Cincinnati Truck Accident Lawyer
By the time you start looking for a truck accident lawyer, the trucking company may already be investigating the crash. Its insurer may be asking for a statement, medical bills may be arriving, and you may still not know exactly what caused the crash.
Had the driver been on the road too long? Was the truck properly maintained? And is the trucking company going to tell you what really happened?
You shouldn’t have to find those answers on your own. The Cincinnati truck accident lawyers at Young, Reverman & Bolotin can investigate the crash and pursue the compensation you need for what this accident has cost you.
“When someone comes to us after a truck accident, I know they’re worried about more than just the legal case. They want to know how they’re going to pay their bills, take care of their family, and get their life back on track. My job is to take some of that weight off their shoulders and fight for full compensation.”
Richard E. Reverman
Young, Reverman & Bolotin
Why Are Truck Accident Claims Different From Car Accident Claims?
Truck accident claims are often more complicated than car accident claims because multiple companies may share responsibility, federal trucking regulations may apply, and important evidence may be controlled by the trucking company.
The truck driver may have caused the crash, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the driver is the only person responsible. The trucking company may have failed to properly maintain the truck, hired an unqualified driver, or ignored safety problems. Another company may have improperly loaded the trailer. A defective part may have contributed to the collision.
There may also be evidence you can’t get from a police report or photographs of the accident scene. Driver logs, maintenance records, electronic data, and communications with the trucking company may help explain what happened before the crash.
Our job is to look beyond the collision itself and find out whose actions or decisions contributed to your injuries.
How Do Federal Trucking Regulations Affect Your Case?
Federal trucking regulations may help establish whether a truck driver or trucking company failed to follow safety requirements that could have prevented your accident.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates many aspects of commercial trucking, including driver qualifications, hours of service, vehicle inspections, and maintenance.
If a driver fell asleep behind the wheel, we would want to know how long that driver had been working. If the truck’s brakes failed, we would examine its inspection and maintenance history.
A safety violation doesn’t automatically establish liability, but it may provide important evidence of negligence.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Cincinnati Truck Accident?
The truck driver, trucking company, cargo loading company, maintenance provider, or vehicle manufacturer may be held responsible for a Cincinnati truck accident if their negligence or a legally actionable defect contributed to the crash.
Determining liability means looking at what each party did, what responsibilities they had, and how their actions may have contributed to your injuries.
The Truck Driver
A truck driver may be liable for speeding, following too closely, distracted or impaired driving, unsafe lane changes, or continuing to drive while dangerously fatigued.
The Trucking Company
A trucking company may be responsible for negligence committed by its driver during the course of employment. It may also be liable for its own conduct, such as negligent hiring, inadequate maintenance, or failure to address known safety problems.
Cargo Loading Companies
An improperly secured or overloaded trailer can contribute to a rollover, loss of control, or spilled cargo accident. If loading caused or contributed to the crash, the company responsible for that work may share liability.
Maintenance Companies and Truck Manufacturers
Faulty brakes, tire failures, defective steering components, and other mechanical problems can contribute to serious accidents. Depending on the circumstances, a maintenance contractor or manufacturer may be legally responsible.
We don’t assume the truck driver was the only person at fault. Our Cincinnati truck accident attorneys investigate the driver, the truck, and the companies involved to identify potentially responsible parties.
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What Evidence Can Help Prove a Truck Accident Claim?
Evidence that may help prove a truck accident claim includes driver logs, electronic vehicle data, maintenance records, company communications, cargo documents, photographs, video, and witness statements.
You may have a police report and photographs of the damage, but the trucking company may possess information you haven’t seen.
Depending on the circumstances, our attorneys may seek:
- Electronic logging device records: Information about the driver’s recorded hours of service.
- Electronic vehicle data: Available information about the truck’s operation, potentially including speed and braking.
- Driver qualification records: Documents concerning the driver’s qualifications and licensing.
- Inspection and maintenance records: Information about previous repairs, inspections, and reported mechanical problems.
- Dispatch and communication records: Information about the driver’s trip and instructions from the trucking company.
- Cargo records: Documents identifying what was transported, how it was loaded, and who handled the shipment.
- Photographs, video, and witness statements: Evidence that may help establish how the collision occurred.
Not every record will exist or be relevant in every case. We focus on the evidence that can help explain what happened in your accident.
Why Is Preserving Truck Accident Evidence Important?
Preserving truck accident evidence is important because electronic information may be overwritten, records may be discarded after applicable retention periods, and physical evidence can change or disappear.
For example, federal regulations generally require motor carriers to retain certain electronic hours-of-service records and supporting documents for six months.
An attorney can take appropriate steps to request that relevant records be preserved and pursue evidence needed to investigate the crash.
You shouldn’t have to figure out which records to request or how to obtain them. That’s part of what you hire us to handle.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents?
Commercial truck accidents can result from driver fatigue, distracted driving, speeding, unsafe maneuvers, inadequate maintenance, equipment failures, or improperly loaded cargo.
The cause of the crash may seem obvious at first, but the evidence can reveal problems that weren’t apparent at the scene.
