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Trucking Accident Attorney in Springfield, Missouri

Whether you’re running errands in town, commuting to and from work, or navigating southwest Missouri via Interstate 44 and other major thoroughfares, you’re likely to encounter commercial trucks as you drive around Springfield. As the metro area continues to grow, we’ll likely see an increasing number of 18-wheelers and other large trucks on our roads — and with them, a greater risk of accidents.

Commercial trucks perform essential functions for our community and the economy, but they also present a danger to occupants of the passenger vehicles with which they share the roads. Collisions involving large trucks carry a considerable risk of severe injuries, and this risk rises as speeds increase.

Accidents involving commercial trucks aren’t just extremely dangerous — they’re also extremely complex. If a truck hits your vehicle and you suffer injuries, more parties than just the driver may be liable. The trucking company, the cargo loaders, the truck manufacturer, and anyone who may have performed maintenance or repairs on the vehicle may have caused or contributed to the accident. You need an experienced Springfield, Missouri, trucking accident attorney to investigate the accident and help you pursue compensation for your losses.

The team at Holland Injury Law, LLC, has more than 30 years of experience fighting trucking companies and their insurers to recover the compensation they owe to injured Missourians. We’re dedicated to the pursuit of justice and will commit our resources to winning your case. Contact us today to learn more about your legal options in a free consultation.

The Complexities of Truck Accidents

Anyone who’s ever driven alongside a large commercial truck has a sense of the sheer size of these vehicles compared to passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs. In fact, the average 18-wheeler weighs about 35,000 pounds — and that’s if it’s empty. A fully loaded truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. Compare this to a 3,500-pound sedan and you’ll understand very quickly the extent to which a large truck dwarfs the car you drive to work every day.

This size disparity makes even a low-speed or relatively minor collision between a passenger vehicle and a large truck a potentially very serious event. Simply put, a large truck hitting a car can do significant damage and cause severe injuries. When these accidents occur at higher speeds, the damage and injuries are likely to be catastrophic.

Investigating accidents of this sort is a challenging process. Through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, trucking companies and their vehicles are subject to stringent regulations pertaining to:

  • Driver hours of service
  • Driver screening and training
  • Drug and alcohol testing
  • Vehicle inspection, maintenance, and repair
  • Labeling and shipping of hazardous materials
  • Loading of cargo
  • Recordkeeping

When trucking companies fail to abide by FMCSA standards, they’re subject to severe penalties, including fines.

Given the many parties that may be involved in a truck accident and the role of FMCSA regulations, these collisions are often highly complex. A trucking accident attorney near Springfield, Missouri, with experience handling cases involving commercial trucks will be able to navigate this challenging process and work with the many layers of bureaucracy and the different legal teams that may have a stake in your case.

Determining Liability in a Commercial Truck Accident

One of the biggest challenges lawyers face when taking on a truck accident case is identifying the liable parties from whom to seek compensation. While the truck driver’s negligence likely played a critical part in causing the accident, your attorney must dig deeper to determine exactly how the crash happened and who may have been responsible.

Truck accidents are rarely as straightforward as they may initially appear. Here’s how different parties may be liable for your injuries:

  • Truck Driver — If the driver was operating the truck while impaired, distracted, or fatigued, or if they were engaged in reckless or dangerous driving behaviors, they may be held liable.
  • Trucking Company —Trucking companies are responsible for properly vetting and training their drivers. They must also maintain their vehicles. If they failed in these capacities, they’re likely in violation of FMCSA regulations and at fault.
  • Mechanic — Failure to properly maintain or repair a truck may make mechanics liable for an accident and any resulting injuries.
  • Manufacturer — Truck manufacturers can be held liable when defective vehicles and components cause or contribute to a collision.
  • Cargo Loader — Trucks must be loaded in a way that keeps them safe and stable. If improper loading causes issues that lead to a wreck, the cargo loaders may be liable.

The amount of documentation trucking companies are required to keep is staggering. A lawyer with experience in truck accident cases will know which documentation to focus on when investigating your accident, as well as which FMCSA regulations may factor into the picture.

How to Protect Your Rights After a Truck Accident

Although the period following an accident with a large truck is likely to be extremely chaotic and stressful, there are some steps you need to take early on to protect your rights and strengthen your position.

Chief among these is focusing on your medical treatment. While you likely received care immediately following the accident, you may have a long path ahead of you as you pursue your physical recovery. Following your medical team’s instructions and recommendations will go a long way toward helping you heal. It will also reflect positively on your claim when you begin the process of seeking compensation.

The second key thing you can do to protect yourself is avoid posting anything about the accident on social media. Trucking companies have powerful legal teams that will search everywhere for evidence they can use to discredit you.

Finally, contact a Springfield, Missouri, trucking accident lawyer as soon as possible. You’ll be going up against high-powered corporations with deep pockets and substantial legal resources. If they know you have an attorney on your side who understands the complexities of truck accident cases, they’ll be more likely to negotiate in an effort to avoid a costly trial.

How Holland Injury Law, LLC, Can Help You Pursue Compensation

With decades of experience handling truck accident claims for Missouri clients, Holland Injury Law, LLC, is prepared to shoulder the burden of every aspect of your case. We’ll review the evidence, identify all liable parties, and pursue the compensation you deserve through negotiations and, if necessary, at trial. You may be eligible to receive compensation for:

  • Past and anticipated future medical expenses
  • Lost income and loss of future earnings
  • Incidental expenses arising from the accident
  • Pain and suffering
  • Property damage
  • Wrongful death

In Missouri, you have five years from the accident date to file a personal injury claim and attempt to recover compensation for your truck accident injuries. However, because truck accident cases are so complex and your attorney needs to begin accessing evidence as soon as possible, you should contact a lawyer right away to protect your rights and get the legal process underway.

Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer Today

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