As anyone who has driven in the St. Louis area in recent years has seen, the city and county alike have an abundance of large commercial trucks on the roads. While tractor-trailers and other heavy trucks serve an important purpose by transporting goods and supplies to local businesses, they do present a significant hazard to other road users.
Because of their considerable size, trucks involved in accidents can cause catastrophic damage. But just how prevalent are commercial truck crashes in St. Louis?
The attorneys at Sumner Law Group, LLC, are very familiar with the harm that large trucks can cause, and we closely follow Missouri trucking accident trends. If you suffered injuries in a collision with a commercial truck, you may be entitled to compensation for your resulting harm and losses.
Contact our office 24/7 to arrange a free initial consultation and discuss your case with a St. Louis truck accident attorney.
How Many Truck Accidents Occur in St. Louis and Missouri?
According to data from the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), St. Louis County saw 2,679 commercial vehicle accidents in one recent year, compared to 1,413 in St. Louis City. Statewide, there were 15,453 commercial vehicle collisions.
What Do Recent St. Louis Truck Accident Statistics Show?
Recent Missouri truck accident data shows that St. Louis City and St. Louis County account for a substantial percentage of the state’s commercial vehicle accidents. Only Jackson County had more fatal truck accidents than St. Louis County, and St. Louis City ranked in the top 10 jurisdictions statewide for fatal truck collisions.
St. Louis County led the state in injury crashes, followed by Jackson County. St. Louis City ranked third. Additionally, St. Louis City and County combine for 26.78 percent of property-damage-only truck accidents.
What Are the Leading Causes of Truck Accidents in St. Louis and Statewide?
Truck accidents in Missouri often result from a range of preventable errors and, in many cases, involve multiple contributing factors. Because commercial trucks are significantly larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, any mistake on a truck driver’s part can have serious consequences.
Common causes of St. Louis truck accidents include:
- Driver fatigue – Long shifts and tight delivery schedules can lead to drowsy driving, slower reaction times, and poor decision-making.
- Distracted driving – Texting, adjusting GPS systems, eating, or using dispatch devices can take a driver’s attention off the road.
- Speeding – Trucks require longer stopping distances, and excessive speed increases the risk of rear-end collisions and rollovers.
- Impaired driving – Alcohol, illegal drugs, and even certain prescription medications can affect a driver’s coordination and judgment.
- Improper cargo loading – Overloaded or unbalanced freight can shift during transit and lead to jackknife accidents or rollovers.
- Mechanical failures – Brake defects, tire blowouts, steering issues, and transmission problems can cause sudden loss of control.
- Poor vehicle maintenance – Failure to inspect and maintain trucks regularly can allow preventable mechanical issues to develop.
- Unsafe lane changes – Large blind spots make improper merging or turning especially dangerous.
- Adverse weather conditions – Rain, ice, fog, high winds, and direct sun can make safely handling a truck more difficult.
How Many Injuries and Fatalities Result from Truck Accidents in St. Louis and Missouri?
The MSHP also tracks personal injury and fatal truck accidents on a county-by-county basis. According to the data:
- St. Louis County had 446 personal injury truck crashes and seven fatal truck crashes.
- St. Louis City saw 291 personal injury accidents involving commercial trucks, as well as four fatal truck accidents.
- Commercial vehicles were involved in 2,844 injury crashes and 121 fatal crashes statewide.
How Do St. Louis Truck Accident Statistics Compare to Statewide Data?
St. Louis City and St. Louis County combined account for 26.48 percent of all commercial vehicle accidents statewide, with the county seeing nearly twice as many collisions as the city.
Among fatal accidents, 9.1 percent occur within St. Louis City and County, which is slightly lower than the 9.92 percent that occur in Jackson County, which is home to Kansas City and the state’s deadliest county for commercial vehicle accidents.
Why Truck Accident Statistics Matter for St. Louis Injury Claims
While truck accident statistics themselves might not directly impact personal injury claims arising from commercial vehicle accidents, an attorney’s knowledge of Missouri trucking accident trends can help them know what to look for when they start investigating a crash.
For example, if a lawyer knows that driver distraction, fatigue, speeding, and aggressive driving maneuvers are among the leading causes of truck accidents, they will know to look for evidence pointing to these factors during their investigation. By being familiar with Missouri truck accident data and trends, an attorney can more effectively pursue a claim against an at-fault truck driver or their employer.
How Our Personal Injury Lawyers Help People Hurt in St. Louis Truck Crashes
After a serious truck crash in St. Louis, having a skilled attorney on your side can make a meaningful difference in how your claim plays out. Truck accident cases are uniquely complex because they often involve multiple commercial entities, corporate insurers, and detailed federal regulations. It pays to have a lawyer who is familiar with the nuances of these cases.
An attorney from Sumner Law Group, LLC, can manage communication with insurance companies to protect your rights and work to build a strong claim while you focus on your recovery after a commercial vehicle crash.
Our personal injury lawyers can help by:
- Investigating the crash and preserving key evidence, such as driver logs and maintenance records
- Identifying all potentially responsible parties, including trucking companies and third-party contractors
- Calculating the full value of your losses, including medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering
- Handling negotiations with insurance adjusters
- Consulting with accident reconstructionists and medical professionals when needed
- Filing a lawsuit and representing you in court if the at-fault party and their insurer will not offer a fair settlement
If you suffered injuries in a truck collision caused by a commercial driver, you are likely facing an uphill battle to recover and move forward. Sumner Law Group, LLC, has over 50 years of combined experience fighting for the rights of injured people in St. Louis and nearby communities.
Contact us today to discuss your case with an experienced truck accident attorney in a free initial consultation and learn more about how we can support you.
