| St. Louis Trucking Accident Attorneys Fighting for You
St. Louis trucking accident lawyer Patrick O’Brien has been a dedicated, driven trial lawyer for 40 years representing personal injury cases. He has tried cases to verdict in 16 states and has represented clients in more than 30 states. Patrick O’Brien’s strong record of recovering full and fair compensation for personal injury victims speaks to the quality of his work. (For states in which he is not licensed to practice law, he applies to be admitted pro hac vice*.)
Americans love cars. Per capita ownership of automobiles by U.S. citizens is the highest in the world. We share the highways with over-the-road truck drivers. Most of us drive for pleasure and/or to commute. Truck drivers, on the other hand, drive for a living.
Truck drivers are most concerned with getting their freight from Point A to Point B as fast as possible. They tend to drive too fast under challenging weather conditions and will drive more hours in a day than is reasonably safe. Given the size of their trucks, a collision with an automobile often results in serious/catastrophic injuries to the drivers and often the passengers of the car, including death.
| Causes of Truck Accidents
Trucking accidents occur due to a variety of circumstances, including:
Why You Need a St. Louis Trucking Accident Attorney
If you are involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle, whether you realize it or not, you are up against a multi-billion dollar insurance industry that does not have your best interests in mind. In fact, they spend countless millions each year to employ attorneys and adjusters whose only job is to get your claim out of their system by paying you as little money as possible.
If you have been involved in a truck accident, you may have a right to seek damages from the driver and/or their employer, but don’t expect their insurance companies to help. They may sound friendly and caring on the phone, but they are not on your team.
Insurance companies count on the fact that most people don’t know their rights and are willing to settle for far less than they deserve. If you are not represented by a St. Louis trucking accident lawyer who understands the law and how to negotiate and fight to get you the compensation you need, you will likely settle for less than you are owed. You need someone on your side who is just as good at negotiating and knows the law as well as the trained negotiators employed by insurance companies.
The Law Offices of Patrick S. O’Brien have decades of experience fighting for our clients’ rights. We genuinely care about your well-being and will address your case with the diligence and compassion you deserve. Patrick O’Brien is a highly experienced St. Louis trucking accident attorney who works on a contingency basis, meaning you don’t pay us unless you win your case. Before you settle with an insurance company, visit us for a free, no-obligation consultation.
The Do’s and Don’ts of a Trucking Collision
| Do:
- Stay at the scene of the collision until the police show up to do a report
- Get contact information from witnesses who saw the event
- Get a copy of the police report
- Take pictures of your damaged vehicle
- Get checked out at the ER or your family doctor if you sustain any injury, no matter how slight
- Take your care to a repair facility of your choice
| Don’t:
- Admit fault to the truck driver
- Move your vehicle from the scene until the police show up
- Give a statement to the insurance representative of the trucking company
- Sign a release that would allow the trucking company’s insurance carrier to obtain your medical records
- Have your vehicle repairs done at the facility chosen by the trucking company’s insurance company
See the Latest Truck Accident Blog Posts
Contact Our Experienced St. Louis Trucking Accident Lawyer
It is more important to hire a St. Louis trucking accident attorney when you are involved in a collision with a truck than when it is just an auto collision. The trucking industry is very sophisticated and will make it difficult to recover for your property loss and any personal injuries you may have sustained.
Patrick O’Brien has handled trucking claims where the injury was caused by the driver dropping his cell phone, speeding, driving too fast for the weather conditions, inattention to his surroundings, and failure to keep a careful lookout.
Under federal law, each truck must have liability insurance of at least $750,000. His office has handled cases where collection was difficult due to the bankruptcy of the insurance carrier for the trucker. Do not try to take on the trucking industry by yourself. Call our St. Louis trucking accident lawyers for advice on handling your unique situation.