Recovered Over $300 Million for Our 7,000+ Clients
When you get in an accident with a commercial truck, it can be a life-changing event. Due to their size and weight, large trucks often cause catastrophic injuries to collision victims, sometimes resulting in permanent disability or death.
If you were the victim of a truck accident in Hannibal, Marion County, contact Holland Injury Law, LLC, to speak with a highly qualified Hannibal personal injury lawyer about your case. We’ll explain your options for seeking compensation for your injuries, including holding the truck driver, trucking company, and other at-fault parties financially liable for the harm they caused you and your family.
Truck accidents cause the same kinds of injuries as other motor vehicle accidents. However, the injuries tend to be more severe when a truck is involved due to the sheer force these trucks have behind them when they strike a smaller vehicle.
Some of the most common injuries seen in Hannibal truck accident victims include:
Crushing injuries that require limbs to be amputated
Some of the most common causes of commercial truck accidents in Marion County include distracted, intoxicated, and drowsy driving, speeding, poor weather conditions, unsecured cargo, and mechanical failures. These causes can lead to various types of accidents, such as:
Truck accident cases are usually more complex than other vehicle accident cases for several reasons.
First, these accidents tend to cause more severe injuries, requiring more expensive and lengthy medical treatment. That means your lawyer will have to estimate the value of your future medical costs, and the at-fault parties’ insurance companies will likely try to reduce their liability to avoid paying for it.
Second, many truck accidents involve more than two parties. Multiple victims might seek compensation for their injuries, and multiple at-fault parties might share liability. This can cause liability disputes, which make insurance claims more complicated.
Finally, commercial trucks must follow both state and federal trucking regulations. These regulations cover everything from the truck’s size and weight to the hours a driver can be on duty without a break. An attorney with thorough knowledge of trucking regulations is often required for a successful case.
State and Federal Trucking Regulations
In Missouri, the maximum dimensions a truck can be without a special permit are 8’6” wide, 14’ tall, and 53’ long. These dimension regulations are in place to make sure trucks can safely navigate the state’s roads and interstate highways.
Missouri also caps truck weight at 80,000 lbs. The heavier a truck is, the more its brakes have to work to slow it down and the longer the distance it needs to stop. Overweight trucks can end up in rear-end or other types of collisions due to brake failure.
In addition to the state regulations truckers must adhere to, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issues federal regulations outlining the time a driver can spend behind the wheel without a break. There are several hours of service regulations, with one of the most important being that drivers can be on the road for a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
The FMCSA also regulates cargo securement practices. Different types of cargo require different types of securement procedures, and the number of tiedowns required depends on the cargo’s weight.
If, for example, you get in an accident with a truck exiting I-72 onto Mark Twain Ave. in Hannibal, who could be liable for your injuries? That depends on the cause of the accident. Parties that may be liable include:
The compensation available to truck accident victims in Marion County covers their tangible and intangible losses. Losses are the negative consequences of an accident, and the compensation sought for them is known as damages.
Economic damages are for losses with tangible value, like medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. Non-economic damages are for losses with intangible value, like pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent disability, and loss of consortium.
To maximize your compensation, it’s often critical to hold the trucking company liable for your injuries. This is because federal law requires commercial trucks to have between $300,000 and $5 million in liability insurance, depending on their weight and cargo type.
If you were injured in a truck accident, taking the following steps could significantly impact the success of your case:
Holland Injury Law, LLC, has over 30 years of legal experience and has recovered over $300 Million for our 7,000+ clients. We approach every case with the philosophy of treating clients like family and are tenacious on their behalf.
Contact our firm for a free consultation about your Hannibal, Marion County, truck accident case. We’ll review the accident and walk you through the process of recovering the compensation you need, as well as answering any questions you have about your rights and options.
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