As a St. Louis semi truck accident lawyer, I was disappointed to read about a pedestrian accident and other crashes attributed to a disabled car abandoned on Interstate 70. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a stalled car in the eastbound lanes of the interstate at Route K in St. Charles County caused a semi, attempting to avoid it, to push it into a pedestrian. The victim was Darius Walls, 23, of O’Fallon, who fortunately suffered minor injuries. Shortly afterward, two more crashes took place as other drivers tried to avoid the stalled car. Also moderately injured was driver Mark Tringl, 49, of St. Louis. It’s not clear whether the Missouri Highway Patrol is attributing blame to any of the people involved, including the driver who abandoned the car on the highway.
A 2000 Pontiac Firebird was disabled and abandoned on the night of April 23. Around 9:25 p.m., a tractor-trailer approaching the Pontiac tried unsuccessfully to avoid it, and instead hit it, pushing it into Walls. Walls was treated at a hospital for minor injuries, and the truck driver was not hurt. Shortly afterward, a Chevy Silverado pickup succeeded in avoiding the stalled car, but instead hit the semi truck. Neither of the drivers was hurt. And finally, around 9:40 p.m., Tringl swerved to avoid the crashed cars still in eastbound Interstate 70 and hit the concrete barrier in the middle of the highway. He sustained moderate injuries and was taken to the hospital. Reports didn’t say whether the Highway Patrol issued tickets to any of the drivers involved or is investigating the stalled car.
As a Missouri tractor-trailer accident attorney, I’m pleased first and foremost that the two victims were not seriously hurt. In particular, Walls could have suffered much more serious injuries because he was on foot, and pedestrians simply don’t have much protection in a crash—no seatbelts, airbags or helmets, like motorists have. Who was at fault for the crash could depend on whether the Pontiac was abandoned in the middle of a lane or in a “breakdown lane,” where drivers could reasonably expect to see stopped cars. If it was on the side of the road and the trucker still needed to swerve, it would be fair to ask whether the trucker was driving safely to begin with. But if the car was stopped in a lane of traffic, the driver who abandoned it may be considered at fault—especially because it was night and visibility could have been reduced.
At Carey, Danis & Lowe, we represent clients who have suffered a serious injury or a death in the family because of a crash with a large commercial truck. Semi truck accidents are not like accidents between two cars. The greater weight of the truck means it can do far more damage in a crash than an equally matched passenger car—and that typically means catastrophic injuries and complex legal and financial issues. It’s vital for victims and their families to make sure they adequately document all of their injuries as they go to the courts for compensation, because these catastrophic injuries are very expensive to treat and accommodate. And once you have reached a verdict or settlement, you can almost never have a second chance. Our southern Illinois 18-wheeler accident lawyers help clients recover compensation for all of their personal and financial damages.
If your family has suffered because of a crash with a large truck, don’t wait to call Carey, Danis & Lowe for help. You can reach us through our website or call 1-877-678-3400.
Similar blog posts:
New York City Trucking Accident Kills Woman on Scooter
Man Injured in Semi Hit-and-Run
Southern Illinois Pedestrian Killed by Semi Truck While Crossing Highway Intersection
