Cape Girardeau Tanker Truck Accidents

Rollover collisions. Jackknife accidents. Override collisions. The aforementioned accidents are just a few of the many forms tanker truck collisions can take. These accidents can happen virtually anywhere in which a tanker truck is present. For example, let us say that you are driving along Big Bend Road and headed toward Isle Casino Cape Girardeau, which is located at 777 Main Street, Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701. Coming from the opposite direction in the adjacent lane is a tanker truck – whose driver just so happens to be extremely fatigued and has been nodding off occasionally. The drowsy truck driver quickly succumbs to his fatigue, veers into your lane, and collides headfirst into your vehicle. As a result, you are left in critical condition due to your dire injuries.

Now, in order to recover compensation for your injuries and losses, you will have to establish the truck driver’s negligence. Establishing negligence requires you to show that the truck driver breached a duty of reasonable care that was owed to you, which caused you to suffer injuries. However, it is worth noting that the truck driver could easily accuse you of comparative fault, and since the State of Missouri operates under the rule of pure comparative fault, your recovery could be reduced by the percentage of blame attributed to you by a judge or jury.

An attorney with a history of trucking collision litigation in Missouri can hold the truck driver’s employer liable, depending on the facts. The establishment of liability can shift the focus of one’s case to damages, which are affected by the nature and severity of your losses and injuries. Many victims usually receive compensatory damages, which can be broken down into two types of damages: economic and non-economic damages. The former is awarded for monetary losses like medical bills and lost wages, while the latter is awarded for intangible losses, such as mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life.