Truck accidents can be devastating for vehicle accident victims. Truck crashes often cause serious injuries and may result in wrongful death.
Victims can file negligence litigation against careless truck drivers, their employers, and trucking companies. Experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyers identify and pursue liable parties in these claims.
Duty of Care
When trucks are involved in accidents, they often cause severe and life-altering injuries. This is due to their sheer size and weight, but it can also be because the truck driver was distracted, fatigued, impaired, or driving recklessly. In addition, the trucking company may have put a poorly trained or background checked driver behind the wheel, or a defective truck part could be to blame.
Establishing liability in truck accident claims in St. Louis requires establishing that the defendant owed you a duty of care and they breached that duty, directly leading to your injury. We will review all physical evidence, obtain black box data, hire experts when necessary, and negotiate with the insurance companies to secure fair compensation for your past and future losses. This includes medical bills, past and future lost wages, and any benefits you have been receiving. It also covers pain and suffering, loss of consortium, disfigurement, and other non-economic damages. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be eligible to receive punitive damages.
Fault
In truck accidents, proving liability can be complex. Whether you have severe or life-threatening injuries, you may face enormous medical expenses and loss of wages. The insurance companies in the case have their bottom line and profits at heart, and they will go to great lengths to avoid paying what you deserve. That’s why it is critical that you work with an experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyer to ensure your rights are protected.
An attorney will request any available insurance policies and obtain expert opinions from trucking accident reconstructionists, industry experts, and law enforcement personnel. They will also review information such as the location where the crash took place, weather conditions, photos of the scene, skid mark measurements, and vehicle inspections.
They will find out if the truck driver was fatigued or distracted, if the trucking company improperly hired or trained the truck driver, if the loading company was negligent in loading the truck, and if the maintenance company failed to inspect or repair the truck properly. They will also make sure you receive compensation for your economic and non-economic damages.
Damages
Due to their massive size, trucks can cause a lot more damage in an accident than regular passenger cars. They are also more likely to cause serious injuries or even wrongful death.
Victims of truck accidents can recover damages for their physical, emotional, and financial losses. These include property damage, medical bills, lost income, and more. Our St. Louis truck accident attorneys will help you determine how much your losses are worth and then seek compensation from the appropriate parties.
We will request copies of the available insurance policies and investigate the evidence in your case. We will use documents, receipts, property damage estimates, police reports, and more to prove the severity of your losses and build a strong claim for compensation. We will also urge you to follow your doctor’s treatment plan so we can obtain documentation of the debilitating nature of your injuries. This will ensure that you do not receive a lowball settlement offer or worsen your condition in the future.
Time Limits
Trucking traffic is heavy in St. Louis, which is why the city sees so many accidents. Since these crashes often involve larger, heavier vehicles than passenger cars, the resulting injuries are more severe. In addition, the parties at fault might be harder to determine than with ordinary car crashes. For example, a truck driver might be at fault but so might the company that hired them, the manufacturer of the truck parts, or a construction contractor in a work zone.
Your lawyer will help you gather the evidence needed to build a compelling case for your claims and hold all responsible parties accountable. If necessary, they will file a lawsuit against the trucking company or other responsible parties. Missouri law allows victims to recover damages even if they are partially at fault. Your attorney will fight to limit the amount of money you have to pay and ensure you receive the maximum compensation possible for your losses.
