Trucking accidents can be especially traumatic because they involve a commercial truck that is often 20 to 30 times heavier than passenger vehicles. These accidents also get complicated because both state and federal laws regulate the commercial trucking industry – the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration along with state agencies.
Experience Matters in Trucking Accidents
Approximately 5,000 people in passenger vehicles die every year in automotive accidents involving large commercial trucks. These accidents can get complicated quickly, so experience really does matter. When you want to obtain the maximum compensation, put the Nash & Franciskato Law Firm attorneys in Kansas City to work for you.
If you have been involved in a large commercial trucking accident, contact us for a free, no-obligation review of your case.
Benefit from the insight attorney Dean Nash gained while representing a major trucking company, an advantage in your favor. Plus, our experienced legal team understands:
- The many complex regulations governing truckers and trucking companies, along with how to investigate and prove violations that may be critical to establishing liability in your truck accident case.
- The best methods and resources for documenting serious injuries and projected long-term medical costs resulting from a large truck accident.
Our legal team will:
- Negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf and pursue a fair settlement
- Review settlement offers to determine whether they reflect the true value of your case
- Bring in experts, such as vehicular accident reconstructionists, to help substantiate your claims
- Take your case to trial, if needed, and fight for a successful resolution to your case
When you have questions, our team is here to answer them for you.
Examples of what can cause large commercial trucking accidents
Speeding or driving too fast for the road and/or weather conditions- Fatigued drivers, falling asleep at the wheel
- Distracted or inattentive drivers
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Equipment failure which may be a result of poor maintenance, truck part failures, defective parts
- Improper loading and/or securement of the cargo
- Unsafe road conditions
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Kansas City Trucking Accident Law Firm with Track Record Of Success
Our investigation of your injury-causing semi accident does not end with the information in a police report. Whenever appropriate our legal team enlists experts in relevant areas including accident reconstruction, fatigue analysis, and engineering to uncover factors that will strengthen your case.
Our successful track record means we have proven results for our clients.
CASE RESULTS
$500,000-plus settlements in cases involving inattention and fatigued truck drivers.
Questions? Contact our staff at (877) 284-6600.
Common Trucking Accident Injuries
Large commercial trucks weigh on average 80,000 pounds. Therefore, when a vehicle that size crashes into a standard-sized passenger vehicle weighing around 3,000 pounds, it typically results in life-altering injuries such as:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Paralysis, full or partial
- Disfigurement and amputation
- Permanent disabilities
- Wrongful death
CASE RESULTS
$2 million settlement in the wrongful death of a young mother hit by a truck while walking her bicycle in an intersection
Have you been seriously injured in a trucking accident? Contact us at (877) 284-6600.
Who May be Held Liable?
This is where some of the complexity comes in and you benefit from an experienced truck accident attorney. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, responsible parties can be:
- The truck driver
- The company that employs the truck driver or owns the truck
- The person or company that leased the truck from the owner
- The manufacturer of the truck’s parts (if we find that the parts were a contributing factor to the accident)
- The shipper or loader of the truck’s cargo
Trucking accident claims can get complicated. There are a number of potential responsible parties and the commercial trucking industry is regulated by both state and federal laws. Having a personal injury attorney who knows the trucking industry can take the burden off your shoulders.
To establish liability in a Missouri truck accident case, you need to prove that someone else was at fault for the accident. In most truck accident cases, this means proving that the defendant was negligent (that the defendant failed to exercise reasonable care), and this failure caused the accident.
Missouri, like a handful of other states, has adopted the legal doctrine of pure comparative negligence. Under this doctrine, a plaintiff who’s partially responsible for their accident may only collect damages in proportion to the defendant’s degree of fault.
Keep in mind, it’s not always the case that someone is 100% responsible for a truck accident. Sometimes, both the plaintiff and the defendant share a little of the blame.
FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE A CASE.
Our car accident attorneys handle all types of auto accident cases which include, fatal car accidents, drunk or impaired driving, distracted driving, motor vehicle defects, and more. Contact our office at (877) 284-6600 for a free, no-obligation review of your case.
Our knowledgeable staff is available at (877) 284-6600.
Types of Truck Accidents
The term “truck accident” typically refers to an accident involving a truck that is used primarily for the transportation of goods, such as delivery trucks, box trucks, 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, big rigs, dump trucks, and others.
Rollover truck accidents result in large commercial trucks with high centers of gravity (like tankers and cargo trucks) rolling over on their side. This type of accident can occur when a driver is going too fast, going around sharp turns, or trying to correct a trailer.
Jackknife truck accidents refer to a truck with two separate parts — the cab and a trailer — that fold in on itself at the point of separation, swiveling where they are linked together to form an L or V shape. As a large truck is jackknifing, it can collide with other vehicles or obstruct the road causing serious accidents, such as a multi-car pileup.
Underride and Override truck accidents occur when a vehicle is somehow forced underneath the trailer of an 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer. An underride accident occurs when a passenger vehicle slides underneath a truck; an override is when a large truck runs over a smaller vehicle.
Rear-end accidents. When a truck fails to stop in time, it can strike the vehicle in front of it, leading to serious rear-end collisions. Per the NHTSA, rear-end collisions make up 28% of all reported car accidents. Common factors include tailgating/following too closely; distracted driving; and sudden stops by leading vehicles.
Other types of serious truck accidents include:
- Blind Spot accidents
- Wide Turn accidents
- Tire blowouts
CASE RESULTS
$1.1 million total settlement for a driver struck from behind by a tractor-trailer whose driver had violated federal regulations for driving and logging hours
DEDICATED, EXPERIENCED KANSAS CITY Trucking ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS ON YOUR SIDE
What we offer goes beyond experience. Our legal team is dedicated to you and helping you focus on your recovery. Our trucking accident attorneys bring:
- Over 80 years of combined experience
- Trusted legal advisor committed to your needs
- Super Lawyers for over 10 years
- The AV Preeminence Rating for Ethical Standards & Legal Ability
- Compassionate advocacy for you and your family
When you have questions, our team is here to answer them for you.
CONTACT OUR TRUCKING ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS FOR A FREE CONSULTATion
When you need to understand your legal options and the likelihood of obtaining compensation after a trucking accident, contact our experienced trucking accident attorneys for a free, no-obligation review of your case.
Start Your Free Case Evaluation Review Today
Resources for You
- Causes of a Truck Accident
- Responsible Parties in Truck Accidents
- Truck Accident FAQ
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
- US Department of Transportation
Blog articles related to Trucking Accidents and Safety.
Editor’s Note: This page was reviewed for content and accuracy on April 19, 2024 and was republished.
FAQ
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates and monitors trucking companies throughout the United States. The FMCSA website sets forth the regulations governing commercial motor vehicles and trucking companies and provides current safety data regarding trucking companies.
Human error is probably the most common cause of trucking accidents. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds making it very difficult to control in adverse conditions.
Causes that are specific to the trucking industry are things such as log book violations, weight and load violations, unsecured cargo shifting, drivers driving beyond the maximum hours allowed, poor maintenance on the truck, lack of pre-trip inspections, improper loading or overloading, and untrained drivers.