Truck Accident Lawyers In Southern Ohio

Helping Victims Of Serious Truck Crashes Throughout Southern Ohio

Due to their enormous size and weight, any accident involving a truck usually results in significant, life-altering injuries or fatalities. Truck crashes occur here in Southern Ohio for many reasons, but most, if not all, are due to negligence. Perhaps the trucking company failed to maintain the vehicle or adequately train the driver. Or, the truck driver may have been texting, driving under the influence or driving recklessly.

Regardless of what caused your truck accident injuries, you and your family shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s mistake. Contact the truck accident team at The Law Firm of Richard M. Lewis. Truck accident lawyer Richard M. Lewis has 40 years of personal injury law experience holding trucking companies, drivers and anyone else responsible for the negligence that caused our clients’ injuries. We aggressively fight to get you maximum compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Causes Of Truck Accidents In Ohio

There can be one or more negligent parties involved in an 18-wheeler collision.

• Truck driver negligence: All drivers must follow the rules of the road wherever they drive. This includes not exceeding the speed limit, making proper lane changes and yielding to oncoming traffic. Drunk driving, fatigue, distracted driving and speeding are negligent actions that endanger the truck driver and everyone else on the road, and can lead to serious truck wrecks.
• Truck company negligence: When a truck company doesn’t properly train its drivers, permits them to operate vehicles beyond the number of hours allowed by law, fails to maintain the fleet or condones overpacking of the trucks to maximize profits, accidents are likely to occur.

It’s not unusual for a trucking company to play the blame game, pointing the finger at victims in cars when 18-wheeler crashes happen. Rest assured, when you hire Mr. Lewis and his experienced legal team, you can be sure we will get to the bottom of what caused your accident, and we will seek to hold the appropriate parties responsible for their negligence.

However, other parties may also contribute to negligence as well. For example:

• Truck parts and manufacturers: Parts makers or truck manufacturers may also be liable for big rig accidents if they produce or use defective parts that fail and cause crashes. Common examples include brakes that don’t work, bad tires that blow out or faulty steering components.
• Government agencies: Those in charge of designing, building or maintaining roads could be responsible if poor road design or maintenance contributes to accidents. If their actions or oversights directly lead to truck crashes, they may face lawsuits for negligence.

As an experienced truck wreck lawyer, Mr. Lewis can hold these entities accountable as well.

Common Types Of Semi-Truck Collisions

The exact details contributing to the crashes will vary, but here are some common types of semi-truck crashes in Southern Ohio that Attorney Lewis is accustomed to handling:

• Jackknife: These accidents occur when a truck trailer swings out at an angle from the cab, often due to braking too hard or driving too fast for conditions.
• Rollover: These accidents involve a truck tipping onto its side, frequently caused by taking turns too sharply or by high winds.
• Underride: A smaller vehicle slides under the trailer of a truck, often due to inadequate rear guards on the trailer.
• Tire blowouts: A sudden loss of tire pressure can cause a truck to lose control, leading to a collision.
• Brake failures: Malfunctioning brakes can make it difficult or impossible to stop a truck safely, increasing the risk of an accident.
• Construction zones: Road construction is common in Ohio, but truck drivers often fail to follow the reduced speed limits, make abrupt lane changes or fail to identify unusual traffic patterns. These all contribute to the frequency of truck accidents in construction zones. Conversely, companies working on the road may also contribute to unsafe conditions within the construction zone if hazards are not adequately marked or not designed to protect drivers.

The vehicle size and damage caused can turn seemingly minor mistakes into fatalities.

Navigating The Complexities Of Ohio Truck Accident Lawsuits

Ohio truck accident lawsuits present a unique set of challenges that can be overwhelming for victims and their families. Here are some of the unique challenges in Ohio truck accident lawsuits:

• Ohio’s comparative negligence law in truck accidents: In Ohio, the courts follow a comparative negligence system, which means that the compensation you receive will be reduced by your percentage of fault in the accident. This can be particularly challenging in truck accident cases, where multiple parties may be involved and liable.
• Determining liability in multivehicle truck accidents: When multiple vehicles are involved in a commercial truck accident, determining liability can be a complex and time-consuming process. It’s essential to have an attorney who can investigate the accident, gather evidence and identify all responsible parties.
• Employer liability for truck driver negligence: In Ohio, employers can be held liable for the negligent actions of their employees, including truck drivers. Victims may be able to pursue claims against the trucking company or other entities besides the driver.
• Proving negligence in a truck accident case: To succeed in a truck accident lawsuit, victims must be able to prove that the truck driver or other parties were negligent in their actions. It can involve extensive evidence, including witness testimony and expert witness analysis.

Addressing these issues is complicated, so it’s essential to have an experienced truck injury attorney by your side to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

18-Wheeler Accidents Often Due To Regulation Violations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations impose duties on the truck company, including a duty to ensure its employees obey the regulations:

• Trucking companies must enter into a contract with the federal government to operate a fleet of trucks on public roads.
• The contract specifies that truck companies have a duty under the law to train, instruct and supervise employees.
• There are rules about driving commercial trucks, including service hours, driving, inspection, hiring, supervising and training.
• Federal regulations require serious caution when road conditions include snow, ice, rain and fog. Commercial drivers are supposed to stop in extreme weather conditions and reduce their speed by one-third on wet roads.

Accidents happen when truck drivers don’t follow these rules. If a trucking company needlessly endangered you or a loved one and caused injuries, call the semi truck accident attorney Richard M. Lewis and the legal team at The Law Firm of Richard M. Lewis. We will protect the rights of Ohioans in Jackson, Portsmouth, Chillicothe and throughout Southern Ohio.

The Importance Of Swift Action After A Truck Accident

Under Ohio law, you have two years from the date of a vehicle accident to file a lawsuit. However, securing legal representation by a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after an accident can make a tremendous difference in the success of your claim – and the amount of any verdict or settlement you may be entitled to.

Immediately after a crash, many survivors are still getting medical treatment and trying to process what happened. Meanwhile, trucking company representatives (including insurance adjusters, investigators and accident reconstructionists) are already at work trying to avoid legal responsibility and minimize your payout. They may even access the truck’s electronic data and then sell the vehicle for salvage. The right truck injury attorney with a proven track record can help you level the playing field. The sooner you retain an experienced and hands-on truck accident lawyer, the sooner they can begin fighting for you and holding all the responsible parties accountable.

Contact A Successful Truck Accident Lawyer Today For Free

Some truck accident lawyers are quick to settle cases for clients. At The Law Firm of Richard M. Lewis, our legal team thoroughly investigates before determining how much we believe your case is worth. Then, we skillfully negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. In fact, we have successfully negotiated millions of dollars in settlement offers for victims of motor vehicle accidents.

When necessary, Mr. Lewis won’t hesitate to take your case to court if he believes the trucking company or its insurer refuses to value your case fairly. Additionally, if someone you love has paid the ultimate price for someone else’s negligence, we will work hard to make sure your family is compensated in a wrongful death lawsuit.

The Law Firm of Richard M. Lewis accepts personal injury cases, such as car and truck accident cases, on a contingent-fee basis. There are no upfront out-of-pocket legal fees; if we don’t collect damages for you, you don’t pay us anything. Contact us today through this web site or by calling 740-688-2164 for a free consultation about your case.