Truck Accident Investigation Lawyers Serving Ohio And Kentucky
Truck accident cases involve issues that are not present in other types of accident cases. For example, drivers of passenger vehicle are not required to keep logbooks to show they took rest breaks as required by the Department of Transportation. Truck drivers and trucking companies must comply with a host of state and federal regulations and can incur significant liability when they break the law.
At the law firm of Gregory S. Young Co., LPA, in Cincinnati, our lawyers have extensive experience investigating truck accident cases. For more than 50 years, we have represented the victims of truck driver and trucking company negligence in Ohio and Northern Kentucky. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case.
Holding Trucking Companies And Truck Drivers Accountable
When a truck accident results in serious injury or death, millions of dollars of damages may be at stake. To protect themselves from liability, investigators working for the trucking company’s insurance carrier may be on the scene within hours. Their investigation will likely be biased as the insurance company’s goal is to minimize the amount of money it may have to pay in a personal injury or wrongful death claim.
To protect your interests, it’s important to have someone investigate the accident from your point of view. The sooner you contact our attorneys, the sooner we can:
- Collect and preserve evidence such as the driver logbook, maintenance records, truck driver history, past violations, the truck’s GPS unit and the vehicles involved
- Photograph the accident scene, including skid marks and debris
- Hire accident reconstructionists to determine the cause of the accident
Liability in truck accident cases often hinges on violations of Department of Transportation safety violations, such as negligent hiring, negligent training and failure to take required rest breaks.
The Importance Of The Truck Driver Logbook In A Car Crash Case
Each month, thousands of big rigs roll across Ohio roadways, carrying everything from medical supplies and salsa to building materials and tennis shoes, regardless of weather and road conditions. In the rush to deliver goods accidents frequently happen. A negligent driver or trucking company may be liable for your crash. We often represent clients injured in an auto accident with a big rig.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, its mission focuses on reducing injuries, fatalities and crashes involving buses and large trucks. It regulates the trucking industry and partners with state and local governments as well as safety advocates to keep the roadways safer for you and your loved ones.
Hours of service
Before the FMCSA, trucking companies could pressure drivers to work long hours without taking breaks or sleeping. This behavior resulted in poor decision-making and drivers falling asleep at the wheel. Today’s rules include required breaks after a certain number of overall as well as consecutive hours driven. For example, a driver can drive for 11 hours after taking a break for ten straight hours. The 60/70 rule states that if the driver has just spent 60/70 hours behind the wheel in a seven or eight-day period, they must take at least 34 hours off.
Violating the Regulations
One of the first things officials look at during a semi-truck accident investigation is the logbook. It indicates whether the driver took breaks from driving as required. An on-board electronic device also monitors the trucker’s driving habits. Both types of data can help determine if the driver or company is responsible for the accident. If your accident resulted in fatalities or catastrophic injuries, damages recovered could include lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering.
Contact Our Attorneys
If you would like to schedule a free consultation with our truck accident investigation attorneys, we invite you to call 513-838-4562 in Cincinnati, or 888-469-6437 in Kentucky or Dayton, Ohio. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We offer free parking, evening and weekend consultations, and home and hospital visits.
