With so many large trucks on the road, it’s no wonder that they are involved in thousands of serious crashes each year. Many accidents are caused by driving errors by truck drivers. Because a semi-truck can weigh 10 to 20 times more than a passenger car, accidents involving large trucks often result in catastrophic injuries to the occupants of the smaller vehicle.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident that was someone else’s fault, you may have a right to seek compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, and other accident expenses.
The St. Louis truck injury lawyers with Craig, Kelly & Faultless LLC understand how devastating a semi-truck accident can be. Since 1999, we have helped truck accident victims and their families pursue fair compensation for the harm they have suffered through no fault of their own. Our award-winning attorneys have the resources and tenacity to take on trucking companies and their insurers. We resolve most cases without a trial. But if the insurance company refuses to agree to a fair settlement, we won’t hesitate to present your case in court.
Discuss your legal options with a knowledgeable attorney. Contact Craig, Kelly & Faultless LLC today for a free consultation with a St. Louis truck accident lawyer.
Common Types of Injuries from Truck Accidents
Injuries caused by truck accidents are often more severe than those involving only cars because semi-trucks are so much heavier than passenger vehicles. While a sedan typically weighs around 2,000-3,000 pounds and a sport utility vehicle weighs about 5,000-6,000 pounds, a semi-truck with an empty trailer weighs around 30,000 pounds. If the truck’s trailer is full, the combined rig can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. This massive weight difference means that in a collision a truck hits with much more force than a smaller vehicle. The increase in force often results in more severe injuries.
Some of the most common truck accident injuries in St. Louis include:
- Traumatic brain injuries – A traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head affects the brain’s ability to function properly. In a truck accident, the violent impact can cause a person’s brain to be bruised or have nerve fibers stretched or torn. Hard blows or sharp objects may cause skull fractures or penetrating head injuries. Traumatic brain injuries are particularly concerning because they can cause permanent losses of function.
- Spinal cord injuries – The extreme force of a truck accident can injure the spinal cord directly or damage the vertebrae and discs that help protect the spinal cord. The spinal cord can be severed, causing permanent paralysis such as paraplegia (loss of bodily functions below the waist) or quadriplegia (loss of bodily functions below the neck).
- External head injuries – Truck accident victims frequently suffer external injuries to the head and face. The injuries are often caused by shards of broken glass or other objects flying through the cabin or passengers hitting their heads or faces on the car’s dashboard or steering wheel. The injuries can cause permanent scarring and disfigurement in some cases.
- Neck and back injuries – A hard jolt to the head or back can result in neck and back injuries from the muscles and ligaments in the neck being stretched beyond the normal range of motion. Back injuries such as herniated discs are also common and can significantly limit mobility after a crash.
- Internal injuries – The impact of a truck accident can injure your body’s internal organs. Severe internal bleeding can be fatal if not treated quickly. Injuries to internal organs often have permanent effects that can impact different areas of your life.
- Burns – If a car catches fire after a truck accident, anyone trapped inside the burning vehicle is likely to suffer damage to the lungs from smoke inhalation, burn injuries, and severe scarring. . Severe burns can be extremely painful and often require patients to receive treatment in a specialized burn hospital. Multiple cosmetic surgeries may be needed to address scarring.
- Crushed or severed limbs – Passenger vehicles are often mangled in truck accidents, potentially pinning occupants in the wreckage. In some cases, crash victims can have their arms or legs crushed or severed. They may require surgical amputation if a limb has been too severely injured to heal properly.
- Traumatic orthopedic injuries – A traumatic orthopedic injury occurs when something damages the musculoskeletal system, which includes the bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. If a major ligament or tendon is injured or torn, you may need surgery and long-term physical therapy to regain full functionality and mobility.
- Broken bones – People frequently sustain broken arms, wrists, legs, feet, ribs, and other bone fractures in truck accidents. If the injuries do not heal correctly, they can be extremely painful and impair your mobility.
- Emotional and psychological distress – A truck accident can be a violent, traumatic experience. Many crash victims experience deep psychological distress for months or years afterward. Psychological distress can include nightmares, increased anxiety, depression, flashbacks, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal thoughts, and other mental health conditions.
If you have sustained significant injuries in a truck accident, you may have hefty medical bills. You shouldn’t be burdened with medical debt because of an accident someone else caused. A St. Louis truck accident lawyer at Craig, Kelley & Faultless can help you seek full compensation to cover your medical expenses and related losses.
Fatalities in Truck Accidents
While truck accidents are less common than other motor vehicle accidents, they account for a disproportionate share of traffic fatalities. According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), commercial trucks make up only about five percent of all registered vehicles in the United States, but truck accidents account for almost 15 percent of traffic fatalities nationwide. A total of 5,244 traffic fatalities occurred in truck accidents in a recent year.
St. Louis Truck Accident Injury Statistics
Here are a few statistics to illustrate how common truck accident injuries are in Missouri and across the United States:
- The FMCSA estimated that there were roughly 127,000 injury crashes involving large trucks or buses across the U.S. in a recent year, leading to approximately 182,000 injuries.
- According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 5,000 people were killed in large-truck crashes in the U.S. in a recent year. More than 70 percent of the people fatally injured were occupants of other vehicles involved in the crash.
- More than 600 people died in large truck accidents in Missouri from 2016 through 2020, according to the NHTSA. The fatal truck crashes included 30 traffic deaths in St. Louis County and 28 in St. Louis city.
- Recent information from the Missouri State Highway Patrol more than 1,000 tractor-trailers of different configurations were involved in injury crashes in a recent year.
How Our St. Louis Trucking Accident Injury Lawyers Can Help
Truck accidents can lead to substantial expenses and losses in the form of medical bills, lost income, damaged property, pain and suffering, and more. An experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyer can help you demand the full compensation you deserve for these and other losses by:
- Investigating the accident – Multiple parties could be liable for your injuries in a truck accident, from the truck driver and the trucking company to the maintenance crews and cargo loaders. We can conduct a thorough investigation to identify who is liable for your injuries and find all possible sources of compensation.
- Documenting your injuries – You need thorough documentation of your injuries to pursue compensation after a truck accident. Our legal team can review your medical records and other evidence to help maximize your compensation.
- Filing a claim – There is a lot of paperwork involved in a truck accident case. We can take care of filing an insurance claim on your behalf and ensuring all documents are timely filed so you can focus on healing.
- Negotiating a fair settlement – Most truck accident cases end in an insurance settlement without going to trial. Our lawyers have the experience and knowledge to negotiate effectively with the insurance companies involved for a just settlement.
- Bringing your case to trial – If the insurance company refuses to offer a reasonable settlement, we will be prepared to take your case to trial to pursue compensation in civil court for your injuries. We have extensive trial experience and can build a persuasive case on your behalf.
If you were hurt in a St. Louis truck accident, the attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC are ready to help you seek fair compensation for your injuries. Contact our office today at (800) 746-0226 for a free consultation and learn more about what we can do for you.
