Trucking Accident Near St. Clair, Missouri in Franklin County Closes Interstate 44

Missouri state troopers are looking into a recent tractor-trailer accident near St. Clair. St. Clair is located in Franklin County, Missouri. The accident forced crews to close the westbound lanes of Interstate 44. Traffic was backed up for miles, according to STL Today.

According to Sgt. Al Nothum of the Missouri Highway Patrol, the accident happened just before 9:00 a.m. about a mile west of the St. Clair rest area. The tractor-trailer veered into the median and flipped. The driver was trapped for more than an hour. The driver was conscious when rescuers pulled him from the vehicle. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Our Missouri trucking accident attorneys understand that tractor-trailers and other large vehicles pose serious threats to passenger-vehicle motorists. Truck accidents with cars are oftentimes fatal as the truck's weight and power throw more deadly force into collisions. If you've experienced an accident with a tractor-trailer or another large truck, you are urged to contact an attorney to help you fight for the proper compensation; you may not only have to take on the driver, but the company that owns the truck as well.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were approximately 380,000 large trucks that were involved in traffic accidents in the United States in 2008. A large truck is defined as a vehicle with a gross weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds. More than 4,000 large trucks were involved in fatal accidents that took the lives of 4,229 people that year. These deaths accounted for more than 10 percent of all of the traffic fatalities reported throughout the year. Another 90,000 were injured in these accidents. One out of nine traffic fatalities in 2008 resulted from a collision involving a large truck.

Passenger-vehicle occupants are most at risk for death in these types of accidents. Of all of the deaths that happened in accidents that involved a large truck, 74 percent of deaths happened to the occupants of another vehicle, 10 percent were non-occupants and only 16 percent were occupants of a large truck. Injuries distribute just about the same with 71 percent occupants of another vehicle, 3 percent non-occupants and 26 percent occupants of a large truck. Large trucks are more likely to be involved in deadly fatal multiple-vehicle accidents instead of fatal single-vehicle accidents.

More than 60 percent of deadly traffic accidents that involve a large truck happen in rural areas. Nearly 70 percent of them happen during the daytime and 80 percent of them happen on weekdays. In 2008, more than 100 large trucks were involved in fatal accidents in Missouri alone.

Safety tips to remember when driving near large trucks:

-Take into account the differences in size and weight. While most cars weigh an average of 3,000 pounds. Large trucks are heavy and can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Remember that trucks can't maneuver like a passenger vehicles and they can't stop as quickly either.

-Don't tailgate. Allowing more space between you and the truck in front of you allows you to have a better view of the traffic conditions ahead.

-Remember that it takes at least twice the distance for a large truck or bus to stop than it does for a small car. It also takes them longer to accelerate and get up to speed.

-Be careful when passing. One of the most common reasons for collisions involving passenger vehicles and large trucks is the motorist's unfamiliarity with the performance limitations and capabilities of large trucks.

-Don't forget about blind spots. Semis have a large blind spot reaching up to 200 feet directly behind them. Trucks with high hoods have blind spots of nearly 25 feet. Remember, if you can't see the truck's mirrors, the truck driver can't see you.