Gentry County, Missouri – Authorities reported that Roget Smith, 62, of Albany, Missouri, was killed after the tow truck he was operating suffered a tire failure and crashed in Gentry County along U.S. 136.
According to reports, Smith was driving east on U.S. 136, roughly five miles west of Albany, Missouri, when the tow truck’s front driver’s side tire failed, causing smith to lose control of the vehicle and roll off the north side of the road.
Authorities pronounced Smith dead at the scene of the crash and stated he was properly restrained at the time of the accident.
No further information was immediately available.
Mr. Smith’s family will need a product defect attorney to determine if a manufacturer is liable for this crash
There are several concerns with this accident that must be investigated before the Smith family can hold the responsible party accountable for their loved one’s death. This crash falls under product liability law, and the focus of the investigation must be on the cause of the tire failure and the safety features in the truck at the time of the crash.
First, we would not be here if the tire did not fail. We handle accidents across the nation caused by good tires failing under normal conditions. This is often caused by manufacturing defects within the tire itself that cause the tire to fail under normal conditions. This is unacceptable, and when it results in the death of an innocent man, the manufacturer must be held responsible for the pain, suffering, and financial burden the surviving family must face because of their loved one’s passing.
Second, the crashworthiness of the truck must be determined. Crashworthiness is a scientific concept that refers to a vehicle’s ability to protect occupants in the event of an accident. Mr. Smith was a properly restrained occupant of a heavy-duty truck. This truck should have been able to protect Smith during the rollover sequence. Auto manufacturers can produce trucks that protect occupants in rollover crashes. When they choose not to protect occupants because they want to save money, they should be held responsible when someone dies.
We know enough about this crash to know that someone other than Mr. Smith is likely responsible for his passing. Our firm will need to conduct a further investigation to determine exactly who that is, but we conduct these investigations free of charge to make sure the family left behind is taken care of during this difficult time. We represent clients across Missouri in product liability cases and stand ready to help in any way we can.
I want to offer my condolences to the Smith family. I hope that you may find peace during this difficult time and the answers you need to hold the responsible parties liable for your loss.
