Maneuvering large trucks can be challenging even in ideal weather conditions. Adverse weather can make roads slick, reduce visibility and increase stopping distances. In bad weather, truck drivers need to slow down, allow greater distance to stop, and drive at speeds that are reasonable for the road conditions. But some truckers do not use a reasonable level of care behind the wheel when driving in adverse weather.
A trucking company and its insurers may claim that a truck wreck in bad weather was an act of God and that no one is at fault. But many weather-related accidents are caused by truck drivers who fail to take adequate caution in inclement weather.
At Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC, we want to help you pursue fair and full compensation if you’ve been injured in a truck accident caused by a truck driver’s disregard for safety. We have been representing truck accident victims for more than 20 years, helping them demand just compensation to rebuild their lives. Contact us today at (314) 367-2661 for a free consultation with a truck accident attorney in St. Louis, MO.
How Bad Weather Makes Trucks More Prone to Accidents
There is no question that driving on Missouri roads is more challenging during certain months of the year when adverse weather including freezing rain and snow is more likely.
There are two primary ways that bad weather can contribute to truck wrecks:
- Poor visibility – Heavy rain, snow, and fog, can reduce visibility. If a truck driver has trouble seeing what is happening ahead, it is extremely difficult for the driver to maneuver safely, particularly when traveling at highway speed. In low-visibility situations, truck drivers should reduce their speed to account for the driving conditions.
- Loss of traction –Snow, ice, sleet, rain, and other types of bad weather increase a truck’s stopping distance and can make a truck more likely to lose traction. If the drive wheels lose their grip on a slick road, it can cause a jackknife accident. In situations where weather makes a road more hazardous, truck drivers need to slow down and be especially careful.
Weather-Related Truck Accident Statistics
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) keeps records of the weather conditions in truck accidents nationwide.
Here are the number and percentage of accidents in various weather conditions for one recent year:
- Clear weather – 2,925 fatal crashes (65.3 percent of all fatal crashes), 84,000 injury crashes (73.3 percent of all injury crashes)
- Cloudy – 668 fatal crashes (14.9 percent of all fatal crashes), 17,000 injury crashes (14.8 percent of all injury crashes)
- Rain – 357 fatal crashes (8 percent of all fatal crashes), 11,000 injury crashes (9.2 percent of all injury crashes)
- Snow – 84 fatal crashes (1.9 percent of all fatal crashes), 2,000 injury crashes (2.2 percent of all injury crashes)
Who Is At Fault for a Bad Weather Truck Crash in St. Louis, MO?
Truck drivers are trained to drive in all types of weather.
In hazardous driving conditions, they should:
- Reduce their speed to account for longer stopping distances or poor visibility
- Put chains on their tires in snowy or icy conditions when permitted
- Check the truck to make sure the brakes and other crucial parts are working properly
Traveling the posted speed limit of 65 miles per hour on Interstate 55 in St. Louis may be unsafe in heavy rain, sleet or snow or if the traffic lanes have standing water on them. The driver may need to adjust their speed, allow more room to stop, and take other precautions.
When truck drivers disregard hazardous driving conditions and cause crashes, they may be legally liable for the harm they cause. They are not the only potentially liable party in the event of an accident, however.
Other parties who may be at fault include:
- The trucking company – Trucking companies may put pressure on their drivers to make deliveries on schedule without accounting for bad weather. If the trucking company pushed a truck driver to keep going despite dangerous weather conditions, the company could be partly liable for a crash.
- Truck and parts manufacturers —If a truck’s brakes or other crucial components fail due to a design or manufacturing defect, the driver may not be able to keep control of the truck when trying to brake on slick roads. In such cases, a vehicle or parts manufacturer may be held partly liable for a weather-related accident.
- Maintenance personnel – If a faulty or worn part isn’t repaired or replaced when a truck goes in for maintenance, it could fail in poor weather conditions and lead to an accident. The repair garage responsible for maintaining the commercial fleet may have liability for a truck wreck.
- Cargo loaders – A truck’s cargo must be carefully loaded and properly secured and immobilized to keep it from moving while the truck is on the highway. If a truck’s cargo shifts in transit, it may cause the truck driver to lose control, potentially leading to a crash. The company that loaded the cargo may have liability.
Compensation for a Weather-Related Truck Accident
A truck accident can result in serious injuries that necessitate extensive medical treatment, time off work, loss of income, and ongoing emotional trauma. The determination of fault in a weather-related truck accident must be undertaken on a case-by-case basis. If our truck accident investigation determines that a truck driver or trucking company’s negligence contributed to a semi-truck accident in adverse driving conditions, our legal team can help you demand compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Medical bills
- Lost income due to missed work
- Reduced future earnings
- Damaged personal property
Contact a Weather-Related Truck Accident Lawyer in St. Louis Today
Poor weather conditions can certainly contribute to a truck wreck. But commercial truck drivers have a duty to respond reasonably to road and weather conditions. When truck drivers and trucking companies fail to respond appropriately and their negligence causes a serious crash with injuries, they may be financially responsible for the harm caused.
If you were injured in a weather-related truck accident in St. Louis or elsewhere in Missouri, you have the right to seek compensation for the harm you have suffered due to others’ carelessness or disregard for safety. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC can help you hold accountable those at fault and seek compensation to rebuild your life after a serious injury. Contact us today for a free consultation with a St. Louis truck accident attorney and find out what we can do for you.
