St. Louis Tractor Trailer Accident Attorney
Missouri Tractor Trailer Accident Lawyer - 866.840.3636
The highways and streets of Missouri are filled with tractor trailer trucks moving goods from one place to another. Many of these vehicles are heavily loaded and may weigh over 80,000 lbs. The sheer size and weight of the truck, and contact with a passenger vehicle can cause devastating accidents with deadly injuries. Even a slight “side-swipe” can result in a multi-vehicle accident, rollovers, and in the worst case, fatalities. If you or a loved one has had the misfortune of being injured in one of these serious accidents, it is crucial that you contact a St. Louis tractor trailer accident attorney immediately after the incident. The injuries sustained can be life-threatening, or can result in the requirement of a lifetime of medical care. Any injury is tough to deal with, and the last thing you need is the problem of getting your claim for damages paid in full by an unsympathetic and unfair insurance claims adjuster.
Truck drivers are paid by the mile. The result of this type of compensation is the creation of a direct conflict between safety and profit. The more miles a driver accumulates, the more he or she makes. This commonly results in drivers operating over the Hours of Service (HOS) limitations set forth in Section 395 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. A truck driver is not permitted to drive a tractor-trailer for more than 11 hours following 10 consecutive hours off duty (Eleven Hour Rule). Commercial trucking companies will be held liable for their driver's failure to strictly obey the Hours of Service rules promulgated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Truck accidents occur in Missouri by a variety of causes. The Large Truck Crash Causation Study recently published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations provides some insight into these causes. Federal Regulations provide a minimum standard for determining the qualifications of a truck driver. According to 49 C.F.R. §391, a driver is qualified to operate a tractor-trailer if he:
- is at least 21 years of age;
- can read and understand the English language;
- can by experience or training operate a tractor-trailer safely;
- is physically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle;
- has a valid CDL;
- has completed a driver's application for employment;
- is not disqualified under any federal regulation; AND
- has successfully completed a road test or has a CDL from a jurisdiction that requires a road test.
Was the truck driver that caused your Missouri tractor-trailer crash properly qualified to drive? Our truck accident injury lawyers will find out! In many cases the driver should never have been placed behind the wheel. The reality of the matter is that there is a shortage of truck drivers and desperate trucking companies will place anyone with a pulse in command of their 26,000+ trucks.
Tractor Trailer Accidents Lawyer in St. Louis
When you are seeking full compensation for damages in a tractor trailer accident, it is vital that documentation in the case is secured IMMEDIATELY. In many cases, vital evidence may be lost or witnesses may become harder to locate for testimony. Trucking companies and the insurance companies that insure them will dispatch their own ‘accident immediate response team’ to the scene of a truck accident, usually within minutes. Shouldn’t you have your own accident immediate response team? When fighting for maximum compensation, it is crucial that you contact the Schultz Legal Group as quickly as possible after the accident. All medical costs and other economic damages related to the accident must be kept in a safe place; if you cannot properly document damages it becomes more difficult when fighting for your claim for compensation. A "low ball"settlement may be quickly offered by the insurance company in an effort to make the claim go away quickly, but it is important to know that you should not discuss settlement offers with insurance companies without legal representation. You may end up with a settlement that is much lower than you could have claimed with the assistance of a skilled personal injury attorney from the Schultz Legal Group.
Tractor-Trailer Accident Claim - Schultz Legal Group
Take advantage of the truck accident litigation experience and success of the Schultz Legal Group when you seek a personal injury lawyer to handle your claim. The firm deals exclusively with personal injury claims and is well-qualified to assist you in seeking maximum compensation. An attorney will make your case a priority, and you will also be able to reach your attorney on a regular basis. This may not sound as important as it truly is, as many large impersonal law firms have the habit of not returning calls or being too busy to speak with clients directly. The Schultz Legal Group has a different philosophy about how to handle each individual claim. This close-knit legal team is dedicated to providing regular communication with each client as a matter of Firm policy. The attorney can usually be reached when you call, unless with another client, in court, or conducting a mediation. Each case is treated with the care and attention that it truly deserves.
Call 866.840.3636 for an immediate free consultation
Contact a St. Louis Truck Accident Attorney
from the Schultz Legal Group for responsive, high-quality legal representation in your personal injury case. Attorney Stephen Schultz is experienced in fighting for maximum compensation in tractor trailer accident injury cases.