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The truth is that small vehicles share the road with semi-trucks and 18-wheelers every day. These commercial vehicles are used to transport goods around the country, and while they serve an important purpose, they often cause serious accidents.
When a truck comes into contact with a smaller vehicle, it's easy to determine which vehicle is more likely to be damaged. Sadly, it isn't just the car but also the passengers that suffer damage.
An average of 500,000 truck accidents occur in the United States each year, and over 4,000 deaths occur due to collisions involving heavy vehicles, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The passengers that survive are often left with devastating, life-changing personal injuries, including spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and head injuries. Victims of semi-truck accidents in St. Charles, MO, have the right to claim damages for their personal injuries if the accident resulted from gross negligence or recklessness.
Powell Law Can Help!
To ensure that victims receive the compensation they rightly deserve, they will need to hire an experienced St. Charles truck accident lawyer to help them build a strong case, gather evidence, negotiate with the defendant, and represent them in court, should the need arise.
Get in touch with reliable truck accident lawyers in St. Charles, MO, by reaching out to Powell Law Firm today! Book a free consultation to discuss the details of the personal injury and the facts surrounding the truck crash.
Establishing Negligence
The reality is that it is the victim's job to prove that the at-fault party acted negligently. To do this, they will need to prove that the defendant has a duty of care and breached this duty.
Next, he or she must prove that this breach of duty led to the accident and that the accident caused the victim's injuries.
A reliable lawyer can help truck accident victims prove this by gathering evidence in the form of medical records, witness statements, supporting documents, bills, and more.
When Should Victims Hire a St. Charles Truck Accident Lawyer?
Truck accidents are responsible for an estimated 130,000 injuries every year. Those wounded in a trucking accident that was the result of another person's negligence will need the assistance of an experienced truck accident lawyer to obtain the recompense they are entitled to for their medical bills and lost wages.
Powell Law's St. Charles truck accident lawyers have years of experience managing car crash and truck accident litigation. The immediate family members of a person who died because of someone else's negligence should also contact Powell Law to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the person responsible.
Why Should Victims Choose Powell Law to Handle Their Truck Accident Cases?
The truth is that a truck accident can leave victims with hefty medical bills and other unexpected expenses. When this happens, compensation can provide much-needed financial relief while victims focus on their recovery. It is essential to have reliable legal representation if the personal injury claim is to be successful!
However, with so many truck accident lawyers in St. Charles, victims are often left wondering which option to choose. Here are a few reasons to choose Powell Law:
The truck accident lawyers at the firm know that a personal injury can be taxing, both mentally and physically, which is why they will take care of the legal proceedings so that victims can focus on their recovery
A free, no-obligation consultation means that clients can find a safe place to talk about their experiences and find a way forward without making a commitment
Powell Law has recovered over $1 million in compensation for truck accident victims
The firm was featured on Associated Press, Yahoo! News, Reuters, CBS, and Telemundo
A reliable St. Charles truck accident lawyer can help victims determine who is to blame for their accident
Every client is treated with the care and respect that they deserve
These legal experts can help victims recover compensation from an insurance company that is being unreasonable or intentionally malicious
A lawyer will help to gather evidence, including medical records, bills, and proof of lost income, to build a strong case
What Are the Most Common Types of Truck Accidents?
The reality is that semi-truck accidents can occur for several reasons, which is why there are so many different types of truck accidents. Because of a truck's orientation and load distribution, the large vehicle could jackknife, or the cargo could become dislodged and hit other vehicles.
Here are some of the most common trucking accidents that occur in the US:
Rear-end accidents
Rollovers
Jackknife accidents
Under rides
Vehicle malfunctions
Blindspot accidents
Tire blowouts
T-bone accidents
Head-on collisions
Wide turn accidents
Brake failure
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Truck Accident Claim?
Unlike private vehicles, which are typically driven and serviced by the same person, trucks can be operated and handled by various people, making it a lot more challenging to determine who is responsible for the truck crash.
