St Louis Truck Accident Lawyer Assists Injured Parties

Missouri attorney seeks compensation from negligent trucking operators

St. Louis is, in poetic terms, the Gateway to the West. In actual terms that means nonstop highway traffic, including commercial trucks hauling goods from coast to coast and all points in between. As much as the nation depends on commercial trucks, these large, heavy vehicles are capable of doing severe harm to people and property. Tractor-trailer crashes are disastrous events, and determining who is at fault can require extensive investigation. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, the Guirl Law Firm is ready to help. As a St. Louis truck accident lawyer with more than 38 years’ experience, we have the knowledge and skill to get you the compensation you need and deserve.

Frequent places where truck accidents occur in St. Louis

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 15,005 commercial truck accidents in 2022. This represents a slight decrease from 2021, a year that saw 15,792 commercial vehicle accidents. Also in 2021, there were 137 truck crash fatalities, 13 occurring in St. Louis County. The top three Missouri trucking routes — I-70, I-44 and I-55 — run through St. Louis. It should not surprise that St. Louis County is the scene of more fatal commercial truck accidents than any of the other 113 counties in the state. 

Top causes of truck accidents in Illinois

Driver negligence is the major cause of commercial truck accidents. It can occur in several forms, including these:

• Distracted driving — Long-haul trucking demands long hours behind the wheel, and many drivers multitask by texting, talking on the phone, eating and drinking. They might also be distracted by focusing on a GPS or adjusting an audio system. 
• Impaired driving — Alcohol and drug consumption can interfere with a driver’s concentration, judgment and reaction time. 
• Driver fatigue — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration limits the hours of service for commercial truckers, but dispatchers and the drivers often ignore those regulations. Medical conditions such as sleep apnea can lead to fatigue, which impairs driving as much as alcohol. Medications such as allergy pills can cause drowsiness.
• Speeding or aggressive driving — Truck drivers who are pressed to meet ambitious deadlines might operate at unsafe speeds and take risks, such as passing unsafely.
• Unqualified drivers — A carrier company might hire drivers with inadequate training.
• Poorly loaded cargo — An unstable or improperly secured load can cause a truck to veer uncontrollably or even topple over. Loose cargo might fall off the truck onto the roadway.
• Mechanical defects — Vehicles might be kept in service without receiving proper maintenance, leading to tire blowouts, brake failures, transmission issues and loss of lights.

Other causes of truck accidents include negligence by other drivers and poor weather or road conditions.

Common injuries from truck accidents

In a semi-truck or a delivery truck crash, the force and mass of the vehicle often causes bone fractures, traumatic brain injury and whiplash. The most disastrous accidents can cause catastrophic injuries, such as paralysis and amputations, and even death.

Determining liability after a truck accident

Commercial truck collisions require a full investigation to determine who is at fault. Potential defendants include: 

• Truck driver — The leading cause of commercial truck crashes is driver negligence. If the driver is an independent contractor, they bear full responsibility.
• Trucking company — A trucking company that employs a driver is can be held responsible under the rule of respondeat superior. A trucking company also can be held directly liable for ignoring regulations, hiring unqualified drivers or failing to maintain equipment.
• Maintenance companies — Trucking companies generally outsource equipment maintenance to a third-party, which can be found liable if a crash occurs due to faulty repairs. 
• Shippers and cargo loaders —If the crash was due to cargo being unstable or not properly secured, the company that loaded it can be held accountable. 
• Equipment manufacturers — If a truck crash occurs due to a defective part, the equipment designer or manufacturer can be subject to product liability.

As experienced St. Louis personal injury lawyers, we conduct thorough investigations to determine cause and responsibility for accident.

Contact a committed and experienced St. Louis truck accident attorney

The Guirl Law Firm represents victims of commercial truck accidents throughout the greater St. Louis area. Call 314-391-2585 or contact us online to schedule your free initial consultation.