It’s common to see commercial vehicles like tractor-trailers, large delivery trucks, box trucks, and buses on roads throughout the Westerville area. When accidents involving commercial vehicles occur on busy highways like I-71, major arteries like State Street, or smaller local roads, the results can be devastating for everyone involved. A Westerville commercial vehicle accident lawyer is a valuable resource if you are hurt in such an accident.
The team at Gervelis Law Firm has a strong reputation as a leading choice for personal injury representation in Franklin and Delaware Counties. In every accident case we accept, we take time to learn as much as possible about our client, their accident, and the effects the accident has had on their life. If you must hire a commercial vehicle accident lawyer, it is crucial to choose one with proven experience handling cases like yours.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol recorded more than 251,000 vehicle crashes statewide in 2024. Nearly 16,000 of these accidents were classified as “commercial-related.” Commercial vehicle accidents often occur for the same reasons as other accidents, but they can raise more complex legal questions and result in more serious damages. It is vital to hire a commercial vehicle accident lawyer if you or a loved one is hurt in this type of collision.
Ohio uses a fault system to resolve all vehicle accident cases that involve multiple drivers. This means whoever caused the accident is liable for the resulting damages. While this may sound straightforward, many commercial vehicle accident cases raise difficult questions of liability, and multiple parties could share fault. In some cases, a commercial vehicle driver’s employer could be vicariously liable for the accident their employee caused.
This is just one example of the types of issues you could face in the aftermath of a commercial vehicle collision. You have limited time to gather the evidence you need to prove fault, and some of this evidence may be difficult for you to obtain without an attorney’s help. You also have limited time to file an auto insurance claim and/or personal injury suit to recover your damages, so time is a crucial factor when it comes to building this type of case.
Your Westerville commercial vehicle accident attorney at Gervelis Law Firm can build your case, assess the total damages you are eligible to claim, and determine the most efficient way for you to recover your damages. Most commercial vehicles are covered by commercial auto insurance policies that have more coverage than the average individual policy. However, most insurance carriers will attempt to settle for as little as possible.
A Westerville commercial vehicle accident lawyer can help you file your insurance claim and resolve any problems you encounter with the insurance company. You may need to file a personal injury claim to recover compensation from the defendant, and if so, you are more likely to achieve a favorable outcome with an experienced local attorney representing you. It’s possible to recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages the defendant caused.
Ultimately, the aftermath of a commercial vehicle accident can be traumatic, confusing, and difficult to navigate without an attorney’s help. The team at Gervelis Law Firm has a strong record of successful legal counsel in difficult accident cases in Westerville, and we’re confident we can help with your case. Reach out to our team as soon as possible to learn more about the legal services we offer.
A: Liability for a commercial vehicle accident in Westerville could fall to one party or multiple parties. The driver of the commercial vehicle accident may have caused the collision, or fault could fall to another driver or to multiple drivers. It is also possible for the commercial vehicle driver’s employer to be vicariously liable for their employee’s actions, or the party responsible for the vehicle’s maintenance could be liable for a mechanical issue they were supposed to fix.
A: In Westerville, the damages you can claim for a commercial vehicle accident include any economic losses you suffered because of the defendant’s negligence. You may have grounds to claim compensation for vehicle repair or replacement costs, medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. Your Westerville commercial vehicle accident attorney can accurately assess the full extent of the damages you can claim from the defendant.
A: If you were partially responsible for a commercial vehicle accident, this could result in a diminished recovery under Ohio’s modified comparative negligence rule. Each liable party is assigned a fault percentage, and as long as a plaintiff is less at fault than the defendant, the plaintiff can still recover compensation. However, their fault percentage is subtracted from the total compensation. Your attorney can explain how comparative fault may affect your case.
A: You should hire a commercial vehicle accident lawyer to have a better chance of success with your recovery efforts. Skilled local legal counsel can gather and preserve the evidence you need to firmly establish liability for the accident, and they can also address any unexpected complications that arise with your claim. You can rely on your attorney to resolve a commercial auto insurance claim and/or personal injury case to help you recover your damages.
A: The cost to hire a commercial vehicle accident lawyer in Westerville depends on the lawyer you choose to represent you. At Gervelis Law Firm, we accept personal injury claims on a contingency basis, meaning we charge our clients a fee only if we win. The contingency fee is a percentage of the amount recovered from the defendant, and there is no cost to you at all if we are unable to recover compensation for you.
The team at Gervelis Law Firm has years of proven experience helping injured clients recover from a wide range of vehicle accidents, including those involving commercial vehicles. You have limited time to build this type of case, so it’s vital to connect with trustworthy legal counsel as soon as possible. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Westerville commercial vehicle accident lawyer and learn how we can help.