St. Louis is known for its high rate of accidents and crashes. According to a news report of fox2now.com, on 8th May 2023, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department was busy investigating a crash that injured six people.
The officers reported that the accident included three cars at Page Boulevard and Hamilton Avenue. One person died in the crash. Police reported that the Impala driver was speeding.
As he left his lane, he hit a truck, which resulted in his death. Neighbors helped the passengers at the accident scene stuck inside the car. There was a little boy whose head, chest, and wrist were hurting.
This dangerous crash involves a sedan, Tesla, and a truck. Overall, there were eight people in all three vehicles, out of which six were admitted to the hospital.
In cases like this, victims of trucking accidents often require both medical and legal assistance.
Causes of Truck Accidents in St. Louis
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), the total number of truck accidents in 2022 was 15,005. A joint study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration claimed there are three principal causes of truck accidents. The crashes occur due to environmental reasons, the truck, or the driver.
Other factors that cause truck accidents are:
- Any interruption in the traffic, like an earlier crash or congestion
- Brake issues
- Traveling very fast
- Prescription drug use
- Not being familiar with the road
- Insufficient surveillance
- A fatigued driver who didn’t sleep well
- Distracted driving
- Overloaded trailers
- Reckless driving
- Overweight or unsecured cargo
- Insufficient safety inspections
- Maintenance failures
Truck accidents can have devastating consequences for those involved. The accident victims might require permanent medical care and lose out on their employment.
Some of the physical dangers include spinal cord injury, brain injury, pulverized bone, amputation, and damage to the internal organs. Due to the complex nature of truck accidents, victims need to seek the help of an experienced St. Louis trucking accident lawyer.
Trucking accidents and car accidents are not alike. In the case of the former, there are more liable parties, and the claim gets complex. TorHoerman Law, a personal injury law firm, recommends that accident victims keep detailed records of all expenses they incurred.
It includes medical bills, vehicle repair costs, medical treatments, and income loss during the recovery period. Using these details, the victim’s lawyers can build a strong case and help them obtain the required compensation.
How Do St. Louis Lawyers Manage Trucking Accident Cases?
When a truck accident victim comes to the lawyer, they will check for details and decide whether the case is valid.
Usually, truck accident lawyers in St. Louis work on contingency. It means they ensure that a case is strong enough to win. Contingency indicates that the lawyer will get paid when their client receives the settlement.
Once the initial research is done, the lawyer implements the following steps:
1. Collecting Evidence for Every Claim
When the lawyer decides to fight a truck accident legal case, they start their investigation. It includes:
- Visiting the truck accident scene
- Checking pictures of the accident scene
- Speaking with witnesses and gathering statements
- Analyzing the camera footage
- Assessing vehicle damage
- Checking the victim’s medical expenses and reports.
Once they have crucial accident details and overall damages, they will start to develop the legal case.
2. Sending Demand Letters
Once the truck accident investigation gets done, the lawyer will send a demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurance agency. This letter will highlight all the information related to the collision. It will also demand a certain monetary amount to compensate for the victim’s damage.
3. Negotiating With Insurance Companies
The insurance company of the at-fault party will often contact the accident victim right after the incident. It is a risky situation. The insurance companies are ace at paying less for truck accident claims. They will provide a lowball settlement.
The injury victims have no idea about negotiation. Neither do they know how to secure their legal rights while interacting with insurance companies. However, expert lawyers can get the job done effortlessly.
The truck accident lawyer will correctly account for all the damages the victim has incurred. They negotiate for a fair settlement which the victim deserves.
4. Representing at Trial
When a truck accident case in St. Louis goes to trial, the lawyers will represent the client in court.
Conclusion
The court in St. Louis follows the “pure comparative fault rule.” It’s the jury that decides what percentage of the accident was due to your fault and minimizes the damages. For instance, the jury can decide that a person was 10% at fault for not reducing the speed on a wet street and the semi-truck driver was 90% at fault.The truck accident lawyer understands the legal jargon, the lawsuit terms, and the way courts and juries work. They use their time management, negotiation, and analytical skills to get a favorable verdict for their client.
