St. Louis Truck Accident Lawyer

Large commercial trucks have four significant blind spots: directly in front of the cab, directly behind the trailer, and along both sides. When a truck driver fails to check these zones before changing lanes or turning, the results can be catastrophic for anyone in that space, especially in the heavy merging traffic on I-70, I-64, I-44, I-55 and I-270 around St. Louis.

Common Injuries and Losses in a Blind Spot Truck Accident

A loaded 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and a side impact from a truck that size can crush a passenger vehicle. Victims frequently suffer life-altering injuries:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Severe neck and spinal injuries from the violent whipping motion
• Broken bones and crush injuries
• Internal injuries that aren’t immediately visible

These injuries often need months or years of treatment. A strong claim accounts for current and future medical bills, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and vehicle damage. St. Louis 18-wheeler accident lawyers document all of these losses so nothing is left out of your claim.

Learn how federal crash data can strengthen a claim in our post on what NHTSA crash data reveals about truck collisions.

Jackknife Accidents: When a Truck Becomes a 70-Foot Barrier

A jackknife happens when a truck’s cab and trailer fold inward at the hitch, swinging the trailer across lanes. These are among the most dangerous crashes on Missouri highways, and many are preventable.

Federal rules require truck drivers to use extreme caution and reduce speed when rain, ice or snow reduce traction (49 CFR 392.14). A driver who fails to slow down on a wet I-70 or icy I-64 isn’t just making a mistake. They’re breaching their duty of care.

A truly unforeseeable jackknife is rare. Most trace back to driver error or equipment failure, and both can create legal liability. Regular mechanical checks, including monitoring for defective tires and wheels, are one of the best ways to prevent jackknifing. When a trucking company skips these checks and a crash results, that failure is evidence of negligence.

Overloaded and Overweight Trucks: A Hidden Danger on Missouri Roads

Federal and Missouri law set strict limits on how much a commercial truck can weigh, for good reason. An overloaded truck takes longer to stop, is harder to control in an emergency, and puts enormous stress on tires and brakes that can lead to sudden failures.

On the interstate, a truck is generally overweight if its gross vehicle weight exceeds 80,000 pounds. Axle limits also apply:

• Interstate highways: no more than 20,000 pounds per single axle
• Other Missouri highways: no more than 22,000 pounds per single axle
• Commercial zones (RSMo 304.190): no more than 22,400 pounds per single axle

The manufacturer’s weight rating for the steering axle and tires must never be exceeded either. That’s a detail some trucking companies ignore under pressure to move freight faster.

The Scale of the Problem

Weigh stations inspect millions of trucks every year, and overweight trucks are still caught regularly. An overweight truck doesn’t just endanger other drivers. It speeds up damage to Missouri’s roads and bridges, creating secondary hazards for everyone.

Missouri law (RSMo 304.200) allows permits for non-divisible oversized loads, but MoDOT’s permit rules come with strict movement restrictions, including bans on travel during major holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

If an overloaded truck caused your crash, that weight violation can be powerful evidence of negligence. As a trucking accident law firm in St. Louis, Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers knows how to get weigh records, inspection logs and cargo manifests to prove it. Talk to a truck accident attorney in St. Louis about your case today. No fee unless we win.