Truck Accidents
St. Louis Trucking Accident Leads to Manslaughter Charges
Posted by: Christopher Hoffmann
April 16, 2009
A St. Louis trucking accident that left three people dead is a criminal matter, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Last summer, a distracted truck driver crashed into a line of cars stopped in traffic on Highway 40 in St. Louis. The truck driver admitted to the Missouri Highway Patrol that he had been distracted by his cell phone just before the fatal trucking accident.
The trucker, Jeffrey R. Knight, was criminally negligent. He faces three counts of involuntary manslaughter.
In addition to distracted driving, there are many other trucking accident causes including:
- Truck Driver Fatigue: Truck driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of truck accidents in Missouri and Illinois. Although laws are designed to limit truck driving activity, many drivers either disobey the law or engage in physical activity during the time they should be resting to drive.
- Drunk Driving Accidents: A significant number of trucking accidents are caused by the use of alcohol or drugs by the truck driver. Some truck drivers ignore the stringent laws against drunk driving or drug use, and their lawbreaking may lead to a catastrophic semi truck accident.
- Brake Failure: Brake failure, tire blowouts, brake light failure or other dangerous conditions that go undetected because of the truck owner's failure to properly inspect or maintain the vehicle. It should be noted that the truck rig and the truck trailer are often owned by different people, each of whom has a responsibility to properly maintain their part.
- Improper Load Balancing: Warehouse workers who improperly balance the truck load can cause a truck driver to lose control of the truck when the load shifts unexpectedly, resulting in a rollover.
To discuss the details of your trucking accident claim with an experienced lawyer, please schedule a free consultation by calling us at 314.361.4242 or fill out our personal injury intake form today. Attorney Chris Hoffmann will personally call you back. In commercial trucking accident claims, experience matters.
Truck Driver Fatigue
Posted by: Christopher Hoffmann
March 20, 2009
A new rule that allows truck drivers to spend an extra hour on the road has been heavily criticized by a consortium of labor and safety groups including The Teamsters, Public Citizen, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and the Truck Safety Coalition.
As reported by Logistics Management, the consortium asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Court to overturn the hours of service regulations. They also sent a letter to Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood seeking a reduction in the number of consecutive hours driving hours.
On Jan. 19, a rule promulgated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration went into effect which allows truck drivers to drive 11 hours within a 15-hour workday. The prior rule limited driving hours to ten hours in a 15-hour period. The new rule would also allow drivers to return to work after only 34-hours off duty. The prior rule required two days of off-duty time.
Opponents of the rule note that an FMCSA study concluded that fatigue-related crashes increased dramatically after eight consecutive hours of driving.
Approximately 5000 people are killed each year in truck accidents. With three major interstates running through the Missouri-Illinois border in St. Louis - I-44, I-64 and I-70 - Missouri and Illinois see their fair share of trucking accidents.
When a two-ton car collides with a 40-ton truck, regardless of fault, it is usually worse for the victims in the car. If you have been involved in a serious truck accident in Missouri or Illinois, you should immediately contact an experienced truck accident lawyer.
At The Hoffmann Law Firm, we only handle car and truck accident claims, and we are very good at our job. Attorney Chris Hoffmann personally handles every truck accident claim himself.
Cell Phone Could Have Triggered Tragic Multi-Car Crash
Posted by: Christopher Hoffmann
January 15, 2009
A recently released report from the Missouri Highway Patrol reveals that the driver of a tractor-trailer who barreled into a line of cars stopped in traffic on the highway admitted he was on his cell phone just before the crash that killed three and injured 15, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
According to the report, the driver told a nurse who arrived at the scene to help:
"I am sorry. This probably would not have happened if I would not have been on my cell phone."
The accident happened on July 15, 2008 on Highway 40 just near the Interstate 270 exchange in St. Louis.
Jeffrey R. Knight, the truck driver, told investigators:
"I reached across the dash to get my cell phone. I flipped the phone open, looked back at traffic, and I was right at the last car (in the line of cars stuck in traffic). I didn't see any brake lights or emergency flashers. After I hit the first car, I just remember holding the steering wheel and seeing cars go to my left and right."
The statements were included in a 140-page report compiled by the Missouri Highway Patrol's accident reconstruction team. As soon as a separate report is prepared by the officer at the scene, the information will be given to the St. Louis County prosecuting attorney's office to determine what, if any, charges should be filed.
A traffic accident involving a large commercial truck, such as an 18-wheeler or semi truck, can have disastrous consequences. A typical fully loaded large commercial truck can weigh over 80,000 pounds, while an average passenger automobile weighs approximately 3,000 pounds. Because of the sheer size of trucks, any collision between a commercial truck and another vehicle is likely to result in serious, even fatal, injuries.
It is critical to begin investigating the accident as soon as possible so that evidence is preserved. There are a variety of types of information that are relevant to claims, including information about previous violations of regulations by the trucking company or driver involved, the truck's maintenance records, the speed the truck and other vehicles were traveling, the location of the impact on the vehicles' exteriors, the truck driver's log book and statements from eye witnesses and first responders to the accident scene, such as emergency personnel and police officers. Another critical piece of evidence is the truck's "black box," which records data before, during and after a collision. It will probably also be useful to investigate the trucking company's policies and procedures.
