Kansas City Truck Accident Lawyer
Have you been involved in a truck accident?
At Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott, we understand the catastrophic impact that truck accidents can have. When we take on a client who has suffered injury or lost a loved one due to a truck accident, we give our full and undivided attention to their case. Get the attentive care you need from our Kansas City truck accident attorneys today!
Dial (816) 867-8611 or complete a convenient online form to discuss your truck accident case with our team.
Understanding the Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can have devastating consequences, often resulting in severe injuries and property damage. It is crucial to understand the common causes of truck accidents to help prevent them and protect yourself on the road.
Some common causes of truck accidents include:
- Driver fatigue: Truck drivers often work long hours and may push themselves to meet tight deadlines, leading to fatigue and decreased alertness on the road.
- Distracted driving: Just like any other driver, truck drivers can be distracted by cell phones, GPS devices, or other distractions, which can impair their ability to react to sudden changes in traffic.
- Improper maintenance: Neglected or poorly maintained trucks can experience mechanical failures, such as brake failures or tire blowouts, which can cause accidents.
- Overloaded or improperly loaded cargo: When cargo is not properly secured or distributed, it can shift during transit, leading to loss of control and potential accidents.
- Driving under the influence: Truck drivers who operate their vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol pose a significant risk to themselves and others on the road.
By understanding these causes, you can take proactive steps to avoid truck accidents and protect yourself and your loved ones. If you have been involved in a truck accident, our experienced Kansas City truck accident lawyers are here to help you navigate the legal process and seek the compensation you deserve.
What Makes Truck Accident Cases Different?
Although truck accidents do not occur as frequently as other auto accidents, they often have devastating impacts. Due to their large size, speed and the difficulty in maneuvering, these trucks play a large role in some of the most catastrophic and detrimental of all auto accidents. Likewise, this increased potential for devastation means that truck accidents tend to carry higher financial liability and are more fiercely contested by insurance companies.
Truck accident cases typically require extensive investigations to determine fault, such as combing through logbooks and trucking company records, downloading data from electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs), video surveillance footage, and consulting with accident reconstruction experts.
It is not uncommon for multiple parties to be liable for a trucking accident, including:
- The truck driver: Truck drivers have a responsibility to obey the rules of the road as well as various regulations established by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), such as hour limits on driving, mandatory pre-trip inspections, and mandatory rest breaks. Other acts such as using a cell phone while driving driving while intoxicated, or making illegal lane changes can all expose a big rig driver to liability in the event of a collision.
- The trucking company: Trucking companies that fail to adopt adequate safety plans and hiring standards expose their truckers, other motorists, and pedestrians to the risk of injury and can be held liable if an accident should occur. Likewise, trucking companies have a duty to regularly inspect and maintain their fleet of trucks and can be liable if these standards are not met.
- The truck manufacturer: Even the safest trucking company and driver can be involved in a crash if their truck or its parts are defective. Tire blowouts, failing brakes, and faulty trailer hitches are just some of the many defects that can lead to a devastating collision.
Whether caused by poor training of the driver, fatigue, poor weather conditions, malfunctioning vehicles and defective parts, if you have been injured in a collision with a large truck, it is absolutely imperative that you do not hesitate to secure the necessary level of compensation from a Kansas City truck accident attorney.
By evaluating your individual case and aggressively fighting insurance companies for the necessary level of compensation, we at Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott will do everything in our power to ensure that you are treated with the high-quality legal service that you deserve.
Get Started on Your Injury Claim Today
If you or a loved one have recently been injured or killed in an accident of this nature, you should not hesitate to secure the legal assistance that you deserve. Truck accidents can leave their victims with life-altering consequences that are difficult, if not impossible, to overcome without the proper level of compensation. If you choose to work with an attorney from our firm, you can be confident that you will have the support and guidance that you deserve in fighting to defend your rights.
Have you been involved in an accident? Don't wait! Contact our team today.