Missouri Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

In 2010, there were 115,398 U.S. auto accidents that involved semi-trucks, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA): 3,797 Americans were killed and 64,338 were injured in these crashes. Meanwhile, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that only 14% of 2010 semi-truck crash fatalities were actually occupants of the semi-trucks. In fact, 72% of those killed were passenger vehicle occupants, and 13% were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.

More often than not, collisions between semis and passenger vehicles result in serious injuries and deaths. It's a matter of sheer physics: when fully loaded, an average big rig can weigh more than 80,000 pounds, while a typical passenger vehicle normally weighs about 3,000 pounds. Given this vast discrepancy in size, it's easy to see why passenger vehicle occupants are so vulnerable when they collide with large trucks. Furthermore, because of their massive size and weight, semis are far less maneuverable than passenger cars and trucks. They require extra time and space to change lanes, to execute turns, to accelerate, and - importantly - to stop.

On Tuesday, a Chicago woman and a Kansas truck driver were both killed in a particularly brutal rear-end crash near Lincoln, Illinois. According to state police, a motorist contacted local law enforcement shortly after 11:00 p.m. on May 8 and reported a stopped vehicle in the southbound lanes of Interstate 55. The caller said the car was stationary in the right lane of traffic and had no lights on.

When deputies responded to the call, they found wreckage: a southbound semi-truck had slammed into the back of the stopped car. The force of the impact caused the semi to literally run over the smaller vehicle and drag it across the highway, through a guardrail and over the center median.

Continue reading "Semi-Truck Runs Over and Drags Stopped Car on I-55 in Illinois: Both Drivers Killed" »

Our Missouri truck accident lawyers have written at length about the catastrophic injuries that can occur when passenger vehicles collide with big rigs. Semi-trucks are especially dangerous when accidents occur: because of their size and weight, passenger vehicles are often simply no match for them. The results are, more often than not, serious injuries and fatalities.

This week, an Ohio town is grieving the loss of 2 high school girls in just such an accident. On Thursday afternoon, 17 year-old Miranda Lane was traveling east on Ohio Highway 73 when she approached the intersection at U.S. 127. According to police, Lane failed to yield the right of way at that intersection and subsequently collided with an oncoming tractor-trailer. Lane and her passenger - 16 year-old Mathilde Jessen, an exchange student from Denmark - were both wearing seatbelts, but they sustained critical internal injuries in the crash. Both girls were pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the truck was uninjured. In addition, the accident caused a third vehicle - a pickup truck -to be struck: the impact caused it to flip over. That driver, 61 year-old Edward Schatzle, was taken to a local hospital by medical helicopter.

According to WRKC in Cincinnati, several people who witnessed the accident said the collision happened so fast that there was no way the truck driver could have avoided hitting Lane's car. Meanwhile, the Dayton Daily News interviewed a driver who lives near the intersection and knows it's a dangerous spot. Jason Robinson said he didn't see the accident, but that he went to the scene upon hearing the sirens. "It's a bad accident all around," Robinson said. "There is a long history of accidents at this intersection. It's needless. Pointless."

Continue reading "Semi-Truck Crash Leaves 1 Injured, 2 Teen Girls Dead" »

In this post, our Missouri truck accident lawyers share information from a US Department of Transportation study. The study tested how stability control systems on tractor trailer trucks work in reducing rollovers for semi-tractor trailers. The study verifies that stability control systems do function, but they can only do so much. Many tractor trailer accidents can still be traced back to driver error.

A major tractor-trailer accident that happened in Missouri last summer is relevant to this discussion. In August 2011, a UPS tractor trailer traveling westbound on I-44 caused the highway to be closed between Stanton and St. Clair for several hours. The driver was pulling tandem trailers and overturned shortly before 8 a.m. One hour later the driver was still trapped, as local firefighters worked to free him from the wreckage. The tractor-trailer accident closed both westbound lanes and one eastbound lane of I-44. No other vehicles were involved and the driver, with serious injuries, was taken to St. John's Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur by helicopter.

