While many motor vehicle collisions can result in devastating injuries and damage, some of the most severe accidents involve commercial trucks. These massive vehicles significantly outweigh passenger cars, and the people inside have little protection from the significant impact that comes from colliding with these trucks.
Injuries that result from a semi-truck collision can be life-altering. Some of these injuries may not only require medical care but also force a person to adjust to many parts of their life. Fortunately, a trucker who is at fault for an accident is liable to provide compensation. A Chardon truck accident lawyer at Tittle & Perlmuter could guide you through this process. We understand the immense impact that a truck crash can have on a person’s life, and our personal injury attorneys could work hard to pursue claims that demand proper compensation.
Why Do Truck Wrecks Occur?
The immense size of these vehicles makes them a danger to everyone on the road. Tractor-trailers carrying large loads of cargo have massive blind spots that can render other cars invisible. Truckers have the obligation to check these spots before turning or changing lanes.
Overloaded trucks also weigh multiple tons. This can make them slow to stop in an emergency, and vulnerable to jackknifing or even rolling over on sharp turns. There are many other reasons why a commercial vehicle accident may occur. An experienced lawyer in Chardon could asses the cause of a truck crash and determine what course of action is be best suited for the situation.
Determining Fault in a Semi-Truck Crash Case
It falls to an injured plaintiff to prove that a trucker was at-fault for their crash. The most direct way to prove this is to show that the defendant violated a law. Truckers must follow the same driving laws as other motorists. As a result, a police report that indicates a citation for speeding, failing to yield, tailgating, or another moving violation is strong evidence of trucker negligence.
Other laws apply only to those in the trucking industry. Federal regulations limit maximum vehicle weights on interstates, and local laws may prohibit trucks of a certain size from being on smaller roads. Additionally, truck drivers may only be behind the wheel for up to 14 hours in a day or 60 hours in seven consecutive days. A violation of these laws is negligence per se and may allow a civil court to presume trucker fault for a crash. A skilled attorney could help investigate whether a truck driver violating Chardon or federal laws contributed to an accident.
It is important to note that defendants may still use Ohio Revised Statute §2315.33 to shift blame onto an injured plaintiff for an accident. If a jury believes that a plaintiff shared some fault for a crash, the court may reduce their compensatory award. If the jury finds that the claimant is 51 percent or more at fault, the injured party cannot receive any compensation.
Reach out to a Chardon Truck Accident Attorney
Suffering injuries following a crash with a commercial vehicle can leave you in a difficult position. You may be suffering from significant physical injuries and enduring emotional losses as well.
A Chardon truck accident lawyer from our firm could help you pursue your claim while you focus on your recovery. We could help gather evidence, demonstrate defendant fault, and evaluate how the incident has affected your life. To get started on your case, call today.