Fatal Tractor-Trailer Accidents — Wrongful Death Claims in Missouri

Sansone & Lauber | | Truck Accidents Articles

A family who loses a loved one in a fatal tractor-trailer accident in Missouri can file a wrongful death claim to pursue compensation for their losses and hold the trucking company accountable—and Sansone & Lauber can guide you through every step of that process in St. Louis and across Missouri.

When a careless truck driver or trucking company causes a fatal crash, the family is left with grief, shock, and financial devastation. You may be wondering:

  • Do we have a wrongful death case?

  • Who can file the claim in Missouri?

  • How much is a wrongful death truck accident case worth?

  • How long do we have to take legal action?

In Missouri, surviving family members do have powerful rights after a deadly tractor-trailer accident. A wrongful death claim can seek money for medical bills, funeral expenses, lost income, and the loss of love, companionship, and guidance your loved one provided.

At Sansone & Lauber, our St. Louis truck accident lawyers handle serious and fatal crash cases throughout Missouri. We know how to investigate catastrophic 18-wheeler accidents, prove fault, and fight for full justice for grieving families.

What Is a Wrongful Death Claim After a Fatal Truck Accident in Missouri?

A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit brought by certain family members when a loved one is killed because of someone else’s negligent, reckless, or intentional conduct.

In the context of tractor-trailer crashes, a wrongful death claim might be brought against:

  • The truck driver (for speeding, distraction, DUI, fatigue, etc.)

  • The trucking company (for negligent hiring, training, or supervision)

  • A freight or logistics company (for unsafe loading or scheduling)

  • A maintenance or repair shop (for failing to fix known safety problems)

  • The manufacturer of a defective truck or trailer part (brakes, tires, etc.)

Key elements of a Missouri truck wrongful death case

To prove a wrongful death claim after a fatal tractor-trailer accident in Missouri, you generally must show:

  1. Duty – The truck driver and trucking company owed a duty to operate and maintain the truck safely and follow all state and federal trucking regulations.

  2. Breach – They violated that duty (for example, by speeding, driving while fatigued, ignoring hours-of-service rules, or failing to maintain brakes).

  3. Causation – That careless or reckless conduct caused the crash and your loved one’s death.

  4. Damages – The death resulted in losses—both financial and emotional—for the surviving family.

You don’t have to prove these elements on your own. Our experienced St. Louis truck accident attorneys work with accident reconstruction experts, medical experts, financial experts, and others to build a powerful wrongful death case.

Call Sansone & Lauber now at (314) 863-0500 or contact us online for a free, compassionate consultation. You pay no fees unless we win money for your family.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim for a Fatal Truck Accident in Missouri?

Missouri law limits who can file a wrongful death lawsuit. In general, the law gives priority to close family members.

Priority classes of beneficiaries

  • First priority (Class 1):

    • Surviving spouse

    • Children

    • Grandchildren (if a child has already passed away)

    • Surviving parents

If none of the above are alive, then:

  • Second priority (Class 2):

    • Siblings of the deceased

    • Children of deceased siblings (nieces and nephews)

If there are no family members in Class 1 or Class 2, the court may appoint a plaintiff ad litem—someone designated by the court to bring the wrongful death case on behalf of the person’s heirs.

You do not have to figure out which family member should file the claim by yourself. We can quickly review your situation, explain which family members have the right to file, and help your family move forward with a coordinated strategy.

What Compensation Can Families Recover in a Fatal Truck Accident Wrongful Death Case?

No amount of money can bring your loved one back. But a wrongful death claim is often the only way to obtain financial security and hold the trucking company accountable in a meaningful way.

Types of damages in Missouri wrongful death truck cases

A wrongful death claim after a tractor-trailer accident can seek compensation for:

  • Medical expenses related to the final injury

  • Funeral and burial costs

  • Lost income and benefits the deceased would have provided over a lifetime

  • Loss of services (things your loved one did for the household, like childcare, maintenance, and support)

  • Loss of consortium (loss of companionship, comfort, care, and guidance)

  • Pain and suffering your loved one experienced between the crash and death, if applicable

  • Grief and emotional suffering of surviving family members, where allowed by law

In cases involving gross negligence or reckless conduct—like drunk driving, driving far beyond federal hour limits, or consciously ignoring known safety problems—families may also pursue punitive damages, which are meant to punish especially outrageous behavior and deter similar conduct in the future.

