Missouri Truck Accident Blog

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 Cagle 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 Cagle. 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 Cagle 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 Cagle 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 Cagle 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 Cagle 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 Cagle 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 Cagle today at 1-866-620-5757.

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

Man Killed in Missouri Truck Accident

Missouri Highway Patrol officials are investigating a fatal truck accident in Texas County where a 45-year-old Houston man was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer, according to a recent news report. The man was standing on Highway 63 just north of Houston, Missouri, when troopers say the tractor-trailer hit the man. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver was tested for alcohol as required by Missouri law.

Truck drivers, like other motorists, have a responsibility to be cautious and diligent drivers, following the rules of the road to prevent accidents and injuries. However, when a truck driver is negligent or drives recklessly by not following the regulations of the road, the safety of other commuters is put in jeopardy. The most common causes of fatal Missouri truck accidents include alcohol abuse, truck driver fatigue, distracted drivers (use of cell phones or other communication devices while driving) and poor truck maintenance that may lead to a mechanical malfunction.

In many of these cases, trucking companies can also be held responsible for the accidents. If a trucking company fails to properly inspect its truck or hires drivers with a poor driving record or a history of substance abuse, then the trucking company could be held accountable for damages and injuries caused to innocent victims.

When negligence either by the truck driver or the trucking company causes an injury accident, then the injured victim can seek compensation in a court of law. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Missouri truck accident, please contact an experienced truck accident attorney at Page Cagle, who may be able to help you receive the compensation you rightfully deserve to cover medical costs, property damage and even lost earnings. Call Page Cagle today at 866-620-5757 for a free consultation.

Source:http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=195642

Fatal Missouri Truck Accident

After a vehicle rear-ended a big rig on Missouri Highway 59 in Newton County, a Joplin man was killed and his son suffered injuries. According to a news report in the Joplin Globe, the 56-year-old man in the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. His son, 30, was also taken to an area hospital with injuries. The older man was a passenger in a pickup truck driven by his son, which apparently ran into the rear of a southbound tractor trailer that had stopped and was waiting for another vehicle to make a left turn.

Truck accidents can cause extremely serious and devastating injuries including brain and spinal cord injuries, which can leave a person disabled for life. Truck accidents can also be fatal. The serious injuries and fatalities caused by truck accidents usually affect the occupants of the passenger vehicles – not the big rigs. This is because of the size and weight of the large trucks, which overpower and overwhelm other vehicles on our roadways. Big rigs often weigh over 80,000 pounds and when something that big and heavy hits a passenger car, the occupants of the car are the ones most seriously injured.

When a truck accident occurs as a result of the truck driver’s negligence, injured victims can seek compensation from the driver and in most cases, the trucking company, as well. Most companies carry liability insurance, which helps compensate victims of serious personal injury. Still, if you are a victim, you need a Missouri truck accident lawyer on your side fighting for your rights and protecting your best interest. If you have lost a loved one in a truck accident, please contact a skilled St. Louis wrongful death truck accident attorney at Page Cagle for a free consultation and case evaluation.

Source:http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_283010257.html

Missouri Man Pleads Not Guilty in Fatal Truck Accident Case

A Missouri truck driver has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of negligent homicide in Oklahoma where he reportedly caused a seven-vehicle accident that killed 10 people. The 76-year-old driver turned himself in to authorities and entered an innocent plea in Ottawa District Court, according to a news report in the Joplin Globe. The fatal accident occurred on June 26, 2009 when the truck driver who was driving a tractor trailer rig for a grocery company failed to stop or slow down for congested traffic on the Interstate 44. According to traffic investigators, the large truck struck the back of a Land Rover, causing the catastrophic chain-reaction crash.

Negligence on the part of a truck driver is a very common occurrence in many catastrophic truck accidents. In this case, investigators say the truck driver did not stop for slowing traffic and ended up rear-ending one of the vehicles, leading to the fatal crash.

Rear-end truck accidents occur when the truck is not able to brake in time. In Missouri truck accidents, we see this commonly when the truck driver is fatigued or when the truck’s brakes fail due to overloading or poor vehicle maintenance. An experienced Missouri truck accident lawyer will be able to determine whether the truck driver was driving in a tired or fatigued condition. There are federal laws that require truckers to maintain logs that show how long he or she has been behind the wheel. A skilled truck accident attorney can piece together the truck driver’s driving history for the hours, days, weeks and months leading up to the accident.

If you believe you have been seriously injured as a result of a negligent truck driver or trucking company, please contact experienced truck accident lawyer, John Page, at Page Cagle for a free consultation. We will fight for your rights and make sure you receive the justice and compensation you rightfully deserve. Call 866-620-5757 today.

Source:http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_266230723.html

Missouri Truck Driver Involved in Crash that Killed Woman

A recent report from madisonpress.com serves as a reminder of how important it is for truckers and motorists to be aware of the change in traffic-flow. It may seem like an obvious factor to be cautious of when traversing along highways; however, far too many truck accidents take place due to the inability of a tractor trailer or automobile to stop in time when traffic becomes congested.

According to the report, the fatal accident took place on I-79 in Madison County on September 25, 2009, when a passenger vehicle struck a commercial tractor trailer from behind. Apparently, the 18-year-old driver of the passenger car died at the scene from severe injuries. The 50-year-old truck driver of St. Louis did not sustain any injuries from the collision. Based on the article, preliminary investigation at the scene indicated that both drivers were wearing their seat belts and both vehicles were traveling eastbound on I-70 in the center lane.

Although this crash is still under investigation, if it is determined that the commercial truck driver was in any way responsible for causing the accident, he may be held liable for the wrongful death of the passenger driver. Considering that some tractor trailer drivers succumb to stimulants as a means of keeping awake during long drives, investigators may examine whether or not illegal substances played a factor in causing this accident. Even though such drug use is illegal, some truck drivers use extremely poor judgment in putting profit before safety, thus placing innocent motorists at risk of suffering catastrophic injuries and even death.

Tractor trailer accidents can be devastating. When a family loses a loved one in a truck accident where negligence on the part of the truck driver or trucking company played a role in causing the wrongful death, surviving family members may seek compensation for their loss as well as expenses relating to the death. Although no amount of financial compensation can ever replace the loss of a beloved family member, such recompense may relieve the burden and stress of any existing medical expenses, loss of future wages, and other economic damages.

At the St. Louis personal injury law firm of Page Cagle, our skilled Missouri truck accident wrongful death attorneys have helped many families receive compensation for costs associated with the death of their loved one. For a free consultation of your wrongful death truck accident case, call Page Cagle today at 866-620-5757.

Source:http://www.madisonpress.com/local.asp?ID=1799&Story=3