Springfield Truck Accident Laywer

Springfield Truck Accident Lawyer Helping Fight Trucking Companies with Negligent Truck Drivers to Get Financial Compensation for Injury Victims.

Our Springfield truck accident lawyers help fight trucking companies with negligent truck drivers by getting financial compensation for truck injury victims in Springfield, Missouri, that have had a truck accident with smaller cars, pickups, vans, or motorcycles. Trucking Injury victims can get increased financial compensation when dealing with serious semi-truck crash cases.

Our Springfield truck accident attorneys provide legal representation all over the state of Missouri. Our trucking personal injury attorneys have been helping injury victims with car-truck crashes since 1983. Our client results are impressive. We have thousands of satisfied car-truck accident clients.

Truck Accident Lawyers Group (TALG) is associated with Bull Attorneys®. This association of experienced truck accident injury attorneys help families with rebuilding their life after a car accident with a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). Trucking companies and their insurance companies know and respect our capability of winning semi-truck accidents.

Our primary offices are in Wichita and Garden City. We will drive or fly to your home or hospital room. Our office in Wichita is at 10111 E. 21st Street North, Suite 202, Wichita, Kansas 67206. In Western Kansas, our office is at 3102 E. Kansas Avenue, #100, Garden City, KS 67846. Our lawyers are licensed in Missouri and routinely have trucking cases there.

Missouri Traffic Crashes 2021 reported that Greene County had 49 fatality accidents in 2021. Springfield reported 29 fatalities the same year. The Springfield Police Traffic Services Statistics reported that injury accidents are increasing. The total number in 2021 was 1,752 injuries occurred in 2021 and 1,800 injuries happened in 2022. .

The I-44 Corridor near Springfield, Missouri was analyzed in the Fix I-44 Grant Application. This study shows how dangerous I-44 large truck traffic is to passenger cars reporting that this interstate in Missouri, carries more than 1.3 billion tons of freight annually valued at $3.7 billion, which is the largest total for any highway corridor in the state.

The corridor is considered to be a Tier 1, high priority corridor because of its high truck volumes which links the interstate to the southwest United States and the broader freight network.

This same study found that I-44 and its interchange with Mo 13 is inadequate during peak driving time and carries 64,000 vehicles daily traveling through Springfield. MoDOT determined that the crashes per mile is 31 percent higher than other areas of I-44 in Missouri and the injury rate is 12 percent higher making the corridor more dangerous due to trucking traffic.

The City of Springfield released their Traffic Crash statistics from the Public Works Engineering Department which found that in 2020, Springfield had 4,950 traffic crashes with 1,503 of those accidents leading to injuries. At least 26 of those traffic crashes ended with a fatality.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol Statistical Analysis Center reports that there were 15,792 commercial motor vehicle (CMV) crashes in 2021 resulting in 146 fatalities and 2,907 injuries to people. Greene County had 3 fatalities and 57 injuries in 2021 from CMV accidents.

Given the substantial number of trucking companies and truck drivers, motorist must protect themselves because of the high probability of having a car-truck accident with tractor-trailers and delivery trucks. The entire city and county have a huge trucking industry. Four of the largest trucking companies in Springfield are Prime, XPO, Worldwide Express and Penske Truck Leasing.

Our Springfield truck injury attorneys are specially trained to understand the FMCSR and CSA BASICs. Our personal injury attorneys use these resources to help prove why a truck accident victim should be paid a large amount of financial compensation when in a tractor-trailer accident.

Our Greene County truck accident lawyers help truck injury victims receive financial compensation for both economic and noneconomic damages like:

Pain and suffering.

Mental anguish.

Loss of enjoyment of life.

Disfigurement and disability.

Past and future medical bills for medical treatment.

Wage loss and economic loss when unable to return to employment.

Vocational retraining.

Compensation for wrongful death and conscious pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has an accident involving a large truck, you should contract a lawyer the same day of your accident. We provide free consultations 24 hours a day by calling us at 417-228-6590.

How are Fault and Liability Determined in a Semi-truck Accident?

Fault and liability in a semi-truck accident are determined by analyzing negligence of drivers, motor carriers and other transportation entities. This is a difficult task requiring scene investigation, evaluation of witness and drivers’ statements, police investigations and insurance company investigations.

