Overloaded Truck Accident Lawyer in St. Louis, Missouri

Cargo in a tractor-trailer on Missouri highways can weigh tens of thousands of pounds. When a commercial truck is overloaded, this creates a variety of hazards that can lead to a crash. An overloaded truck may be unable to stop in time to avoid a crash or may roll over if the cargo shifts in transit.

Federal and state regulations limit the weight of cargo that trucks can carry and set forth requirements for when trucks must transport oversized loads. When an overloaded truck causes a serious accident, it is often because the truck driver or trucking company was careless or knowingly failed to follow weight restrictions.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an accident involving a commercial tractor-trailer or semi-truck in Missouri, you need to speak to an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible. If a truck was overloaded and that contributed to the accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your losses.

The St. Louis truck accident lawyers of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC help truck accident victims seek compensation for losses caused by negligent truck drivers and trucking companies. Our experienced attorneys work with private investigators, mechanical experts, and accident reconstruction specialists to investigate truck accidents and determine their causes. Get in touch with Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC of St. Louis for a free assessment of your case by calling (314) 367-2661 today.

What To Do if You Were Involved in an Accident With an Overloaded Truck in St. Louis

At the scene of a commercial truck accident, you or a companion should:

• Contact the police. Investigators will file a report containing information about who was involved in the crash, their insurance information, and what happened. The accident report will form the basis of an insurance claim.
• Document the accident. Use a phone camera to photograph the vehicles at the accident scene, their damage, your injuries, and anything else that helps show what happened. Photograph information on the truck, including a company name, license plate, and the US DOT number on the doors to the cab, which indicates the legal name of the business that put the truck on the road.
• Get witness names and contact information. Get information in writing or on video with names spelled out.
• Phone 911 for emergency medical assistance. If EMTs say you should go to the hospital, then let them transport you to the hospital to receive the medical care you need.
• Follow doctor’s orders. If you do not go directly to the hospital, see a doctor as soon as possible and explain that you were in a truck accident. Medical treatment will help you recover from your injuries. Attending all appointments and physical therapy will help to document the seriousness of your injuries.

After a crash with a tractor-trailer in Missouri, a truck accident lawyer from Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC in St. Louis can help you understand your options for recovering financial relief for your losses. Our law firm offers a free consultation to review the accident and discuss your legal options.

Why Hire a Lawyer To Represent You in a St. Louis Overloaded Truck Accident?

Federal regulations govern the size, weight, and content of cargo that trucks can transport. If a truck was overloaded and that contributed to the truck accident that injured you, you may seek compensation for your losses.

Commercial trucks are often owned by large corporations. Some motor carriers react quickly to serious accidents and offer quick cash settlements to those who have been injured. The problem is that a person who has been badly injured in a crash has no idea what their medical costs and losses will eventually total. A trucking company’s insurer goal is to limit its liability and settle the claim for a low amount before the full costs are known.

In other cases, a motor carrier may deny responsibility for the crash, requiring you to file a lawsuit to seek compensation.

The truck accident attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless, LLC can do the investigative work needed to gather evidence and develop a case that demonstrates how the truck accident occurred. If the truck was overloaded and that contributed to the crash, our attorneys can build a persuasive case for full compensation to you and your family. Police do not have the time or resources to investigate truck accidents to this extent. Only an attorney working for you will do this.

Why Choose Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC For Your Overloaded Truck Accident?

At Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC, our St. Louis truck accident lawyers have extensive experience representing people injured in large truck crashes and the families of victims of fatal crashes. Truck accident claims are complicated in part because of the complexity of regulations governing the trucking industry. Our St. Louis truck accident attorneys have successfully handled hundreds of commercial vehicle accidents.

Two of our attorneys, David Craig and Scott Faultless, have earned board certification from the National Board of Trial Advocacy in the area of personal injury law involving commercial motor vehicle accidents. They have used their knowledge of this area of law to assemble a team to focus on truck accident investigations and to demand just compensation for people who have been injured through no fault of their own.

Determining Liability in an Overloaded Truck Accident

Upon receiving your call, our truck accident response team will mobilize to contact the investigating law enforcement organization to obtain its report and to locate the tractor-trailer so our experts can inspect it. Our investigators will also visit the scene of the accident to take photographs and measurements and survey the site.

Our team will also:

• Locate eyewitnesses to interview them.
• Secure via court order, as necessary, documentation of the truck’s load and the driver’s activity log since being dispatched.
• Examine the truck’s brakes and other mechanical components and download data from the truck’s black box to gain insights about its speed, direction, acceleration, braking, and other operations at the moment of the accident.
• Work with nationally recognized accident reconstruction experts to understand and be able to depict for a jury how the accident occurred.
• Document your total costs and losses and present insurers with a demand for full compensation to you, along with evidence of the truck driver’s and/or trucking company’s responsibility for the accident.
• Be prepared to file a lawsuit on your behalf, asking the court to order the trucking company to compensate you fully. Most cases are settled through negotiations, but we approach each accident case as if it will go to trial. That strengthens our hand in negotiating a settlement.

Given the complexity of the legal process and the need for professional negotiation skills to deal with insurance companies, we advise you to seek the services of experienced truck accident attorneys. We can navigate the legalities of the trucking industry and personal injury law for you, prepare a strong truck accident claim, and work toward securing the full compensation that you need. We are dedicated to demanding justice for you.

What Are Recoverable Damages or Compensation in an Overloaded Truck Accident in Missouri?

In Missouri, accident victims may claim compensation for losses such as:

• Medical costs from treating injuries resulting from the accident, including emergency care, follow-up treatment, medication, and any future treatments, as well as ongoing physical therapy, mental health counseling, or other forms of rehabilitation that may be required.
• Lost wages due to being unable to work while recovering from the accident.
• Diminished earning ability due to long-term disability caused by the accident.
• Property damage, such as the cost to repair or replace your vehicle.
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress you suffer due to the accident or your injuries.

Statute Limitation for an Overloaded Truck Accident in Missouri

In Missouri, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is five years from the date of the injury in most cases. Missing this deadline may result in the court dismissing your case. While this may seem like plenty of time, truck accident investigations are time-consuming, and trucking companies and their insurers may use delay tactics. It is preferable to begin work on claims promptly before evidence is degraded or lost and before the memories of witnesses fade.

Get a Free Case Review With Our Experienced St. Louis Truck Driver Accident Attorneys

The St. Louis, MO, semi-truck accident attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC are ready to help if you are coping with injuries and losses because of a commercial truck accident that may have been caused by an overloaded truck.

We’ll fight vigorously for the compensation you need to put your life back together. We will not charge you a legal fee unless we recover compensation for you. For a free initial consultation with one of our truck accident lawyers, contact us by filling out our online form or phone (314) 367-2661.