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 truck accident attorneys at Gervelis Law Firm can deal with all the legal complexities so you can focus on recovery. Contact us for a free consultation.
Legally Reviewed by:
Mark S. Gervelis, Esq.
Last Updated:
- October 9, 2024
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. Contact us and 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 (866) 622-4096. 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.
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?
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.
What should I do after a truck accident?
If you or a loved one suffers injuries in a truck accident, you need to do several things as soon as possible:
- Make sure the scene is safe and seek appropriate medical care for everyone involved in your accident.
- Call the police and cooperate fully with them.
- Get the truck driver’s name, contact information, license plate, and contact information for the trucking company.
- Obtain the names and phone numbers of any other motorists involved and any eyewitnesses.
- Take photographs of the vehicles involved, as well as the accident scene.
- Seek medical attention within 24 hours and follow your doctor’s instructions.
- Report your accident to your insurance but keep your comments brief.
- 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.
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.
What types of evidence 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 will 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 will send out a letter immediately requesting that these documents not be destroyed.
Call (866) 622-4096 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer. You can safely bet the trucking company will have its investigators, photographers and supervisors at the scene of the accident within 24 hours. Any delay on your part could work to the advantage of the trucking company and its insurance company.
Is a trucking company responsible for a truck accident?
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 of 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.
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From our main office in Canfield and offices conveniently located throughout the state, we are uniquely positioned to provide aggressive, experienced and effective legal representation for individuals and families throughout Ohio. Find out how an experienced car accident lawyer can help you with your case. Contact our law firm today.
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