Truck Accidents Lawyers in Jefferson City

Truck accidents happen regularly on the roadways. While they don’t happen as often as crashes involving passenger vehicles, collisions involving semi-tractor trailers or commercial trucks are more likely to result in fatality.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), about 4,000 people are killed every year in collisions involving large trucks. In 2021, truck crashes caused 4,714 deaths nationwide. Of those, 68 percent were people in another vehicle, and 15 percent were pedestrians or those on motorcycles and bicycles.

Have you been the victim of a truck accident? If so, you need to act quickly to preserve your legal rights. The experienced truck accident lawyers at Brydon, Swearengen & England P.C. can help.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Many factors can cause or contribute to truck accidents. Some of the most common include:

• Truck driver fatigue
• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Poor road conditions
• Objects on the roadway
• Lane drifting
• Cargo issues
• Vehicle failure
• Improper maneuvering by truck driver

According to a study by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 60 percent of truck accidents are not caused by driver error. However, in cases where the truck driver was the primary cause of the crash, 87 percent involved truck driver fatigue. While this only accounts for a small percentage of all accidents involving trucks, it is an important consideration, as the risk of a crash doubles for drivers who have been on the road for longer than eight hours.

Truck Accident Investigation

The costs involved with a truck accident can be great, which is why a thorough investigation is critical. The increased size and weight of semi-trucks compared to passenger vehicles often result in injuries that are more severe or even death.

In a typical car accident, fault is usually relatively easy to determine. But in a truck accident, things are often more complicated. There are multiple parties that could be held liable following a truck accident, including the truck driver, trucking company, cargo loading company, or truck manufacturer. Plus, semi trucks are governed by federal laws, such as limitations on the number of hours a truck driver can drive each day, so it’s possible that a law was broken when the crash occurred.

To find the cause of the accident and ensure that the appropriate parties are held liable, the police or an independent investigator will investigate and may even reconstruct the crash. This is done particularly if the crash resulted in serious injuries or death. The investigator will look to see if any crimes were committed and determine who should pay the victim for their damages.

Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer

Any type of motor vehicle accident can lead to injuries, but the impact of a truck accident can lead to fatality due to the size of the truck and the load. If you suffered serious injuries or other damages, you could be eligible for compensation.

Recovering compensation from a truck crash can be challenging without the right legal help. The knowledgeable truck accident lawyers at Brydon, Swearengen & England P.C. can help you recover the compensation you need for injuries and other damages. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

FAQs About Truck Accidents in Missouri