Liberal KS Truck Accident Lawyers
Truck Accident Lawyers in Liberal and Western Kansas Helping Win Car Accident Claims with Tractor-Trailers, Semi-trucks and Large Trucks
Liberal, Kansas and Seward County, Kansas in southwest Kansas is one of the favorite trucking routes of long-haul truck drivers going across the country from east-west and north-south. In 2021 alone, Kansas had 90,045 motor vehicles involved in crashes with 424 fatalities and approximately 17,479 people were injured from these accidents according to the KDOT Quick Facts.
Liberal, Kansas had 384 motor vehicle accidents with cars, pickups and large trucks in 2021. Seward County had 51 deaths and 2 fatalities according to the Quick Facts. Seward County had 443 crashes with 72 injuries and 4 deaths.
Our Liberal, Kansas truck accident attorneys help truck crash victims because we are experienced in trucking cases and understand motor carriers must have safety plans to comply with federal regulations that all trucking companies and motor carriers must follow. Otherwise, they can lose their DOT license. The FMCSA provides resources for trucking companies to create safety plans to meet the FMCSR. The safety plan is to ensure the motor carrier complies with safety by:
- Hiring qualified truck drivers.
- Training truck drivers about the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and CSA BASICs.
- Supervising truck drivers over their hours of service so they do not exceed the legal limit of driving hours.
- Requiring them to do pre-hiring alcohol and substance testing along with random testing as well as post-accident testing after a crash happens.
- Helping the trucking company prevent injuries and fatalities to motorists.
Our Liberal truck accident lawyers associated with Bull Attorneys help tractor-trailer injury victims get the maximum financial compensation possible. We negotiate with insurance carriers, investigate fault and liability and take statements of witnesses and drivers, send out Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests on the safety and crash history of the trucking company and otherwise take care of everything.
Unlike smaller personal injury firms our large team of trial lawyers, legal assistants, case managers and investigators work together on a team approach so that everyone in the team knows you as a client. We provide skilled representation that concentrates our legal practice in the area of car and pickup accidents with tractor-trailers and large trucks.
Our Liberal, Kansas trucking injury lawyers study the FMCSR, so we know all federal regulations that the trucking company must follow. We look for secondary claims against the trucking company in addition to the truck driver so we can get more insurance coverage for your claim for pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical bills, and lost wages.
In most cases we can bring additional legal claims against the motor carrier for negligent hiring, training, and supervision. In many cases we can bring additional claims for negligent maintenance and for failing to follow the requirements of the CSA BASICS. By studying the truck driver and motor carrier we build a better trucking claim for you.
We help you find the best medical doctors with specialties in your type of injury. If you do not have health insurance, we can get the doctors and hospitals to medically treat you and wait for payment. By getting you better medical care, you heal faster, and your case becomes worth more.
We help by hiring experts for your case like accident reconstruction experts, medical experts, vocational experts, economic experts, safety experts and lifecare experts. These special experts write reports to show the insurance company why they should pay you a higher amount of money for your settlement.
You can reach us 24/7 by calling 620-690-0600. You can also write to us on our contact page. We have a track history of proven results for our truck accident clients with many settlements at one million dollars and more over 4 decades since 1983.
What are the Dangerous Highways and Roadways in Liberal and Seward County?
Highway 54 runs through Liberal, KS and can have heavy truck traffic with many speeding truck drivers that require that the drivers of cars and trucks use extra caution. The intersection of US-54 and US-83 is a busy intersection that connects drivers headed north/south and east/west with substantial congestion and high-speed truck drivers.
Highway 54 runs diagonally northeast to southwest and has heavy tractor-trailer traffic because it crosses into Oklahoma and into Texas. The highway next travels to New Mexico and then heads further south to El Paso. This trucking route is one of the most dangerous trucking routes in the United States. The Wichita Eagle calls US 54 “the most feared route in Kansas.”
Kansas Avenue and Pancake Boulevard are another dangerous intersection with a higher accident rate. Western Avenue and 15th Street is near a commercial area with restaurants and shopping centers that results in many accidents from drivers failing to yield while making left turns. Clay Avenue and Kansas Avenue have higher traffic volume crossing the intersection where accidents occur.
How can I avoid a wreck with a semi-truck or large tractor-trailer?
To avoid a car wreck or accident with a semi-truck, tractor-trailer or other large truck these are tips that help avoid collisions with larger trucks:
- Leave space around your vehicle.
Always leave space to the front, sides and back of your vehicle when near a semi-truck. They shift frequently across lanes in Kansas due to strong winds. Steer clear of them as much as possible. - Avoid blind spots.
Semis and tractor-trailers have blind spots in the front, back and on the sides of the vehicles. Stay away from these blinds spots to protect you and your passengers. - Pass quickly.
When passing, do not drive beside the tractor-trailer and when passing make a wide fast pass when safe. - Allow space when merging lanes.
