Fatal Truck Accident Lawyer St. Louis, MO. Having a loved one die as a result of injuries sustained in an accident with a truck is something that no one ever expects to happen to them. The grief, stress, and emotional experiences friends and loved ones of the deceased experience cannot be measured, and you will likely be facing down mounting bills and fees with no way of knowing how to pay them. In these dark times, a truck accident lawyer in St. Louis, MO can help guide you back to the light and help you get closure and just compensation for the loss of a loved one.
At Combs Waterkotte, our St. Louis, MO personal injury attorneys combine aggressive legal representation that is driven to get you results with a level of personal service and compassion that sets the standard for fatal truck accident lawyers in St. Louis, MO. Call us today at (314) 900-HELP for a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our attorneys.
Filing A Lawsuit After A Fatal Truck Accident
Truck accidents that result in the death of one or more people are unique because they are not considered standard personal injury lawsuits, but wrongful death lawsuits. In Missouri, this means that the statute of limitations is shorter (three years as opposed to five years for personal injury), potential plaintiffs are defined in state statutes and there is a set schedule for who can file a lawsuit, but most importantly the amount of damages one can obtain is much greater than in a standard personal injury lawsuit.
The group of potential liable parties after a fatal truck accident is larger than for a car accident, and can include:
- The driver of the truck
- The company that employed the truck driver
- The truck’s owner
- The company that loaded the truck for transit
- Mechanics or other people responsible for ensuring the truck was roadworthy
Missouri law, officially MO Revised Statute 537.090, lays out the damages those filing a wrongful death lawsuit can seek. In addition to damages one could usually collect in a personal injury lawsuit (like repayment for medical bills or to repair or replace damaged property), plaintiffs in a wrongful death suit can collect:
- Funeral/burial expenses
- Lost “value of services” (i.e. future and expected income)
- Loss of companionship
- Consortium damages
The last two types of damages are arguably some of the most important factors to consider in a wrongful death case. Companionship damages can only be claimed by any family member and generally cover various familial qualities: parental instruction, support a child may give their parents, and the like. Consortium damages can only be claimed by the spouse of the deceased, and deal with the intangibles they provide like affection, companionship, and intimacy. Both of these damages are not easily quantified or defined, unlike physical damages, and as such having a wrongful death lawyer in St. Louis, MO on your side to properly convey the loss you have experienced is paramount.
Contact A Motivated St. Louis, MO Fatal Truck Accident Attorney
The recovery process after losing a loved one in a fatal truck accident is not an easy one, and many insurance companies know this. In many cases, their representatives will use the grieving process as a way to get someone to accept a settlement that is far less than what they are entitled to. Even if you decide that you will not take that settlement, insurance and trucking companies will do everything in their power to limit their liability and keep you from getting compensation for the full measure of your loss.
The St. Louis, MO wrongful death attorneys at Combs Waterkotte take a personalized approach to each and every one of their cases. Our firm wants all our clients to feel valued and at their best throughout the legal process, which is why we maintain a network of mental and physical health providers that they can access, free of charge if need be. We also guarantee that you will be able to talk with your attorney at any time, day or night, to discuss your case or anything else. This, combined with our reputation for taking on even the biggest opponent and getting optimal results, is why we are proud to say that we are one of the highest-rated law firms in St. Louis, MO.
If someone close to you passed away as a result of a fatal truck accident in St. Louis, MO, contact Combs Waterkotte first, either online or by calling (314) 900-HELP. Our attorneys will get to work on your case as soon as possible so you can focus on rebuilding your life after losing a loved one.
