Speak with the Top Attorneys for Truck Drivers
Lawyers for Commercial Drivers
Professional drivers move equipment and products every day across the country. A truck driver usually spends many hours and even weeks driving, increasing the potential for exhaustion and distraction.
Accidents and traffic infractions can happen even to the most experienced CDL drivers. But, if you are a commercial driver, you must respect a higher safety standard.
While on the road, you are also representing your company. In addition, if you break any traffic law, your driving career is on the line, and you risk losing your CDL. Whether you drive a package car, a semi, a bus, or any other commercial vehicle, if you need CDL lawyers, you have to choose the one who knows your business and understands what issues you may face.
A tired CDL driver on a tight deadline often leads to catastrophic accidents. Besides, truckers drive larger and more dangerous vehicles that can inflict more damage and more severe injuries than most other vehicles. Besides exhaustion and careless driving, even an unbalanced load can cause an accident.
Accidents involving trucks often result in high medical bills, property loss, and, in some cases, wrongful death. Due to Missouri’s comparative negligence law, accident liability can be challenging. Anyone involved in a highway vehicle accident may be deemed partly responsible. Although the truck driver is often liable for the accident, only a thorough investigation can determine precisely what happened.
Hiring a truck driver attorney with experience in dealing with these cases and the trucking industry is crucial since several potential parties are at fault in truck accidents. Your lawyer should also have experience handling wrongful death cases to get proper compensation for the family.
CDL attorneys at Buchanan, Williams & O’Brien law firm will give their best to provide legal help to company drivers, trucking companies, owner-operators, and. We have the experience you need to get the results you want.
If you have been involved in an accident with a truck, or if you are a truck driver who has been ticketed for a traffic violation, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our law firm to schedule a consultation with one of our truck driver lawyers.
Our CDL traffic consultant team will review your case and help you determine the best course of action.
We Have the Resources and Expertise for Injured Truck Drivers
Our law firm dates back 40 years to 1975 when attorney Charles Buchanan began his personal injury and workers’ compensation practice. Since that time, we have been helping injured truckers recover the personal injury and Workers’ Compensation benefits they are owed.
Our legal practice is built on (1) superior legal representation and (2) exceptional personal service.
Over the years, our law firm has earned a reputation for excellence in helping truckers and drivers in Missouri, Illinois, and throughout the United States recover the personal injury and workers’ compensation benefits they are owed.
We have represented truck drivers who were injured in all types of accidents, including:
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Side-impact collisions
- Rollover accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Wide-turn truck accidents
No matter how your accident happened or what injuries you suffered, our CDL defense team can help. We have the experience and the resources to level the playing field against the trucking company and its insurance carrier. When you hire Buchanan, Williams & O’Brien, LLP, we will put our team of experienced lawyers and investigators to work for you.
We will thoroughly investigate your accident to determine who was at fault and what type of compensation you are entitled to. In addition, we will handle all the paperwork and deal with the insurance companies on your behalf so that you can focus on your recovery.
Truck Driver Rights and Responsibilities
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has a set of commercial vehicle regulations that enable the safe operation of big trucks in the U.S.
Under these regulations, the truck driver must examine the back, front, and undercarriage, door locks, cab, engine areas, fluids, turn and brake signals, etc., since a vehicle malfunction causes some truck accidents. If something is wrong with the vehicle, the truck driver should report that before going on the road.
The truck driver must also ensure that the truck, trailer, and container are in good working condition. While on the road, the trucker must stop at every open weigh station. There, the truck can be weighed and examined.
The State of Missouri has particular truck weight limits for industrial trucks. The amount of weight, as well as how that weight is arranged, is something companies and truckers have to be aware of.
Submitting a Claim after a Truck Accident
After being involved in a truck accident, many drivers forget or avoid submitting a claim. It’s often complicated or hard for an injured trucker to navigate these laws and legal regulations. However, filing a lawsuit can help to provide closure, as well as to recuperate damages.
Under Missouri laws, you are entitled to recover your lost salaries and expenses. But, to be sure you get the total amount of damages which can include damages for court costs, loss of abilities, and PTSD, it’s best to hire a professional truck driver lawyer.
Truckers’ errors are among the leading causes of trucking accidents. Commercial drivers often deal with tight schedules, making them tired and exhausted. A tired driver can fall asleep, misjudge driving conditions or be inattentive.
However, there are other causes of truck accidents, including mechanical or equipment failure, weather conditions, or even faulty road designs.
Suppose the commercial driver of a truck was involved in a truck accident, and they fail to comply with the federal motor carrier safety regulations. In that case, that can be a basis for an injury claim.
In addition to all the abovementioned regulations, truck drivers can work only for a certain number of hours. For example, drivers of commercial trucks can work a maximum of 14 consecutive hours but can’t drive over 11 straight hours. They must also be off-duty for at least ten consecutive hours before their next shift. Also, every state has its trucking regulations and laws.
If you are a commercial truck driver, you need a CDL attorney who understands state and Federal transportation laws and can help if you are involved in a truck accident.
How Can Our Top Attorneys for Truck Drivers Help?
In many truck accidents where the truck driver is at fault, chances are regulation or a statute was violated. CDL traffic violations increase the chance of the plaintiff winning the trial. Any traffic violations or CDL traffic tickets can negatively impact a good driving record of a commercial driver.
Serious commercial driving license (CDL) violations include texting or using a handheld mobile phone, speeding off at least 15 MPH, reckless driving, DUI, and other traffic violations.
Truck drivers can expect their commercial driver’s license to be suspended after just a few traffic violations. They can also suffer severe injuries in an accident and even face lifelong problems and financial and emotional trauma.
Our lawyers for truckers can help to protect the rights of injured truck drivers and help them obtain the maximum possible compensation. Reach out to us, and schedule a free consultation so we can discuss your particular case and potential strategies.
Our injured truck driver attorneys handle all types of trucking cases and injuries for clients located in Missouri, including the Joplin/Springfield and St. Louis areas, Illinois, and throughout the United States, including:
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Missouri and Illinois Attorneys for Truck Drivers Legal Plan
Our truck driver attorneys have been helping injured truckers with personal injury and workers’ compensation claims for 40+ years. Our law firm has offices in St. Louis (conveniently close to Illinois) and Southwest Missouri (offices in Joplin and Carthage that are conveniently close to Springfield).
Our attorneys at Buchanan, Williams & O’Brien have experience with the trucking industry and can help you obtain compensation for your family. If you need legal help, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Injured truckers deserve respect and legal support, so we offer all injured truck operators a free consultation to discuss their rights. We provide free trucker injury resources and invite all injured truckers to contact us with any questions. We proudly represent the hard-working men and women in the trucking industry as their attorneys.
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