According the Missouri State Highway Patrol initial tractor-trailer crash report, the driver was traveling westbound when he left the road on the left side and struck the cable-median barrier; then he reentered the road only to leave it on the left side again where the truck and first trailer then overturned. Reports suggest the driver over-corrected after the leaving the road the first time, which caused the tractor-trailer to leave the road a second time and tip over.

The news is full of tractor trailer accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has conducted an extensive study on tractor semi-trailer roll stability to evaluate stability control systems. NHTSA wanted to assess the latest technology developed in the trucking industry. Vehicle stability control systems attempt to keep a trailer more stable when one or more of the wheels begin to leave the road as occurs during turns, lane changes, swerving, or jack-knife type incidents.

Continue reading "Do Stability Control Systems Help Prevent Missouri Trucking Accidents?" »

Our Missouri truck accident attorneys urge you to be ever-cautious of big rigs, whether you're in a passenger vehicle, on a motorcycle, or on foot. Even though you'd like to believe that you won't get in an accident with a semi (because you'd obviously see it coming), the fact remains that large trucks are responsible for about 1 in 10 fatal accidents nationwide.

This week in Chicago, a high school student was severely injured by a semi-truck. The 18 year-old pedestrian was wearing headphones and failed to notice the semi making a left turn. He crossed directly into the truck's path, and was pinned under the vehicle. Luckily, he survived, though he remains hospitalized. As this accident demonstrates, large trucks are often unable to react quickly enough when a pedestrian (or another vehicle) suddenly appears in front of them. Staying safe in traffic - as a driver or a pedestrian - requires that you keep track of what's happening around you.

Collisions between semi-trucks and pedestrians are not as uncommon as you might think. A pedestrian was recently killed by a postal truck in the Detroit metro area, while another pedestrian was critically injured on a highway near Lake Odessa, Michigan, after being struck by a semi. And last year, a pedestrian/tractor-trailer collision killed a Chesterfield, Missouri man when he walked into the path of a semi-truck on I-70.

In many cases, highway pedestrians are motorists who break down and wind up stranded. It is not uncommon for drivers with disabled vehicles to become victims of fatal traffic accidents, even though they're not even driving.

In the event of a highway break down, there are a number of safety precautions you can take to ensure that you and your passengers stay safe while you wait for help.

Being Safe When You're Stranded: A Few Safety Tips:

* Always keep a cell phone with you for emergency situations.

* If your car breaks down, make sure you pull off the roadway to the right (as far as possible).

* Activate your emergency flashers to warn other vehicles and law enforcement of the location of your disabled vehicle.

* Call law enforcement, a friend, a family member or roadside assistance for help.

* Be patient when you're waiting for assistance to arrive. Remember that it may take them a while to navigate through any traffic delay that your disabled vehicle may have caused.

* Keep emergency equipment in your vehicle, including a flashlight, emergency flares and basic tools that may help to fix minor problems with your car.

Continue reading "Commercial Trucks Can Pose Dangers to Missouri Drivers and Pedestrians Alike" »

As Missouri truck accident attorneys, we write frequently on this blog about the devastating aftermath of big-rig accidents. Collisions involving commercial trucks are often deadly: because of their massive size and weight, they're capable of inflicting serious damage on passenger vehicles and their occupants.

This week, we were horrified to read about a trucking accident so terrible that it's receiving worldwide attention. It happened south of Sydney, Australia on the Hume Highway: a commercial truck crossed the median to the wrong side of the highway and literally ran over the top of a Ford sedan. Responders had to use a crane to lift the cab of the truck off the completely flattened car.

The three occupants of the sedan were killed. Law enforcement officials were forced to call Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) experts to assist forensic officers: the car was so destroyed that it was initially impossible to determine the age or gender of any of the occupants.

Witnesses and nearby motorists were aghast. "It's the most horrific thing I've ever seen," one passerby said immediately following the collision. "Stay away from the area, especially if you have children in the car. They don't need to see that."

The occupants of the sedan have since been identified as Donald and Patricia Logan, both age 81, and their son, Calvyn Logan, age 59, who was driving the car. The family was returning home after traveling to visit the couple's newborn great-granddaughter, who had been delivered prematurely on the day after Christmas. Their other son, Garry Logan, was waiting for them to arrive when he saw a story about the accident on a website and recognized the vehicle. Donald and Patricia Logan were married for 60 years.

