Truck Accident Lawyers
A big rig or 18-wheeler accident often has catastrophic consequences for injured individuals. Physical pain, financial struggles, and emotional trauma can significantly impact their ability to work, provide for their families, or enjoy their lives the way they did before the accident. While nothing can undo what happened, victims do have legal options to pursue compensation.
If you were hurt in a semi-truck crash, our truck accident lawyers understand the challenges you’re facing and have dedicated our practice to helping clients like you seek justice. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and learn how we can help you fight unfair trucking companies and their insurers.
- Common Trucking Accident Injuries
- Truck Accident Laws: What You Need to Know
- A Deeper Look at Truck Accidents in the Midwest
- Frequent Causes of Truck Accident Crashes
- Local Truck Accidents and Their Impact
- Frequently Asked Truck Accident Questions & Videos
- How Brown & Crouppen Truck Accident Attorneys Fight for You
- Request a Free Truck Accident Case Evaluation From Brown & Crouppen Law Firm
Common Trucking Accident Injuries
Due to their substantial size and weight, commercial trucks can cause severe injuries and damage during an accident. Common types of truck accident injuries include:
- Head injuries: Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) happen when victims hit their head against hard surfaces during a collision.
- Spinal cord injuries: Injuries to the spinal cord are particularly devastating because they can lead to mobility issues and paralysis.
- Broken bones: Serious bone fractures can take a long time to heal and cause long-term pain and impairments.
- Internal injuries: Collapsed or punctured lungs, bowel perforations, and other organ damage may be considered critical.
- Lacerations: Serious cuts can lead to dangerous blood loss or infections without immediate care.
- Soft tissue injuries: Whiplash, bruising, sprains, strains, and torn ligaments are very common in tractor-trailer accidents.
- Disfigurement: Amputations and permanent scarring can have physical, functional, and emotional effects.
- PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be debilitating for truck wreck victims.
Use our legal checklist to learn what to do after an accident and understand key legal considerations for recovering financial compensation.
Truck Accident Laws: What You Need to Know
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the government agency responsible for regulating and overseeing commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) and their drivers. Key laws enforced by the FMCSA include:
- Hours of service: The FMCSA limits commercial driving hours to a maximum of 11 hours driving or 14 hours on duty after 10 consecutive hours off. Drivers are also required to take a 30-minute break after driving for 8 hours.
- Licensing requirements: Truck drivers must have a valid CMV driver’s license to operate their commercial vehicles.
- Drug and alcohol testing: Under 49 CFR Part 40, many commercial drivers are subject to regular testing for drugs and alcohol.
- Medical qualifications: The FMCSA Medical Program Division has policies and guidelines to ensure commercial drivers are physically qualified.
- Accident reporting: Truck crashes must be reported if they meet FMCSA requirements, such as when the CMV weighs over 10,000 pounds or if a fatality occurs.
Liability in Trucking Accidents
If someone else caused your truck crash and resulting injuries, you may qualify to file a truck accident claim and recover damages. However, you must establish all elements of negligence to prove the at-fault party is legally and financially responsible for your losses.
In some cases, you may share some fault for the accident. Depending on where the truck crash occurred, state laws may still allow you to recover compensation. For example, under Missouri’s pure comparative negligence rule, you may be entitled to damages even when you are partially to blame. However, the amount you receive is proportionately reduced by your percentage of fault.
"If you are in an accident and hit by a big truck, there are a number of different parties that may be liable. If you're a passenger, it could partially be the responsibility of the driver. It could be the truck company. It could be a holding company that owns the truck and the company. There are so many different parties, and that's why I think it's important to hire a lawyer.
I think sometimes people call us regularly and say, ‘This is an open-and-shut case. There's nothing to this. I know you can collect for me.’ The truth is, there's no such thing as an open-and-shut case, especially when it comes to a big truck case, there are many different layers of ownership and insurance and complexities. And if you don't have somebody who really knows what they're doing, you could end up getting the million-dollar insurance policy and never even knowing about the $5 billion insurance policy behind it. So it's always important to get a lawyer involved because these things are not simple. If they were simple, there would be no place for us."
