Large commercial trucks are common sights on the highways around Toledo. I-75 is a major trucking corridor for the Midwest, and many manufacturing companies in central Ohio rely on shipping from trucks along US Route 23. Truck accidents aren’t as common as passenger car accidents, but they can be tremendously damaging, especially when trucks jackknife. An experienced Toledo jackknife truck accident lawyer can help after such an accident.

The attorneys at the Gervelis Law Firm have decades of experience representing injured vehicle accident victims in Toledo and throughout Lucas County. We have successfully resolved many commercial vehicle accident cases, including jackknife truck accident claims. Founding partner Mark Gervelis is a Board Certified Trial Lawyer you can trust to get real results after you or a loved one is injured in a truck jackknife accident.
“Jackknifing” occurs when a large tractor-trailer driver loses control of their vehicle, and the trailer swings out to one side, resembling a jackknife. The vehicle’s momentum then carries both sections of the vehicle forward, creating an extremely dangerous situation for everyone on the road.
These accidents can happen because of driver negligence, driving too fast for conditions, or failure to comply with trucking industry safety regulations. Whether you were injured or you must pursue legal action on behalf of a critically injured family member, an experienced Toledo jackknife truck accident attorney is an essential resource for helping you understand your legal options.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol recorded 618 vehicle accidents in Lucas County involving commercial vehicles in 2025. Not only are most commercial truck crashes more damaging than typical passenger car accidents, but they also have a greater chance of causing fatal injuries. The National Safety Council reported that in 2024, about 70% of fatal truck accident victims nationwide were occupants of smaller passenger cars.
In Ohio, all vehicle accident cases are resolved based on fault. Whoever caused the accident is liable for the resulting damages, and an injured victim must prove fault before they can claim compensation for their vehicle repair costs, medical bills, and other damages. The driver of the truck could be to blame, but fault may also fall on other parties, and you need to hire a jackknife truck accident lawyer to assist you with proving liability before you can claim compensation.
Your case could require various types of evidence that you do not know how to obtain on your own. You may need police reports, witness statements, black-box data from the commercial truck, records from the trucking company, and vehicle maintenance logs to help you prove liability. If the truck driver’s employer shares fault in any way for causing the accident, they could be held vicariously liable for your damages.
It is also possible for multiple drivers to share liability for a truck jackknife accident, in which case Ohio’s modified comparative liability law would apply and each liable party would be assigned a fault percentage. If a plaintiff in a personal injury case is found partially at fault, they can still recover compensation as long as the defendant is found more at fault, but the fault percentage assigned to the plaintiff is subtracted from their total compensation.
Auto insurance is usually an injured driver’s first recovery option after a crash in Ohio. State law requires every driver to have auto insurance that meets minimum coverage requirements, and 18-wheelers are usually covered by commercial policies that typically include substantial coverage. However, as soon as a trucking company learns of an accident involving one of their vehicles, their attorneys and their insurance company will be immediately working to avoid liability.
Do not assume that an insurance company is ever on your side, even if you were very clearly not at fault for your recent accident. Most insurance companies will do everything they can to avoid paying out settlements, so you should expect some type of pushback against your insurance claim after a jackknife accident. Your Toledo jackknife truck accident attorney can negotiate a fair settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier.
When you need to file a personal injury case to recover your damages, successfully establishing fault for the accident enables you to claim compensation for the economic and non-economic damages you suffered in the accident. You may have grounds to claim medical expenses, vehicle repair costs, lost wages, and compensation for your pain and suffering in your personal injury claim.
Ohio law limits pain and suffering compensation for most personal injury cases, but these limits can be lifted when a plaintiff has suffered a catastrophic injury. Jackknife truck accidents are incredibly dangerous, and these accidents have a very high chance of resulting in catastrophic injuries. Due to the total potential value of your case, it is crucial to find legal counsel you can trust as soon as possible after the accident.
Contact Gervelis Law Firm to discuss your case with a trusted Ohio
with a trusted Ohio personal injury attorney.
You have a short time to build a jackknife truck accident claim in Toledo. The evidence you need to prove fault won’t be obtainable for very long, and the trucking company and their attorneys will be working against you as soon as they learn about the accident. When you choose the Gervelis Law Firm to represent you, you level the playing field between you and the trucking company and their insurance company.
It costs nothing upfront to hire our firm; we only charge a fee if we successfully recover compensation for you, and our contingency fee is a percentage of the total compensation we recover on your behalf. It also costs you nothing to speak with us about your situation if you are unsure of your legal options. During your initial consultation, we will listen to your story and explain how we can help.
The aftermath of any commercial truck accident in Toledo can be traumatic and uncertain, and the attorneys at Gervelis Law Firm are ready to help you through this difficult situation. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced Toledo jackknife truck accident lawyer and learn how we can assist with your recovery.