Common Causes of Fatal Tractor-Trailer Crashes in Missouri

Missouri’s highways—like I-70, I-44, I-55, and I-64—see heavy tractor-trailer traffic every day. When trucking companies cut corners on safety, those massive vehicles become deadly.

Frequent causes of fatal truck wrecks

  • Driver fatigue and hours-of-service violations

  • Speeding or aggressive driving to meet unrealistic delivery deadlines

  • Distracted driving, including cell phone use, GPS, or in-cab systems

  • Impaired driving (alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications)

  • Poor training or inexperience driving big rigs in bad weather or traffic

  • Improper loading or securing of cargo leading to rollovers or jackknifes

  • Faulty brakes, tires, or steering components due to poor maintenance

  • Unsafe lane changes or blind-spot violations

  • Following too closely behind smaller vehicles

Our legal team moves quickly to preserve critical evidence—including truck “black box” data, driver logs, maintenance records, GPS data, dash-cam footage, and shipping documents—to prove exactly what went wrong.

How Long Do You Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim After a Fatal Truck Accident in Missouri?

Missouri has strict deadlines (called statutes of limitations) for filing wrongful death claims. If you miss the deadline, you can lose your right to compensation forever.

  • In many Missouri wrongful death cases, the deadline is three years from the date of death.

  • There can be exceptions or special rules, especially if government entities are involved or if the crash facts are complicated.

Because deadlines can be complex and may change, you should speak with a St. Louis wrongful death attorney as soon as possible. The sooner we are involved, the more evidence we can preserve and the stronger your case can be.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Missouri Tractor-Trailer Wrongful Death Case?

Tractor-trailer cases are different from typical car accidents because there are often multiple layers of responsibility.

Potentially liable parties in a fatal truck crash

  1. Truck driver – For negligent driving (speeding, distraction, fatigue, intoxication, etc.)

  2. Trucking company / motor carrier – For negligent hiring, training, supervision, or enforcement of safety policies; forcing unrealistic schedules; failing to monitor hours-of-service; failing to maintain vehicles

  3. Broker or shipper – For putting pressure on carriers to cut corners, or selecting unsafe carriers

  4. Maintenance company or mechanic – For botched repairs or failing to address known safety issues

  5. Truck or parts manufacturer – For defective brakes, tires, steering, or other components

  6. Other drivers – In multi-vehicle pileups, another negligent driver may share fault

We conduct a deep investigation to identify every responsible party and every available insurance policy—commercial truck policies can be very large, but insurance companies fight hard to avoid paying full value on wrongful death claims.

Why Fatal Truck Accident Wrongful Death Cases Are More Complex

Wrongful death claims involving tractor-trailers are not ordinary accident cases. They require experience, resources, and a willingness to fight major trucking and insurance companies.

What makes these cases challenging?

  • Federal regulations: Trucking is governed by a complex web of federal and state rules (hours-of-service, weight limits, driver qualifications, record-keeping).

  • High-stakes insurance policies: Commercial trucking policies often involve hundreds of thousands—or millions—of dollars in coverage. Insurers deploy aggressive defense teams immediately.

  • Fast-moving evidence: Trucking companies may “lose” or overwrite data (like electronic logging device data, GPS records, and onboard computer data) if you don’t act quickly.

  • Multiple states and jurisdictions: Trucks may be owned by a company in one state, operated in another, and insured by a company elsewhere, while the crash happens in Missouri.

At Sansone & Lauber, we understand the tactics trucking companies use and the evidence needed to uncover the truth. We issue preservation letters immediately, work with top-tier experts, and prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. That approach often leads to higher settlements because the other side knows we’re ready to take the case all the way.

What to Do After Losing a Loved One in a Missouri Tractor-Trailer Accident

You are likely overwhelmed right now. But there are some practical steps that can protect your family’s rights.

7 important steps for families after a fatal truck crash

  1. Prioritize your family’s immediate needs.
    Take care of funeral plans, grief counseling, and emotional support. Legal matters can wait a brief time—but not too long.

  2. Gather key documents.

    • Police report or crash report

    • Death certificate

    • Medical records and bills

    • Funeral and burial expenses

    • Photos, videos, or witness contact information if you have it

  3. Avoid speaking directly with insurance companies.
    Trucking and insurance companies may contact you quickly, offering condolences and “quick settlements.” These offers are usually far below the true value of the claim.

  4. Do not sign anything without legal advice.
    Release forms, settlement agreements, and other documents can waive your rights permanently.

  5. Keep a journal.
    Document your grief, daily struggles, and the impact of the loss on your family. This can help prove non-economic damages later.

