Have you ever had the life scared out of you by a large commercial truck or semi-tractor trailer while you were trying to merge onto the highway? Have you been so sure a big rig was going to rear end you that you braced for impact? Or worse, have you or a loved one been the victim of a commercial truck accident? Missouri truck accident lawyers know all too well the how damaging tractor-trailer and commercial truck accidents can be. What's more, many of these accidents are 100% preventable: they're caused by aggressive truck driving practices.
Major Factors Behind Unsafe Truck Driving Practices in Missouri and Elsewhere
*Unsafe drivers are still being hired.
*Some trucking companies fail to utilize the pre-employment screening program provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
*Some employees do not receive adequate training.
*Logs and other programs for safe driving quality assurance are sometimes not properly monitored.
*Some truck drivers avoid medical examinations, or or provide false medical documents.
*Some drivers who should be suspended are able to obtain special permits or probationary licenses for drivers.
Unfortunately, many truck drivers are between a rock and a hard place at present. As the economy toughens even more and trucking companies keep trying to make a profit, truckers feel more pressure to drive longer and faster, and to bend or even break federal regulatory rules and state laws. If they don't, they may find themselves jobless. This pressure creates the potential for devastating accidents impacting Missouri motorists.
The problem does not just lie on the shoulders of the trucking industry, either. An ABC News report discusses many state agencies and jurisdictions that are also at fault. From failing to suspend driver's licenses to not sharing infractions with other states in a timely fashion, state departments of motor vehicles contribute to the problem also.
What Can Missouri Truck Accident Lawyers Do to Hold the Trucking Industry Accountable?
Aggressive and unlawful truck drivers make it even harder for the responsible truck drivers who follow the laws and drive safely. After a truck accident has occurred and negligence or wrongdoing has been discovered, a personal injury case or wrongful death suit can be an effective way to get a trucking company or unsafe driver to change their ways.
By presenting the evidence, the lawyers of the Missouri truck accident firm, can work on holding the trucking industry and unsafe truck drivers, as well as any governmental jurisdiction, accountable. Sometimes a court order or compensation award is the only way to force change.
If you or a loved one have suffered from a truck accident and you feel you have a case contact the Missouri truck accident lawyers. We can schedule a meeting for a no-obligation, free consultation meeting and see if you do have a case.
