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TRUCK ACCIDENTS


Driver Fatigue, Tire Blowouts, Reckless Driving & Overloading
Nationwide Success

Cincinnati Truck Accidents Attorney

Ohio Trucking Accidents On the Rise

Tens of thousands of drivers and passengers are injured in large commercial truck crashes every year. U.S. truck drivers suffer a disproportionate number of injuries in motor vehicle crashes, and the number of deaths and injuries of innocent motorists in these accidents is five times larger. 

Trucking accidents are reportedly on the rise in Ohio and the rest of the United States. A national road safety study conducted recently found that heavy trucks and buses are responsible for almost 4,000 road deaths each year.

There are more than 15 million commercial trucks transporting over 70 percent of all U.S. goods every year. Commercial trucks—delivery tractor trailers, busses, big-rigs and semi-trucks—are very heavy and difficult vehicles to control. A small amount of inattention or fatigue can result in fatal accidents.

Trucking employers and transport companies are accountable for their drivers and their on-road behavior. If trucking management overworks their drivers or is aware of their drowsy driving and fatigue, they can be liable for contributing to an unsafe working environment and dangerous roadways.

Driver Fatigue Leads to Truck Accidents

Drowsy and fatigued truck drivers in Ohio and around the country are responsible for causing dangerous accidents which lead to severe injuries and road fatalities. Driver fatigue, or physical or mental exertion that impairs performance, may be due to a lack of sleep, extended work hours, strenuous work or non-work activities, or substance related.

One study published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported that 13 percent of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers were fatigued at the time of their last accident. The Truck Crash Causation Study reported over 12,000 commercial truck crashes over a span of about three years, which resulted in more than 249 deaths and 1,654 injuries.

report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), found that U.S. motor vehicle deaths increased 7.7 percent nationwide in one year. Driver fatigue is a likely cause for many of the accidents. The problem has become so serious that safety agencies have expanded their definitions of impaired driving to include drowsy drivers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated in one recent year, drowsy driving was responsible for 44,000 injuries, and 800 deaths.

These statistics are likely underestimated. When a crash occurs, most drowsy drivers do not report the cause due to concerns about insurance, employment or legal consequences. About 23 percent of adults say they know someone personally who has crashed due to falling asleep at the wheel. Approximately eleven million drivers admit they have had an accident or a near miss because they were too tired to drive.

The annual societal cost of driver fatigue and drowsy driving is around $109 billion, not including property damage.  

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Joe Lyon has 17 years of experience representing plaintiffs in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases involving trucking accidents and defective auto components in Ohio and throughout the nation. 

The Firm is capable of reviewing the dangers of driver negligence, cargo overloading, poor driver training, driver fatigue, and litigating a case involving a truck accident. 

The Firm handles cases on contingency fees advancing all costs of the case and accepts the financial risk of the litigation to allow the clients access to court and reduce the financial stress while they focus on their healthcare needs. 

The Firm does not seek reimbursement for fees or costs in the event of a non-recovery. 

 Joe Lyon investigates Truck Accidents for plaintiffs nationwide

COMMON CAUSES OF TRUCK ACCIDENTS

  • Vehicle brake problems
  • Truck traveling too fast for conditions
  • Driver unfamiliar with roadway
  • Roadway problems
  • Driver intoxicated with illegal or over-the-counter drugs
  • Driver inattention
  • Driver made illegal maneuver
  • Driver distraction
  • Truck tire problems
  • Driver following too close
  • Cargo overloading
  • Driver intoxicated with alcohol

 

CONTACT THE LYON FIRM TODAY

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Questions about Truck Accidents

Do I have a good case?

The best way to determine the cause of a truck accident you are involve in is to contact an experienced attorney to investigate with the assistance of trucking accident experts. If a serious injury has resulted, victims are likely to be compensated for property damages, medical costs, lost past and future earnings, and pain and suffering.

 

What are common truck accident injuries?

COMMON INJURIES IN TRUCK ACCIDENTS: 

what is a tread separation or truck tire blowout?

Truck tires have been known to fail due to overuse, under-inflation, poor maintenance and inherent defects. When a truck tire blowout causes a truck accident, the injured parties deserve an investigation into the incident. An attorney can assist a plaintiff in obtaining truck maintenance records, and may work with accident reconstruction experts to determine if the tires were defective. If a tire is deemed defective, a manufacturer may be sued, along with possible claims against the transportation or logistical company involved. 

how common is driver fatigue?

Truck drivers are tasked with long, arduous trips across the country, and are often behind schedule due to weather delays or logistical hangups. Drivers will sometimes attempt to make up time by failing to get enough rest or operate their rig at excessive speeds.

After any trucking accident, driver records can be sought to find out if a river exceeded the number of hours they are legally allowed to be on the road in a given day or week. 

what are common truck driver traffic violations?

Truck drivers may be negligent in an accident if they drive beyond the speed limit, engage in dangerous lane changes, fail to signal, have broken taillights, or fail to maintain their truck. 

how should i prepare to file a trucking accident lawsuit?

Following any accident and injury, it is critical to collect as much evidence from the scene as possible. Photographs, videos, eye witness accounts, medical records, and police reports. 

is a trucking company liable for a truck collision?

A parent transportation company may be liable for accidents that involve their trucks. Individual drivers and trucking companies can be liable for preventable truck accidents. 

should i Hire the Lyon Firm?

Joe Lyon and his team of attorneys have extensive legal experience, and have filed many lawsuits on behalf of plaintiffs injured in road accident incidents. 

The Lyon Firm seeks to settle a case to recover rightful compensation on behalf of plaintiffs to pay for medical costs, future care and lost wages. The Firm has the resources and dedication to obtain justice for the wrong plaintiffs have suffered. 

The Lyon Firm has over 15 years of experience and success representing individuals and plaintiffs in a variety of complex auto accident cases. 

Can you sue a trucking company?

Yes, you can sue a company for damages if the driver who caused an accident is an employee and not an independent contractor. 

Truck Cargo Overloading

To maximize their load and profit, trucking companies often push the limits of safety with their cargo. Transportation companies overload their trucks intentionally or accidentally. But in the end, the result can be the same, because overloaded trucks pose a risk to motorists.

Trucking companies may take more risks than you are aware of, and when truck accidents and road injuries occur, they must be held accountable for their actions.

When a truck is overloaded, a driver will have less control over their rig. With added weight, there will be less maneuverability and less ability to brake properly. The stopping distance will increase for any vehicle with added weight. If a rig is overloaded enough, the brakes may even fail. Tire blowouts will be more common as well with overloaded trucks.

Your attorney can recover driver logs and cargo records to determine if the truck in question was overloaded.