Collisions with 18-wheelers, or any large commercial trucks, can have devastating results, especially on busy highways and city roads around St. Louis. The aftermath often goes well beyond what’s seen after a “regular” car wreck, with serious injuries, property destruction, and loss that turn whole families’ lives upside down.
Contact a St. Louis truck accident attorney to pursue compensation for injuries.
Call (314) 300-6260 today.
Why Are 18-Wheeler Accidents So Serious?
Accidents involving a tractor-trailer or other large commercial vehicle are almost always more dangerous than incidents between standard cars. The sheer size and weight of 18-wheelers means that even a low-speed collision packs enough force to cause devastating injuries and even fatalities. The financial toll can be incredibly significant as well, including medical expenses and lost wages long into the future. On top of this, the emotional trauma from such a catastrophic crash often leaves families struggling.
Common Causes of 18-Wheeler Accidents
Crashes involving large trucks rarely happen by chance. Many of these accidents occur because poor choices were made that could have been avoided.
Driver Fatigue
Pressured by tough delivery schedules or long-haul trucking demands, many truck operators push the boundaries set by hours-of-service laws. Fatigue reduces awareness, slows reflexes, and makes it far easier to commit dangerous errors or fall asleep at the wheel.
Distracted Driving
Operators who use cell phones, program GPS, communicate with their dispatch, or even eat meals while driving simply can’t put all of their focus on the road. Just taking your eyes or mind off of the road for a split second can lead to an accident.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
Because trucking profits are closely tied to fast deliveries, some drivers are tempted to speed, tailgate, or weave in and out of lanes. Due to their momentum and size, commercial trucks can’t brake or maneuver as easily, meaning small mistakes that might not be a big deal in a passenger car can lead to serious accidents.
Improper Truck Maintenance
Owners are responsible for regular inspections and repairs. Brake failures, blown tires, defective steering, and other issues can cause trucks to lose control and expose everyone on the road to serious danger.
Improper Cargo Loading
If a trailer is overloaded or cargo is unsecured or not balanced properly, or loads shift, the loads can shift and impact the stability of the vehicle. This could lead to rollovers on a turn or make a driver lose control of the vehicle.
Poor Weather and Road Conditions
Driving a massive truck during storms, fog, high winds, can be dangerous for anyone on the road. When driving something as big and difficult to handle as an 18-wheeler, the risks increase. When drivers make one small mistake in this type of weather, it can lead to serious accidents.
Understanding why 18-wheeler accidents are unique is critical in determining what happened and who might be responsible.
Why Truck Accident Claims Are More Complex Than Car Accident Cases
Truck accident claims often involve issues that go far beyond ordinary car crashes. When a commercial vehicle is involved in a collision, both the investigation and the legal process quickly become far more complicated.
Federal and State Trucking Regulations
Truck drivers and companies must follow strict regulations, like hours-of-service limits to combat fatigue, required pre-trip inspections, and minimum standards for training and driver credentials. These rules don’t apply to typical passenger vehicle crashes, but whether they were followed or ignored, often play a crucial role in a truck accident claim.
Multiple Potentially Liable Parties
A single truck accident could involve several people or businesses, such as the trucking company, the vehicle’s owner, the driver, equipment manufacturers, and sometimes even the cargo loader. This means multiple insurance companies may be involved, and getting the compensation you are owed can become more difficult.
Critical Evidence Must Be Preserved
Important evidence such as electronic logging device (ELD) data, black box records, and written logs on rest breaks and vehicle maintenance needs to be located and quickly preserved after a crash. Without immediate action, this evidence can disappear or be written over.
Because of these complexities, truck crash injury claims can be much harder for families to pursue on their own. If you or your family is struggling after a trucking accident, contact us today at (314) 300-6260 to schedule a free consultation. Our St. Louis personal injury attorneys have the resources and experience to investigate and build a strong case.