Truck Accident Facts

What Makes a Collision with a Large Truck Different?

October 31, 2013 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

Semi Truck Collisions

Large commercial trucks make up only 3% of the vehicles occupying U.S. roadways, but accidents with them are the cause of 12% of highway fatalities.

Consider the weight and size of an 18 wheeler and how much time it takes for them to come to a stop compared with a typical passenger car. Since large trucks pose such a threat to drivers, the federal government has imposed its own set of rules and guidelines on operating one.

An interstate truck driver is required by federal law to keep a log of his driving activities and sleep hours. He must not drive more than 14 total hours in a day and he is required a 10 hour rest before being allowed to drive again. In an attempt to meet a deadline, a driver may exceed those limits and put the lives of other motorists in jeopardy. Sleep deprivation and overtiredness is a leading cause of accidents involving large commercial vehicles. A Missouri truck accident attorney will carefully review an offending drivers’ time log to see that he met the federal guidelines and challenge any noticed discrepancies.

In Missouri a truck driver was found liable for the permanent disabilities of a 53-year-old man. Travel logs showed that he had surpassed the maximum amount of hours allowed in a given week. The judge in this bench trial awarded the man and his wife over $18 million for the drivers’ negligent and reckless driving behavior. The family of another Missouri man was awarded a $7 million judgment by a federal jury. Once again fatigue was found to be the underlying cause of the accident as the offending driver had also exceeded the amount of hours allowed to drive consecutively.

The weight of a commercial vehicle is massive and can cause injuries that are particularly severe and require months of hospitalization, multiple surgeries and years of on-going therapy and hospice care. Paralysis and brain injury are common injuries as well as loss of limbs and organ traumas. Death of a driver or passenger in a car hit by a truck is seen more often than those hit by another vehicle. The family of these victims may also be entitled to compensation from the offending truck.

Federal guidelines for the trucking industry also dictate procedures for maintaining a commercial vehicle. Routine inspections are mandatory and logs of these must be kept much like the required time logs. Failure of a Missouri garbage truck company to properly maintain the brakes on one of its vehicles resulted in a tragic accident that killed a passenger and left the driver and another passenger with brain injuries and multi system trauma. That case was settled for $3.2 million.

Truck Accident Lawyers

Most commercial trucks are owned by large corporations who will try and settle your claim for compensation quickly. Their interest lies in protecting their company and driver, not in what may be best for you. It is imperative that you ignore any such offer until you are able to confer with a qualified Missouri truck accident lawyer. They will want to review all of your medical records and investigate the collision before entertaining any such offers from the trucking company.

To speak with a truck accident lawyer at the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann, call us at (314) 361-4300 or fill out our online contact form.

photo credit: Jesse 1974

Increasing Number of Missouri Big Rig Accidents

October 7, 2013 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

From 2010 to 2011 the number of deaths from big rig accidents on Missouri roads has been increasing.

While 2010 saw 105 deaths from commercial truck accidents, in 2011 the number was increased to 120. The trucking industry in the U.S. is huge and Missouri sees a lot of those semis and big rigs passing through. These vehicles can be extremely dangerous when not driven with an appropriate amount of care and caution due to their immense size and weight.

Drivers of passenger vehicles who find themselves sharing the road with these big rigs should always exercise caution, but truck drivers have an even bigger responsibility to stay safe and protect other drivers. Trucking is a heavily regulated industry that dictates protocols that trucking companies and their drivers must follow. Regulations regarding the number of hours drivers could be behind the wheel were recently amended in order to decrease the likelihood that drivers were operating their big rigs while fatigued, which is a significant cause of accidents.

Even though the overall number of accidents decreased in 2011, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol, the number of commercial truck accidents increased. Captain Tim Hull of the Missouri Highway Patrol said that this increase could be attributed to the fact that multiple people can die in accidents involving trucks that weigh 80,000 pounds or more.

While this is very scary, it is better to take note of how to avoid an accident, than to hear that the majority of the accidents that happen are unavoidable.

Missouri is in the direct center of the country and is considered a “bridge state” by transportation companies. This is because highways and subsequently truck routes criss-cross and intersect in Missouri as the trucks make their way to their ultimate destinations.

Data from the Missouri Department of Transportation shows that Missouri has the 11th biggest interstate highway grid. In addition, there are more than 32,000 miles of state roads. Trucks make connections along the eastern state border where they can pick up freight from the rail lines that intersect with the roads. Interstate 70 links both Kansas City and St. Louis on opposite ends of the state, and is extremely busy.

Over a trillion dollars worth of freight passed through the state in 2001, according to a study done by the Department of Transportation. Since then, the industry has continued to grow. The majority of this freight was transported via truck. Farm and food products are some of the most commonly transported commodities hauled by trucks.

A study done several years later, in 2006, the NHTSA found that truck accidents are most likely to be fatal when there are three or more vehicles involved. Three-fourths of truck accidents occur during the day. Many crashes are caused by tractor trailers that are either speeding or traveling at speeds that exceed safe levels due to the given conditions. Vehicles crossing over into trucks’ lanes are another common accident cause, as well as trucks that drift off the right side of the road.

