When a tractor-trailer weighing as much as 80,000 pounds collides with virtually any other kind of vehicle, the smaller vehicle is much more likely to sustain damage than the truck. This is especially true for collisions that involve a semi crashing front-first into the side or doors of a car—those areas aren’t well-designed to withstand an impact from another car, let alone a tractor-trailer. This makes side-impact truck accidents in Pevely and throughout the state of Missouri especially dangerous.

If you were recently hurt in a wreck like this, seeking representation from the reliable and experienced 18-wheeler crash attorneys at OnderLaw should be your top priority. Our trusted legal professionals are committed to pursuing the fair compensation you need to recover from your injuries and move forward with your life. Let us help you.

Proving a Truck Driver is Responsible for a T-Bone Crash

Like with most other truck accident claims, a successful suit over a side-impact truck crash in Pevely generally means proving the truck driver who hit you was legally negligent in some way. To do this, you need evidence to prove all these conditions apply to your accident:

  • The people you’re suing owed you a “duty of care” requiring them to act reasonably and responsibly;
  • Those people breached their duty by doing something specifically careless, reckless, or illegal;
  • Your side-impact truck accident wouldn’t have happened if they’d acted responsibly; and
  • The accident was the main cause of every injury or loss you’re seeking payment for through your claim.

Every truck driver has roughly the same duty of care while driving: to obey traffic laws, to watch out for other vehicles near theirs, and to generally act like a rational person at all times while behind the wheel. What counts as a breach of duty can vary a lot depending on the circumstances, and proving that a specific action was the cause of an accident can be a complex process—as any experienced attorney can confirm.

Possible Obstacles to Financial Recovery

In addition to proving that someone else is to blame for your side-impact truck accident in Pevely, you may also need to prove that you weren’t negligent yourself and that you didn’t contribute to causing your own injuries. This is called “comparative negligence.” Not all states take comparative negligence into account, but Missouri does. If the court finds you were partially responsible for your losses from the crash, it might reduce how much money you can recover by a percentage they determine.

Missouri Revised Statutes § 516.120 limits you to five years after getting hurt through someone else’s negligence to completely finish building and filing a claim against them. These limitations make it all the more important to get help from a trusted truck accident lawyer at OnderLaw before trying to recover compensation after this or any other kind of truck wreck.

Consult a Pevely Attorney for Help Following a Side-Impact Truck Accident

Getting T-boned or sideswiped by a tractor-trailer is almost always a traumatic experience, and it can often be a life-altering one as well. Fortunately, you have help available from dedicated legal professionals with a track record of successful case results.

At OnderLaw, we are proud of our commitment to taking on causes—not just cases—and to helping people just like you hold negligent truckers and trucking companies accountable for their actions. Call today for a free consultation with one of our compassionate and caring legal professionals after being involved in a side-impact truck accident in Pevely.