• Ethan Hayes, 7, Frisco, TX
  
• Randall Hayes, 38, Frisco, TX
  
• Shelby Hayes, 35, Frisco, TX
  
• Antonio Hooks, 42, Oklahoma City, OK
  
• Dione Hooks, 41, Oklahoma City, OK
  
• Earlene Hooks, 63, Oklahoma City, OK
  
• Oral Hooks, 69, Oklahoma City, OK
  
• Cynthia Olson, 55, Crossroads, TX
  
• Ernestina Reyes, Phoenix, AZ
  
• Ricardo Reyes, 39, Phoenix, AZ

At least three other people, including Creed, are hospitalized with injuries from the accident. Twelve-year-old Andrea Reyes of Phoenix is listed in serious condition at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

An investigation is pending, but the cause of the accident was not immediately clear. Brown told the AP that investigators do not believe alcohol was a factor in the crash, although authorities did a routine toxicology text. Later investigation found that the brakes on the truck, owned by Associated Wholesale Grocers of Kansas City, appear to work fine, and Creed’s commercial driver’s license was clean in both Missouri and Oklahoma. The initial highway patrol report said Creed was driving too fast for the conditions, and authorities have said Creed may be charged with ten counts of negligent homicide after a criminal investigation is complete.

My heart goes out to the people affected by this terrible crash. As a St. Louis semi truck accident lawyer, I would have been interested in this crash no matter what the circumstances. But I’m sorry to say that it also closely resembles the horrific July 2008 tractor-trailer crash that took place on I-40 here in St. Louis. In that case, the investigation eventually said the cause was simple inattention -- the truck driver was text-messaging right before he hit a line of stopped traffic, killing three and catastrophically injuring many more. As a result, the driver and his trucking company are now facing multiple Missouri tractor-trailer crash lawsuits alleging that their negligence (carelessness) caused the deaths and injuries.

It is unfortunate that the two injured parties were apparently were in their right minds, on the right side of the law and did everything they could to avoid an accident, yet they still were injured and the truck driver who disobeyed the law was not. As a Missouri large truck accident lawyer, I see situations like this all too often, and unfortunately that's sometimes the way it goes. However, that doesn't mean that the woman and her daughter do not have the right to be compensated for their injuries.

The MSHP did catch up with the tractor-trailer and identified the driver. However, there has been no official report of citations for him. This may be because there was (thankfully) no contact between the two vehicles, but as a St. Louis tractor-trailer wreck attorney I must emphasize that just because there was no contact between vehicles doesn't mean that the truck did not cause an accident. Due to the danger of carrying large and heavy loads, commercial truck drivers should be held especially accountable for their actions when they break the law. If this woman or her daughter ended up with whiplash or other sustained injuries that negatively impact their quality of life, they would have a case and should talk to a Missouri 18-wheeler accident attorney as soon as they can.

Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, The Lowe Law Firm represents people in Missouri and southern Illinois who have been seriously injured in accidents that involve large trucks. If you or a loved one have been harmed or killed due to a commercial truck driver's carelessness, help is available. In a Missouri commercial truck lawsuit you can claim all financial losses incurred by the accident, including but not limited to hospital bills and lost income. You also can be compensated for any injury, pain, disability or wrongful death that came about as a result of the incident. To set up a free consultation and learn more about your rights and your claim, please do not hesitate to contact us online, or call our offices toll-free at 1-877-678-3400.

Let's take another look at the situation. The accident happened at nighttime, so the road was likely dark and traffic was probably light. Reportedly, all that the driver did was fail to stop at a stop sign before making a turn. All of this might sound harmless enough, but in a two-ton 18-wheeler, the stakes go way up, no matter how deserted the road appears. The smallest failure to follow traffic rules can result in the truck's load overturning, leading to serious injuries not only for the driver, but also for whomever and whatever might be nearby.