St. Louis Truck Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Missouri, contact an experienced St. Louis truck accident attorney as soon as possible. It is important that you act quickly and discuss your case with an experienced attorney who has successfully handled truck accident cases. These accidents include many unique circumstances, require investigations, and evidence must be uncovered quickly in order to ensure that you will get the compensation you deserve. To speak with an experienced truck accident lawyer, call the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann at (314) 361-4300 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

photo credit: Dougtone

Motorist Awarded in Tractor Trailer Accident That Resulted in a TBI

September 5, 2013 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

Accidents that involve tractor trailers can be incredibly serious.

While the driver of the semi truck may walk away with minor injuries, drivers and passengers in smaller vehicles can sustain catastrophic injuries. And unfortunately, it is not uncommon for these accidents to result in death.

This is one of the many reasons why it is so important for trucking companies and their drivers to understand the gravity of the job that they do, and take all of the necessary actions to prevent accidents and keep other drivers safe. When drivers and their employers fail to do so they can be held liable for the injuries or wrongful death that occurs as a result of the accident.

One example of such an incident was a case in California in 2008. A jury awarded one motorist $12.2 million after he sustained a traumatic brain injury in an accident with a YRC tractor trailer on Interstate 15 in San Diego County. The man was driving a Chevrolet Metro that was struck by two wheels which came off the rear axle of the tractor trailer he was driving near. As the wheels hit his vehicle, the man, who was wearing a seat belt, struck his head hard against the roof of his car.

The accident caused injuries to the man’s neck, spine, back, and brain. He needed surgery on his neck, and will most likely suffer from chronic pain for the rest of his life. Before the accident he worked as an airplane mechanic, but lost his job because he was unable to perform necessary functions. Additionally, his brain, memory, ability to concentrate, or focus his attention, as well as his personality were all affected by the accident.

His resulting medical bills were in excess of $235,000 at the time of the trial, and were expected to eventually exceed $1.2 million.

The trucking company admitted their liability in causing the accident, but claimed that the man’s injuries were exaggerated and were actually caused by a condition unrelated to the accident, and this was the real reason for his neck surgery. Experts testified that the man did truly suffer from a brain injury and physicians who treated him verified that the injury significantly impacted his life. Still, throughout the trial the trucking company maintained that his traumatic brain injury was not real.

The jury, however, disagreed with the trucking company, finding that there was sufficient evidence to prove them wrong. They returned with a verdict for the plaintiff of $12.2 million. The jury recognized that the man’s ability to earn a living would be jeopardized because he could no longer do the work he was trained to do. For this reduction in wage earning capacity, medical care, pain and suffering, the jury awarded him the $12.2 million.

Missouri Truck Accidents

If you are injured in an accident with a large commercial vehicle, contact an experienced Missouri truck accident attorney at the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann. We will work to protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.

photo credit: SoulRider.222

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

August 27, 2013 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

Accidents involving commercial trucks happen every day.

This multi-billion dollar industry is good at transporting cargo from one place to another quickly and efficiently, but unfortunately in the process sometimes the hurry to get somewhere can cause an accident. These accidents can then result in catastrophic injuries and loss for those involved. Trucks are able to cause far greater devastation than other accidents, so there are likely to be more injuries and more vehicles affected when a crash involves a huge vehicle like a semi truck or tractor triler. The damages that these vehicles can do is immense because they are 20 times the size of regular vehicles and weigh significantly more.

A few common causes of truck accidents are equipment failure, driver error, improper loading, and weather conditions.

Driver Error, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, is the most likely of the top common causes of truck accidents. In fact, driver error is ten times more likely to cause a truck accident crash than any of the other contributing factors. Driver error can include substance abuse, driver fatigue, distraction, or general inattention. Truck drivers need to be extra diligent because a minor error in another vehicle will be much more difficult to correct or recover from than it would be in a smaller vehicle.

Truck Equipment Failure is second to driver error in causing crashes. Failures in trucking equipment can include errors in tire design, mechanical problems, failure to provide reverse-detection warning devices, and design errors, among many others.

Because equipment failure can be so dangerous, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires trucking companies and every truck driver to perform inspections prior to each trip. They also require that trucks be maintained and inspected at regular intervals throughout the year. If trucking companies were compliant with these regulations, mechanical failures would be far less common. Common issues like blown out tires would become obsolete. But because trucking companies choose to disregard the guidelines, many more truck accidents occur than would have to.

Weather conditions can have a huge effect on how trucks operate and are driven. Braking is made more difficult in adverse weather conditions like rain or snow. And poor visibility can be even more dangerous for big vehicles than for smaller vehicles, as huge vehicles are much more difficult to steer.

Truck drivers have a schedule to keep, and oftentimes do not factor weather conditions into drive time and end up having to rush, which can be incredibly dangerous.

