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Truck Accidents Are Complex. Getting An Experienced Legal Team To Investigate And Seek Compensation For Your Injuries Is Vital

A passenger vehicle that collides with a commercial truck on a major highway, such as Interstate 35 or Interstate 70, is undoubtedly more serious than a passenger-on-passenger vehicle accident.

Commercial trucks, also commonly referred to as semi-trucks or 18-wheelers, often weigh hundreds of thousands of pounds and more when fully loaded. The sheer size of such a vehicle colliding with a small, unassuming passenger vehicle is likely to cause serious injuries for passengers, and even death.

Common Causes Of Truck Accidents In Missouri

The driver of the commercial vehicle can be at-fault in a variety of ways. Sadly, driver fatigue is one of the major reasons truck accidents happen.

Other common causes include:

  • Driver error
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Mechanical failure, especially brakes and tires
  • Improperly loaded cargo
  • Road and weather conditions
  • Passenger car interference

Commercial Driver Rules And Regulations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, is tasked with regulating commercial drivers, including monitoring driver qualifications, hours spend behind the wheel, inspection mandates and other criteria.

Sadly, in an effort increase bottom lines, trucking entities often skirt the rules. In some cases, companies will pressure operators to drive pass the allotted FMCSA authorized driving limits and even get a rig back on the road after a failed inspection.

The FMCSA is lacking in sufficient inspectors and compliance officers and CDL operators and entities know this. That is why other parties, not just the truck driver, may be liable for your Missouri auto accident injuries.

Who Might Be Responsible For Your Commercial Truck Accident Injuries?

One party could be the trucking company that, for example, authorized a driver to operate an illegally overloaded vehicle.

Another party may be an equipment manufacturer. If a part or piece of equipment on the 18-wheeler malfunctioned and caused the auto accident due to a defect, they could also be responsible.

The cargo loading company could be another possible candidate. If the truck driver or trucking company relied on a third party to properly load specified cargo onto a truck and they were negligent, they could be responsible for any injuries as a result.

Turning To Experienced Kansas City Truck Accident Attorneys

Regardless of who is at fault, hiring a skilled truck accident legal team to investigate and pursue maximum compensation is vital.

If you have been seriously injured or a loved one has been killed in a Kansas City, Missouri trucking accident, our attorneys at Barnes Law Firm in Kansas City have the skill and experience to help.

We have decades of collective experience investigating these cases and know what to look for in order to uncover the real cause of the accident. We are active litigators and do not shy away from taking a case to trial if it means getting what our clints need and deserve.

Do You Have Additional Questions About Truck Accident? We’ve Got Answers.

Below are answers to a few questions about truck accidents in Kansas City. Take a look.

How Is Fault Determined After A Trucking Accident?

A detailed investigation may include accident reconstruction to discover whose negligence caused a crash. Evidence may include the police report, eyewitness depositions, examination of wrecked vehicles, surveillance video footage, tire skid marks on the pavement and more. Your personal injury attorney will seek to persuade a claims adjuster, jury or judge as to who was at fault.

How Much Is My Case Worth After I Suffered Serious Injuries Or My Family Member Died In A Truck Crash On I-35, I-70 Or Another Street Or Highway?

To put a dollar amount on your claim, we may consult with medical and financial experts. We will tally up your past, present and future costs, including lost wages. Your actual recovery after all expenses have been paid may depend on factors such as insurance coverage limits as well as a jury’s understanding of your pain and suffering and who was at fault.

What If I May Have Been Partially At Fault In The Trucking Accident That Left Me Injured Or Took The Life Of My Passenger?

According to the legal concept of comparative fault in Missouri, the compensation you receive through a verdict or settlement will be reduced by a percentage equal to the degree of your fault in the crash.

Let’s Talk About Your Case. Schedule A Free Consultation At Our Kansas City Law Firm Today.

We represent victims of commercial truck crashes throughout the greater Kansas City area. Please call 816-608-4065 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation.