Missouri Truck Accident Lawyer

Why are Missouri highways so busy with trucks?

Missouri sits at the center of the country's freight network. Kansas City and St. Louis are major rail, trucking and distribution hubs, and interstates crossing the state carry goods from coast to coast.

I-70 connects Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis and is one of the busiest truck routes in the region. I-44 runs southwest through Springfield and Joplin toward Oklahoma. I-55 heads south from St. Louis, and I-29 and I-35 run north from Kansas City. River ports along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers add grain and bulk freight, and livestock haulers move through rural areas. Warehouses and distribution centers around both metros send trucks onto local roads at all hours.

Who can be held responsible for a Missouri truck crash?

The driver, the motor carrier, a freight broker, the shipper or loader, a maintenance company and a parts maker may each share responsibility.

Missouri's rules on shared responsibility make identifying every party important. A defendant found 51 percent or more at fault can be held responsible for the entire award. A defendant found less than 51 percent at fault generally pays only its own share.

Here is a worked example. A jury values an injured driver's damages at $1,000,000 and assigns fault as follows: the injured driver 15 percent, the carrier 55 percent and the broker that chose an unsafe carrier 30 percent. The recovery is reduced to $850,000. Because the carrier is at least 51 percent at fault, it can be required to pay the full $850,000 if the broker cannot pay its share. If the carrier's share had been 45 percent, each defendant would pay only its own portion.

What federal rules apply to trucks in Missouri?

Interstate carriers follow federal motor carrier safety rules, and many of those rules also apply to trucks operating within Missouri. Violations can be strong evidence of negligence.

• Hours-of-service limits on driving and on-duty time, with required breaks and rest periods.
• Electronic logging device requirements that record those hours.
• Driver qualification, licensing and drug and alcohol testing rules.
• Vehicle inspection, maintenance and repair requirements.
• Cargo securement and weight rules.

We send preservation letters early to protect logging data, engine data, dash camera video and dispatch records. Our truck accident practice reviews these records with experts who understand trucking operations.

How do weather and terrain contribute to Missouri truck crashes?

Sudden storms, ice and steep grades make heavy trucks harder to control. Truck drivers must slow down and increase following distance when conditions worsen.

Ice storms can glaze I-70 and I-44 within hours, and flash floods can cover low roads. Tornado-season storms bring high winds that can push empty trailers off the road. In the Ozarks, steep downgrades test brakes, and a truck with poorly maintained brakes can lose control. Fog in river valleys reduces visibility. When a carrier pushes a driver to keep moving in dangerous weather, the carrier may share fault. Dispatch messages, weather alerts sent to the cab and the carrier's own safety policies can show whether the company knew conditions were unsafe and kept the truck rolling anyway.

What should you do if you were driving for work when a truck hit you?

Workers' compensation may pay benefits from your employer, and you may also bring a separate claim against the trucking company. The two claims follow different rules.

Workers' compensation pays medical care and part of lost wages regardless of fault, but not pain and suffering. A third-party claim against the carrier can recover those losses, and the workers' compensation insurer may seek repayment from that recovery. Our workplace injury page explains how these claims work together.

What should you do after a Missouri truck crash?

1. Get medical care right away.
2. Photograph the truck, trailer, company name and any numbers on the doors.
3. Get the police report, which usually identifies the carrier.
4. Collect witness names.
5. Avoid statements to the carrier's insurer, which often investigates within hours.

Most Missouri truck injury claims can be filed within 5 years, but a fatal crash gives the family 3 years. If a truck crash took a life, see our Missouri wrongful death page. For other state rules, see our Missouri injury overview. We offer a free case review, and you pay no fee unless we win.