Truck accidents in Missouri can lead to serious, life-altering injuries, huge medical expenses, and lasting disabilities. Semi-truck accident injury cases often bring added challenges like federal and state trucking regulations, multiple parties who may be at fault, and insurance teams that push hard to limit your recovery.
Because the consequences of a semi-truck crash are so serious, having our experienced Missouri truck accident lawyers on your side is essential.
At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we bring specialized knowledge, resources, and a proven record to take on large trucking companies and their insurers, making sure you get the compensation you need for your injuries.
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Have you been injured in a truck accident in Missouri? Since 1990, our experienced truck accident attorneys have been helping injured victims recover compensation. Call (314) 207-9996 for a free consult!
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Why Choose Our Missouri Truck Accident Lawyers?
Attorneys Paul Beck and John Beck have been helping truck accident victims for more than three decades, and our firm has recovered over $105 million for clients across Missouri.
By choosing our firm, you get advocates who know how to face the strong legal teams representing trucking companies.
- You only pay if we secure a recovery, keeping your financial risk at zero.
- Since crashes can happen at any hour, we make ourselves available to answer questions and provide support around the clock.
- Our thorough knowledge of trucking regulations allows us to manage the details of your case effectively.
- Clients receive focused attention, and our family-run firm approaches every case with care and respect.
How Beck & Beck Can Assist With Your Truck Accident Claim in Missouri
Our skilled attorneys act immediately when you hire us for a truck accident case, taking steps to protect your rights and secure critical evidence.
- We immediately send legal notices to the trucking company to hold onto essential evidence like black box records and logbooks, because once they’re gone, they’re nearly impossible to recover.
- Our team follows that by a meticulous crash site inspection, looking for evidence that first responders or law enforcement may have missed.
- We track down everyone who could be responsible—not just the driver, but the trucking company, maintenance teams, and anyone involved in handling the cargo—since more than one party often contributes to these accidents.
- We examine potential federal violations, speak with witnesses promptly, and involve medical experts to document the total effect of your injuries and long-term challenges.
- When presenting your claim, we provide detailed settlement requests, and if the insurance company tries to lowball you, we rely on our trial experience to take your case to court and pursue the financial compensation you deserve.
We take care of all insurance communications so you don’t have to worry about letters, calls, or demands, letting you focus on recovery. Drawing on years of experience exclusively handling vehicle accidents, we know how to challenge even the largest trucking companies to secure the compensation you need.
Negligence in Missouri Truck Accident Claims
When someone gets hurt in a truck accident, the question is whether the truck driver, the company that employs them, or someone else didn’t take proper care and that failure caused the injury.
Our focus is on four main areas: the duty to drive safely, whether that duty was broken, the direct link between the failure and the crash, and the injuries that followed.
To prove negligence and establish liability, we gather all relevant evidence—black box readings, driver logs, maintenance reports, and eyewitness statements—to create a detailed picture of the events that caused the accident.
Often, this process uncovers overlooked safety violations, distracted driving, or company policies that prioritized efficiency and profits over careful driving. All of that matters when making a claim and trying to get full compensation.
Who Can Be Held Liable For a Truck Accident
Most people automatically assume it’s just the truck driver, but that’s not always the case. Often, more than one party can share some responsibility, which actually increases the resources available to cover your losses.
Potentially liable parties include:
- Truck driver – Things like being tired, distracted, speeding, or using alcohol or drugs can make them responsible
- Trucking company – Hiring drivers without proper training, setting unrealistic schedules, or ignoring safety protocols can put them at fault
- Cargo loaders – Overloading a truck or failing to secure freight correctly can create liability
- Maintenance providers – Missing inspections or doing subpar repairs can lead to accidents
- Parts manufacturers – Defective brakes, tires, or other essential components may contribute to a crash
What If I’m Partly at Fault For the Accident?
Missouri uses a “pure comparative fault” system, which means you can still recover damages even if you share some blame. Your payout is reduced according to the percentage of fault attributed to you, but you’re not barred from compensation entirely.
For instance, if your claim is worth $200,000 but you are determined to be 40% responsible—maybe for speeding or switching lanes without signaling—you could still receive $120,000.
Insurance companies sometimes try to use this rule against you by overstating your responsibility.
Our experienced Missouri truck accident attorneys make sure to counter these claims with solid evidence, showing the truck driver or other responsible parties were mainly at fault, and we fight to secure the full compensation you are entitled to under Missouri law.
