Missouri Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

Danny Glaspie, 45, was killed in a fatal Missouri tractor trailer accident when he was hit by a truck while riding a bicycle in Kirksville.

According to local media reports and emergency officials, the accident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning on North Baltimore St. Glaspie was riding his bike in the northbound lane when a 2005 Freightliner truck, driven by Richard White, 44, approached from behind. The truck driver was unable to avoid hitting the bicyclist.

Glaspie was taken to Northeast Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Our thoughts are with the victim’s family.

The accident is still under investigation with many details yet to emerge. It is not yet known what type of reflective equipment Glaspie was or was not wearing. Investigators will also examine the truck logs and physical evidence to determine the speed of the truck and if the driver was operating the vehicle according to regulations.

Tractor trailer accidents often result in serious injury and have a higher chance of causing a fatality due to the incredible force of these large vehicles. This is especially true when big rigs collide with smaller passenger cars, motorcycles or bikes that offer passengers little to no protection.

Because of these risks, we must make sure to hold trucking companies accountable when they violate regulations. Most companies and drivers drive safely, but those that don’t can give the entire industry a bad name and cause serious tragedy in the process. If you or a loved one have been involved in an accident with a commercial truck, contact a Missouri truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.

If you drive a smaller compact car, I'm sure you've had the experience of riding on the highway as a tractor trailer rumbles by and realizing you're actually able to see under the trailer. You can see dangling chains and spare tires, as well as all the axles and moving parts. You might even find yourself wondering if your car could fit totally underneath the trailer.

In the movie "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation", the main character, played by Chevy Chase, finds himself accidentally swerving underneath a trailer in the opening scenes. This incident is played for laughs on the big screen, but the reality is much scarier. Every year, these so-called underride incidents occur in numerous tractor trailer accident cases, and often they have very serious consequences.

The reason for the danger is because the bed of a trailer is often higher than the hood of a standard passenger car. The front end of a car is designed to absorb impacts, but the windshield and frame that makes up the passenger compartment is not quite as sturdy. If a car were to drive underneath a tractor trailer, the bed of the trailer has a good chance of entering the passenger compartment and causing serious head and neck injuries. As you can imagine, these injuries are often fatal.

Because of the risk of underride accidents, federal regulations were put in place requiring all trailers to have a guard bar to prevent cars from wedging under the trailer in the event of a serious truck crash. This rear impact guard is designed to hit a passenger car's front end, rather than the passenger compartment.

Occasionally, though, we see cases where these regulations are not properly followed. A tractor trailer may be missing this guard rail completely or the guard rail may be set to an improper height. The rear impact guard may also not be structurally sound due to excessive rust or damage from a previous accident. If the bar snaps off with minimal pressure, it's just as bad as having no bar at all. In fact, it might be worse as now you have another piece of heavy debris that could potentially crash through the windshield and cause injury.

Investigating these details after a crash is important. It holds negligent trucking companies accountable and helps prevent these incidents in the future. If you have been involved in a wreck with a large commercial truck, consult a Missouri tractor trailer accident attorney as soon as possible to make sure your crash receives a thorough investigation.

Two drivers are fortunate to be alive after a major Missouri tractor trailer crash Wednesday morning on Highway 36. Not only did the two drivers, Charles Donahue, 68, and Dewayne Achenbach, 51, survive, they were mostly uninjured.

According to local media reports, both trucks were traveling eastbound on Highway 36 at the time of the wreck. Donahue was driving a 2000 Kenworth and Achenbach was driving a 2011 Freightliner. As the two vehicles approached an intersection, Donahue attempted to make a turn from the outside lane. Achenbach was unable to avoid slamming into Donahue's truck and both vehicles ended up in the median.

Nearly immediately after the crash, both tractor trailers caught fire. Officials believe some type of explosion occurred, which spread the fire very quickly and completely destroyed both vehicles.

Despite the viciousness of the accident and the fact that both rigs were totally destroyed, neither driver was injured in this Missouri tractor trailer accident. Both Donahue and Achenbach were able to get out of their cabins before the fire overcame them.

Thankfully, nobody was hurt in this incident and no other smaller cars were caught up in this wreck. Many times in situations like these, the people involved aren't as lucky. Motor carrier regulations and better safety technology have limited injury accidents over the years, but these measures only work when they are actually used. Too often we see companies break regulations or vehicles without the proper safety equipment. Anybody involved in a tractor trailer accident caused by this kind of negligence should contact a personal injury attorney with tractor trailer crash experience.

One of the more common types of tractor trailer crashes is the jackknife crash. The jackknife is usually caused when the driver applies the brakes and the cab slows down, but the trailer's momentum continues to push it forward. In this situation, the cab and the trailer get offset to an extreme angle and the driver loses control of the whole rig.

While usually caused by braking, a jackknife can occur nearly anytime a driver turns the wheel as well. Changing lanes on the highway or making a turn at any intersection can cause a cause a jackknife if attempted by a poorly trained driver.

This is where federal regulations are useful to help prevent these incidents. By required special licenses, regulations try to promote driver expertise and keep negligent drivers off the road. Weight restrictions on shipments, speed limits and general maintenance requirements are all regulations designed to prevent serious tractor trailer crashes, including jackknifes.

Unfortunately, we still see companies failing to do the proper inspections or overloading trucks to a dangerous degree. When this negligent behavior causes an accident, those responsible must be held accountable. If you or a loved one have been involved in an accident with a tractor trailer, contact a Missouri tractor trailer accident attorney as soon as possible to make sure your rights as an accident victim are protected.

