While the majority of motor vehicle accidents may involve only cars, the most deadly crashes involve semi-trucks. In 2009 alone, 3,215 large trucks were involved in fatal motor vehicle accidents, usually when colliding with a car. Ohio residents are at a particularly high risk because of the State's prominent role as a trucking hub for the Midwest and Great Lakes region. However, even when the truck driver is completely at fault, the car driver usually makes a costly error - after the accident.
Unfortunately, many people make the mistake of treating their truck accident as a typical auto accident, just on a larger scale. This can be a crucial mistake, leaving the victim with inadequate compensation for injuries and suffering that may last a lifetime.
WHY COMMERCIAL TRUCKING ACCIDENTS ARE UNIQUE
Because of the devastation an out-of-control 18-wheeler can cause, the federal government polices the trucking industry through regulations, investigations and penalties for violators. When a crash involving a truck occurs, the post-accident investigation should be much more thorough than an ordinary car accident because of the additional rules imposed upon the truck driver and trucking company. However, the federal government has a giant industry to regulate, and one cannot rely on federal officials to reveal trucking violations that contributed to the accident.
One cannot rely solely on the insurance companies' efforts either. The insurers may do further investigation, but often leave many stones unturned as they typically work outside the civil justice system's rules of discovery. Regardless of how thorough their motor vehicle accident investigation is, the insurers do not fulfill the role of the victim's advocate in a truck accident.
Even when insurance companies perform as intended, policy limits often leave a victim undercompensated for the extent of harm inflicted from crashes involving big rigs. This is why it is crucial to find a legal advocate after you are injured by a truck.
WHAT A TRUCK ACCIDENT ATTORNEY CAN DO FOR YOU
A lawyer with experience in trucking accidents is familiar with the complex system of regulations and knows how to manage a thorough post-accident investigation. A skilled attorney knows what evidence to record and preserve, what questions to ask the parties involved, and knows how to uncover violations made by both the driver and his or her employer - violations that may have caused you disabilities or pain that will be with you for life.
After a truck accident, don't sign anything without first contacting a reputable Cleveland personal injury attorney. An esteemed lawyer will zealously work to get you the full compensation you are entitled to under the laws of Ohio.
