Missouri Truck Accident Causes: Common Reasons Crashes Happen
Missouri is also a major transportation corridor for goods moving across the country. The I-70, I-44, I-35, I-55 and I-29 – are all routes through which thousands of large, commercial trucks pass every day. This, of course, increases the likelihood of serious truck accidents across Missouri.
Understanding the common causes of truck accidents can be important not just because it can help prevent these devastating crashes, but also to understand how liability is determined after an accident involving a commercial truck. In this piece, we’ll look into what are some of the most common reasons truck accidents happen in Missouri.
Why Missouri Experiences So Many Truck Accidents
Missouri does see a higher number of truck accidents each year mainly because it serves as a major transportation hub in the Midwest. So, every day, thousands of tractor-trailers and large trucks travel through the state. This creates a high-risk environment for serious truck crashes.
A number of interstate highways crisscross Missouri contributing to the heavy truck traffic. Interstate 70 connects Kansas City and St. Louis while serving as one of the nation’s busiest east-west freight corridors. Interstate 44 that links Missouri with Texas and Oklahoma while Interstate 55 serves as an important north-south route for freight traveling along the Mississippi River corridor. Interstate 35 connects Missouri with neighboring states and other major distribution centers.
The metro areas of St. Louis and Kansas City also see plenty of truck traffic because they are a major hub for the logistics and freight industries. The state’s strong agricultural and industrial sectors generate truck traffic as well because commercial trucks are needed to transport crops, animals, construction materials, machinery, etc.
Driver Fatigue
Driving a truck across state lines means drivers spend long hours behind the wheel, often working overnight, under pressure to meet tight delivery deadlines. Even when they take mandatory rest breaks, drivers can become exhausted if they haven’t slept enough or have been on the road continuously for many hours.
Federal hours-of-service (HOS) regulations are designed to help reduce such fatigue-related crashes. These regulations basically limit the number of hours truck drivers can operate before taking required breaks. But, drivers and trucking companies may violate these rules especially when they are under pressure to meet deadlines. This increases crash risks.
Sleep deprivation seriously affects a driver’s ability to operate a large truck safely. Drivers may experience delayed reaction times, an inability to focus and impaired judgment. Commercial trucks also take more time to come to a stop. So, even a brief lapse in attention can have tragic consequences.
Fatigue-related truck accidents often involve rear-end collisions, head-on crashes or lane departures. Research has shown that severe fatigue can impair a driver in a manner that’s similar to driving under the influence of alcohol. A sleep-deprived driver may not be in a position to make sound decisions or respond quickly to dangerous conditions. And there’s little room for error when you are driving an 80,000-pound truck.
Distracted Driving
Operating a large truck requires drivers to be alert at all times so they are in a position to make quick decisions while being aware of their surroundings. When a truck driver’s eyes, hands or attention shift away from the road or the task of driving, the risk of a serious crash increase dramatically.
One of the common driving distractions these days is a cell phone. Distracting behavior while driving may include reading or sending texts, making phone calls, scrolling on social media or checking notifications. Adjusting a GPS could also have a similar effect.
Commercial truck drivers may also sometimes become distracted by dispatch communications, which trucking companies use to update drivers about route changes or delivery schedules. Even eating, drinking or reaching for something inside the cab can cause a truck driver become inattentive and cause a crash.
Speeding and Driving Too Fast for Conditions
Since commercial trucks require extra time and distance to come to a stop, when truck drivers go over the speed limit or don’t adjust their driving to changing road/weather conditions, major accidents or highway pileups can happen. Higher speeds also increase the intensity of a crash, leading to catastrophic injuries or deaths.
Going over the posted speed limit: When a truck driver speeds, it makes it much harder for them to react to changes in traffic conditions or debris on the roadway. When drivers violate speed limits, they may not be able to stop the vehicle in time, which often results in deadly rear-end crashes. Sometimes, speeding truck drivers can also lose control of the vehicle, resulting in rollovers, jackknife accidents and loss of steering stability.
