According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), loaded tractor-trailers need as much as 40 percent more stopping time and distance than passenger vehicles. This is because trucks weigh 20 to 30 times more than passenger cars and are much taller. Should a person get into an accident with a tractor-trailer, the consequence can be severe and even deadly.
If you or someone you love was injured in a tractor-trailer accident, our legal team may be able to help you determine what caused the accident and if negligence was involved. Examples of negligence that might entitle you to financial compensation include:
- Driver fatigue
- Driver exhaustion
- Driver impairment
- Poor vehicle maintenance
The days and weeks after a collision with a large truck like a tractor-trailer can be physically and financially stressful. A Cincinnati tractor-trailer accident lawyer might be able to make the process of pursuing compensation easier to navigate by serving as your guide. Contact the personal injury team at the Fitch Law Firm, LLC, at (614) 545-3930 today.
How the Law Might Affect Your Compensation Claim
Holding an at-fault driver accountable for your injury-related expenses can be challenging. Personal injury laws in Ohio can be complex. The following laws can make the compensation process challenging to navigate and may affect your right to compensation and the amount of compensation you receive:
- Ohio Revised Code (ORC) §2315.33 defines contributory fault. It makes you liable for the percentage of fault the at-fault driver might claim is yours. That could mean your monetary award is reduced by that same percentage. If that occurs, you might not receive enough compensation to fully cover your accident-related expenses and losses.
- ORC §2315.18 defines the financial limits of personal injury compensation. Accordingly, noneconomic damages are capped at $250,000 or triple the amount of your economic damages. Your compensation might also be subjected to additional restrictions.
Your lawyer can help you compile proof, build your case, value your damages, negotiate with insurers on your behalf, and comply with the statute of limitations if you decide to bring a lawsuit. Our team’s goal is to make sure the aftermath of a tractor-trailer accident is not further complicated by financial stress.
Build Your Case File with Solid Evidence
The paperwork generated by your tractor-trailer accident may help prove the at-fault party’s negligence in the accident. We may request one or more of the following types of evidence to build your case:
- The crash report
- Medical records
- Medical bills
- Income statements
- Vehicle repair bills
- Vehicle values
- Witness statements
- Injury photos
- Property damage photos
These and other documents may help us prove the cause of the accident and the cost of your damages. Using this evidence, we may be able to fight for a fair financial settlement on your behalf.
Ohio’s Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Cases
If you or someone you love was involved in a tractor-trailer car accident in Cincinnati, the time you have to hold the at-fault party accountable is generally limited to two years. Anyone injured in the accident generally has two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, according to the ORC §2305.10.
Surviving family members of an accident victim who was fatally injured in a tractor-trailer collision also generally have two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit, according to the ORC §2125.02.
In some injury cases, age and other factors might alter the timeline. Our team can let you know if any of these factors apply to your case. We may use the date on your crash report to comply with the statutory deadline.
For a free legal consultation with a tractor-trailer accidents lawyer serving Cincinnati, call 614-545-3930
A Lawyer Can Help You Define the Cause of the Tractor-Trailer Collision
A collision between any two vehicles can have a number of causes and contributing factors. Road and weather conditions can contribute to collisions between large trucks and passenger vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) also points to driver behavior as possible contributors.
The FMCSA cites the following driving behaviors as common causes or contributing factors to large truck accidents with passenger cars:
- Traffic disturbances
- Unfamiliar roads
- Lack of attention
- Speeding
- Unlawful driver action
- Driver inattention
- Driver fatigue
- Driver illness
- Distracted driving
If one or more of these factors played a role in your accident, a Cincinnati tractor-trailer accident lawyer might investigate your accident to collect any evidence that indicates the other driver was negligent at the time of the accident. Contact the personal injury team at the Fitch Law Firm, LLC, at (614) 545-3930 to get to the bottom of the accident that caused your injuries.
Cincinnati Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawyer Near Me 614-545-3930
We Can Assess the Value of Your Monetary Award
If neglect was the cause of your tractor-trailer accident, the at-fault party might be required to pay your medical bills from the time of the collision until you are fully recovered. In addition to your health care expenses, the ORC §2307.011 lets you receive compensation for each of the following accident-related costs:
- Past and future lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of society
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of companionship
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
We may be able to help establish fault and prove the at-fault driver’s negligence to prove why you are entitled to receive compensation. A member of our team can also help you calculate the value of your case and negotiate an insurance settlement.
Get Help Building Your Personal Injury Claim or Lawsuit
Our team wants to help you build your case. We want to be there by your side and negotiate a settlement that lets you start rebuilding your life and recover from the tractor-trailer accident.
A Cincinnati tractor-trailer accident lawyer can help you fight for the financial award you might be entitled to receive for your damages. We are on your side. Do not hesitate to contact the personal injury team at the Fitch Law Firm, LLC, by calling (614) 545-3930 today.
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