A truck accident lawyer will conduct an investigation to establish what caused the accident and who might be held liable. Many times, the acts of multiple people contribute to the cause of a truck accident.
The following parties could be responsible in a truck accident case:
The trucking company
Truck drivers
Maintenance or truck repair companies
The person or company responsible for loading the cargo
A construction company if they did not provide adequate signage or left debris on the road
The driver of the other vehicle
Determining who is to blame in a truck accident can be challenging. Fortunately, an experienced truck accident lawyer from Powell Law Firm can help victims identify the person or party at fault. Unfortunately, if the victim played any part in causing the accident, the compensation that he or she can expect will be reduced. St Louis truck accident attorneys would be able help negotiate the most compensation to help you carry on with your life.
The Most Common Causes of Trucking Accidents
There are many reasons why a truck-related accident might occur in St. Charles, MO. Here are some of the most common:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is operating a vehicle while doing another activity that diverts the driver's attention away from the road.
The reality is that truck drivers spend a long time on the road. They are often traveling for several hours, if not days, at a time. After a while, they often become bored and find ways to keep themselves from falling asleep.
This could include adjusting the radio, texting, talking to their colleagues, eating, and drinking. When a driver is distracted, it means that he or she is less likely to react quickly should conditions change.
Mechanical Error
If a trucking company fails to service a truck regularly, there could be a mechanical failure of one of its parts that causes the truck to malfunction. Such errors are often out of the driver's control but are generally easily identifiable during regular maintenance.
Mechanical errors include bald tires, defective breaks, cargo that has not been secured correctly, and signal lights that do not work.
When a person suffers injuries because of mechanical errors, a reliable St. Charles truck accident lawyer can hold the trucking company liable for not conducting regular inspections and maintenance.
Driver Error
If a driver is speeding, driving while under the influence, or ignoring traffic laws, he or she will be held responsible for the accident. Common driver errors include:
Tailgating
Failing to indicate before changing lanes
Driving while distracted
Traveling too close to other vehicles
Failing to control the truck
Unrealistic Expectations from Trucking Companies
Commercial truck crashes are commonly caused by the driver's inexperience or irresponsible behavior. However, in many cases, the driver isn't to blame. There aren't many people who want to spend weeks at a time away from their families, so truckers are often overworked.
Truckers are typically given tight schedules, with very little time set aside for rest. This means that they can become tired, so they won't be as alert or attentive as they need to be. In these circumstances, the trucking company may be accountable for the losses if someone is hurt in a truck accident.
Regardless of the reason for the truck accident, competent truck accident attorneys at Powell Law Firm will hold the correct party responsible for paying fair compensation to the victim who suffered as a result of their negligence!
What Damages Can Victims Claim in a St. Charles, MO Truck Accident?
In a truck accident claim, plaintiffs are entitled to compensation for their monetary losses, including lost wages and medical expenses.
However, they are also entitled to compensation for the emotional distress and the pain and suffering they experienced as a result of the accident. Here is a summary of the damages that victims can claim. To find out more, contact a truck accident lawyer today!
Loss of income
Damaged or lost property
Medical expenses
Pain and suffering
Loss of consortium
Scarring and disfigurement
Future medical expenses or lost income
What Are the Most Common Injuries That Victims Suffer as a Result of Semi-truck Accidents?
Because of their weight and size, trucks often cause serious damage to other vehicles during a collision. This can have devastating consequences for the driver and passengers of the smaller vehicle.
Often, these injuries are life-changing, so it is essential to take legal action to ensure that medical bills, lost income, and other expenses and damages are reimbursed. Here are the most common types of injuries sustained in truck accidents:
1. Spinal Cord Injuries
When a truck hits a vehicle, it often causes the occupants to be flung around. This can result in a number of injuries, including injuries to the spinal column.
The spinal cord plays an integral part in the central nervous system. Therefore, any injuries to it could have serious consequences. Since it helps to control the motor function of the limbs, an injury could leave victims paralyzed or without the use of a limb.
2. Injuries to the Head and Neck
Victims can hit their heads against the dashboard or windshield during a collision, leading to serious head and neck injuries.
