At Foster Wallace Personal Injury Lawyers, we believe that Your Injury is Our Fight. You can turn to our Gladstone truck accident lawyers immediately after a serious accident to secure the representation you need to hold insurers accountable for your losses, communicate with trucking agencies and their representatives, and advocate for your right to compensation.
Foster Wallace has the resources and experience to provide the legal representation you need to protect your rights. When you work with us, you’re not just another case file. You’re a person seeking justice and a fresh start.
Our personal injury lawyers in Gladstone have recovered over $1 billion in damages on behalf of our clients, and we’re ready to help you. If you need assistance communicating with insurers or trucking agencies, call on us now.
How a Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
A commercial truck accident case demands technical knowledge, resources, and persistence. The right legal team can uncover evidence that others might overlook.
Our truck accident attorneys in Gladstone will:
- Investigate the accident thoroughly. This includes reviewing black box data, driver logs, maintenance records, and corporate safety policies.
- Determine all liable parties. Trucking cases often involve several responsible entities—not just the driver. A lawyer can help determine who is liable for a truck accident.
- Work with experts. Accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, and economists help build a complete picture of your losses.
- Negotiate fair compensation. Insurers are designed to protect profit, not people. Your lawyer ensures you aren’t pressured into settling for less.
- Prepare for trial, if necessary. If fair compensation doesn’t come through negotiations, an experienced trial lawyer will fight for you in court.
We tailor every case strategy to the specific needs of the client. No two crashes are the same, and your recovery plan shouldn’t be either.
Why Clients Choose Foster Wallace
- Over $1 billion recovered in verdicts, settlements, and judgments
- 45-plus years of combined legal experience fighting for accident victims
- Compassion-first approach grounded in real communication and trust
- No fee unless we win—you don’t pay unless you recover compensation
- Proven results in complex cases involving commercial trucking, wrongful death, and catastrophic injuries
Our attorneys don’t back down when insurers or trucking corporations push back. We apply skill, empathy, and grit—because your fight becomes our fight.
Contact our Kansas city personal injury lawyers now.
Truck Accident Claims are Rarely Simple and Straightforward
Commercial truck accidents fall under a mixture of local, state, and federal regulations that are primarily enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These rules govern:
- Hours of service and rest periods
- Vehicle maintenance requirements
- Driver qualifications and drug testing
- Cargo loading and weight limits
Because of these overlapping rules, truck accident cases often involve trucking companies, insurance carriers, shipment clients, and vehicle manufacturers. Each party has their own team of lawyers working to protect their interests, making it essential to have your own advocate from the start.
Don’t Accept Less in an Undervalued Settlement Offer
Both insurance companies and trucking agencies are likely to offer you settlements in the wake of a serious accident. You don‘t have to accept these offers, especially if they’re made within the first few hours following a crash. Most of the time, these offers won’t account for the actual value of your losses and may compromise your right to future action.
We always encourage you to discuss a settlement offer with an experienced Gladstone, MO, truck accident lawyer before accepting. Our team can compare your offer against our own estimate of your case’s value to make sure you’re getting the support you need.
If a liable party undervalues your losses, we can send back an alternative request for support and see negotiations through. If the need arises, we can even take your fight for support to trial in a civil court.
Evidence Determines Liability After a Truck Accident
If you want to take action after a serious truck accident, you need to prove that:
- The party responsible for your accident owed you a duty of care at the time of your collision.
- That party intentionally or accidentally violated the duty of care that they owed you.
- That party’s negligence resulted in your serious injuries and economic losses.
Fortunately, the evidence you can use to make these points is varied. Our team will fight tooth and nail to get our hands on a truck’s black box, which will include electronic data detailing a driver’s behavior at the time of a collision. We can supplement those findings with bystander statements, video footage of the crash, and expert witness testimony.
You don’t have to put boots on the ground to see your investigation through. Working with our team gives you the time and resources you need to prioritize your recovery without sacrificing your right to legal action.
Our Gladstone Truck Accident Lawyers Can Break Down the Contracts Involved in Your Case
Trucking agencies can use all sorts of tricks to wriggle out of the responsibility for your losses. In fact, most trucking agencies prefer to work with independent contractors strictly so that the company won’t assume legal responsibility for those drivers’ behavior on the road.
Most trucking agencies provide their drivers with insurance coverage while they’re hauling essential goods. However, when the driver is an independent contractor, it becomes harder to hold an agency legally and financially accountable for that person’s behavior.
Fortunately, our team can take a closer look at the contracts involved in your upcoming case and determine how the wording—and the law—might impact a company’s responsibility for the driver’s actions. We can then name the right party financially responsible for your recovery with the help of professionally collected data.
