St. Louis Truck Accident Attorneys – Free Consultation

Tractor-trailer trucks are some of the most dangerous vehicles on the road. These vehicles weigh thousands of pounds and are very slow to stop when there is a change in traffic conditions.

Many truck drivers are overworked and overtired, and as a result, are not ready to react when there is a change in the traffic conditions. Additionally, tractor-trailers often carry large loads, which can cause the vehicle to sway or jackknife when making sudden movements.

The St. Louis truck accident lawyers at NGK Law have many years of experience in handling cases against trucking companies, recovering millions for individuals injured in truck accidents. Contact us today at (314) 350-1900 for your free case evaluation.

How St. Louis truck accident lawyers can help after your truck accident

If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, you need someone in your corner to fight for your best interests.

Niemeyer, Grebel & Kruse will serve as your trusted advocates from day one. You will have a team on your side with two of the 2022 list of Best Lawyers as well as a Top 50 and Top 100 lawyer in the area of plaintiff’s personal injury by Super Lawyers Magazine. Our team wins.

When we begin working with you, we will:

• Speak with you to fully understand the case and your situation
• Thoroughly comb through all of the physical evidence in the case. Police reports from the crash scene, medical records, dash cams and highway cams can provide critical evidence to show who was at fault in the case.
• Handle all negotiations with insurance companies and corporate lawyers
• Maintain an open and honest line of communication with you throughout the process

In the days and weeks following a truck accident, you deserve to focus on resting and recovering from your injuries. Medical expenses, time away from work and dealing with frustrating trucking company lawyers can combine to make a stressful situation overwhelming.

Trucking companies have a number of legal resources at their disposal that can make it difficult for victims to obtain the compensation they deserve. These resources include:

• Corporate lawyers who are experienced in defending trucking companies against personal injury claims.
• Offices located in states other than where the accident occurred, which makes it difficult to serve them with legal papers.
• Financial resources to pay for aggressive litigation tactics.

With NGK Law, we will handle the “heavy lifting” for you. We will aggressively and thoroughly fight for your claim, allowing you to focus on getting back to life. Call us today at (314) 350-1900 for a free review of your case.

How common are truck accidents in St. Louis, MO?

There are more than 2 million commercial semi-trucks registered in the United States, which haul around 10.23 billion tons of freight every year. This accounts for roughly three-quarters of all freight hauled every year in the U.S.

Deadlines are tight and expectations are high. Trucking companies often press their drivers to follow unreasonable schedules or drive poorly maintained trucks, pushing them beyond the limits of what they can safely handle.

Combine this with poor driving conditions and American roadways becoming more congested every year, and this results in more than 500,000 semi-truck accidents per year, around 15,000 of which take place in Missouri.

These crashes can be extremely serious and they can result in lifelong consequences for the drivers involved. If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, an experienced truck accident attorney can help you recover the compensation you need.

Common causes of truck accidents

Tractor-trailer truck accidents are all too common, and they can stem from a number of different causes. Below, we’ll outline some of the more common causes of truck accidents.

• Driver fatigue – Truck drivers are often required to cover long distances under tight deadlines, which can lead to long hours of continuous driving. Consequently, driver fatigue is a significant contributing factor in many truck accidents. Federal regulations, such as the Hours of Service rules, are in place to prevent this issue, but violations still occur.
• Distracted driving – Distractions such as texting, eating, and using GPS devices can take a driver’s attention away from the road. When a truck driver is distracted, the risk of an accident increases exponentially due to the size and weight of their vehicle.
• Inadequate training and inexperience – Truck driving requires specific skills and knowledge that are acquired through training and experience. If a truck driver has not received proper training or lacks sufficient experience, they may be unable to safely navigate various road conditions or respond to emergencies, leading to accidents.
• Improper loading – Overloading or unevenly distributing cargo can cause trucks to become unstable, increasing the likelihood of accidents. Federal and state regulations dictate proper cargo loading practices, but non-compliance can lead to disastrous consequences.
• Equipment failure – Defective or poorly maintained equipment, such as brakes, tires, or steering mechanisms, can cause a truck to lose control and result in an accident. Trucking companies and drivers are responsible for ensuring that their vehicles meet safety standards and are properly maintained.
• Intoxicated driving – Operating a truck under the influence of alcohol or drugs impairs a driver’s ability to make sound judgments and react to changing road conditions. Strict laws are in place to combat intoxicated driving, but accidents still occur due to drivers’ negligence.
• Speeding and reckless driving – Exceeding the speed limit or engaging in aggressive driving behavior increases the risk of crashes. Large trucks require longer stopping distances and have a higher risk of rollovers, making it crucial for drivers to adhere to safe driving practices.

Your St. Louis truck accident lawyer will know how to collect the evidence demonstrating the cause of your truck accident, and if applicable, proving that the other driver was at fault.

Truck driver fatigue and negligent trucking companies

Commercial vehicles take up a lot of space on the road. They are often unable to make quick turns or stops without warning drivers ahead of time, which means that even a slight lane change for a truck driver could have devastating results.

When truck drivers experience tiredness or fatigue during a long haul, they become less able to manage changing traffic conditions with accuracy and swiftness. For example, when there is new construction in an area where trucks typically drive through, they may not be as aware as usual with regards to lanes closing off so they can react to changing traffic conditions. This opens the door for accidents.

Truck drivers are limited to how many hours they can drive per day in order to prevent driver fatigue. The number of hours that a truck driver can drive per day, as well as the number of breaks that a driver must take, is regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

The FMCSA has set regulations that limit truck drivers to:

• 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty
• 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days
• 34 hours off duty in 7 consecutive days

If a driver violates federal regulations, they can be subject to fines and civil penalties. However, even with these regulations in place, a recent survey showed that as many as 64% of truckers recently drove fatigued.