Continue reading "Fatal Big Rig Wreck in Sydney Illustrates the Potential for Devastating Damage in Missouri Truck Accidents" »

The Oak Grove, Missouri truck accident attorneys have been investigating the fate of the Safe Roads Act, a piece of legislation that addresses a significant problem on Missouri roadways. The bill is designed to address a giant loophole that can allow drug users to seek - and obtain - employment as a truck driver. What's worse, a recent study has concluded that of the roughly 3.5 million truck drivers on U.S. highways, about 68,000 of them have at one time of another tested positive for drug use. It's not a mystery that big-rig accidents can cause massive damage and serious injuries, so a drugged trucker is a truly dangerous weapon.

Road Safe America and the American Trucking Association have both supported the bill, demanding that the United States establish some sort of central clearinghouse to keep an eye on commercial drivers who have returned positive drug and alcohol tests. The loophole is this: if a driver is involved in a trucking accident and tests positive for drug use, that driver will be terminated, but he or she can simply look for a job with another carrier in a neighboring state. Drivers don't have to volunteer this dangerous information during the interview process, and there has never been a way for trucking companies to find out for themselves.

We agree that a central clearinghouse would make a major difference: importantly, it would increase the safety of motorists on our roadways, by helping to keep drivers with a history of alcohol and drug habits from getting behind the wheel of tractor-trailers.

The Safe Roads Act (S.1113) was first introduced back in May 2009 by Senators Pryor, Nelson, Snowe and Wicker. Then, it was reintroduced to Congress last year. Since then, it has been read twice and subsequently referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. It remains on the agenda for 2012 (for details, click here). And it's worth noting that Arkansas has a similar bill already in effect: since that bill became active in 2007, Arkansas alone has located more than 300 violators.)

To put it bluntly, the idea of a drugged driver operating an 80,000 pound truck is frightening. This negligent behavior can seriously threaten the lives of drivers and passengers that share the same roads. These truck drivers and their employers are required to follow specific rules and regulations while operating in the United States. If they fail to do so, and an accident results, injured parties will likely be entitled to seek compensation for their damages and expenses.

Continue reading "Drugged Drivers Cause High Risk of Missouri Trucking Accidents: How the Safe Roads Act Could Help : " »

It almost sounds like the opening of a bad joke: "So, a tractor trailer, a car and a house . . ." But this is not the premise of a bad joke, and there's certainly no funny punchline. In fact, this phrase is the description of a recent tractor trailer caused accident. The aftermath of such an accident can be very devastating and very costly. From Maine to California, tractor trailer accidents are in the news every day, and unfortunately, they also happen quite regularly around Kansas City and throughout Missouri.

This particular accident occurred in Georgetown, Delaware, but it could've easily happened along any major road or highway that passes through Kansas City (or any other Missouri town). In late October of this year, a Georgetown man was driving down the road when a tractor trailer swerved into his lane. He lost control of his car, then veered off the highway and into a ditch. This evasive maneuver caused his car to roll several times and eventually come to a stop when it collided with a house. The driver of the car and a woman inside the house were injured and taken to area hospitals. The Delaware state police continue to look for information about the tractor trailer.

What if this happened to you?
So often, a tractor trailer, or even a car, will pull out in front of another vehicle, swerve into another's lane, or change speeds abruptly to exit or turn. These actions easily can cause a tractor trailer or car accident. And whether the culprit driver is unaware of the accident they caused, or they don't want to get in trouble, some of them just keep driving.

Pay close attention to the road and the vehicles around you at all times. As you are driving, be prepared and plan an escape route just in case one becomes necessary. Report aggressive drivers. Many commercial vehicles have a phone number posted on the vehicle, and you can always call the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Continue reading "Tractor Trailer, Car, and House Accident? How to Proceed from the Aftermath of Tractor Trailer Accidents in Kansas City Missouri." »

Springfield Missouri truck accident lawyers want all drivers to be safe. Quite often a traffic accident can happen that is totally out of your control. Accidents involving tractor trailers can be very devastating. Many truck accidents occur with minor injuries, as the one this last week near the Ozarks, but often an innocent bystander is in the wrong place at the wrong time. This time, happily, only minor injuries resulted.

Missouri Tractor Trailer Accident
Camden County Missouri witnessed another tractor trailer accident on Tuesday night August 16. A truck driver jackknifed the tractor trailer he was driving and landed off of the roadway, which injured the driver, spilled diesel fuel onto the embankment and blocked traffic on Highway 54. At least four agencies responded to the accident, which blocked the westbound lanes of Highway 54 in Linn Creek and spread debris across the median and across both eastbound lanes.

Luckily this tractor trailer accident did not involve any other vehicles. The driver survived with only minor injuries to his shoulder. Investigators say it appears the tractor trailer spun around about 180 degrees. If another vehicle had been close by this tractor trailer accident could have had fatal consequences. This is also the case with the debris spread across the highway. Other motorists could have been struck by or collided with the debris or another traffic crash could have ensued in attempts to avoid the debris or the spinning tractor trailer. Those scenarios have happened in other Missouri tractor trailer accidents.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sponsor a website called Share the Road Safely. It is full of information for all types of drivers as well as for pedestrians. We urge you to visit this site and learn as much as you can. We share a few of the safety tips below.

Continue reading "Tractor Trailer Facts Shared After Jackknifed Tractor Trailer Accident on Highway 54 in Camden County Missouri a Near Miss" »

A recent press release reminds us about the dangers of cell phone use. The Columbia Missouri truck accident lawyers say that cell phone use is one of the most common forms of distracted driving and contributes to truck accidents as well. On September 13, 2011 the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a press release after completing their investigation into a 2010 commercial truck accident in Kentucky. This press release renews the agency's call for cell phone bans for commercial truck drivers.

Distracted Driving and Tractor Trailers
The tractor trailer accident referred to happened last year in March near Munfordville, Kentucky. The tractor trailer truck veered from the left lane of southbound Interstate 65, crossed a 60 foot wide median, struck and overrode a cable barrier system, and then entered into the northbound lanes. As he entered the northbound lanes, the tractor trailer struck a 15-passenger van carrying 12 people. The accident killed eleven people, the truck driver and ten of the people in the van. The van was carrying eight adults, two small children and an infant.

According to investigators the driver of the 18-wheel semi-tractor trailer used his cell phone for calls and text messages a total of 69 times in the 24 hour period leading up to the accident.

Distracted driving has been likened to public enemy number 1. Numerous campaigns and safety groups are trying to end this terrible and dangerous practice. But when you combine distracted driving with a vehicle that weighs 40 tons or more and travels 55 to 70 mph, distracted driving creates even more lethal consequences that must be addressed.

"Distracted driving is becoming increasingly prevalent, exacerbating the danger we encounter daily on our roadways," said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. "It can be especially lethal when the distracted driver is at the wheel of a vehicle that weighs 40 tons and travels at highway speeds."

Continue reading "NTSB Press Release Regarding Ban on Cell Phone Use by Commercial Drivers Worth Reviewing" »

Kansas City Missouri truck accident lawyers remind us that an accident can happen at any time and in any set of circumstances. That is why it is best to always be prepared and drive alert.

Monday afternoon, October 3, 2011, a woman stopped at a stop light got the ride of her life. Sitting at a red light on Front Street at Olive in an industrial section of Kansas City, Missouri, she became part of a five vehicle chain reaction accident that pushed her SUV about 100 feet onto the side of the road and into the end of a parked trailer. Another semi-tractor trailer was slowing down for the light when his foot slipped off of his brake pedal. Before he could hit the brake again his tractor trailer had slammed into the car in front of him, shoving it into the next car in line, creating the chain reaction five-car pile-up.

Four people were taken to area hospitals and will all survive. The woman in the SUV suffered the most serious injuries, the front half of her vehicle was wedged under the trailer and she had to be extricated.