To prove fault and establish liability it requires finding 4 different elements to liability. The four parts of a fault/liability determination are:

Determining if the truck driver or motor carrier owed a duty of care to you.
Your truck accident attorney must prove the other party breached the duty of care.
You must be injured from the breach of the duty.
The breach of the duty must be the proximate cause of the injury. This means proving that your injury happened as a direct sequence of events and no other cause is responsible for your injury.

The proximate cause determination is usually a defense to the motor carrier or truck driver where you have had similar medical conditions before the accident or you have an accident after your truck accident and aggravated the injury from the truck accident.

Why do I need a Truck Accident Lawyer in Springfield?

There are many reasons why a truck injury victim needs a truck accident lawyer after their car-truck accident in Springfield. The reasons are related to proper scene evaluation, determining who is at fault, only expert truck lawyers will understand the safety violations that apply to the case, and a truck accident attorney is needed to prevent destruction of critical evidence.

Proprietary case development methods for truck accident case development.

Our Springfield truck accident lawyers have been taught special legal methods that have been handed down from one trucking lawyer to another that are not taught in textbooks and cannot be learned in any other way.

Our top five exclusive proprietary methods of truck accident case development are:

Scene investigation must be done properly.
Our truck accident injury lawyers understand how to analyze fault from critical evidence at the scene. Defense lawyers for the truck driver and motor carrier will evaluate the accident scene within an hour or two of the accident. You need your own lawyer to do the same.
Carefully choosing which parties to sue.
Unrepresented truck injury victims are unable to determine how many different people or companies are negligent and at fault. We know who is at fault and who should be sued and who should not be sued. Suing too many defendants can make a case to complex to win.
Skilled questioning of motor carrier management must be done correctly.
Truck accident attorneys cannot properly question management without having prior safety records, the Motor Carrier Safety Profile, prior information about violations where the company had enforcement actions against them and have the entire hiring, training, and supervision safety training books to question properly.
Preventing destruction of evidence.
An unrepresented injury victim has no idea what evidence can be preserved or destroyed. Our lawyers have been trained to send out immediate spoliation letters to stop the destruction of critical evidence like driver’s logs, trip documents, black boxes, maintenance records and other extremely necessary evidence.
Safety management cycle knowledge (SMC).
The safety management cycle (SMC) has six specific management processes that help identify unsafe motor carriers and which are used to reduce and eliminate the trucking company’s violations of the FMCSR. Our trucking attorneys understand these complex processes so we can use them to your advantage.

Should I give a Statement to the Truck Driver’s Insurance Company?

An injury victim from a motor vehicle accident with a large truck should never give a statement to the other party’s insurance company. Once you give a statement it can be used against you to make you have a higher level of comparative fault. You may make an admission against your own interests that can never be taken back. The insurance company wants you to be naïve enough to talk to them.

Don’t Do It!

Who is the Best Truck Accident Lawyer in Springfield?

To find the best truck accident lawyer for a case in Springfield, Missouri, there are certain qualities that make the trucking attorney better than others. They are:

Regulatory knowledge.
Track record of winning large trucking cases.
Knowledge of hiring, training, and supervision of truck drivers.
Connected to medical specialty doctors.
Has a library of trucking industry management books.

What Kinds of Truck Accidents Happen in Springfield, Missouri?

The Missouri highway system connecting I-44 and MO 13 highways and other trucking routes with unusually heavy large truck traffic causes a substantial number of different kinds of truck accidents.

Common types of truck accidents in or near Springfield are:

Lane change accidents.
Lane change accidents where semi-trucks hit passenger cars in adjacent lanes happen constantly on I-44. These occur because heavy traffic causes passenger vehicles to be on the side of the large trucks. The truck driver has blind spots where the truck driver cannot see the smaller vehicle and abruptly changes lanes and a crash happens.
Head-on accidents.
Head-on accidents can occur more on state highways than interstates. These happen when a load shifts causing the truck to go into the wrong lane. Likewise, high winds can blow the truck across the roadway causing a head-on accident.
Rear end collisions from traveling too closely.
Semi-trucks are on tight schedules making them speed through traffic. Rear end collisions happen when the truck is loaded too heavy and cannot brake in time to avoid vehicles in front of the truck. Driver distraction is another major cause of rear end crashes.
Wide-turn accidents.
Wide turn accidents happen when trucks are on smaller highways and city roads trying to make a right turn with a long tractor and trailer. The truck driver can cut off smaller vehicles beside them often running over the vehicles and occupants inside the vehicle.
Rollover crashes.
Rollover accidents happen when the truck driver fails to slow down or goes around curves too fast causing the truck and trailer to rollover. People in smaller motor vehicles that have an accident with the semi-truck rarely escape injury in a rollover accident.
Jackknife truck accidents.
Jackknife accidents occur when the trailer is going faster than the tractor and the trailer swings out beside the tractor. Vehicles in nearby lanes usually do not survive these catastrophic injury accidents.

What is the Statute of Limitations on a Truck Accident in Springfield, Missouri?

Springfield, like the entire state of Missouri, has a longer statute of limitations than some states. In Missouri, the statute of limitations is five years from the date of accident under Missouri Revised Statute 516.120. However, wrongful deaths in Missouri have a shorter statute of limitations of only three years.

What are the Steps to Take After a Truck Accident?

In the event you or a family member has an accident with a truck in Springfield, Missouri there are several important steps you need to take to protect your legal rights.

The important steps to take following a truck accident in Springfield are:

Call 911 and request the assistance of law enforcement. Make sure you report all injuries and request an ambulance if someone is injured. Report all injuries to the police and 911 and specifically describe all injuries for you and all passengers.

When injured, go directly to a hospital emergency room, and report all injuries no matter how small they seem at the time.

Get witness names, phone numbers and other information from all drivers and witnesses at the scene.

Call the Truck Accident Lawyers Group at 417-228-6590.

Photograph the entire scene, vehicles, injuries and all names, logos and numbers on the tractor and trailer that caused your accident.

Do not speak to any insurance adjuster without getting legal advice first from an experienced truck accident lawyer.

What are Common Types of Injuries that Happen After a Truck Accident in Missouri?

The five most common injuries from a truck accident in Springfield Missouri are:

Strains, sprains, whiplash, and bruising.
Broken bones and fractures in the spine, extremities, shoulders, hips, and skeletal system.
Internal injuries from the force of the collision.
Concussion and head injury along with traumatic brain injuries.
Wrongful death.

What Can Truck Drivers Do to Reduce Commercial Motor Vehicle Accidents?

8 safety trips for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) truck drivers are:

Drive defensively.
Truck drivers should scan ahead a quarter of a mile and one to two blocks in the city to look for traffic, work zones and other dangers. They should check mirrors every 8-10 seconds.
Research weather conditions and road conditions as well as detours.
Truck drivers must understand and prepare for bad weather conditions, poor road conditions and detours on trucking routes. When weather is bad enough, if alternative safe routes cannot be located then stop driving and cease operations.
Slow down speed.
Truck drivers need to reduce speed in bad weather conditions or when going around curves and ramps. This is because a substantial number of rollovers happen from traveling too fast around curves and on ramps. Weather conditions like lack of visibility, known icing conditions, and high wind conditions can force the truck across lanes or off the road.
Be aware of work zones on highways and roads.
Truck drivers can avoid accidents by preparing for work zones where a substantial number of truck accidents happen. They should slow down in work zones because of slowing traffic.
Never drive distracted.
Truck drivers should pay attention to the primary task of driving at all times and avoid cell phone use, CB use, playing with radios and anything else that draws their attention away from driving.
Stop driving when fatigued or feeling bad.
Truck drivers can avoid accidents with smaller vehicles by getting rest, not driving when tired or fatigued and pulling off the road when ill or dizzy.
Perform daily inspections.
Truck drivers are required by federal regulations to do pretrip inspections and to stop after a certain period of time or miles to inspect the tractor-trailer and their load. Inspection can save lives by having truck drivers stop driving when maintenance and repair issues are present.
Use warning devices.
Truck drivers must always use extra caution when changing lanes or making turns and use turn signals and flashers. When stopping the tractor-trailer, it should be pulled as far off the traveled road as possible and use hazard signals, triangles, and other safety warning devices.

What are The Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Springfield, Missouri?

