If you suffered injuries in a truck accident due to the truck driver’s or another party’s negligence, contact the Liberty personal injury attorneys of House Packard McElderry, LLC today.
We might be able to help you hold the at-fault party liable and pursue compensation on your behalf. A range of circumstances can contribute to a collision involving a commercial truck.
Tractor-trailers and similar vehicles are heavy and large. They also sit high off the ground and can contain oversized items or hazardous materials. Truck drivers must have the proper licensing and qualifications to operate commercial trucks safely. Inexperience often leads to accidents.
Crashes between small cars and large trucks typically cause debilitating injuries to the occupants of the smaller vehicles. The collision causes a violent impact that can instantly harm the driver and passengers or cause fatal injuries. The forces placed on the human body are extreme and often too much for the body to withstand. Many accident victims don’t know how to handle the immediate aftermath of a crash. They’re in pain and shock and feel overwhelmed by the long road to recovery they might face. It can be a stressful experience for anyone, especially when someone else is at fault for the collision. At House Packard McElderry, LLC, we understand the challenges ahead. You require medical treatment to heal but also want to hold the negligent truck driver accountable for their actions. Taking on these responsibilities simultaneously can be overwhelming.
You can count on our legal team to take over and handle the entire process on your behalf. You should spend your time focusing on recovering from your injuries. Our truck accident attorneys in Liberty, MO, are ready to represent you in your case. We will treat you as a priority and try to reach the best possible outcome. You won’t have to go through this traumatic experience alone. We will remain by your side during every step and help you fight for compensation until the end. Call House Packard McElderry, LLC at (816) 381-9105 right now for your free consultation to learn more about your legal options after a truck accident.
Common Types of Truck Accidents
Multiple types of commercial trucks are available for a range of purposes. Some carry large and heavy items, while others transport small consumer products. Various trucks hold oil, gases, and other hazardous substances. The one thing all commercial trucks have in common is their ability to cause massive destruction and life-threatening injuries in accidents. At House Packard McElderry, LLC, we know how to navigate cases involving commercial trucks. We can investigate the crash and find all the available evidence that proves who was at fault. The most common causes of truck accidents include:
Trucks can jackknife in a range of scenarios, like when a trucker is traveling fast and slams on the brakes on a slick surface. Jackknife accidents occur when the trailer and cab of a commercial truck slide toward each other at an angle.
Rear-end accidents typically result from a truck driver tailgating someone else’s car. When a trucker doesn’t leave enough distance between their truck and the vehicle ahead, they can’t brake in time to avoid a crash.
Large trucks and other vehicles with high centers of gravity can roll over during collisions. A commercial truck might hit a curb, or the driver might turn too quickly, causing the entire vehicle to tip onto its side.
If a truck driver runs a red light or stop sign, the front of their truck could crash into the side of a vehicle in the middle of an intersection. The impact could crush a small car and trap the occupants inside, leading to severe injuries.
Head-on collisions between commercial trucks and passenger cars can be deadly. According to statistics, 30 percent of fatalities in large truck accidents occurred during head-on collisions in 2020.
An underride accident happens when a car collides with the side or back of a truck’s trailer and slides underneath. Override accidents involve a commercial truck crashing into the back of a car ahead of them and ending up on top of it.
It doesn’t matter what type of commercial truck accident you were involved in. You could pursue compensation if someone else’s actions contributed to your injury. You should reach out to House Packard McElderry, LLC immediately and discuss your case with one of our experienced Liberty truck accident attorneys.
Our Liberty 18-wheeler accident attorneys are experienced and know how to handle the complexities or a truck accident case.
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Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Various contributing factors can result in a collision involving a large truck. Driver error and inattention are common causes of truck accidents. When a truck driver doesn’t focus on the task at hand or makes a mistake at the wheel, they put others at risk of injury and death. The most common causes of truck accidents include:
Fatigued driving is dangerous. Although federal regulations prohibit truckers from driving beyond a maximum number of hours, many violate these laws. Fatigue can set in after spending too much time on the road and impair the truck driver’s faculties.
A truck driver is under the influence of alcohol if they operate a commercial motor vehicle while they have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04 percent or higher. Alcohol and drugs interfere with physical and mental functioning. It’s more challenging for truckers to notice and react to dangerous conditions with alcohol or drugs in their system.
Commercial trucks, such as tractor-trailers, have four large blind spots. Truck drivers must always check these blind spots before merging or turning to avoid crashing into nearby vehicles.
Truck parts and systems must function correctly so drivers can navigate around other vehicles safely. A defective part might not work as intended and could cause the driver to lose control and collide with a car.
When truck drivers allow distractions to redirect their attention to something other than driving, they’re less likely to notice what’s happening around them. Texting, eating, and other forms of distraction prevent truckers from focusing on their surroundings and braking for stopped traffic or hazards on the road.
Tailgating collisions involving commercial trucks can cause debilitating injuries to the occupants of small cars. Trucks require long stopping distances to bring these vehicles to a complete stop when necessary. Following another vehicle too closely doesn’t give the trucker enough time or space to brake and avoid a collision.
Driving above the speed limit or too fast for conditions can lead to fatalities. High-speed accidents between large trucks and passenger cars can have deadly consequences.
The cargo on commercial trucks must stay within size and weight limits. Overloading a trailer could throw the entire vehicle off balance and cause the truck driver to lose control.
Truckers must know how to operate commercial trucks correctly to avoid collisions with other vehicles. This includes understanding the appropriate methods for braking, taking sharp turns, and navigating around small cars. Inexperienced drivers don’t know how to handle dangerous conditions or emergencies.
If you sustained injuries in a truck accident for any of these or another reason, contact House Packard McElderry, LLC right now. One of our Liberty truck accident attorneys can review the circumstances and determine whether you have a case to pursue.
Compensation for Injuries in Truck Accidents
Every motor carrier must purchase insurance with liability coverage for each commercial truck in its fleet. The minimum required liability limits depend on the weight of the vehicle and the type of contents the driver transports. Since Missouri is a “fault” accident state, you could hold the trucking company liable and file a claim with their liability insurance company. The compensation you receive from a liability claim might compensate you for accident-related losses, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical bills
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Permanent impairment and disability
- Property damage
If you file a lawsuit, you could recover punitive damages. This type of monetary award is available if there’s clear and convincing evidence of the defendant’s intentional harm to the plaintiff without just cause or flagrant and deliberate disregard for the safety of others.
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House Packard McElderry, LLC is ready to help you fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. Our truck accident attorneys in Liberty, MO, will be your advocate and protect your rights while pursuing legal action on your behalf. We will tirelessly work to hold the negligent party liable and try to achieve the best possible result. If you sustained an injury in a truck accident due to someone else’s negligence, call House Packard McElderry, LLC at (816) 381-9105 today for your free consultation.