Missouri Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

Lisa G. Hamilton of Albany, Missouri was seriously injured in a Missouri side collision trucking accident on April 26, 2011 at 2:02pm. The Missouri truck accident occurred in Harrison County, Missouri.

Hamilton drove on eastbound US-136 at US-69, 1 mile west of Bethany, in a 2005 Dodge Caravan. Truck driver Stanley G. Bridger failed to yield at a stop sign in a massive 2007 Peterbilt Conventional Tractor-Trailer. Bridger pulled directly into Hamilton’s path. The vehicles crashed in a Missouri side collision truck accident, causing extensive damage to both vehicles. Both vehicles came to rest on their wheels after impact.

Hamilton was seriously injured in the Missouri truck accident. NTA Ambulance transported Hamilton to Harrison County Community Hospital. Whether Hamilton wore a safety belt during the accident is unknown. She was assisted by the Sargent J.J. Rongey, Trooper T.B. Heintz, and the Bethany Police Department. There were no reported injuries for the truck driver.

Stopping at a stop sign, especially when there are other vehicles in the intersection, may be the simplest of driving mandates for Missouri drivers. Failure to stop at a stop sign creates a heightened risk of collisions and injuries, since other vehicles may enter the intersection at the same time. When a truck driver causes a Missouri truck accident by failing to stop at a stop sign, the court may submit punitive damages to deter that behavior in the future.

Punitive damages in a truck accident case are damages above and beyond that needed to compensate the accident victim for her injuries. Punitive damages are reserved for cases in which the truck driver’s conduct was deplorable. In Missouri, the courts may submit punitive damages against a negligent defendant who should have known his conduct created a high risk of injury, but showed disregard for the safety of others. Punitive damages may available in a truck driver negligence case because a truck driver should know that he creates a high risk of injury when fails to stop at a stop sign. When failing to stop at a stop sign, he knowingly violates a safety statute designed to protect the safety of drivers, passengers, and even pedestrians.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Statistical Analysis Center, thousands of Missourians are injured each year in commercial motor vehicle crashes. Deterring truck drivers from engaging in negligent behavior is vital to decreasing the devastation caused by Missouri trucking accidents.

Continue reading " Tractor Trailer Ignores Stop Sign and Seriously Injures Woman " »

A Missouri rear end truck accident sent a man from Preston, Missouri to a local hospital. The Missouri truck accident occurred on April 25, 2011 at 9:45am.

Guy W. Snyder, age 69, of Preston, Missouri drove on northbound US-65 on Monday morning, just one and a half miles north of Preston. Synder drove a 1996 Dodge Dakota. Snyder slowed the Dakota to make a left turn. A 2008 Kenworth slammed into the rear of the Dakota as it slowed, causing a Missori rear end truck accident. Synder suffered the only reported injuries in the accident. He was taken to Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, Missouri. James B. Ritter, the truck driver who drove the Kenworth, had no reported injuries. Both vehicles sustained moderate damage and were towed from the scene of the accident.

Determining fault in a rear end truck accident may be difficult. A number of potential parties may have caused the accident through negligent conduct. The truck driver may have driven negligently by driving too close to the rear of the vehicle. The trucking company may have been negligent in creating a relentless driving schedule that a driver could not complete while getting the federally mandated amount of rest. The truck maintenance company may have negligently cared for the parts of the truck, leading to mechanical issues. Even local government officials may have been negligent in their duty to monitor and maintain proper road conditions. Since assigning fault may be complicated, an accident victim should contact a Missouri truck accident attorney to handle the case.

Researchers in the Fatality Accident Complaint Team (FACT) are attempting to uncover common causes of Missouri rear end truck accidents to make determining fault less convoluted. FACT research data links truck brake violations to rear end truck collisions. More than 53% of fatal rear end truck accidents in which the truck struck another vehicle had at least one brake safety violation. Poorly maintained truck brakes are a logical cause of rear end truck accidents. Given their massive size, large commercial trucks take more time and cover longer distances to slow down. Tractor trailers need brakes in good condition to lower their speed fast enough to avoid a rear end accident.

Continue reading " Tractor Trailer Rear Ends Preston Man in Hickory County " »

Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes brief interruptions in breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea does not sound dangerous, but according to scientific research the disorder interferes with safe driving. Sleep apnea may be a significant cause of Missouri truck accidents.

