What to Do After a Semi-Truck Crash on I-70 in Columbia, MO?

About the Author

EC Duckworth is the founding attorney of Duckworth Injury Law. EC earned his law degree from the University of Missouri - Columbia, where he graduated in the top 10 of his class and served as an Editor of the Missouri Law Review. EC currently serves as a member of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA) and is a graduate of the Ross T. Roberts Trial Academy. EC has represented hundreds of injury victims throughout his career, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in compensation recovered. EC routinely handles trucking cases across mid-Missouri. 

Truck Accidents Can Be Fatal to Victims in Columbia, MO. Know What to Do in an Emergency & Contact Duckworth Injury Law 

In Columbia, Missouri, Interstate 70 (“I-70”) runs through the northern portion of the city horizontally from west to east/east to west. When approaching Columbia from the west (from Kansas City), I-70 drops from a speed limit of 70 MPH to 60 MPH after entering city limits – just prior to Exit 124. When approaching Columbia from the east (from St. Louis), the speed limit similarly drops from 70 MPH to 60 MPH just after Exit 131. On a daily basis, it’s estimated that approximately 50,000 vehicles pass through Columbia on I-70. As I-70 ranks among the nation’s leading freight corridors, a large portion of this traffic includes commercial trucks passing through Columbia each day. 

This combination of a high volume of semi-trucks passing through Columbia, combined with a speed limit shift in the stretch of roadway through city limits, and the seemingly evergreen highway construction in the area, leads to far too many serious injury-causing truck accidents in our community each year. If you or a loved one is involved in a semi-truck collision on I-70, you need a truck accident lawyer on your team who understands how to handle commercial truck crashes. 

Simply put, truck collisions involving semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, dump trucks, box trucks, delivery trucks, and other commercial trucks are not the same as a traditional car accident. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds on U.S. Highways such as I-70, per the Federal Highway Administration. As such, a collision that may have otherwise resulted in only minor property damage if caused by a passenger car can have devastating effects, such as severe injury or death, when caused by a commercial semi-truck. While Columbia residents likely can’t simply avoid traveling on I-70 altogether, you should understand some of the key dos and don’ts if you find yourself involved in an injury-causing truck accident. 

DO – Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Immediately after a semi-truck crash, your number one priority should be ensuring the physical safety of you and your passengers. Call 911, request EMS services, and accept transport to a local emergency department such as the University of Missouri Hospital or Boone Hospital Center. Even if you are not experiencing pain immediately (injuries are often masked by shock and adrenaline in the moments after a crash), it’s in your best interest to be evaluated by a medical professional. 

DON’T – Try to Move a Passenger Who Appears to Have Sustained a Spinal Injury 

If you suspect a passenger in your vehicle has sustained injury to their spine, do not try to move that person. Symptoms of spinal injuries include complaints of severe pain in the neck or back, complaints of weakness, numbness, inability to move limbs, or noticeable twisting of the body. Attempting to move a person who has experienced a spinal injury may result in further harm, such as paralysis or increased complications. 

DO – Move Off the Roadway and Away from Oncoming Traffic

If your vehicle is operational, move the vehicle off the roadway and onto the shoulder of the interstate. If your vehicle is not operational, and your passengers are physically able to do so (and no spinal injury is suspected), exit the vehicle and move off the roadway into a safe location. The moments after a collision on I-70 are extremely dangerous, as other traffic may fail to see your collision and/or stalled vehicle, potentially resulting in additional collisions. 

DON’T – Give a Statement to the Trucking Company or Its Insurance Company

With so many truck crashes across the U.S. each day, trucking companies and their insurance companies are extremely versed when it comes to responding to these crashes. When responding to these crashes, trucking companies and their insurance companies have one goal in mind – minimizing their financial liability. As such, they will often send investigators and attorneys directly to the scene to collect evidence, including party statements if possible. These trucking representatives are often looking to gather admissions from you, which will later be used against you in your civil claim. 

DO – Contact an Experienced Local Truck Accident Lawyer as Soon as Possible

As mentioned above, the trucking company will waste no time building their defense to any potential claims against it. It’s important that you do not give them too far of a head start in doing so. A knowledgeable truck accident attorney will want to begin gathering crucial evidence relating to your case as soon as possible. Some of this evidence becomes very difficult to gather, or occasionally impossible to gather, after too much time elapses. Key evidence your semi-truck lawyer should be collecting includes witness statements, scene photos, vehicles photos, “black box” downloads, GPS/position monitoring data on the semi-truck, dashcam video, accident reports, driver logbooks and hours of service, the driver qualification file, maintenance records on the truck, truck inspection reports, dispatch communication, and the truck driver’s cellphone records, among other evidence. 

DON’T – Hire a General Practitioner or a Personal Injury Attorney with No Truck Accident Experience 

While many attorneys claim to handle truck accident cases, very few have the experience and knowledge to successfully do so. Trucking cases can be extremely complicated, and many lawyers simply don’t know what they don’t know when it comes to handling them. From the evidence gathered, to the experts needed, to the financial commitment these cases take, a trucking case should be handled uniquely from other personal injury cases.

DO – Attend All Scheduled Medical Appointments

Once your case is in the hands of a qualified truck accident lawyer, your primary focus should be on your physical, emotional, and mental recovery. This includes attending all doctor’s appointments, physical therapy/occupational therapy sessions, and mental health consultations. Not only does doing so help increase the speed and likelihood of a full recovery, but it also helps establish the evidence needed to prove your damages in your case. A large component of the value of your truck accident claim is what your diagnosed injuries are, what treatment you required, and how much your treatment costs. Failing to attend scheduled appointments not only hurts your physical recovery, but it also hurts your ultimate financial recovery.

DON’T – Post About the Accident on Social Media 

For many of us, social media is a large part of our lives and a way to stay connected with our friends and family. As such, it’s tempting for victims of truck accidents to want to give status updates to their social media followers regarding the accident and medical treatment. However, doing so is often detrimental to their case, as these posts can easily be taken out of context or used against the injured party. For example, a simple post saying, “I’m okay” can be argued to mean you didn’t suffer any injuries in the crash – when in reality, you likely meant “all things considered, I’m lucky to be alive.” As such, it’s best to avoid posting about the accident altogether until your case is resolved. 

DO – Ask Questions and Stay Involved in Your Case

A serious injury or wrongful death case involving a semi-truck can often take multiple years to come to a complete resolution. That’s because these cases often involve injuries that take a very long time to heal, and because trucking companies fight tooth and nail to avoid paying fair compensation. During this time, don’t hesitate to ask your attorney for updates, discuss the game plan for your case, and ask for timelines and expected outcomes. Remember, as the client, your attorney should be working for you, not the other way around.

Reach Out & Build Your Case With Mid-Missouri’s Truck Accident Attorney, Duckworth Injury Law 

Trucking collisions in mid-Missouri are an unfortunate reality of our community. If you happen to be involved on the wrong side of one of these accidents on I-70, U.S. 63, U.S. 54, or anywhere else across the region, you need a local truck accident lawyer with the knowledge and know-how to stand up to powerful trucking companies. 

At Duckworth Injury Law, trucking lawyer EC Duckworth has handled numerous cases involving commercial trucks and has recovered millions for his injured clients. He is happy to meet you at our office in Columbia, at your home, or anywhere else most convenient for you. Call today for a free, no-obligation case review.