St Louis Truck Accident Injury Lawyers
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St. Louis Truck Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that about 380,000 large trucks were involved in traffic accidents in the United States in 2008. A little over 4,000 of those trucks were involved in fatal crashes, resulting in a total of 4,229 fatalities, which was 11 percent of all traffic fatalities reported that year. Additionally, over 90,000 people were injured in those truck accidents. Roughly one out of every nine traffic fatalities in 2008 was the result of a collision involving a large truck.
In Missouri, in 2008, there were 4,341 traffic crashes involving large trucks. These accidents resulted in 75 deaths and injured 1,311 people.
Many factors can contribute to a St. Louis truck accident, including:
- Prescription drug use
- Drunk driving
- Excessive speeding
- Driving while fatigued
- Distracted driving
- Illegal maneuvers
- Driving aggressively and/or recklessly
While there are regulations in place to limit the number of hours that truck drivers are permitted to drive, some companies and truck operators overlook these rules and drive long shifts in order to make deliveries on time or ahead of schedule. This causes many truck drivers to develop dependencies on prescription or over-the-counter drugs in order to stay awake, which is risky and unsafe behavior and can result in a St. Louis truck collision.
Oftentimes, however, blame cannot solely be placed on the truck driver in the event of a St. Louis truck crash. Motorists don't always allow adequate space between them and a large commercial truck and sometimes cut the truck off. An 80,000 pound truck requires more stoppage time than a 3,000 pound passenger vehicle, which many motorists don't consider when suddenly driving in front of a truck. Additionally, large commercial trucks require a lot of roadway to make wide turns, and motorists often don't grant them enough room to do so.
Missouri Truck Accident Injuries
Due to their large size and weight, trucks can cause significant damage in St. Louis truck accidents. Victims can suffer injuries that can often be catastrophic or fatal. Common truck crash injuries include face and head injuries like bruises, lacerations, and dental injury; brain injuries, including concussions; neck injuries, including whiplash; back and spine injuries, including paralysis; and various shoulder, arm, leg, knee, and foot injuries such as breaks, sprains, fractures, and dislocations. Sometimes psychological damage can result from a St. Louis truck crash, with symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Those injured in St. Louis truck collisions may be able to recover compensation in a court of law, particularly if it is determined that someone else's negligence contributed to the accident. Damages could include coverage to pay for medical expenses, physical therapy if required, loss of present and future wages, motor vehicle damage, pain and suffering, and more.
The St. Louis truck accident attorneys at Page Law have extensive experience in handling Missouri truck crash cases. We can help you understand your legal options in pursuing a truck collision case in Missouri. Our law firm offers free consultations. Call us today at 314-322-8515 to discuss your St. Louis truck crash case.
St. Louis Personal Injury Resource Center
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