The breathing interruptions caused by sleep apnea may occur as many as 400 times a night, lasting as long as 10 seconds each. These interruptions wreak havoc on a truck driver’s ability to function well by decreasing the quality of sleep. Symptoms of sleep apnea include falling asleep during inappropriate times, lack of concentration, daytime sleepiness, and memory impairment. Each of these symptoms is dangerous when a truck driver suffers from them behind the wheel of a massive tractor trailer.

Sleep apnea symptoms interfere with a truck driver’s ability to safely operate a large tractor trailer or semi-truck. According to a scientific study, untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of Missouri trucking accidents. Another study found that drivers with sleep apnea performed worse than people with blood alcohol concentrations higher than the legally allowed for the operation of a motor carrier. Despite these consequences, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration estimates that up to 28% of commercial driver’s license holders suffer from sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea poses such a dangerous risk to highway safety that many states prohibit people with sleep apnea from driving a commercial motor vehicle in intrastate commerce. Sleep apnea does not disqualify a driver unless it is moderate to severe. The sleep apnea disqualification aims to decrease Missouri trucking accidents.

Motor carriers may decrease Missouri truck accidents caused by sleep apnea by creating schedules that do not impair the driver’s ability to sleep well. The prevalence of sleep apnea is dependent on the trucks driver’s duration of sleep. Sleeping six hours or less in a night increases the prevalence of sleep apnea. Motor carriers endanger drivers, passengers, and pedestrians when they encourage or force drivers to have unreasonable driving schedules. Unreasonable driving schedules make Missouri trucking accidents caused by sleep apnea more likely. By complying with Missouri motor carrier regulations concerning the hours of service, motor carriers can help keep roadways safe.

Continue reading " Sleep Apnea Symptoms Dangerous in Truck Drivers " »

A Missouri trucking accident occurred in Perry County, Missouri on April 19, 2011 at 8:10pm during the recent inclement weather.

A 2006 International Conventional overturned on northbound I-55 during high winds on Tuesday night. The truck driver, Marvin D. Goettsch of Florida, was injured. Goettsch was taken by Perry County Ambulance to Perry County Memorial Hospital. If a car had been near the tractor trailer in a blind spot, the consequences could have been devastating. In large truck crashes, car drivers sustain 78% of the fatalities. Learning how to safely drive near large trucks is an essential skill for safe highway driving.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provides safety tips to car drivers for sharing the road with large commercial vehicles like tractor trailers. One of the most important safety tips is to stay out of “No-Zones.” No-Zone is the term the FMCSA uses to describe the large blind spots along commercial vehicles like tractor trailers. Truck drivers cannot see other vehicles in the massive blind spots near commercial trucks. Deceased visibility leads to a greater risk of a Missouri truck accident.

To drive safely near massive tractor trailers, follow the FMCSA’s advice: “don’t hang out in the No-Zones.” Pass large commercial vehicles with care. Remember that the truck driver cannot see you if you cannot see the truck driver in the truck driver’s mirror. Do not try to pass large commercial vehicles as they make wide right turns. Cutting in between the truck and the curb dramatically increases the likelihood of a Missouri truck accident. Avoid cutting off tractor trailers. Large trucks and buses need a substantial amount of time to slow down. Cutting in front such a large vehicle may cause a Missouri rear end truck accident.

Continue reading " Tractor Trailer Overturning Highlights Importance of Safe Driving " »

A Missouri underride truck accident injured a man on April 18, 2011 at 8:59pm. The Saint Charles County Missouri trucking accident occurred on westbound I-370, just east of Elm Street.

Gary Riggs, 57, of Anna, Illinois drove his 1992 Ford F150 into the rear of a big rig truck. The F150 became lodged underneath a 2005 Freightliner. Matthew S. Lackey, 46, of Granite City, Illinois drove the Freightliner.

Riggs was injured in the Missouri underride trucking accident. A Saint Charles County ambulance took him to St. Joseph East Medical Center for medical treatment. Whether Riggs was wearing his safety device is unknown. Both the Freightliner and the F150 sustained minor damage in the Missouri truck accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) created trucking regulations to decrease the number of dangerous underride truck accidents. The NHTSA requires that trucks be equipped with underride guards at 22 inches above the ground. Commercial trucks are also required to utilize conspicuity tape on heavy trailers. Conspicuity tape is reflective tape placed on the rear of the tractor trailer to make the truck more noticeable in darker conditions.

