St. Louis Truck Accident Lawyer

In 2020, there were nearly 5,000 truck accidents in Missouri. Nearly 2,300 people were injured and 120 perished. Lives are lost and countless others are irrevocably altered when someone is negligent while operating a vehicle weighing up to 40 tons.

If you have been injured in an 18-wheeler accident, or if a loved one has been incapacitated or killed, you have the right to pursue compensation for a number of different expenses, including medical bills, funeral costs, and lost wages.

At Jett Legal, we are proud to represent truck accident victims in St. Louis, Missouri, and from Jefferson County to St. Charles County. Finding compensation may be a challenging journey, but our firm is committed to fighting with you every step of the way.

Contact a St. Louis truck accident lawyer at Jett Legal today.

What Laws Affect Truck Safety and Personal Injury Claims?

The operation of semi-trucks is subject to stricter federal and state laws designed to maintain safety while on the road. The sheer size and weight of semi-trucks make them infinitely more dangerous than passenger vehicles. The operations, inspections, safety requirements, compliance reviews and audits, driver training and qualifications, and minimum requirements for liability insurance coverage are subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and a number of different rules and regulations outlined by the Missouri Department of Transportation Motor Carrier Services Division.

Missouri Statute of Limitations

In Missouri, there is a five-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including those resulting from a truck accident. If you have been injured in an accident involving a semi-truck, or a loved one has been incapacitated, you have five years from the date of the accident to either settle an insurance claim against all liable parties or file a lawsuit in the appropriate Missouri court.

There is a two-year statute of limitations imposed on wrongful death claims. If your loved one was killed in a truck crash, you have two years from the date of death to settle a claim or file a lawsuit. The date of death may be later than the date of the accident if the death resulted from the truck accident injuries.

Who Can I Hold Liable for Injuries or Death?

Liability or “fault” for an 18-wheeler accident can lie with more than one individual or entity. Under the law, you can file a truck accident claim or lawsuit against any party whose negligence contributed to the crash.

This includes:

• The truck driver who failed to inspect the semi-truck properly, logged excessive hours on the road and was fatigued, operated the vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or simply failed to pay attention.
• The trucking company that failed to adequately train or supervise truck drivers, placed profit over safety, or put a driver with a poor safety record back on the road.
• The manufacturer of the semi-truck or trailer, or of any parts used, if the truck or its parts are found to be faulty, such as defective brakes or a compromised coupling mechanism.
• Maintenance personnel who failed to inspect, repair, and maintain the vehicle.
• A person who improperly loaded cargo that led to shifting or falling cargo, causing an accident.

There are a number of other factors to consider when determining liability for a crash, including potential negligence or pure comparative fault on the part of the drivers of passenger vehicles involved, as well as road and weather conditions at the time of the crash.