We've often discussed federal regulations of tractor trailers on the blog, but one area that doesn't get talked about often is insurance limits. Like load weights and driving hours, the liability insurance minimums are strictly regulated by the federal government to ensure injured parties are taken care of should a tractor trailer injury accident occur.

Every commercial trucking company that runs shipments across state lines must maintain a minimum level of liability insurance. This level varies depending the weight and nature of the load being hauled, but $750,000 liability minimums are the standard on most 18-wheelers that you see on the road. This minimum goes up if the shipment is hazardous or explosive materials, since they pose more of a threat to other drivers.

Any driver or company who operates a truck without this minimum level of coverage is subject to severe financial penalties. They could be charged with up to $11,000 in fines per day.

Unfortunately, some drivers violate this regulation and don't carry the required amount of liability insurance. In other cases, catastrophic injuries with lifetime effects may end up costing the injured party more than $750,000 in medical costs and lost wages. In these cases, it is a good idea to consult a personal injury lawyer with tractor trailer crash experience. He or she will be able to examine your case and make sure your rights as an accident victim are upheld.

Two people were taken to the hospital Tuesday morning after a Missouri tractor trailer crash on Missouri 291 in which a big rig actually tipped over, hitting other vehicles in the process.

According to local media reports, the tractor trailer was southbound on Missouri 291 just before the accident. The truck driver attempted to make a right turn onto Frontage Road, but took the turn too fast. The tractor trailer tipped over and hit three other cars that were waiting at the light.

The tractor trailer driver and the driver of one of the cars waiting at the light were both taken to a local hospital for treatment.

An investigation into this tractor trailer injury accident is ongoing and charges could be filed.

While more details need to emerge about this incident, it appears that the truck driver was simply driving too fast and lost control of his vehicle. We often see accidents in the trucking industry due to drivers trying to rush their deliveries. Whether it be drivers who break the speed limit or drivers who violate the hours of service rules to get to their destination quicker, dangerous situations arise when tractor trailer drivers put speed over safety.

Driving a tractor trailer is a challenging job. Keeping an 18-wheel vehicle that weighs up to 80,000 pounds under control in the presence of smaller, more vulnerable cars is a job that only the most qualified drivers should attempt. Many of the truck drivers on the road do a fantastic job and keep their vehicle in good condition, as well as keeping their head clear and focused. Unfortunately, this is not always the case as a number of drivers or trucking companies will operate vehicles that aren't safe or drive in an unsafe manner. To help limit these behaviors and the serious tractor trailer crashes they cause, federal motor carrier regulations have been put in place.

Here are some of the most common violations:

-Driving fatigued due to working extended hours. The Hours of Service rules are designed to limit the number of consecutive hours that a truck driver can be behind the wheel. Many drivers are paid by the mile so they have an incentive to keep driving long into the night without stopping for rest. Studies have shown that people who are awake and active for 17 straight hours are as impaired as someone with a blood alcohol level of .05.

-Distracted driving. Many tractor trailer accidents are caused by drivers who simply aren't paying attention to the road. Recently, the Secretary of Transportation banned truck drivers from texting behind the wheel. Unfortunately, there is still an abundance of things to distract a driver and cause a serious accident.

-Inaccurate log books. In order to make sure the hours of service rules aren't broken, every driver must keep a detailed log of all his driving. Drivers who try to cut corners and break regulation will often make fraudulent entries in their log books to disguise any questionable practices. Fortunately, other evidence can be found and compared to the logs to check their accuracy. Weigh station and fuel receipts can be obtained and used by an experienced truck accident lawyer to make a timeline of actual events to compare to the logs.

-Negligent practices by a trucking company. Sometimes a problem is much larger than a single driver who makes a lapse in judgment. Mismanagement by a trucking company can lead to any number of dangerous situations. Accident investigations in the past have uncovered companies that don't train their drivers properly and hire drivers with a history of accidents and alcohol use. Companies may also try to save money by skipping on vehicle inspections and letting unsafe vehicles out on the road.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of potential violations. It is merely a few of the more common problems that can lead to a serious injury accident. If you have been involved in an accident with a commercial truck, contact a Missouri trucking accident attorney as soon as possible to make sure your rights are protected and companies are held accountable for any negligent practices.

A Missouri tractor trailer crash sent one person to the hospital Tuesday morning in Newton County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred on Highway 43 about two miles south of Joplin. Sarinda Dudley, 36, was driving a 2000 Chevrolet Malibu southbound and began to slow to make a right turn. As Dudley slowed her car, a 2007 International tractor trailer, driven by Roger Decker, 45, slammed into the back of her car. The Malibu was totaled.

Thankfully, there were no life-threatening injuries. Decker was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries. While Dudley's car was totaled, surprisingly, she escaped significant injury.

The initial report on this Missouri truck accident doesn't say why Decker was unable to avoid hitting Dudley's car. Often times in cases like these, the truck driver doesn't see the car in front of him until it's too late, or the car driver can hit the brakes hard and not give the 80,000 pound tractor trailer a chance to stop. Truck drivers must always be aware of other cars on the road and should leave themselves plenty of room between the car ahead and the front of the truck.

After a tractor trailer wreck, there is supposed to be an investigation into the driver's logs and an inspection of the truck to determine if any motor carrier regulations were violated.