Big rig accident in the Buckeye State? We’ll help you fight back!

On Behalf of | Mar 13, 2017 | Truck Accidents

As the mid-way point between Cleveland and Cincinnati, and the confluence of interstates heading to all points of the compass, Columbus is both the destination and the way station for a lot of commercial traffic. Large trucks make their way to and from the city and surrounding area on a daily basis.

Despite the many regulations governing commercial vehicles and their operation, including restrictions on the use of handheld devices, hours of operation, and vehicle safety, truck accidents still happen. Unfortunately, when heavy trucks and passenger cars interact, the results typically favor the larger vehicle.

Truck accidents are a common occurrence in Ohio

Traffic accidents happen every day in Ohio. Looking only at incidents resulting in death or injury, there were nearly 71,000 crashes in 2014, statewide. Nearly 8,800 people suffered incapacitating injuries.

Tractor-trailers, which often inflict severe injuries in a collision, were involved in nearly 2,500 accidents in which people were injured. An additional 95 units were a factor in fatal crashes.

What’s causing all these collisions?

Although many trucking companies would have you believe most truck accidents result from negligence on behalf of other motorists, the facts show otherwise. In 2014, truck drivers in Ohio were responsible for close to 60 percent of all accidents in which they were involved, including 51.6 percent of accidents causing injury.

The prime causes of accidents in which the truck operator was in error are:

  • Rollovers
  • Jackknifing
  • Equipment failure
  • Running off the road/crossing the median
  • Cargo loss or shift

All of these causes suggest negligent operation of the vehicle, and may represent a failure of both the driver and his or her employer.

Truck accidents can cause severe trauma

Tractor-trailers are many times the size and weight of a typical passenger vehicle. For those reasons, they have the potential to cause incredible damage to cars, SUVs and light trucks, and the people inside them. Some of the potentially life-altering injuries that are sufferable in a truck accident include:

  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
  • Spinal cord injury/paralysis
  • Disfigurement/dismemberment
  • Damage to internal organs

Any one of these sorts of injury can drastically affect the life of you and your family for years or even permanently. Expensive treatments and therapy, the cost for ongoing care, and lost wages are possible financial ramifications of a serious injury.

Don’t fight a trucking company unarmed

Truckers and their employers carry insurance from companies that are accustomed to fighting claims. They also retain lawyers to do the same thing. Fighting a battle for compensation after a truck accident can consume a lot of time and resources. Despite an individual’s best efforts, it may still be unsuccessful in the end.

In order to have the best chance at receiving the settlement you deserve after suffering a severe injury in a truck accident, you may want to have a lawyer fighting on your behalf. An experienced personal injury attorney has the skills, knowledge and resources to help you win compensation, while allowing you to focus on the healing process and focusing on improving the quality of your life.

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