Fortunately, the victim reportedly only sustained only minor injuries as a result of this wreck. But as a Missouri commercial truck injury lawyer, I know that other victims aren’t always so lucky. Because large commercial trucks outweigh cars by as much as 200 times, they can cause very severe damage in an accident that pits the two vehicle types against one another. Victims can be killed or suffer catastrophic, life-changing injuries, including permanent brain damage or paralysis. Just like all drivers, truck drivers have a legal responsibility to take care on the road, and that includes obeying traffic laws. When they fail, victims have the right to hold them legally and financially responsible for their actions with a Missouri trucking accident lawsuit.

With law offices in St. Louis, Missouri and Belleville, Illinois, The Lowe Law Firm represents clients in Missouri and southern Illinois who were seriously hurt in a serious accident with a large truck. If you have been injured by a commercial truck, or lost a loved one in an accident that you believe was caused by a trucker’s carelessness, we can help. In a Missouri semi truck accident lawsuit, you can claim all of your losses related to the accident, including financial losses like hospital bills and lost income, as well as compensation for an injury, pain, disability or wrongful death. To set up a free consultation and learn more about your rights, please contact us online, or call our firm toll-free at 1-877-678-3400.

In my time as a St. Louis commercial truck accident lawyer, I have seen more than my share of these unnecessary and tragic accidents, so I applaud this campaign wholeheartedly. The amount of potential damage caused by these large vehicles is much higher than that of cars, pickup trucks, SUVs and other conventional vehicles. Let's face it: in a head-on collision with a big rig, a compact car doesn't have a fighting chance. For this reason, commercial truck drivers are held to driving laws significantly more stringent than those of the average motorist.

But as accident statistics show, truck drivers don't always comply with these rules. Commercial drivers are typically paid by the mile and penalized financially for failing to meet deadlines, so they have an incentive to drive longer, even after fatigue has set in. To combat this, some drivers use stimulants to keep themselves alert on the road, but the effects of these drugs can be hard to predict, and often make the driver and other motorists less safe, not more.

As not only a Missouri commercial truck crash attorney but a concerned citizen, I sincerely hope that there will be more checks like these in the coming year. Still, one might argue that these test should be taken a step further. For example, Road Check is announced a year in advance, giving truckers plenty of advance warning so they could be sure to be on their best behavior. To quote a January 1 post on a popular trucking industry blog, "Make your vacation plans in advance this year...No I am joking, it really is not that bad, just make sure you are legal these days."

The comment was made in fun, but it does point to the fact that many drivers who habitually break the law could refrain from doing so on those days, only to return to old habits when the checks were over. I can see why the CVSA might want to conduct the inspections only once a year as a concerted effort, but I would speculate that random vehicle checks would give drivers more incentive to stay clean and sober, and to work realistic shifts that end well before they are too tired to maintain control of their faculties. In addition to making the roads safer, it could help to ensure that law enforcement resources, and your tax dollars, are being used efficiently.

In spite of the advance warning, the CVSA said last year's road checks cited more than 1,400 violations from nearly 200 drivers. That's over just a few days. This goes to show that big rig accidents are still far more common than they should be -- especially when you consider that the law not only holds drivers accountable for commercial truck traffic violations, but often the companies they work for as well.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured or killed in a Missouri or southern Illinois trucking accident, don't wait to contact The Lowe Law Firm. With offices in St. Louis and Belleville, Ill., our St. Louis big rig accident lawyers represents people throughout Missouri and southern Illinois who have been seriously hurt in accidents involving large trucks. To learn more about how we can help you in a free, confidential consultation, please contact us online, or call us toll-free at 1-877-678-3400.

According to her statement, Wright was driving west on Illinois Route 15 in Alorton on July 21, 2008. As she approached the highway’s intersection with Race Horse Drive and Lakewood Place, the green light was in her favor, so she continued across. But at that same moment, Hales attempted a left turn onto Race Horse Drive, in violation of a red light. As a result, the Reithoffer Shows carnival truck that Hales was driving crashed violently into Wright’s vehicle.

