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Here's Everything You Need To Know About Hiring A Truck Accident Lawyer

September 3, 2019
In 2016, there were a total of 305,000 traffic accidents in Ohio. Out of these car accidents, 23,000 crashes involved a medium or heavy truck. That accounts for around 7% of the total traffic accidents in Ohio. This is according to the Ohio Department of Public Safety‘s annual traffic crash report.

Usually, semi-trucks are the kinds of trucks involved in such truck accidents. Even if you keep yourself in the right lanes, you cannot control what is going on around you on the freeway. With that, here’s everything you need to know about truck accidents and why you should consider getting a Toledo truck accident lawyer when you are involved in these kinds of situations.

Negligence: The Common Cause Of Truck Accidents
It may be a full-sized ten-wheeler truck or a semi-truck, their weights and sizes are significantly larger compared to a car. With that in mind, truck drivers should be aware that there is very little room for error. One accidental wrong move may cause severe damages and injuries, or worse, the death of those who are involved. These are the reasons why trucking companies and drivers would have to ensure that their vehicles are working well and are properly maintained before use.

The most common cause of truck accidents is due to negligence. This includes the following:
  • Inadequate training of the driver
  • Distracted driving
  • Overloaded vehicle
  • Poorly connected cargo
  • Fatigued or intoxicated driver
  • Lack of truck maintenance
Although the trucking industry is heavily regulated to minimize risk for other drivers on the road, not being able to meet the requirements listed above would increase the risk for a truck accident.

Who Is Liable For These Truck Accidents?
A truck accident can be a result of two causes. Either it was from a natural cause or due to negligence. Whatever the nature of the accident is, there will always be someone liable for it. A Toledo truck accident lawyer can point out which one you can press legal charges on in case you are involved in a truck accident.
Your lawyer may point out the following legal persons liable for the accident:
  • Truck Driver
  • Truck Owner
  • Owner of the trailer
  • Loading company
  • Manufacturer of the defective component
These are the possible people you can press charges on, just in case you decide on pursuing a case for it. A Toledo truck accident attorney will be able to help you determine whether you should push through your case or just settle for compensation. Whatever it is that your truck accident attorney will recommend to you, be ensured that they are acting on your best interests.

How Can Getting A Truck Accident Attorney Help You With Your Case
Now that you know the possible causes of truck accidents and who might be the person responsible for it, the next thing that you should consider is the action you are going to do for this. This is the perfect time for you to hire a Toledo truck accident attorney. These lawyers are highly skilled in this field of expertise and have had a lot of experience dealing with similar cases. Here is the list of things that your truck accident attorney can do for you:

Interview witnesses
Whether the accident happened on a major road or an isolated street, there will always be a possibility that a witness had seen what happened. Your lawyer will be the one responsible for finding and contacting these possible witnesses. 

Upon reaching these witnesses, your lawyer will ask them questions regarding the incident. Mostly, it will be a recount of what had happened based on their perspective. Who did they think was speeding? Did someone swivel or was the truck not in the right lane? Did a mechanical part of the truck disengage? Your lawyer will ask these people every detail they might have seen and remembered from the accident. Your lawyer will take this information into consideration and will arrange things to help you build your case.

Examining accident reports and medical records
Since lawyers can build a strong case based on the evidence they have collected, your lawyer should look into police accident reports and your medical records. Aside from these records being a crucial part of the investigation process, your medical records will also help in determining how much you should receive for your compensation based on the damages you have sustained.

Review all photos and videos related to the accident
Not every shot of the camera or minute on the highway CCTV video will be beneficial for your case. Your lawyer will spend time to analyze the authenticity and credibility of these documents before your camp takes it in as evidence. It is your Toledo truck accident attorney‘s job to analyze which one will be the best evidence you should use for your case.

Determine the history of the trucking company and truck driver
Your lawyer can use a bad record of incidences as something that will benefit your case. It is through these records that your lawyer will be able to prove that these people are at fault because of their negligence and therefore should be liable for the damages.

Do Not Think Twice, Get The Services Of A Truck Accident Lawyer
When you are involved in a truck accident, make sure that one of the first steps you take is to get a truck accident lawyer. This is so you are immediately protected by the law and you will know what your legal options are. Chances are, you have serious injuries and have encountered a lot of physical damages. The last thing you want to deal with will be talking to insurance companies, law enforcement, and the trucking company. This is why it is very important that you let a Toledo truck accident lawyer handle all of these.
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