Cleveland Truck Accident Attorney

Hurt in an 18-Wheeler or Semi Truck Accident in Cleveland, OH?

Ohio serves as a crossroads state for trucks moving goods throughout the Midwest and Great Lakes regions to all points on the compass.

Truck drivers and their companies are subject to strict regulations governing such matters as:

• Hours on the road
• Safety procedures
• Maintenance requirements
• Weight limits
• Zero alcohol/drug tolerance

Even with these regulations in place, every year, thousands of truck accidents occur because of deliberate violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) regulations or unskilled/impaired drivers trying to handle multi-ton vehicles at highway speeds.

Accidents involving large commercial trucks are not simply "big" car accidents. These types of collisions are much more complex. They require more investigation and specialized knowledge of engineering, crash reconstruction, and regulatory guidelines. As a result, you need a Cleveland truck accident lawyer with experience in this area who can effectively and knowledgeably represent you. At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP, our Ohio trial attorneys specialize in the most serious truck accidents, where our resources and sophistication make all the difference.

Don't hesitate to contact our Cleveland truck accident lawyers by calling (216) 600-0114 today!

Common Types of Truck Accidents

A truck accident is a traffic collision involving a large commercial vehicle, such as a semi-truck, 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, or other heavy-duty truck. These accidents can be especially dangerous due to the size and weight of the vehicles involved, often resulting in severe damage, serious injuries, or fatalities.

Common types of truck accidents include:

• Rear-End Collisions: When a truck crashes into the vehicle in front of it, often due to brake failure, tailgating, or distracted driving.
• Jackknife Accidents: The trailer of the truck swings out to form an angle with the cab, resembling a folding knife. This usually happens when the truck loses control during braking.
• Rollover Accidents: A truck tips over onto its side or roof, often caused by speeding, sharp turns, or imbalance in cargo.
• Underride Accidents: A smaller vehicle slides underneath the rear or side of a truck, usually when the truck stops suddenly or doesn’t have proper guards.
• Override Accidents: The truck runs over a smaller vehicle, which can occur in heavy traffic or sudden stops.
• Blind Spot Accidents (No-Zone Accidents): Trucks have large blind spots on all four sides; if a smaller vehicle lingers in these zones, the truck may crash into it during lane changes or turns.
• Tire Blowouts: A sudden tire failure can cause the truck to lose control, leading to collisions or debris on the road.
• Lost Load Accidents: Improperly secured cargo falls off the truck, endangering other vehicles on the road.
• Head-On Collisions: Rare but deadly, these occur when a truck crosses into oncoming traffic, often due to fatigue, intoxication, or distraction.
• Wide Turn Accidents: When a truck swings wide to make a turn and collides with vehicles or objects on either side.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents can happen for many reasons, but some causes are more common than others. Here’s a breakdown of the most frequent causes of truck accidents:

• Driver Fatigue: Truck drivers often work long hours, and even with regulations, drowsiness is a major issue. Fatigue can slow reaction time and impair judgment—similar to driving under the influence.
• Distracted Driving: Using a phone, GPS, eating, or adjusting the radio can take a driver’s eyes off the road for just a few seconds—but that’s enough time for a disaster, especially with large vehicles.
• Speeding or Driving Too Fast for Conditions: Due to pressure to meet delivery deadlines, some truckers drive above the speed limit or too fast for weather or traffic conditions. Trucks need much longer distances to stop, making speeding especially dangerous.
• Mechanical Failures: Brake failures, tire blowouts, or steering issues can cause serious accidents. These problems are often due to poor maintenance or defective parts.
• Improperly Loaded Cargo: If cargo isn’t balanced or secured properly, it can shift or spill, leading to rollovers or lost load accidents. Overloading also makes trucks harder to control.
• Driving Under the Influence: While rare compared to other causes, drug or alcohol impairment still contributes to truck accidents. Even prescription or over-the-counter meds can affect a driver's ability to operate safely.
• Poor Weather or Road Conditions: Rain, fog, snow, and icy roads reduce visibility and traction. A heavy truck can easily skid or jackknife if the driver isn't extra cautious.
• Aggressive Driving: Tailgating, sudden lane changes, and road rage behaviors can cause trucks to collide with smaller vehicles or lose control.
• Inexperienced or Poorly Trained Drivers: Driving a commercial truck requires special training. Lack of experience or inadequate training increases the risk of mistakes, especially in emergencies.
• Negligent Trucking Companies: Some companies cut corners—pressuring drivers to ignore safety regulations, skipping vehicle inspections, or hiring unqualified drivers to save money.