  6. Stay off social media regarding the crash.
    Insurance defense lawyers may try to use your social media posts against you.

  7. Contact a Missouri wrongful death truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.
    The earlier we begin investigating, the better we can protect evidence and build a strong case.

How Sansone & Lauber Helps Families After Deadly Truck Accidents in Missouri

At Sansone & Lauber, we treat fatal truck cases with the utmost seriousness, compassion, and determination. You are not just a file number—you are a family that needs answers and justice.

Our approach to wrongful death truck cases

We typically:

  • Conduct an immediate investigation

    • Visit the crash scene

    • Obtain and analyze police and highway patrol reports

    • Secure black box and electronic logging device data

    • Collect dash-cam and surveillance footage

    • Photograph vehicle damage and road conditions

  • Preserve and analyze key records

    • Driver qualification and training files

    • Hours-of-service logs and dispatch records

    • Truck maintenance and inspection records

    • Company safety policies and prior violations

  • Work with experts

    • Accident reconstruction experts

    • Trucking safety experts

    • Medical and forensic experts

    • Economists to project lifetime lost earnings

  • Handle all communication

    • Dealing with insurance adjusters

    • Negotiating with defense lawyers

    • Preparing the case for settlement, mediation, or trial

From the first call to the final resolution, we handle the legal battle so your family can focus on healing.

Fatal Truck Accidents in St. Louis and Across Missouri

Our firm is based in St. Louis, and we handle fatal truck and tractor-trailer cases throughout Missouri, including:

  • St. Louis City and County

  • St. Charles, Jefferson, Franklin, and surrounding counties

  • Kansas City and western Missouri

  • Columbia, Springfield, and rural communities across the state

Deadly truck crashes can occur:

  • On major interstates (I-70, I-44, I-55, I-64)

  • On U.S. highways and state routes

  • In work zones, construction areas, and rural two-lane roads

  • At busy intersections and on urban streets

Wherever the crash occurred in Missouri, our wrongful death lawyers can step in and protect your family’s rights.

Frequently Asked Questions About Trucking Wrongful Death Claims in Missouri

Q1. Do we really have a wrongful death case after a fatal truck accident?

If your loved one was killed because a truck driver or trucking company was careless, reckless, or violated safety rules, you may have a wrongful death claim. The best way to know for sure is to speak directly with a Missouri wrongful death truck accident attorney who can review the facts and explain your options.

Q2. How long do Missouri wrongful death cases involving trucks take?

Every case is different. Some wrongful death claims settle in months, especially when liability is clear and the insurance company acts reasonably. Others may take a year or more and require filing a lawsuit and possibly going to trial. We will keep you updated every step of the way and move as efficiently as possible while still fighting for full value.

Q3. How much is a fatal truck accident wrongful death case worth in Missouri?

There is no standard amount, because every family and every case is unique. Factors that influence case value include:

  • The strength of the evidence of fault

  • The amount of available insurance coverage

  • Your loved one’s age, income, and future earning potential

  • The extent of medical care before death

  • The impact on surviving family members and dependents

We work with experts to calculate full economic and non-economic damages so that any settlement or verdict truly reflects the life that was lost.

Q4. Will we have to go to court?

Many wrongful death cases settle before trial. However, we prepare each case as if it will go to court. That trial-ready approach often leads to better settlement offers. If a trial is in your best interest, we will guide you through what to expect and stand by your side the entire time.

Q5. How much does it cost to hire Sansone & Lauber for a wrongful death truck case?

We handle wrongful death and truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis:

  • No upfront costs

  • No hourly fees

  • You only pay attorneys’ fees if we recover money for you

If there is no recovery, you owe us no attorneys’ fees. It’s that simple.

Ready to Talk? Contact Our Missouri Truck Accident Wrongful Death Lawyers TodayFatal Tractor-Trailer Accidents — Wrongful Death Claims in Missouri

If your family has lost a loved one in a fatal tractor-trailer accident in Missouri, you do not have to face the trucking and insurance companies alone.

At Sansone & Lauber, we combine deep knowledge of Missouri wrongful death law with real-world experience in high-stakes truck litigation. We are here to:

  • Listen to your story

  • Answer your questions in plain language

  • Explain your rights and options

  • Take over the investigation and legal battle

  • Fight for the full justice and accountability your loved one deserves

📞 Call Sansone & Lauber today at (314) 863-0500 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation.

There is no risk and no obligation—just clear guidance from a team that knows how to handle fatal truck accident wrongful death cases in St. Louis and across Missouri.