On the morning of November 14, 2023, Jacob McDonald was driving a semi-truck westbound on I-71 when traffic slowed due to construction.
The truck — filled with 16,000 pounds worth of Honda batteries — failed to come to a stop, initiating a fatal collision that would set the semi-truck aflame, injure over a dozen people, and ultimately lay claim to the lives of six people.
Tragic crashes like this underscore the importance of experienced legal representation, and The Fitch Law Firm, a trusted Columbus truck accident law firm, helps victims and families seek justice in the wake of devastating incidents.
What Makes Truck Accidents Distinct from Other Auto Accidents
Truck accidents are distinct from other types of accidents in a couple of crucial ways.
Semi-trucks like McDonald’s are massive vehicles, often filled with heavy cargo. Hooked up to an empty trailer, a semi-truck can weigh up to 35,000 pounds on its own and up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded (TCS).
For comparison, SUVs like the one involved in McDonald’s accident can weigh, on average, anywhere from 2,000 to 6,000 pounds (JD Power). This makes trucks much more likely to cause significant and potentially fatal injuries upon impact.
Trucks and their drivers are also tied to a much larger network of people and affiliated companies, which complicates who might be at fault. When accidents like this occur, the process of determining liability, negotiating compensation, and navigating the insurance process can seem daunting.
At The Fitch Law Firm, our Columbus truck accident lawyers can help you avoid any potential complications of recovering damages and guide you through every step of the legal process.
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McDonald’s Charges
On May 16, 2025, a year and a half after the tragedy took place on I-71, McDonald’s trial was held in Licking County, Ohio, where he was found guilty of 6 counts of vehicular homicide and 11 counts of misdemeanor assault.
McDonald originally faced more severe charges of felony aggravated vehicular homicide and felony vehicular assault, with the prosecution arguing that McDonald’s driving that day was the result of recklessness.
Those charges would have incurred more serious consequences for the driver who, had he been convicted, would have faced 31 years of prison.
While the judge who oversaw McDonald’s case found the truck driver to be criminally responsible for the devastating crash, he ultimately ruled the incident to be the result of negligence, not the recklessness that would have elevated McDonald’s charges to a felony.
Establishing Differences Between Recklessness and Negligence
Determining the line between recklessness and negligence is a matter of intent and awareness.
According to the Ohio Revised Code § 2901.22, negligent actors are unaware of the potentially detrimental consequences of their actions. The harmful conduct carried out by a negligent actor is due to their failure to perceive or avoid a given risk.
Recklessness, on the other hand, goes beyond negligence of conduct. It entails not just a failure to employ due care, but a conscious disregard for safety. A reckless actor is aware of the risk that their actions could pose but proceeds with their conduct regardless of this.
Establishing Negligence in Truck Accident Cases
Negligence is determined by a party’s failure to take due care, but how is that evaluated?
Discerning liability requires the assessment of four key elements:
- Duty of care: The responsible party is duty bound to act with a certain level of care and competence, which means that any given truck driver has a duty to drive safely and abide by road laws.
- Breach of duty: The at-fault party’s actions did not meet their legal duty because they drove recklessly, failed to make needed repairs to the truck, improperly loaded or balanced the truck’s cargo, etc.
- Causation: A direct correlation exists between the at-fault party’s actions and the collision. In other words, the accident would not have occurred but for their action or failure to take appropriate action.
- Damages: The accident led to economic and/or non-economic damages, such as medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc.
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Who Can Be Held Liable?
An aspect that can make the legal process complex — and even daunting — are the multitude of potentially liable parties that you might have to contend and negotiate with.
Truck drivers aren’t the sole party responsible for the truck and its contents, and there are a number of affiliated entities who could share in some of the blame without ever being on the scene. These can include:
- The company that employs the truck driver
- The company that owns or leases the truck
- A truck manufacturer
- A truck parts manufacturer
- The truck’s maintenance crew
The company that employed the driver could have hired someone who was untrained and unlicensed; the truck might not have received proper maintenance; its cargo may have been incorrectly loaded or balanced by the cargo company; the manufacturer could have designed and produced faulty parts that played central roles in the accident.
There are an overwhelming number of avenues to consider, and a truck accident attorney can help you identify whom you can sue to recover damages.
At The Fitch Law Firm, we will conduct a comprehensive investigation on your behalf to determine which parties may be liable. We will also build a compelling evidence file to identify the at-fault party or parties and support your right to compensation.
Potentially Recoverable Damages
Truck accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, but they can impact the quality of your life for long after that. Accident victims may be able to receive compensation for not only their monetary losses (economic damages), but their physical and mental suffering as well.
Depending on the details of your case, the following damages may be recoverable in a personal injury lawsuit:
- Current and future accident-related medical expenses
- Loss of income, benefits, etc.
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring or disfigurement
Depending on the nature of your loved one’s death and your relationship with them, the following damages may be recoverable in a wrongful death lawsuit:
- Funeral expenses
- Loss of support and services
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of inheritance
- Mental anguish
Contact our Columbus Truck Accident Attorneys Today
The tragedy that occurred in November of 2023 serves as a sobering reminder of the vital necessity for caution and accountability on the road, but an accident like this one is not an anomaly.
According to the National Safety Council, 5,375 large trucks were involved in a fatal crash in 2023, and 114,552 large trucks were involved in crashes resulting in an injury.
If you or someone you loved was injured in a truck accident, don’t wait to act. Our law firm will help you learn more about your rights as an injured party and will take the necessary steps to help you build a strong case for financial recovery.
Contact The Fitch Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation with a knowledgeable Columbus truck accident lawyer.
Our fee structure also means you do not have to delay getting legal support when you need it most. We will accept your case on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will pay nothing upfront or out of your pocket. In fact, you will not compensate us at all unless and until we recover compensation for you.
We’ll fight for the justice and compensation you deserve, because you shouldn’t have to navigate this alone.
