Underride Truck Accident in St Charles County Injures Man
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.
If you are injured in a Missouri underride truck accident, contact a Missouri trucking accident attorney who knows your legal needs.
