Columbus Semi Truck Accident Lawyer

Semi-trucks play a significant role in many industries and move goods in the quickest, most efficient manner possible. Despite their importance, their large sizes and heavy cargo weights make them dangerous to smaller vehicles sharing the road. When they cause an accident, it can result in painful injuries, financial hardships, and even loss of life.

If you were a victim of such an unfortunate event, you have the legal right to hire a Columbus truck accident lawyer and seek damages from the liable party. Consult a Columbus semi-truck accident lawyer at The Fitch Law Firm LLC to understand the claims process for personal injury and wrongful death.

Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents in Columbus

There are many factors that can contribute to a semi-truck accident, such as: 

• Distracted or fatigued driving
• Speeding or unsafe lane changes
• Faulty truck maintenance and repair
• Faulty or malfunctioning traffic and road signs
• Improperly balanced or loaded cargo
• Tight delivery schedules
• Employer pressure to cut corners on safety

To understand who was responsible for your accident, our Columbus semi-truck accident lawyers will identify the following elements of negligence:

• Duty of care: The at-fault party’s legal obligation 
• Breach of duty: Any violation of their legal duty
• Causation: The direct link between action and accident
• Damages: The financial consequences of the accident

The rate of traffic fatalities in Ohio has decreased every year since 2021 (ODOT), but the risk of injury on the road hasn’t disappeared. The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Crash Dashboard reveals that more than 120,000 crashes have taken place in Franklin county alone within the past five years, and every year 2,000 people across Ohio obtain serious injuries — e.g. bone fractures, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), severe burns, paralysis — resulting from traffic accidents. 

At The Fitch Law firm, our experienced semi-truck lawyers will help you determine who was at fault for your accident and fight to get you the financial recovery that you deserve. We’ll handle your legal needs so that you can focus on your wellbeing.

Commonly Reported Truck Accident Injuries

The injuries you sustain in a truck accident can temporarily or permanently change your physical appearance and abilities. They can also alter your mobility and lifestyle by preventing you from engaging in activities you previously enjoyed.

Common types of truck accident injuries can include:

• Chemical and electrical burns depending on points of impact and the truck’s cargo
• Broken or fractured bones and limb or digit amputation
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and other head wounds
• Back and spinal cord injuries and short- and long-term paralysis
• Soft tissue injuries, internal organ damage, and internal bleeding

Your medical records and bills can document the cause and costs of your treatment protocol. The trucking company and all other financially liable parties could be responsible for your accident-related medical expenses. These are only one part of the fair compensation package you can recover from a personal injury claim.

Compensation You Could Receive From a Semi-truck Accident Claim

When you work with a semi-truck accident lawyer in Columbus, they’ll focus all of their efforts on securing the compensation you need to put this accident in the past. They’ll identify all of the economic and non-economic losses you’ve taken on and fight for the damages you need to pay your bills and recover from your injuries.

If your claim is successful, you may receive compensation for the following:

Medical Bills

If you’re recovering from injuries sustained in a semi-truck collision, you’re probably wondering who pays the medical bills after a truck accident. Since Ohio is a fault state, the at-fault party or their insurance provider will be expected to offer compensation for your medical bills.

The money you receive from a claim can cover the cost of your hospital care, ambulance transportation, doctor’s visits, medications, assistive medical devices, and other out-of-pocket medical costs.

Vehicle Damage

Colliding with a large semi-truck or a piece of fallen cargo can cause serious and, in some cases, irreparable damage to your vehicle. You shouldn’t have to pay for the vehicle repair bills after a crash you didn’t cause. That’s why a Columbus semi-truck accident attorney from our firm will demand that the at-fault party cover a portion of your expenses.

Lost Wages

If you’ve suffered an injury that prevents you from performing basic tasks, you’re probably worried about not being able to work after a truck accident. Luckily, a truck accident lawyer can give you peace of mind.

They’ll use your pay stubs to determine how much you’re owed in lost wages and request that the truck driver’s insurer reimburse you for the income you’ve missed during your recovery. We also request compensation for your lost future income and diminished earning capacity.

Decreased Earning Ability

While some truck accident victims may experience lost wages for a few days or weeks, others may have trouble earning money for years to come. If your permanent injury or disability prevents you from earning the salary you depend on, these damages can help you make up for your reduced earnings.

Pain and Suffering

A painful auto accident injury can be extremely uncomfortable and make it nearly impossible for you to perform daily activities. If your truck crash injuries are causing you pain, a truck accident lawyer in Columbus can secure compensation to help you cope with the suffering you’re experiencing.

Mental Distress

Many truck collision survivors have anxiety about getting back behind the wheel. Crash victims may also experience depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in other situations. If your mental health has suffered due to the trauma of your crash, an attorney from our firm can add these damages to your truck accident claim.

Our Columbus truck accident team will create and send a demand letter after your damages have been accurately assessed.

A Columbus Attorney Can Help You File a Claim for a Fatal Semi-truck Crash

If your spouse or loved one has passed away in a semi-truck accident, you’re probably experiencing a whirlwind of emotions and pain. Our team understands how difficult it can be to lose a loved one in a sudden and tragic car crash.

To help you and your family stay strong during this deeply sad time, our attorneys can help you file a wrongful death claim. While you focus on taking care of your family, our legal team will deal with the at-fault party’s insurance representative. A semi-truck accident attorney from our team in Columbus will work tirelessly to obtain the following damages for you and your loved ones:

• Remaining medical bills
• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of the deceased’s financial support
• Loss of services performed by the deceased
• Loss of inheritance
• Loss of companionship or consortium
• Mental anguish

Proving Liability in Semi-Truck Accidents

Semi-truck accidents often arise from a party’s negligence, and proving who is liable can be complicated. The fault does not always lie with the driver—other parties may also be responsible for the accident and must pay for damages.

Fortunately, a semi-truck accident attorney in Columbus can analyze evidence from the collision and determine who should be held liable. Potentially liable parties include:

The Trucking Company

For instance, the trucking company is responsible for ensuring the safety of its drivers. It may include enforcing strict protocols, routine vehicle inspections, driving hour limits, and reasonable delivery timetables. If there was proof that they attempted to put people at risk, they are held liable for the accident.

The Owner of the Truck

The owner of the semi-truck may also hold liability in the accident. It is their primary duty to maintain the vehicle in a roadworthy condition, and neglecting to do so may have led to the preventable mishap. If their commercial vehicle failed the federal inspection but they still used it for transportation, it is a violation of the rules.

The Cargo Loaders

Accidents involving fallen cargo can result in serious injuries and property damage. If your collision was caused by poorly balanced or secured cargo, the loaders or manufacturers must take responsibility for not securing the items properly.

In determining liability for the incident to seek compensation, it is best to consult with a skilled truck accident attorney. A lawyer can educate you on your rights, help you understand your legal options, and demand that you receive compensation for your accident-related losses.

What You Should Do Next After an Accident with A Semi-Truck

Being involved in a vehicle accident is a harrowing experience, more so when it is with a semi-truck. What you do next will have an impact should you pursue a claim for the sustained harm and property damage. To give yourself the best chance possible of recovering your losses, take the following steps:

Seek Medical Help

First, you should seek medical care. Even if you have no symptoms like pain, wounds, and bruises, complications like whiplash and head trauma arise and become more serious if left unchecked after an accident. Failing to seek medical attention can also affect the validity of your claim, as insurers may argue that such injuries came from a separate incident.

Gather Evidence

When you file a claim, the burden of proof is with you. If possible, take photos of the accident’s aftermath, including your injuries. Keep your hospital bills, receipts, and records of expenses incurred due to the semi-truck accident.

If you collected the contact information of witnesses at the accident scene, pass them on to a qualified Columbus semi-truck accident lawyer who can get in touch with the witnesses on your behalf and help you gather more evidence.

Avoid Giving a Statement

Refrain from making a statement to insurance companies or law enforcement that implies your fault in the accident. When speaking with law enforcement, only state the facts of the accident. A truck accident attorney can handle communication with the driver’s insurance company.

Don’t Hesitate to Reach Out to an Attorney

Waiting to speak to a truck accident lawyer is the worst thing you can do after a serious collision. That’s because the state of Ohio has a statute of limitations that you must follow if you want to file a personal injury lawsuit.

Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10, generally speaking, gives you two years from the date of your semi-truck collision to submit a suit. The clock starts ticking as soon as you’re involved in an accident, so make sure to contact an attorney ASAP.

Failing to abide by the state’s filing deadline could make it incredibly difficult for you to get reimbursed for your losses. However, you should still reach out to an attorney if your deadline has passed. They’ll be able to help you understand your remaining legal options.

How The Fitch Law Firm Can Help

To help alleviate some of our client’s mental and emotional burdens, our Columbus personal injuries can take care of the legal legwork for them, such as: 

• Getting copies of the police accident report  
• Obtaining your medical records 
• Acquiring the truck’s maintenance records 
• Speaking to eyewitnesses 
• Speaking to relevant experts if necessary (e.g accident reconstruction experts)
• Examining the trucking company’s policies in detail 
• Assessing your potential recoverable damages 
• Completing and submitting insurance claim forms 
• Communicating with the at-fault party’s insurance provider on your behalf 
• Negotiating for a fair settlement 

Semi-trucks can weigh thousands of pounds even when empty, and when they are involved in accidents, they can produce serious injuries that may require extensive medical treatment. In Columbus, there are numerous medical centers whose high quality care can help community members like you achieve recovery, including: 

• OhioHealth Grant Medical Center
• Mount Carmel Health System
• The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

But long-term treatment can be costly for the average person, and facing mounting medical bills on top of recovery can feel daunting. But you are not alone. At the Fitch Law firm, our legal team has more than three decades of experience helping injured victims pursue their claims and alleviate the financial burden that comes with getting adequate medical care. Focus on taking care of yourself; we’ll handle your legal needs.  

We understand that semi-truck accidents can have sudden and severe impacts on injury victims’ physical, mental, and financial health. You can depend on us to guide you through the ins and outs of the legal field and handle your legal needs so that your priority can be your wellbeing.