Even crashes between passenger vehicles in Independence, Missouri, can lead to serious injuries or death. However, when one of the vehicles involved in the accident is an 80,000-pound semi-truck, the effects can be even more severe.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with a commercial truck, the most important action you can take for yourself is to contact our experienced Independence truck accident lawyers.
Trucking companies almost always have experienced attorneys, and having your own legal counsel can increase your chances of recovering a fair settlement.
Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers is the only firm in the state focusing exclusively on motor vehicle accidents, and our skilled legal team is available 24/7 to help you. Contact us today to book your free consultation.
Injured in an accident with a semi-truck or an 18-wheeler in Independence, Missouri? Call (816) 382-6915 to speak with our skilled legal team. Consultations are completely free of charge.
The Role of Our Truck Accident Lawyers in Independence, Missouri
When you’re choosing an attorney specializing in truck accidents, experience matters. Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers has represented truck accident injury victims since 1990. Over that time, we have recovered more than $105 million for clients injured by commercial trucks.
When you work with us, our team will handle the logistics of your case so you can focus on healing. If we represent you, you can count on the following services:
Prompt, Clear Communication
Personal injury cases come with a lot of uncertainty. If your attorney takes days to get back to you or is a poor communicator, it only compounds that uncertainty.
Our team is committed to supporting our clients in any way we can. That includes promptly answering your questions and taking the time to ensure you understand what’s going on with your case.
Honest Legal Advice
Beginning with your free consultation, we give you personalized, honest legal advice. If we think you’re unlikely to win your case or we see potential challenges on the horizon, we’ll let you know.
Thorough Investigation of Your Accident
The more high-quality evidence we have, the greater our likelihood of winning your case. That’s why we dedicate considerable time and resources to investigation. We work with accident reconstructionists, private investigators, and expert witnesses to build a case against the at-fault driver.
Filing of All Necessary Legal Motions
Truck accident cases involve more paperwork than many people realize. Our team will prepare all necessary court filings and other legal documents.
Each case is different, but we usually will start with a demand letter. The way your case proceeds depends on the other side’s response to the demand letter:
- If they agree to pay what we asked, the case will settle
- If they accept liability but dispute the damages, we will attempt to negotiate
- If they deny liability entirely, we will file a lawsuit
We will handle the drafting and filing of your lawsuit if need be, and we’ll also promptly respond to the motions filed by the other side.
Attempting to Negotiate a Settlement
Even after a lawsuit is filed, most truck accident cases settle out of court. When a case settles, both sides agree on a certain sum to be paid to you. In exchange for payment, we drop the lawsuit.
Negotiation is an art, and when you have attorneys such as Paul Beck and John Beck, who are trained negotiators, your case may be more likely to settle. In most cases, settling is ideal — it helps avoid the time, expense, and uncertainty of a civil trial.
Strong Representation in Court
Sometimes, the other side will refuse to negotiate a settlement. These cases must be decided through a civil trial. At trial, we will argue your case and present evidence, and the court will decide whether the other side owes you compensation or not.
Why Do Most Truck Accidents in Independence Occur?
Truck drivers are highly trained professionals, but that doesn’t mean they’re never involved in accidents. These are some of the most common causes of accidents that our Independence truck accident lawyers have encountered:
- Distracted drivers
- Inadequate driver training
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Fatigued drivers
- Poor truck maintenance
- Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Equipment failure
- Reckless driving
- Disobeying traffic laws
- Improper loading or securing of cargo
- Bad weather
- Unrealistic deadlines or time constraints
Determining the cause of a truck accident is often more challenging than it sounds. Our award-winning Independence truck accident attorneys have decades of experience investigating accidents, and we examine every angle to find out who or what caused your accident.
Types of Truck Accidents Our Attorneys Handle
In our decades of practice, our skilled attorneys have seen nearly every type of truck accident. These are some of the many types of accidents we can handle:
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are dangerous no matter who is involved. However, when a semi-truck rear-ends a smaller vehicle, the sheer force of the impact can lead to catastrophic injuries and major property damage.
Jackknife Accidents
Jackknife accidents happen when a commercial truck’s trailer swings out of control. If the trailer swings close enough to the cab of the truck, the truck will form a “jackknife” shape. These accidents can often cause multi-vehicle crashes if they happen on busy roads.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions often happen due to driver error. For instance, if a trucker is impaired or fatigued, they might cross the centerline of a road and strike oncoming traffic.
T-Bone Accidents
“T-bone” accidents happen when one vehicle strikes the side of the other. They are especially common when one vehicle runs a red light or a stop sign.
Runaway Truck Accidents
If a commercial truck’s brakes fail, it may become a “runaway truck.” This is an extremely dangerous situation that can lead to serious accidents.
Runaway trucks have a number of different causes. Brake failure can happen due to mechanical issues with the truck or driver error.
