When you live in the Midwest, you’re accustomed to driving on snow and ice. When winter weather arrives, Missouri roads can become slick and dangerous. Because snow and ice can interfere with tire traction, accidents are often more prevalent during the winter months, and crashes can be especially dangerous if one of the vehicles is a tractor-trailer.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in 2019, there were over 500,000 police-reported crashes involving a large truck, and nearly 4,500 were fatal. A 3-year study on truck accidents found that adverse weather conditions were present in 13% of 141,000 truck accidents, and the FMCSA and states created rules and regulations for truck drivers to follow when they face weather conditions that affect traction on the road.
Our experienced Kansas City truck accident lawyers at Peterson Law Firm understand that drivers in Missouri navigate the hazards of winter driving every year and must always be especially alert for truck drivers. We know the devastation these crashes cause, and we’ve helped many accident victims rebuild their lives after a winter wreck. Here, we discuss the hazards of winter driving, cold-weather truck crashes, and how to move forward after you’ve been injured.
Rules that Govern Truck Drivers
Not only does the FMCSA have rules that all truckers and trucking companies must follow, but the federal government also requires each state to have minimum standards for the licensing of commercial drivers. In Missouri, the Commercial Driver License Manual (CDL) cites trucking speeds for different types of road surfaces. Some of the wintry road surfaces discussed include the following:
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- Melting ice. When temperatures melt road ice even slightly, it will make the ice wet. A surface with wet ice is much more slippery than ice that’s not wet.
- Black ice. Black ice is a thin, clear layer of ice on the surface of the road that allows you to see the road underneath it. Black ice makes the road look wet. If the temperature is below freezing and the road appears wet, it’s likely there’s black ice.
- When the rain starts. Right after it starts to rain, the water mixes with oil left on the road by vehicles. This makes the road very slippery. If the rain continues, it will wash the oil away.
- Hydroplaning. In some winter weather, water or slush collects on the road, and your vehicle can hydroplane—your tires lose contact with the road and have little or no traction.
Many of these road conditions can require trucks to double their stopping distance. The Missouri CDL guide recommends reducing driving speed by about one-third on a wet road, by half on packed snow, and to a crawl and stop if roads are icy. Because most trucks have black boxes that can electronically record the speed of the truck, our attorneys can determine if a truck driver was complying with the CDL guidelines when the crash occurred.
Additionally, trucking companies also have their own policies that require drivers to adjust to weather and road conditions. Some of these policies may include:
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- Not using a Jake brake when roads are slick
- Reducing RPMs when roads are slippery
- Contacting a supervisor during bad weather
- Not using cruise control
The Hazards of Winter Truck Driving
Truck accidents can be serious in any weather—but winter conditions multiply the risks for catastrophic injuries. The same factors that make passenger vehicles harder to control in the winter affect massive commercial trucks even more dramatically:
- Reduced traction. Snow and ice reduce tire grip, making it harder to brake, turn, or recover from a slide.
- Longer stopping distances. An 80,000-pound big rig needs 20-40% more road to stop on snow and ice than on dry pavement.
- Reduced visibility. Blowing snow, road spray, and shorter daylight hours give truckers less time to react.
Why Jackknifed 18-Wheelers Are So Dangerous
A jackknifed truck happens when a truck’s drive wheels lock up, causing the trailer to skid and fold against the cab at a 90-degree angle. The resulting "L" shape is almost impossible for other drivers to avoid—especially in limited visibility. Jackknifed trucks are a leading cause of fatal multi-vehicle accidents on highways and bridges.
In winter, jackknifed tractor-trailers pose a significant danger on roads. They transform an already hazardous situation into a potentially lethal multi-vehicle disaster. When a trailer skids and folds against the cab, it can become a massive, unmovable wall that can span multiple lanes of traffic.
Jackknifing Is More Likely on Snowy, Icy Roads
Several factors make jackknifing more common in winter weather:
- Loss of traction. Snow and ice dramatically reduce tire grip, causing drive wheels to lock up and lose control.
- Abrupt braking. If a trucker slams the brakes too hard on a slick surface, the trailer can swing around from the sudden shift in weight.
- Imbalanced loads. When cargo shifts or slides on icy roads, the change in momentum can override the cab's ability to control the trailer.
- High speeds. The faster a tractor-trailer is moving on a low-friction surface, the harder it is to stop safely without losing stability.
Trucker Fatigue Increases During Winter Months
Even under the best conditions, driving an 18-wheeler is exhausting. But winter weather escalates the exhaustion to dangerous levels:
- Winter weather creates higher stress and strain. Fighting to keep an unstable load upright for hours drains mental and physical reserves. This increases when roads are slippery.
- Winter weather disrupts sleep and increases fatigue. When there are icy roads, truck drivers may have to drive more slowly and pay closer attention to the road, which may disrupt their routines and sleeping patterns.
- Pressure to perform. Truckers face intense pressure to keep supply chains moving, even in unsafe conditions. During inclement weather, truckers may still be compelled to meet a deadline when it’s dangerous to do so.
Injuries From a Winter Truck Accident
When a tractor-trailer jackknifes across an icy highway or crashes with other vehicles, unsuspecting motorists may suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries from the initial impact, flying debris, or crushing damage in a multi-vehicle pileup. Survivors may be trapped in the wreckage for hours, suffering agonizing injuries, smoke inhalation, or exposure to extreme cold. They may face a lifetime of hardship from the following injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Victims of a winter truck accident can suffer catastrophic head injuries, including concussions and TBIs.
- Spinal cord injuries. These can include paralysis from the neck or chest down.
- Amputations. Victims may suffer crushed limbs, which can lead to amputations or permanent nerve damage.
- Internal injuries. Victims may suffer organ damage and internal bleeding from blunt force trauma.
Why Winter Truck Accidents Are Different: Establishing Liability
Determining fault in a winter truck accident case usually isn’t simple and is often more difficult than for a two-car crash. While ice and snow may be key factors, they may not be the primary cause of a truck accident. Truck accident cases often involve multiple negligent parties, from the driver to the trucking company to third-party contractors. Examples may include the following:
- Improper trailer loading or securement
- Inadequate driver training for winter conditions
- Faulty or poorly maintained brakes, tires, or safety equipment
- Unrealistic schedules that encourage unsafe speeds
- Defective tires, brakes, or mechanical components
Our experienced truck accident attorney will work to uncover evidence of negligence at every level, from the individual driver to the trucking company to third-party contractors. Securing data from the truck's event black box, driver logs, dash cam footage, and inspection records is critical to maximizing compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Potential Compensation After a Winter Truck Crash
When you're facing a future changed forever by a truck accident, you need a legal team that understands both the medicine and the law. Our attorneys regularly partner with renowned experts in fields like accident reconstruction, trucking safety standards, and life-care planning. We work tirelessly to secure full and fair compensation for:
- Past, present, and future medical bills
- Lost wages and earning potential
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Punitive damages for egregious negligence
After a truck accident, evidence often disappears quickly. The trucking company will have investigators on the scene within hours to start building their defense—and you need an advocate in your corner just as fast.
If you were hurt in a winter truck wreck in Kansas City, don't let the trucking company pressure you into a fast settlement. You have rights, and you deserve full compensation for your losses. Contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced Kansas City truck accident lawyer. Read our case results to learn how we’ve helped other victims of winter truck accidents.