Missouri Runaway Trailer Accident Attorney
Runaway Trailer Accidents
Runaway trailers have the potential to cause catastrophic accidents. These crashes can result in major injuries or even fatalities. Recent news reports point out that the federal government, which does maintain truck accident statistics, does not maintain a database for runaway trailer accidents. This does not mean that these types of accidents do not occur. A recent article in The Los Angeles Times identified 540 runaway trailer accidents just from 2000 to 2007. During these eight years, runaway trailers caused hundreds of injuries and claimed 164 lives. If there were other runaway trailer accidents over the last decade, they have not been properly documented.
Types of Runaway Trailer Accidents
The most common types of MO runaway trailer accidents involve a variety of trucks – from light to medium trailers to large commercial trucks and tractor-trailers. The trucks involved could be owned by individuals, small businesses or large corporations. Irrespective of who owns them, those individuals or entities have a responsibility to make sure that the trailers are properly hitched and the loads are properly secured.
A runaway trailer involves a trailer disconnecting from the truck pulling it. Depending upon the circumstances, a free trailer can gain momentum and cause serious damage. A runaway trailer accident does not have to involve a trailer completely disconnecting from the tractor pulling it. Some runaway trailer collisions result from a tractor trailer brake failure. The ramps you see on the side of a hilly highway are for truck drivers who are having difficulty controlling the momentum of their tractor-trailer.
Smaller trailers hauled by passenger vehicles could also disconnect and crash into vehicles. All forms of runaway trailers are dangerous and the parties responsible for the trailer becoming loose may be held accountable for the accidents they cause.
Common Injuries Suffered in a Runaway Trailer Accident
Trailers are often immensely heavy and large metal containers that can build up a significant amount of force. Pedestrians, bicyclists and car drivers are all in danger of serious injury or death if they are in the way of a runaway trailer. Victims of Missouri runaway trailer accidents often suffer broken bones, serious head injuries, spinal cord injuries, and lacerations.
Liability Issues
Anyone involved in the installation and maintenance of a trailer may be held accountable for the accidents a runaway trailer causes. For example, mechanics in charge of maintaining a trailer may be held liable for a crash involving an inadequately maintained trailer. The trailer manufacturer may be responsible for a defective design or assembly. A shipping company may be held accountable for a crash involving improper loading. A driver who causes a trailer to break free by driving recklessly may also be held liable for a crash.
Compensation may be available to the victims of a runaway trailer if they choose to file a St Louis personal injury claim. Victims may receive financial compensation for medical expenses, time away from work and pain and suffering. When a runaway trailer kills someone, the victim's family may pursue compensation by filing a Missouri wrongful death claim. Such claims are usually filed by immediate family members and seek compensation for funeral expenses and lost future wages.
The Missouri truck accident attorneys at Page Law serve those who have been seriously injured or those who have lost a beloved family member as a result of someone else's negligence. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Missouri truck accident, call our law offices to discuss your case. We always free consultations and comprehensive evaluations of potential claims.
