Truck Accident Attorneys Serving Missouri and Arkansas
Commercial truck accidents devastate lives. When an 18-wheeler collides with your vehicle, the results often change everything. The experienced attorneys at Kennedy, Robbins, Yarbro & Henson, LC, understand what you’re facing. We handle the complex legal work while you focus on recovery.
Big Trucks Cause Catastrophic Injuries
The size difference between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles creates tremendous force during impact. A fully loaded semi-truck weighs 20 to 30 times more than your car. This massive weight difference explains why truck accidents cause catastrophic injuries.
Common injuries from truck accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord damage and paralysis
- Multiple fractures and broken bones
- Internal injuries requiring surgery
- Severe burns from fuel fires
- Neck and back injuries
- Permanent disfigurement
- Wrongful death
These injuries require extensive medical treatment. Recovery often takes months or years. Many victims never fully recover their previous quality of life.
Why Truck Accidents Happen
Most truck accidents result from preventable mistakes. Trucking companies prioritize profits over safety. Drivers face pressure to deliver loads quickly. Safety regulations get ignored. People get hurt.
Driver Fatigue
Federal regulations limit driving hours, but companies push drivers to violate these rules. Electronic logging devices track hours, yet drivers find ways around them. Fatigued driving causes accidents just like drunk driving.
Impaired Driving
Commercial drivers must pass drug and alcohol tests. Testing happens before employment, after accidents, and randomly. Despite these requirements, impaired truck drivers still cause deadly crashes.
Poor Maintenance
Brake failures, blown tires, and mechanical problems cause serious accidents. Trucking companies must maintain their vehicles properly. When they cut corners on maintenance, accidents happen.
Inadequate Training
Driver shortages push companies to hire unprepared drivers. These undertrained drivers don’t understand their vehicles. They make dangerous mistakes that experienced drivers would avoid.
Cargo Problems
Overloaded trailers make trucks harder to control—improperly secured cargo shifts during transport. Spilled cargo creates hazards for other vehicles. Weight limits exist for good reasons.
Driver Error
Speeding, tailgating, and reckless lane changes cause accidents. Commercial drivers who violate traffic laws face serious consequences. Two violations can result in a 60-day license suspension.
Who Pays for Your Injuries?
Multiple parties may share responsibility for your truck accident. Our attorneys investigate every angle to identify all liable parties.
Potentially responsible parties include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The truck owner (if different from the company)
- Cargo loading companies
- Maintenance providers
- Parts manufacturers
- Other negligent drivers
Each party typically carries insurance. You’ll likely deal with multiple insurance companies. They’ll try to minimize your compensation. That’s where we come in.
Your Right to Compensation
Missouri and Arkansas law entitle truck accident victims to recover damages. Your compensation should cover all losses related to the accident.
Economic Damages
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Property damage
- Travel costs for treatment
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Rehabilitation expenses
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability and disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
Wrongful Death Damages
When truck accidents claim lives, families deserve justice. We pursue compensation for funeral expenses, lost financial support, and loss of companionship.
Punitive Damages
Rarely, courts award punitive damages to punish extreme negligence. Arkansas law allows these damages when companies act with malice or reckless disregard for safety.
Understanding Missouri and Arkansas Law
Time Limits Matter
Missouri gives you five years to file injury claims. Arkansas allows three years. Wrongful death claims follow the same limits in each state. Don’t wait—evidence disappears and witnesses forget. Contact us promptly to protect your rights.
Federal Regulations and Your Case
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates commercial trucking. These regulations help prove negligence when violated.
Key regulations include:
- Hours of service limits
- Drug and alcohol testing requirements
- Weight and cargo securement rules
- Driver qualification standards
- Vehicle maintenance requirements
Violations of these regulations strengthen your case. We know which records to request and how to spot violations.
Evidence That Matters
Strong evidence builds strong cases. After your accident, we gather:
- Police reports and witness statements
- Electronic logging device data
- Driver logs and employment records
- Maintenance and inspection records
- Black box data from the truck
- Traffic camera or dashcam footage
- Medical records and expert testimony
Insurance companies destroy evidence quickly. We move fast to preserve crucial information.
How We Help You Recover
When you hire Kennedy, Robbins, Yarbro & Henson, LC, you get experienced advocates who understand truck accident cases. We handle everything while you heal. We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win. No upfront costs. No hourly bills. We advance case expenses and recover them from your settlement.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
Your actions after an accident affect your case. Protect yourself by following these steps:
- Get Medical Help: Your health comes first. Some injuries don’t show symptoms immediately.
- Call Police: Missouri requires reports for accidents with injuries or property damage over $500.
- Document Everything: Take photos. Get witness information. Keep all paperwork.
- Avoid Statements: Don’t discuss fault. Don’t give recorded statements without an attorney.
- Contact Us Quickly: Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Companies destroy records.
Why Truck Accident Cases Need Experienced Attorneys
Truck accident cases differ from car accident claims. Federal regulations apply. Multiple parties share liability. Insurance policies are larger and more complex.
Trucking companies hire aggressive legal teams immediately. Their investigators work to minimize liability. You need equally strong representation.
We know their tactics. We understand the regulations. We have the resources to fight large trucking companies. Most importantly, we get results.
Common Questions About Truck Accidents
Do all truck accidents involve drug and alcohol testing? Yes, if the accident involves a fatality, citation with injury, or disabling damage.
Can I sue if I’m partially at fault? Yes, in Missouri. In Arkansas, only if you’re less than 50% at fault.
How long do I have to file a claim? Five years in Missouri, three years in Arkansas, but don’t wait. Evidence disappears quickly.
What if the driver was violating hours of service rules? This violation helps prove negligence and strengthens your case significantly.
The numbers tell a sobering story. In 2020, 4,965 people died in large truck crashes nationwide. Seventy-one percent of fatalities were occupants of other vehicles, not the truck drivers.
Most fatal truck accidents happen on weekdays between 6 a.m. Monday and Friday at 5:59 p.m. These are peak traffic hours when trucks share roads with commuters.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation
Truck accidents change lives instantly. Medical bills pile up. You can’t work. Insurance companies pressure you to settle quickly for less than you deserve.
You don’t need to handle this alone. The experienced attorneys at Kennedy, Robbins, Yarbro & Henson, LC fight for truck accident victims throughout Missouri and Arkansas. We understand the devastation these crashes cause. We know how to hold trucking companies accountable.
Contact us today for a free consultation. Call (573) 686-2459 or reach out online. There’s no cost to discuss your case. You pay nothing unless we win.
We’re here to help.