Missouri Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

With some pushing for dedicated lanes on I-70 for big rigs and tractor trailers, I wanted to look at some statistics to see just how much more dangerous Missouri tractor trailer accidents are compared to passenger car crashes. Common sense would suggest that the large commercial shipping trucks with their tons of shipping freight would have a higher fatality rate. The numbers back this up and over the last few years, an accident involving a tractor trailer is two to three times more likely to produce a fatality than crashes involving only passenger cars.

Here are some of the raw numbers according to the Missouri Department of Transportation:

- Over the last couple years, Missouri has averaged over 8,400 accidents or crashes involving tractor trailers every year.

- In those accidents, an annual average of 154 fatalities was reported.

- In accidents where the tractor trailer was in the process of hauling a shipment, the fatality rate jumped to 2% meaning that in 1 out of every 50 Missouri crashes involving a loaded tractor trailer, somebody was killed.

- Missouri car accidents not involving a tractor trailer, while far more common, had a lower fatality rate. Of the 72,000+ car accidents every year, just 0.6% produced a fatality.

These statistics and the tragic stories behind them are what justify stricter regulation of the commercial shipping industry. While I’m not sure if having dedicated lanes on I-70 is part of the solution, it’s clear that tractor trailer crashes should be addressed differently than car accidents.

This concern goes further than highway design. Legal cases involving tractor trailers are handled differently than passenger car accidents. Punitive damages can be assessed to trucking companies that show a dangerous disregard for commercial trucking regulations. The laws for truck drivers are different than for the average driver, which is why an experienced Missouri tractor trailer accident lawyer should be contacted in the aftermath of a serious crash.

Some Missouri officials are debating a plan to limit catastrophic tractor trailer crashes and the serious personal injury that comes with them by adding extra truck-only lanes to Interstate 70, according to a report in the Kansas City Star.

The Star reports that officials have completed a study that suggests adding four lanes to I-70 that would be set aside for tractor trailers and other large shipping vehicles. These lanes would make up the center of the highway, with other traffic allowed to drive in the outer lanes.

The plan is still in the very early stages, but it appears likely that if the new lanes were to be added, Missouri highway planners would have them run nearly the entire length of I-70 between Kansas City and St. Louis, stopping somewhere just outside of the two metro areas.

Missouri’s plan is pretty unique, according to The Star’s report, as no other state has truck-only lanes on the scope that local officials have proposed.

Tractor trailer congestion has become a problem on Missouri roadways, especially I-70. Analysts are predicting that traffic could double on I-70 in the next 20 years. Missouri already sees over 8,000 tractor trailer crashes each year and as a Missouri tractor trailer accident lawyer who studies these cases, I know many result in serious personal injury or wrongful death. This number will only rise with the increase in traffic.

Many times when you hear about a Missouri truck accident injury, it means that a large truck or tractor trailer has crashed into and injured another driver. Sometimes, though, another vehicle can crash into the truck and cause serious personal injury to the driver. This will often occur at constructions zones and that was exactly the case on Monday.

Corey Washington, 35, was injured Monday after the MoDOT truck he was in was crashed into by another vehicle.

According to the initial crash report filed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Washington had stopped his Missouri Department of Transportation truck along a construction zone on Highway 370 in St. Charles. While the truck was stopped in a lane of traffic, Washington had activated the warning lights. William Macy, 45, was driving a 2001 Dodge Dakota and failed to see the MoDOT truck in the roadway. Macy’s vehicle crashed into the rear of the truck.

Washington was taken to St. Joseph Health Center for treatment. Macy was uninjured according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

There is no indication yet on whether or not a citation will be issued to Macy.

If Macy is charged with some kind of violation for reckless driving through a construction zone, the penalty may be more severe than if the accident hadn’t involved a MoDOT worker.

Washington may also be able to collect damages to pay for his medical bills if a St. Charles area personal injury attorney examines this case. An investigation into the Missouri construction site accident will first need to take place to determine the speed of Macy’s vehicle and the exact location of the MoDOT truck at the time of the crash.

Truck and tractor trailer accidents can be devastating physically, emotionally and financially for those involved. The large size and weight of many of these commercial transport vehicles means that crashes are more likely to cause a serious injury or death.

As a result of these facts, truck accident lawsuits are handled differently than car accident personal injury lawsuits and different laws apply.

The big difference between an accident with another person in a personal car and a tractor trailer is that the tractor trailer company running the truck probably has a group of highly paid lawyers and investigators on stand-by to quickly resolve any accidents. Within hours, these experts will begin investigating the accident and looking for any way to reduce the amount of damages paid by the trucking company.

If you or a family member is involved in an accident with a tractor trailer, you may begin receiving calls from adjusters and the trucking company’s private investigators in the days immediately after the incident. Do not give any statements or information to these investigators until you have consulted a personal injury attorney. Those investigators are paid to represent the trucking company so in all likelihood the information you give them will be used to limit the amount of damages you receive.

The one advantage you have against the truck company is that they must operate under stricter federal guidelines than the average driver. Many times their negligence to follow these guidelines is what led to the accident in the first place. A skilled truck accident lawyer will be able investigate a crash and uncover any violations of federal law.

There are many avenues to pursue a lawsuit as well. You may be able to recover damages from the driver himself, the truck company and the owner of the trailer depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident.