Given how large and heavy their vehicles are, commercial truck drivers have an especially important duty to keep their full attention on driving every second they’re on the road. Any driver who disregards this duty in a way that results in a traffic accident may end up causing serious injury not just to themselves, but to others sharing the road with them—people who did absolutely nothing to deserve getting hurt.

When you’re injured in a distracted driving truck accident in Pevely, you have the right to seek compensation. Our experienced truck crash lawyers at OnderLaw will stand by your side every step of the way through your legal proceedings to ensure you get the best possible result.

Proving a Trucker Was Distracted Behind the Wheel

Like most other truck crash claims, lawsuits resultng from distracted driving truck accidents in Pevely generally involve negligence. Basically, this means that someone can be made to pay for losses they cause due to their own reckless or careless actions. In legal terms, proving someone else negligent means showing they directly caused an otherwise avoidable injury because they failed to take proper actions—for example, when a truck driver fails to follow traffic laws or stay focused on the road while driving.

Some forms of distracted driving are easier to prove than others. Since texting while driving is illegal for truckers traveling through Missouri under both state and federal law, the operator may have gotten a ticket, which would be proof of distracted driving.

But other forms of distracted driving may not be mentioned in a police report filed after an accident. This means it falls on you, as the injured person, to prove that a distracted trucker directly caused your injuries. This may entail collecting and preserving evidence like:

  • Eyewitness testimony;
  • Data from a truck’s “black box”;
  • Surveillance or dashboard camera footage;
  • Input from accident reconstruction experts; or
  • Photos and videos of the crash scene, including the inside of the truck’s cab.

An experienced truck accident attorney at OnderLaw can play a key role in finding the information you need to support your claim.

What Deadlines Apply to Truck Accident Claims?

Because tractor-trailers outweigh the average commuter car by several tons, any traffic accident in Pevely involving a distracted truck driver will probably have life-altering—maybe even life-threatening—consequences. With this in mind, claims or lawsuits usually need to account for both the short- and long-term effects the wreck will have. This includes losses that may not be fully apparent for months or even years after your lawsuit concludes.

Even if you suffer permanent and debilitating injuries in this sort of crash, Missouri Revised Statutes § 516.120 limits most claims to five years after an accident. Failing to start the claims process before this deadline will almost always result in the court throwing out your case. This is one reason why retaining a proactive lawyer immediately after a crash can be crucial to obtaining the fair compensation you need and deserve.

A Pevely Attorney Can Help With Distracted Driving Truck Accident Claims

Distracted truck drivers are a danger to themselves and everyone on the road around them. Unfortunately, there’s very little you can do as a responsible driver to avoid getting caught up in a collision caused by a distracted trucker. What you can do after such a crash is seek help from reliable legal counsel at OnderLaw. We will demand every cent of the compensation you are entitled to receive for your damages.

After a distracted driving truck accident in Pevely, you’ll have a tough fight trying to take on the insurance companies and the lawyers representing the trucking company alone. Tip the odds of a successful case outcome back in your favor by contacting OnderLaw today.