Many wrecks involving commercial trucks can be traced to the driver not having had enough sleep, or having been under the influence of drugs or alcohol. But speaking as a southern Illinois trucking accident lawyer, I can tell you that the simple mistake of not stopping at designated intersections can have devastating consequences. Commercial truck drivers who do not heed basic road signs can wreak havoc on the innocent people sharing their roads, causing death, brain damage and other catastrophic injuries.

The suit charged Hales with several types of negligence: failing to stop the truck as she entered the intersection, failing to make a proper left turn, failing to yield the right-of-way, failing to pay attention, and failing to keep a proper lookout. It seeks a judgment in excess of $100,000 plus costs. But Wright’s injuries are just the beginning; her vehicle also was severely damaged and its value dramatically depreciated. In addition, she says she will suffer disability, pain and suffering, lost wages, incurred medical expenses and, ultimately, the loss of a normal life.

It is hard to put a price on how, in a single instant, one negligent truck driver can irreparably alter a person's life and the lives of their loved ones. However, as a southern Illinois trucking accident attorney, it is my job to make sure that whatever can be recovered, is. If you or a loved one has been in a serious trucking accident in Missouri or southern Illinois, you should call The Lowe Law Firm as soon as possible. Based in St. Louis and Belleville, Ill., we represent people throughout Missouri and southern Illinois who have been injured by the carelessness of a truck drivers or trucking company. We can help you win the money you need to pay medical bills, replace income lost while you cannot work, and compensate you for a permanent disability or the loss of a family member. Please contact the Lowe Law Firm online today for a free, confidential consultation, or call us toll-free at 1-877-678-3400.

This is actually the fourth try by the Legislature to raise trucking speed limits. Three similar bills have already passed, but disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich vetoed each one. The current governor did not comment to the Pantagraph, but opponents of the measure argue that trucks already violate the speed limit, and a raised speed limit would just lead to even higher speeds and possibly more trucking accidents in Illinois. Supporters, by contrast, say trucks are safer when they move at the same speed as cars. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Illinois is one of 12 states that set lower speed limits for trucks, not including Missouri.

As a Southern Illinois trucking lawyer, I am very interested in trucking safety issues, so I was curious about which side’s safety arguments were more accurate. A bit of research suggests that speeding is not a major safety issue for large commercial tractor-trailers, at least as compared to private drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, of all drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2007, truck drivers were the least likely to speed (or drive drunk). However, the agency also reported that truck drivers in fatal crashes were more likely to have a previous speeding conviction than car drivers (24% to 19%), suggesting that enforcement of speed limits might be better for truckers.

In any case, while drivers are more than justified in being afraid of speeding semi trucks, speed is not the main safety issue with big rigs. The trouble is the trucks’ much greater size and weight. Even a relatively slow-speed crash between a car and a truck can cause catastrophic injuries to the people inside the car. Here in Missouri, where we have no difference in speed limits applied to passenger vehicles and trucks, our number of trucking accidents is basically even with that of Illinois -- we had 3% of America’s trucking accidents in 2007, while Illinois had 3.2%. As a St. Louis tractor-trailer accident attorney who would like to see fewer crashes in every state, I don’t believe Illinois will see much of a change if Quinn does sign the bill.

The Lowe Law Firm represents clients in Missouri and southern Illinois who were seriously injured in a serious accident with a large truck. If you were hurt or lost a loved one in an accident you believe was caused by a trucker’s or trucking company’s carelessness, we can help. In a Missouri semi truck accident lawsuit, you can claim all of your losses related to the accident, including financial losses like hospital bills and lost income, as well as compensation for an injury, pain, disability or wrongful death. To set up a free consultation and learn more about your rights, please contact our firm online or call us toll-free at 1-877-678-3400.

