Truck Accident Attorney Missouri Semi Tractor Trailer Injury Lawyer Columbia Lake Ozark Jefferson City Moberly

The Law Office of Tatlow, Gump & Faiella, LLC - Experienced injury attorneys to help when you need it most.

Tatlow, Gump & Faiella, LLC
110 North Fifth Street
Moberly, Missouri 65270
Toll Free: (800) 264-3455
Phone: (660) 263-3100
Fax: (660) 263-0660
E-Mail the Firm
View Map

Frequently Asked Questions about Truck Accidents

Q: I've read that commercial truck accidents can result in serious injuries. What is a "commercial truck"?

A: A commercial truck is a vehicle used in the course of business and/or for the transport of commercial goods. Examples are eighteen-wheeler tractor trailers, tanker trucks, delivery vehicles, and other large freight trucks.

Q: Why is a traffic accident involving a commercial truck more likely to cause injury than one involving passenger cars?

A: A typical fully-loaded large commercial truck can weigh 80,000 pounds or more, while an average passenger automobile weighs approximately 3000 pounds. Due to this size disparity, and the basic laws of physics, any collision between a commercial truck and another vehicle is likely to result in serious, even fatal, injuries.

The operation of large commercial trucks presents certain unique dangers such as "jackknifing" and turning accidents. Often, the occurrence of these kinds of accidents can establish fault on the part of the truck driver.

Truck Accidents Information Center

The semi truck accident attorneys at Tatlow, Gump & Faiella, LLC can help anyone in central Missouri with even the most complex cases. There is more information about our lawyers and their practice on our main tractor trailer accidents page; this page is meant to provide more general information about tractor trailer accident law.

Truck Accidents - An Overview

A traffic accident involving a commercial truck, such as an eighteen-wheeler or other large freight carrier, can be much more catastrophic than an ordinary car accident. A typical fully-loaded large commercial truck can weigh 80,000 pounds or more, while an average passenger automobile weighs approximately 3000 pounds. Because of this size disparity, and due to the basic laws of physics, any collision between a commercial truck and another vehicle is likely to result in serious, even fatal, injuries. While statistics show that truck drivers are generally much more careful on the road than automobile drivers, and thankfully the incidence of fatal crashes involving trucks and other large vehicles has declined in recent years, large truck crashes still accounted for 5350 fatalities and 133,000 injuries in 2001.

What to Do if You Are Injured in an Accident

A motor vehicle accident is a serious matter, particularly when it involves a commercial truck. You or someone else may have been seriously injured and even if you have not been injured, you may be wondering what you should do next.

Truck Safety

Commercial trucking presents dangers that the drivers of passenger cars may never face. Although most truckers make every effort to be safe in their operations, there are a number of things that make commercial trucking hazardous. Some of the more common causes of trucking accidents are set out below. If you are injured in a commercial trucking accident, you need to consult an attorney with experience in handling truck accident cases.

Lawsuit Chronology

If you are injured in an accident involving a commercial truck, you may be unsure of what to expect when your lawsuit is filed. An experienced lawyer will be able to answer any specific questions you might have about your case, but the following chronology will provide an overview as to how a civil suit normally proceeds.

Common Causes

Commercial vehicles such as eighteen-wheelers and other large freight carriers are a unique presence on roads that are occupied mostly by small passenger vehicles, and commercial vehicles present dangers that are also unique. Not only do commercial truck drivers need to be aware of the special circumstances presented by the large vehicles they are driving, but other drivers on the road also need to use caution in their presence. Especially on major highways and at higher speeds, seemingly insignificant driving errors that may occur without consequence where small vehicles are concerned can result in catastrophe when an eighteen-wheeler is involved.

Truck Accidents Resource Links

Share the Road Safely
From the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a division of the US Department of Transportation (DOT), dedicated to reducing motor vehicle accidents involving large trucks.

Insurance Information Institute
Includes information on vehicle safety, insurance, and more.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
Division of the US Department of Transportation (DOT). Safety programs, regulations, and facts related to the prevention of commercial truck and bus accidents, injuries, and fatalities.

For a free initial consultation with one of our lawyers, contact Tatlow, Gump & Faiella, LLC or fill out a special personal injury intake form to sign up for a free initial consultation. From law offices in Moberly, Missouri, our semi truck accident attorneys serve clients throughout central Missouri and the counties of Adair, Audrain, Boone, Camden, Chariton, Cole, Callaway, Howard, Linn, Macon, Miller, Monroe, Morgan, Randolph, and Shelby including Columbia, Jefferson City, Joplin, Kirksville, Lake Ozark and Moberly.

Disclaimer: Past results afford no guarantee of future results and every case is different and must be judged on its own merits.