Driving too fast for conditions: Even if truck drivers are sticking to the speed limit, they also need to pay attention to road conditions, traffic and the weather. For example, if it is snowing, if traffic is building or if roadways are icy, truck drivers must slow down — even if the posted speed limit is higher.
Improper Truck Maintenance
Proper vehicle maintenance is so important for large trucks because they go long distances while lugging heavy loads across places where road and weather conditions vary dramatically. When truck companies or owners skip routine inspections, maintenance or necessary repairs, it can lead to devastating accidents. Some of the common issues as a result of improper truck maintenance include:
Brake failures: Worn brake pads, for instance, can reduce a truck’s ability to stop in time. This could cause rear-end crashes or street intersection accidents.
Tire blowouts: Large truck tires go through a lot of stress. So, tires that are underinflated, worn or damaged can blow out when the truck is running. When this happens, the driver could lose control and cause a crash.
Steering system problems: Poorly-maintained steering components can make it difficult for a truck driver to control the vehicle. Such problems could cause trucks to veer off lanes, overcorrect or just completely go out of control at highway speeds.
Defective lights and signals: Faulty headlights, brake lights or turn signals can all affect a driver’s ability to see clearly and communicate with others on the road. This can lead to collisions in darkness or bad weather.
In truck accident cases where inadequate truck maintenance may be a factor, liable parties may include the driver, trucking companies, maintenance contractors, vehicle owners or parts manufacturers, especially if they failed to inspect, maintain or repair the trucks as mandated by federal regulations.
Improperly Loaded or Overloaded Cargo
How cargo is loaded, balanced and secured to the truck or trailer might affect the vehicle’s stability, handling and even braking performance. One particular hazard we see often is the cargo shifting during transit when it’s not properly secured. A sudden shift in weight can throw the truck off balance, causing the driver to lose control. Uneven weight distribution can reduce steering ability, increase stopping distances and damage the vehicle’s tires and suspension. Overloaded trailers can also contribute to jackknife accidents or deadly rollover crashes.
Inexperienced or Poorly Trained Drivers
Driving a commercial truck requires rigorous training, driving experience and the knowledge of safe driving practices. But because of driver shortages, some companies hire inexperienced drivers without much training. Poor defensive driving skills and lack of proper emergency response training can also increase the risk of serious accidents.
Trucking companies can be held responsible for accidents that are caused by negligent hiring, supervision or insufficient training. Truck companies and corporations that hire truck drivers have a duty to make sure that drivers are trained, licensed and qualified for the job.
Unsafe Lane Changes and Blind Spot Accidents
Commercial trucks have large blind spots making it harder for truck drivers to see smaller passenger vehicles. These areas are along the sides, back and front of the truck, making lane changes and merging tricky. Truck drivers depend heavily on mirrors and other safety equipment to monitor traffic around them. But mirrors have limitations as well. So, drivers must exercise caution before they change lanes.
Blind spot truck accidents occur often in Missouri because busy interstates like the I-70, I-44 and I-55, have heavy truck traffic and locations where trucks need to merge, change lanes or work their way through high-speed traffic.
Impaired Driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs are a common cause of tragic truck accidents in Missouri and across the U.S. Alcohol, illicit drugs, prescription and even some over-the counter medications can affect a driver’s ability to safely operate a truck. These substances could very well reduce driver reaction times, impair their judgment, make them drowsy or affect their focus.
Commercial drivers are held to stricter safety standards than average motorists because of the size and potential danger these vehicles pose. While the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is 0.08% for drivers of passenger vehicles, that limit is 0.04% for commercial drivers. When a driver’s decision to operate a truck while impaired causes a crash, the driver and their employer may be held responsible for resulting injuries and damages.
Dangerous Weather Conditions in Missouri
The weather can change in Missouri very quickly, creating dangerous road conditions. Heavy rain, thunderstorms and fog can reduce visibility, create slippery road surfaces, the risk of hydroplaning and longer stopping distances. Winter storms can reduce tire traction for large trucks. Icy bridges and snow-covered roads can cause trucks to skid, jackknife or slide into other vehicles. High winds can cause large trailers to swing or even break loose and hit other traffic if they are not secured properly.
