Nicholas Hamilton injured in a collision with a tractor-trailer
NEOSHO, Missouri—18-year-old Nicholas Hamilton is recovering from injuries after his Ford Mustang collided with a semi-truck on Jaguar Road in Newton County, Missouri, around 7:30 p.m.
According to Missouri State Highway Patrol, Hamilton’s vehicle was totaled and was towed from the scene. Hamilton was transported to Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri, for treatment.
An investigation into the crash is being conducted.
No further information is currently available.
Thoughts on the semi-truck accident that injured Mr. Hamilton
For those dealing with injuries resulting from a vehicle accident, the road to recovery is often long, painful, and expensive. Our thoughts are with Mr. Hamilton as he recovers, and we are thankful that he survived this accident.
Any vehicle accident can injure those involved, but injuries from accidents involving semi-trucks, such as this one, are often much more severe. Our firm represents victims of accidents like this every day, and we are aware of the dangers semi-trucks pose to other vehicles when the truck’s driver does not exercise due care or when the truck is not in proper working order. Unfortunately, we see both scenarios frequently.
From the information we do have, it appears that this crash occurred on a rural, two-lane road around mid-evening as the sun began to set. Drivers of all vehicles have a duty to remain aware of their surroundings and focused on the road but operating a semi-truck in these specific conditions often requires drivers to go above and beyond. The lanes are narrower on rural, two-lane roads than on the expressways semi-trucks typically operate on. They also tend to curve more frequently and at sharper angles. Additionally, the crash occurred when traffic was beginning to thin out for the evening. Should the investigation reveal that the driver was negligent in performing his duty to be aware of his environment—whether by engaging in distracted driving, exceeding the speed limit, or failing to stay in the appropriate lane, Mr. Hamilton may be able to recover against the driver for negligence.
Bad tires or improperly installed tires on semi-trucks are another common cause of accidents in this setting. Because the road conditions on rural, two-lane roads tend to change quickly, as can the quality of those roads. Properly installed tires in good condition can handle these changes and are essential. We frequently see tires being used well past their useful life resulting in preventable crashes. Findings of this nature may allow Mr. Hamilton to recover against the driver’s employer for failure to maintain a safe vehicle or against the maintenance provider if the tires were improperly stalled.
While we must conduct our own investigation before forming any legal strategy, you can rest assured that our firm will be diligent in our search for answers and our pursuit of relief for injured victims. Our thoughts are with Mr. Hamilton, and we wish him a speedy recovery.
