Missouri Truck Accident Blog

Third Victim of Kansas City Dump Truck Van Accident Dies

The driver of a dump truck that collided with a delivery van passed away in the hospital a week after the Kansas City vehicle accident occurred, according to recent coverage by local ABC affiliate KMBC. His death is the third to arise from the truck accident in Missouri.

The dump truck and the delivery van crashed at the intersection of Truman Road and Woodland Avenue in Kansas City in the beginning of July. The driver and passenger in the van were pronounced dead at the scene. Medical personnel believe the two men died instantly. Both the driver and the passenger of the dump truck were hospitalized immediately after the accident, having both suffered critical injuries. These injuries overcame the driver a week later, resulting in his death. The passenger remains hospitalized in serious condition.

Based on eyewitness accounts of the Missouri tractor trailer accident, police currently believe that the driver of the dump truck was speeding and ran a red light at the intersection. A witness who had tried to help the dump truck’s passenger immediately after the crash described it as happening “in a matter of seconds.”

Although we frequently think of St. Louis truck accidents occurring on crowded freeways, they can also occur on city streets. Trucks traveling in the city still need additional room to stop and to maneuver, and the city’s close quarters can make driving even more difficult. Truck drivers who do not pay proper attention to their surroundings while driving in the city may cause accidents – some of which, unfortunately, prove fatal.

If you’ve lost a loved one due to a truck driver’s carelessness while driving, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Missouri truck accident wrongful death attorneys at Page Law today. Our legal team will review the details of your case and protect your rights as we fight to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions. Call Page Law today at (314) 322-8515 for a free and confidential consultation.

I-55 Wrongful Death Tractor Trailer Crash Caused by Negligent Trucker

A recent St. Louis Post-Dispatch story emphasizes the serious risk of commercial truck driver inattention. After one truck driver took his focus off of the highway along Interstate 55, he crashed into one vehicle, and then collided with another, dragging it for approximately 100 yards before stopping.

Based on the story, the truck driver told officers that he took his attention away from the road to look to his right. When he looked back at the road, he noticed that traffic had come to a halt. Unfortunately, a 52-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were killed as a consequence of the tractor trailer being unable to stop in time.

The Jefferson County chain-reaction accident involved eight vehicles and is currently being further examined through reconstruction investigation. When truck accidents are caused by truck driver negligence or trucking company oversight and result in serious injury, and especially in fatality, responsible parties may face criminal charges in addition to civil liability.

Overconfidence, fatigue, distraction, and various forms of reckless and negligent behavior have individually and collectively contributed to a handful of Missouri tractor trailer crashes as well as other accidents throughout our nation. Truck accidents can lead to wide range of calamities such as head trauma, spinal cord injury, broken bones, lacerations, and even wrongful death. These truck accident consequences often do not affect the truck driver; instead, pedestrians as well as drivers and passengers of smaller vehicles and motorcycles are typically the ones who suffer.

State and Federal trucking rules and regulations are intended to help keep roads and highways safe by setting truck inspection, maintenance, repair, and driving laws for truck drivers and trucking companies to follow. If an accident results from these regulations being broken or another form of negligence, injured individuals and family members of wrongful death victims may seek compensation. Contact the aggressive and skilled St. Louis tractor trailer collision attorneys at Page Law to learn more about your legal rights and options. Call 314-322-8515 for a free consultation today.

Father of 10 Dies in Tractor-Trailer Crash

St. Louis news outlet KMOV reported recently that a father of ten died in Springfield when the truck he was driving collided with a tractor-trailer. The victim, an Amish-Mennonite farmer, was riding in the truck along with his twin brother, who was driving. His brother suffered critical injuries in the accident.

According to eyewitnesses, the tractor-trailer collided with the pickup after the pickup ran a red light. The force of the collision pushed the pickup truck into a second tractor-trailer at the intersection. The entire passenger side of the Dodge pickup caved in from the impact. Rescue workers attempted to revive the victim at the scene, but could not save him. The driver of the second tractor-trailer involved in the accident was not injured.

Witnesses say that the tractor-trailer driver tried to avoid hitting the pickup, but there was not room to swerve in the intersection. The tractor-trailer clipped another passenger car while attempting to avoid the collision, but the driver of that car was not hurt. The intersection was closed for several hours as fire crews worked to clean up the spilled diesel fuel left from the accident.

If a motorist is injured or killed in a collision with a large truck, compensation may be available to the motorist or his family in the form of payments for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other costs arising from the tractor-trailer driver’s negligence. After a tractor-trailer accident, it is important to contact a skilled Missouri wrongful death truck accident attorney as soon as possible in order to protect your rights after the crash.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a collision with a tractor-trailer, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Missouri truck accident attorneys at Page Law. Our attorneys will listen carefully to the details of your case and fight to protect your legal rights. Contact Page Law today by calling (314) 322-8515 for a free and confidential evaluation of your Missouri truck accident case.

Missouri Child Killed in Tractor Trailer Collision

A 3-year-old Missouri girl was killed in a tractor-trailer accident after two big-rigs collided on Interstate 64 in Kentucky. According to a wkyt.com article, the collision occurred as traffic was slowing for another crash on the highway which was caused by a suspected drunk driver. The girl was pronounced dead and two others were injured. However, the extent of their injuries is not yet known. The child was apparently in one of the big-rigs driven by her 49-year-old grandmother.

Very often, as St. Louis big rig crash lawyers, we see similar tragic collisions occur when truck drivers are not paying attention to traffic conditions. When you are behind the wheel of a large truck, sudden movements are not possible. In fact, we have seen in many cases how big-rig sudden movement has led to jackknifing. Such actions endanger not only the truck drivers, but also other people who are using the roadways.

