Truck Accident Attorneys in St. Louis, MO

Truck Accident Attorney in St. Louis

Following a truck accident in St. Louis that hurt you or a close family member, you’re dealing with a lot. Truck accidents typically cause considerable damage to smaller vehicles and catastrophic injuries to a car’s occupants.

Although you likely qualify to seek damages resulting from the wreck, you need an experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyer to guide you through the process, advocate for you, and fight to help you get the maximum compensation possible.

At Gray Ritter Graham, we understand the unique complexities of truck accident cases and the devastating impact they can have on victims and their families.

You’re trying to cope with rising medical bills and other financial losses on top of lost income from missing work. If a truck accident killed a loved one, there’s no measure to the grief and sense of injustice you feel.

You don’t have to face these challenging times alone. You have a dedicated legal advocate at Gray Ritter Graham who is ready to help you navigate the claims process with compassion and respect.

Our St. Louis truck accident attorneys have extensive experience with commercial truck crash claims. You can rely on us to handle all the legal complexities of your case and fight to recover the full compensation you need and the justice you deserve.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation and learn how we can help you.

What Causes Most Truck Accidents in St. Louis?

Truck accidents in St. Louis often stem from negligence or recklessness.

Some of the most common causes include:

Driver fatigue: Truck drivers can become sleepy after driving for hours on end. Some may push through tiredness to make deadlines or to rack up more miles. However, sleep-deprived truck drivers put everyone at risk.
Distracted driving: Using mobile devices, eating, or other distractions can take a driver's attention away from the road.
Speeding and aggressive driving: When truckers feel stressed about meeting deadlines, they may speed or engage in other unsafe driving behaviors.
Improper loading: Unbalanced or unsecured cargo can cause trucks to tip or spill their loads.
Poor maintenance: Neglecting to properly maintain brakes, tires, and other critical components can lead to mechanical failures.
Inadequate training: Inexperienced or poorly trained drivers may not correctly handle the challenges of operating a large commercial vehicle.
Impaired driving: Operating a truck under the influence of alcohol or drugs drastically increases the risk of accidents.

Your attorney needs to understand the cause of the accident to build a strong case for you.

How Often Do Truck Accidents Happen in St. Louis and Missouri?

Truck accidents are an unfortunate reality on Missouri's roads.

According to crash reports from the Missouri State Highway Patrol:

3,149 injury crashes involving some type of commercial motor vehicle occurred throughout the state in a recent year.
133 fatal CMV crashes also occurred.
In St. Louis City and County combined, there were 1,563 commercial vehicle crashes, accounting for nearly 20% of the state's total.
The I-70 corridor, which runs through St. Louis, is particularly prone to truck accidents due to heavy traffic and the high volume of commercial vehicles.

Why Are Truck Accident Claims So Complex?

Truck accident claims are often more complicated than typical car accident cases for several reasons:

Multiple parties: Unlike most car accidents, truck crashes can involve numerous parties. These include the driver, trucking company, vehicle manufacturer, and cargo loaders.
Federal regulations: Commercial trucks are subject to strict federal regulations. These may play a crucial role in determining liability.
Extensive evidence: Trucks often have data recorders, GPS tracking, and other technology that can provide valuable evidence. However, these devices usually require a special skill set and resources to analyze.
Severe injuries: The size and weight of commercial trucks often result in more severe injuries. Survivors often have higher medical costs and more complex legal claims.
Insurance complexities: Trucking companies typically have large insurance policies with teams of adjusters and lawyers working to minimize payouts.
Industry-specific knowledge: These cases involve terms and intricacies that require in-depth knowledge of the trucking industry.

Given these complexities, you must have an attorney who's well-versed in handling truck accident claims to ensure you receive fair compensation.

Who Can You Hold Liable for Your Truck Accident Injuries?

As mentioned, multiple parties may bear liability for your injuries and losses arising from a large truck crash.

Your attorney may investigate and establish liability on:

The truck driver if they were negligent, fatigued, or violated safety regulations.
The trucking company if they're guilty of poor hiring practices, inadequate training and supervision, or violating regulations.
Vehicle or parts manufacturers if a mechanical failure contributed to the accident
Cargo loaders if improperly loaded or unsecured cargo caused the crash.
Maintenance providers if poor maintenance led to the accident.
Government entities if poor road design or maintenance contributed to a truck accident.

We’ll work to identify all liable parties and fight for full compensation on your behalf.

What Should I Do Immediately After a Truck Accident in St. Louis?

You need to know what to do, and what not to do, after a truck accident to protect yourself and your legal rights:

Get medical attention right away, even if you feel fine. You could have internal injuries or a traumatic brain injury, and you want to ensure your health and well-being. You also need documentation of your injury and treatment to file an injury claim.
Call the police and report the crash. Get a copy of the police report when they make it available.
If you can, document the accident scene. Take photos of the vehicles, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
Collect contact and insurance details from all drivers or parties involved.
Get witness statements and their contact info.
Don’t admit fault or say anything others could misinterpret as admitting fault.
Report the accident to your insurance company. Don't provide a detailed statement until you've spoken with a lawyer.
Don’t speak with the truck driver’s insurance company (or any other insurance company) without first speaking with a lawyer. Don’t sign anything, and don’t accept any settlements.
Contact a truck accident lawyer. The sooner you have legal representation, the better they can protect your rights, investigate the crash, and begin building your case.

