The Inherent Dangers of Truck Driving Accidents

Q: Are truck owners and truck drivers subjected to special safety regulations?

As is often the case in Missouri truck accidents involving passenger cars, the disproportionate size and weight of the big-rig often leaves the occupants of the involved cars at a distinct disadvantage. 
Accordingly, victims of truck accidents are often left with devastating injuries and suffer from long-term physical and/or psychological pain. Compensation for the pain, as well as the financial burden the accident has caused, may be recoverable in a personal injury lawsuit. 
But what happens if the victim dies?
The closest surviving relatives of accident victim that dies as a result of the injuries sustained in the accident may also be entitled to recover damages in a wrongful death lawsuit for their financial and other losses depending upon their relationship to the victim and other factors that are determined on a case-by-case basis.
The trucking industry and truck drivers are subject to special state and federal laws specifically designed to reduce deadly truck accidents. In general, these laws involve strict maintenance and safety inspections for the trucks and strict guidelines regarding the training and working conditions for the drivers. For instance, in an effort to reduce driver fatigue and distracted driving, truckers are required to take regular breaks and are restricted in the number of hours and distances they may drive. 
Determining compliance with all federal and state laws affecting the truck’s owner and driver is part of any post-accident investigation. But just because a truck is involved, it does not necessarily mean the truck driver was liable. Other factors which could contribute to driver liability in any kind of truck or car accident include, but are not limited to aggressive, reckless, distracted, or impaired driving, poor weather or road conditions, driver error or medical emergency, and more.
The sobering reality of how catastrophic the injuries of a truck accident can be hit home with the tragic deaths in December of three little boys all under the age of seven. 
Reportedly, the brothers were killed on impact and their mother injured in a three-vehicle crash when her car was struck on a narrow bridge by a tractor-trailer heading in the opposite direction. That collision caused her car to “slide sideways across the centerline and (get) hit by the (SUV) that was behind the tractor trailer” according to authorities. Several passengers in the SUV were also seriously injured while the truck driver was not. Investigators are reportedly still trying to determine which vehicle left its side of the road. 
If you or a loved one has been injured or a loved one has been killed in a truck accident, or any accident, as a result of the negligent, reckless, or intentional actions of someone else, the skilled personal injury attorneys at Noland Law Firm can help you recover the maximum compensation to which you may be entitled. Contact us today for a free consultation. 
From our offices in Liberty, we are dedicated to representing injured victims and their families throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area and Western Missouri.