A recent commercial truck rollover in a rural Missouri community that seriously injured the driver may have been caused in part by his inability to regain control of the vehicle while in motion. Missouri State Troopers who responded to the accident said that a possible medical difficulty may have caused the driver to lose control on a curve. He died several days later at a St. Joseph hospital.
The fully-loaded cement truck veered onto the left shoulder of the two-lane road and quickly tipped over, landing on the driver's side of the cab. The Missouri Highway Patrol estimated that the truck carried an additional 5,200 pounds when full. Trucks carrying fluid cargos are notoriously unstable after a quick change of course and an attempt to avoid an accident or debris in the road can result in a Missouri truck accident.
Rollover prevention training materials created by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) identify a variety of facts that cargo tank trailer drivers should review to avoid rollovers:
- Contrary to popular belief, rollovers are most frequent on straight stretches
- Drivers must be aware that sloshing and a tanker's high center of gravity can quickly destabilize a vehicle, but also know that liquids surging forward can cause braking and control challenges
- The vast majority of tanker accidents involve partial loads, which are more challenging due to greater mobility of liquids
- Routine maintenance and inspection of trucks should be done to detect potential brake failure, faulty suspension, and insufficient tire pressure
- Highway factors, including sharp curves, soft shoulders, steep grades and areas of limited visibility require a driver to always be focused on the road and the vehicle's speed
- Drivers should drive at least ten miles per hour slower than posted speed limits on curves and allow extra clearance to keep trailer wheels away from curbs
Any negligence that leads to a truck accident, including driver intoxication or fatigue, poor maintenance, defective truck parts, or lax hiring standards, can be the basis of a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. A Missouri semi-truck wreck attorney can help a client or surviving family members assess available legal options.
