Nighttime Truck Accident Claims in Missouri
The nighttime truck accidents lawyers at The Dixon Injury Firm provide the greatest level of care and legal guidance for St. Louis and Missouri residents. When you or someone you love has been the victim of a semi-truck accident after dark you need a nighttime truck accident lawyer to protect your interests.
To learn more, give our St. Louis truck accident lawyers a call at (314) 208-2808 or CONTACT us online to schedule a free initial consultation.
Driving in the Dark is More Dangerous
Darkness is one of the most dangerous things a driver can face. Numerous studies have shown that at nighttime, accidents are both more likely to occur and are more dangerous than those that happen in the light of day. Some of the reasons are obvious, but some may be unexpected to anyone not familiar with traffic safety.
A study published in the scientific journal Injury Prevention looked at nighttime accidents and noted that more fatal crashes occur at night, even though most driving occurs during the day. There are many clear links between darkness and crashes. Accidents decline when the days get longer and when lighting is installed. The causation behind this appears to be that a driver’s ability to avoid collisions is reduced by inadequate lighting. This is because drivers can lose their sense of space and time in dim lighting, and they also lose some of their ability to distinguish contrast and color.
To be more scientific about it, human eyes have cones that operate in bright light and can distinguish details and colors. In low light, the human eye relies on rod photoreceptors that are less detailed. This means that drivers are susceptible to underestimating the speed of other vehicles or failing to see objects in their path. Moreover, the stopping distance that drivers need at night is also increased, because with less light they are slower to recognize a hazard and begin trying to brake.
The visual problems of low light may not even be the worst part of nighttime accidents, however. The real challenge at night seems to be the severity of nighttime accidents compared to daytime accidents. Drivers tend to go faster at night because there is less road congestion, so collisions at night tend to be worse. Drivers are also more likely to be drinking alcohol at night and to be suffering from fatigue. After comparing the issue between countries, the Injury Prevention study found that nighttime accidents are approximately three times as severe as daytime accidents.
Missouri’s Roads Are Not in Great Shape
A 2015 study by TRIP, a national transportation research group, found that 22% of Missouri’s major roads are in poor condition, including 29% in the St. Louis urban area. 23% of the state’s bridges are in need of repair, and 10% are deemed “functionally obsolete.”
That said, the Missouri government is generally not going to be held liable for poorly maintained roadways. Missouri Statutes Section 537.600 protects a doctrine called “sovereign immunity,” which can be traced back to feudal times and basically means that the king (or state government in this case) cannot be sued without permission. The law does create a narrow exception for known risky conditions that the government fails to fix, so this is one avenue to consider in a nighttime accident on a poorly maintained road. A knowledgeable trial lawyer can guide you through these issues.
How Can The Dixon Injury Firm Help You With Your Nighttime Truck Crash Case?
The Dixon Injury Firm is the industry leader when it comes to protecting the interests of nighttime truck wreck victims. During a nighttime truck accident case, the responsible party, their lawyers, and the insurance agencies are going to try to get you to settle for as little as possible and attempt to place as much blame as possible on your for the nighttime truck accident. This will allow them to settle quickly and against your best interests.
That is why it is so vitally important to let Christopher R. Dixon and the nighttime truck wreck lawyers of The Dixon Injury Firm defend your best interests against the responsible party, their lawyers, and the insurance corporations. We understand these types of cases and are unafraid to stand up against insurance companies big and small.
Why Should I Choose the St. Louis Nighttime Truck Accident Attorneys at Dixon Law to Represent Me?
If you have suffered a nighttime truck accident, you want to be represented by someone who has handled similar cases before. The insurance companies defending the driver at fault may try to point the finger back at you for driving at night, but the Dixon Injury Firm has seen this before. If necessary, we know how to best utilize crash reconstructionists to show a jury who is really responsible for the damages in question.
When you choose Christopher R. Dixon and the Dixon Injury Firm, you are choosing our STL personal injury lawyers that care about you and wants to ensure that you and your family are provided for during this trying time.
The Dixon Injury Firm
9666 Olive Blvd #202,
St. Louis, MO 63132
Phone:(314) 208-2808