Why Should I Hire A Lawyer For A Truck Accident In Missouri?

Sansone & Lauber | December 8, 2025 | Truck Accidents Articles

You should hire a lawyer for a truck accident in Missouri because commercial truck cases are complex, high-stakes claims where an experienced Missouri truck accident attorney can often recover far more compensation than you’re likely to get on your own, while protecting your rights against powerful trucking and insurance companies.

If you were hurt in a semi-truck, 18-wheeler, or commercial vehicle crash anywhere in Missouri, your future health, income, and family stability may depend on what happens next.

This is not the time to “wait and see” or negotiate alone with an insurance adjuster whose job is to pay you as little as possible.

Injured in a truck accident in St. Louis or anywhere in Missouri? Call Sansone & Lauber now at 314-863-0500 for a free consultation. No fee unless we win.

Missouri sees a staggering number of commercial truck crashes every year. Recent data from the Missouri State Highway Patrol shows more than 15,000 commercial vehicle accidents and over 130 deaths in a single year, which works out to more than 40 truck crashes per day across the state.

When those crashes happen on I-70, I-44, I-55, I-64/40, Highway 40, or busy corridors in St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia, and Kansas City, the damage is often catastrophic. That’s exactly why you need a dedicated Missouri truck accident lawyer on your side.

Quick Answer: Top Reasons To Hire A Missouri Truck Accident Lawyer

If you’re skimming for the “short version,” here it is:

You should hire a lawyer for a truck accident in Missouri because:

Trucking companies and their insurers start building a defense immediately after a crash.
Commercial truck cases involve federal safety regulations, black-box data, driver logs, and multiple potential defendants.
Missouri’s pure comparative fault law means the defense will try to blame you to reduce your payout.
You only get one shot at a settlement or verdict — once you sign a release, your case is over.
An experienced St. Louis truck accident attorney can often increase the value of your case by uncovering more insurance coverage, proving safety violations, and telling your story in a way that resonates with adjusters, mediators, and juries.
With Sansone & Lauber, you pay nothing upfront and no attorney’s fee unless we win money for you.

Before you talk to the trucking company’s insurer, talk to Sansone & Lauber at 314-863-0500.

Why Truck Accidents In Missouri Are Different From “Regular” Car Wrecks

A crash with a fully-loaded semi-truck or commercial vehicle is not just a bigger version of a car accident. It’s a different animal altogether.

1. The Sheer Size And Force

A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds — 20 to 40 times more than a passenger car. That kind of force at highway speeds on I-70 or I-44 can cause:

Traumatic brain injuries
Spinal cord damage and paralysis
Complex fractures and crush injuries
Amputations and severe burns
Wrongful death

These are life-changing injuries that require long-term medical care and significant financial support.

2. Commercial Trucking Is Heavily Regulated

Truck drivers and trucking companies operating in Missouri must comply with federal safety rules enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), including:

Hours-of-service limits (to reduce driver fatigue)
Vehicle inspection, maintenance, and repair requirements
Driver qualification and training standards
Drug and alcohol testing rules

When these rules are violated, those violations can be powerful evidence of negligence — but only if someone knows how to find and use them.

3. Multiple Potentially Liable Parties

In many Missouri truck accidents, more than one party may share responsibility, such as:

The truck driver
The trucking company
A freight broker or shipper
A maintenance or repair contractor
A manufacturer of defective truck parts

A skilled Missouri truck accident lawyer knows how to identify every possible source of insurance coverage, which can significantly increase your total recovery. Missouri Revisor of Statutes

How Trucking Companies Fight Your Claim From Day One

When a serious truck crash happens, the trucking company’s defense starts immediately:

Their insurer may send rapid-response teams to the crash scene.
Lawyers may be involved before your car is even towed away.
Critical evidence like driver logs, dashcam footage, and black-box data can be “lost” or destroyed if not preserved quickly.

Common tactics include:

Quick, lowball settlement offers before you know the full extent of your injuries
Asking you for a recorded statement to twist your words later
Suggesting you don’t need a lawyer or that hiring an attorney will “just reduce your share”
Trying to pin blame on you by claiming:
- You stopped suddenly
- You were speeding
- You weren’t paying attention

Remember: their goal is to save money, not to take care of you.

