Truck Accident Lawyers in St. Louis
We Help Victims Receive the Compensation They Deserve
Big rigs can cause some of the most destructive accidents in terms of injury severity and the number of people involved. If a driver loses control of a truck, for whatever reason, anyone in their path can face serious or even catastrophic injuries. Worse, the number of fatal truck accidents has increased since 2010 and in 2018, more than 4,000 people died in accidents involving big rigs. Two-thirds of them were drivers or passengers in other cars. Alongside these tragic deaths, thousands of others end up in the hospital each year after a truck accident, sometimes with injuries that can never fully be healed.
Accidents that result in serious injury or even fatality can impact an entire family. From high medical bills to changes in work and living situations and more, you deserve help as you try to adjust. Our team is here to help the victims of truck accidents file for compensation.
Have you or a loved one been injured in a truck accident that was not your fault? Call our St. Louis attorneys at (314) 500-6000 to schedule a free consultation.
Trial Ready Attorneys Who Go the Distance
We'll Fight to Get You the Justice You Deserve
Why Truck Accident Claims Are Complicated?
Trying to receive compensation from commercial insurers is typically a complex process. If multiple parties share liability, they may get into arguments among themselves, which delays victims’ ability to receive the compensation they may need for medical bills, rent or mortgage payments, and other living expenses. Anyone caught in this kind of situation can feel frustrated or even helpless.
Here are some of the complexities you may have to navigate as a truck accident victim.
Liability: The Driver or the Company?
Drivers’ employment status—whether they are full-time workers or independent contractors—matters when it comes to truck accident claims. However, many companies wrongly classify drivers as independent contractors because it saves them money and releases them from liability.
Companies may have larger insurance limits than individual truck drivers. Therefore, accident victims facing serious injuries may find it in their best interest to first challenge the employer’s misclassification so they can receive a settlement that meets their needs. This can be a lengthy process, and not one we’d recommend anyone try to handle on their own. An attorney can help you determine the viability of your claim and whether such a battle is worth the time and effort it will take.
Proving Equipment Defects
Sometimes, truck drivers lose control of their vehicle because it breaks down while they are on the road. The weight and size of big trucks make them harder to maneuver and stop in the best of conditions. When one or more important parts fail, the driver may not be able to avoid an accident. Mechanical issues that may lead to collisions include:
- Tire blowouts
- Brake failure
- Electrical issues
- Engine failure
- Trailer coupling breakage
In accidents caused under these conditions, the driver cannot be held liable—blame rests either with the company responsible for maintaining the truck or a manufacturer that shipped faulty parts. To file a claim against either, you will need to be able to demonstrate how the mechanical failure happened and its role in the accident. Working with an experienced accident attorney can give you access to the resources necessary to build a strong claim.
Multi-Car Accidents and Liability Limits
The at-fault party’s insurance is liable for all victims of an accident. Some truck accidents unfortunately involve more than one other vehicle. Filing correctly is especially important in such cases because, when multiple claims come in for the same accident, an insurer may hit its liability limit and leave some victims without a fair settlement. If you’re in this situation, you should speak to an attorney as soon as possible so you can protect your right to compensation.
Work with Our Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys
The amount of work it takes accident victims to receive a settlement can be overwhelming, especially for those recovering from serious injuries. If you know you need compensation but aren’t sure how or when the process will end, please reach out to our team. We want to help you recover. We can take the lead on negotiating with insurers and, if necessary, filing a lawsuit on your behalf.
Get an experienced truck accident attorney on your side today. Call Geoff Meyerkord Law Firm at (314) 310-5859 to speak with our St. Louis team.
We're Here for You
Working With Our Firm-
We Take Cases to Trial
At Geoff Meyerkord Law Firm, we founded our practice around our passion for getting our clients the best possible outcome. To ensure this, we often take cases to trial and won't accept unfair offers from insurance companies.
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Day or Night, We're Here for You
Attorney Geoff Meyerkord as well as many of our staff are available 24/7 and on weekends. We know injuries can happen at any time of day and we always get back to our clients as quickly as possible.
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90% of Success is Preparation
We know that getting our clients the results they deserve requires an extensive amount of research, preparation, and critical thinking. Once we prepare our strategy, we focus group our cases to maximize results.