Who May Be Responsible for a Missouri Truck Accident
Truck drivers: Examples of situations where truck drivers can be held liable include distracted driving, speeding, fatigue, impaired driving or failing to follow traffic laws.
Trucking companies: They may be held responsible for negligent driver hiring, inadequate training, poor supervision or violating federal truck laws. Truck owners and companies are also responsible for maintaining their fleet.
Maintenance contractors: Maintenance firms may also share responsibility if they do faulty vehicle repairs, fail to identify worn-out parts or fail to property service truck components such as brakes and tires.
Cargo loading companies: If cargo being improperly secured, overloaded or unevenly distributed causes a crash, cargo loading companies can be held financially responsible.
Truck manufacturers: Product manufacturers who supply defective parts or defectively design trucks that contribute to a crash, can also be held liable.
In many Missouri truck accidents, multiple parties may share responsibility for the same crash. Identifying every responsible party is important to protect your ability to make sure you are fully compensated.
How Truck Accident Investigations Determine the Cause
A lot of different types of evidence can come into play in truck accident investigations. One key piece of evidence is the truck’s black box, which can tell us important things about the truck’s speed, braking, acceleration, etc. Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) and driver logs help verify the number of hours a truck was driven, if the driver took the required breaks and if they broke federal hours-of-service rules.
The driver’s own record helps investigators look at their training, experience, licensing, previous violations and work history. Truck maintenance and inspection reports are also used to determine if mechanical issues such as brake or tire failures contributed to the accident. Dashcam footage may capture the moments just before the crash while witness statements can give more perspectives on what happened.
Preserving evidence quickly after a truck accident is critical because important information can get damaged, misplaced or lost over time. Data from electronic systems could be overwritten. An experienced Missouri truck accident lawyer can help preserve such evidence and give you the best shot at recovering maximum compensation.
Protect Your Rights
Truck accidents often occur due to preventable mistakes and negligent acts such as unsafe practices, driver errors or failures by trucking companies. Fatigue, distraction, speeding, inadequate maintenance, improper cargo loading and lack of sufficient training, all continue to be common factors in serious injury crashes. Identifying what caused a truck accident helps determine who should be held liable.
Truck accident victims and their families should seek legal guidance as soon as possible after a serious truck accident. A thorough investigation can help protect your rights and make sure that the responsible parties are held accountable. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, call our Missouri truck accident lawyers today to schedule your free and comprehensive consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the leading cause of truck accidents in Missouri?
Driver fatigue, distraction, speeding, inadequate driver training and vehicle maintenance issues, are the leading causes of truck accidents in Missouri.
Are truck drivers allowed to drive while tired?
No, truck drivers must follow the federal hours-of-service rules that limit driving time and require drivers to take rest breaks.
Can trucking company be responsible for a truck accident?
Yes, a trucking company can be held liable for a crash if they failed to train drivers properly or did not maintain their vehicles properly leading to a crash involving equipment failure.
What causes most semi-truck rollovers?
Semi-truck rollovers are often caused by excessive speed, improper loading and other driver errors.
How is fault determined after a Missouri truck accident?
Fault is determined by looking at evidence such as accident reports, vehicle data, driver records, witness statements and so on.
What evidence is used in a truck accident investigation?
Investigators often examine black box data, ELD records, driver logs, vehicle maintenance records, vehicle inspection reports, dashcam footage, etc.
How long do trucking companies keep driver logs?
Federal regulations generally require commercial carriers to keep these records and supporting documents for a limited period, typically six months.
What should I do after a truck accident in Missouri?
It’s important to make sure that you report the accident, get medical attention, document the scene if possible and get in touch with an experienced Missouri truck accident lawyer who can help protect your rights.
Kansas City personal injury attorney James Roswold of Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys handles cases dealing with victims of personal injury, medical negligence, wrongful death, workers compensation, nursing home negligence, premises liability, product liability, car accident, truck accident and motorcycle accident cases.