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Fight Back with an Independence Truck Accident Attorney Today
The past decade has seen a 49% surge in truck accidents in the United States, according to the statistics of the National Safety Council. Injury Facts reports indicate that in 2022, more than 5,837 fatal truck crashes occurred. Given the complexity of large truck accidents that often involve multiple liable parties, seeking immediate legal help is crucial. Our commercial truck accident law firm is here to assist.
Your Legal Rights as an Injured Truck Driver
As an injured truck driver, you have the following rights under Missouri laws.
- Section 287.812 of the Missouri Revised Statutes (Labor and Industrial Relations) covers workers’ compensation for truck drivers as employees of a trucking company. You can file a claim within 30 days of the accident and after notifying your employer.
- Civil claims of personal injury can be filed under section 516.120 of the Missouri Revised Statutes within five years from the cause of action, i.e, accident. You will need the assessment of a lawyer for semi truck accident to correctly calculate the Statute of Limitations.
Immediate Steps to Take After a Truck Accident in Independence, MO
Met a truck accident? Here is what you should do immediately after.
Step 1
Call 911 and seek initial medical help.
Step 2
Get a phone number and other contact details of others.
Step 3
Gather evidence like pictures, videos, and witness statements.
Step 4
In Independence, Saint Luke's Primary Care (816-251-5200), Centerpoint Medical Center (+1 816-698-7000), and St. Mary's Medical Center (816-228-5900) treat truck accidents.
Step 5
For personal injury claims, you should contact a truck accident lawyer in Independence.
Step 6
For workers’ compensation claims, you can contact the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, which regulates the Division of Workers' Compensation, or call 800-775-2667.
Truck Accident Statistics You Should Know
Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle
At Royce Injury, we cover a broad range of truck accidents — jackknife accidents, construction truck accidents, delivery truck accidents, head-on truck collisions, garbage truck accidents, semi truck accidents, etc. Our experienced commercial truck attorneys are here to help.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Semi truck accident attorneys have observed:
- Fatigue is a leading cause of truck accidents, according to the Large Truck Crash Causation Study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA). Werner Enterprises paid $2.4 million in damages to the heirs of a fatigue truck accident deceased in 2013.
- Distracted driving accidents are another leading cause.
According to the statistics of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the other most common causes of truck accidents are drowsy driving, reckless driving, weather conditions, speeding, overtaking, rollovers, mechanical failures, blind spots, cargo spills, underrides, jackknife, and multitasking during driving.
Typical Injuries Resulting From Truck Accidents
In most truck accident cases litigated by semi truck accident lawyers, the injuries are moderate to severe. The most common injuries in such accidents are traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, bone fractures, organ damage, internal bleeding, concussion, muscle damage, etc.
How We Prove Liability in Truck Accident Claims in Independence
To establish liability in a truck accident, a lawyer for semi truck accident usually relies on documentary evidence — videos, images, witness statements, police reports of the accident, etc. The key factor is to determine if more than one party is responsible for the accident. Potential parties may be the truck driver, trucking company, truck manufacturer(s), government agencies, etc. To determine if the trucking company or the driver is liable, the driver’s log books are checked.
What Compensation Can Cover After a Truck Accident
Economic damages (medical expenses, wages, property damage, etc) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, psychological trauma, fines) are awarded as compensation in a truck accident. Truck lawyers have the expertise to calculate the correct compensation amount in truck accident cases.
# | Case Name | Compensation Type | Compensation Amount |
1 | Fatality compensation | $462 million | |
2 | Fatality compensation | $2 million | |
3 | TBI and spinal cord injury | $8.5 million |
Trucking Companies and Their Responsibility After an Accident
According to the big truck wreck lawyers, the trucking companies can be liable for an accident if:
- They fail to do background checks before hiring.
- The driver is medically unfit.
- The driver is overworked and has a sleep apnea issue.
- Adequate training for the driver is absent.
- Trucks are not maintained and cause accidents due to mechanical faults.
How an Independence Truck Accident Lawyer Builds Your Case
The first step is to assess the case during an initial consultation. Documents such as videos, pictures, police reports, and witness statements are reviewed. Next, the truck crash attorney will gather more evidence through investigation — black box data, work diary of the driver in which they log their time, vehicle maintenance records, video of the dash cam, expert reports, etc. This step is crucial as it helps the next step — determining liable parties. The attorney will also negotiate with your insurance company and send a demand letter for damages. If needed, your court may be taken to an injury court to settle the compensation if the driver is underinsured or the compensation offered by the insurance company is inadequate.
Deadlines to File a Truck Accident Claim in Missouri
You have to file a case within five years from the date of the accident under Missouri’s Statute of Limitations.
Client Reviews and Success Stories
Helpful Local Resources for Injured Truck Drivers in Independence
Hospitals:
- Saint Luke’s Primary Care (816-251-5200)
- Centerpoint Medical Center (+1 816-698-7000)
- St. Mary’s Medical Center (816-228-5900)
Rehabilitation centers:
- Rehabilitation Center of Independence (816) 257-2566)
- Sunterra Springs Independence (+1 816-335-3007)
Consult a Independence, MO Truck Accident Lawyer
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