Semi-trucks need extra space due to the width and length of the vehicles and trailers. You should never cut them off and leave space in front of you when merging since they often make abrupt lane changes. - Allow room for wide turns.
Semis may not be able to turn without crossing lanes so always avoid squeezing on the side of them, especially when they are in the left lane where they may turn right. - Be visible and signal intentions.
Always let the semi know by flashing lights, using turn signals and honking horns when passing, especially when you are in a blind spot. - Avoid sudden braking.
Semis are usually heavy and legally allowed to weigh 80,000 pounds. This weight can make it difficult for the semis to brake quickly so when you brake quickly, they may rear end your vehicle.
How Can I Hire a Great Truck Accident Lawyer?
If you have been in a truck accident with a semi or tractor-trailer and want to hire a great truck accident lawyer, you should look for the following:
- Only hire a personal injury lawyer who concentrates their law practice in commercial motor vehicle (CMV) litigation.
- Ask the lawyer if they have a copy of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) which is a small green pocketbook. Ask them to show you their Safety Manuals and teaching manuals for truck drivers and Safety Directors to use to teach truck drivers how to follow the FMCSR. If they do not have any avoid them.
- Discuss their prior trucking cases and results and ask them to give you real examples of their cases.
- Ask them how they charge to represent truck crash victims. They should never charge more than one-third to settle the case without filing a lawsuit and 40% if they file suit. Ask them if they pay the expenses of litigation up front and whether you owe them anything if they do not win.
- Talk to them about their willingness to go to trial and inquire as to how many lawsuits they have going at any one time for accidents with semi-trucks.
- Make sure they are compassionate and look you in the eye. Request their personal cell phone and beware any lawyer that refuses to give you their cell phone. If they refuse, this means they don’t want to be bothered and likely will not be much help.
What Kinds of Injuries are Caused by Car Wrecks with Semi-trucks?
Collisions with Semi-trucks, tractor-trailers and other large trucks can result in severe catastrophic injuries to the driver and passengers of the smaller vehicles due to the weight and size of the large trucks.
Common injuries from car wrecks with Semis include:
- Spinal cord injuries.
These injuries are from the force of the impact with large semis and can result in compression or total fracture to vertebrae and can dislocate the vertebrae. When significant injury occurs, it can result in paralysis like paraplegia or quadriplegia. - Traumatic brain injuries.
An impact to the head can fracture the skull, result in brain bleeds and cause injuries to the axons which are small nerves in the brain. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can result in severe disability with speech, movement, thoughts and ability to work. - Blunt force trauma.
The weight of the semis and large trucks can cause many different injuries, like bruising, swelling, organ damage, broken bones, lung collapse and death. - Burn Injuries.
Fires can erupt after severe impacts with a car and truck or two semis colliding. When the fuel tank blows up this will usually result in a horrible fire burning the driver and passengers which often results in death. - Whiplash.
When a car wrecks with a semi or large truck there can be sudden acceleration and deceleration forces which throw the neck or back forward and backwards or side to side which results in strains, sprains and significant straightening of the normal spinal curve. When this happens, the person injured can have lifelong pain and muscle spasms. - Psychological trauma.
Most car wrecks with semis, tractor-trailers and large trucks result in mental anguish and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many people end up needing long term psychological counseling and psychiatric and sleeping medications to alleviate the PTSD and help restore sleep. - Amputations.
Severe impacts between cars and motor vehicles with semis and large trucks can crush or sever limbs. Injuries can become infected and if not properly treated can lead to gangrene where doctors must start cutting the limb back further and further to avoid death. - Wrongful death.
Many semi accidents with cars and pickups ultimately result in death to the driver or passengers in the colliding vehicle. Wrongful death impacts not only the person killed but their entire family.
Most of the significant injuries above will require immediate EMS treatment, emergency room treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, long-term rehabilitation and other extensive medical treatment. It is important to hire experienced trucking lawyers to get full financial compensation to pay for medical bills, rehabilitation bills and long-term medical needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What rules or laws do truck drivers have to follow?
All truck drivers who are DOT licensed and driving in interstate commerce but comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR)?
When is a truck driver required to be tested for alcohol or drugs?
Truck drivers are typically required to be tested for alcohol or drugs when they are first hired by a trucking company, random tests while employed and post-crash testing, reasonable suspicion by the motor carrier that they need testing and return to work. Parts 382.301, 382.303, 382.305, 382.309, and 382.311 of the FMCSR.
When is a trucking company required to do a background check of a driver?
Trucking companies are required to perform background checks on drivers for Pre-Employment hiring, annual checks on the driver record are required, if they have suspicion of a violation and when a driver needs a Hazmat endorsement. Parts 391.23, 391.53 and 391.25 of the FMCSR.
Contact Liberal Office
Locations We Serve
With physical offices in Kansas and Texas, the Truck Accident Lawyers Group is ready to represent injured people who have had a motor vehicle and truck accident anywhere in the United States. Make sure you hire an experienced truck accident lawyer who understands the safety rules under the FMCSR.
