Truck Accident Lawyers St. Louis - Truck Accident Attorney

Truck Accident Lawyers St. Louis - Truck Accident Attorney

Truck Accident Facts

Authorities Blame Missouri Teen Fatality on Texting

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Technology, particularly cell phones, have made our lives better.

They have made communication faster, efficient, and hassle free. However, some feel that our fascination with such devices has gone too far. This is because much of our every day lives are centered around our mobile devices, constantly checking our email and text messages.

Car accident attorneys are usually flooded with cases involving accidents that happen because the driver was preoccupied with texting or emailing. In a recent case of a fatal car accident involving a teenager, authorities believe that the case may have been texting. During investigations, the police authorities found an unsent text message in the deceased teen’s smart phone. It is believed that this unsent message could have distracted the teen and caused this fatal car accident.

The news of this car accident sent shock waves through Missouri, as one of the brightest teens around had lost her life in an accident that would not have occurred if she had been a little more careful. The 16-year-old had just received her license and was on her first solo drive to the grocery store when calamity struck.
Authorities investigating the case said that while she was on her way to the grocery store in her native town of Harrisonville, she took a sudden left turn and landed right in front of a truck trailer coming from behind. Her car was smashed, and she lost her life in this accident.

Later, during investigations, police authorities found an unsent text in her cell phone, which could have distracted her attention away from the road, leaving her unable to see a truck trailer coming from the rear. The girl was a freshman in high school, had won Future Farmers of America, and was an honor roll student. Her friends at school mourned her death deeply, and there was a Facebook page dedicated to the unfortunate death of this student in a car accident.

This case has brought to the fore an issue that needs immediate attention. As per the latest statistics issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), texting while driving is six times more likely to cause a car accident or a truck accident compared to driving in an intoxicated state. Sending or receiving messages while you are behind the wheel, can distract you from the road for about 5 seconds. This much time is enough to cause any accident. Sending text messages while driving a truck or a car, is the cause of over 30,000 accidents and 3,000 deaths in a year.

If anyone gets involved in a car accident or truck accident, he or she should immediately contact emergency services and then get in touch with a auto accident attorney. Whether you are caught in a mess due to your negligence, or you have suffered due to someone else’s negligence, an attorney can help you settle all the legal matters.

Missouri Truck Accident Lawyers

The truck accident lawyers at the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann have the experience need to provide you with assistance navigating the legal system.  If you have been involved in an auto accident call (314) 361-4300 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.

 

 


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Truck Accidents Involving HAZMAT Carriers

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Accidents involving large commercial trucks are serious incidents, especially when the accident involves a smaller passenger vehicle. However, when the truck is carrying a hazardous material, the accident can create an even more complicated circumstance.

In some cases people may survive the actual truck accident but may have injuries due to fires caused by the cargo or from chemical spills.

In this situation, the shipper of the goods, as well as the truck driver, may be liable. [Read more…]

Involved In A Truck Accident?

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No one expects an accident, but if one occurs, it is very important to know how to handle the situation and protect your case right from the start. Protecting yourself by avoiding driving in the blind spots of large vehicles, and closely following the rules of the road like never cutting in front of a semi-truck, paying close attention to a truck’s turn signals, and keeping your distance is sometimes is not enough.

Here are some helpful things to know in the event you are involved in a truck accident [Read More…]

Interstate Truck Accident Cases Require Professional Advice

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Taking action immediately and finding an attorney to assist in a case involving a truck accident is essential.

Interstate truck accidents are complicated matters.  They can cause devastating damage and injuries to many drivers.  Trucking is a booming business, however, and makes a lot of money, so trucking companies want to keep their trucks on the road and keep them moving. But sometimes efficiency comes at the price of proper safety, and safety regulations are disregarded or not attended to in the manner in which they should be. Lack of sleep, negligence, poor truck maintenance, or failings on the part of the company to properly train its drivers, can all contribute to conditions that make an accident imminent.  When truck drivers or trucking companies fail to follow the regulations, it puts everyone on the road at risk.  Enforcing laws that keep drivers safe is a necessity, and large trucks impose a significant risk when not handled properly. In the event of a truck accident, it is important to seek expert advice from a truck accident attorney to make sure that the trucking company and driver are held responsible for any negligence or recklessness on their part.