Why? Trucking companies often require drivers meet unrealistic schedules and do not provide their drivers with adequate break time. As a result, drivers are often overworked and tired when they are driving, which puts drivers at risk.

Common injuries from truck crashes

Tractor-trailers can weigh as much as 30x as a standard passenger vehicle and have a much higher ground clearance. When it comes to a collision with a commercial truck, passenger vehicles don’t stand much of a chance.

Truck accident injuries are often very serious and can sometimes be catastrophic, meaning that they result in permanent consequences.

Catastrophic injuries can turn a person’s life upside down, because the truck accident victim cannot fully recover from the injury and instead has to physically and emotionally adapt to the “new normal.” Some of these injuries can include:

1. Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
2. Spinal Cord Injuries
3. Fractures and Broken Bones
4. Internal Injuries
5. Lacerations and Contusions
6. Whiplash and Soft Tissue Injuries
7. Burn Injuries
8. Psychological Injuries

Dealing with catastrophic injuries can cause financial difficulties. The truck accident victim might have to miss work in order to recover from their injuries, and they might also have to pay for medical expenses and mobility devices. Unlike a typical car accident, where the victim might have to work through insurance companies, in a truck crash, they now must face off against a large trucking corporation to recover damages, pay medical bills and replace their vehicle.

This adds up. After a truck accident, one of the biggest concerns for victims is the pain and suffering they might experience. This can be physical pain, emotional pain or both. Some of the challenges victims face include:

• Physical Pain: This can be anything from general soreness to chronic pain. It can make it difficult to sleep, work or participate in everyday activities.
• Emotional Pain: This can include feeling overwhelmed, anxious or depressed. It can be hard to cope with the changes that have been forced on your life.

This is no time to go it alone. You need a trusted advocate on your side.

How much can I recover from my Missouri truck accident claim?

Missouri’s statute of limitations for car accident cases is five years. This means that you have five years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against the driver who caused the accident.

This might seem like a lot of time, but it’s important to start your case sooner rather than later. This will make it easier to gather evidence, collect reliable witness interviews and start the legal wheels in motion.

Missouri law allows you to recover money for economic and non-economic damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and property damage.

Compensation amounts are not capped for truck accidents, which means that damages can vary greatly depending on the facts of the case. This is typically from $1,000 to awards well in excess of $1 million.

How to win your truck accident case

Successfully pursuing a truck accident case requires a thorough understanding of the legal process and the expertise to navigate complex regulations and liability issues.

Every case is different, and its important to lean on the expertise of St. Louis truck accident attorneys who not only have a thorough understanding of personal injury law in Missouri but also have a track record of successful results in truck accident claims.

Below, we outline key steps in building a strong case to maximize your chances of securing the compensation you deserve.

1. Collect evidence – Gathering evidence is crucial in building a compelling truck accident claim. This may include photographs of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and injuries, as well as police reports, witness statements, and any available video footage. Our attorneys can also help you obtain crucial documents, such as truck driver logs and maintenance records.
2. Establish liability – Determining fault in a truck accident can be complex due to the involvement of multiple parties, such as the truck driver, trucking company, cargo loaders, or vehicle manufacturers. We will thoroughly investigate your case to identify all responsible parties and establish their liability.
3. Seek medical attention – Prompt medical attention is essential not only for your health, but also for the strength of your claim. Medical records serve as vital evidence of your injuries and their connection to the truck accident. It’s important to follow your healthcare provider’s treatment plan and attend all follow-up appointments.
4. Seek maximum compensation – Properly assessing the damages sustained in a truck accident is critical to ensuring that you receive fair compensation. Our attorneys understand how much compensation you can seek for your economic and non-economic damages and they will work to recover that for you.
5. Negotiate with insurance, file a lawsuit if necessary – Insurance companies often attempt to minimize payouts by disputing the severity of injuries or arguing that the victim shares responsibility for the accident. If a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiations, it is best to take your case to court.

Navigating the aftermath of a truck accident can be overwhelming, but truck accident victims don’t have to face it alone. A skilled St. Louis truck accident lawyer can be your tireless advocate against the insurance company, trucking company and other parties in the case.

The experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyers at Niemeyer, Grebel & Kruse are committed to helping you obtain the compensation you need to recover and rebuild your life.

Niemeyer, Grebel and Kruse are tireless advocates for truck accident victims

An experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyer will know what to look for when calculating damages, so they will be sure to include all possible losses in your request for damages.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a tractor-trailer accident, it’s important to speak with an experienced St. Louis truck accident attorney to learn more about your options.

When interviewing for your truck accident attorney, pay close attention to how they communicate. Do they inspire confidence, or do they make you worry about the outcome of the case? Make sure to ask about the firm’s areas of specialization and case history. Have they handled many cases like yours, and most importantly, did they win them?

NGK Law has a proven track record in St. Louis truck accident cases. We were successful in obtaining $6,000,000 for a client that suffered partial paralysis when a tractor-trailer struck her vehicle in a head-on collision.

We also recovered over $1,000,000 in a truck accident when a tractor-trailer veered onto the side of a highway and struck our client’s lawfully parked vehicle.
Fortunately, many of the occupants of the vehicle were not badly injured. However, given the significant impact, it could have been much worse for everyone involved.

The experienced truck accident lawyers at NGK Law are experienced in the investigation of tractor-trailer accidents and handling these cases to a successful resolution. If you or a loved one has been injured in a tractor-trailer accident, please contact the attorneys at NGK Law today at (314) 350-1900.