Driver Fatigue and Hours-of-Service Violations
If a truck driver was exhausted, we want to know why. Had the driver exceeded applicable driving limits? Were required breaks taken? Did company scheduling practices contribute to the problem?
Driver logs, dispatch information, and other records may help answer those questions.
Distracted Driving and Unsafe Maneuvers
A truck driver who is distracted, speeding, following too closely, or changing lanes without checking blind spots can cause a serious collision.
Rear-end crashes, jackknife accidents, rollovers, and blind-spot collisions may require different types of investigation to determine what happened.
Improper Maintenance and Equipment Failure
If brakes, tires, steering components, or other equipment failed, we may need to determine whether the problem should have been discovered during an inspection or repaired before the truck returned to the road.
Overloaded or Improperly Secured Cargo
Excessive weight, shifting cargo, and unsecured loads can affect a truck’s stability and handling. Cargo records and loading procedures may help establish whether those conditions contributed to the accident.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Truck Accident in Ohio?
If another party is legally responsible for your truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, future care needs, pain and suffering, property damage, and other recoverable losses.
You may already know what the emergency room visit and vehicle repairs have cost you. What may be harder to calculate is what the accident will cost you six months or several years from now.
Ohio law determines which damages are recoverable and may impose limitations in certain cases.
If you’ve suffered a serious injury, we want to understand how it affects your work, your independence, your family, and your future. A settlement should account for the full extent of your legally recoverable losses, not just the bills you’ve received so far.
Depending on your injuries and the circumstances of your claim, compensation may include:
- Medical bills, surgery, hospitalization, and rehabilitation
- Future medical treatment and ongoing care
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Vehicle damage and other property losses
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
Can I File a Wrongful Death Claim After a Fatal Truck Accident?
Yes. If your loved one died because of another party’s wrongful conduct in a truck accident, Ohio law may allow a wrongful death claim.
Under Ohio law, the deceased person’s personal representative brings the claim for the benefit of qualifying family members.
Depending on the circumstances, recoverable damages may include lost financial support, loss of services, loss of companionship, mental anguish, and reasonable funeral and burial expenses.
We understand that a lawsuit cannot replace someone you’ve lost. Our attorneys can explain your family’s legal options, investigate what happened, and pursue accountability from those responsible.
How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Ohio?
In most Ohio truck accident injury cases, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Exceptions can change the deadline, so the applicable filing period should be evaluated based on your circumstances.
Wrongful death lawsuits are also generally subject to a two-year deadline measured from the date of death, with applicable exceptions.
But the filing deadline isn’t the only reason to act promptly.
Witnesses can become harder to locate, vehicles may be repaired, and important trucking records may no longer be available. The sooner an investigation begins, the better the opportunity to identify and preserve relevant evidence.
If the crash occurred in Kentucky, Indiana, or another state, different laws and deadlines may apply.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cincinnati Truck Accidents
Should I Give a Statement to the Trucking Company's Insurance Adjuster?
Before giving a recorded statement or signing documents, consider speaking with an attorney. The adjuster may ask about the accident, your injuries, or your medical history, and your answers could affect how the insurer evaluates your claim.
Our attorneys can help you understand your obligations and handle communications concerning your injury claim.
How Much Is My Truck Accident Case Worth?
The value of your case depends on who was responsible, the severity of your injuries, medical expenses, lost income, future treatment needs, and other legally recoverable losses.
No attorney can responsibly promise a specific settlement amount without investigating the facts.
Can I Sue the Trucking Company Instead of Just the Driver?
Yes, in some circumstances. A trucking company may be responsible for its employee’s negligence or for its own actions that contributed to the crash.
The driver’s employment relationship, the company’s conduct, and other facts determine which claims may be available.
What If the Trucking Company Offers Me a Settlement?
Before accepting a settlement, make sure you understand what claims you would be releasing. Once you sign a binding release, you generally cannot seek additional compensation for those released claims, even if your injuries require more treatment than expected.
An attorney can help evaluate whether the offer adequately accounts for your recoverable losses.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Cincinnati Truck Accident Lawyer?
Young, Reverman & Bolotin offers free consultations and handles personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. You do not pay attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
We can explain the fee agreement and how case expenses are handled before you decide whether to hire us.
Talk to a Cincinnati Truck Accident Lawyer at Young, Reverman & Bolotin
You may have a police report, a stack of medical bills, and more questions than answers. You may not even know which trucking company was involved or whether the driver was working for someone else.
You don’t need to have everything figured out before calling us.
Young, Reverman & Bolotin has represented injured people and their families since 1972. Our Cincinnati truck accident lawyers can listen to what happened, explain your legal options, and determine what needs to be investigated.
We offer free consultations, and you don’t pay attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
“Jay bolton really took care of me and cared about my case and time. Great attorney very professional gets the job done!”
“Excellent group of Attorneys and staff, they were a tremendous help to my family and I.”
I work with this office on a daily basis. Always prompt on returning emails and phone calls. We enjoy doing business with this firm.Highly recommended.
Do You Need to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Cincinnati, Florence, or Lawrenceburg?
For your convenience, our law firm has several law offices throughout the tri-state area.
