Large trucks have a higher center of gravity than automobiles and are susceptible to rollover accidents, especially when truckers fail to adjust their speed when rounding curves. If a tractor-trailer overturns, it can cause serious injuries to the truck driver and to occupants of other vehicles involved in the crash.
If you’ve been injured in a truck rollover crash in St. Louis caused by someone else, you may be eligible to seek compensation for your medical bills and accident expenses. You shouldn’t have to bear the cost of medical bills from a crash caused by another driver. An experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyer can help you seek full compensation for your injuries and related losses.
Contact Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC today at (314) 367-2661 for a free consultation with a St. Louis rollover truck accident lawyer.
Common Causes of Rollover Truck Accidents in St. Louis
The vast majority of truck accidents are caused by some form of careless or negligent behavior, often on the part of the truck driver. Speeding, failing to drive at a safe speed for road conditions, oversteering, and driver distraction are common driver errors that cause rollover accidents:
- Speeding – Truck drivers are often hurrying to meet delivery deadlines. As a result, many truck drivers exceed the speed limit. If a truck driver fails to reduce speed on inclines and curving ramps, the truck may overturn, particularly if the truck is carrying an unstable load. If a speeding truck driver suddenly encounters a road hazard and oversteers to avoid a collision, the vehicle may overturn. Tanker trucks are especially susceptible to overturning if a driver takes a curve too fast and the liquid load in the tanker shifts suddenly.
- Driving distracted – Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of traffic accidents, including truck crashes. Anytime a truck driver takes their hands off the wheel or attention off the road, they put themselves and others at risk. Distracted driving includes activities such as texting, talking on the phone, and adjusting the radio. A distracted driver may fail to recognize the need to adjust speed on an approaching curve. Getting distracted behind the wheel contributes to deadly rollover accidents.
- Failure to maintain a safe distance – Truck drivers have a responsibility to maintain a safe distance between their rig and the vehicle ahead of them. Some truck drivers will tailgate other motorists because they are pressing to meet a deadline. If a tailgating truck driver swerves to avoid hitting a car that brakes suddenly, the trucker runs the risk of causing a devastating rollover crash.
- Driving under the influence – Alcohol impairs a truck driver’s ability to concentrate on the task of driving. It can also cause a slowed reaction time. An impaired truck driver may fail to recognize the need to slow down when approaching a road hazard or incline that could cause
a rollover accident.
Common Injuries from Rollover Truck Accidents
Large trucks often weigh 20 to 30 times more than an average passenger vehicle. The violent impact of a truck collision has the potential to cause catastrophic, debilitating injuries, especially to occupants of smaller passenger vehicles and others outside the truck.
Some of the most common injuries in rollover truck accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back injuries
- Crush injuries
- Whiplash
- Cuts, scrapes, and lacerations
- Broken and fractured bones
- Paralysis
- Disfigurement
- Traumatic amputation
If you suffered severe injuries in a truck accident caused by another driver’s carelessness or negligence, you may have the legal right to file an injury claim against the driver’s liability insurance and pursue full compensation. If the insurer refuses to agree to a just settlement, you may file a personal injury lawsuit.
Determining Liability in Rollover Truck Wreck in St. Louis
Determining fault for a truck accident is a complex process. It requires a thorough investigation by an attorney experienced in handling commercial truck accidents. Many people assume that the truck driver is at-fault for a rollover accident. That is often true. But others may be financially liable as well including the trucking company, negligent cargo loaders, or a third-party maintenance company. A detailed investigation is required to identify all the at-fault parties.
To prove liability, you must establish that the at-fault party’s negligence led to your injury. For example, if a truck driver failed to reduce speed adequately when taking a curving off-ramp, the centrifugal force could cause the truck to overturn. If the truck overturned onto another vehicle, the truck driver may be held liable for the injuries to the occupants of the vehicles involved.
You will need an attorney’s help to gather the evidence needed to build a persuasive case of negligence. Certain types of evidence, such as the truck’s black box and maintenance records, can provide strong evidence of liability. But you will need an aggressive attorney to take the steps necessary to get access to the records and potential evidence held by the trucking company. Our St. Louis truck accident lawyers at Craig, Kelley & Faultless have extensive experience investigating complex truck accidents including rollover accidents.
Compensation Available After a Rollover Truck Accident in St. Louis
If you have been injured in a rollover truck accident in St. Louis, you may be able to seek:
- Economic damages – Economic damages are financial expenses you incurred due to your injuries. Hospital bills, physical therapy, prescription medication, lost wages from missed time at work, and reduced future earning capacity are examples of financial losses that can be remedied by economic damages.
- Non-economic damages – Non-economic damages provide compensation for non-financial losses like pain and suffering and reduced quality of life.
- Punitive damages – Punitive damages are meant to punish the at-fault party for excessive recklessness or for intentionally causing harm. The standard of proof for punitive damages is higher than for economic and non-economic damages.
If you have been harmed in a rollover truck accident that someone else caused, Our attorneys are ready to help you seek full compensation for your losses. You should not be responsible for the costs associated with treating your injuries, missed work, or lost future income. The Missouri truck accident attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC can help you demand full and fair compensation.
St. Louis Rollover Truck Accident Lawyers
Have you been injured in a St. Louis truck rollover accident? If so, contact Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC today to discuss your case and legal options with an experienced truck accident lawyer in St. Louis. Our legal team has extensive experience helping victims of truck accidents seek the financial relief they need to rebuild their lives. We are not afraid to take on large trucking companies and their insurers. Our aggressive personal injury lawyers are ready to fight for your right to a fair settlement or verdict.
Contact us at (314) 367-2661 for a free consultation.