A Deeper Look at Truck Accidents in the Midwest
The Midwest is a hub of ground transportation, with several highways and high-traffic routes converging in this region. With such high activity, there is a greater risk of truck crashes, injuries, and fatalities in these states.
The numbers below are based on 2024 FMCSA crash data.
| State | Total Crashes | Fatalities | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 5,423 | 147 | 2,112 |
| Illinois | 7,171 | 146 | 3,080 |
| Kansas | 1,882 | 54 | 534 |
Frequent Causes of Truck Accident Crashes
There are many variables that go into commercial truck operations. When something goes wrong during the process or a truck driver is careless behind the wheel, it can result in accidents and injuries. Here are common causes of truck accidents:
Driver Fatigue
Long hours on the road, pressure from employers to meet shipping deadlines, or poor choices by drivers to ignore driving limits can lead to driver fatigue and accidents.
Distracted Driving
Driver distractions and inattention are major contributing factors to auto accidents, including truck wrecks, in Missouri and throughout the Midwest. Texting, adjusting dashboard controls, eating, or reaching for items in the truck cabin are all considered driving distractions.
Improper Truck Maintenance
Failing to maintain commercial vehicles in proper working condition can cause brake issues, engine malfunctions, and other mechanical problems that cause a crash.
Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs can affect a driver’s ability to react to road hazards, make quick decisions, or operate their vehicle safely, especially in a large truck.
Insufficient Employer Training
Without proper training, truck drivers can make errors that ultimately cause a traffic collision. This may include insufficient training on how to operate the truck, understanding driving limits, or what to do when faced with dangerous road conditions.
Overloaded Trucks
When large commercial trucks are overloaded or loaded improperly, the load may start to shift, affecting the driver’s ability to control the vehicle. This often leads to swaying, jackknifing, or rollover accidents.
Weather Conditions
Poor weather conditions in the Midwest are another factor that can increase the risk of a truck accident. Icy roads, heavy rain, and poor visibility due to fog are examples of dangerous weather conditions for the road.
If another person’s negligence led to your truck crash, our truck accident attorneys can help you hold the at-fault party accountable for your losses. Our focus is on protecting you and your family’s future.
Local Truck Accidents and Their Impact
Sadly, many truck crashes in the Midwest have tragic endings that leave families and the community feeling the effects for a long time. If you or a loved one has had an experience that is similar to the stories below, connect with our truck accident law firm today.
Multi-Vehicle Truck Crash in Jefferson County
As reported by First Alert 4, multiple fatalities occurred when a semi-truck driver was distracted and failed to slow for traffic on I-55. After rear-ending a car, multiple vehicles were pushed forward into each other, resulting in five people injured and three dead.
Overnight Truck Crash in Creve Coeur
According to Fox2Now, a tractor-trailer was involved in a fatal collision with another vehicle on December 5, 2025. The victim was a passenger in one of the vehicles. In cases like these, a truck accident injury lawyer could help the victim’s family demand compensation for their loss by filing a wrongful death claim.
Trucking Accident in Southern Illinois
In October 2025, WSIL News 3 reported a truck crash on I-24 that resulted in one death and one injury. The accident involved two semi-trucks that possibly collided and caught fire.
Semi-Truck Crash in Snowy Conditions
With the I-70 packed with snow, KCTV 5 Local News reported that two 18-wheeler trucks crashed, leaving two of the truck drivers seriously injured. After a truck slowed for traffic, it was rear-ended by the semi-truck traveling behind.
If you have a question that’s not found on this page, you can view the frequently asked truck accident questions page or call us at 888-803-1307
Frequently Asked Truck Accident Questions & Videos
Who Can Be Held Liable for Commercial Trucking Accidents?
Negligent parties that may be held liable for a truck crash include the truck driver, the truck driver’s employer, the truck loading company, truck maintenance professionals, truck parts manufacturers, or other vehicle drivers. Our auto accident lawyers can help you determine fault and prove negligence in your case.
How Much Is My Commercial Truck Accident Case Worth?
In fact, the average settlement amount for truck accidents is over $40,000, but varies based on many case factors. More damages to the body (i.e., a broken neck versus a broken toe) equals more money damages, as you will require more care and modifications to your life as a result of your injury. There isn’t any set guideline for how much a truck accident is worth, but a personal injury attorney experienced in trucking collisions will be able to provide guidance on how much is just compensation.
