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Truck Accidents Require Fast Action...

Due to the massive size of semi-trucks, these types of accidents are often characterized by having enormous physical damage to cars; catastrophic injuries to drivers and their passengers; life-changing disabilities; and, in severe cases, death at the hands of someone else’s negligence.

When our law firm is called into a truck accident case, our attorneys waste no time—and neither should you. Contact Gray Ritter Graham for a FREE consultation as soon as possible following your accident.

Truck Accident Attorneys in St. Louis MO

The depth of experience you will find at Gray Ritter Graham in St. Louis can make an extraordinary difference in the outcome of your claim. If you or our loved one has been a victim of a trucking accident, you need personal injury attorneys who will work diligently to protect your rights and interests.

Tractor Trailer Accident Statistics

Truck crash statistics depict an unfortunate reality that may be hard for some to comprehend, but here at Gray Ritter Graham, we have met the individuals and families behind those statistics and want to help them.

Here are some important truck accident statistics up until the year 2019, the latest for which most data is available:

Truck Accident Resources

Rising Number of Deaths from Truck Tire Blowouts and Speeding

According to the The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “tires” were the most common vehicle-related factor for large trucks in fatal crashes. From 2018-2020, there were around 559 deaths due to a “large truck’s loss of control” from a blown out or flat tire. Truck industry observers and insiders agree that defective tires, coupled with speeding, is a leading cause of fatal truck accidents.

The NHTSA recently concluded its investigation into a number of tire blowouts. In the report, they determined that most semi-truck tires can withstand a sustained speed of 75 mph maximum; however, due to the strict time requirements many truck drivers try to meet, they may exceed this threshold. This causes undue stress on tires which in turn weakens them and makes them more prone to blow out, often on the highway surrounded by multiple innocent drivers and their smaller vehicles.

Speeding is a contributing factor for almost one out of every five fatal truck crashes. The NHTSA also found that road debris, overloaded rigs, and under-inflation contributed to tire damage, leading to catastrophic accidents.

No matter the cause of a truck accident, those responsible must be held accountable for their negligence. If you or a family member were catastrophically injured in an accident, consult with one of our truck accident attorneys in St. Louis.

Other Causes of Truck Accidents

The unfortunate reality of many semi-truck accidents is that most of them could’ve been avoided. It’s the mission of your attorney to find out the cause(s) of your accident and to fight diligently on your behalf.

At Gray Ritter Graham, we understand that accidents are rarely the result of a single factor. In addition to truck tire blowouts and speeding, there may be multiple other negligent reasons and parties that caused the truck to hit you or a family member. These include:

  • Distracted driving
  • Driver fatigue
  • Driver negligence
  • Aggressive driving due to trying to meeting strict deadlines
  • Violation of safety regulations and hours of service limitations
  • Speeding and other traffic law violations
  • Drug and/or alcohol abuse
  • Overloading the trailer
  • Failing to balance or secure the load
  • Poor truck maintenance
  • Manufacturing defects
  • Equipment failure of all kinds - nonworking brakes, an axle break, a stuck accelerator
  • For more information, go to our Causes of Truck Accidents page.

Don’t Delay! Truck Accidents Require Your Immediate Attention

Because trucking companies go on the defensive immediately following an accident, it is essential to establish the facts of an accident scene as quickly as possible to determine liability. In truck wreck cases, our personal injury lawyers take action as soon as our help is requested. The evidence must be preserved immediately, and the trucking company needs to be put on notice to not compromise the evidence in any way.

We ensure that the truck’s EDR (event data recorder) or CDR (crash data recorder) has been secured. Our team of investigators will even go to the scene to document all pertinent information relative to the truck accident.

Contact Our Team of St. Louis Truck Accident Lawyers

When a collision involves high speeds and huge vehicles with heavy loads, it can result in life-changing disability or even wrongful death.

Contact us for a consultation. There is no charge. There will be no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for the injured person or their family. GRG represents clients in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, and the surrounding region.

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