The plaintiffs in the case are older children of Robert and Melissa Hayes, siblings or half-siblings to Tyler and Colby Hayes. They filed their lawsuit in Missouri, where the Hayes family lived and where the trucking company is based. However, the trucking company has asked to move the case to Oklahoma, where the accident took place, possibly because of differences in the way the states treat siblings of wrongfully killed people. Under Missouri law, the plaintiffs may claim all the same damages for the deaths of their brothers as they would for the deaths of their parents. But Oklahoma law does not allow non-economic damages -- damages for the grief and pain of losing a loved one -- for anyone but the victims’ parents.

That difference is important, because the economic damages families may claim for the death of a minor are usually quite small. Economic damages are payments for financial losses related to the death, including the loss of an income as well as the cost of medical care and a funeral. Because minors don’t usually work, limiting wrongful death claims to economic damages means that families can collect next to nothing for the deaths of their children, even if their cases are strong. Sometimes, it means no attorney will even take the case, because wrongful death attorneys are paid from a percentage of the winnings -- and with only economic damages available, they cannot make enough money to stay in business. This essentially removes a wrongdoer’s legal liability for the death of a minor, no matter how clearly wrong that person’s behavior might have been.

It is unclear whether the effort to move the case to Oklahoma will succeed. Missouri courts have ruled that wrongful death cases should be heard in the state where the death took place -- but they have also ruled that Missouri courts should hear a case when moving it out of state would take away Missourians’ legal rights. As a St. Louis semi truck accident attorney, I hope concern for Missourians’ rights wins. By seeking to move the case to Oklahoma and dismiss the claims as to Tyler and Colby Hayes, the trucking company is trying to limit its financial liability -- not trying to spare the family from the pain of testifying, as its lawyer told the newspaper. The plaintiffs must still prove the trucking company was careless, and their other claims are viable in either state, but Missouri courts should not condone end-runs around the rights of our citizens.

The Lowe Law Firm specializes in protecting the rights of those who were seriously injured or lost a loved one in a serious accident with a commercial truck. Our Missouri tractor-trailer accident lawyers are based in St. Louis but serve clients throughout the state of Missouri, as well as those in southern Illinois. If you or someone you love has been seriously hurt by a careless truck driver, don’t sign anything the trucking company gives you -- contact us as soon as possible to learn more at a free, confidential consultation. You can reach us through our Web site or call us toll-free at 1-877-678-3400.

The cables are planned for two major locations -- on U.S. route 75 near Topeka and on Kansas state highway 96 near Wichita. Ironically, the sites of the accidents that inspired the project -- two highways in Johnson County, in suburban Kansas City -- would not be affected. A spokesman for KDOT told the newspaper that cables aren’t practical or effective in areas with low traffic and wide medians. But Jeff Risner, who lost his teenaged son to a drunk driver who crossed a wide median in Johnson County, said he thought the decision was less about safety than money. The Associated Press reported that installing the median cables cost an average of $125,000 per mile in other states.

I can certainly understand KDOT’s reluctance to spend money in a bad economy. But as a Missouri trucking accident attorney, I hope this experiment in Topeka and Wichita works well enough to free up more funding for median guard cables. Crossover accidents are relatively rare -- but when they happen, they are likely to be fatal. In fact, crossover accidents are a common cause of head-on semi truck accidents, which are almost always fatal for the people inside the smaller vehicle. It doesn’t matter whether the truck or the car crossed the median; thanks to the size and weight of the truck, the car is likely to be crushed. Better guard cables could prevent many of these accidents, or at least convert them into smaller, less catastrophic crashes.

When trucking accident victims live, they can have extremely serious injuries, including severe burns, paralysis and brain damage. If the accident was caused by the carelessness of a truck driver or trucking company, the victims have the right to file a trucking accident claim. In a Missouri semi truck crash lawsuit, they can win compensation for a death or permanent disability, as well as money to cover the costs of the accident, including any lifelong medical care victims may require.

If you or someone you love is in this situation, The Lowe Law Firm can help. With offices in St. Louis and Belleville, Ill., our St. Louis big rig accident attorneys represent people throughout Missouri and southern Illinois who have been seriously hurt in accidents with large trucks. To learn more about how we can help at a free, confidential consultation, please contact us online or call toll-free at 1-877-678-3400.

