Semi-Truck Accident Attorneys in Liberty & Kansas City, Missouri
In the majority of accidents involving large trucks, the truck driver walks away uninjured. The person or persons in the other vehicle will likely sustain severe or catastrophic injuries.
Truck drivers are under significant time constraints to deliver their loads on schedule. As a result, many drivers will drive for longer than allowed under federal law or take other risks such as speeding, distracted driving, or failing to properly maintain their vehicles.
At Dougherty & Holloway, our attorneys have more than 30 years of experience holding truckers and trucking companies accountable for negligent behavior. Ed Dougherty and Philip Holloway are both members of the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America, and they have obtained millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for victims of truck driver negligence throughout Missouri and Kansas.
Trucking Companies Investigate Immediately. You Should Too.
Trucking companies have established procedures they activate the moment one of their drivers is involved in an accident. In many cases, the company will send investigators to the scene before you have even left the hospital.
Their goal is to mitigate liability. Their investigation may put you at a significant disadvantage if you do not have experienced legal counsel working on your behalf from the start.
That is why it is critical to contact an attorney as soon as possible after a truck accident. Dougherty & Holloway moves quickly to preserve evidence, secure the truck's black box data, obtain driver logs, and investigate whether federal regulations were violated. The sooner we are involved, the stronger your case.
What to Do After a Semi-Truck Accident
- Call the police and an ambulance to report the accident and get medical treatment for anyone who is injured
- If possible, take photos of the accident scene, including damage to all vehicles, road conditions, and any visible injuries
- Get the truck driver's name, trucking company name, insurance information, and truck number
- Do not sign anything given to you by a trucking company representative without consulting an attorney
- Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company's insurance carrier
Contact Dougherty & Holloway as soon as possible at
How We Handle Your Semi-Truck Accident Case
Immediate Investigation
We move quickly to preserve critical evidence before it is lost or destroyed, including the truck's electronic control module (black box), driver logs, maintenance records, and company safety history.
Identify All Liable Parties
Truck accident cases often involve multiple responsible parties: the driver, the trucking company, the vehicle manufacturer, or a third-party maintenance provider. We investigate every potential source of liability and insurance coverage.
Assess the Full Scope of Injuries
We consult with your medical team to understand the full extent of your injuries, including long-term care needs, rehabilitation, lost earning capacity, and the impact on your quality of life.
Fight for Maximum Compensation
Armed with the evidence and a thorough understanding of your damages, we negotiate aggressively with the trucking company's insurers. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we are prepared to take your case to trial.
Semi-Truck Accident FAQ
Why are semi-truck accident cases more complex than car accident cases?
Truck accident cases involve federal regulations governing driver hours, vehicle maintenance, and load requirements. They also frequently involve multiple liable parties, including the driver, the trucking company, and sometimes the vehicle or parts manufacturer. Trucking companies have legal teams and investigators working immediately after an accident, which makes experienced legal representation essential from the start.
What is a black box and why does it matter in a truck accident case?
Most commercial trucks are equipped with an electronic control module, commonly called a black box, that records data including the truck's speed, braking patterns, and hours of operation. This data can be critical evidence in establishing whether the truck driver was speeding, fatigued, or in violation of federal regulations at the time of the accident.
Can I sue the trucking company, not just the driver?
Yes. In many cases, the trucking company bears responsibility for the actions of its drivers. If the company failed to properly train, supervise, or monitor the driver, or if the company encouraged violations of federal hours-of-service regulations, the company itself may be held liable for your injuries.
What compensation is available in a semi-truck accident case?
Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, future lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and in some cases, punitive damages. Because commercial trucks carry higher insurance policy limits than passenger vehicles, the potential recovery in truck accident cases is often higher than in standard car accident cases.
Related Practice Areas
Request a free consultation or call (816) 891-9990.
About Dougherty & Holloway, LLC
Dougherty & Holloway, LLC is a personal injury law firm based in Liberty, Missouri, serving clients throughout Kansas City, Clay County, and the surrounding communities in Missouri and Kansas. Our partners, Ed Dougherty and Philip Holloway, bring more than 70 years of combined trial experience to every case we handle.
We focus exclusively on personal injury law, including car accidents, motorcycle wrecks, semi-truck collisions, traumatic brain injuries, medical malpractice, wrongful death, slip and fall, nursing home abuse, product defect, construction site, highway and guardrail, and other personal injury claims. Every consultation is free and confidential, and we work on a contingency basis — you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Ed and Phil personally handle every case from intake through trial. You will never be passed off to a junior associate or a call center. To learn more, read who we are, review our verdicts and settlements, or contact us directly. You can also request a free consultation online or call (816) 891-9990.