Although it is not the largest of the 13 townships in Butler County, Liberty Township still has a population of over 37,259. Whether it is a Kroger, Sears, FedEx, or any other type of truck traveling on Interstate 75 or any other road in Liberty Township, it is common for accidents to occur.
Nationwide, 6.5% of all accidents involve a semi- or commercial truck. In 2021, 27 heavy and tractor-trailer drivers died in accidents in all of Ohio. This figure does not account for the number of non-truckers who died in these accidents or accidents where the trucker survived.
While trucking accidents accounted for just a portion of the 431 commercial crashes in 2022, they are among the deadliest. In total, 34 people were involved in fatal accidents in Butler County.
Due to the substantial size and weight of trucks, many of these accidents left victims facing countless hardships including large medical bills and lost wages. If you have been injured in a truck accident in Liberty Township, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Responsibilities for Truck Accidents in Ohio
Truck accidents are complex. The employee (truck driver), employer, manufacturer, cargo securing crew, maintenance company and others may be at fault for the accident.
For example, if a log fell off of a truck because it wasn’t secured properly, the following may be involved in your case:
Employer
Cargo crew
We’ll fight to pursue damages for:
Disfigurement
Loss of earning capacity
Lost wages
Medical costs
Mental anguish
Physical impairment
Physical pain
Punitive damages
Before we can seek damages, we need to have a full account of what transpired before and during the accident. We may need to call in expert witnesses who can provide insight into how an accident like yours could have occurred and the conditions involved.
Establishing responsibility in an accident will allow us to pursue damages from multiple parties and help make you whole again.
Contact our truck accident attorneys in Liberty Township, OH and we’ll work on determining who is responsible for the accident – it may involve multiple parties.
Deadly Factors Present in Ohio Truck Accidents
The substantial size and weight of commercial vehicles cause them to handle differently than smaller vehicles. While truck drivers are trained to operate large vehicles, many issues are associated with truck accidents, including:
Larger blind spots exist at the front, side, and back of trucks, which means there are increased odds that a truck driver will not see nearby cars or motorcycles.
Trucks require more time and space to come to a complete stop. For example, while a passenger vehicle traveling at 65 miles an hour needs less than 200 feet to stop, a truck often requires more than 400 feet to stop.
Because many trucks are long, they need more space to turn than smaller passenger vehicles do. When these vehicles turn too suddenly, it is common for jackknifing to occur. This means that the truck’s trailer slides out at a perpendicular angle to its cab.
The increased size and weight of tractor-trailers place them at increased odds of ending up in rollover accidents. These accidents are most common on curved roads or when truck drivers must stop suddenly.
Common Causes of Liberty Truck Accidents
Many factors can quickly result in devastating truck accidents. Some of the most common causes of these accidents include:
Defective equipment in trucks, which can include engines that catch on fire or wheels that unexpectedly give out
Distracted driving, which occurs when drivers attempt to multitask while driving and briefly take their attention off the road
Drowsy drivers who fall asleep at the wheel as well as fatigued drivers who are not able to pay adequate attention to their surroundings
Environmental hazards, which might include slippery roads that result in truck rollovers
Failure to properly signal, which can leave truck drivers without ample time to stop or maneuver their vehicle
Improperly loaded cargo, which can shift around and cause rollovers or come loose and create debris in the road for other vehicles
Improperly maintained trucks, which prove dangerous when vehicle parts fail to operate as needed
Speeding, which occurs when drivers fail to obey posted regulations or travel too fast for the surrounding conditions
Truck drivers who operate vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Pursuing Wrongful Death Actions
Trucks are often operated for commercial purposes. Due to their substantial size and limited maneuverability, trucks make some locations much more dangerous than others. Most truck accidents occur at intersections and when trucks are maneuvering between lanes. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that truck accidents often occur on urban or rural highways, between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays, and in construction zones.
While truck accidents leave many victims facing serious, these accidents sometimes also result in deaths. If you lost a loved one in a truck accident, you have a right to pursue compensation as a family member of the deceased person. This compensation will never take the place of your loved one, but it can provide compensation to cover things like funeral and burial expenses, mental anguish, loss of companionship, and loss of financial support.
Case Illustration of Semi-truck Accident Claim in Liberty Township, OH
Meet Sarah, a Liberty Township, Ohio resident. On a bright afternoon, she was passing by Kroger on her way to a friend’s house. As she merged onto Butler County Veterans Highway, an unexpected collision with a large semi-truck sent her car tumbling.
Emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene, providing immediate assistance to Sarah.
Fortunately, Sarah survived the accident, but her injuries were severe. Once she was released from the hospital, Sarah faced massive medical bills compounded by needing an extended leave of absence from her employer. And an intense fear of experiencing another truck accident like made everyday tasks a challenge.
Sarah is on the road to recovery, but also it’s essential she understands her rights. She has the option to pursue compensation including but not limited to:
Medical Expenses: Sarah can seek compensation for the medical costs stemming from her accident-related injuries.
Loss of Income and Earning Capacity: If the accident has left Sarah unable to work or has impacted her ability to earn income, she can pursue compensation for lost wages and any reduction in her earning capacity.
Pain and Suffering: Sarah has the right to seek compensation for the physical and emotional pain and suffering she endured due to the accident.
How to Choose the Best Truck Accident Lawyer for My Claim
Truck accidents can cause severe, life-changing injuries that require costly long-term medical care and rehabilitation.
Any injury will require care and potentially leave you unable to return to work for weeks or months.
If your injury was caused by another party’s negligence, a lawyer can help you seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation and other related costs. Finding the right lawyer is crucial.
There are several important factors to consider when searching for truck accident attorneys in Liberty Township, OH. These include:
Specific Experience. Your lawyer should have experience handling truck accident cases and, preferably, cases involving injuries that are similar to yours. A lawyer with experience will know the best course of action to take to succeed with your claim.
Availability. It’s important to ensure that your lawyer will have the time and resources to handle your case and give it the attention it requires.
Financial transparency. Your lawyer should be transparent about their fee structure and any other costs that may be associated with your case.
Contact a Compassionate Ohio Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one was in a truck accident in Liberty Township, Ohio or elsewhere in Ohio, you should not hesitate to speak with a knowledgeable truck accident attorney. Contact Kruger & Hodges today to schedule a free case evaluation with a semi-truck crash lawyer.
