Semi Truck Accident

Kansas City Semi Truck Accident Attorney

If you have been driving in and around the US for more than a few days, you know how typical semi-trailer trucks are in the country’s thoroughfares. More commonly known as a semi truck or ‘semi,’ a semi-trailer truck combines a tractor unit and one or more semi-trailers to carry freight. These are the 18-wheelers you see on the road, generally loaded with thousands of pounds of shipment.

Because of the amount of freight they can carry and transport, many businesses use semi-trucks in their operations. For this reason and the increased size of the truck itself and the corresponding driving skills needed, semi-trucks are prone to traffic accidents and road collisions. In recent years, Missouri, in particular, has been in the top 15 US states where fatal crashes commonly occur involving these huge 18-wheelers.

Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents

Road mishaps involving semi-trucks result from a variety of reasons and circumstances. In Missouri and the whole of the US, here are some of the most common causes of semi-truck accidents.

Driver fatigue: As mentioned earlier, 18-wheelers are utilized by many businesses in different industries, and the labor of these drivers definitely contributes to the successful and efficient operations of these businesses. Semi-truck drivers are thus expected to drive for many hours and miles, which results in driver fatigue. When these exhausted drivers force themselves into the work, accidents are likely to occur due to sleepiness and impaired cognition and attention.

Speeding: Semi-trucks are subject to stricter rules and speed limits precisely because these huge units operate differently than normal-sized vehicles. When 18-wheelers go beyond the speed limits allowed by law, the hazards are heightened. Cargo may tumble and topple over, or any of the semi’s numerous wheels might malfunction. These, of course, may lead to collisions and mishaps.

Improper cargo loading: Concerning the previous point, freight must be loaded properly into the semi-trucks, considering the highways and speed that these units may run at. When cargo is improperly loaded, it's falling off the truck is a perilous road obstacle.

Poor truck maintenance: Trucking industries, even the drivers, are responsible for ensuring that their semi-trucks are in good and safe working condition each time it hits the road. When these 18-wheelers are not regularly checked, the defect might exhibit itself on the highway, likely to cause accidents and injuries.

Common Injuries Resulting from Semi-Truck Accidents

Whether the cause is driver fatigue, poor truck maintenance, or other causes not mentioned, accidents involving semi-trucks can cause a variety of injuries needing serious medical assistance, in addition to the costly property damage. Common injuries include:

Broken bones
Back and neck injuries
Head and brain injuries
Cuts and lacerations
Spinal cord injuries
Paralysis
Internal injuries
Trauma

If the accident is severe, or if the injury is not attended to immediately, the worst-case scenario is the wrongful death of those involved in the mishap. In fact, truck accidents are known to be 10 times more likely to kill than crashes involving four-wheeled cars.