Tractor Trailer Accidents Involve Heavy Damage and Serious Injury
This tractor trailer accident is still under investigation, but it serves as a vivid reminder of the mass and power of tractor trailers. And it serves as a powerful demonstration of how it only takes a split second for things to go horribly wrong. The driver of the SUV could have easily been killed as she slammed under the parked trailer. Most of the front half of her vehicle was crushed.

Continue reading "5 Vehicle Semi-Tractor Trailer Accident in Kansas City Missouri A Good Reminder to Stay Alert" »

Three residents of Springfield, Missouri were injured after the tractor-trailer that they were riding in collided with a freight train, according to News-Press Now. The Kansas Highway Patrol reports that the big rig's driver and the two passengers were transported to Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca, Kansas. The accident happened on U.S. Highway 36 near mile marker 324.9, in Seneca shortly after 4:00 a.m. The driver of the semi claimed that he did not see the railroad crossing lights because of heavy fog. The semi-truck took out the crossing arm and hit the passing train.

Our Missouri truck accident attorneys know how deadly traffic accidents can be when a big rig is involved because of its size and power. An accident with one of these big rigs and a train has the potential to produce much more catastrophic results. Motorists are asked to exercise cautious driving habits around both. Passenger vehicles have very little protection against either in the event of an accident.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration, the United States calculates there are more than 136,000 public railroad crossings. Of all of these crossings, roughly 42,300 of them have crossing gates, more than 22,000 have flashing light and nearly 1,200 of them have highway traffic signals, bells and wigwags as of 2009.

During 2009 alone, there were nearly 2,000 accidents that occurred at public highway-rail crossings in the United States. These incidents resulted in nearly 250 deaths and more than 700 injuries. During the same year, nearly 400 people died and another 343 were injured while they were trespassing on railroad rights-of-way and property.

Since 2008, Missouri has witnessed 155 highway-rail accidents. Passenger vehicles accounted for most of these accidents. Only 16 tractor-trailers were involved in accidents with trains. There have been approximately 10 casualties in these locations since 2008.

The counties with the most highway-rail accidents are as follows:

-Jackson: 17 accidents.

-St. Louis: 9 accidents.

-Buchanan: 8 accidents.

-Franklin: 6 accidents.

-Stoddard: 6 accidents.

The Federal Railroad Administration offers motorists these tips for safe travel through a railroad crossing:

-Remember that trains can't stop quickly. It takes about 18 football fields for a 100-car freight train that is traveling at 55 miles per hour to stop once the emergency brakes have been applied.

-The newer the train, the more quietly it operates. Don't expect to always hear a train coming.

-Always assume a train is closer and moving faster than it appears. The size and the mass of a train can actually create an optical illusion that can fool you.

-Don't drive around lowered gates. It's illegal and it can be deadly. If you think that a railroad crossing's warning device is malfunctioning, call the 1-800 number that's posted on or near the crossing. If you can't find that number, call the local law enforcement.

-Only drive over a highway-rail grade crossing if you are absolutely sure you can clear the crossing without stopping. Don't proceed if the traffic on the other side is backed up.

-If you get stuck on a track and a train's coming, make sure to get everyone out on the vehicle as quick as you can and move everyone away from the tracks in the direction the train is coming from. If you move everyone in the same direction that the train is traveling, you could be injured by flying debris from the impact on your car.

-Only cross tracks at designated pedestrian or roadway crossing areas.

Continue reading "Train-Semi Accident Injures 2 Springfield, Missouri Residents" »

Missouri state troopers are looking into a recent tractor-trailer accident near St. Clair. St. Clair is located in Franklin County, Missouri. The accident forced crews to close the westbound lanes of Interstate 44. Traffic was backed up for miles, according to STL Today.