According to the coalition’s press release (PDF), the proposed legislation the coalition opposes would raise the legally acceptable weight of a semi truck from the current 80,000 pounds to 97,000 pounds. The heavier trucks would have to have a sixth axle and increased braking capability, the post noted. (For comparison, a 2009 Honda Civic weighs between 2,600 and 2,900 pounds, and a Ford F-150 pickup truck weighs between 4,500 and 5,500 pounds.) The coalition backs a different federal bill that would freeze the 80,000-pound weight limit and the 53-foot length limit currently in effect. A poll released by the organization shows that 80% of Americans believe larger trucks would make our roads less safe.

Those Americans are right. As a Missouri trucking injury lawyer, I’ve written several times on this blog about the deadly consequences of a weight mismatch between trucks and ordinary vehicles. When a passenger vehicle collides with a semi truck weighing ten to thirty times as much, the laws of physics ensure that the passenger vehicle will take almost all of the damage. Regardless of who was at fault, the people inside that car are statistically likely to die or sustain very serious injuries, including brain damage, paralysis and severe burn injuries. Truckers themselves are injured in fewer than 10% of trucking accidents, a figure that includes single-vehicle truck crashes.

As a St. Louis tractor-trailer crash attorney, I welcome the Truck Safety Coalition’s efforts. The Lowe Law Firm represents people throughout Missouri and southern Illinois who have lost a loved one or been left with permanent disabilities after a crash with a large truck. Frequently, our clients’ medical worries and grief are compounded by financial problems, as six-figure medical bills roll in while victims are physically unable to work. With Missouri semi truck accident lawsuits, we help victims win back that money from trucking companies and truck drivers who hurt them with their careless actions.

If this sounds like your family’s situation, The Lowe Law Firm can help. To learn more at a free, confidential consultation, please contact us online or call toll-free at 1-877-678-3400 today.

Fortunately, Payne -- the driver of the smallest vehicle in this southern Illinois trucking accident -- was not hurt in the crash. Stumbo and Troyer were also not seriously hurt, although Stumbo was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening. However, Rich was killed at the scene when the load of metal pipes he was carrying crashed through his trailer and into the cab of his truck. Troyer’s load of computer equipment also caught fire, requiring two hours of efforts from firefighters to extinguish. To deal with the crash safely, law enforcement closed the interstate in both directions for nearly four hours.

As a St. Louis semi truck accident attorney, I would be interested in any information on how the loads involved in this accident were secured. If you have never been involved with the trucking industry, you may not realize this, but there are state and federal laws regulating how trucks’ loads should be secured. Trucking companies and truck drivers must balance the weight of their loads, never load more weight than permitted and secure the goods well enough to avoid a spill during routine maneuvers or a minor accident. When loads spill, they can injure or kill the truck drivers themselves or any of the drivers who happen to be nearby. Securing loads may also be able to prevent spills that cause fires or other hazards to the community, as happened here.

When the people responsible for properly securing loads -- generally a trucking company and the trucker who will haul the load -- fail in that duty and an accident results, victims have the right to hold them legally responsible. A Missouri tractor-trailer accident lawsuit can get victims compensation for their injuries, the loss of a loved one and their pain and suffering. It can also help victims make up for the astronomical costs of a serious truck crash, including medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages and more. If you or someone you love was hit by a large truck in Missouri or southern Illinois through no fault of your own, The Lowe Law Firm can help. To learn more at a free, confidential consultation, please contact our firm online or call toll-free at 1-877-678-3400.

As the fire chief quoted in the article said, it is surprising and very fortunate that the people in the second car survived their accident with the truck. Statistically speaking, they are in the minority. According to research from the federal Department of Transportation, head-on collisions accounted for 22% of all accidents with large trucks in 2007, but 45% of all trucking accident deaths. Head-on collisions also accounted for 37% of accidents that caused injuries. The severity of injuries is not reported in these statistics, but in general, trucking accidents leave their victims with serious or even catastrophic injuries, including brain damage, spinal injuries, severe burns and multiple fractures. That’s why it’s so important for victims and their loved ones to speak with a Missouri semi truck crash attorney as soon as possible after the accident.