A NHTSA technical report found that requiring conspicuity tape on heavy trailers was an effective regulation. The conspicuity tape requirement was particularly effective in reducing crashes that cause injury. The report stated that the conspicuity tape requirement reduced fatal or injurious Missouri trucking accidents by 44% in dark conditions.

The conspicuity tape requirement is vital in preventing Missouri underride accidents that occur at night. Failure to place conspicuity tape on the rear of a tractor trailer is a statute violation that may show negligence on the part of the trucking company.

Continue reading " Underride Truck Accident in St Charles County Injures Man " »

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has created a database that accepts complaints about motor carrier safety violations. This database empowers everyday citizens to protect the safety of the nation’s highways and prevent Missouri truck accidents.

The National Consumer Complaint Database accepts complaints of safety violations. Complaints may be submitted to the FMCSA online or over a toll-free telephone line. Citizens may submit safety violation complaints if they feel that a driver or motor carrier company is violating the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Safety violation complaints may concern the unsafe driving of a bus or commercial tractor trailer.

Motor carrier drivers may also submit safety violation complaints. Truck drivers often have greater insight into certain types of Missouri motor carrier regulation violations. Truck drivers may allege hours of service complaints, stating that they are being forced to drive more hours than legally allowed. Truck drivers may also allege that the equipment they use is in poor condition or negligently maintained.

Complaints are handled by the United States Department of Transportation. If the alleged violation fits certain criteria, the government will launch an investigation. Regardless of whether the complaint warrants a full investigation, the government will notify the complaint filer of how the complaint was handled within 90 days.

The National Consumer Complaint Database is vital to strengthening Missouri highway safety. Massive big rigs, commercial trucks, and buses create tremendous damage in a Missouri trucking accident. According to the Department of Transportation, there are roughly 365,000 large truck accidents reported by the police in a year. These large truck accidents cause thousands of fatalities each year. Holding motor carriers accountable for safety violations deters them from behaving negligently in the future.

Continue reading " FMCSA Database Accepts Reports of Tractor Trailer Safety Violations " »

A St. Charles Man was killed in a Missouri head-on trucking accident on April 13, 2011 at 6:18am. Missourians from O’Fallon, Troy and St. Charles were additionally injured in the Missouri truck accident.

A 2006 Peterbilt Dump Truck was driven by Bradley J. Geeding, 30, of Troy, Missouri on northbound Route Z, just south of Stealey Road. Geeding failed to negotiate a curve and crossed the centerline. The dump truck slammed into a 1994 Plymouth Sundance, causing a Missouri head-on truck accident. Juan C. Avila-Hernandes, 24, of O’Fallon, Missouri was the driver of the Plymouth. The small car was totaled in the Missouri dump truck accident.

Alfredo T. Robles, 67, of St. Charles, Missouri was killed in the St. Charles County truck accident. Robles was an occupant of Avila-Hernandes’s car. St. Charles County EMS personnel pronounced Robles dead at the scene of the accident at 6:30pm. His next of kin was notified.

Avila-Hernandes suffered from moderate injuries. He was transported to St. Joseph’s Center East. Abraham S. Perez and Leonel C. Ortiz, both occupants in Avila-Hernandes’s vehicle, suffered minor injuries in the accident. They were both transported by St. Charles County Ambulance to St Joseph’s Hospital West. Geeding sustained minor injuries and was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital West. No charges were reported after an investigation into the Missouri dump truck crash by the Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Team and the Major Crash Team.

According to the Department of Transportation, thousands of Americans are killed in trucking accidents each year. 98% of deaths in fatal trucking accidents occur to non-commercial drivers, passengers, and pedestrians on the road. Only 2% of fatalities in trucking accidents occur to the commercial driver. Dump trucks, semis, and tractor trailers are so massive that seemingly slight errors in the operation, the maintenance, and the manufacturing of commercial trucks may cause extensive damage.

Commercial truck manufacturers have launched truck recalls because of safety issues. Peterbilt and Kenworth recalled over 5,000 trucks because a fire may result from degradation in a combustion tube. Peterbilt and Kenworth additionally recalled over 4,500 trucks because of a different potential fire hazard. An oil module centrifugal filter cap may loosen and come off, discharging oil and increasing the likelihood of a fire. The danger of these degraded combustion tubes and loose caps highlight how the negligent manufacturing of commercial trucks affect Missouri highway safety. A single loose cap may make Missouri truck accidents fiery accidents.

