After a Truck Accident, Don’t Go It Alone
Ohio attorneys for people injured in tractor-trailer crashes and commercial vehicle accidents
Commercial truck accidents in Ohio can be extremely complicated. Crashes involving tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, delivery trucks and other commercial vehicles often involve a wide range of legal issues.
Truck collisions can be more complicated than crashes between two passenger vehicles because drivers work for trucking companies. As a result, you must consider the liability of the trucking company. Additionally, the company that owns the cargo or loaded the trailer could be liable. There may be a lot of finger-pointing among the several parties that may potentially be liable for what happened.
Fortunately, you don’t have to handle this on your own. At Merriman Legal, LLC, our knowledgeable Ohio truck accident attorneys can work with you and make sure your rights are protected. Simply contact our law firm. Call 866-823-3332 and schedule a no cost consultation.
By contacting us promptly, we can begin investigating on your behalf. Trucking companies and their insurance carriers often are on the scene of an accident within hours of the crash. Their goal is to find ways to minimize the role the driver or trucking company played. That’s why you need someone on your side, looking out for your interests.
We can interview eyewitnesses and scour the scene for physical evidence. We can take photographs and reach out to accident reconstruction specialists.
Our investigation typically includes requests to the trucking company to preserve evidence. If you wait too long, the company may destroy crucial evidence.
What should I know about commercial truck accidents in Ohio?
Truck accidents tend to raise many questions. Whether you were injured in a rear-end collision in downtown Cleveland or a highway crash on Interstate 71 near Columbus, it’s critical to have access to as much information as possible. To learn more, simply click on one of the links listed below:
- Common Causes of Truck Accidents
- Common Truck Accident Injuries
- Commercial Truck Accidents
- FAQs about Truck Accidents
- Semi Truck Accidents
- Investigating Trucking Companies
- Insurance Companies and Truck Accidents
We also strongly urge you contact our law firm as soon as possible to discuss the details of what happened, no matter how minor or straightforward your accident might seem.
Do I need an Ohio truck accident lawyer to handle my case?
Along with Ohio state laws, many federal regulations apply to crashes involving commercial trucks. The trucking companies and their insurance carriers will have attorneys familiar with the intricacies of the law ready to fight claims against them. You will need to even the playing field by consulting with a lawyer who also understands the specific rules and regulations concerning commercial truck accidents.
The Ohio truck accident attorneys at Merriman Legal know how to investigate trucking companies, even when they attempt to hide or destroy evidence of wrongdoing. Our Rapid Response Team is ready to take immediate action.
During the first 24 hours, we work quickly to identify key evidence before it’s lost or destroyed. That includes trucking company hiring records, inspection reports, Hours of Service logs, truck black box data, and cellphone records. Many trucking companies refuse to cooperate, but we know how to hold them accountable. If a trucking company refuses to provide information, we will take legal action to ensure they do.
Our experienced attorneys know Ohio’s justice system inside and out. We have a proven track record for consistently obtaining sizable verdicts and settlements for victims.
The Statue of Limitations for taking legal action after a truck accident is two years. That might seem like a long time. However, building a strong legal case can sometimes take much longer than many people realize. Don’t delay. Talk to us at Merriman Legal, LLC, as soon as possible.
What are the top factors that contribute to commercial truck accidents? Some of the most common causes we regularly deal with at our law firm include:
- Distracted truck drivers – Many truck drivers fail to pay attention to other vehicles on the road. Sometimes, distracted drivers are texting while driving, which is against the law nationwide for commercial truck drivers. Other times, they’re operating a cellphone or GPS device.
- Tired truck drivers – Strict federal laws exist mandating that commercial truck drivers take breaks to avoid falling asleep at the wheel. These are known as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Hours of Service Regulations. Unfortunately, some drivers ignore such rules and continue driving. They may fall asleep or their extreme fatigue may lead to delayed reaction times and poor decision making. Other times, trucking companies pressure drivers to work longer hours, resulting in exhausted operators who put everyone sharing the road at risk.
- Speeding truckers – To maximize profits, truck drivers might ignore posted speed limits or drive too fast for the road conditions. When drivers speed, they increase the risk of causing serious accidents. A speeding driver may not have enough time to stop and avoid crashing into other vehicles. This is especially true on busy highways in Ohio like I-71, I-76 and I-80. The driver also may lose control of the big rig when entering a curve on a highway.
- Overloaded trucks – Regulators put limits on the weight of trucks and tractor trailers. Ohio applies a formula to determine weight limits for individual trucks, but generally the weight of commercial vehicles should not exceed 80,000 pounds. When trucks weigh more than the legal limit, they can be harder to stop or turn. They may be prone to rolling over or "jackknifing."
- Drunk or drugged truck drivers – Drinking and driving can be an especially dangerous combination if the driver happens to be operating a tractor-trailer or another large commercial truck. Truck drivers under the influence of drugs (often used by drivers to stay awake) also often cause serious accidents involving other vehicles.
Many of the injuries people sustain in car crashes are the same ones passengers and drivers sustain in truck accidents. The main difference is injuries caused by large commercial trucks are often much more severe due to the sheer size and weight of tractor-trailers and other large commercial trucks.
Broken bones, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord injuries and fatalities are just some of the consequences of large truck crashes. Another difference: Large commercial trucks often cause multiple injuries to several people in difference vehicles, especially when such collisions occur on busy highways in Ohio.
Whatever the circumstances of your truck accident injury, attorneys at Merriman Legal, LLC, can work with you and make sure your rights are protected and insurance companies take your case seriously right from the start.