Potential Compensation You Can Pursue
Every truck accident case is unique, but victims often seek compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.
You may be eligible to recover:
- Medical expenses (past, current, and future care)
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage
- Wrongful death-related losses for surviving family members
A personal injury attorney will help you understand what category your damages fall under and how to present strong evidence for each.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents often result from systemic issues in the trucking industry combined with human error. Understanding these causes helps reveal who’s responsible for your injuries.
Some of the most frequent causes include:
- Driver fatigue: Truck drivers often face pressure to meet delivery deadlines, leading to exhaustion and slower reaction times.
- Distracted driving: Texting, scrolling through navigation systems, or eating while driving can cause deadly mistakes.
- Improper loading: Overloaded or unbalanced cargo makes it harder to control a vehicle or stop safely.
- Poor truck maintenance: Worn tires, faulty brakes, or neglected repairs are common in commercial fleets.
- Reckless or impaired driving: Speeding, tailgating, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol dramatically increases crash risks.
- Weather and road conditions: Slick roads, fog, or construction zones make large truck handling even more dangerous.
Each of these factors may point to different parties being liable: the trucking company, the driver, maintenance providers, or even cargo shippers.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
Deadlines can impact your right to pursue financial compensation. A Gladstone truck accident attorney can help you finalize your paperwork before Missouri’s personal injury statute of limitations, outlined in Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(4), expires.
This statute allows you to take up to five years following a truck accident to complete a civil claim for the court’s consideration. However, the sooner we can build your claim, the better. Some evidence relevant to your case, including a truck’s black box data, may become harder to access over time.
What to Do After Leaving the Truck Accident Scene
Once you’ve left the crash site and had time to breathe, your next steps are about protecting your health, your rights, and your future claim. What happens in the hours and days after a truck accident can shape the outcome of your case. This stage is about being proactive and informed.
Here’s what to focus on once you’re home or released from medical care:
- Continue medical treatment: Follow all the doctor’s orders, keep every appointment, and track your symptoms. Missed visits or gaps in care can be used by the other side to downplay your injuries.
- Create a record: Start a file for everything related to the accident: medical bills, prescriptions, repair invoices, time off work, and any correspondence from insurers. The more organized your documentation, the stronger your claim.
- Write down what happened: As soon as you can, record your memory of the crash in detail—what you saw, heard, and felt. Small details fade quickly but can later provide valuable context.
- Limit conversations about the incident: Avoid posting or sharing details about the accident or your injuries on social media. Insurers often review online activity to find inconsistencies.
- Refer all insurance calls to your lawyer: If an adjuster contacts you, politely decline to discuss the case until you’ve spoken with an attorney. There are things you should not say to an insurance company after an accident, and we help you avoid them, even inadvertently. Adjusters may seem friendly, but their job is to minimize payouts.
- Consult a truck accident lawyer: The weeks following a collision are critical. A skilled attorney can collect black box data, obtain trucking logs, and preserve evidence that may otherwise disappear.
The aftermath of a truck accident can be confusing, but taking control early protects your rights and strengthens your case. By acting quickly and working with a trucking accident lawyer in Gladstone, you give yourself the best chance at a fair recovery.
We Offer Our Representation on a Contingency Fee Basis
Are you worried about how much a truck accident lawyer will cost? Foster Wallace wants to provide you with tried-and-tested advice and support without putting any strain on your bank account. That’s why our Gladstone commercial truck accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis.
Our contingency fee agreements ensure that you can start working with our team without paying a deposit or retainer. We only get paid when we put a truck accident settlement into your hands. You can discuss the logistics of our contingency fee agreements during a free, no-obligation truck accident case consultation.
Injuries Common in Truck Accidents
The size and weight of commercial trucks can cause catastrophic injuries in even seemingly minor collisions. Common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Broken bones and severe fractures
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
- Neck and back injuries, including whiplash
- Burns, lacerations, and disfigurement
- Emotional trauma, such as PTSD
These injuries often require long-term medical care and result in lasting changes to your life and livelihood. Documenting every diagnosis, treatment, and expense helps ensure your lawyer can calculate the full value of your claim.
Contact Our Gladstone Truck Accident Law Firm for a Free Consultation
If you’re struggling to financially recover from a crash with a large commercial vehicle, you need to work with attorneys who will prioritize your best interests. Our Gladstone truck accident lawyers believe in making the law accessible.
We make an active effort to ensure you can benefit from tried-and-tested legal advice without any financial obstacles standing in your way. When you work with our team, you can trust our experience to help you and your family fight for the financial support you need to retake control of your life.
Foster Wallace believes that the civil process is for everyone. Your Injury is Our Fight. Book your free truck accident case consultation today to learn more about our services.
