MARSHFIELD, Missouri—40-year-old Justin Walker is recovering from injuries sustained in a collision between his 2003 Chevrolet Silverado and a 2021 tractor-trailer.
Initial investigations suggested a rear-end collision but did not determine the initial cause of the accident.
Walker was taken to Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, for treatment.
The investigation is ongoing. No further details were immediately available.
Thoughts on Highway J truck accident in Marshfield, Missouri
Rear-end collisions involving tractor-trailers are incredibly dangerous, and we are grateful there were no fatalities in this accident. We wish Mr. Walker a quick and full recovery, and we hope the investigation is concluded quickly so Mr. Walker may move forward and seek all possible legal recourse for his injuries.
Injuries or fatalities in rear-end collisions with tractor-trailers are often due to a lack of under guards on the trailer. These guards are designed to prevent passenger vehicles from rolling under the trailer in the event of a collision. These guards are standard in the trucking industry, and a finding that the truck in this accident did not have one could allow Mr. Walker to recover against the manufacturer for this design defect.
Another increasingly common cause of rear-end collisions like this is distracted driving. Smartphones have improved the driving experience in many ways—including making driving safer when used appropriately—but our investigations often reveal inappropriate phone use as the root cause of the crash in question. Any evidence that the truck driver here was engaged in distracted driving at the time of the accident may allow Mr. Walker to recover against the driver and the trucking company for negligence.
We find that official investigations often stop at the identification of one potential cause. Our investigative team knows that this is rarely the end of the story, and we do not stop until we are confident that we have identified all potential causes. Under the law, an injured victim often has the right to recover from multiple parties to ensure full and complete compensation. Mr. Walker deserves answers and the opportunity to hold any wrongdoers accountable. Our thoughts are with him as he recovers from his injuries.
