Cincinnati Truck Accident Lawyer

Experienced Cincinnati Truck Accident Lawyers

Truck accidents are often a result of negligence and could have been prevented.

The Cincinnati truck accident lawyers at O’Connor Acciani & Levy have decades of experience handling these types of cases and understand the devastation that victims and their families are left with.

We are committed to helping make sure you recover the maximum compensation you need to cover medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other expenses you may face as a result of your injuries.

Contact our Cincinnati office today to learn about your legal options. You may be entitled to compensation. If so, our experienced personal injury attorneys will work tirelessly on your behalf.

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Cincinnatti Truck Accident Guide

The Difference Between Truck Accidents And Car Accidents

While commercial truck accidents and car accidents both involve motor vehicles, there are several unique aspects that make truck accidents more complex and potentially more devastating than typical car accidents.

1. Federal Regulations

The trucking industry is heavily regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which sets strict guidelines for truck maintenance, driver qualifications, and hours of service.

When a truck accident occurs, it’s essential to investigate whether any federal regulations were violated, as this can impact liability and the outcome of the case.

2. Multiple Liable Parties

In a car accident, liability typically falls on one or both of the drivers involved. However, in a truck accident, multiple parties may be held liable, including:

The truck driver
The trucking company
The truck or parts manufacturer
The cargo loading company
Third-party maintenance companies

Each of these parties may have played a role in the accident, making the legal

process more complex and requiring a thorough investigation to determine fault.

3. Severity Of Injuries

Due to the sheer size and weight of commercial trucks, accidents involving these vehicles often result in more severe injuries than car accidents.

Truck accident victims may suffer from catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, or amputations, which can have lifelong consequences and require extensive medical treatment.

4. Higher Insurance Policy Limits

Trucking companies typically carry much higher insurance policy limits than individual drivers.

This means that there may be more compensation available to accident victims, but it also means that insurance companies will fight harder to minimize payouts and protect their bottom line.

5. Evidence

Commercial truck accidents often involve complex evidence, such as electronic logging devices (ELDs), dashboard cameras, and maintenance records.

Analyzing this evidence requires specialized knowledge and resources that not all law firms possess.

6. Jurisdiction Issues

Because trucks often travel across state lines, jurisdiction issues can arise in truck

accident cases. It’s important to work with a truck accident attorney who understands how to take on these legal matters and make sure that your case is filed in the appropriate jurisdiction.

Understanding these aspects of trucking accidents is crucial for victims seeking compensation for their injuries and damages. By working with an experienced Cincinnati truck accident attorney who has the knowledge and resources to handle these cases, victims can level the playing field against powerful trucking companies and their insurers.

Trucking Accidents Caused By Negligence

Driving a semi-truck can be a stressful job full of long driving hours and tight deadlines. Sometimes these factors can lead to a driver engaging in activities that can put others in danger. This can include:

Overloaded cargo
Truck driver fatigue
Poor truck maintenance
Not paying attention to blind spots
Distracted driving
Driving under the influence
Inadequate training and supervision
Jackknife incidents
Defective equipment

Despite strict regulation of the trucking industry, accidents still happen as a result

of negligence or carelessness on the part of the driver or owner of the trucking company.

Our Cincinnati truck accident attorneys have handled countless truck accident cases that were caused by a variety of reasons. We have the knowledge and resources to determine who was liable for your accident and to hold them accountable for their actions.

What To Do If A Truck Driver Hit You In Cincinnati

It’s important to take the right steps to protect your health and legal rights after a truck accident. Here’s a quick guide on what to do in the days following the accident:

1. Go to the Doctor

If you haven’t already, go to the doctor as soon as possible, even if you don’t feel seriously injured. Some injuries, such as whiplash or internal bleeding, may not be immediately apparent. A medical professional can properly diagnose and document your injuries, which will be crucial for your legal case.

2. Follow Your Doctor’s Orders

After receiving medical attention, follow your doctor’s orders for treatment and recovery. Attend all follow-up appointments and keep a record of your medical expenses, including medications and therapy sessions.

3. Document The Truck Accident

If you’re able, take photos of the damage to your vehicle and any other property involved. If you have visible injuries, take photos of those as well. It’s also not a bad idea to write down your recollection of the accident while it’s still fresh in your mind.

4. Gather Evidence From Your Truck Accident

Collect any evidence you may have from the truck accident, such as the police report, witness statements, and contact information for the other parties involved. This information will be essential for your Cincinnati truck accident lawyer to build a strong case on your behalf.

