Being involved in a collision with a large commercial truck in St. Louis can cause catastrophic, potentially life-changing injuries. The resulting medical expenses can quickly become a burden. If you’re unable to work during your recovery or your injuries prevent you from earning a living in the future, you’re likely feeling worried and uncertain about your path forward.
You may have the right to seek compensation from an at-fault truck driver and their employer. The trucking company liability attorneys at Sumner Law Group, LLC, are ready to help you. With over 50 years of combined experience, our team has the knowledge, resources, and proven track record to take on large trucking companies and insurers to hold them accountable. We’ve achieved numerous multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements, and our opponents know we never settle for less than what our clients deserve.
Contact us today to discuss your case in a free consultation.
Common Types of Trucking Company Negligence
A trucking company’s negligence can lead to dangerous truck crashes. Some of the most common ways in which a trucking company can cause or contribute to a commercial vehicle accident in St. Louis include:
- Negligent hiring, including failure to conduct background checks for new commercial truck drivers and hiring dangerous drivers
- Failure to provide necessary training and supervision of truck drivers
- Pushing truck drivers to engage in illegal behaviors, such as speeding, disregarding traffic laws, or violating hours-of-service limits
- Inadequate or deferred routine maintenance and truck repairs
- Disregarding truck drivers’ post-trip inspection reports
- Unsafe cargo loads, including excessive or unbalanced cargo weight or failing to secure items from shifting during travel
Additionally, a truck driver’s own negligence can cause or contribute to devastating crashes. Drivers who are tired, impaired, distracted, or engaged in reckless driving behaviors are more likely to be involved in collisions, and their actions or carelessness put innocent people at risk of severe harm. If the trucker was the trucking company’s employee – not an independent contractor – the trucking company would be vicariously liable for truck driver negligence.
Legal Rights of Truck Accident Victims in St. Louis
When a trucking company’s negligence leads to an accident, and you suffer injuries as a result, you have the right to pursue compensation for your losses through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Our truck accident attorneys are ready to fight for compensation to cover your:
- Medical bills, including anticipated future costs of treatment and care for your injuries
- Lost wages, including loss of future earning potential, if you’re no longer able to work in the same capacity or become permanently disabled
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Diminished quality and enjoyment of life
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
Under Missouri’s statute of limitations on accident claims, you typically have five years to file a lawsuit against a negligent trucking company. Although five years may sound like plenty of time to file your truck accident case, you can best protect your legal rights by speaking with a trucking company liability lawyer from Sumner Law Group, LLC, as soon as possible after a crash to secure all available evidence to build your case and ensure we file it on time.
The Legal Process for Trucking Company Negligence Claims
The legal process to pursue trucking company negligence claims begins with talking to an attorney to assess your legal options for pursuing financial recovery. Your attorney will investigate the circumstances of the truck accident, including filing evidence preservation requests and discovery demands to recover trucking company documents. They will review the evidence to determine what part the trucking company’s negligence played in causing the accident.
The next step in the legal process is filing your compensation claims against the trucking company and its insurer to begin negotiating a settlement. Your attorney will send demand letters and present evidence and documentation to support your claim. However, if the trucking and insurance companies won’t agree to a fair settlement of your case, your attorney can pursue a truck accident lawsuit in court.
Your truck accident lawyer will manage the litigation process, including handling discovery requests, filing and responding to pre-trial motions, and preparing a compelling case to present at trial to advocate for a verdict in your favor.
Evidence Needed to Prove Trucking Company Negligence
After a truck crash, your lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation to find the records and evidence needed to prove that trucking company negligence caused the collision that harmed you. Common examples of evidence used in truck accident claims include:
- Truck driver hours-of-service records
- Trucking company dispatch logs
- Truck cargo manifests
- Truck event data recorder (black box) logs
- Truck repair and maintenance records
- Pre- and post-trip inspection records
- Truck driver employment and driving records
- Truck driver drug and alcohol test results
- Citation and violation records
- Police accident reports
- Accident scene photos and videos
- Surveillance footage
- Eyewitness statements
- Accident reconstruction expert reports and testimony
The Role of Federal and State Regulations in Trucking Company Negligence Cases
State and federal trucking regulations require motor carriers to ensure the safe operation of their fleets. For example, state and federal hours-of-service regulations require trucking companies to ensure their truck drivers follow the rules for how much time they can spend on duty and behind the wheel.
State and federal regulations also require companies to conduct regular inspections of their fleets and keep records of maintenance and repairs for vehicles under their control. Regulations also require companies to implement drug testing protocols for new and existing truck drivers.
Evidence of a trucking company’s violation of state or federal safety regulations can help you show that the company’s negligence caused or contributed to the accident that injured you.
How Our Law Firm Works to Hold Negligent Trucking Companies Accountable
At Sumner Law Group, LLC, our trucking company liability lawyers work tirelessly to hold motor carriers accountable for injuring innocent people in truck accidents. When you have a truck accident claim, let our firm fight for your rights and interests by:
- Thoroughly investigating the crash and recovering all available evidence to support your claim
- Identifying all liable parties and determining options for recovering compensation
- Compiling your medical records and other documentation to calculate fair compensation
- Filing insurance claims and managing communications with third parties
- Pursuing maximum compensation through a settlement or lawsuit
- Representing you in all court proceedings if necessary
After suffering injuries due to a negligent trucking company, you need skilled legal representation that will fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact Sumner Law Group, LLC, today for a free initial consultation. We’ll learn your story, review your rights and options, and work with you to pursue the best path forward.
