A woman suffered a serious injury in a truck accident just south of St. Joseph. The incident highlights the dangers of truck crashes, and how they can lead to injuries far more severe than a normal car accident.
Truck Accident in St. Joseph Injures One
The incident happened early in the morning on Monday, January 30, 2017. A 51-year-old woman was traveling southbound away from St. Joseph on Route 59. Just past the intersection with Alabama Street, a northbound truck turned and its trailer became detached. The woman collided with the oncoming trailer in a serious accident.
Emergency responders had to extricate the woman from the vehicle after the crash. She was rushed to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph with serious injuries.
Truck Accidents Cause Serious or Fatal Injuries
It comes as no surprise, but truck accidents are often far more serious than regular car accidents. Trucks are larger, have a higher ground clearance, and much heavier than normal cars. Together, this makes for a dangerous combination.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 3,852 people were killed in truck accidents in 2015. Out of these fatal accidents that involved a truck and another car, it was the truck driver who was fatally hurt only 3% of the time. In all of the other instances, the fatality was an occupant of the car that was hit.
Unfortunately, truck accidents are not rare. The IIHS’s numbers revealed that 11% of all motor vehicle deaths in 2015 were truck accidents.
Vehicle Defects Can Cause Crashes
From initial reports about the accident, it seems that a defect might have been the cause of the crash. Tractor-trailers are not supposed to become detached on slight turns, and Route 59 is far from a curvy road.
Vehicle defects or malfunctions can cause driving problems that lead to accidents, and trucks are not immune from them. In fact, precisely because trucks are on the road so often and are so rarely held in the shop for maintenance, they might even be more susceptible to a mechanical failure. In such a case, a personal injury lawsuit could target not only the driver and the trucking company, but also the corporation that manufactures the part that broke.
St. Joseph Car Accident Attorneys at the Smith Law Office
Truck accidents are serious events that can lead to significant injuries. The impact of a crash with a tractor-trailer can be life-changing, both for you and your loved ones. The financial toll of a crash can feel insurmountable, and leave you in a precarious position.
That is where the personal injury attorneys at the Smith Law Office can help. By representing you in court against the truck driver, trucking company, and even the maker of the truck that caused the crash, we can ensure that you get the compensation that you need to make a full recovery. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a truck accident, call our St. Joseph law office at (816) 875-9373 or contact us online.