Ohio Truck Accident Lawyer

A crash with a semi truck or other commercial vehicle can cause devastating injuries and leave families facing medical bills, lost income and an uncertain future. Truck accident claims can also become complicated quickly because multiple companies, insurance carriers and other parties may be involved.

If you were injured in a truck accident in Ohio, the attorneys at Elk + Elk can investigate what happened, determine who may be responsible and help you understand your options.

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Why Choose Elk + Elk for an Ohio Truck Accident Case?

Truck accident cases often require significant investigation, evidence, and resources. Elk + Elk has represented injured people and their families for more than 50 years and has recovered more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients.

When we investigate a serious truck crash, our attorneys can work with accident reconstruction specialists, medical professionals, economists and other experts to understand how the crash happened and the full impact of our client’s injuries.

We handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Who Can Be Liable for a Truck Accident in Ohio?

The truck driver is not always the only person or company that may be responsible for a crash. Depending on what happened, potentially liable parties may include:

The truck driver
The trucking company
A company responsible for loading or securing cargo
A maintenance or repair company
A truck or parts manufacturer
Another driver involved in the crash
A government entity responsible for certain roadway conditions

For example, a driver may cause a crash by speeding, following too closely, driving while distracted, or violating safety rules. A trucking company may also bear responsibility for the actions of an employee or for its own conduct, such as unsafe hiring, training or maintenance practices.

Determining liability requires looking at the specific facts of the crash. Our Ohio truck accident lawyers can investigate the people and companies involved and identify potential sources of compensation.

What Makes Truck Accident Cases Different?

A collision involving a commercial truck is not simply a bigger car accident. Trucking companies and commercial drivers are subject to state and federal safety requirements, and these cases may involve evidence that does not exist in a typical passenger vehicle crash.

Evidence in a truck accident investigation may include:

Driver logs and hours of service records
Driver qualifications and employment records
Driving history
Vehicle inspection and maintenance records
Electronic logging device data
Event data recorder or other electronic vehicle data
Cargo and loading records
Cell phone records
Dash camera or surveillance footage
The trucking company’s safety and compliance records

Commercial drivers and motor carriers must also comply with regulations enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Identifying possible violations can be an important part of determining why a crash happened and who may be responsible.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Serious truck crashes can happen for many reasons, including:

Driver fatigue
Distracted driving
Speeding
Following too closely
Unsafe lane changes
Driving under the influence
Inadequate driver training
Improperly loaded or overloaded cargo
Brake or mechanical failures
Tire blowouts
Poor vehicle maintenance
Wide or swinging turns

In some cases, several factors contribute to the same collision. A thorough investigation can help establish what happened before important evidence is lost or destroyed.

Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle

Our Ohio truck accident attorneys handle a wide range of commercial vehicle cases, including:

We can also handle crashes involving tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, box trucks, delivery vehicles, dump trucks, commercial vans, and other large commercial vehicles.

How Our Ohio Truck Accident Lawyers Investigate a Crash

Truck accident cases can involve large amounts of evidence, and some of that evidence may be controlled by the trucking company or other businesses involved.

Our team can investigate:

The vehicles involved
Driver qualifications and training
Hours of service and driving records
Maintenance and inspection history
Electronic vehicle data
Available photos and video
Road and weather conditions
Cargo loading and securement
The companies and insurance carriers involved

When necessary, we can work with accident reconstruction specialists and other experts to analyze the evidence and determine how the collision occurred.

Acting quickly after a serious truck crash can also help preserve evidence that may be important to a future claim.

What Compensation May Be Available After a Truck Accident?

If another person or company is legally responsible for your injuries, you may be able to seek compensation for losses related to the crash.

Depending on your circumstances, damages may include:

Past and future medical expenses
Lost wages
Loss of future earning capacity
Rehabilitation and ongoing care
Property damage
Out-of-pocket expenses
Pain and suffering
Other noneconomic losses
Wrongful death damages for eligible family members

Punitive damages may also be available in certain cases involving particularly serious misconduct.

The value of a truck accident claim depends on the facts of the case, the extent of the injuries and how those injuries affect the person’s life.

Why Should I Hire an Ohio Truck Accident Lawyer?

Trucking companies and their insurance carriers may begin investigating a serious crash quickly. Having your own attorney means someone is working to protect your interests and preserve evidence on your behalf.

An attorney can:

Investigate the cause of the crash
Preserve and obtain important evidence
Identify potentially responsible parties
Communicate with insurance companies
Document your injuries and financial losses
Consult qualified experts when necessary
Negotiate a potential settlement
Prepare the case for trial when appropriate

You do not have to accept an insurance company’s initial settlement offer. Before signing a release or agreeing to a settlement, you can have an attorney review the offer and explain what accepting it would mean for your claim.

Damages Available in Truck Accident Claims

No amount of money can make up for the serious injuries you or a loved one suffered in a truck accident. Holding the at-fault party accountable, however, could help you move forward with greater financial peace of mind. The defendant may be financially responsible for many past and future damages, including:

Medical bills
Disability expenses
Lost wages
Property repairs
Out-of-pocket costs
Attorney’s fees
Pain and suffering
Emotional injuries
Wrongful death damages
Punitive damages

Ohio law allows you to seek financial compensation for both economic and noneconomic losses. You may also be eligible for punitive damages if the defendant was grossly negligent or malicious in causing the truck accident. Our attorneys can properly evaluate the monetary value of your truck accident case.

Do You Offer a Free Truck Accident Consultation?

Yes. Elk + Elk offers free consultations to people injured in truck and other commercial vehicle accidents.

Our attorneys can review what happened, answer your questions and help you understand your legal options. There is no obligation to hire us, and you do not pay attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Call 1-800-ELK-OHIO for a free case review.