Springfield, Missouri is a major location for nationwide trucking companies because of its proximity to east-west and north-south routes that allow the motor carries to travel nationwide. All drivers must be wary of the dangers of these large trucks that are on the local highways seven days a week.

Dangerous highways, roads and intersections in Springfield are:

Interstate 44.
I-44 is an east-west interstate highway that connects major cities from Oklahoma City and Tulsa through Springfield to St. Louis. The intersection with Missouri route 13 or MO 13 is an especially dangerous interchange due to the daily traffic with more than 25% of the traffic being large trucks.

Missouri Route 13.
Mo 13 is a state highway that connects daily travelers to I-44 and is a known dangerous route.

US-65 highway.
US-65 has a high traffic count of truck traffic because it connects Branson to Springfield and is a major access highway.

Missouri Route 60.
Mo 60 is slightly west of Springfield and intersects with I-44 and runs through the city making it a high traffic location for dangerous trucking traffic.

Missouri Route 266.
Mo 266 is a state highway connecting the Branson-Springfield airport which means that vehicle traffic is significant along this stretch of highway.

Kansas Expressway and Sunshine.
The intersection of Kansas Expressway and Sunshine was reported by MoDOT in 2020 to have the highest number of crashes for all intersections in Springfield totaling 41 motor vehicle crashes that year.

Campbell and Republic.
The intersection of Campbell and Republic had 35 crashes in 2020 according to MoDOT.

Glenstone and Kearney.
The intersection of Glenstone and Kearney had 31 accidents in 2020 according to MoDOT.

Glenstone and Grand.
The intersection of Glenstone and Grand had 29 vehicle crashes in 2020 according to MoDOT.
Campbell and Walnut Lawn Street.
The intersection of Campbell and Walnut Lawn Street had 25 vehicle crashes in 2020 according to MoDOT.

Who Can Be Sued in a Normal Semi-truck Accident?

In a normal semi-truck case, the injured the truck driver and their employer can be sued. In some factual situations there are other negligent parties that can be added to a lawsuit which can increase the total amount of insurance company.

Other negligent parties who can be sued in a semi-truck accident are:

Master Shipping or Transportation Company.
The master shipper or transporter may be a defendant when negligent in hiring an unsafe truck driver or motor carrier.
Leasing companies.
Leasing companies who lease trucks and trailers to truck drivers and other motor carriers may be sued when negligent for failing to check the safety record of the driver or company.
Maintenance Repair Companies.
When motor carriers use outside maintenance companies to repair their tractor-trailers and the maintenance is negligently done and causes an injury they can be sued in appropriate cases.
Loading companies.
Truck drivers routinely are sent to pick up a trailer that has been preloaded. When the load is negligently loaded by improper weight distribution or overloaded it can cause the tractor-trailer to shift across the roadway, rollover, or jackknife. When this happens the loading company can be sued.
Brokers.
Brokers are middlemen who arrange for transportation of freight and cargo. They can be sued when they hire unsafe drivers and motor carriers and control the driver or motor carrier. The control evidence usually is proven by showing they require strict pickup and delivery schedules which forces the truck driver to violate the FMCSR.

What is the Most Common Cause of Large-truck Crashes?

The most common cause of large-truck crashes accidents is from driver distraction while driving. The FMCSA publication CMV Driving Tips – Driver Distraction reported that 71 percent of large-truck crashes happen when the truck driver was doing something besides driving the truck. 80 percent of crashes involved some form of driver inattention in the 3 seconds before the crash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the FMCSA ban truck drivers from texting while driving?
The FMCSA banned truck driver texting after a 2009 study on driver distraction in trucking. The study found that the dangers of texting while driving were so strong that President Obama banned all government employees from texting while driving under Executive Order 13513.

What are the dangers of a dispatching device for truck accidents?
The FMCSA reported that the messages on the dispatching device sent to the truck driver are so distracting that it caused the drivers to take their eyes, hands, and minds away from the task of driving and increased the chance of being involved in a safety-critical event by nine times.

Are handheld phones illegal for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers?
Part 392, subpart H makes it illegal for a CMV driver to use a handheld mobile telephone while driving.

Contact Springfield City Office

Call Brad's cell phone at 316-706-5020 or visit our Contact Page.

(417) 228-6590