Ohio Truck Accident Lawyer

Ohio Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accidents often result in severe injuries or fatalities for occupants of smaller vehicles due to the sheer size of commercial trucks. If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident on Ohio’s highways, it’s crucial to address your injury claim immediately. Our Ohio truck accident lawyer at Gervelis Law Firm can deal with all the legal complexities so you can focus on recovery. Contact us for a free consultation.

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Commercial truck accidents can be devastating. Due to the large size of 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, delivery trucks, and other commercial vehicles, people traveling in smaller vehicles often sustain serious injuries or fatalities in accidents involving large trucks. A driver or passenger in a smaller vehicle struck by a large truck often will be taken from the scene by ambulance, while the truck driver, in many cases, will walk away without a scratch.

Knowing what to do after a truck accident can be overwhelming. Whether you or a loved one was injured in a tractor-trailer crash on I-80, I-76, I-77, or another major highway in Ohio, you will need to address your injury or wrongful death claim immediately. Understandably, you probably just want to focus on your physical recovery after your crash.

Fortunately, you don’t have to choose. Let Gervelis Law Firm handle all the red tape associated with your truck accident. That way, you can focus on what really matters — getting better or dealing with the emotional loss of a loved one. Call 330-533-6565. We proudly serve Akron, Youngstown, Toledo, Columbus, Warren, Canfield, and all of Ohio.

What Types of Truck Accidents Does Gervelis Law Firm Handle?

Our law firm handles many common truck accidents, including jackknife accidents, underride accidents, and more. That’s because we’re familiar with many of the common causes of truck accident claims.

Our years of work on such complicated cases have provided us with a tremendous amount of knowledge about such cases. There’s no substitute for experience. That’s why accident victims throughout Ohio rely on us to help them get their lives back on track.

Whatever type of truck accident you’re dealing with, no matter how complicated it might seem, contact our law firm as soon as possible to discuss the details of your case. We want to work with you and develop a strategy that addresses all the legal aspects of your case.

Typically, the trucking companies and their insurance carriers will begin investigating the crash within hours. To level the playing field, you will need to contact us as quickly as possible so we can begin working on your behalf.

How Can an Ohio Truck Accident Lawyer Help Me With My Claim?

Commercial truck accidents can be complicated for several reasons. Unlike most typical car accidents, commercial truck accidents often involve multiple entities: the truck driver, the trucking company, the company that loaded the truck, each of their insurance companies, and all of their attorneys. 

They may point the finger at each other, and they’re all aggressively working to protect their own interests. An experienced attorney can help sort out this situation while you focus on healing.

We know how to deal with all these entities and their attorneys. We have years of experience handling complicated truck accident claims in Ohio. We understand how the legal system works, what questions to ask, what evidence to look for, and how to present the evidence to support our client’s claim.

Who Can Be Held Liable After an Ohio Truck Accident?

Truck accident cases often involve more defendants than a typical car crash. Multiple companies and individuals may share responsibility depending on how the truck was owned, loaded, dispatched, and maintained.

Potentially liable parties can include:

• Truck driver, for negligent driving, fatigue, distraction, impairment, or traffic violations
• Motor carrier or trucking company as the employer responsible for hiring, training, supervision, and compliance with safety regulations
• Tractor owner and/or trailer owner, when separate entities own different components of the rig
• Shipper, cargo loader, or warehouse, if improper loading, load shift, or overweight cargo contributed to the crash
• Freight broker, in certain cases involving negligent selection of an unsafe carrier
• Maintenance or repair contractor, if faulty brake work, tire servicing, or inspection failures played a role
• The manufacturer, when a defective part, such as brakes, steering components, or underride guards, contributed to the collision
• Government entity, in limited cases involving roadway design defects or dangerous maintenance conditions
• Another negligent driver, especially in multi-vehicle chain reaction crashes

Liability depends heavily on how the trucking operation was structured. If the driver was an employee of a motor carrier, the company may be responsible under principles of employer liability. If the driver was an owner-operator, responsibility may shift depending on the lease agreement and who controlled the load. 