Underride or Override Accidents
Underride and override accidents often lead to fatalities. An underride accident happens when a smaller vehicle hits the back of a truck and slides underneath it. An override happens when a truck rear-ends a smaller vehicle and goes partially over it.
Tire Blowout Accidents
Tires on semi trucks are subjected to enormous amounts of stress. Sometimes, that stress leads to tire blowouts. These sudden, explosive events can cause the driver to lose control of the truck.
Wide Turn Accidents
To make right turns, drivers of semi trucks must first swing wide to the left. If a driver misjudges the distance, they may drive far enough to the left to cause an accident.
In some cases, a driver behind the truck might think the trucker is moving to the left lane. If they drive in the space to the right of the truck, they may hit it in the middle of the turn.
Lost Load Accidents
Generally, truckers aren’t responsible for loading their vehicles. Instead, professional loading companies are responsible for ensuring the load is balanced and properly secured.
When loading companies make errors, the consequences can be dire. If a load spills onto the road, it can easily cause multiple crashes and fatalities.
Who Do I Sue for My Truck Accident Injuries?
If you get into a crash caused by another passenger vehicle, determining liability is usually fairly straightforward — the other driver is typically at fault. However, in an accident with a commercial truck, liability can be far more complex.
When you work with us, our Independence truck accident lawyers will closely examine your case to identify all liable parties. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to sue one or more of the following entities:
The Truck Driver
Many truck accidents happen due to driver error. If the trucker’s actions led to the crash, you may be able to sue them directly.
The Trucking Company
Under the legal principle of vicarious liability, an employer may be held responsible for the actions of its on-the-clock employees. This means that while the individual truck driver may be liable for your accident, the trucking company may be as well.
The Loading Company
If improperly secured cargo shifts or comes off the truck, it can lead to accidents. In this case, the company hired to load it may be held liable.
Businesses Hired to Maintain and Repair Trucks
Many trucking companies contract with other organizations to perform routine maintenance and repairs on vehicles in their fleet.
Truck and Part Manufacturers
If a truck (or a truck part) has a manufacturing defect that causes a crash, the manufacturer may be liable for your damages.
Government Entities
If a defect in the road caused the accident, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the government organization responsible for maintaining it.
How Is Fault Determined After a Semi-Truck Accident?
Determining who may be liable for your accident can be an involved process. To recover compensation from a particular party, your attorney must be able to prove the elements of negligence:
- The party owed you a duty of care
- They breached that duty
- Their actions led to your injuries
- You have damages to collect as a result
When investigating your accident, we will also look for violations of state and federal violations. If a particular trucker was not in compliance with the applicable laws, that may be an indicator of fault.
On a federal level, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) establishes safety regulations like these:
- Hours of service regulations to limit consecutive hours on the road
- A zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy
- Limits on the total weight of each load
- Training requirements for drivers
In many cases, violations of these regulations lead to accidents. For example, some trucking companies pressure drivers to ignore hours of service regulations so they can complete a trip faster. This leads to driver fatigue, which in turn increases their risk of causing a crash.
In addition to federal regulations, Missouri truckers must also abide by state rules and regulations. For example, the state requires all commercial trucks to be clearly marked with the motor carrier’s name and Department of Transportation (DOT) number.
State law also requires all trucking companies to keep inspection and maintenance records for each vehicle. If a driver notices a potential problem after driving, they must submit a written report to the carrier.
To encourage carriers to promptly address issues with their trucks, Missouri law requires the carrier to certify that repairs have been made before sending the truck out on the road again.
The regulatory landscape around the trucking industry is especially intricate. Our team will leverage our experience to identify potential violations and strengthen your case.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Independence Truck Accident Lawyer?
If you have just been through a trucking accident, you might be worried about the cost of working with a lawyer. However, because we work on a contingency-fee basis, you pay nothing up front.
If we take your case, you agree to pay us a certain percentage of any compensation we recover for you. If we are unable to recover compensation, you pay nothing.
Types of Compensation We Can Help You Recover
Money can’t undo your truck accident. However, compensation can grant you greater financial security as you heal. We may be able to help you recover compensation for losses like these:
- Medical costs
- Lost income
- Property damage
- Diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
At your free consultation, we can review your case with you and give you an idea of how much you may be able to recover.
Consult Our Truck Accident Law Firm in Independence, Missouri
You’ve already been made a victim in your accident. An Independence truck accident attorney may help you avoid becoming a victim again. When you work with Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, you gain a knowledgeable, compassionate advocate who’s ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.
If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident, we want to hear from you. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
Locations near Independence where we’ve assisted truck accident injury victims include St. Louis, Florissant, O’Fallon, Jefferson City, Kansas City, Columbia, Kirksville, Springfield, and more.