Remember, the trucking company's insurance adjusters may try to contact you quickly. Firmly but politely refer them to your attorney. Let your lawyer handle communications with them so you don’t inadvertently say anything that could harm your case.

How Can You Help Me Get Compensation?

At Gray Ritter Graham, we're committed to helping you secure the compensation you deserve.

Here's how we can assist:

We'll gather and analyze all available evidence, including police reports, witness statements, and electronic data from the truck. This may include working with accident reconstruction specialists to accurately determine the cause of the crash and establish liability.
We work with medical professionals and financial experts to assess the full extent of your injuries and losses. This ensures we build a solid case that considers your true needs.
We'll deal with insurance companies and other parties. Our tenacious attorneys will negotiate for a fair settlement and push back on lowball offers.
We prepare every case we handle as if we’re going to court. This not only shows the insurance companies we mean business, but we’re ready to take your case to trial if they won’t negotiate a fair settlement or act in bad faith.

We understand the toll a truck accident can take. We're here to provide compassionate support throughout the legal process. We shoulder the legal burden and maximize your compensation so you can focus on your recovery and rebuilding your life.

What Kinds of Compensation Can I Get?

The compensation you may recover after a truck accident can include:

Current and future medical expenses
Therapy and rehabilitation expenses
Lost income and work benefits
Loss of future earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from working
Emotional distress and mental anguish
Loss of enjoyment of life
Scarring and disfigurement
Property damage
Other related costs

If you lost a close family member in a St. Louis truck accident, we could help you recover wrongful death damages. These include funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and other related damages. If your case involves egregious negligence or intentional wrongdoing, we may pursue punitive damages.

Every case is unique, and the compensation you're eligible for will depend on the specific circumstances of your accident and injuries.

Why Should I Choose Gray Ritter Graham to Handle My St. Louis Truck Accident Claim?

Gray Ritter Graham stands out as the right choice to handle your St. Louis truck accident claim for several reasons:

Our attorneys have decades of combined experience handling complex truck accident cases.
We’ve secured many substantial settlements and verdicts for truck accident survivors and victims’ families in St. Louis and throughout Missouri.
We treat you with the individual care and respect you deserve. You're not just a case number to us.
We have the financial and professional resources to take on large trucking companies and their insurers. We also have in-depth knowledge of the trucking industry and the regulations that govern it.
We're passionate about holding negligent parties accountable and making our roads safer for everyone.
As a St. Louis personal injury law firm, we understand the local courts, laws, and how to navigate the Missouri legal system effectively.
We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

St. Louis Truck Accident FAQs

Q: How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in Missouri?

A: Missouri’s statute of limitations allows you five years from the date of the truck accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in court. Claims against government entities have far shorter deadlines.

If you don’t have an attorney file a claim before the deadline expires, you will lose your right to seek compensation. You also need to contact an attorney right away so they can preserve evidence and get started on your case.

Q: What if the trucking company is based in another state?

A: Many trucking companies operate across state lines. We have experience handling cases involving out-of-state companies and can navigate the complexities of interstate commerce laws.

Q: What if the truck driver was an independent contractor?

A: You probably have several options. We may still hold the trucking company accountable even if the driver is an independent contractor.

We could also pursue other avenues, such as the truck driver’s own insurance or personal assets. We'll investigate the situation thoroughly to determine all potentially liable parties and avenues for compensation.

Q: How long will my truck accident case take to resolve?

A: The duration of a truck accident case can vary widely. A lot depends on the complexity of the accident, the severity of injuries, and the willingness of the insurance company to offer a fair settlement.

We work to resolve cases as expeditiously as possible while still ensuring we get our clients full compensation for their losses.

Q: What if I was hit by a truck while riding a bicycle or as a pedestrian?

A: Pedestrians and cyclists hit by trucks often suffer severe injuries. These cases can be particularly complex, but you still have the right to seek compensation. We have experience representing vulnerable road users in accidents involving commercial vehicles.

Get Help from an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney Now

No matter the extent of your damages following a St. Louis truck accident someone else caused, you need to work with an attorney to hold the at-fault parties accountable and get the full and fair compensation you need.

Don’t settle for less than you deserve, and don’t let the insurance companies or trucking companies take advantage of you. You have a dedicated personal injury attorney in St. Louis at Gray Ritter Graham ready to take on your case and fight for maximum compensation.

Contact us now at (314) 241-5620 to request a free, no-obligation consultation. We'll listen to your story, answer your questions, and help you understand your legal options. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you, so you have nothing to lose by giving us a call.