In some cases, the trailer may be owned by a different company than the tractor, creating layered insurance issues. Brokers and shippers can also become relevant if evidence shows scheduling pressure, unsafe loads, or decisions that compromised safety. Understanding this liability map is critical because truck crashes rarely involve just one responsible party.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Ohio and How We Prove Them

Truck crashes often stem from systemic failures, not just a single moment of driver error. Causes typically fall into three main categories.

How We Build the Evidence

Successfully pursuing a truck accident claim requires moving quickly to preserve critical evidence. Beyond police reports and basic crash documentation, we often seek additional materials that can reveal what really happened.

This can include dispatch records and delivery schedules that show whether timing pressure contributed to unsafe driving. Electronic logging device data, telematics, and GPS speed history can reveal fatigue patterns or speeding behavior. Pre-trip and post-trip inspection reports may identify known mechanical issues. 

Bills of lading, load diagrams, and securement documentation can demonstrate improper cargo handling. Weigh tickets and scale records may confirm whether a truck was overloaded. Post-crash drug and alcohol testing records can provide additional clarity. In-cab camera footage, dashcam video, and cell phone usage records may further document driver conduct in the moments leading up to the collision.

Truck accident cases are complex because they involve layered responsibility and highly regulated safety systems. Identifying every potentially liable party and connecting each cause to concrete evidence is often the difference between a routine claim and a fully developed case.

Having legal representation can make a meaningful difference in the outcome of a truck accident claim. Attorneys understand the process of requesting evidence through subpoenas. They can question witnesses under oath as part of the civil claims process. Some forms of evidence, such as maintenance logs, may be challenging to obtain without legal representation. 

Important Issues Involved in Commercial Truck Accidents

Our Ohio truck accident attorneys have a strong track record of success. That’s because we have extensive knowledge about a wide range of issues involving truck accidents. Learn more about how we can help you and our areas of knowledge by clicking on the links below:

• What should I do after a truck accident?
• Which insurance company is responsible for a truck accident?
• What types of evidence are important in a truck accident?
• Is a trucking company responsible for a truck accident?

Why You Should Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer

Large trucks can cause catastrophic or even fatal collisions in Ohio. There were 5,375 roadway fatalities reported across the country in 2023, which involved a large truck. Heavy trucks also account for 10 percent of total vehicle miles traveled in a typical year. If you were struck and injured by a truck driver, your top priority should be to hire a truck accident lawyer who understands Ohio’s truck accident laws and how they could affect your truck accident claim. 

Heavy trucks can cause serious injuries that can leave victims contending with long recoveries or limited mobility. Each year, there are nearly 18,000 spinal cord injuries reported in the United States.

An Ohio truck accident attorney can gather evidence to support your claim. If the trucking company disputes liability or tries to downplay the harm you suffered, your attorney can rely on the facts of the case and evidence to see that your truck accident claim leads to fair compensation for the harm you endured. 

FAQs

Q: What Should I Do After a Truck Accident?

A: If you or a loved one suffers injuries in a truck accident, you need to do several things as soon as possible:

1. Make sure the scene is safe and seek appropriate medical care for everyone involved in your accident.
2. Call the police and cooperate fully with them.
3. Get the truck driver’s name, contact information, license plate, and contact information for the trucking company.
4. Obtain the names and phone numbers of any other motorists involved and any eyewitnesses.
5. Take photographs of the vehicles involved, as well as the accident scene.
6. Seek medical attention within 24 hours and follow your doctor’s instructions.
7. Report your accident to your insurance, but keep your comments brief.
8. Talk to a lawyer before you give a statement or accept an offer from any insurance company.

At Gervelis Law Firm, we are dedicated to helping truck accident victims hold truckers and trucking companies accountable. Our experienced attorneys can walk you through the legal process and pursue the full compensation you deserve.

