Truck Crash Lawyers in St. Louis, MO
Call 866-382-4167 for a Consultation and Case Review.
Truck Crash Lawyers St. Louis, MO. Truck accidents can have devastating consequences that go far beyond a typical car crash. After being injured in a truck accident, there's the very real possibility that you are facing a mountain of medical costs and possibly months, years or even a lifetime of further treatment. If you were injured because of someone else's negligence, there's no reason you should have to go through your recovery alone. The experienced and dedicated St. Louis truck crash lawyers at Halvorsen Klote are here to fight for you and get you the compensation you need to be made whole again. If you or a loved one has been affected by a truck driver or trucking company's negligence, call our St. Louis truck crash lawyers today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary case review.
Do I Need Truck Crash Lawyers in St. Louis?
If you have been injured in a truck accident, then you absolutely need to hire a lawyer. Truck drivers and trucking companies have expensive insurance policies and their insurance adjusters will do everything they can to minimize your financial recovery. The devastating impact of truck accidents go far beyond a typical fender bender that you might be able to deal with yourself. Your St. Louis truck crash lawyers at HK Law know how to properly value, negotiate and recover for you the compensation you deserve. Besides dealing with insurance companies, accomplished and talented truck crash lawyers will:
- Gather and evaluate evidence, including:
- The truck's black box
- Video footage from inside the truck
- Nearby surveillance footage
- Witness statements
- Police reports
- The scene of the accident
- Employer records
- Maintenance records
- Handle all communication, litigation, and documentation
- Review your medical records
- Work with medical and truck crash experts to determine liability and properly calculate the value of your claim
- Keep you consistently updated on the status of your claim
- Take your case to trial if we cannot secure a fair settlement offer
Our St. Louis truck crash lawyers know how to get you the full financial recovery you deserve. We charge no attorney's fees unless we win your case.
St. Louis Truck Crash Lawyers: The Statistics
Any St. Louis motor vehicle accident can cause catastrophic injuries or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. Victims of truck crashes are at especially high risk due to the sheer size of semi-trucks and the force they carry. Despite making up only 4 percent of registered vehicles, trucks are involved in 9 percent of fatal traffic-related crashes. In fatal truck accidents, 72 percent of people killed in truck accidents were occupants of other vehicles, not the truck. Trucks are on average 20-30 times larger than standard vehicles and take 20-40 percent longer to come to a complete stop.
St. Louis truck drivers and their trucking companies have a tremendous responsibility to ensure everyone on the road is safe. Because truck accidents are so dangerous, there are strict rules that truck drivers and truck companies must comply with. When they break those rules and you are subsequently injured through no fault of your own, you need to call the St. Louis truck crash lawyers of Halvorsen Klote to get the compensation you deserve.
What Compensation Can I Receive For My St. Louis Truck Accident?
There are three types of compensation you are eligible for after a truck accident: economic damages, non-economic damages and, in rare cases, punitive damages.
Economic damages compensate you for the financial losses you've suffered because of your accident. That can include:
- Property damage
- Medical expenses, such as
- Emergency care
- Follow-up appointments
- Surgeries
- Braces, crutches or other assistive devices
- Chiropractic care or physical therapy
- Any anticipated future expenses, such as joint replacements or further surgeries
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity if your injuries result in permanent disability that prevents you from working or from working full time
- Out-of-pocket expenses such as transportation to and from medical appointments, or needing to hire services for help with household chores
Non-economic damages compensate you for the less tangible ways your life has been affected, like the physical and emotional pain of your injuries. Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Stress and anxiety
- Loss of ability to enjoy life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Inconvenience
- Disability or physical impairment
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages are rarely awarded and are reserved for cases where the negligent party was incredibly reckless, for example, if a truck driver was driving drunk.
How much your personal injury claim is worth depends on the severity of your injuries, how they have affected your life and the skill of your truck crash lawyers. Call Halvorsen Klote today at 866-382-4167 to start your road to true recovery with full compensation.
Who Can My St. Louis Truck Crash Lawyers Find Liable for My Injuries?
Each truck accident is different, and the liable parties will differ depending on what caused the crash. The experienced and dependable St. Louis truck crash lawyers at HK Law know how to evaluate truck accidents and determine liability. Below are some of the common causes of truck accidents, and the parties our truck crash lawyers may be able to hold accountable for your injuries.
