Who Is Liable in a Commercial Truck Accident?
You’re driving down the highway minding your own business when suddenly your entire life changes. A semi-truck driver makes a poor decision that leaves you with severe injuries and hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses. What are you supposed to do? Do you chalk it up to a life experience or lousy luck and deal with it, or do you fight for justice? To protect your legal interests, hire a skilled Ohio truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident.
What Causes Commercial Truck Accidents
Semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, or 18-wheelers, no matter what you call them, are more prominent than most other vehicles on the road. This makes them inherently more dangerous. Their extreme size and weight make them more likely to cause accidents and more likely to lead to severe damage and suffering if an accident occurs. Common causes of truck accidents include:
- Driver fatigue
- Driver inexperience
- Driver distraction
- Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Improperly loaded trucks
- Speeding or going too fast for road/weather conditions
- Poor truck maintenance
- Lack of proper training and experience
- Brake problems
- Unfamiliarity with the roadways
These are no excuses or valid reasons for an accident to happen. The fact is that in most truck accidents, there are simple steps that could have prevented the accident. The driver could have gotten more rest and abided by federal standards for the hourly limits on driving a big rig; they could have slowed down on a snowy or icy road; the trucking company could have provided them with better training, or the truck could have been maintained better. Your Ohio truck accident lawyer can help determine the cause of your accident and what parties are liable for your damages.
Who is Liable for Commercial Truck Accidents?
Truck accidents can be one of the more complex types of personal injury cases when determining fault. Once your Ohio truck accident attorney has a better understanding of what might have caused your accident, they can begin to piece together who might be liable. In some accidents, it will be a single entity, or there may be several responsible parties. Possible entities that could be liable for your damages and named as a defendant in your lawsuit by your truck accident lawyer in Ohio include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The owner of the tuck
- The workers who loaded the truck
- The manufacturers of the truck or its parts
- Cargo loaders or their employers
- Municipalities responsible for road conditions, lights, or signage
Suppose there is evidence that more than one entity is liable for your injuries, or the court finds multiple responsible parties. In that case, your truck accident lawyer in Ohio can ensure they will each be liable for your damages. Generally, each party is assigned a percentage of damages they are liable for. They must pay you that percentage of your total award or settlement.
Turn to a Seasoned Commercial Ohio Truck Accident Attorney
Your unfortunate involvement in a truck accident can cause many problems in several areas of your life. You may not be able to pay your medical bills, struggle to return to work to pay your daily living expenses, be unable to enjoy the hobbies and activities you once did, and even your relationships can be affected. You need the help of a law firm that understands what it is like to be in your shoes and navigate life moving forward. The Skolnick Weiser Law Firm is that firm. Contact us at 216-545-9951 or online today to schedule a no-obligation case consultation.