Q: Which Insurance Company Is Responsible for a Truck Accident?

When a tractor-trailer is involved in a crash, there are usually multiple insurance companies involved, including:

• Insurance for the cab
• Insurance for the trailer
• Insurance for the cargo
• Insurance for the truck manufacturer or manufacturers of components
• Insurance for any other vehicles involved

Remember, accepting a settlement offer from any insurance company can affect the other insurance companies’ liability as well.

Before you sign anything or make a statement to an insurance company, discuss your accident with an attorney from our firm. We can help you identify all the insurance available to cover your costs and guide you through this process from beginning to end, making sure you do not sign away any of your rights.

We cannot stress the importance of this enough: Do not sign anything, accept a settlement, or give any statements about the accident to any insurance company, including your own, until you have had a chance to speak with a lawyer at Gervelis Law Firm. Once you’ve taken an insurance company’s money, that’s it. Protect your rights and talk to us first.

Q: What Types of Evidence Are Important in a Truck Accident 

A: There are numerous types of evidence that are important in a truck accident.

• Black box data. The truck’s GPS data may reveal that the truck was speeding or that the driver worked through mandatory rest breaks.
• Hours of service (HOS) log. Truck drivers are required to take mandatory breaks in order to stay alert behind the wheel, and the log keeps track of those breaks.
• Hiring and supervision records. These may reveal whether the trucking company conducted a background check or knew about a driver’s history of unsafe driving.
• Maintenance records. Poorly maintained trucks can be exceptionally dangerous.
• Eyewitness accounts and physical evidence. Information from the crash scene can help tell the story of what happened and why.

It’s important to remember that much of this evidence is the trucking company’s property, and that they can destroy it if an attorney does not intervene promptly. That’s why victims need to get an experienced lawyer on their side as soon as possible.

After being involved in an 18-wheeler accident, you must take action. At Gervelis Law Firm, we represent truck accident injury victims throughout northeast Ohio. If you have been injured in a truck accident, it is important to get our truck accident response team on the scene as soon as possible.

When you contact us, our rapid response team can get to the scene of your crash right away and take photographs, make measurements, gather witnesses, and work with accident reconstructionists and other experts to determine exactly what happened. 

We also regularly examine internal trucking company documents, which federal law requires to be kept for at least six months. We can send out a letter immediately requesting that these documents not be destroyed.

Q: Is a Trucking Company Responsible for a Truck Accident?

A: The decisions trucking companies make can put motorists at risk on Ohio highways. Some common forms of negligence on the part of trucking companies include:

• Negligent hiring, supervision, and training
• Over-scheduling drivers
• Pressuring drivers to work through mandatory breaks
• Failure to conduct background checks
• Poor or delayed truck maintenance

There’s absolutely no excuse for negligence by trucking companies that results in a serious accident. Remember, you don’t need to handle the trucking companies on your own after the crash. 

Our skilled lawyers can deal with the trucking companies and find the information you need to build a strong legal case. We have years of experience handling a variety of claims involving a range of issues related to trucking companies. Injured or lost a loved one? Contact Gervelis Law Firm right now.

Hurt in a Truck Collision? Let’s Talk

Being struck by a commercial truck can lead to serious and ongoing hardships. As you focus on recovering, let Gervelis Law Firm manage the complexities of your injury claim. Our legal team brings decades of combined experience and a track record of delivering favorable outcomes for our clients. We understand the stress you are going through and can take the time to carefully document the harm you suffered so your settlement accurately reflects your losses and setbacks. 

When you work with our injury team, you gain the support of trial-ready advocates who have handled complex cases. We do not put up with delay tactics or other attempts to deny you fair compensation for your injury. At every step of the process, a member of our legal team can provide you with updates and steadfast support. Don’t delay. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation so we can help you move forward with confidence.