The fire in this case also interested me, as a Missouri trucking accident lawyer, because the truck’s trailer was carrying household cleaning supplies. Not all household cleaners are flammable, but if these were, improper insulation may have contributed to the length and strength of the fire. In general, trucking companies are legally responsible for any damage caused by trucking accidents, if they caused or contributed to the accident. That includes improperly loading or securing loads as well as failure to provide or maintain safe equipment. In fact, both the trucker and the trucking company often end up as defendants in Missouri tractor-trailer accident lawsuits.

If you or someone you love has been in a serious trucking accident in Missouri or southern Illinois, you should call The Lowe Law Firm as soon as possible. Based in St. Louis and Belleville, Ill., our firm represents people throughout Missouri and southern Illinois who have been seriously hurt by the carelessness of a truck driver or trucking company. We can help you win the money you need to pay medical bills or funeral costs; replace income lost while you cannot work; and compensate you for a permanent disability or the loss of a loved one. To learn more at a free, confidential consultation, please contact The Lowe Law Firm online today or call toll-free at 1-877-678-3400.

Importantly, Knight was reportedly using his cell phone at the time of the accident. According to the newspaper, Knight told a bystander that just before the accident, he had reached over the dash and flipped open the phone, then looked back at traffic. Shortly after, his 19,000-pound semi plowed into the stopped traffic. The cell phone use may have driven the choice to charge him with involuntary manslaughter, which requires “criminal negligence” -- carelessness so extreme that it rises to criminal behavior. He faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted.

An earlier article in the Post-Dispatch said that Knight and his trucking company faced at least five lawsuits from victims of the crash. That number may go up now that he is also charged criminally in the accident. Victims of serious trucking accidents can and often do file lawsuits, regardless of whether there are also criminal charges in the case. Truck accidents are frequently catastrophic, causing deaths and permanent, severe disabilities such as brain damage and paralysis. These are personally devastating -- but as time goes on, victims and their families begin to realize that they’re also very expensive to treat, particularly if the family has lost an income because of the accident. Filing a Missouri trucking accident claim allows them to sue for the money they need to pay those bills and make ends meet.

Based in St. Louis and Belleville, Illinois, the Lowe Law Firm represents people who were seriously injured in a serious tractor-trailer accident in Missouri or southern Illinois. If you or someone you care about is in this situation, we would like to help. At a free, confidential consultation, our St. Louis semi truck accident attorneys can tell you more about your rights and your legal options. To set one up, please contact us through our Web site or call us toll-free today at 1-877-678-3400.

This sad case is a good illustration of the sheer force a tractor-trailer can bring to an accident. Even if the truck was not speeding, it would have outweighed the pickup by several tons. That means it would have brought a substantially greater force to the collision, even if both had been moving. In fact, if the larger vehicle had been speeding, my guess as an experienced St. Louis trucking accident lawyer is that the damage would have been even greater. As it is, the article notes, the force of the crash not only catapulted Gasper out of his seat and killed him, but pushed the pickup into an IDOT truck, which I am glad to see was empty. Since the article doesn’t give details of the accident reconstruction, one can only imagine the circumstances under which a truck driver might plow through barriers into a work zone.

The News-Democrat also reported that Gasper was one of 31 people killed in roadside work zones in Illinois last year. In response, his mother, Ella Mae Hastings, spoke at a news conference last week announcing National Work Zone Safety Week. As a southern Illinois truck accident attorney, I am well aware of the special dangers to people who spend time standing on the side of a busy highway. That doesn’t just include construction workers -- law enforcement, emergency responders, tow truck drivers and even ordinary drivers who happened to break down have all been killed on Illinois and Missouri roadsides.

