MULTIPLE INJURIES OCCUR IN ST. ROBERT, MO TRACTOR TRAILER WRECK
Post Date: August 27th, 2009
This past Thursday afternoon, a tractor trailer driven by Dennis Glenn caused multiple injuries near St. Robert, Missouri. The initial report is that Glenn was driving his semi truck through a construction zone on I-44 when he drove into the rear of a Toyota. The Toyota was being driven by 20-year-old Hannah Berg who was apparently slowing down for traffic. This wreck caused a chain reaction in which three other vehicles also collided.
The accident is currently under investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and there have been no initial indications as to what caused the accident. However, Missouri adopts the Rear-End Collision doctrine. This doctrine holds that any driver who crashes into the rear of another is liable for all the resulting damage if the driver in front did nothing to negligently cause the wreck. As a Missouri tractor-trailer accident lawyer, one of the first things that our firm does in these cases is to send an evidence preservation letter to the trucking company. Essentially we request that the trucking company preserve all evidence including the truck’s black box. Like airplanes, most semi trucks have black boxes which record everything they were doing in the seconds leading up to the crash. This will tell us whether the truck was speeding, when it hit its brakes and if it ever hit its brakes. Quite frankly, it is the gold that many lawyers do not bother digging for.
Additionally, in a truck crash like this where there are so many injuries, it should be investigated whether Glenn was a safe tractor trailer driver. In many of our semi truck accident cases, we find that not only was the truck driver negligent, but the company was extremely negligent in training the driver or even hiring them in the first place. When trucking companies put unsafe drivers on the road, this can lead to punitive damages to deter them from future conduct.
Given all the injuries that occurred as a result of this wreck, I assume that we will be hearing much more of this tractor trailer wreck. What we know so far is that Seth Sowers was taken by helicopter to St. John’s in Springfield, Missouri. He was listed as being in serious condition. Others injured in the wreck include Hannah Berg who was involved in the initial impact. She was very seriously injured and was transported to General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital by ambulance. Additionally, Larry and Cornellia Turrentine were both taken to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield with moderate injuries. John Turrentine was flown by helicopter to University Medical in Columbia. Tragically, he continues to be listed in critical condition and there are no further details. Finally, Jay Wright was riding in a semi trailer with Glenn. Both he and Glenn were transferred to Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla by ambulance.
It would certainly to me at this point that both Hannah Berg and Jay Wright would have valid claims against the semi truck driver, Dennis Glenn. As for the rest of the individuals injured, I would assume that they also have valid claims against the truck driver and the trucking company; however, it is hard to say given that no further details are being released at this point as to how they were injured.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident and would like to speak with a Missouri truck accident lawyer, please feel free to contact Josh Myers at 888-956-2487. It’s always free to talk about your case and we front all case expenses. Additionally, there are never any fees until we collect on our client’s behalf.
Posted in Missouri Truck Accidents, Semi-Truck Accident Injuries, St. Robert MO Truck Accidents | No Comments »