Improper loading
Loading is extremely important. Improper loading causes imbalance which can lead to truck malfunction or even rollover. Another frightening, but all too common problem, is when an unsecured load becomes loose and fall off the back of the truck into the road.

Improper care in selecting a truck driver or company
In some cases trucking companies do not properly select drivers with enough care. This may be a case of not checking credentials, not drug testing regularly, etc. When hiring a trucking company or truck driver, it is very important that you look for credentials and reputation.

St. Louis Truck Accident Attorney

If you have been injured in a trucking accident, contact experienced St. Louis truck accident attorney James M. Hoffmann as soon as possible. At the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann we will investigate the crash, determine fault, and pursue damages for the losses and injuries you experienced in the accident.

To schedule a free consultation call us today at (314) 361-4300.

photo credit: TarahDawdy

Semi Truck Accident In Missouri Shuts Down Interstate 44

August 6, 2013 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

The Missouri State Highway Patrol closed Eastbound Interstate 44 near I-270 Tuesday, July 23, following an accident that involved a semi truck and several cars.

An accident that had taken place in the westbound lanes had directed the attention of drivers heading eastbound away from the road. Traffic had slowed due to the accident as drivers tried to catch a glimpse of what happened. But the driver of a semi tractor trailer was unable to slow down and ended up hitting a car. The semi truck driver lost control of the attached trailer, struck two other vehicles, and then smashed into a ditch.

On May 16 eastbound Interstate 270 needed to be closed completely following an accident that involved three semi trucks. The accident happened on the Chain of Rocks Bridge in Madison County on Thursday, May 16.

Around 7:00 a.m traffic was moving slowly on Interstate 270 near the Riverview exit. One of the semi trucks came to a stop, and another semi truck that was following behind it, then slammed into the back of the first vehicle. The second truck was loaded with asphalt and the truck cab detached from the back end of the vehicle in the impact.

The chain reaction crash ended up involving a third semi that was traveling in another lane as it was hit by the trailers of the other two semis.

Two people were injured in the crash, but sustained only minor injuries and were treated at the local hospital.

The Interstate was closed for several hours but was reopened around 10:00 a.m. Traffic was backed up for miles. This was the second day in a row that the Interstate was shut down near the Chain of Rocks Bridge.

Luckily, no one was seriously injured in either of these crashes. The potential for catastrophic injuries or death in semi truck accidents is huge. Drivers and occupants of passenger vehicles are most at risk of injury or death if involved in an accident with these much larger vehicles.

Even before they are loaded full of thousands of pounds of cargo these vehicles are massive and already dangerous. Because there is such potential for injury and harm to others, it is crucial that trucking companies and their drivers follow the state and federal regulations that are in place to keep drivers safe.

St. Louis Truck Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one have been injured in a semi truck accident you may be entitled to compensation for property damage, pain and suffering, lost wages, present and future medical expenses, and other damages relating to your injury and the financial losses resulting from the accident. An experienced Missouri truck accident attorney will investigate the accident, determine liability and procure evidence to support allegations of negligence against the driver and trucking company. It is important to act quickly in order to make sure your attorney has a chance to preserve evidence and maximize your ability to recover compensation.

To speak with an experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyer contact the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann by calling (314) 361-4300 or by filling out our online contact form.

Semi Truck Carrying 5,400 Gallons Of Fuel Overturns

July 29, 2013 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

When the trucks contain thousands of pounds of material, they can become even more dangerous.

On Wednesday, July 24, just south of Eldon, Missouri, a semi truck that was transporting fuel overturned on U.S. Highway 54. The Missouri State Highway Patrol got a call around 2:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, relating that a tanker truck had blown a tire on Highway 54, overturned, and crashed over the side of an embankment. The accident happened approximately one mile west of U.S. Highway 54 exit 52/54.

The truck contained 5,400 gallons of fuel and after it overturned, was leaking fuel. Another truck was sent to retrieve what fuel was left about an hour and a half after the accident.

The Highway Patrol reported that the semi truck driver was moderately injured in the accident and was taken to Capital Region Hospital in Jefferson City.

The Eldon Fire Department as well as a Miller County Ambulance, Cole County HazMat team, and emergency responders from Mid-County, Rocky Mount, Lake Ozark, Osage Beach and Jefferson City fire protection districts, were dispatched to the scene of the accident. One westbound traffic lane on Highway 54 was closed well into the evening, as crews worked to clear the accident, direct traffic, and assist with the spill.

While the truck driver came away from the accident relatively unscathed, it is the drivers and passengers of smaller vehicles that usually sustain devastating injuries in accidents involving semi trucks. The disparity in size and weight gives little chance to other drivers of walking away without being seriously injured or killed. When the trucks contain thousands of pounds of material, they can become even more dangerous.

St. Louis Truck Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one have been in an accident involving a commercial truck, contact the St. Louis Truck Accident Lawyer at the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann. The physical and financial consequences of such an accident can be devastating. We are experienced Truck Accident Lawyers who know how to win against trucking companies. Call us today at (314) 361-4300 for a free and private consultation.

photo credit: Rohan Phillips

Truck Accident Facts