Large trucking companies own many tractor-trailers and delivery trucks used in Ohio and across the country. If you’re involved in a collision with a truck owned by one of these corporations, obtaining compensation can sometimes be a complicated ordeal.
What makes accidents involving trucks owned by trucking companies so difficult is the wall of bureaucracy that these companies often have in place which makes it nearly impossible to contact these companies and obtain information from them.
Our experienced attorneys know how to track down trucking companies and their insurance carriers and hold them accountable. We will go toe to toe with the insurance companies and the lawyers that represent all of them. Don’t underestimate the complexity of your case. We can help you hold trucking companies responsible for their actions and fight to obtain the information you need from them to build a strong legal case.
What should I do after a truck accident in Ohio?
If you’re involved in a truck accident in Ohio, you should first remain calm. Check on yourself and others involved in the crash and call the police. Ask for the truck driver’s name, license number, insurance information, and the trucking company details. Do the same for any other drivers involved.
If you’re able to, take pictures of the crash scene. Capture any damage caused by the truck, as well as visible injuries. Be sure to obtain contact information from witnesses and ask if they captured the crash on a dashcam.
Then, get immediate medical attention, even if your injuries seem minor. You could be shaken up from the crash. The shock and adrenaline could mask your pain and symptoms. When you seek prompt medical attention, you can begin treatment for your injuries before they get worse. This can also help strengthen your claim.
You must also notify your insurance company that you were involved in a truck accident and provide them with the date, time, location, and other basic information. Just be aware that dealing with insurance companies representing the truck driver, trucking company, or cargo loading company can create legal obstacles that can impact your case.
That includes:
- Asking seemingly innocent questions to gather information that can be used against you.
- Making lowball settlement offers that don’t fully cover your damages.
- Shifting the blame onto you, even when it’s clear that the truck driver or trucking company caused the crash.
- Claiming that your injuries are exaggerated.
What are common types of truck accidents?
Some of the most common types include:
- Jackknife – A tractor trailer’s cab and trailer closes in like a folding jackknife. Cars may be trapped in between the cab and trailer.
- Rollover – Can be a result of overloaded or speeding trucks.
- Tire blowout – Large trucks become difficult to control after the tires blow out.
- Under ride – Term used to describe vehicles that travel underneath a tractor trailer.
- Rear-end – Large commercial trucks that don’t stop in time may crash into vehicles in front of them. Sometimes a distracted, impaired or fatigued driver is to blame.
- Head-on collisions – Among the most serious truck accidents we handle at our law firm. In many cases, these collisions result in catastrophic or fatal injuries and may be grounds for a wrongful death claim.
What are common causes of truck accidents?
There are many different reasons why commercial truck accidents happen. Some of the most common causes include:
- Speeding
- Texting while driving
- Falling asleep at the wheel
- Poor truck maintenance
- Inexperienced truck drivers
Who investigates truck accidents in Ohio?
Depending on the location and the contents of the truck, the investigation will likely be handled by either local or state police. However, it’s important to make sure that the investigating officers take into account special federal rules and regulations created specifically to govern such accidents. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation, regulates the trucking industry. As lawyers who are well-versed in all aspects of the FMCSA regulations, we investigate on behalf of clients. We interview witnesses and search the scene for evidence. We typically hire accident reconstruction engineers and other outside experts to assist in the investigation.
Should I talk to an insurance company if they contact me?
No. Politely decline to answer questions about your truck accident, no matter how simple or innocent the questions might seem. Insurance company adjusters often ask questions with one goal in mind – to keep payments to injury victims as small as possible. Anything you say to an adjuster could be used against you.
Should I accept an offer from an insurance company?
We recommend discussing any offer you might receive with a lawyer before accepting it. What might seem like a generous settlement could turn out to be far less money than you actually need to cover expenses.
What can I be financially compensated for after a truck accident?
Any expense associated with your truck accident can – and should – be covered by your settlement offer or verdict. Such expenses can include:
- Emergency medical care
- Lost income during recovery
- Additional medical care, including follow-up surgical procedures
- Physical therapy
- Home modifications due a permanent disability
- Future lost income due to not being able to work
- Transportation costs to and from medical procedures
- In-home health care
- Pain and suffering
How much is my truck accident worth?
There is no set dollar amount. Each truck accident is different. Some are worth a few hundred or a few thousand dollars. Others may potentially be worth hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. That’s why it’s critical that you talk to an attorney as soon as possible about your crash.
Can I file a lawsuit if I’m a victim of a truck accident?
Yes. Sometimes, the best way to obtain compensation is to file a lawsuit. We can help you do that if we believe that’s the best course of action.
How long do I have to take legal action after my truck accident in Ohio?
Under Ohio state law, you have up to two years in most cases to take legal action from the date of your accident. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations. Two years might seem like a long time. But gathering the evidence for a commercial truck accident case often takes several months. And if you wait to take legal action, some of the evidence you need to build a strong, legal case might no longer exist. That’s because trucking companies only have to legally keep certain records for a minimum amount of time. And these records can often serve as important pieces of evidence in an accident claim.
How can a lawyer help me with my truck accident claim?
There are so many different ways a truck accident attorney can help you with your case – from helping you fill out forms to dealing directly with insurance companies or trucking companies on your behalf. Our experienced Ohio truck accident attorneys thoroughly understand how the system works here and we’re eager to work with you. Your case isn’t just about money. It’s about justice and holding people responsible for their actions.
