Our law firm has handled many truck accident cases and our lawyers are aware of the issues and problems that serious injuries can have on victims and their families. The following pages will provide you with additional information about truck safety laws and the legal assistance our attorneys provide.

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Trucking Accidents
Large commercial trucks, also known as 18-wheelers, semis, and tractor-trailers, account for more than their share of serious injuries and traffic deaths on America's highways. According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), large trucks are responsible for 12 percent of all traffic fatalities, even though only 3 percent of all registered vehicles are trucks and they account for only 7 percent of vehicle miles traveled.

Truck-Car Collisions
Drivers and passengers in cars suffer the majority of injuries when they collide with large trucks because of the weight difference between the two types of vehicles. Cars weigh an average of 3,500 pounds, while large commercial trucks (known as semis, eighteen wheelers, and tractor-trailers) can weigh up to 80,000 pounds with their loads. In car-truck collisions, 98 percent of the fatalities were persons in the cars.

Trucking Laws
Federal interstate trucking regulations and Missouri and Illinois intrastate trucking regulations govern everything from the truck maintenance, to how loads are secured, to what routes trucks are allowed to drive, and how truckers are allowed to drive. The regulations are designed to reduce the number of people injured and killed in car-truck collisions.

Truck Accident Causes
Truck accidents often involve some type of negligence on the part of the truck driver, the trucking company, or both. Some of the common causes of car-truck accidents include driver fatigue, aggressive driving, road rage, improper maintenance of the truck or trailer, improper loading, negligent hiring, and driving with an unsecured load.

Fault in Truck Accidents
Fault in a truck accident may involve driver error, driver negligence, negligence on the part of the company that hired the driver, negligence on the part of the company that owns the trailer, or all three.

Truck Driver Responsibilities
According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, more than one-fourth of the truck drivers who are involved in fatal crashes in 2004 had at least one prior speeding conviction. Seven percent of truck drivers had a previous license suspension or revocation and some had prior felony convictions. Many trucking companies negligently hire drivers with bad driving records because they want to move cargo at the cheapest possible price.

RV Accidents
Many people take to Missouri and Illinois roads in motor homes, travel trailers, 5th wheelers, and other recreational vehicles (RVs). Unfortunately, some of the people operating these vehicles are inexperienced drivers who present a danger to those in smaller cars, motorcycles and trucks.

Bus/Train Accidents
Trains and buses are known as "common carriers." This means that the businesses or municipalities operating these vehicles, as well as the drivers operating the vehicles, have a high level of responsibility to transport each paying passenger in a safe manner.

Free Initial Consultation
We offer a free initial consultation for victims of trucking accidents. If you cannot make it to our office, we will come to you at the hospital or at your home.

Contact the Missouri/Illinois trucking accident lawyers at Carey, Danis & Lowe today at 877-678-3400.

Visit our Truck Accident Information Center
Read our Personal Injury and Wrongful Death FAQ