What could have turned out to be a particularly devastating and tragic truck accident ended up being a nonfatal crash recently after a truck overturned and was left dangling over the edge of the Discovery Bridge in St. Charles.
According to police reports, law enforcement had to close a section of Highway 370 eastbound near Highway 94 for approximately three hours to clear the wreckage.
The truck driver was reportedly able to get himself out of the truck, climb over the cab and make it to safety. Although the contents of the truck did not reportedly spill out onto the roadway, officers did report smelling diesel fuel after the wreck.
Facts of the Truck Accident
Here are some additional details about this accident, according to the latest reports from police:
- The collision occurred at about 12:30 p.m. and involved a truck and two other cars.
- The two people in the other two vehicles allegedly sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
- The truck driver reportedly did not sustain any injuries.
- The auto accident forced the closure of all eastbound traffic on Hwy 370 on the bridge.
- Law enforcement said it would take hours to upright the tractor trailer and get the truck cab off the edge of the bridge.
Truck Accident Statistics
The following facts about truck-related accidents were provided by the Federal Motor Safety Administration (FMCSA):
- The number of trucking accidents has increased by more than 20% over the last two decades.
- In 2002, nearly 5,000 individuals died and 130,000 people suffered injuries as a result of a large truck involved in a crash.
- In 2013, approximately 4,186 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes, which is a 3% increase from the year before.
Possible Negligence and Liability
Officers and investigators are still working to uncover the precise causes of this crash. One thing to keep in mind about auto accidents involving truckers and trucking companies is that both, if responsible for the accident, can be named separately as defendants.
It may also take some investigative work to determine who is exactly at fault and whether or not you have a valid claim to make should you decide to bring legal action against a defendant. When it comes to seeking compensation for damages in a truck accident, the following is a list of possible players that may be held responsible for a victim’s personal injuries:
- Truck driver
- Truck owner or trailer owner
- Person or company that leased the truck or trailer involved in the accident
- Manufacturer of the truck or trailer, if the vehicle had a defect that contributed to the accident
- Loader of shipper, who may have improperly loaded the truck
- Other motorists involved in a wreck.
Contact a St Louis Auto Accident Attorney at Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law
If you or a family have been injured in an auto accident involving a truck, contact the St Louis auto accident Attorney at Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law by calling us at 573-333-3333 for our Missouri office or at 618-888-8888 for our Illinois office. You can also email us using the form at the right-hand side of the screen.