5. Contact A Cincinnati Truck Accident Lawyer

Reach out to an experienced Cincinnati truck accident attorney at our law firm as soon as possible. They can:

Guide you through the legal process
Help you communicate with insurance companies
Fight for the fair compensation you deserve

6. Avoid Discussing Your Truck Accident Case

Refrain from discussing your truck accident case with anyone other than your Cincinnati truck accident attorney and your medical providers. Equally important, do not post about the accident on social media, as this information could be used against you in court.

7. Keep A Record Of Your Truck Accident Expenses

Keep track of all expenses related to the accident, including:

Medical bills
Property damage
Lost wages due to missed work

Your skilled Cincinnati truck accident attorney will use this information to calculate your damages and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.

Remember, truck accident cases can be complicated and involve multiple parties. By following these steps and working with a knowledgeable truck accident attorney, you can protect your rights and get the compensation you need to move forward after a devastating accident.

Damages Available In Cincinnati Commercial Vehicle Collision Cases

The physical consequences of a truck crash can take months or years to recover from. A Cincinnati 18 wheeler accident lawyer will review your trucking collision case and ensure you get all the compensation you are owed.

Economic Losses

Economic damages are tangible losses—things that are easily calculated.

Medical Bills

The most obvious of these is your medical bills. Injuries from a crash with an 18-wheeler can range from mild to catastrophic to fatal, requiring doctor appointments, treatments, and hospital stays lasting months at a time.

A person who is not responsible for their injuries should not have to bear the cost of treatments. Recovering in the hospital or at rehabilitation facilities takes time as well as money. People injured by shipping vehicles often miss work, making lost wages and future income additional economic losses that our dedicated large truck accident lawyers can help pursue.

Future Income

Depending on your injuries–from TBIs, spinal cord damage that leads to paralysis, or your ability to do your job may be forever altered.

In that case, a local Cincinnati truck accident lawyer can pursue compensation for the income you would have earned throughout your lifetime had you not been in the commercial vehicle collision.

Property Damage

The final category of economic compensation you can obtain after a trucking accident is property damage.

If your vehicle needs repairs or a replacement, those costs can be included in your demand package, along with any destroyed personal items in the vehicle at the time of the crash, such as cell phones or other cargo.

Non-Economic Losses

Non-economic damages are intangible losses and have subjective value. Despite being difficult to put a dollar amount on, non-economic damages suffered in a truck crash can have a profound impact on your life. These losses may include:

Physical and emotional suffering
Loss of consortium
Inconvenience
Loss of companionship in the event of a wrongful death

Because non-economic losses are so challenging to accurately calculate, working with our Cincinnati commercial vehicle collision attorneys can go a long way toward making you whole again.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

Some common truck accident injuries include:

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Due to the force of impact in a truck accident, victims may suffer from concussions, skull fractures, or more severe brain damage.
Spinal Cord Injuries: The spinal cord can be damaged, leading to paralysis, loss of sensation, or other neurological issues.
Broken Bones: Fractures to the arms, legs, ribs, and other parts of the body are common in truck accidents due to the high impact forces involved.
Burns: If a truck accident results in a fire or explosion, victims may suffer from severe burns.
Lacerations and Cuts: Broken glass, metal, and other debris can cause deep cuts and lacerations to the skin.
Whiplash: The sudden jerking motion of the head and neck during an accident can cause whiplash injuries, leading to neck pain, stiffness, and headaches.
Chest Injuries: The force of a truck accident can cause injuries to the chest, including broken ribs, collapsed lungs, or damage to internal organs.
Crushed Limbs: In some cases, a victim’s limbs may be crushed or pinned under the weight of the truck or other vehicles involved in the accident.
Soft Tissue Injuries: Sprains, strains, and tears to muscles, tendons, and ligaments are common in truck accidents.
Psychological Trauma: Truck accident victims may experience emotional distress, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression following the incident.

It’s important to note that some injuries may not be immediately apparent after an accident. That’s why it’s crucial to seek medical attention as soon as possible to diagnose and treat any potential injuries.

Why You Need A Cincinnati Truck Accident Attorney

Hiring a Cincinnati truck accident attorney can make a difference in the outcome of your case. These attorneys have the knowledge, experience, and resources necessary to handle the legal process and fight for the compensation you need.

Truck Accident Attorney Cincinnati - Benefits Of Hiring one at O’Connor Acciani & Levy

1. Knowledge of Federal Regulations

Our Cincinnati truck accident attorneys know the federal regulations governing the trucking industry, such as hours of service rules, maintenance requirements, and driver qualifications.