The Driver
According to the Federal Motor Safety Administration, 87 percent of truck accidents are caused by driver error. Examples of when a truck driver may be found negligent are:
- Distracted driving, including driving while
- Texting, or otherwise using their phone
- Eating or drinking
- Tobacco use
- Adjusting AC/Heat controls or the radio
- Paying attention to something on the side of the road
- Daydreaming
- Driving while drowsy
- Drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs
- Aggressive or reckless driving
- Failure to check blind spots and other unsafe lane changes
- Speeding
- An 11-hour driving limit after 10 consecutive hours off duty;
- A 14-hour driving limit followed by 10 consecutive hours off duty, even if they were not driving all 14 of those hours;
- A 30-minute driving break if a truck driver has driven more than eight straight hours without a 30-minute break;
- A 60/70-hour limit in 7/8 consecutive days, and a driver may only restart the 7/8 consecutive day period after having 34 or more hours off-duty.
If you were injured because a St. Louis truck driver did not do their job correctly and disregarded your safety, call HK Law's semi-truck accident lawyers today to take the first step in securing justice and fair financial compensation.
The Truck Company
Truck companies owe the same duty of care to people on Missouri and Illinois roads that truck drivers do. Semi-trucks can drive hundreds of thousands of miles a year and as such can break down rapidly. While trucks can be pulled over for inspection, there are simply too many on the St. Louis roads for the Department of Transportation to be able to ensure every semi-truck's safety. That's why regular maintenance and repairs should be a priority for truck companies.
Furthermore, truck companies have an obligation to take care of their drivers and not overwork them. Some studies suggest that drowsy driving impairs a driver more than drunk driving. There are strict laws about how many miles a truck driver can drive in one day and how often they are supposed to take breaks. The hours of service regulations are:
Unfortunately, some St. Louis truck companies care more about their miles than they do about doing what's right. If you were injured in a truck crash because a driver was fatigued, it may be because they felt pressure from their bosses to complete a delivery even when they were not reasonably able to. The
Lastly, truck companies have an obligation to only hire qualified drivers. Truck drivers need a Commercial Driver License in order to legally operate a truck. If a truck company hires somebody who is untrained, has a history of DWIs or is otherwise unqualified to drive a truck, they are liable for their negligent hiring practices.
The Truck Manufacturer and Mechanics
Like car manufacturers, anybody who designs or manufactures trucks has a responsibility to issue recalls on any device they find to be unsafe. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that any component or device that creates "unreasonable risk of death or injury in an accident" must be recalled.
Similarly, if a mechanic notices an a defective part and does not fix it or does not fix it properly, Halvorsen Klote's truck crash lawyers may be able to hold them responsible.
The Shipping Company
Cargo needs to be properly loaded so that the weight distribution is balanced and the cargo is safely secured within the truck. Uneven weight distribution or shifting cargo could cause the truck to roll-over and injure you. If the shipping company neglected to load their cargo properly, they may be liable for your injuries.
Local or State Government
Roadway hazards such as broken pavement, loose guard rails or malfunctioning traffic lights can sometimes cause truck accidents. Governments have a responsibility to keep our roadways safe and when they neglect that duty you may be able to hold them accountable with the help of experienced and knowledgeable St. Louis truck crash lawyers. Third party contractors that repaired the hazards poorly may also be held accountable.
Contact Your St. Louis Truck Crash Lawyers Today | HK Law
If you have been injured in a truck accident through no fault of your own, the dedicated and skilled truck crash lawyers of Halvorsen Klote will take up your case. You should not have to worry about exorbitant medical bills and lost wages because of somebody else's negligence. Let us fight by your side to secure you the compensation you are entitled to. Call us today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online to find out more about how the St. Louis truck crash lawyers of Halvorsen Klote can help you.
Joel Halvorsen
Attorney at Law
Joel Halvorsen and his partner Greg Klote founded the Halvorsen Klote law firm on the principle that injured people and their families should have access to the same quality legal representation as large insurance companies.
Greg Klote
Attorney at Law
Greg Klote is a partner and founder of Halvorsen Klote.
Greg has successfully fought for people who were injured through no fault of their own. He became a lawyer to help make a difference in the lives of those who have been wronged and treated unfairly.
