According to NHTSA, in 2016, 4,440 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes, and data suggest thousands of people are injured in truck and tractor-trailer accidents every year. If you’ve been injured in an accident involving an 18 wheeler, big-rig, delivery truck, or other large vehicle, you’re probably wondering what your rights are and how a truck accident attorney can help you.
Since 1954, the truck accident attorneys at St. Louis law firm, Bruntrager & Billings, have helped individuals injured or those who have lost loved ones as a result of truck or car accidents find justice. We know the intricacies involved in truck accident cases and can provide our clients with the appropriate guidance and support.
An 18-wheeler can measure 60-feet long and weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, making it difficult to control and stop. For this reason, trucks and their drivers are subject to special federal and state regulations governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. These rules tackle issues such as truck maintenance, how loads are secured in the trailer and the number of hours a trucker can drive. A violation of one of these rules may lead to a deadly accident.
Some other common causes of trucking accidents are:
- Driver fatigue
- Prescription drug use
- Over-the-counter drug use
- Illegal drug use
- Driver inexperience
- Driving too fast for conditions
- Aggressive driving
- Inattention
- Talking on the cell phone
- Texting
- Improper loading
At Bruntrager & Billings, our truck accident attorneys are experienced in the area of trucking litigation and can assess your case, all potential liabilities, damages and parties to be held responsible. We carefully review all state and federal rules and laws to determine whether any rules were violated and whether a violation caused the truck accident. We also review the trucker’s log and compare it with the truck’s black box data and GPS tracking system, after which our experts will reconstruct the truck accident.