St. Louis Truck Accident Lawyers
Missouri Truck Accident Attorneys
Have you or a loved one been hurt in an accident due to a truck driver’s negligence? With goods and products being transported across the country trucks are all over the highways and roads. Large trucks weigh much more than your average vehicle. When these trucks are involved in an accident it often results in catastrophic injuries or death to other drivers or passengers in smaller vehicles.
Trucking accidents are not the same as auto accidents. Commercial trucking drivers are required to follow stricter rules. Trucking accidents are steadily on the rise. Many fatal accidents are due to trucking drivers having increased blood alcohol content. Know your rights if you or a loved one have been involved in an accident with a commercial truck.
Causes of Truck Accident in Missouri and Illinois
Trucking accidents can be caused by many different factors. Typically truck accidents are caused by the negligence of the truck driver or the malfunctioning of the truck. Common causes of truck accidents are:
- Failing to obey traffic laws
- Driving for too long without taking a break
- Failure to properly supervise the truck driver
- Failure to monitor the driving hours of the truck driver
- Lack of driving experience
- Driving in hazardous weather
- Not keeping up with vehicle maintenance
- Overloading trailers
- Distracted driving and inattention
Who is Responsible for a Trucking Accident
Trucking accidents can get very complicated if multiple parties or cars are at fault. It is important to hire a St. Louis truck accident attorney to help with your investigation and claim. The parties that can be liable in a truck accident usually include:
- Truck company
- The driver
- Owner of the truck
- Freight shipper
- Truck parts manufactfurer
- The truck's leasing company
- Manufacturer of the truck
- Broker who hired the trucking company to deliver a load
What can my Missouri and Illinois Truck Accident Attorney Do?
Our truck accident attorneys will begin an investigation immediately to determine who the responsible parties are. It is common practice for insurance companies to deny liability on behalf of the truck driver or truck company. However, our truck accident attorneys will begin to collect evidence to establish your claim and prove liability.
During the initial investigation our attorneys will meet with state authorities, review police reports, interview witnesses, review camera footage, analyze your medical records, preserve evidence, and obtain data from the truck’s Electronic Control Module (ECM; i.e. “black box”). Collecting evidence early is crucial to proving liability for your claim.
Our attorneys will review the medical records and medical bills pertaining to your injuries to determine the severity of your accident. Trucking accidents often leave people with catastrophic injuries or permanent disability. We will have experts determine your future medical costs and needs.
We will then submit the claim to all responsible parties involved and seek full compensation for your injuries and losses.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a truck accident, it is important to speak to a lawyer as soon as possible. Insurance companies are quick to offer low settlement offers to trick you into taking less than your case is worth. If you delay bringing your claim you may be prevented for recovering any compensation. Call the St. Louis truck accident attorneys at Halvorsen Klote at 1-877-51-HKLAW (877-514-5529) for your free consultation.