Flickinger Legal Group
AREAS SERVED
Trucking Accidents Attorney Jackson Township, OH
If you suffered injuries in a collision with a commercial truck in Jackson Township, such as on Wales Ave, you must begin working with an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Truck accident cases are typically far more complex than other motor vehicle accident cases, requiring an understanding of both state and federal regulations and the impact of serious, long-term injuries.
Contact Flickinger Legal Group for a free consultation with a member of our legal team about your truck accident case. We’ll review the details of the crash, discuss your options for seeking compensation, and answer your remaining questions about the insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit process.
Why Truck Accidents Are More Complex
Truck accidents are often more complex than other motor vehicle accidents for three reasons. The first is that the injuries sustained in these accidents are typically severe, leaving victims with long-term or even permanent disability and significant future medical costs. Without an experienced lawyer on your side, it can be nearly impossible to recover the compensation you need.
The second reason is that these cases tend to involve multiple liable parties. The more liable parties there are, the more complex the case is, as every party will be working to reduce its liability. One of the most important roles a lawyer has is identifying all the liable parties and collecting evidence connecting their actions to your injuries.
Finally, trucking companies have massive, experienced legal teams. Going up against these legal teams without a lawyer of your own isn’t recommended. A lawyer can help you seek the compensation you need and maximize your potential settlement.
Common Injuries Caused by Trucking Accidents
Truck accidents frequently leave victims with extremely serious injuries that require lengthy recovery periods. Some of the most common and severe injuries include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries – TBIs occur when the brain strikes the inside of the skull after a blow to the head. These injuries can lead to potentially fatal brain bleeding and swelling and may leave victims with permanent cognitive and physical disabilities.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – SCIs can result in symptoms ranging from chronic pain and numbness in the extremities to partial or complete paralysis. The higher up on the spinal column the injury is, the more of the body it typically affects.
- Crushing Injuries – The force of a truck collision can easily crush limbs or trap them in the wreckage. These limbs may never regain full mobility and, in worst-case scenarios, may require amputation.
- Internal Organ Damage – Internal organ injuries are uniquely dangerous because they don’t always show symptoms until the damage worsens and spreads. You should always seek medical attention after a truck or other motor vehicle accident so paramedics can check you for hidden injuries your adrenaline may be masking.
- Fractured Bones – While bone fractures are common injuries seen in all kinds of motor vehicle accidents, they can be more severe and widespread in truck accident cases due to the forces involved. For example, these accidents are among the leading causes of fractured femurs, which are the strongest bones in the body.
Who Could Be Liable for My Truck Accident Injuries in Jackson Township?
Multiple parties could share liability for your losses depending on how the truck accident occurred. Parties that could be liable in your Jackson Township truck accident case include:
- Truck drivers whose actions, such as fatigued, intoxicated, or distracted driving, contributed to the accident
- Trucking companies that employ unqualified drivers or that encourage drivers to speed to make faster deliveries
- Cargo loaders who fail to follow regulations by overloading trucks or using the wrong types of cargo securement methods
- Truck manufacturers, if a defective vehicle component, such as faulty brakes, contributed to the crash
- Truck maintenance providers, if poor or delayed maintenance contributed to the crash
- Government entities that fail to adequately maintain public roads, leading to large potholes and cracks, missing street signs, faded road lines, and defective traffic signals
- Other motorists whose actions contributed to the collision, such as if they cut the truck off, causing it to swerve or take other evasive action
State and Federal Trucking Regulations
When choosing a lawyer to handle your truck accident case, it’s essential to look for someone with a solid understanding of Ohio and federal trucking regulations. Some of the rules that may impact your case are truck weight and size limits, hours of service regulations, and cargo securement regulations.
Weight and Size Limits
The maximum weight for commercial trucks operating in Ohio depends primarily on their number of axles, with the heaviest a truck can be sitting at 80,000 lbs. If the truck that caused your injuries was overweight, that may have played a role in the accident by decreasing the effectiveness of its brakes.
Trucks driving in Ohio can also only have a maximum width of 8’6”, a maximum length of 53’, and a maximum height of 13’6”. Trucks exceeding these limits must have special oversized load permits and follow additional regulations.
Hours of Service Regulations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates the number of hours a truck driver can spend on the road. It limits drivers to 11 hours of driving before they must take a consecutive 10 hours off. They must also take a 30-minute break for every cumulative eight hours of driving.