Compensation You Can Recover After a Missouri Truck Crash
If you’re hurt in a Missouri truck accident, the law lets you claim damages for every way the crash has affected you, from medical bills and missed paychecks to the pain, disruption, and long-term changes you’ve had to face.
How much you receive depends on the severity of your injuries, the degree to which the other driver was at fault, and the insurance coverage available. Because truck accidents often involve more serious injuries, settlements are usually larger than typical car accident cases.
Economic Damages Cover Your Financial Losses
Economic damages are intended to cover the real money you’ve spent or will need to spend because of the crash. We make sure nothing is missed, including medical bills from your initial emergency care through ongoing therapy, as well as any future treatments like surgery or long-term rehab.
We also work to recover lost wages for the time you couldn’t work, and if your injuries limit your ability to earn the same income in the future, we include compensation for that reduction in earning capacity.
In addition, any damage to your vehicle or personal property is part of your economic damages, and we pursue reimbursement for all of it.
Non-Economic Damages Compensate for Personal Suffering
These damages take into account the non-financial ways a truck accident affects you, including pain, emotional distress, and limits on daily activities. In Missouri, they typically cover:
- Physical pain and suffering – Covers both the immediate pain after the crash and any ongoing discomfort or chronic issues that may last for months or years, reflecting the real impact on your body.
- Emotional distress – Accounts for anxiety, depression, PTSD, or fear that follows a traumatic truck accident, showing how the crash affected your mental health.
- Loss of enjoyment – Damages for hobbies, activities, or daily pleasures you can no longer take part in because of your injuries, reflecting the lifestyle changes caused by the crash.
- Loss of consortium – Compensation for the strain the accident places on your relationships, including the companionship and intimacy you might lose with a spouse or family members.
- Disfigurement and scarring – Recovery for permanent changes to your appearance that bring embarrassment or emotional pain, acknowledging the lasting effects beyond physical injuries.
What To Do Following a Truck Accident
The first minutes after a truck accident are confusing and stressful, and the decisions you take during that time can have a big impact on any compensation you may receive later. Your top priority should always be your personal safety and well-being.
Call 911 and Get Medical Care Right Away
Dial 911 immediately, even if your injuries feel minor, since police need to secure the scene and file an official accident report.
Paramedics can also examine you for hidden serious injuries, such as head trauma, internal bleeding, or spinal damage, which might not be obvious at first because of adrenaline or shock.
Getting checked also creates a record linking your injuries to the crash.
Preserve Evidence and Avoid Making Statements
If you are able to move safely, start collecting evidence by taking photos of all vehicles involved, your injuries, and the accident scene, and get contact details from anyone who witnessed the crash.
Keep clothing that was torn or bloody, along with damaged personal items like your phone or glasses, since these can serve as evidence later.
Never admit fault or say you are okay to anyone at the scene because insurance adjusters may use those statements against you, and if the trucking company’s insurer calls, simply refer them to our skilled Missouri truck accident lawyers.
When to File Your Truck Accident Claim
In Missouri, you generally have five years from the date of your truck accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, which may seem like plenty of time, but waiting can weaken your case.
The sooner you start, the better positioned you are to protect your rights and gather strong evidence. More importantly, if you don’t file your claim within the deadline you will not be able to recover any compensation.
In some cases, waiting even a few weeks caused vital evidence to disappear. Reaching out to us immediately after your crash lets us preserve everything your claim will need.
Award-Winning Missouri Truck Accident Law Firm
Missouri truck accident claims can be complicated and require focused experience. At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we handle each part of the process for you, allowing you to concentrate on recovering from your injuries.
We handle insurance communications, gather evidence, and fight for all compensation you’re entitled to, and you pay nothing unless we win your case. Call us at (314) 207-9996 or reach out online for a free consultation.
For over 35+ years, we have assisted victims of commercial vehicles in cities across Missouri including St. Louis, Independence, Jefferson City, O’Fallon, Florissant, Springfield, Kirksville and Cape Girardeau.
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OFFICES
St. Louis Office
8770 Rose Ave
St. Louis, MO 63144
Phone: 314-470-4928
Florissant Office
125 Graham Rd.
Florissant, MO 63031
Phone: 314-789-8369
O’Fallon, MO Office
300 Fort Zumwalt Square #108
O’Fallon, MO 63366
Phone: 636-238-5934
