Uncovering the Liable Parties and Sources of Financial Recovery

When there is a semi truck accident in Missouri, it isn’t just the truck driver that can be responsible.  A truck accident attorney in St. Louis can help determine what companies, brokers, freight forwarders or maintenance companies may be responsible for a trucking accident. Each one may have different will have different insurance coverage to consider, and we are ready to help you examine all your  options. In most truck accident lawsuits, the relevant parties may include:

• The truck driver: A truck driver was directly involved in the accident and, may be at fault depending on his or her actions. If the driver engaged in risky behaviors, such as swerving due to exhaustion or tailgating, at the time of the accident, then they may be held liable if they cause harm.  The truck driver may have done something other than drive negligently such as failing to inspect or maintain his vehicle, causing it to break down and cause a collision.
• The owner operator truck driver: An owner-operator is a truck driver that owns or leases his or her own vehicle.  This type of driver has the freedom to decide when and where to work, what types of good or loads he wants to transport, and which companies he may want to drive for.  Many trucking companies use owner-operators in addition to company drivers determining on the needs at any given time.  When an owner-operator is involved in a trucking accident, a trucking attorney is often necessary to determine who else may be responsible for the truck driver’s actions.  This is because a company may claim that it has no responsibility for an owner-operator driver in a trucking accident because the driver is an independent contractor.
• The trucking company: Trucking companies are required to monitor drivers to ensure they drive safely and follow federal guidelines. If the company hired an unqualified driver or someone with a poor driving record, they could be held liable for that driver’s mistakes on the road. In addition, they may be liable for their own negligence in a trucking accident in the City of St. Louis or in nearby regions such as St. Louis County, Central Missouri and Southern Illinois.
• Private Motor Carriers: Private motor carriers are drivers and trucking companies that usually transport their own goods or cargo.  The items that are transported are often those as part of a business that produces, uses, sells or buys the cargo being hauled.  A private motor carrier is required to have a DOT number but does not need an MC number for operating authority.  The definition of a private motor carrier is found at 490 CFR 390.5.
• For-Hire Motor Carriers: These types of trucking companies transport goods or people and are paid to do so rather than hauling their own goods. In addition to having a DOT number, for-hire motor carriers also need an MC number for operating authority.  Examples of for-hired carriers include UPS, FedEx, J.B. Hunt, TFI International, XPO, Landstar System, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Schneider, Ryder System, and Old Dominion Freight Line.
• The manufacturer of the truck and/or its parts: If the truck itself malfunctioned at the time of the collision, a design defect could be to blame. This includes failed brakes, unsteady steering or fault in any critical system of the truck that hit you.
• Maintenance workers or cargo loaders: All large trucks are designed to carry various forms of cargo, such as food items, retail purchases and even explosive materials such as gasoline or nitrogen. If maintenance crews fail to make a needed repair to the trailer or incorrectly load the truck’s cargo, the truck is more likely to be involved in a crash. You may be able to sue those who worked on the truck or loaded its materials if their errors led to your truck crash.

Were you a Victim in a St. Louis Region Truck Crash?

If you’ve been injured in a semi truck accident in Missouri or Illinois, Muchnick Haber Margolis is prepared to handle your case. With over 70 years of experience, our St. Louis truck accident attorneys will help you determine whether any liable parties were at fault, collect and obtain evidence of your truck accident injuries and fight for the compensation and justice you deserve. Contact an MHM truck accident attorney in St. Louis to request a free consultation today and start your case.