For the second day in a row, traffic on the Chain of Rocks bridge ground to a halt due to a motor vehicle accident. The bridge allows traffic to cross over the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri.
According to an StlToday.com report, two tractor-trailers collided this morning while travelling eastbound on the Illinois side the bridge. The accident stopped traffic for nearly three hours. Yesterday, a multiple car accident near the same area. In that crash, a semi-truck crashed into another truck, which then collided with another pickup truck.
In both crashes, injuries were limited. Both are under investigation by authorities and fault is yet to be determined.
The crashes underscore the duty truck drivers have to use reasonable care in operating their vehicles. With the summer driving season coming soon, vigilance is important.
Tractor-trailers can weigh as much as 60,000 pounds. Their sheer weight make them the most dangerous vehicles on the road. When compared to the average passenger vehicle (which weighs 3,000 pounds) the damages in a crash could be devastating. Passengers often lose their lives when their cars are crumpled by the force of a semi-truck.
Nevertheless, people injured in a crash may seek compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, property damage and a host of other issues arising from an accident. However, trucking accidents can have a number of defendants (with different levels) of responsibility, so these cases can quickly become complex.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney is essential.
Source: StlToday.com, Traffic backed up for miles on eastbound I-270 after truck crash, May 16, 2013