If you or a loved one was involved in an accident caused by a semi-truck, you have the option to:
- Sue the negligent party in a lawsuit
- Settle with the at-fault party’s insurance company without going to court
- Bring multiple lawsuits if you were injured and also lost a loved one in the collision
Your legal options will be contingent on the circumstances of your situation. You may have choices that another person in a similar situation would not. For this reason, you may want to work with an accident lawyer on our team to understand your potential for financial recovery.
Negligence Can Come From Truckers, Their Employers, or Both
In your situation, it may be obvious who is at fault in your collision. Other times, assigning negligence is not so easy. The semi-truck driver who struck you or your vehicle may be the most obvious candidate for liability. However, their employer may be liable as well under the concept of “respondeat superior.” This term means that employers can be held vicariously responsible for the actions of their employers if they were reasonably acting within the scope of their job.
To avoid liability in an accident, trucking companies must undertake certain obligations, including:
- Conducting thorough background checks for prospective employees
- Conducting random drug and alcohol testing on all drivers, as is a requirement of theFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
- Ensuring that their fleet of trucks is roadworthy at all times
- Immediately suspending or firing any driver they suspect of violating FMCSA regulations, laws, or driver fitness requirements
Truck accident cases sometimes feature more than one responsible party. Your legal team may also find that the manufacturer of the truck itself was responsible for your accident if a faulty vehicular component contributed to the crash.
For a free legal consultation, call (614) 538-1116
Deciding Which Legal Route to Take
Once you figure out who was responsible for the accident, you can decide how to hold them accountable for damages. Your lawyer can help you file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurer, or we can file a lawsuit.
Should you choose the latter option, you must abide by Ohio’s statute of limitations. Otherwise, your case might be rejected by the courts. Ohio Revised Code (ORC) §2305.10 (personal injury) and ORC §2125.02 (wrongful death) both allow two years to file a lawsuit.
If a government agency was responsible for the accident, your time limit could be much shorter. Your lawyer can further explain which deadline applies to your case.
A Lawyer on Our Team will Aim to Prove Negligence in Your Case
You may choose to accept the help of a lawyer, who could bring a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf if you have an eligible case for awards. A lawyer with our firm may:
- Collect evidence and witness testimony to establish the circumstances that led to your accident
- Consult field experts, such as medical professionals, to learn more about your injuries
- Conduct any additional investigation that may benefit your case
- Serve as your representative in settlement negotiations or at trial
- Handle the legal aspects of a lawsuit
Your legal team will provide services that meet the needs of your situation. For that reason, these tasks are not an exhaustive list of the duties your lawyer may undertake to assign negligence.
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Available Recoverable Damages Following a Semi-Truck Accident
Our team can use its resources and evidence to determine which damages you can recover and how much.
Although every case is different, you can typically request compensation for:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Future lost earning potential
- Property damage or destruction
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Temporary or permanent disability
- Scarring disfigurement
- Funeral and/or burial costs if your loved one passed away from the accident
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Semi-Trucks are Large, Heavy, and Dangerous
A car, SUV, or even a pickup truck is no match for such a heavy vehicle when a collision occurs. In an accident, it is usually the passengers of the smaller car that suffer the brute force of the impact.
Semi-trucks pose a considerable threat to others if appropriate safety measures are not taken.
Semi-Truck Drivers Have a Great Responsibility to the Public
Truck drivers are not immune to the dangers of the road. They must take great care not to injure others. This is because an accident may implicate themselves, and also the company for which they work.
The risk of a semi-truck accident may increase when:
- There are high numbers of trucks on the road, which may be more common during periods of strong economic activity
- Dangerous road conditions, especially during inclement weather
- Truckers partake in risky behavior or actions.
- Truckers undergo special training to appropriately respond to unexpected hazards and driving conditions. Failure to do so may result in losing their commercial driver’s license, termination, or legal implication.
Behaviors That Can Trigger an Accident
Some actions and behaviors can increase the chance of a semi-truck accident. They include:
- Driving too closely to the car in front (also known as tailgating)
- Speeding
- Failing to use turn signals when changing lanes or turning
- Failing to check blind spots before merging
- Driving while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or fatigue
- Engaging in distracted driving, such as texting or using a dispatch device
Some of these actions are punishable by law. For example, if the police find a trucker was under the influence of drugs while driving and later caused an accident, the driver could face criminal charges for their actions. Yet, this does not bar you from filing a lawsuit. While the truck is undergoing penalties from the state, you can concurrently file a personal injury case to recover the cost of your injuries and related expenses.
Call Our Team at Bressman Law Today
At Bressman Law, we understand the impact that a semi-truck accident can have on your physical, emotional, and financial well-being. We offer a free initial case review and work on a contingency-fee-basis. So, there are no upfront fees involved when you hire us.
You can count on us to provide helpful legal care. To get started on your case, call us today.
Call or text (614) 538-1116 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
