Truck accidents are dramatic events which can permanently change lives. At Tittle & Perlmuter, we are proud to offer legal services to accident victims after these devastating wrecks. Too many people are hurt when semi-trucks and big rigs plow into them at high speeds on the highway. Anyone injured in this type of accident should immediately contact a law firm to discuss their case with an Ohio truck accident lawyer. It’s possible to hold the trucker or trucking company responsible for the wreck, including all the financial difficulties victims and their families endure as a result. Call our firm today to schedule a free consultation with a Sandusky truck accident lawyer at our firm.
Truck Accident Injuries are Painful
Trucks are usually much heavier than passenger vehicles, even the largest SUVs on the market. Any crash can crumple a vehicle and often leave passengers with devastating injuries:
- Whiplash and other neck injuries;
- Concussion and traumatic brain injuries;
- Head injuries;
- Facial injuries and disfigurement;
- Broken bones;
- Burns and abrasions;
- Crush injuries;
- Amputations;
- Back injuries;
- Catastrophic injuries, including blindness and paralysis.
Because these injuries are so devastating, many victims struggle with emotional distress as well, including posttraumatic stress disorder.
The accidents often require full-time focus on recovery.
Our Truck Accident Attorney in Ohio Helps with All Kinds of Wrecks
We have assisted people hurt in collisions with:
- Delivery vans
- Box trucks
- Sanitation vehicles
- Garbage trucks
- Fuel trucks
- Semi-trucks and 18-wheelers
- Big rigs
- Postal vehicles
- U-Hauls
Any collision can lead to injuries, even at low speeds. You should go to the hospital to have a doctor diagnose any injuries. We have helped with the following types of accidents:
- Head on collisions
- Rollovers
- Jackknifes
- Backing up accidents
- Overrides
- Underrides
Reach out to a commercial truck accident attorney near me following a crash. The injury claim process is complicated, and you should give your legal team as much time as possible.
What Causes Truck Accidents in Sandusky?
Interstate trucking is a heavily regulated industry. Trucking companies must check many boxes before they can hire someone, and laws require adequate training and supervision. Unfortunately, accidents happen regularly—far too often in our opinion.
The following are the major causes of accidents:
- Trucker distraction. A trucker might be distracted by a cell phone or other electronic device. The federal government prohibits hand-held devices while a truck is in motion, but some truckers ignore the rule. Other distractions include passengers in the cab, pets, or other electronic devices.
- Trucker fatigue. The federal government sets maximum hours for truckers. The goal is to ensure truckers are not tired while they are hauling across state lines. Fatigue leads to drowsy driving and mistakes. A trucker who falls asleep can plow through an intersection or work zone and injure dozens of people.
- Drug or alcohol abuse. Many truckers turn to drugs to help them get through the workday. Unfortunately, impaired truckers are prone to errors and devastating mistakes, like any other intoxicated motorist.
- Inexperience. A new trucker is still learning how to operate a rig. Mistakes are common.
- Overloading a truck. Heavier trucks take longer to stop and are prone to rollovers and other accidents. Companies have incentives to overload trucks to save money.
- Speeding. Truckers are in a rush to get to their destination. Some travel much too fast, which makes a heavy vehicle harder to control.
- Defective parts on the truck. Every trucker should undertake a pre-trip inspection and not drive a rig if there is a problem. Some ignore this requirement, and the truck becomes uncontrollable on the road. Common defects involve blown tires or failed brakes.
- Negligent hiring or supervision. Trucking companies owe a duty to the public to hire someone with the right experience and skills. When trucking companies cut corners, the public is injured.
Are You Entitled to Financial Compensation?
Truck accidents are usually more expensive than car accidents. Victims will have considerable expenses:
- Car repairs. Your vehicle was probably damaged, if not destroyed. You should seek compensation for repairs or to buy a replacement vehicle.
- Emergency medical care. Many victims are rushed to the hospital by ambulance. This care can include life-saving surgery or treatment.
- Treatment. Many victims need painkillers and other treatment to help them heal.
- Rehabilitation. Once a patient stabilizes, they often need rehab to relearn how to walk. Other rehabilitation includes speech, occupational, or behavioral therapy.
Our firm can help you seek financial compensation for all your losses, including wage loss.
Our Sandusky Truck Accident Lawyer Fights for Compensation
We will seek money damages from anyone responsible for your accident. We often sue the following:
- Truck drivers. If the driver was negligent, they should pay compensation to anyone they injure. Truckers should also have insurance, even if they are independent contractors.
- Trucking companies. The company could be liable for accidents for various reasons. For example, they might fail to have their trucks properly serviced, or they are negligent in hiring or supervision. If they employ the trucker, then they are also liable under a respondeat superior liability theory.
- Mechanics. A mechanic should perform repairs in a professional manner. Unfortunately, shoddy work can render the truck out of control, leading to a crash.
- Manufacturers. The truck could be defective as soon as it left the factory, in which case we might sue the manufacturer for an accident.
These are some of the most common defendants. Let an Ohio truck accident lawyer at our firm dig into the factual record and determine who is really to blame.
Evidence for Your Case
A truck accident attorney Ohio can search for evidence to use in your case. We will probably contact the trucking company and put them on notice to preserve evidence. We likely want to see the trucker’s employment file, which can include information about drug tests, trucking violations, and physical exam results. The file might disclose whether a trucker failed a drug test and if the company suspended him.
Trucking records also contain information about repairs, reported problems with a vehicle, and defects on the truck.
Modern trucks have data records, so called “black boxes.” These devices also contain helpful evidence for your case. We might uncover that the truck was in motion much longer than expected—perhaps showing the trucker violated the hours of service regulations and was fatigued.
We will ask the trucking company to download the data and share it with us.
Speak with a Truck Accident Attorney Near Me
Truck accidents are difficult to recover from, and you deserve an experienced lawyer to help you with any injury claim. Tittle & Perlmuter can represent anyone going up against a giant trucking company. Call us to schedule your free consultation.