Truck accident attorneys are going to be the most familiar with federal and state regulations regarding safety in the trucking industry and in the state that the accident occurred. They will be able to determine what actions are going to benefit each case the most, and how to preserve evidence.

Preserve Evidence & Prove Your Case

Taking action immediately and finding an attorney to assist in a case involving a truck accident is essential.  It is important to preserve evidence right from the start, and oftentimes those involved in the accident have concerns other than making sure each step of procedure is taking place and evidence is carefully being documented.  A truck accident attorney will work to make sure that the case is airtight and the trucking company cannot control what information sticks around.

 

St. Louis Truck Accident Lawyer

Large commercial trucks account for approximately 16% of all travel on Missouri’s interstates. The physical and financial consequences of being in an accident involving one of these trucks can be devastating.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a truck accident you may feel helpless. The lawyers at the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann are experienced Truck Accident Lawyers who know how to win against trucking companies.

Contact us today at (314) 361-4300 for a free and private consultation.

 

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Man Killed By a Tractor Trailer While Pushing His Stalled Car

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On Wednesday, October 10, 2012 a man was on the Chain of Rocks Bridge, pushing his stalled car. An approaching tractor trailer, who apparently did not see the man, hit him and then swerved into the concrete median and caught on fire.

Chain of Rocks Bridge

St. Louis police said that the man was pushing his car with the drivers side door open so that he could steer the vehicle. The car was apparently unlit, making it nearly invisible in the darkness of the early morning hours.

Large Truck Accidents are particularly horrible since the trucks are bigger and heavier than most vehicles on the road. When the human body is struck by such a force, the results are fatal.

Avoid an Accident

It is so important to move as far to the right side of the road as possible to avoid oncoming traffic. If there is not a shoulder to move over onto, get out of the flow of traffic as much as you can and then get away from the vehicle and walk facing traffic so you are able to see the oncoming cars and so they can see you. Remember to turn your hazard lights on so that your vehicle is visible to other cars, especially when it is dark.

These factors will help prevent this type of accident from occurring. However, there are truck accidents that happen that are difficult to prevent because the blame is on the driver of the truck.

Truck Accident Attorneys

Our St. Louis truck accident lawyer, James M. Hoffmann, is here to help if you or one of your family members has been affected by a truck accident in Missouri. Call the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann at (314) 361-4300 to discuss your case. You can also fill out our online contact form for a free and private consultation.

 

photo credit: Herkie

Road Conditions: Major Factor in Tractor Trailer Accidents

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The condition of the road plays a major role in truck accidents. While a truck driver does not have control over what the road conditions are, they are expected to know how to operate their tractor trailer in such conditions.

There are several road characteristics that can be hazardous to tractor trailers such as the surface conditions, shape and contour. Road surfaces can be dangerous if they are slippery, soft, sloping, or covered with debris.

The reasons road conditions present such a threat to tractor trailers include:

  • Tractor trailers travel more miles and are therefore, in more bad weather than other vehicles.
  • They are less stable because of a higher center of gravity, their size and weight.
  • Because of their weight, they require longer stopping distances.

Wet weather conditions contribute greatly to truck accidents. The road surface may be more slippery than it appears. Just after it starts to rain, patches of oil dripped from other vehicles is very slippery. Construction plates, railroad tracks and paint-striped areas can also be a factor to slippery road conditions.

In cold weather conditions black ice, bridges and shaded areas can present problems. Black ice refers to a thin coating of glazed ice on a road surface. It is virtually transparent and thus difficult to see as compared to snow, frozen slush or thicker layers of ice.

There were over 500,000 accidents involving large trucks and commercial vehicles in 2010. Large Truck Accidents are particularly horrible since the trucks are bigger and heavier than most vehicles on the road. Commercial truck drivers can be negligent, overworked, under-trained, or just victim to mechanical failure. When road conditions are hazardous, these other factors are amplified and make them much more dangerous to other vehicles on the road.

At the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann, we will fight to make sure that the trucking company is held responsible for their failure.  If a truckers reckless driving has resulted in the death of your loved one, trust our firm to help. Call us at (314) 361-4300 for a free and private consultation. You may also request free consultation by completing our on-line contact form.

 

photo credit: Zyan