Based in St. Louis and Belleville, Illinois, the Lowe Law Firm represents people in Illinois and Missouri who have been seriously hurt in a crash with a careless truck driver. Trucking accidents are generally very serious accidents, causing a disproportionate amount of traffic deaths and very serious injuries such as brain damage and paralysis. If you or someone you love is a victim of a truck accident caused by someone else’s carelessness, our experienced Missouri semi accident lawyers can help. To set up a free, confidential consultation, please contact the firm online or call toll-free at 1-877-678-3400.

Fortunately, the article said the spill was small and posed no threat to the public. But liquid nitrogen, a common fertilizer ingredient, required a hazmat team because it can pose a serious threat when it’s not controlled. Liquid nitrogen can displace the oxygen in the air around it, which means nearby oxygen levels can drop so low that human beings could asphyxiate. Because it is very, very cold, people should also never touch it without safety equipment. And under some circumstances, it explodes easily -- an accident with pressured liquid nitrogen blew a tank through the roof of a building at Texas A&M University in 2006.

This southern Illinois truck accident is a good example of how even a one-vehicle accident can pose a threat to the people nearby. And according to research from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration -- the federal agency that regulates interstate trucking -- trucks carrying loads designated as hazmat are more dangerous in an accident than other trucks. The agency found that 11% of all truck loads are hazardous materials -- and more than three-quarters of all trucks carrying hazmat loads are carrying flammable liquids or gases. Trucks carrying hazmat crashed at about the same rate as other trucks -- but they were three times as likely to have a rollover accident, 50% more likely to have a cargo spill and more than three times as likely to catch fire after an accident.

Based in Belleville and St. Louis, the Lowe Law Firm represents clients in southern Illinois and all of Missouri in trucking accident lawsuits. The St. Louis trucking accident lawyers can help people who sustained serious injuries or lost a loved one recover the money they need to pay accident-related costs, make ends meet after a loss of income and compensate them for a loss in the family or permanent disability. If you are in this situation, we can help with a free, confidential consultation on your case. To set one up, please contact us online or call us toll-free at 1-877-678-3400 today.

Elsewhere in St. Louis, the newspaper said, the driver of another tractor-trailer was acquitted of criminally negligent involuntary manslaughter for the death of his passenger in a 2006 St. Louis truck accident. The truck driven by Paramjit Singh Grewai in that accident skidded off the ramp and fell 60 feet, killing the passenger, Harbinder Singh, and seriously injuring Grewai. Law enforcement argued that he was driving erratically -- he had been on the road for 16 hours straight -- when he approached the bridge. Grewai himself testified that his brakes malfunctioned. The judge in the case didn’t believe him, but said his actions didn’t amount to criminal negligence.

As a St. Louis tractor-trailer accident lawyer, I can’t help but notice that these accidents took place in the same stretch of road. In fact, the last paragraph of the article on Grewai notes that MoDOT, in response to concerns about trucks speeding on the ramp, installed a retaining wall, flashing lights and signs setting a speed limit of 20 mph. The article on the more recent accident said police believed the truck driver had been driving too fast before the crash. Since both of these accidents took place after the new safety measures, it seems clear that speed is still a problem on the Poplar Street bridge.

I am not a traffic engineer, although of course I am interested in traffic issues because of my work as a Missouri semi truck accident attorney. However, if a truck accident is caused by roads where authorities know or should know there’s a clear hazard, victims may be able to hold those authorities liable for any accidents they fail to prevent. Accidents caused by defective roadways are relatively rare, but they do happen. When they do, it’s important to enlist help from an experienced truck accident lawyer to ensure that you don’t get lost in the maze of additional deadlines, bureaucracy and rules you must follow when suing a government agency.

The Lowe Law Firm is a St. Louis and Belleville, Ill. law firm specializing in helping victims of serious Missouri and Illinois truck crashes recover the money they need to get medical care, make ends meet and compensate for a disability or a death in the family. If you are in this situation, we can help. To set up a free, confidential consultation, please call toll-free at 1-877-678-3400 or contact us through our Web site.