Joplin truck accident lawyers just read the results of an ongoing Missouri Highway Patrol operation that will be of interest to all Joplin, Neosho and Webb City drivers. The Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) truck check was conducted in various Missouri counties on September 1, September 21, and September 28, 2011. This operation was conducted by commercial vehicle enforcement troopers and officers from Troop A.
The goal of this initiative was to find and remove unsafe commercial vehicles, meaning semi-trucks, tractor trailers and tankers--from Missouri roads. Along with unsafe trucks, the commercial vehicle enforcement troopers were also on the lookout for unqualified or impaired truck drivers.
Captain Robert L. Powell, the commanding officer of Troop A said, "The truck checks are part of the continuing effort by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies to make our roadways safer for all motorists."
Captain Powell reported that his officers set up numerous checkpoints in Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Cass counties. Commercial trucks were stopped at these checkpoints to inspect both drivers and vehicles.
Click here to read the full Missouri State Highway Patrol report.
75 commercial truck inspections took place during the three days of the operation. The results:
• 16 drivers and vehicles were taken off the road and placed out-of-service
• Two misdemeanor warrant arrests issued
• 59 hazardous moving citations issued
• 200 warnings issued
The dangers that semi-trucks pose to drivers of passenger vehicles on our nation's highways have been reported on many times in our blogs over the past year. The unfortunate fact is that in most commercial truck/passenger vehicle accidents, it is the occupants of the passenger vehicle who are injured or killed. Main causes of semi-truck accidents in Joplin MO include speeding, too many hours behind the wheel, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and poorly maintained vehicles.
There are somewhere in the vicinity of 200 people killed each year in Missouri truck accidents. In fact, over 2,000 Missouri commercial truck accidents each year caused injuries severe enough to send the victims to the hospital.
By implementing the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) truck checks, our state police are taking vital and necessary steps to combat this danger. We hope that the MSHP will continue to implement these truck checkpoints, and get dangerous vehicles and drivers off our highways. Perhaps if enough citations are issued, all truck drivers will get the message that they cannot drive unsafely through Missouri.
As truck accident lawyers for over twenty years, we know how difficult it can be for the victims of a truck accident. These cases are quite different than accidents involving two passenger vehicles. There may be multiple defendants involved, such as the truck driver, the truck company, or even the truck manufacturer. There will definitely be aggressive insurance companies looking to limit their liability and reduce the amount of settlements they have to pay out in any way they can.
If you have been injured in a Joplin accident with a semi-truck or tractor trailer, make sure your rights are protected. Trying to handle this your-self is like David against Goliath, but usually without the positive result of that famous bible tale. Call the Joplin semi-truck accident lawyers at Aaron Sachs today and take advantage of our no-cost initial consultation to discuss your claim at 1-888-777-Auto(2886). Don't let a "Goliath" of a trucking company trample your rights!
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