Truck Accident Attorneys in Perrysburg

Since 2009, the number of serious truck accidents has increased by almost 50%. At the same time, regulators now allow larger and heavier vehicles on the road. At a minimum, the large trucks that roam the streets and highways in Ohio weigh at least 80,000 pounds. In simple terms, truckers are more likely to cause crashes, and the resulting injuries are much more severe. These victims are entitled to substantial compensation, but insurance companies do not simply give this money away.

Instead, a hard-working Perrysburg truck accident lawyer from Lafferty, Gallagher & Scott must fight for this compensation in court. Like most fights, a successful legal outcome begins with extensive training. For us, this physical training includes a long talk with you to understand your needs and goals, a thorough case evaluation, and diligent evidence collection. If we do these things diligently and methodically, the final results often exceed our clients’ expectations. And, in this arena, the final result is really all that matters.

Truck Crash Injuries

The size and speed of today’s large trucks overwhelm even the most advanced vehicle safety features. Some serious truck crash injuries in Ohio include:

• Broken Bones: Shattered bones in the extremities, like arms and legs, are especially common in these cases. During crashes, the extremities usually flail against the dashboard or another solid object. Doctors who focus on such injuries must use invasive surgery, which often includes metal implants, to set these bones.
• Head/Neck Injuries: Truck crashes often cause permanent Traumatic Brain Injuries. The extreme force in these wrecks causes the brain to slam against the insides of the skull. Related injuries, such as whiplash, are not easy to diagnose and treat. This neck injury, which often severs nerves in the cervical spine, could cause paralysis.
• Severe Burns: Gasoline and diesel burn at different temperatures. So, fires are common in truck wrecks, and many victims are pinned beneath burning trucks. The resulting third and fourth-degree burns always require extensive and costly treatment at specialty burn centers.

Medical bills in a catastrophic injury case often exceed $100,000. 

Liability Issues in Ohio

Since they haul cargo for profit, truck drivers are common carriers in the Buckeye State. Since they have a higher duty of care, it is easier to prove negligence, or a lack of care, in court.

Sadly, many truck drivers are seriously impaired behind the wheel. Fatigue is a good example. Truckers have very narrow financial margins. A missed on-time delivery bonus could be the difference between losing and making money on a certain run. Therefore, many truckers keep driving when they should pull over and rest.

Pre-existing medical conditions, such as sleep apnea, often contribute to fatigue issues. People with sleep apnea get little, if any, deep and restorative sleep. As a result, when they wake up in the morning, they are already fatigued.

Drowsiness and alcohol have basically the same effect on the mind and body. Driving after eighteen consecutive awake hours is like driving with a .05 BAC level. That’s above the legal limit for truckers in Ohio and most other states.

Aggressive driving, like speeding and tailgating, is also negligent driving. Trucks are so big, and the duty of care is so high that even a minor infraction, like speeding 5mph over the limit, could legally cause a wreck.

After being injured in a  truck accident, the victim can claim compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.

Work with Experienced Wood County Attorneys

Large truck wrecks often cause serious injuries. For a free consultation with an experienced truck accident lawyer in Perrysburg, contact Lafferty, Gallagher & Scott LLC. We do not charge upfront legal fees in these matters.