They can investigate whether any violations of these regulations contributed to your accident and use this information to build a strong case on your behalf.

2. Experience with Multiple Liable Parties

Truck accidents often involve multiple liable parties, such as the truck driver, trucking company, truck manufacturer, and cargo loading company.

A skillful Cincinnati truck accident attorney from our law firm will know how to identify all potential sources of liability and pursue compensation from each party.

3. Access to Resources

Truck accident cases require extensive resources, such as accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and investigators.

Our Cincinnati truck accident lawyers have access to these resources and can use them to strengthen your case and demonstrate the full extent of your damages.

4. Negotiation Skills

Insurance companies often use tactics to minimize payouts to truck accident victims. Our truck accident lawyers can negotiate with insurers, using their knowledge of the law and the strength of your case to fight for a fair settlement.

5. Courtroom Experience

If a fair settlement cannot be reached from the other side, your case may need to go to trial. Our Cincinnati truck accident lawyers have the courtroom experience necessary to present your case persuasively to a judge and jury, maximizing your chances of a favorable outcome.

7. Maximizing Compensation

Large truck accident attorneys understand the full scope of damages available to

accident victims, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future care costs. They can accurately calculate your damages and fight to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation possible for your injuries and losses.

The legal process after a truck accident is challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. By hiring a Cincinnati truck accident lawyer, you can level the playing field against trucking companies and their insurers.

As a result, you make sure your rights are protected, and you receive the compensation you need to move forward with your life.

Holding Responsible Parties Accountable After a Truck Accident

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident, there are different parties who can be held liable for the damages you have suffered, including:

Truck driver
Trucking company
Owner of the truck
Owner of the trailer
Loading company
Manufacturer of defective parts

Because there are often so many parties involved in these types of accidents, it is vital that you have an aggressive 18-wheeler accident attorney by your side who can work to determine any and all parties that may be liable for your injuries.

Often, these parties will do everything they can to evade responsibility and avoid paying for the damages you have suffered. Our dedicated Cincinnati truck accident attorneys in Cincinnati, however, are experienced in handling these cases. They will work to gather the evidence needed to build a strong case to help you recover the compensation you need.

We will do this by:

Reviewing available photos and video footage of the accident
Interviewing witnesses
Analyzing the driver’s driving record and history
Investigating the company’s history for repeat violations
Reviewing the accident report
Gathering and reviewing your medical records

Our Cincinnati large truck accident lawyers know that the injuries often sustained in a truck accident can be devastating. That is why we are committed to fighting for the maximum settlement you need to help cover your medical bills, missed days at work and other expenses associated with your injuries.

How Long Do I Have To File A Truck Accident Lawsuit In Ohio?

In Ohio, the statute of limitations for truck accidents, is two years from the date of the accident (Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10).

This means you have two years from the day the accident occurred to file a lawsuit against the liable parties. However, there are some exceptions to this rule:

Discovery Rule: If your injuries were not immediately apparent after the accident, the statute of limitations may be extended to two years from the date you discovered, or reasonably should have discovered, your injuries.
Minors: If the person injured in the truck accident was a minor at the time of the incident, the statute of limitations does not begin until their 18th birthday. They will then have two years from that date to file a lawsuit.
Wrongful Death: If a truck accident results in a fatality, the deceased’s family members have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit (Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.02).

Importance Of Acting Quickly After A Truck Accident

It’s important to act quickly after a truck accident for several reasons:

Evidence Preservation: Over time, crucial evidence such as witness memories, vehicle damage, and road conditions can deteriorate or disappear. Acting quickly helps your Cincinnati large truck attorney gather and preserve the evidence needed to build a strong case on your behalf.
Timely Medical Treatment: Going to the doctor after an accident protects your health and helps establish a link between the accident and your injuries.
Statute of Limitations: If you don’t file a lawsuit within the two-year statute of limitations, you may lose your right to seek compensation entirely.
Peace of Mind: Taking action after the accident allows you to focus on your recovery while your Cincinnati truck accident lawyer handles the legal aspects of your case.

Speak to An Experienced Cincinnati Truck Accident Attorney

At O’Connor Acciani & Levy, our Cincinnati personal injury attorneys are dedicated to fighting for the rights of accident victims. We work diligently to help our clients get the compensation they need after an accident.

Contact our Cincinnati office today to learn more about how we can help you. We offer a free consultation and do not charge any legal fees unless you recover the compensation you are owed.