After a commercial truck accident, our attorneys can determine fault in several ways. Our legal team can investigate the accident, check the scene, review vehicle damage, and get any medical reports. We can also review the police accident report, listen to your account of events, and speak with eyewitnesses.
If you are ready to file a lawsuit or need more information on filing a lawsuit in Ohio, our team can support your case. Remember, however, that you generally have a two-year statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit under Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10. Wrongful death lawsuits are also affected by the general timeline imposed by Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.02.
Taking Your Statement About Your Accident-Related Losses
An important part of any investigation should be sharing your story. When you retain our legal team, you can sit down to explain what happened. You want to share all relevant information available, being completely transparent with our legal staff.
Do not share your statement with anyone other than our law firm. Anything you say could be misunderstood or misconstrued. Our truck accident lawyer will handle all communication with the at-fault party’s insurance companies for you.
Reviewing Police Reports
Police reports generated on the day of the accident could be quite revealing. The police investigation into your accident is important to your personal injury claim. Depending on the responding officer and others at the scene, the report might tell us things we could not have otherwise known. Additionally, we could speak directly to the responding officer or any others present at the scene.
We will review records from any ambulance or fire unit that responded to the scene as well. We can gain valuable insights from these documents and can move forward with the clues and tips these parties provide. Moreover, we ask these emergency responders to explain what they believe occurred, given their vast experience in this area.
Your police report may contain information and details that support your losses including medical expenses since it will note any readily apparent injuries. It can also tell our team whether the truck driver was exceeding the speed limit or committing any other traffic violation.
Reviewing Security or Dashboard Camera Footage
Our legal team will review security and dashboard camera footage to ensure we have seen all angles of the incident. Trucks often have dashboard cameras. From those cameras, we can see what occurred from the driver’s point of view. Additionally, dashboard cameras from other vehicles can shed light on what was happening outside the truck.
We may also secure security camera footage from local businesses or worksites. This evidence might capture how the accident unfolded from far away. Even a video of a few seconds of the crash could explain what occurred.
Speaking to Eyewitnesses
We will speak to all eyewitnesses, asking them how the trucking accident unfolded from their point of view.
We could get eyewitness statements from security personnel in the area who might have seen any precipitating events before the accident occurred. If you met eyewitnesses at the scene, let us know how to reach them. If they spoke to the police, the police report will contain their information.
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Inspecting Involved Vehicles
We will inspect the damage to all involved vehicles. We will also check if they were functioning properly. If the vehicle malfunctioned, we will look into whether it should have been recalled or if it malfunctioned due to a faulty part.
An auto manufacturer could be a liable party in your truck accident. Parts suppliers and manufacturers may also be culpable if they knowingly provide substandard or damaged parts.
Investigating the Trucking Company
Trucking companies could be liable for these accidents due to maintaining their vehicles and managing their drivers. Remember, truck drivers are bound by federal law to observe regular rest periods, only drive so many hours consecutively, etc. We will review the involved laws and explain how they impact your claim.
Executives from the trucking company could be responsible if their drivers exceeded federal hours of service regulations. Those executives may be named along with the trucking company. If the issue is a manager or regional director, we can pinpoint the individual who allowed the infraction.
Reviewing Actions of the Leasing Company or Mechanic
Our lawyers can also review the actions of a leasing company or its mechanics. Remember, anyone who puts an unworthy vehicle on the road may be named in a lawsuit. Determining the level of fault will require a paper trail and an inspection of the vehicle and the records of the third-party maintenance company.
Assessing Your Accident-Related Losses
All the documents our team collects for your case will help us accurately assess your financial expenses and losses. These can include medical records that document your injuries and medical bills. It can also include your employment records that document your known and anticipated lost income.
Auto repair shop estimates and vehicle value guides will support the costs of repairing or replacing your damaged or destroyed car. Our truck accident lawyer will explain the documents we collect to substantiate your non-economic damages including physical and emotional pain and suffering.
If your family lost a loved one in the accident, records and receipts from the funeral home will substantiate the costs you incurred for your loved one’s funeral and burial expenses.
Our Team Will Advise You of Your Options and Answer Your Questions
Ohio follows the doctrine of modified comparative negligence in compensating personal injury accident victims. This principle simply means the degree of fault will affect the percentage of recovery. Victims are advised not to speak with anyone involved in the accident while the case is active.
When we have all the facts of the case, our truck accident attorneys will present the evidence we uncover. This can tell us who the negligent party or parties are. Call The Fitch Law Firm LLC at (614) 545-3930, so we can get started on your case. Truck drivers are not always at fault in these accidents, but we can determine fault in your case.