Missouri Truck Accident Causes
Causes of Missouri Truck Accidents
Missouri truck accidents often cause life-changing injuries. There are many reasons why these devastating truck accidents occur. If a truck accident occurs due to driver negligence, the injured victims can seek compensation from the at-fault driver and his or her employer for injuries, damages and losses. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a truck accident, it would be in your best interest to contact an experienced Missouri truck accident lawyer to examine your legal rights and options.
Fatigued Truck Drivers
Commercial truck drivers work long hours. Many new studies show that fatigued driving can be as dangerous as driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has reported that 20 to 40 percent of all truck accidents involve a fatigued driver. To prevent this type of dangerous driving, the government enforces strict limitations on the amount of consecutive hours a driver can work without adequate rest. Following a truck accident, a St. Louis personal injury attorney may review the driving log of the truck driver to determine whether the driver violated federal hours-of-service regulations.
Driving Under the Influence
Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol is a serious problem in Missouri. When a truck driver is impaired due to alcohol or drug use, the results can be catastrophic. Professional drivers are held to higher standards when it comes to alcohol consumption. For example, a truck driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04 percent would be considered intoxicated under the law, while that number is 0.08 percent for drivers of regular passenger vehicles. Truck drivers who operate under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and their employers may be held liable for accidents caused due to impairment.
Failure to Properly Maintain the Truck
It is crucial that all commercial trucks and trailers are properly maintained. Failure to adequately maintain a truck's brakes and tires can result in devastating Missouri truck accidents. Trucks should be given regular safety inspections to make sure that everything is in proper working order. An inspection of maintenance records may be critical in cases where a mechanical malfunction causes the accident. Overloading a truck could also lead to brake failure.
Poorly Loaded Trailers
Weight distribution in a trailer is important to the stability of the truck. Trailers that are poorly loaded may cause the driver to lose control of the truck. Failure to properly load a trailer may result in a serious jackknife accident or rollover crash.
Distracted Driving
Earlier this year, federal transportation safety officials issued a rule prohibiting all commercial truck drivers from texting while driving. Truck drivers who text, use a hand-held cell phone, work on laptops or eat while driving can be held liable in crashes that are caused by such distractions.
Additional causes of truck accidents include reckless driving, limited visibility and a failure to meet safety regulations. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Missouri truck accident, you may be able to seek compensation for all your damages and losses. Such compensation could include medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and cost of continuing treatment and care. Please call the experienced Missouri truck accident lawyers at Page Law to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.
