In 2022, 162 fatalities from commercial truck accidents occurred in Missouri, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. Due to the significant size difference between commercial trucks and the average car, truck accidents have devastating aftermaths. When these accidents aren’t always fatal, they still leave victims with severe injuries.
If you or a loved one suffered an injury in a Missouri truck accident, you can seek compensation for your losses. A Missouri truck accident lawyer will help you through the process of filing a personal injury claim.
Missouri defines a commercial truck as a vehicle that can carry at least eight passengers and carries freight or merchandise. This definition also includes any vehicle over 10,000 pounds that carries hazardous materials.
Some common commercial trucks include:
When you collide with one of these vehicles, it classifies as a truck accident. This distinction is important because in a typical motor vehicle accident, the liable party is usually one of the other drivers. A commercial truck accident has other potential liable parties, including:
To seek truck accident compensation, you must identify the liable party with the help of a Missouri truck accident lawyer.
There are several compensation types available to Missouri truck accident victims.
Economic damages compensate you for calculable losses from the truck accident. This accounts for your tangible losses, such as:
Not every loss you suffer from your truck accident is calculable. For example, you can’t put a price on your emotional suffering, pain, or trauma. Non-economic damages compensate you for these factors.
In some cases, you can also pursue punitive damages. Missouri only awards punitive damages in instances of gross negligence or intentional tort. Unlike the other compensatory damages, punitive damages aim to punish the liable party.
Taking certain steps following your truck accident can maximize your chances of collecting compensation through personal injury claims against one or more of the liable parties.
First, ensure your safety. Assess yourself for truck accident injuries, as well as anyone else who was in the car. Then, you can speak to the truck driver.
If you are both able, exchange contact information with the truck driver. Write down their name, phone number, and trucking company.
Missouri accident laws require you to call the police for any motor vehicle accident that causes injury or more than $500 in property damage. Truck accidents cause serious injuries and severe property damage. When the police arrive, they will draft a report you can use as evidence later.
Your injuries from a truck accident likely require you to seek medical attention. Ensure that you document this process, as records will also act as evidence for your personal injury claim.
Before you speak to insurance representatives or other parties, consult with a Missouri truck accident attorney.
If you’re a truck accident victim, a Missouri truck accident lawyer at The Law Offices of Kevin J. Roach, LLC can help you. We have served Missouri for over two decades and dedicate ourselves to our clients. Rather than take on high volumes of settlement cases, we focus on high-quality service for fewer clients.
For a free consultation, call 636-242-642 today.
