St. Louis Truck Accident Attorney

Truck accidents are extremely traumatic events that cause serious damages for those involved. It’s important to seek legal help to represent your best interests after a commercial carrier accident, which can be difficult when you’re injured and unable to work. You may be reluctant to contact an attorney due to the commitment of time and money involved.

However, if you were seriously injured, you deserve to recover compensation that will cover the losses caused by someone else’s actions.

It’s important to get the right help after a truck accident so that you have a better chance of receiving the compensation you deserve. With The Cagle Law Firm, you can work with a personal injury lawyer experienced in handling truck accident cases who can help get you through this difficult time.

Why You Need a Truck Accident Attorney

Commercial truck accidents are different from those involving personal vehicles. They often involve more severe injuries or devastating fatalities. The claims process and insurance policies involved can be very different as well and are extremely complicated. When facing a trucking company and their insurance adjusters, you should have the assistance of an attorney familiar with state and federal trucking regulations and experienced at negotiating with those companies.

You will face many challenges in a truck accident claim. A St. Louis truck accident lawyer can guide you through the process of dealing with a trucking company, driver, and the insurance company. It’s important to work with someone with extensive experience obtaining compensation from powerful organizations. Insurance carriers working directly with injured persons often deny or devalue your claim or make you a low-ball settlement offer that does not meet your needs. The Cagle Law Firm will not let these companies take advantage of you. We will stand by your side and guide you through the process from start to finish.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents can have many different causes. Trucks are complex machines manufactured by skilled technicians and operated by experienced drivers. However, errors can occur during maintenance or operation that result in dangerous accidents. 

Driver error causes most truck accidents, but failure to maintain equipment or truck company negligence can also lead to accidents. Common causes of truck accidents include:

• Driver fatigue
• Drugged/impaired truck driving accidents
• Negligent hiring
• Negligent maintenance
• Improperly trained drivers
• Speeding and moving violations
• Distracted truckers
• Failure to stop
• Failing to maintain proper lookout
• Truck equipment failure
• Improper cargo loading
• Runaway trailers
• Jackknifed trailers
• Blind spot accidents
• Tire blowout

What Compensation Can You Receive?

When seeking compensation after a truck accident, it’s important to remember that you are up against insurance companies that want to minimize your claim. Trucking companies and insurance companies are often only interested in the bottom line. It is in their best interest to pay out as little as possible, even if you were severely injured.

You need a skilled attorney by your side who best advocates for your complete losses, both economical and non-economical. The Cagle Law Firm can help you obtain the following compensation after a serious truck accident:

• Medical costs
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Physical limitations
• Disfigurement
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Loss of consortium and companionship
• Punitive damages (when applicable)

Compensation for Fatal Truck Accidents

Commercial truck crashes–such as those involving 18-wheelers, box trucks, and delivery trucks–tend to cause more severe injuries than those involving personal vehicles due to the size and weight of commercial trucks. Unfortunately, many truck accidents result in death. If a St. Louis or Illinois truck accident seriously or fatally injured your loved one, you may be unsure of where to turn. The last thing on your mind is fighting a trucking company to recover compensation. However, it’s important to seek legal assistance right away if your loved one was severely injured or killed. You will have substantial medical bills and other expenses that you will be expected to pay immediately. The Cagle Law Firm can start working with you right after the accident to help recover compensation to cover your needs.

You may be able to recover compensation to cover the following in a wrongful death claim:

• Medical bills
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of financial contributions
• Loss of care and support
• Loss of love and companionship
• Loss of inheritance that you would have received

Truck Accident Claims & Legal Process

Truck accident claims can be complicated. You will often face a large corporation and their insurance company, both of which may have teams of attorneys on their side. It’s important to have someone on your side who will fight for your rights throughout the legal process.

We can help with the following areas of the truck accident claims and legal process:

• Determining fault after a trucking accident
• Establishing liability of the driver, trucking company, or truck manufacturer
• Proving negligence on the part of the trucker and others
• Demanding compensation from the insurance company
• Negotiating a fair settlement on your behalf
• Meeting deadlines and complying with statutes of limitation
• Filing a complaint in state or federal court
• Engaging in the discovery process
• Conducting an independent investigation
• Obtaining expert witnesses
• Reviewing thousands of company records and documents to find evidence
• Fighting for your compensation in litigation

The legal process for truck accident claims is also slightly different in Missouri and Illinois. Your attorney should be familiar with courts, judges, and juries in the jurisdiction where you file a case. At The Cagle Law Firm, our truck accident attorneys can help you in both states.