An expert can be a tremendous resource to use in proving truck accident cases. An expert can testify about the possible negligence of a trucking company based on his or her familiarity with trucking regulations. An expert can be any person who has significant experience in the trucking field, such as a trucking company's safety director, the former owner of a trucking company, a former investigator for the state department of transportation or a computer expert who has experience obtaining information from the "black box."
If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a trucking accident, contact The Hoffmann Law Firm. To schedule a free consultation, call 314.361.4242 or fill out a personal injury intake form today. Attorney Chris Hoffmann will personally call you back. If you have a trucking injury claim, our experience can make a difference.
Kansas Couple Wins $23.5M Judgment Arising out of Truck Collision
Posted by: Christopher Hoffmann
December 04, 2008
A jury in Wichita awarded a Kansas couple $23.5 million for injuries arising out of crash involving two tractor-trailers, the Wichita Business Journal reports.
The accident occurred on a rural New Mexico highway on March 16, 2006. Terry Frederick was riding in a Yellow Freight semi when it collided into the back of a Swift Transportation tractor-trailer.
Frederick suffered a severe spinal cord injury. Dennis Bottorff, the driver of the Yellow Freight truck, was killed in the accident.
It was alleged that the Swift driver, who tested positive for methamphetamines in a drug test administered after the accident, caused the accident when she tried to back up from a rest stop and onto a highway.
The jury concluded that the Swift driver was 65 percent at fault for the accident so the judge reduced the award to $15.3 million.
Most truckers are safe drivers who understand the risks they face on the highway. Unfortunately, there are truck drivers on the road who are not operating safely. Truck accidents are commonly caused by driver fatigue, failure to follow safety guidelines, failure to properly load the truck or secure cargo, overloading and using alcohol or drugs while driving.
Personal injury lawyer, Chris Hoffmann, advises and represents clients throughout Missouri and Illinois involved in truck accidents. When you retain our services you can expect highly personal service from an experienced attorney who will aggressively pursue your claim. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 314.361.4242.
Semi Overturns, Kills Work Zone Flagger
Posted by: Christopher Hoffmann
October 02, 2008
Last week's death of a Missouri Department of Transportation flagger is yet another grim reminder of the need to slow down in construction zones.
On Sept. 25, 56-year-old Mikey Wagoner of Rolla was working as a flagger in a construction zone on U.S. 63 in southern Missouri, the Associated Press reports. At about 5 p.m. a semi driven by Edward LaFleuer of Indianapolis slammed into the back of a sport utility vehicle that had stopped for the highway construction.
The 18-wheeler ran off the road and the rig overturned on Wagoner. The driver of the SUV, Deborah Holloway, suffered moderate injuries.
According to MoDot, most work zone crashes are caused by inattention, excessive speed and following too closely. In 2007, five people were killed in work zones. In 2006, 19 people died.
As I mentioned in my Aug. 21 blog post, MoDot asks drivers to stay alert, watch for flaggers and slow down. For truck drivers who operate big rigs weighing as much as 40 tons, the precautions are even more critical.
If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident in a construction zone, contact The Hoffmann Law Firm. To schedule a free consultation, call 314.361.4242 or fill out a personal injury intake form today. Attorney Chris Hoffmann will personally call you back. If you have a motor vehicle injury claim, our experience can make a difference.
The Hidden Dangers of Truck Stops
Posted by: Christopher Hoffmann
August 27, 2008
While many motorists understand the hazards of driving near a tractor-trailer on the highway, they may not know that walking across a truck stop can also be dangerous.
On Aug. 23, truck driver George Taylor of Webb City, Mo., was walking near the diesel pumps at a truck stop in Sioux Falls, S.D. at about 10:30 p.m., when he was struck and killed in a hit-and-run accident involving a semi.
Journalist Matthew Gruchow of the Argus-Leader notes in "Leads sought in hit-and-run death," that Taylor is the second person to die at the truck stop. Three years ago, another man was struck by a big rig and killed in a hit-and-run accident.
Truck stops are most dangerous during the evening hours, according to ABC-affiliate KSFY in Sioux Falls. Truckers told KSFY that by the evening, drivers are trying to finish up their day. They're tired and may not be concentrating on their surroundings.
Carl Riddle, one of the truck drivers interviewed, said his truck was hit at a truck stop recently. He observed that at truck stops in the evening, "paying attention just kind of goes away."
Riddle admitted that in the rush to get back out on the road, the situation can become deadly.
"It's just something that I hope never happens to me. And yet in the back of my mind there is always the possibility that it could."
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a trucking accident, contact The Hoffmann Law Firm through our online contact form or by calling 866-763-6433.
Semi Involved in Horrific Multi-Car Accident
Posted by: Christopher Hoffmann
July 16, 2008
Topics
Recent Updates
April 30, 2009
Missouri Motorcycle Legislation Headed to Governor
April 23, 2009
Hit and Run Accident Kills Pedestrian
April 16, 2009
St. Louis Trucking Accident Leads to Manslaughter Charges
April 09, 2009
Traumatic Amputations and Automobile Accidents
April 02, 2009
Head injuries in St. Louis may one day be detected by a blood test