Before you sign anything or give a recorded statement, call Sansone & Lauber at 314-863-0500.

How A Missouri Truck Accident Lawyer Levels The Playing Field

A good St. Louis truck accident attorney does much more than fill out forms. Here’s what a firm like Sansone & Lauber can do for you:

1. Preserve And Analyze Critical Evidence

In a serious truck crash, we move quickly to secure:

Black-box (ECM) data showing speed, braking, and engine performance
Electronic logging device (ELD) records that track hours of service
GPS and telematics data (location, route, sudden braking)
Dashcam and surveillance video from the truck, nearby businesses, or traffic cameras
Maintenance and inspection records
Company safety policies and training materials
The complete Missouri State Highway Patrol or police crash report

Without a lawyer, much of this evidence may never see the light of day.

2. Investigate Fault Beyond The Police Report

Police reports are important — but they’re not the last word.

We often work with accident reconstruction experts to:

Recreate the crash using physical evidence and data
Identify whether the truck driver was speeding, following too closely, or distracted
Show how road design, weather, or other vehicles may have contributed

This can turn a “he-said, she-said” argument into a data-driven, expert-backed case that insurers take seriously.

3. Apply Missouri Law To Protect Your Rights

Two key Missouri laws that affect your truck accident case:

Five-year statute of limitations: In most Missouri personal injury cases, you generally have up to five years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit.
Pure comparative fault: Missouri allows you to recover damages even if you’re partly at fault, but your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.

Insurance companies love these rules — because they’ll use them against you by:

Arguing you were more at fault than you really were
Delaying negotiations in hopes you’ll run out of time

A lawyer keeps your case on track and fights to minimize any unfair blame placed on you.

4. Fully Value Your Damages (Now And In The Future)

Your case is about more than today’s bills. An experienced Missouri truck accident lawyer will look at:

Past and future medical expenses
- ER and hospital care
- Surgeries, imaging, injections
- Physical therapy and rehab
- Pain management, home health care
Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Time off work now
- Reduced hours or lower-paying work
- Complete inability to work in your old field
Non-economic damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, anxiety, depression
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Strain on family relationships

In serious cases, we often work with medical experts, life-care planners, and economists to translate your injuries into a detailed, evidence-backed damages model.

Why Handling A Missouri Truck Case Alone Is So Risky

You might be thinking:

“The trucker hit me. The police report is clear. Why can’t I just deal with the adjuster myself?”

Here’s why that’s dangerous:

You don’t know the true value of your case.
- Adjusters do this every day. They know what similar Missouri truck cases have settled for; you don’t.
You don’t know all possible insurance policies.
- There may be multiple layers of coverage (primary, excess, umbrella) you’ll never see without discovery.
You don’t control the evidence.
- Critical data can be “misplaced” or overwritten if not preserved quickly.
Once you sign, you’re done.
- A release is forever. If your injuries worsen or you later need surgery, you cannot go back for more money.
You’re negotiating from a position of weakness.
- The trucking company has lawyers, investigators, and experts. You’re one person, often in pain, under financial stress, and trying to heal.

A quick settlement might feel like relief now, but it can be financial disaster later. Before you accept anything, call 314-863-0500 and let Sansone & Lauber review your offer for free.

Why Sansone & Lauber For A Truck Accident In Missouri?

You don’t just need a lawyer. You need a firm that knows how to win big, complex injury cases in Missouri.

Sansone & Lauber has a proven track record of high-stakes results, including:

A $14.2 million verdict for crash victims — the largest car-crash verdict in Missouri for 2021 and a record verdict in Phelps County, later affirmed on appeal, with over $1 million added in interest.
A $1.75 million verdict in a Jefferson County truck accident case.
Multiple other six- and seven-figure settlements and verdicts for injury victims across Missouri and Illinois.

While past results don’t guarantee future outcomes, they show that this firm is not afraid to take on trucking companies and insurance carriers — and win.

