The state of Ohio is something of a crossroads for big rig drivers and semi-trucks moving goods through the Great Lakes and Midwest regions and all across the nation. The drivers of these trucks are subject to some strict operating regulations in order to a avoid truck accident, including maximum hours spent on the road, specific safety procedures, maintenance regimens, weight limits, and a zero tolerance policy for alcohol or drug use.
Still, even with such regulation, each year thousands of semi-truck accidents happen in Ohio, either due to violations of these regulations, or due to impaired or unskilled drivers who lose control of these huge vehicles while traveling at highway speeds.
Know Your Rights When Injured in a Columbus Semi Truck Accident
Large trucks can cause large accidents and large problems for motorists and pedestrians. Statistically, one in eight auto accident fatalities involve semi trucks, and a semi-truck accident happens about every 16 minutes. Semi truck accidents in Columbus, Ohio involve tractor trailers, big rigs, and other types of commercial vehicles, and these large vehicles dominate the available space on the highways and streets where they happen. All too often, additional vehicles on the road, including other cars, trucks, and motorcycles, impact the already-crashed truck, with devastating results. Injuries are quite common in such accidents, and as such, truck accident lawsuits in Columbus, Ohio are something that we see more often than we would like to here at Ohio Car Accident Lawyers.
In semi truck accidents in Columbus, Ohio, 86% of deaths and 77% of injuries involve drivers and passengers in smaller vehicles involved in the crash. Given the truck’s large size, the extended hours spent behind the wheel by drivers, and other factors including speeding, the rate of semi-truck accident lawsuits for these injuries is high.
Common Causes of Semi Truck Accidents in Columbus, OH
Hurt in a truck accident? The Ohio lawyers at the Ohio Car Accident Lawyers can help you seek compensation for your injuries.
Many semi truck lawsuits in Columbus, OH involve accidents caused by human error. Still others can be traced to mechanical failure, an impairment such as intoxication, or the failure to maintain good inspections standards on the part of the trucking company. In the aftermath, those who survive may have severe injuries or trauma. In addition, semi truck accidents in Columbus, OH can cause significant vehicle and property damage.
Liable parties in semi truck accidents can face lawsuits in Columbus, Ohio, and this includes not only the driver of the truck, but also the owner of the vehicle, the owner of the freight being carried, the driver’s employer, the manufacturer of the vehicle, the trailer, or other equipment, and even third party companies responsible for maintenance.
Evidence in the Crash is Crucial to Determining Fault in Columbus, Ohio Truck Accident Lawsuits
When it comes to Columbus, Ohio truck accident lawsuits, it not uncommon for the trucking company to attempt to deny the fault of their driver. Federal laws and regulations require the companies to keep all evidence relating to semi-truck accidents, but this law only mandates that evidence is preserved for a certain period of time. If you or a family member has been injured by a semi truck accident in Columbus Ohio, it is vital that you protect your rights by contacting a truck accident attorney in Columbus as soon as possible to ensure this evidence is available.
Based on the specifics of the truck accident, an experienced truck accident attorney will most likely contact the trucking company to ensure that the legal process begins and the evidence is preserved. Without such contact, the trucking company may have the ability to legally destroy this evidence, and with it, the proof of the guilty parties. Your lawyer will determine the responsible parties in the semi truck accident, and will work to gather additional evidence to strengthen your case, including accident reports and trucking logs which are kept by drivers. Your attorney will help you pursue compensation for your injuries, any wages lost, and other damages including medical treatment, loss of consortium, and pain and suffering.
Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney for a No-Cost Evaluation Today
If you or a family member have been injured in a semi truck accident in Columbus, Ohio, it is imperative that you protect your rights and seek just compensation. The Ohio Car Accident Lawyers has the experience necessary to help you navigate the seemingly overwhelming task of pursuing a truck accident lawsuit in Columbus, OH. We will fight every day for injured victims to ensure that they and their loved ones receive the compensation to which they are entitled. Contact the Ohio Car Accident Lawyers today and let us evaluate your case today.