Continue reading " Dump Truck Crash Kills One, Injures Four in St. Charles Missouri " »

A Clinton, Missouri woman sustained injuries in a Missouri trucking accident after a tractor trailer reversed into her at 8:15am on April 8, 2011.

Truck driver Jordan T. Nelson, 22, of Altamont, Illinois reversed at a traffic signal on Business 13 just south of MO-7 in Henry County, Missouri. Nelson crashed a 1997 Peterbilt into the vehicle of Terry L. England, 50, of Clinton, Missouri. The 2003 Ford Focus that England drove sustained extensive damage in the Missouri truck accident.

Crystal M. Freeman, an occupant of England’s car, was injured in the Missouri big rig accident. The 30-year-old from Clinton, Missouri was taken to Golden Valley Hospital by a private vehicle. Freeman was reportedly not wearing her safety device. The Highway Patrol did not report any injuries for England or Nelson, who wore their safety devices.

Under Missouri law, failure to wear a seatbelt may reduce the damages for the victim in a negligence claim. Missouri is a comparative negligence state, meaning that the defendant may pay reduced damages after a Missouri trucking accident if the accident victim was partially at fault. The reduction in damages is typically in proportion to the percentage of fault assigned to the victim. For example, if the damage award is $10,000 and the accident victim was 50% at fault for the accident, the accident victim would only be compensated $5,000. The defendant can use failure to wear a seat belt as evidence of comparative negligence.

Missouri statute §307.178 determines how failure to wear a seat belt can be used as evidence of Missouri comparative negligence. The defendant must introduce expert evidence that the accident victim’s injuries were partially caused by the failure to wear a seat belt. The court may find that the victim’s failure to wear a seat belt contributed to the injuries and reduce the victim’s compensation. In Missouri, failure to wear a seat belt may reduce the victim’s compensation by up to 1% of the damages.

Continue reading " Tractor Trailer Crash Injures Clinton Missouri Woman while Backing Up " »

A fatal Missouri head-on truck accident claimed an Eagle Rock resident’s life on Friday morning. The accident occurred on MO-112, 5 miles south of Cassville, Missouri.

Anne L. Davis, 88, of Eagle Rock, Missouri died in the Missouri truck accident. She was traveling in the eastbound lanes of MO-112 in a 2000 Chevrolet Malibu when a 2010 International Truck slammed into her head-on. The reason why the truck driver Jason H. Hessee, 35, of Springfield, Missouri traveled westbound in the eastbound lanes remains unreported.

Davis’s vehicle was totaled, while the International Truck sustained only moderate damage. Emergency services attempted to transport her to Cox South Hospital for medical treatment, but she passed away while in transit. She was pronounced at 12:15pm by Dr. Sweeny.

When a loved one dies in a negligent Missouri head-on truck accident, the emotional impact is devastating. Missouri wrongful death laws allow certain family members to recover monetary compensation to cope with the financial impact of the accident victim’s death. The family may recover for funeral expenses and pecuniary loss. Damages may additionally be recovered for the reasonable value of the support, services, consortium and companionship that the accident victim would have provided if not for the Missouri trucking accident.

Missouri’s wrongful death statute applies to traffic accident cases in which the defendant negligently causes the death of the accident victim. The statute aims to provide monetary compensation to the victim’s family to help with unexpected expenses. The statute also serves to secure compensation for those who relied on the accident victim financially.

Continue reading " Eagle Rock Missouri Woman Dies in Barry County Head-On Collision with Tractor Trailer " »

A Missouri man was injured in a Missouri trucking accident on April 5, 2011 at 6:14pm on Route B in Bates County, Missouri.

Truck driver John M. Schreimar, 60, of Concordia, Missouri crossed the centerline of Route B in a 2005 Kenworth while driving eastbound. Everett M. Dains, 53, of Columbia, Missouri was driving a 2007 Dodge on westbound Route B at the same time. The towing unit of the Kenworth tractor trailer struck Dains’s vehicle.

Both the Dodge and the Kenworth tractor trailer sustained minor injuries. The vehicles were released to the drivers after the accident. No injuries were reported for the truck driver. As a result of the Missouri truck accident, Dains suffered minor injuries. He was not transferred to a hospital because he did not seek medical treatment.

Seeking medical treatment after a Missouri trucking accident is an important step in what to do after a Missouri truck accident. Many accident injuries do not show outward symptoms immediately, but can be identified through an examination by medical personnel. For example, brain injuries and whiplash neck injuries may elicit delayed symptoms. Accident victims may not be aware of their injuries for days after the accident. Medical professionals, however, are likely to check for brain and spine injuries after a Missouri truck accident. Receiving medical treatment immediately after the accident is vital for identifying the consequences of the accident.