These regulations are in place to prevent fatigued driving, which is a significant cause of trucking accidents. If the driver who caused your injuries violated these regulations, that can be used as evidence of their liability.
Cargo Securement Regulations
Under the FMCSA’s guidelines, different types of truck cargo require different types and levels of securement. Proper cargo securement prevents the weight from shifting in transit, which can decrease the effectiveness of brakes or increase the odds of rollover accidents. Cargo loaders who fail to properly secure cargo in accordance with these federal regulations may be liable.
Seeking Compensation After a Truck Accident
In Ohio, all drivers must have the following amounts of liability coverage at a minimum as part of their auto insurance policies:
- $25,000 per person for bodily injury
- $50,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
However, trucking companies are required to have far more liability coverage under federal law. For example, a truck weighing less than 10,001 lbs and carrying non-hazardous cargo must have at least $300,000 in combined liability coverage. And heavier vehicles must have between $750,000 and $5,000,000, depending on the type of cargo they’re carrying.
For this reason, it’s typically in your best interest to seek compensation from the trucking company in addition to other liable parties. The compensation you could receive by holding the company liable for your injuries will go a long way toward covering your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses.
Jackson Township Ohio Trucking Accidents FAQ
The aftermath of a truck accident can leave you with a lot of unanswered questions. Here are the answers to some of the most common inquiries our law firm receives from our clients:
The most important thing to do after a truck accident in Jackson Township is to seek prompt medical attention, even if you feel “fine.” Some injuries take time to present symptoms, and seeing a healthcare provider creates vital documentation for building your claim.
To protect your legal rights, be sure you also do the following:
- Report the accident to the police
- Take photos and videos of the accident scene
- Keep an organized file of all related medical and financial records
- Contact an experienced truck accident attorney in Jackson Township
- Call 911 and report the accident
- Take photos and videos of the accident scene
- Gather contact info of any witnesses
- Avoid apologizing or admitting fault
- Avoid speaking with insurers before seeking legal advice
- Contact a truck accident law firm right away
You don't legally require an attorney to pursue a truck accident claim, but doing so independently can prove incredibly challenging. Insurance companies will fight to minimize your payout, and they're highly skilled at doing so. Working with a skilled lawyer evens the playing field and helps you protect your legal rights.
If a truck driver or trucking company acted negligently or recklessly and caused you harm, you likely have a valid claim to compensation. Negligent or reckless actions might be the driver speeding or driving under the influence, or it might be the trucking company maintaining inadequate hiring practices or safety protocols.
Your lawyer can investigate the cause of the accident to uncover evidence of negligent or reckless behavior, and then fight for the accountability you deserve.
To recover compensation, you must provide strong proof that the at-fault party caused your injuries. To gather that proof, your attorney will likely seek the following:
- Police reports
- Black box and electronic logging data
- Accident scene photos
- Surveillance and dashcam footage
- Maintenance and inspection records
- Witness testimony
- Expert analysis
Truck accident cases involve unique evidence that can require specialized knowledge to analyze and present. That’s why it’s critical to work with a law firm with extensive experience in truck accident cases.
Compensation for a truck accident covers both the financial losses and the personal harm the at-fault party caused. Your lawyer will likely seek compensation for the following on your behalf:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
No two truck accidents are exactly alike, and the value of any given claim depends on the circumstances of that particular accident. Factors that affect the value of a claim include the severity of your injuries, the length of your recovery, the impact on your earning capacity, and whether you suffer long-term limitations. An experienced truck accident law firm serving Jackson Township can review your case and provide a realistic estimate of your claim’s value.
Flickinger Legal Group, like most personal injury law firms, operates on a contingency fee basis. That means that you pay nothing up front to retain our services, and you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. If we win your case, our fees come as a percentage of your total recovery.
Every case follows a slightly different timeline. Some might settle in a few months, while others can take a year or longer. The timeline on your case will depend on your medical recovery, the complexity of the case, whether insurance companies dispute liability, and whether the case goes to trial.
Contact Our Truck Accident Lawyers Serving Jackson Township, OH
After suffering injuries in a Jackson Township trucking accident, contact Flickinger Legal Group for a free consultation with an experienced truck accident lawyer.
If you can’t make it to our office, our lawyers will travel to meet with you or schedule a meeting over Zoom so we can review the details of your case and walk you through your options for seeking the compensation you need.