According to Sgt. Al Nothum of the Missouri Highway Patrol, the accident happened just before 9:00 a.m. about a mile west of the St. Clair rest area. The tractor-trailer veered into the median and flipped. The driver was trapped for more than an hour. The driver was conscious when rescuers pulled him from the vehicle. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Our Missouri trucking accident attorneys understand that tractor-trailers and other large vehicles pose serious threats to passenger-vehicle motorists. Truck accidents with cars are oftentimes fatal as the truck's weight and power throw more deadly force into collisions. If you've experienced an accident with a tractor-trailer or another large truck, you are urged to contact an attorney to help you fight for the proper compensation; you may not only have to take on the driver, but the company that owns the truck as well.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were approximately 380,000 large trucks that were involved in traffic accidents in the United States in 2008. A large truck is defined as a vehicle with a gross weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds. More than 4,000 large trucks were involved in fatal accidents that took the lives of 4,229 people that year. These deaths accounted for more than 10 percent of all of the traffic fatalities reported throughout the year. Another 90,000 were injured in these accidents. One out of nine traffic fatalities in 2008 resulted from a collision involving a large truck.

Passenger-vehicle occupants are most at risk for death in these types of accidents. Of all of the deaths that happened in accidents that involved a large truck, 74 percent of deaths happened to the occupants of another vehicle, 10 percent were nonoccupants and only 16 percent were occupants of a large truck. Injuries distribute just about the same with 71 percent occupants of another vehicle, 3 percent nonoccupants and 26 percent occupants of a large truck. Large trucks are more likely to be involved in deadly fatal multiple-vehicle accidents instead of fatal single-vehicle accidents.

More than 60 percent of deadly traffic accidents that involve a large truck happen in rural areas. Nearly 70 percent of them happen during the daytime and 80 percent of them happen on weekdays. In 2008, more than 100 large trucks were involved in fatal accidents in Missouri alone.

Safety tips to remember when driving near large trucks:

-Take into account the differences in size and weight. While most cars weigh an average of 3,000 pounds. Large trucks are heavy and can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Remember that trucks can't maneuver like a passenger vehicles and they can't stop as quickly either.

-Don't tailgate. Allowing more space between you and the truck in front of you allows you to have a better view of the traffic conditions ahead.

-Remember that it takes at least twice the distance for a large truck or bus to stop than it does for a small car. It also takes them longer to accelerate and get up to speed.

-Be careful when passing. One of the most common reasons for collisions involving passenger vehicles and large trucks is the motorist's unfamiliarity with the performance limitations and capabilities of large trucks.

-Don't forget about blind spots. Semis have a large blind spot reaching up to 200 feet directly behind them. Trucks with high hoods have blind spots of nearly 25 feet. Remember, if you can't see the truck's mirrors, the truck driver can't see you.

Continue reading "Trucking Accident Near St. Clair, Missouri in Franklin County Closes Interstate 44" »

The Obama Administration has issued more imminent hazard orders that have placed unsafe bus and truck companies out of service in the last two years than in the previous 10 years combined, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Through these efforts, the Department's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has conducted a large number of unannounced inspections, full compliance reviews and enforcement actions that has yanked many unsafe vehicles off our roadways.

Our Missouri trucking accident attorneys note there were only 14 imminent hazard orders issued that put unsafe carriers out of service in the previous decade. Between 2008 and 2010, FMCSA has surpassed that number.

While the government has been busy patting itself on the back lately, the flurry of crackdowns and press releases has followed several fatal high-profile busing accidents. In reality, there are a number of safety initiatives, including data recorders for trucks, speed regulators and hours-of-service limitations, that the feds have been slow to adopt.

"From Day One, I have pledged to put public safety above all else, and we will continue to take action when we see carriers placing passengers at risk," said U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "We have seen the tragic consequences of unsafe practices - whether it's ignoring fatigue regulations, providing inadequate driver training, or failing to conduct the proper maintenance of a bus or motorcoach. We continue using all of the tools at our disposal to get unsafe carriers off the road and hope that Congress will act on our proposal to provide us with the necessary authority to expand our safety oversight."

In the last four months alone, the FMCSA handed out nearly 10 out-of-service orders. These orders were issued right after investigations concluded that the carriers and/or the drivers were at such a level of non-compliance with federal safety regulations that they were posing a threat to the safety of the public. These imminent hazard out-of-service orders were issued to seven interstate motorcoach companies and one to a Tennessee-based truck driver.