If negligence or wrongdoing is involved in causing a fatal trucking accident, family members of deceased victims can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation to cover funeral expenses, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages. When a tractor-trailer accident occurs, it is important that you move quickly to contact an experienced Missouri truck accident lawyer. Trucking companies and their insurance carriers send investigators to gather as much information as possible as quickly as they can, usually within hours.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, please contact the Missouri wrongful death truck accident lawyers at Page Law by calling (314) 322-8515. You need an experienced truck accident attorney to aggressively represent you and protect your legal rights. We will provide you with a free consultation. Let us evaluate your case and help you decide what course of action is best for you and your family.

Source:http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/86559592.html

St. Louis Tractor Trailer Attorney Discusses Consequences of Fatal Crash

A 57-year-old Jefferson City man was killed after his 2003 Toyota crashed into an oncoming tractor-trailer on the U.S. 54 near Heritage Highway, The News Tribune reports. Missouri Highway Patrol officials said that a 33-year-old passenger in the Toyota was transported to a local hospital and was listed in fair condition. The 67-year-old driver of the tractor-trailer suffered moderate injuries. Both the occupants of the car were not wearing their seatbelts, but the driver of the big rig was buckled up, officials said.

Tractor-trailer accident attorneys in St. Louis are well-aware that truck crashes are among the most devastating of accidents on Missouri roads and highways, especially for occupants of smaller vehicles. The sheer size and weight of larger trucks is unfortunately no match for a small automobile. In such incidents, it is important to establish fault for the tractor-trailer collision as soon as possible.

Experienced Missouri truck accident lawyers know that trucking firms have insurance adjusters and attorneys at their beck and call and can get them to the scene of the crash in a moment’s notice. On the other hand, most injured victims are not aware of their legal rights in such situations or how important it is to collect physical evidence at the scene as well as getting information from eyewitnesses. Without eyewitness reports and physical evidence, it may be more difficult to prove your story as an accident victim.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Missouri, please remember not to make statements on the scene to any insurance adjusters or attorneys for the other side. Do not sign any forms or agree to any settlements without first talking to your own attorney. Call a skilled St. Louis tractor-trailer personal injury lawyer with Page Law at (866) 620-5757. Our tractor trailer accident law firm can immediately alert our truck accident team and start gathering evidence that can be vital to your case.

Source:http://www.newstribune.com/articles/2010/03/08/news_local/nt298local35veltrop10.txt

Tractor-Trailer Accident in Missouri Causes Loss of Life

A 54-year-old man was fatally injured in a Missouri truck accident on Highway 60 after his pickup truck collided head-on with a tractor-trailer. According to a news report in the Joplin Globe, the man was going east on Highway 60 when a westbound tractor-trailer crossed the centerline in an attempt to avoid striking a stopped vehicle on the highway. The driver of the pickup truck died at the scene of the accident, Missouri State Highway Patrol officials said.

Maneuvering a large, 80,000-pound vehicle in traffic can be quite a challenge. That is why truck drivers need to be trained with regard to how they handle their vehicles, how to maintain them and how to keep them properly loaded. When truck drivers lack training or when they drive recklessly without following basic safety rules and standards, the consequences can be catastrophic and tragic, as it was with this fatal truck accident.

If a fatal accident is determined to have been caused by a negligent truck driver, then both the driver and his employer can be held liable for the individual’s wrongful death. A St. Louis wrongful death claim in any auto accident is filed by the immediate family members of the deceased victim. Wrongful death claims seek compensation for medical or funeral expenses, loss of earnings, loss of companionship and other related damages.

If you have lost a loved one in a Missouri tractor-trailer accident, please contact the skilled St. Louis truck accident wrongful death attorneys at Page Law. We have extensive experience and a successful track record representing truck accident victims and their families. We will make sure that your legal rights are protected. Call our tractor trailer Missouri crash lawyers today at 866-620-5757 to find out how we can help.

Source:http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_014010503.html

Driver to Face Trial in Fatal Missouri Truck Accident

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/

Judge Issues Warrant for Truck Driver Accused of Negligent Homicide

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

Fatal Missouri Truck Accident

A 50-year-old woman was killed in a Jasper County, Missouri truck accident after she crashed with a semi-truck at the intersection of highways 43 and 96 north of Joplin. A KOAM-TV news report states that the woman was traveling west when she failed to yield to a northbound tractor-trailer. Missouri Highway Patrol officials say that this is the second fatal accident at this intersection within the last three months. On October, 26, 2009, in an identical crash, a Kansas woman going west on 96 also got into a crash while crossing Highway 43 and died.

Right-of-way issues play an important role in any auto accident investigation, including truck accidents, and especially if the accident occurs at an intersection. In this case, obviously, the accident occurred because one of the drivers failed to yield right-of-way at the intersection. Officials’ preliminary investigations suggest that it was the woman who failed to yield right-of-way to the oncoming truck. But if a complete investigation determines that the truck driver was at fault, then the truck driver and trucking company can also be held liable for the woman’s wrongful death.

If your loved one has been killed in a truck accident and you have questions about how or why it occurred, please contact the experienced Missouri truck accident wrongful death attorneys at Page Law for a free and comprehensive consultation. We have access to accident reconstruction experts who can collect evidence and help determine whether there was any negligence or wrongdoing in your case. Call Page Law today at 866-620-5757 to find out how we can help.

Source:http://www.koamtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11865591

Fatal Missouri Truck Accident

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/