When an 18-wheeler is involved in an accident, those who were on the road near the truck may be the ones who suffer the most severe injuries and damages. The weight of a large truck makes it much more dangerous in an accident than a regular-sized vehicle. If you or a loved one has been harmed in a truck accident and you’re pursuing your legal options, a Cincinnati 18-wheeler accident lawyer from Bey & Associates can help you.
Our 18-wheeler accident lawyers believe in fighting for those who have been wrongfully injured in accidents. When we’re by your side, we’ll fight for you to get full and fair compensation for your injuries. We’ll also make sure the negligent party is shown how their actions harmed you.
Unfortunately, Ohio has had many truck accidents. In 2018, there were 182 fatalities in crashes that involved a large truck. Many of these accidents likely happened because of negligence, which means they were preventable. We’ll find out why your accident happened and how the accident injured you. Some of this information can be gathered from the investigation of the crash. Let’s take a look at the types of 18 wheeler accidents that can occur.
Types of 18 Wheeler Accidents
When a truck driver loses control of an 18-wheeler, there’s little they can do to regain control. Unfortunately, this can result in collisions that involve multiple parties. Some of the possible accident types include:
- Jackknife. A jackknife occurs when the trailer sweeps out from behind the tractor to form an L or V shape. Once the trailer is no longer being pulled in a straight line by the tractor, the truck driver may not be able to get the vehicle to realign. The jackknifing truck can hit cars in the other lane. If traffic is traveling in opposite directions, the approaching motorists may be involved in a head-on collision.
- Rollover. If a truck takes a turn too quickly or hits an object that causes the wheels to lift off the ground, the truck can rollover. 18-wheeler trucks can reach up to 80,000 lbs. When that amount of weight is falling over and rolling, any motorists that are involved in the accident can sustain life-threatening injuries.
- Underride/Override. Trucks sit much higher than the average car. If a car is too close to the truck, the car can get stuck underneath the truck. For example, if a truck is following a car too closely, the front of the truck can ride over the car’s trunk. If a truck brakes suddenly or a truck swerves out of its lane, it can trap the cars next to it under the trailer. When a car is trapped underneath a truck, the truck can shear off the top of the car. These accidents are often fatal.
When we find out the type of truck accident you were involved in, we’ll also look into what caused the wreck. Your Cincinnati 18 wheeler accident lawyer will find out why the accident occurred in the first place and who was responsible for your injuries.
Who Is at Fault for the 18 Wheeler Accident?
After a truck accident occurs, you’ll likely think the truck driver was the one at fault. This may be true in some cases. A truck driver can show negligence in a number of ways. If they’re ignoring trucking regulations and driving when they’re supposed to be taking a break, they’ll likely be fatigued behind the wheel. An exhausted driver can have slower reaction times, poor judgment, trouble staying in their lane, and is at risk of falling asleep at the wheel. They may have also taken medicine that can cause drowsiness.
Truckers may also try to use their cell phone while driving, eat or drink, or try to complete another task instead of focusing on the road. A distracted driver could easily collide with cars in front of them or in the lane next to them.
If the truck driver is inexperienced, they may not set up turns and lane changes properly. 18-wheeler trucks need time to slow down and take turns, so the truck driver needs to adjust their speed and signal to other motorists of their intent. Taking a turn too quickly or failing to signal a lane change could result in an accident.
However, it’s also possible the truck driver was also a victim of negligence and didn’t have anything to do with the accident at all. If the truck had a defective part that caused the driver to lose control and crash, the manufacturing company that made the part could be at fault. They may have made a product with a design flaw or used cheap materials to save money. Our 18-wheeler accident lawyers are prepared to hold the company accountable if this is the case.
The truck company could also be responsible for the accident. If they didn’t inspect the truck or knowingly put an unsafe vehicle on the road, they endangered their truck driver and others. A truck company could also overload the 18-wheeler beyond its capacity, which makes it difficult to control and can put too much stress on the axles. While it can be difficult to go up against a truck company, a Cincinnati 18-wheeler lawyer from Bey & Associates is ready to help you.
When our 18-wheeler accident lawyers represent you, we’ll fight for you to receive maximum compensation for your injuries. This may involve filing a lawsuit and proceeding to court to get you the justice you deserve. We have years of experience representing our clients in the courtroom and helping them feel confident and prepared for their cases.
18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer Will Fight for Those in Cincinnati
If you’ve been harmed in an 18-wheeler accident in Cincinnati or the greater Ohio area, our 18-wheeler accident lawyers are here for you. You deserve compensation that will help you heal physically, emotionally, and financially. We can give you peace of mind that we will fight for your future.
The sooner you start on your case, the sooner the legal process can begin. Call our 18-wheeler accident lawyers today so we can discuss your options and which path is best for you.