"I'm proud of FMCSA's efforts to crack down and take action on unsafe interstate bus and trucking companies," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. "Our safety investigators, inspectors and state partners will continue demanding that motor carriers and their drivers adhere to safety requirements. While most of the industry operates safely, I also look forward to working with Congress to add new tools to prevent unsafe companies and drivers from operating."

With regards to future safety efforts, the DOT has requested that Congress approve a new procedure that would allow the FMCSA to conduct their own safety inspections at en route locations such as rest stops. They also asked that new motorcoach be required to undergo a complete safety audit before they're allowed to operate on U.S. roadways.

The DOT is also asking that Congress raise the fines for illegal operation or operation without authority from just $2,000 a day to $25,000 for each violation.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, there are more than 500,000 trucking accidents that happen in the United States every year. This means that one out of every eight traffic deaths on our roadways involves a commercial truck.

Continue reading "Obama Administration Breaks Enforcement Effort Records to Reduce Risks of Tractor Trailer Accidents in Missouri and Elsewhere" »

Missouri Truck Accident lawyers were shocked to hear of two recent collisions between a semi truck and an Amtrak train happening within the past month. The first took place June 24th outside of Reno, Nevada and left six dead, including the truck driver and the train conductor. At least twenty people were injured, but considering the damage, it is a miracle that number is not higher. Two Amtrak cars were completely gutted by fire after the crash, and the National Transportation Safety Board called in two forensic anthropologists to try to identify the charred remains of the victims.

Unfortunately, investigators did not expect to recover any useful information to explain what went wrong from the truck's "black box" because it was demolished in the accident.

Apparently, the semi truck was leading a three vehicle convoy from the Battle Mountain trucking company. The other two truck drivers reported that they saw the train approaching, and couldn't understand why the lead driver didn't appear to be slowing his vehicle.

When the driver finally hit his brakes, his semi truck left a 320-foot skid mark, but it wasn't enough distance to keep him from smashing right into the side of the train.

The truck was operated by the John Davis Trucking Company Inc. of Battle Mountain, Nev. According to the Federal Motor Vehicle Carrier Safety Administration, this company has had 17 faulty equipment violations and two other crashes since 2009. In one of the instances, the truck in question was found to have bald tires, and in another case the truck's springs were either missing completely or defective.

Investigators are still trying to piece together exactly what happened. Was it driver error--or equipment failure? Missouri Truck Accident lawyers will be interested to hear the NTSB's report of this tragic tractor trailer/train accident.

Continue reading "Two Semi Truck Accidents With Amtrak Trains Leave Authorities with More Questions Than Answers" »

Missouri Truck Accident Lawyers Say Thank You Sargent Perkins!
The Missouri Truck Accident Lawyers congratulate Mountain Grove, MO resident Sgt. Jacob Perkins for his heroic rescue efforts after a tour bus tractor-trailer accident in New York this weekend.

The traffic accident occurred near Syracuse, New York. A tour bus from London, Ontario, Canada had stopped on the side of New York State Thruway for an emissions light problem. When the bus pulled back onto the road it was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer. Both vehicles immediately burst into flames. By morning, there was nothing left of the truck but its rear loading doors, and the tour bus was an empty shell.

Army Sargent Jacob Perkins, stationed at Fort Drum, was headed home to Mountain Grove, Missouri located in Texas and Wright Counties, for a two week leave when he witnessed the bus truck accident. Perkins, 28, entered the fiery bus several times to look for victims and then help them from the bus. He then drove two survivors to a hospital in Rochester looking for their severely injured family member. And then drove them 90 minutes back to Syracuse to locate the injured family member and then stayed with them until additional family arrived. Read the full story.

Tour Bus vs Tractor-Trailer Accident
This tour bus tractor-trailer truck accident left 30 people injured, three critically, and the truck driver pronounced dead at the scene. The accident occurred around 1:20 am Friday July 22. The tour bus was carrying 52 passengers for a three day tour in New York. The truck was carrying 14,000 lbs. of automotive ball bearings for Matrix Expedited Service.

Continue reading "Local Hero from Mountain Grove, Missouri Risks Own Life To Save Others from Tour Bus-Tractor-Trailer Accident" »