In St. Louis, Missouri, we are familiar with busy streets and rush hour traffic. It seems between driving to work, driving to see the St. Louis Cardinals win, or heading west take in the view of wineries, we’re consistently surrounded by people in a hurry. This rush is common for any busy street and here in St. Louis, MO, we are not an exception. However, it’s important to note that while we are in a hurry we also need to be aware on the road.
Trucks are constantly sharing the streets with us and—whether we’re driving down Jefferson Avenue or down Arsenal Street—we’re consistently passing large trucks. With these trucks on the street, the risk of being in a fatal accident occurs. In the case of an accident, it’s important that we know what to do after it occurs.
What to do following a trucking accident?
Unfortunately, it occurred—you’re driving with your family heading to the St. Louis Art Museum when all of a sudden the traffic slows down. You press your breaks gently, but the truck behind you does not. The truck slams into your small car and you feel your children’s bodies hit the back of the driver and passenger seats as your airbag deploys just before you strike the steering wheel.
When you finally are able to comprehend what has happened, you look to your kids behind you. They’re crying, but seem to be okay. You check your body to see if everything seems in check—thankfully, you believe you are okay. Now the questions start flooding into your head? How much will this cost me? Should I call the police?
After checking on all of the passengers and any other people involved in the accident, call the police. It’s important that they are called so that a police report can be filed. A police report will be critical when it comes to filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit. The police report will be able to identify the place where the accident took place, the date and time of the accident, any damage to the cars involved, and any injuries sustained along with any statements of witnesses. Without a police report, it can often result in a “he said, she said” scenario and we want to make sure that there is a neutral party at the scene in order that you get the compensation and results that you need.
Because a trucking accident is often severe, we also suggest that you get medical attention. Due to the adrenaline rush, you may not feel pain right away. You may be numb from your severe burns. Injuries may also be sustained that are not obvious. Internal bleeding may occur after an accident, which is not noticeable. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Why did the accident occur?
With the recent increase in trucking accidents, it’s understandable that people are consistently wondering why these accidents are occurring. The FMCSA recently came out with a report as to why truck drivers have been causing accidents. The top reasons that they found were:
- Forty-four percent of accidents involve a trucker who is taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs
- Twenty-three percent of accidents occur when a driver is driving too fast for the road conditions
- Eighteen percent of accidents were caused by drivers suffering from fatigue
Suffering from fatigue is the most preventable of the three and can lead to many problems such as a driver falling asleep behind the wheel, misjudgment of different points, and ignoring or failing to notice different signs of danger—such as a break light in front of them.
Trucking accidents that occur after a semi has rolled-over, possibly after turning a curb too fast, are also extremely dangerous and potentially fatal.
What is being done to prevent trucking accidents?
Federal regulations are in place to help prevent the frequency of trucking accidents. For example, there are guidelines for the hours and amount of breaks a trucker can complete in a given period of time. There is also drug-testing guidelines being put into place. Truck drivers need to be tested before they start working and also will be tested randomly throughout their career.
There are also steps that we can take individually to decrease the chances of a trucking accident. We need to beware of a trucker’s blind spots. It’s important to stay out of these spots so that they can constantly see us. It’s also important to pass on the left side so that they can see us more clearly. We should also work to give them a lot of room. These trucks are carrying thousands of pounds. By giving trucks a lot of room, we are more likely to react and move accordingly to prevent an accident.
Furthermore, it’s important that we wear our seatbelt. While this may seem obvious, it’s important that we are taking the proper safety precautions. A seat belt can save a life, and if a large semi-truck hits us, we need all of the help we can get.
“Who do I call after being injured in an accident?”
It’s important that if you have been injured in a car accident you need to get the help and representation that you deserve. You deserve to be compensated and should not live in financial stress or constant fear of driving next to a truck. The attorneys at Schlapprizzi Attorneys at Law are family and we welcome all of our clients into that family.
When you call us you are calling a friend that will stick by you and will handle your case no matter what. If you have been in a truck accident in the St. Louis, MO, please call us today.