Truck Accidents

A commercial truck accident is likely to be more catastrophic than one involving two passenger cars, simply because a fully loaded truck can weigh 25 times more than a typical car. Due to this drastic weight difference and the laws of physics, serious or even fatal injuries are common in these kinds of collisions.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. However, you will need an attorney with special experience, since trucking accident cases are different than any other auto accident case. Frequently, there are different laws and regulations that apply to trucking companies and drivers that ordinary automobile accident attorneys may not have the expertise to understand.

A skilled truck accident attorney will have a thorough knowledge of the law and the experience necessary to name all liable parties as defendants in your lawsuit. In addition, they will have established relationships with the unique experts needed to prove negligence and reconstruct the scene of the accident. Finally, they will demonstrate the ability to obtain all the documents that apply to your trucking accident case. At Monsees & Mayer, P.C. we have the experience, knowledge, and connections to handle even the most complicated of truck accident cases.

When handling a truck accident lawsuit, an attorney must find all parties who may be held liable for the accident. The driver is probably responsible, but trucking companies are known to ignore signs that certain drivers are dangerous and to push drivers to ignore or push the boundaries set by federal regulations.

The obvious answer is the driver, but you may also have a claim against:

• Employers
• Truck Manufacturers
• Insurance Companies
• Government Entities
• Trucking Companies
• Contractors
• Maintenance Providers

Truck accidents can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from careless drivers to negligent trucking companies.

Truck Driver Negligence

Some truck accidents are caused by bad decisions on the part of drivers, which include inattentiveness, distraction, and carelessness. Truck drivers are in control of huge vehicles and tremendous loads that can harm other vehicles in their paths, and negligence on their part causes thousands of accidents per year in the United States. Regulations dictate how long drivers can properly, and safely, operate a truck before they are required to take time to rest and recover.  Violation of these regulations can result in fatigued and inattentive driving.

Common forms of truck driver negligence include:

Aggressive Driving

Drivers may speed, change lanes without signaling, or follow too closely behind other vehicles in an effort to meet a deadline.

Lack of Training

Drivers may take a load for which they are not properly trained for (i.e., hauling more than one trailer). Trucks can be overweight, which can affect loads and stability.

Distracted Driving

Texting or talking on the phone while driving are big culprits in truck driving accidents, just like any other type of motor vehicle accident.

Driving Under the Influence

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is an obvious cause of accidents.

Driver Fatigue

Drivers sometimes skip their federally-required sleep breaks or falsify driver logs to exceed permitted driving hours in order to meet a deadline.

Truck Company Negligence

When truck driver negligence causes an injury accident, both the driver and the trucking company can be held liable. This is especially true if the driver’s negligence is attributable to pressure from the company to deliver on time. Trucking companies are heavily regulated by federal and state authorities with laws that are imposed to protect innocent drivers that share the road with trucks. Some of these include standards on truck maintenance, driver training, truck inspections, and employment.

Forms of Truck Company Negligence

• • Improper vehicle maintenance and repair
    • It is the job of not only the driver, but the trucking company, to make sure the commercial truck is kept in good operating condition.
  • Inadequate record keeping regarding the safety of a vehicle
  • Scheduling drivers on trips that exceed federal sleep regulations or allowing drivers to continue driving while fatigued
  • Failure to load trucks properly, to balance and secure cargo
  • Violation of trucking regulations and failure to discipline drivers for safety violations
  • The hiring or continued employment of dangerous or unqualified drivers
  • Failure to provide safety devices, such as rear underside protection that could prevent serious injuries
  • Holding negligent drivers and trucking companies accountable

Our attorneys are experienced in investigating and litigating accident cases that stem from the irresponsibility of trucking companies and their drivers. We have helped many injured clients and their families recover maximum financial compensation with regard to:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Damage to and loss of property
• Pain and suffering
• Paralysis, quadriplegia, and paraplegia

If you have been injured in a trucking accident on I-70, I-80, I-35, I-44, I-49, I-29, I-55, I-435, I-470, I-635, US71, US65, US75, US36, US 69, or on any other road or highway in the Midwest or nationwide, contact the truck accident lawyers at Monsees & Mayer, P.C. We’re happy to meet with you and discuss your injuries and the circumstances surrounding your accident.