How Long Do I Have To File a Truck Accident Lawsuit?
The statute of limitations for filing against a commercial truck driver is dependent on what kind of claim you are filing and where you are filing your claim. For example, if you are filing a personal injury claim in Missouri against a truck driver, you currently have 5 years to file your claim. However, you have two years to file in Illinois.
Because over-the-road truck drivers often drive in states where they do not live or states where their employer isn’t domiciled, there may be issues concerning where the case belongs (i.e., in state court versus federal court). An experienced personal injury attorney can evaluate the facts and provide guidance on where the case needs to be filed and what the appropriate statute of limitations is.
How Long Will My Truck Accident Case Take?
On average, most truck accident cases settle between 6 and 16 months from the date of the accident. However, there are many factors that can affect how long a truck accident case takes to settle (such as commercial litigation and the number of parties involved in the claim).
What Should I Do After a Semi-Truck Accident?
Seek treatment immediately. Even slow-moving semi-trucks hit with significant force behind them due to their mass. Cars are designed to absorb forces from car crashes (to a certain extent), but the human body is not. Even if you do not appear to be injured, it is possible to suffer a traumatic brain injury. Seek medical treatment and keep a friend or family member nearby for the next few days to observe changes in mood or behavior.
Can I Sue for Being Hit by a Semi Truck?
If negligence led to your accident, you may qualify to take legal action and recover damages. If you’re considering suing after being hit by a semi-truck, speak with an injury attorney to see if you have a valid truck accident case and how to proceed with filing a lawsuit.
What Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Do?
A truck accident lawyer handles your claim from start to resolution, including investigating the crash, gathering evidence, proving damages, negotiating a settlement, or taking your case to court. Working with an experienced truck accident attorney gives you leverage against the insurance company that may try to take advantage of your situation.
FREE CASE EVALUATION
How Brown & Crouppen Truck Accident Attorneys Fight for You
Brown & Crouppen has over 40 years of experience helping truck accident victims and their families throughout the Midwest. Since 1979, we’ve tirelessly advocated for our clients, working toward a full-value settlement when possible and standing strong in trial when it’s not.
If you were injured in a semi-truck crash, we offer award-winning legal services to get you through this difficult time, including:
- Supporting you with clear communication and compassionate care
- Conducting a full investigation to determine liability
- Gathering evidence to build your truck accident claim
- Identifying and calculating the value of your damages
- Negotiating a settlement offer that accurately reflects your losses
- Taking your case to court when the insurance company refused to make a fair settlement offer
As one of the Midwest’s most trusted personal injury firms, we will be your truck accident guide through every step of your case. There is no cost to get started and no fee unless we win.
$6,000,000
Settlement
Box Truck Accident
$390,000
Settlement
Tractor Trailer
$250,000
Settlement
Tractor Trailer
Request a Free Truck Accident Case Evaluation From Brown & Crouppen Law Firm
Our truck accident law firm is one of the highest-rated law firms in the Midwest. At Brown & Crouppen, all of our truck accident attorneys share the same goal—to get justice for people who have been injured. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries from a truck accident, get help from an attorney at Brown & Crouppen Law Firm.
Getting started with your truck accident case is easy. You can call us at 888-802-8156 for a free consultation, or tell us about your case with our free case evaluation form. And remember, there’s no upfront cost to you—if you don’t get paid, we don’t get paid. Our truck accident attorneys serve locations throughout the Midwest, including the following:
- St. Louis, MO
- Kansas City, MO
- Arnold, MO
- Edwardsville, IL
- Fairview Heights, IL
- Ferguson, MO
- O’Fallon, MO
- Saint Charles, MO
- Washington, MO
- Overland Park, KS
- Independence, MO
- Lee’s Summit, MO
- Olathe, KS
- Blue Springs, MO
- Raytown, MO
At Brown & Crouppen, our lawyers provide legal representation for all truck accident cases, including commercial trucks, semis, and 18-wheeler accidents. Call our law firm to tell us about the accident and find out if you have a case.
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- Last Modified:
- January 26, 2026
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