It is important to remember that head injuries aren't always apparent at first, so if victims experience confusion, nausea, loss of consciousness, persistent headaches, convulsions, seizures, or repeated vomiting following a truck accident, they must seek medical attention immediately.
3. Broken Bones
There are 206 bones in the human body, and the force of an impact with a large vehicle can cause any of these bones to break, depending on where the force is applied. Broken bones can become dislodged in vital organs, which could lead to other complications and internal bleeding.
A broken bone could put a person out of work for a long time as the bone heals. To ensure that all medical expenses and lost income is covered following a truck accident in St. Charles, MO, victims are encouraged to seek legal representation to obtain fair compensation.
4. Concussions
When a person's head bounces back and forth during a collision, it can cause a concussion. The symptoms of a concussion are often temporary and could present either while a person is conscious or while they are unconscious.
Symptoms of a concussion typically include:
Excessive fatigue
Confusion
Headache
Loss of coordination
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Ringing in the ears
5. Internal Bleeding
Internal bleeding is a serious medical condition that could lead to death if left untreated. In many cases, it isn't visible from the outside and is the result of blunt force trauma to the internal organs, which causes them to rupture and bleed.
At first, victims may not feel any pain because of the internal bleeding, but it can quickly become life-threatening. This is why it is important to seek medical care after an accident.
6. Whiplash
Whiplash injuries, which affect the neck and head, are among the most common forms of semi-truck accident injuries. A car unexpectedly braking or being hit might create blunt force, sending the car off course.
Neck discomfort, back problems, spinal problems, shoulder pain, and various other medical issues can result from these injuries.
7. Amputations
A truck crash can also result in an amputation. Amputations are most common in collisions involving large vehicles, where the passenger car is crushed. In such cases, victims will require continuous medical treatment and adaptive equipment such as prostheses to help them walk or use their arms.
They may also need caregivers to assist them with everyday tasks, resulting in additional expenses.
When there is also a loss of income due to the amputation, it can put a significant financial strain on the family. However, by filing a lawsuit, victims can receive much-needed relief.
8. Cuts and Bruises
Cuts and bruises may not be as serious as many of the injuries already mentioned, but they often require stitches and result in bleeding and scarring. These injuries are typically caused by debris and broken glass that become dislodged during a collision.
When a Truck Accident in St. Charles, MO Leads to Wrongful Death
Unfortunately, some victims aren't lucky enough to make it out of a truck accident alive. Over 4,000 people lose their lives in truck-related accidents every year.
The family members of a victim who lost their life because of a person or entity's negligence have the right to seek compensation from the responsible party.
Although compensation will never make up for the loss of a loved one, it can provide much-needed financial relief, allowing the family to honor the memory of their loved one by holding the person who caused their death responsible.
To discuss a wrongful death case, get in touch with Powell Law Firm today!
The Statute of Limitations for Filing Truck Accident Claims
The truth is that the state allows victims a certain period to file a personal injury claim. This is called the statute of limitations, and it varies from one state to another.
In Missouri, victims will have five years from the date of the accident to file a truck accident claim.
It takes time to build a strong case, so victims are encouraged to seek legal counsel as soon as possible to ensure that they do not miss the opportunity to have their expenses reimbursed and obtain fair compensation for their losses.
Other St. Charles Practice Areas
Ready to File a Truck Accident Claim? Powell Law Can Help!
When a person is injured in a truck accident, their expenses are often not the first thing on their mind. However, since truck accidents typically result in serious and often debilitating injuries, medical expenses can grow quite quickly.
To ensure their expenses are covered, truck accident victims are encouraged to seek compensation from the party at fault. Because this isn't always the easiest thing to do, finding a reliable truck accident lawyer who will take care of the hard work is imperative.
The attorneys at Powell Law Firm can help victims get the financial relief they need, so they can focus on their recovery. To find out more or book a free consultation and case review, get in touch with Powell Law by dialing (314) 470-1374 or completing the online form!
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