What you get with Sansone & Lauber:

Local Missouri trial lawyers who know St. Louis and courts across the state
Experience with serious truck and commercial vehicle cases
A rapid-response approach to preserving evidence and building your case
Personal attention from attorneys, not just staff
Free consultations and no fee unless we win

Call Sansone & Lauber at 314-863-0500 today to speak with a truck accident lawyer about your case.

What A Missouri Truck Accident Lawyer Actually Does (Step-By-Step)

Here’s what a full-service truck accident representation often looks like:

Free Consultation
- Review how the crash happened
- Listen to your symptoms and treatment
- Identify immediate red flags and legal issues
Investigation & Evidence Preservation
- Send spoliation letters to demand preservation of data
- Obtain police / MSHP crash reports and 911 records
- Collect photos, videos, and witness statements
Liability & Safety Violations
- Analyze driver logs for hours-of-service violations
- Review maintenance records for faulty brakes, tires, or equipment
- Compare company policies to FMCSA regulations and industry standards
Medical & Damages Development
- Gather all medical records and bills
- Work with your doctors to understand prognosis
- Consult experts on future medical needs and life-care plans
Insurance & Coverage Analysis
- Identify all potential defendants (driver, employer, broker, etc.)
- Uncover all available insurance policies (primary, excess, umbrella)
Negotiation & Settlement Efforts
- Prepare a detailed demand package showcasing liability and damages
- Negotiate aggressively with adjusters and defense lawyers
Filing A Lawsuit (If Necessary)
- Draft and file a petition in the appropriate Missouri court
- Conduct discovery (documents, depositions, expert testimony)
- Attend mediation or other settlement conferences
Trial Preparation & Trial
- Prepare exhibits, demonstratives, and witness testimony
- Present your story to a Missouri jury if fair settlement is not offered

Throughout all of this, your lawyer should keep you informed, explain your options, and help you make decisions at each step.

FAQs: Hiring A Truck Accident Lawyer In Missouri

Do I really need a lawyer if the truck driver was clearly at fault?

Yes — especially in serious injury cases.

Even when liability seems clear, insurance companies will:

Dispute the severity of your injuries
Blame “pre-existing conditions”
Argue you’ve overtreated or that your care was unnecessary

A lawyer helps you prove the full impact of the crash and pushes back against these tactics.

Won’t a lawyer just take part of the money I could get myself?

A good lawyers goal is to increase the total value of your case enough that you still net more than you would have alone — even after attorney’s fees. Because truck cases often involve large policies and complicated damages, the risk of leaving money on the table by going alone is enormous.

How long do I have to decide?

In many Missouri truck accident cases, you generally have five years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit, but you should never wait that long to talk to a lawyer. Evidence disappears, witnesses move, and the trucking company is not waiting.

How much does it cost to hire Sansone & Lauber?

No upfront fees
No hourly billing
No fee at all unless we win money for you

The firm works on a contingency fee, meaning its fee is a percentage of the settlement or verdict. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney’s fee.

What if I’m partly at fault for the truck accident?

Because Missouri follows pure comparative fault, you can still recover compensation even if you were mostly at fault — your damages are simply reduced by your percentage of fault.

That makes it even more important to have an attorney who can push back against exaggerated fault claims by the trucking company.

Ready To Talk To A Missouri Truck Accident Lawyer?

When a semi-truck, 18-wheeler, or other commercial vehicle hits you or someone you love, your world can change in seconds — but the legal and financial consequences can last a lifetime.

You don’t have to take on a national trucking company, its insurers, and its defense team by yourself.

If you were injured in a truck crash in St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson County, Columbia, Springfield, Kansas City, Cape Girardeau, or anywhere else in Missouri:

Call Sansone & Lauber today at 314-863-0500 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation.

No fee unless we win. We serve truck accident victims throughout Missouri and Illinois from our St. Louis office at 7777 Bonhomme Ave, Suite 2100, St. Louis, MO 63105.

Talk to a lawyer before you talk to the trucking company — and give yourself the best possible chance at a full, fair truck accident recovery in Missouri.