Seeking immediate medical treatment can also help an accident victim get full compensation for injuries sustained in the accident. Medical records and bills will link the injuries directly to the accident, lessening the insurance company’s ability to argue that the accident was unrelated to the injuries. Medical records and bills related to injuries sustained in an accident will also give the court a better understanding of the financial costs of the accident to the victim. With improved evidence, the court may award more accurate compensation for the victim’s injuries.

Continue reading " Missouri Tractor Trailer Crash Injures Columbia Missouri Man on Route B " »

A Missouri pedestrian was killed in a Missouri trucking accident on April 5, 2011 at 4:40am in Newtown County, Missouri.

Michael L. Shulz, a 27-year-old from Duenweg, Missouri, was walking along westbound I-44 just outside of Joplin, Missouri early Tuesday morning. As he was walking, he was hit by a 2003 Freightliner Tractor Trailer driven by Curtis C. Dixon, 32, of El Paso, Texas.

Shulz was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Coroner Lee Ireland. There was no injury reported for the truck driver. The tractor trailer was driven from the scene with moderate damage. The authorities tested the truck driver for impairment. This Missouri truck accident is the 21st fatality for Troop D in 2011.

Missouri pedestrian accidents often result fatalities and serious injuries because a pedestrian is unprotected from the strong forces of a collision. When a pedestrian is hit by a truck, the potential for serious injury is even greater. Missouri truck accidents and pedestrians are too often a fatal combination.

Courts review many factors when determining fault in Missouri semi-truck accidents. The courts monitor factors including the location of the impact, the speed of the tractor trailer, the truck driver’s schedule, and the condition of the roadway during the accident. Proving fault in an accident case is a complex endeavor. Moreover, attorneys for the trucking company and the trucking insurance company will try to reduce their losses as much as possible. An accident victim without experienced, knowledgeable legal representation may have a difficult time fighting for the full compensation that he or she deserves.

Continue reading " Pedestrian from Duenweg Killed By Tractor Trailor in Newton County Missouri on I-44 " »

A fiery Saint Charles County Missouri crash between a gas tanker and a Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) truck blocked westbound I-70 traffic at 11:05am on April 1, 2011. The tanker driver has been issued a summons for charges.

Brian M. Heintzelman, 39, of Winfield, Missouri was operating a 2009 International Work Star truck while providing traffic control for a road repair crew on westbound I-70, west of MO-94. A gas tanker driven by Mark W. Schutzback, 42, of Nokomis, Illinois slammed into the MoDOT truck. The gas tanker involved in this Missouri truck accident was a 2001 Western Star Tractor Trailer.

According to local reports, the Missouri trucking accident caused the cab of the gasoline tanker to catch fire. Schutzback, the tractor trailer driver narrowly avoided injury by escaping the vehicle. He was later issued summons for careless and impudent driving. Heintzelman suffered minor injuries as a result of the crash. He was transported to St. Joseph Health Center by the St. Charles County Ambulance. The I-70 completely reopened hours later, after 4:30pm. Crews spent hours taking fuel off of the gas tanker. The collision caused an extensive backup in traffic.

The accident occurred just before National Workzone Awareness Week, established by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. This year’s National Workzone Awareness Week is April 4-8, 2011. The theme is “Safer Driving. Safer Work Zones. For Everyone.” According to the FHA, 85% of work zone fatalities are drivers and their passengers. Missouri highway safety in workers is important for the safety of drivers as well as workers. In 2009, there were 667 highway work zone fatalities. More than 40,000 Americans were injured.

In order to decrease the number of Missouri trucking accidents in highway work zones, Missouri passed legislation enhancing sanctions for traffic violations in work zones. In Missouri, both speeding and passing traffic violations have enhanced punishments in work zones. According to Missouri statute §304.582, $250 is added onto the original fine for the first offense. For example, a speeding violation that would normally result in a $50 fine is enhanced to a $300 fine in a work zone. $300 is added onto the original fine for subsequent offenses. Driving prudently and obeying traffic statutes is the best combination for preventing Missouri trucking accident injuries in work zones.

Continue reading " Fiery Collision on I-70 When Tanker Trunk Filled Gasoline Collides with MoDOT Truck " »