck accident attorney on your side, fighting for your rights and protecting your best interests as soon as possible. Contact John Page at Page Law today by calling (866) 620-5757 for a free and comprehensive consultation.
