If you were the victim of a rollover truck accident and want to find out how to protect your rights, contact OnderLaw today. You may be entitled to significant compensation for your injuries and losses. While rollover crashes only make up a small percentage of truck accidents, they typically cause severe vehicle damage and debilitating injuries. Our St. Louis rollover truck accident lawyers can help you recover compensation.

Tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, and other commercial trucks have a high center of gravity, which makes it easier to roll over in certain circumstances. According to experts, commercial vehicles are one-third less stable than the average passenger vehicle. They’re bigger, heavier, and carry thousands of pounds of cargo.

Types of Rollover Accidents

There are two categories of rollover accidents: tripped and untripped. In a tripped crash, the truck hits a curb, overpass, car, or another type of obstacle. When an untripped accident occurs, the driver loses control of the vehicle because of force or momentum. Some of the events that could cause a rollover truck accident include:

  • Abrupt lane change
  • Speeding
  • Striking a hazard on the road
  • Loose cargo
  • Sharp turns
  • Hard braking
  • Driving while distracted or impaired

If you’ve been injured in a rollover truck accident in St. Louis, you are likely suffering from severe injuries and facing a rising tide of medical bills. You shouldn’t have to suffer because of the negligent actions of someone else. For dedicated legal representation, contact the semi-truck accident attorneys at OnderLaw and review your case free of charge. Call today.

Steps to Take After a Rollover Accident

If you sustained an injury in a rollover crash, you need to seek medical care and hire a St. Louis tractor-trailer collision lawyer from OnderLaw immediately. A lawyer can help you collect relevant evidence to help you hold the at-fault driver or the trucking company financially responsible.

When you hire one of our attorneys, we’ll launch a thorough investigation into your case and start gathering evidence. Some of the essential information and documentation we’ll look for include:

  • Liability insurance information from the truck driver, their employer, and other parties involved
  • Photos of the crash scene
  • Video surveillance
  • Statements from people who witnessed the accident
  • Police reports
  • Rental car information
  • Your medical records, billing statements, and additional expenses related to your injury and treatment
  • Car repair bills

Commercial trucks include a wide range of vehicles. Some are government vehicles, while others belong to private companies. The trucking company and type of truck involved could affect the legal procedure you need to go through to pursue compensation.

OnderLaw knows how to identify different commercial trucks and determine the circumstances necessary to file a claim. Some of the types of commercial trucks include:

Different types of trucks require different licensing, regulations, and other standards regulated by federal and state trucking laws.

Also, the cause of the crash is relevant to determine who was responsible for your total losses. The responsible parties may include:

The trucking company

When a trucking company negligently hires an unqualified or inexperienced driver or fails to properly train their drivers, you could pursue compensation from their liability insurance policy.

The truck driver

If driver error led to a rollover collision, you could file a claim with their car insurance or sue them directly for their carelessness behind the wheel.

The truck manufacturer

If a mechanical failure or defective part caused the rollover crash, you could hold the manufacturer of the parts responsible.

The loading company

When improperly secured cargo shifts or falls out of a truck and causes it to roll over, you could potentially file a claim or lawsuit against the company responsible for loading the vehicle.

It could be that multiple parties are responsible for your accident. Your St. Louis 18-wheeler rollover accident attorney will explore every scenario to ensure you receive the maximum reward possible.

Determining the Value of Your Case

There’s no amount of money to make up for your suffering. However, OnderLaw wants to ensure you receive full and fair compensation for your expenses and any pain you have to endure. Under Missouri law, you’re allowed to claim compensatory damages in a rollover truck accident case.

