Toledo Truck Accident Lawyers

Truck Wrecks in Toledo, Ohio

18-wheelers are constantly traveling alongside smaller passenger cars on Toledo streets and highways. Recently two people were killed when a semi-truck lost control and collided into their car in Wood County outside of Toledo. The victims’ car was at a standstill due to construction; it is still uncertain why the truck driver was unable to avoid an accident. Another fatal wreck occurred on Interstate 75 in Toledo when a trucker swerved off the road at an exit ramp.

Devastating truck accidents happen on busy highways and small roads throughout Lucas County. Our Toledo car accident statistics give a sense of how often crashes on Lucas County roads turn serious.

Truck collisions are generally quite different than those involving ordinary passenger vehicles. Not only are semi-truck accident scenes larger, but there are also many types of accidents that are unique to large commercial trucks.

What to Do After a Truck Accident in Toledo

The hours after a truck crash shape the rest of your claim. Trucking companies often have investigators on the road within hours of a serious wreck, so the steps you take early matter.

Get medical care

See a doctor the same day, even if you feel able to walk away. Adrenaline masks injuries, and a documented visit ties your condition to the crash.

Report the crash

Call 911 from the scene so the Toledo Police or the Ohio State Highway Patrol files an official report. That report becomes the starting point for every insurance conversation that follows.

Photograph the truck and scene

Capture the truck’s cab, trailer, license plates, and any USDOT number on the door, plus skid marks, debris, road conditions, and your own vehicle from several angles.

Do not speak to the trucking company’s insurer

Their adjuster may call within a day or two sounding friendly. You are not required to give a recorded statement, and anything you say can be used to shift blame onto you.

Call a lawyer

Truck cases move fast and evidence disappears faster. Calling early lets us send preservation demands before logs, camera footage, and maintenance records are overwritten.

Where Truck Accidents Happen in Toledo

Toledo sits at the crossroads of some of the busiest freight corridors in the Midwest. I-75 carries heavy truck traffic north to Detroit and south to Dayton and Cincinnati, and I-80/90, the Ohio Turnpike, runs east and west across the southern edge of the metro area. I-475 loops trucks around the west side, US-23 carries traffic from Columbus to the south and Ann Arbor to the north, and US-24 brings freight in from Fort Wayne along the Maumee River. Closer to downtown, the Anthony Wayne Trail funnels trucks toward the port and the industrial areas along the river. These are high-volume routes where speed, congestion, and merging traffic combine, and many of the serious truck wrecks we handle in Lucas County happen on them.

Types of Truck Accidents We Handle

• Wide turn accidents – A truck takes up a lot of space as its trailer swings one way while the cab is turning in the opposite direction. If not carefully done, these turns can catch drivers off guard while encroaching on their lane.
• Rollovers – A truck that hits a slick roadway or an object can easily tip over. Careless drivers will quickly find their trucks on their sides, and innocent drivers caught underneath.
• Rear-end collisions – Trucks can often have a difficult time stopping in a sudden emergency. A driver caught off guard may end up causing a deadly rear-end accident.
• Jackknife accidents – The trailer of a truck can travel outwards to the side when the driver quickly applies the brakes or adjusts the vehicle’s direction. This can cause the trailer to skid into traffic in other lanes.
• Underride accidents – A passenger car that slides beneath a trailer in a rear-end or side collision is one of the deadliest truck crashes on the road. Missing or damaged underride guards often turn a survivable impact into a fatal one.
• Blind-spot accidents – Truckers should understand how to properly use their mirrors to avoid hitting something that is in their “blind-spot.” However, a careless truck driver may not consider nearby vehicles when making a turn or stopping.
• Spills – Trucks can spill their cargo when they are improperly loaded, or driven recklessly. This can cause your car to crash into their cargo, or hit another car as you try to avoid it.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Truckers must not only be attentive but also properly trained to operate their vehicles safely. Large trucks are much more complex than smaller vehicles, and drivers can easily lose control if they are not careful.

As the victim of a truck wreck, you cannot expect compensation if your lawyer does not build a strong case of the other driver’s negligence. Our Toledo truck accident lawyers understand how to investigate these complex cases.

While every 18-wheeler accident is different, some of the most common causes of truck crashes include:

• Driver exhaustion – Truck drivers frequently fall asleep behind the wheel when pushed to drive more hours than are permitted by law. Your lawyer must gather timesheets and driver logs to determine if the trucker in your accident violated federal laws.
• Defective parts – Semi-trucks are much more complicated than normal cars, and many things can go wrong if they are not properly maintained. A truck accident lawyer may need to consult with experts and study all the technical details of the truck in your wreck.
• Driver distraction – There are many things that can distract all drivers, like cell phones, food, and passengers. Truckers are subject to more distractions while trying to manage their schedules and efficiently operate their vehicles.
• Improper loading – A truck can cause a deadly spill or even tip over if it was not properly loaded. If this happens, your lawyer will have to determine if the trucking company or a third party was negligent in how they loaded cargo onto the truck. The same investigation applies when a truck and a passenger vehicle collide: our Toledo car accident lawyers handle the car side of those cases every day.
• Intoxicated driving – Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol kill hundreds of people on Ohio roads every year. Truckers often consume dangerous amounts of medication or stimulants which can affect how well they react to dangers on the road.
• Road rage – Enraged drivers often speed and swerve in and out of traffic. Truck drivers who lose their temper can easily cause a devastating accident when they briefly neglect the safe use of the truck.

Trucking Insurance Requirements

A truck crash can be life-altering and expensive. Injured people need financial relief, but they are often uncertain about what their truck accident case is worth.

Ohio law lets you seek compensation for the damage caused by someone else. This means demonstrating how the other party was negligent and how it resulted in harm.

Unlike normal passenger cars, large trucks are required by federal law to have higher insurance coverage. This is because accidents involving these vehicles can result in significant damage. Ohio law states cars must have at least $25,000 in coverage, but federal law requires 18-wheelers to have a minimum of $750,000.

This requirement can increase depending on many details. A truck carrying hazardous cargo may need a minimum of $5,000,000. However, this does not mean that you will be given a large financial award after a truck accident. Instead, your lawyer must investigate all of the details and make a strong case for everything you and your family need.

Medical Care after a Toledo Truck Accident

With considerable experience helping local injury victims, our truck accident lawyers can help guide and assist you with documenting injuries and medical costs if you or a loved one are getting care after a truck accident.

We have strong relationships with many Toledo hospitals and trauma centers, including:

• ProMedica Toledo Hospital
• Mercy Health – St. Anne Hospital
• Mercy Health Children’s Hospital

Read What To Do After a Truck Accident in Ohio

Toledo Truck Accident FAQs

Have a question that is not answered here? Call 1-800-HURT-NOW or reach our Toledo office online for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.