Highway Trucking Regulations in Cleveland

There are nationwide regulations for the trucking industry that help improve vehicle safety across the country. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) was established to regulate the trucking industry and can use the force of law in the United States. When trucking companies or their drivers ignore the safety rules and cause injury to others on the road, they may be held responsible for damages to punish their conduct.

How Many Hours Are Truckers Allowed on the Road?

The FMCSA allows truckers to work 14-hour workdays; however, in this 14-hour window, truckers are only allowed to drive for 11 hours. The remaining time must be spent on rest and meal breaks. After a driver reaches their 14-hour daily max, they must take at least 10 hours off to rest.

Likewise, the FMCSA regulates when a driver must take a day off, this rule is referred to as the 60/70 rule. If a trucking company is open seven days a week, a driver can work up to 70 hours in an eight-day period before taking at least 34 consecutive hours off. If a company is open less than seven days a week they may work up to 60 hours in a seven-day period before taking the mandatory 34 hours off.

Who is Liable For a Truck Accident?

Unlike a car accident where the negligent driver is usually the one held liable, several people can be held liable after a truck accident, depending on the specific circumstances. The trucking company is the first party possibly responsible for this. Since employers are responsible for their employees, they may be held liable if their drivers are in a truck accident. Additionally, trucking companies have been known to encourage their drivers to break FMCSA regulations to help their bottom line. Doing this often leaves their drivers overworked and fatigued, increasing the risk of an accident.

If a driver is an independent contractor of the truck company they drive for they may be personally liable for an accident. Likewise, if a truck driver is engaging in illegal behavior, they may also be held liable. In instances where a truck had a defective part or was not serviced correctly, the truck’s maintenance provider or auto manufacturer may be held liable. A Cleveland personal injury attorney can help determine who is responsible for your truck accident.

Over $15 Million Awarded to an Ohio Family for Fatal Trucking Accident

Our law firm has a long history of successful cases. For example, on March 9, 2011, in Cleveland, Federal District Judge Theresa Springmann ordered the Net Trucking Company to pay the Karpov family more than $15 million in compensatory and punitive damages for a multiple-fatality crash caused by its driver. Net Trucking was found liable for allowing one of its truck drivers to drive more hours than legally allowed and for knowingly permitting the driver to alter his driving log books to cover up the violation. The Net Trucking driver who caused the crash was also under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. We were proud to represent the Karpov family in this truck accident case and gratified to achieve these results on their behalf.

Contact Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP Today

Our Cleveland truck accident lawyers have access to a full range of experience, knowledge, and resources among our entire legal team. Our personal injury firm is backed by seven decades of sophisticated representation in the most complex types of personal injury cases involving semi-truck accidents—including those that resulted in catastrophic injury and death.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, or you have lost a loved one in an accident involving a truck, you mustn't wait until the truck company's insurance adjuster talks to you. Because of the significant liability they have for injuries and deaths they cause on public roads, many large freight carriers carry insufficient liability insurance. Some gamble by self-insuring for any additional amount of liability they may be required to pay.

As a result, these companies will do everything possible to find a reason to avoid paying out of their own pockets to cover the full extent of your medical and financial losses. You need someone dedicated to you and your rights—not to the trucking company that put a dangerous driver or rig on the road. Our truck accident attorney in Cleveland is here for you, and we encourage you to contact us regarding your accident case.

Call a Cleveland truck accident lawyer from our law firm at (216) 600-0114 to arrange a consultation free of charge.

Recommended Reading

• Do Not Treat an Ohio Truck Accident As a Typical Auto Accident
• Truck Accidents: Driving a Thorough Investigation
• Truck Drivers Falling Asleep Pose Serious Harm
• What's the Leading Cause of Truck Crashes?