When you are involved in an accident with a semi truck in Cincinnati, your chances of serious injury or death are markedly higher than the driver and occupants of the semi truck. If you or a family member were injured in an accident with a semi truck, speak to a lawyer as soon as you are able.
A lawyer can help you assign liability, build a solid case for financial compensation, and negotiate a favorable settlement for the trucking accident that caused your injuries. When you are ready to discuss your compensation claim, contact Bressman Law at (614) 538-1116.
The Vulnerability of Passenger Car Versus Semi Trucks
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), there were 4,136 fatalities in large truck versus passenger car collisions in 2018. Of these deaths, 16% were the drivers or occupants of the trucks. Alarmingly, more than four times as many deaths (67%) were the drivers and occupants of the passenger vehicles.
A collision between a semi truck and a passenger vehicle places the driver and occupants of the smaller vehicle at a distinct disadvantage. That vulnerability exists for several reasons, including:
- Size and weight: a fully loaded semi truck can weigh as much as 30 times more than a typical passenger car
- Braking ability: semi and other large trucks can require as much as 40% more stopping distance than a passenger car
- Height disparity: the height of a large truck poses the risk of a passenger vehicle rolling under the truck in a collision
If any of these factors contributed to the severity of your injuries in a collision with a semi truck, you deserve answers. You also deserve compensation. Review your legal and financial options with a team member from Bressman Law at (614) 538-1116.
The Role of Truck Driver Error in Semi Truck Accidents
Semi trucks help transport substances and products all over the US, with semi truck drivers spending many hours on the roads and highways. While the IIHS reports that these drivers are legally permitted to spend as many as eleven hours on the road each day, many drivers routinely report exceeding those hours.
In addition to exceeding the allotted number of daily driving hours that are considered safe, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that semi truck drivers might also contribute to accidents in the following ways:
- Unsafe lane changes by semi truck drivers
- Losing control of the semi truck
- Exceeding the posted speed limit
- Improperly loaded cargo that shifts
- Alcohol or substance abuse
- Driver fatigue or inattentiveness
A Cincinnati semi truck lawyer can help you determine the cause of the accident, assign liability to the right party, and prepare a claim for fair compensation.
External and Mechanical Causes of Semi Truck Accidents
In some cases, semi truck accidents are caused by conditions not directly related to driver errors. Those conditions can include:
- Road conditions
- Weather conditions
- Unexpected vehicle failure
If you or a family member were injured in a collision with a semi truck and you believe one of these conditions contributed to the accident, speak to the team from Bressman Law today.
If a mechanical error or faulty semi truck led to the accident that caused your injuries, you may be able to hold the truck’s manufacturer accountable for the expenses and financial losses the accident caused.
For a free legal consultation with a semi truck accidents lawyer serving Cincinnati, call (614) 538-1116
Help Your Cincinnati Semi Truck Lawyer Build a Strong Case
While you focus on your physical healing, your lawyer can focus on building a strong case for financial compensation against the at-fault party in your accident. You can assist your lawyer and support your claim by taking the following actions after the collision:
- Start collecting your medical records as soon as possible and include your doctor’s prognosis and future treatment plans and their costs
- Continue receiving medical care until your doctor declares you fully recovered
- Take pictures of the scene of the accident depicting the road and weather conditions
- Take pictures of your passenger car and the semi truck that collided with your vehicle from a variety of angles
- Collect names and contact information from any witnesses and bystanders at the scene of the accident
- File a police report and obtain a copy of the report as soon as it becomes available
In some instances, your injuries might prevent you from doing these things. Ask a friend, witness, or bystander at the scene for assistance. Share the information you collect with your Cincinnati semi truck lawyer as soon as possible.
Reach Out to Bressman Law to Prevent Time from Running Out
Building a comprehensive claim means gathering evidence, compiling paperwork, interviewing witnesses, and proving the legal elements of your case. All of this takes time—and it all takes place while you are healing from your physical injuries.
In Ohio, the statute of limitations is generally two years from the date the trucking accident occurred (under Ohio Revised Code § 2305.10). To prevent time from running out on your right to file a lawsuit, review your case with a lawyer as soon as you feel able. Your lawyer can ensure you do not inadvertently relinquish your right to file a lawsuit by waiting too long to do so.
Your lawyer can also handle many aspects of your claim while you concentrate on restoring your physical health.
Cincinnati Semi Truck Accidents Lawyer Near Me (614) 538-1116
Review the Details of Your Case with a Cincinnati Semi Truck Lawyer
After you are involved in an accident with a semi truck, write down as many details of the accident as you can remember. Share these details, your crash report, and relevant medical records with your lawyer. At Bressman Law, we have been serving personal injury clients for more than 30 years. Call us at (614) 538-1116 today.
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