Why Missouri Truck Accidents are So Dangerous

Missouri reported 15,764 crashes involving large commercial trucks and buses in 2019. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol statistics, the truck accidents led to 145 deaths. The statistics show that the rate of deaths in crashes involving large trucks in Missouri is nearly double that of car accidents.

The National Highway Traffic Highway Safety Administration says there were 5,005 people killed in crashes involving large trucks across the U.S. in 2019, and 3,553 of them (71%) were occupants of other vehicles, mainly passenger cars.

With nearly twice as many Missouri truck accidents as car accidents being fatal and so many more passenger car occupants dying in collisions with trucks, you may ask, what makes truck accidents so dangerous?

The short answer is that trucks are much heavier than passenger cars. In Missouri, a truck-tractor semi-trailer combination can legally weigh 80,000 pounds – 40 tons – fully loaded (or more with special equipment). That’s about 17 times the weight of a 2019 F-150 pickup truck, which ranges from 4,069 to 5,697 pounds, depending on the model.

The laws of physics tell us that when a heavier object collides with a lighter object, more damage is done to the lighter object. If a truck weighing upwards of 80,000 pounds is moving at 60 or 70 mph, the weight and speed exponentially compound the force of impact in a collision.

But there’s more to it than that. Most commercial truck accidents are caused by driver error. This is true of all motor vehicle accidents. But when a truck driver causes a truck accident, it is more dangerous in terms of the impact and extent of injuries to those involved.

Truck accident cases can be complicated by multiple factors, not the least of which is the trucking company. The trucking company often owns the truck and employs the truck driver. Motor carriers and their insurance companies move quickly to protect their bottom lines after accidents.

Legal Team Dedicated to Missouri Truck Accidents

At Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC in St. Louis, we have decades of experience helping accident victims of large truck accidents seek fair compensation for their losses. Attorneys David W. Craig and Scott A. Faultless lead a truck accident emergency response team that includes a private investigator, a mechanical expert, an expert qualified to download data from a commercial truck’s “black box” event data recorder, and an accident reconstruction specialist.

We thoroughly investigate truck accidents to determine fault and then negotiate aggressively for full compensation for clients injured by negligent truck drivers and the trucking companies who employ them. If you’ve been injured in a St. Louis area commercial truck accident that was not your fault, contact us for a free review of your case today.

Common Causes of Missouri Truck Accidents

It may seem too simple to say the truck driver made a mistake and that’s why he or she crashed. But in the Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS), the broadest study of trucking accidents ever published, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) said action or inaction by the drivers of the truck or the other vehicles was an important contributing factor in the truck crashes in a large majority of the cases.

According to the study, truck drivers made recognition and decision errors most often, including:

• Speeding
• Driving while fatigued
• Driving too fast for road conditions
• Unsafe following distance (tailgating)
• Unsafe lane changes
• Swerving
• Making unsafe turns
• Inadequate surveillance

The study also found that being unfamiliar with roadways was a significant factor leading to truck crashes.

Why Missouri Truck Accident Claims are Complex

An accident is not always entirely the truck driver’s fault. Tractor-trailers are large, complicated machines, and they carry heavy and sometimes hazardous cargo. Some truck accidents are caused by mechanical failures or by cargo shifts or spills, which can cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle.

FMCSA regulations call for drivers to inspect their vehicles and cargo before each day’s drive. Federal regulations say specifically that motor carriers are responsible for their trucks and the drivers they put on the road.

The owners of the truck, the trailer, and the cargo may involve several companies. Many motor carriers are for-hire concerns, supplying cabs and trailers separately as needed, and moving cargo for third parties under contract. Some independent truckers own their own rigs. Some motor carriers contract out for truck maintenance and repairs.

If a truck driver causes an accident, the employer is responsible for the accident too. Instead of seeking compensation from a driver at fault, you are likely fighting a large company.

A commercial truck accident may require legal action against one or more of the following:

• Truck driver
• Trucking company
• Truck owner
• Trailer owner
• Cargo owner/shipper
• Truck manufacturer
• Truck parts manufacturers.

When the various parties potentially responsible for a truck accident begin to point fingers at each other and try to shift the blame, you need an experienced truck accident attorney to stand up on your behalf and demand accountability. An adjuster can continue to deny your claim unless you can prove their policyholder is at fault. Even when the fault is clear, an insurance adjuster can stonewall you with denials or a low-ball settlement offer, knowing that there is little you can do on your own, especially if you are dealing with a serious injury.

How a Missouri Truck Accident Attorney Can Help

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a commercial truck accident, you need an independent investigation to determine who was at fault and what compensation you are due for your losses.

As your Missouri injury attorneys, Craig, Kelley & Faultless can deploy our dedicated truck accident response team to:

• Investigate the cause of the accident by gaining access to the truck, its “black box” event data recorder, driver logs, maintenance records, and other evidence
• Determine which party was responsible for your accident and identify the insurance coverage
• Calculate the full extent of your losses in consultation with your doctors, therapists, you, and others
• Submit a claim to insurance companies seeking full compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, vehicle damage, pain and suffering
• Negotiate aggressively to obtain maximum compensation for you
• File one or more formal lawsuits if proper settlement offers are not made and be prepared to present your case in Missouri court.

The attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless can respond promptly to your call with a legal team dedicated to investigating commercial truck accidents and fighting to recover maximum compensation for our client’s losses. We are dedicated fact-finders, aggressive negotiators, and skilled litigators who prepare each case as if it will go to trial.

 Contact us online or call (314) 367-2661 for a free consultation about handling your truck accident claim. We pursue truck accident cases in Missouri on a contingency fee basis. That means we do not charge you a legal fee unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us today. If you cannot come to us in St. Louis, we will come to you.