Injuries from truck crashes are dangerous and can even cause death. The truck traffic in St. Louis, Missouri, is very high, which is why car drivers need to follow safe driving practices.
In March 2024, FirstAlert4.com reported on the death of a person in a crash in Franklin County, a suburban county in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The accident happened on Interstate 44 at mile marker 227 around 6:30 a.m.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), a semi-truck collided with a cable median and moved into the eastbound lanes of the interstate. The truck had crashed into a Chevrolet Traverse. Both vehicles caught fire once they went off the roadway after the crash.
Edith McKee, a 59-year-old man who was driving the car, lost his life at the accident scene. Another driver had a few injuries. Based on the MSHP report, the truck was carrying packages, letters, and USPS mail.
Every time a truck collides with a car it leads to painful injuries and vehicle damage. It is necessary for victims to seek legal recourse. This article will discuss the preventive measures car drivers can implement to avoid colliding with trucks in St. Louis.
Avoid Dangerous Truck Accidents in St. Louis
A St. Louis trucking accident lawyer will help you to file a lawsuit so that you receive the compensatory amount to cover your losses. However, as they develop your case, they will also urge you to drive your car safely so that the frequency of crashes is less. Since trucks are big and heavy vehicles, you must try to avoid rash driving as much as possible.
Some ways car drivers can avoid accidents and ensure road safety are:
Plan Your Trip Beforehand
When you plan a trip ahead of time, it ensures maximum safety. That way, you have adequate time at hand to note probable hazards. For example, you know about the truck traffic-dense and high-crime regions and make sure that the stops are secure. Ideally, it is best to not drive into dimly lit areas or isolated locations.
Planning the trip will let you know about the fluctuating weather conditions. It helps you decide whether you should drive when there is excess wind or rain. Apart from that, you shouldn’t be driving on restricted routes, such as low clearances and low-weight limit bridges.
Manage Speeding With Caution
Speeding is one of the leading causes of car-truck collisions in St. Louis. There will be moments when you have to rush to your work or elsewhere because of less time. These are times when you tend to give in to speeding. If you surpass the stipulated speed limit in a certain area, it can make it challenging for you to manage your car near a truck.
A few regions of the city are slippery and have sharp turns. Hence, you must adhere to the speed limit and manage it well, depending on the road conditions. It will ensure road, vehicle, and passenger safety.
You should keep in mind that reaching the destination on time is crucial. However, you should not risk your and other people’s lives because of this. It is much better to slow down and drive cautiously, as that can reduce the chances of a crash and save lives.
Keep Safe Distance
When you are driving close to a semi-truck or a big truck, ensure that there is a good distance. One of the best rules to follow is to maintain a distance of four to six seconds at least behind the truck. It will provide the required time to respond to changing road and traffic conditions.
Additionally, it also helps if you try to avert tailgating or abruptly cut in front of the truck. As this can limit the maneuverability and visibility of the truck driver, which increases the chance of a crash.
What Should You Do if Your Car Gets Hit By a Truck?
Despite following all the guidelines and preventive measures a negligent truck driver can hit your car resulting in painful injuries. In such a situation, you must seek the required medical attention first and then file a legal complaint.
TorHoerman Law states that it is necessary to speak with a lawyer to know whether you are eligible to file a lawsuit. Once you are, you should work with one to get your compensation to cover the losses you’ve endured. An expert lawyer will know how to develop a compelling case and present it in court so that the verdict is in your favor.
Apart from that, they will also let you know about the probable settlement payout so that you have practical expectations. There is no fixed amount for this because it’s case-specific and depends on the extent of your suffering.
In conclusion, when your car gets hit by a truck in St. Louis it can lead to a range of physical wounds, from bone fractures to spinal cord injuries. Therefore, you must adhere to the guidelines mentioned above to steer clear of any mishaps as much as possible. Despite that, if you face a crash, it is necessary to ask for medical and legal aid.