Compensatory damages fall under two categories: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are actual costs, while non-economic are intangible losses. The following economic damages are available for compensation:

  • Medical expenses
  • Future medical costs
  • Loss of income and lost future earnings
  • Car repair or replacement costs
  • Property damage (personal items in the vehicle at the time of the crash)

The non-economic damages available to claim after a rollover crash in St. Louis include:

  • Physical pain
  • Emotional Trauma
  • Loss of companionship or consortium

Various factors will determine whether you receive the maximum settlement available or a portion of the policyholder’s liability coverage. Generally, the more severe your injury, the higher the compensation you’re entitled to receive. The following information is taken into consideration when reviewing the facts of a rollover accident case:

  • The severity of the injury
  • Duration of medically necessary treatment
  • Permanent impairment or disability resulting from the injury
  • Total damages incurred
  • The availability of sufficient evidence proving fault
  • The total amount of insurance coverage

It’s important to track all of the economic expenses related to your accident to ensure their covered. Determining the value of non-economic expenses is more challenging, but your highly experienced legal team will be able to help you understand the full scope of compensation you should expect for your losses and your pain and suffering.

At Fault and Comparative Negligence Rules

Missouri follows a fault system when it comes to auto accidents and the party responsible for resulting losses. If you’re able to prove the trucker or trucking company caused your rollover crash, you can seek compensation from their liability insurance carrier.

Missouri also follows a comparative negligence rule when determining fault after an accident. If you share any amount of blame for the crash occurring, you can only collect up to the percentage of responsibility on the part of the other motorist. As an example, if your total damages are $10,000 but you were 10% at fault, you can receive a maximum of $9,000 in compensation.

Common Injuries from Rollover Truck Accidents

When a large commercial truck rolls over in an accident, it usually results in devastating property damage and physical harm.

If unsecured cargo falls off the truck, the vehicle rolls onto yours, or you become pinned between the vehicle and a stationary object, you could end up with debilitating or life-threatening injuries. Rollover truck crashes in St. Louis usually cause the following injuries:

Some of these injuries can cause disability or permanent physical impairment. In some situations, the injuries are fatal. Depending on the extent and severity of bodily harm, you might need surgery, physical therapy, or suffer from psychological damage.

The Differences Between an Insurance Claim and a Lawsuit

There are several significant differences between an insurance claim and a lawsuit. If you’re the victim of a rollover accident and require medical treatment for your injuries, you should file a claim. Depending on the liability coverage available on the truck driver’s or their employer’s insurance policy, you could potentially cover your total losses.

If the truck driver or trucking company’s actions were entirely reckless, you could file a lawsuit to recover your compensatory damages, as well as punitive damages. Punitive damages don’t reimburse an injured person for their losses. Instead, it punishes the reckless party for their actions.

A St. Louis rollover truck accident attorney from OnderLaw will help you decide whether you should file an insurance claim, lawsuit, or do both. We understand the different elements of a case and how to determine the value. We’ll search for substantial evidence that will increase the financial award you can pursue.

We will take care of every aspect of your case for you. We will file an insurance claim on your behalf, investigate the details of your rollover crash, submit documentation to the adjuster, and negotiate the fair settlement we believe you deserve. If necessary, we’ll file a lawsuit against the trucker or trucking company.

Choose OnderLaw to Represent You in Your Case

When you have to decide who to hire after a rollover truck accident in St. Louis, it’s a decision you shouldn’t take lightly. Choosing the right legal team could mean the difference between recovering the maximum value of your case or losing entirely. OnderLaw has experience working on cases like yours and can reach a positive outcome.

We aim to seek justice for our clients. The effects of a rollover accident can be devastating. You can count on us to help you get through this overwhelming time in your life. We’ll explain each step of the legal process so you understand your rights and what to expect.

Speak with an Experienced St. Louis Rollover Truck Accident Attorney

Did you sustain an injury in a rollover truck accident? Do you want to find out how to recover compensation to pay for your expenses? Contact OnderLaw today and schedule a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable attorneys. We’re ready to discuss the details of your case to determine your best options for moving forward.

We know you’re struggling and want to make sure we make this situation easier for you. Financial uncertainty is frightening. Getting hit by a commercial vehicle leads to horrific effects, and you might not know how you’re going to pay your medical bills. It’s our job to put your mind at ease and take care of your claim so you can focus on getting better.

To speak with a dedicated St. Louis rollover truck accident lawyer, call us or fill out our contact form.