St. Louis Law Firms
Trucking accidents are some of the most destructive motor vehicle accidents to occur. Injuries are often severe, and fatal injuries are common. Trucking accident claims can be daunting, they are much more complex than regular auto accident claims, but trucking accident victims and their loved ones desperately need compensation to pay for the costs of trucking accident injuries.
Truck Accident Causes
Although the cause of you accident may seem simple and obvious, there are typically multiple underlying causes and contributing factors which come together to result in a trucking accident, as well as additional factors which can contribute to the seriousness of the injuries caused by the accident. Your ability to recover compensation hinges on uncovering these underlying causes which point to the responsible parties and your potential avenues of compensation.
A thorough investigation is required, and may involve requesting and reviewing trucking company records, inspecting the truck for defects and inadequate maintenance, investigating the possibility of roadway defects, and much more.
Common causes of trucking accidents include:
- Inexperienced or undertrained truck driver
- Driver fatigue
- Distracted driver
- Excessive speed
- Unrealistic schedules
- Intoxication
- Improper loading of trucks
- Overweight trucks
- Defective truck or parts
- Missing or defective safety equipment
- Inadequately maintained truck
- Defective roadway, such a missing or inadequate height limit sign
- Negligence on the part of other drivers
Responsible Parties in Truck Accidents
There can be more than one responsible party in a trucking accident. Although negligent truck drivers often cause truck accidents, the trucking company can often be held responsible for the behavior of its employee. Trucking companies can also be held responsible for failing to maintain the truck and other trucking regulation violations.
Responsible parties in trucking accidents can include:
- Trucking company (carrier)
- Freight shipper
- Freight broker
- Third party logistics provider (3pl)
- Truck driver
- Owner of the truck or trailer
- Truck, parts, or equipment manufacturer
- Government agency responsible for design, construction, and/or maintenance of roadway
- Weigh station or weigh station personnel
- Negligent driver
Missouri Truck Accident Victims
A single truck accident can have one or many victims. Drivers and passengers of other vehicles are not the only possible victims in a trucking accident. Truck drivers often have a claim, such as in accidents caused by defective trucks or roadways. Potential plaintiffs in trucking accident lawsuits include:
- Occupants of passenger vehicles, and other vehicles involved in the crash
- Truck driver and passengers
- Pedestrians
- Bystanders
- People in building affected by the accident
- Owners of property damage in the accident, including property which is damaged by hazardous materials spills
- Business owners affected by evacuations
- Loved ones of people killed in the accident
If you are in need of a Missouri truck accident lawyer, please contact one of the law firms in this directory.