Truck accidents are responsible for many of the fatalities and serious injuries suffered by Ohio's road users. Victims who are lucky enough to survive often have to go through a long recovery process or live with their injuries for the rest of their lives.
Considering the massive danger posed by the many trucks on the road these days, it is not surprising that truck accident lawsuits occupy their own special branch of Ohio law.
It takes experienced Ohio truck accident attorneys to go against a big trucking company and its insurance providers.
In Cincinnati, Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys has built a strong reputation for winning truck accident lawsuits against trucking companies that refuse to pay. They can also help with how to file a lawsuit for car accident in Ohio.
Victims filing a truck accident claim can call the law firm at its Ohio offices and set up a free consultation today.
Why Is the Truck Accident Claims Process Complicated?
Handling truck accident claims is not the same as dealing with car accident lawsuits. Going against a trucking company is often more complex and the victim's injuries are more devastating. This makes many truck accident cases difficult.
In circumstances where the trucking company has its headquarters in another state, commercial vehicle accident litigation and federal trucking laws may need to be applied to the truck accident case, which will further complicate things.
Sometimes, truck accidents can be caused by an error from a single truck driver but end up involving many vehicles and victims, which will have to be accounted for when filing a truck accident lawsuit.
The result of all these things is that victims need an experienced truck accident lawyer in Cincinnati OH to fight for their rights if they are to receive fair compensation for their injuries and other damages.
Truck accident injury claims are not the kind of lawsuits that victims can handle on their own.
Injuries Suffered in a Truck Accident
A trucking accident can result in some of the worst injuries car crash victims can ever sustain. The following are some of the most common examples:
Traumatic brain injuries
Concussions
Soft tissue injuries
Lacerations
Burns
Spinal cord injuries
Paralysis
Facial fractures or disfigurement
Loss of limbs
Post-traumatic stress disorder and mental anguish
Permanent disability
Death
Is the Truck Driver Always to Blame?
When seeking financial compensation for their injuries, most victims are quick to blame the truck driver for the accident.
While speeding, drunk driving, distracted drivers, and driver errors are responsible for many truck accidents, the driver is not always the one to blame.
Finding a successful resolution to a truck accident lawsuit often requires first determining who is at fault for the truck wreck.
If the truck drivers are not at fault, the following are the other possible liable parties:
The trucking company
Truck manufacturers or maintenance techs
Companies that load/unload cargo
Municipalities
Construction companies
Insurance company
Companies that screen truck drivers
How to File a Lawsuit for Truck Accident in Ohio in Six Steps
The chances of walking away with maximum compensation for injuries sustained in a serious truck accident are greatly increased if the victim takes the right steps in the aftermath of the collision.
The following are some of the important things to remember after seeking medical attention:
Gather Evidence
Strong evidence will likely persuade the insurance company to make a fair compensation offer even before the victims file a lawsuit against the negligent parties involved in a truck accident.
As such, victims need to gather as much information for their attorneys as possible.
Some of the best types of evidence in an Ohio truck accident case include photographs of the accident scene and video footage from traffic cameras.
Eyewitness reports from anyone present when the truck accident occurred can also be very compelling in court.
Hire a Good Ohio Truck Accident Lawyer
Due to the complexities of dealing with an Ohio truck accident, having proper legal representation is essential.
If insurance companies decide to make a low-ball settlement offer or refuse to pay at all, a truck accident lawyer will be required to fight for the rights of the victim.
When hiring a lawyer, it is important to find a law firm that has a long track record of winning truck accident lawsuits so that nothing the insurance company or its legal teams throw at the victim will come as a surprise.
Calculate Potential Damages
One of the first things victims of a semi-truck accident want to know is how much they can win in a truck accident claim.
Calculating damages takes a skilled lawyer with an in-depth understanding of Ohio personal injury laws and a list of all the truck accident-related expenses the victim had to pay.
Send a Demand Letter
Once the damages have been calculated, a demand letter will then be sent to the liable parties outlining the nature of the accident, injuries suffered by the victims, other damages, and a summary of all the applicable expenses.
Negotiate a Settlement Offer
The insurance company can choose to accept the demand or make a counteroffer. This will begin the negotiations between all the parties involved in the truck accident claim. If an agreement can be reached, the victims will accept the settlement and avoid having to go to court.
Go to Trial
In some cases, there will be a huge gap between what the parties liable for the accident are offering and what the victims deem to be a fair settlement offer. This usually means the case will have to go to court where a jury will vote in favor of either party and determine the damages that need to be paid.
Recoverable Damages in Your Truck Accident Claim
Truck crashes can result in massive damages being suffered by the victims, such as:
Medical expenses
Lost income
Property damage
Pain and suffering
Lifelong disability and medical bills
Wrongful death
Loss of consortium
The Right Lawyer Will Fight for Truck Accident Victims in Ohio
Victims going against a trucking company or its insurer need to hire an experienced truck accident lawyer today. They can also help with guiding you through how to file a lawsuit for motorcycle accident in Ohio.
The right lawyer can be the difference between losing a personal injury claim and walking away with millions of dollars in compensation.
Truck accident victims who are ready to go to war for their rights need to pick up the phone and schedule a free case review with Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys right now.
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