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Mexico, MO MO Truck Accident Lawyer

Due to the immense size of trucks as compared to other motor vehicles, a crash between a tractor-trailer and regular passenger vehicle could lead to catastrophic and even deadly consequences. Speak with a Mexico, MO truck accident lawyer right away if you or a member of your family has been seriously hurt in a recent tractor-trailer wreck. An accomplished personal injury attorney at A.W. Smith Law Firm, P.C. could help you recover the financial damages you are due when you suffer injuries and other losses at the hands of another person’s negligence.

Common Causes of Truck Crashes

There are many reasons why a big rig collision could occur. The common causes of truck crashes in Mexico include:

  • Driver negligence
  • Fatigue
  • Distracted driving
  • Speeding and other violations of traffic laws
  • Overloading the truck
  • Alcohol or drug abuse
  • Poor truck maintenance
  • Defects in manufacturing

There are multiple parties who could be liable for truck collisions. Parties who could potentially be held responsible for the plaintiff’s injuries in a truck crash may include the truck driver, the owner of the truck, the trucking company, the truck manufacturer, and the cargo loaders.  A diligent truck crash attorney in Mexico could investigate the collision and determine which party may be held liable for damages.

Common Injuries and Recoverable Damages

The common injuries suffered by victims in truck wrecks include head injuries, back and neck trauma, organ damage, broken bones, and spinal cord damage.

Depending on the type and severity of the injury, injured claimants may be eligible to recover several types of damages. These may include economic damages, non-economic damages, and under certain circumstances, punitive damages.

Economic damages have an assigned dollar amount and include compensation for financial losses including:

  • Physical therapy
  • Medical bills
  • In-home nursing care
  • Property damage
  • Modifications to the home and vehicle
  • Lost income

Non-economic damages are intangible items that may not have an easily designated dollar value. These could include pain and suffering, emotional anguish as well as loss of enjoyment of life.

In rare cases, an injury victim could also be entitled to punitive damages. A court could award punitive damages to punish a negligent truck driver or other defendant and deter similar misconduct in the future.

Deadline to Pursue Compensation

Missouri Revised Statutes §516.120 provides individuals who have been injured in a truck crash five years from the crash date to pursue compensation by filing a civil lawsuit. If an injury victim fails to follow this five-year deadline and tries to bring a lawsuit after the window has passed, they could be time-barred from recovering any compensation at all.

The Impact of Pure Comparative Fault

Sometimes, a court may find that both the defendant and the injured party are legally liable for the truck collision. If an injured individual is assigned a portion of the legal blame, the state’s pure comparative fault laws come into play.

Under the doctrine of pure comparative fault, a plaintiff may still recover compensation if they are partly or even primarily to blame for the accident that caused their injuries. However, their award of damages would be diminished according to their percentage of fault. For instance, a plaintiff assigned 70 percent of the blame for an accident could still technically recover 30 percent of their damages.

A Mexico, Missouri Truck Accident Attorney Could Help

The aftermath of a truck crash could be overwhelming as you try to recover from your injuries. Injured individuals are often left with the emotional and financial hardships following a tractor-trailer crash. You do not have to go it alone. Let our skilled legal team at A.W. Smith Law Firm, P.C. help.

A Mexico truck accident lawyer could thoroughly investigate your claim, identify all parties who could be negligent, and seek fair compensation for your losses. Call today to schedule a consultation.