Recent winter storms and sub zero temperatures have been hard on Missouri drivers. As expected, the number of car and truck accidents increases as the weather turns ugly. Despite the fact that a truck driver has no control over the weather, there are regulations regarding how he should drive during severe weather conditions. If you were injured by an accident with a truck during a Missouri winter weather event, discuss your case with a St. Louis car accident attorney. If the driver was driving recklessly when he should not have been, you have a right to be compensated for your injuries.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Commission states that severe weather conditions pose a special risk to other drivers and require that drivers take themselves off of the road under certain conditions. This is not only the case with winter weather, but also with conditions such as heavy downpours or deep fog. An experienced attorney can investigate the reason behind an accident and also to determine who is at fault for it.
Trucking companies and their drivers know that they need to apply extra caution during extreme weather conditions. There are even systems in place to determine whether or not they should proceed to drive or pull over to wait out an event. Visibility is one factor when making that determination. If a driver is unable to view the road in front of him due to a heavy snow or even fog, he is required to stop driving until it clears. The family of a Missouri man was awarded $5 million for his wrongful death when a semi truck missed a stop sign during an episode of heavy fog. With almost zero visibility, that driver should have stopped driving until the fog lifted.
Find out what's happening in Maplewood-Brentwoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Of course icy road conditions are a large cause of truck accidents in the winter. Black ice can be particularly dangerous to a large truck and the cars sharing the road with it. It is important that drivers reduce their speed in cold weather to avoid losing control of their cab or trailer when hitting a patch.
High winds are also a concern for tractor trailers. They can cause the trailer to sway. If the load they are carrying is not tied down properly it can shift position and change the center of gravity in the trailer. This is a common cause of jack knife accidents for tractor trailers, where the trailer moves away from the cab causing it to turn in on itself. If a semi truck suddenly jack knifes on a highway, the traffic flow behind it is forced into defensive maneuvers to avoid crashing into it.
Find out what's happening in Maplewood-Brentwoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
St. Louis Car Accident Attorney
With a few months of winter weather left for Missouri residents, they need to be extra vigilant while out on our highways. It is advisable to stay clear of large trucks by following at a distance longer than usual in anticipation of the need for a sudden stop. If you have been injured this winter in an accident with a large commercial vehicle, let a St. Louis car accident lawyer at The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. help you obtain your rightful compensation.
Call (314) 361-4242 or fill out our Online Contact Form to schedule a free consultation.
photo credit: dobrych via Flickr