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216-658-5500Call Us Today
Drivers in the Cleveland area can encounter large commercial trucks on busy highways like I-90 and I-77, and they may also encounter them on smaller local roads. While accidents involving these large vehicles aren’t as common as passenger vehicle accidents, they are devastating when they happen. If you or a loved one recently sustained injuries in such a crash, you need to speak with a Cleveland truck accident lawyer right away.
When you hire a truck accident lawyer to represent you, you have a better chance of establishing liability for the accident and a better chance of maximizing the compensation you obtain for your damages. The team at Rumizen Weisman Attorneys has successfully settled more than 10,000 injury cases for clients throughout Cleveland, and we are ready to put this experience to work in your case.
216-658-5500 Call Us Today
Collision with a truck differs from other types of motor vehicle accidents as it involves several state and federal laws and regulations. Recently, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) amended safety regulations for commercial carriers. These regulations mandate that trucking carriers track and report safety issues, including safety violations, to identify high-risk commercial truck carriers. However, the mandate requires that such information has to be retained by the carriers only for a period of six months after the accident. Hence it is important to enlist the help of an accident attorney as quickly as possible to retrieve the information before it is lost.
According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, there were 416 accidents involving medium and heavy trucks in Cuyahoga County during 2024. These accidents can happen for the same reasons that passenger vehicle accidents happen, but they may also result from trucking companies’ failure to adhere to FMCSA regulations.
The National Safety Council reported that in 2023, there were 5,375 large trucks involved in fatal crashes and another 114,552 involved in crashes resulting in nonfatal injuries. In all truck accident cases resulting in injuries and deaths, occupants of other, smaller vehicles are the overwhelming majority of victims.
Ultimately, these accidents can be incredibly damaging, and you may have little to no memory of how your accident occurred or who is responsible. Hiring an experienced Cleveland truck accident lawyer is the ideal choice in this difficult situation. You have limited time to gather the evidence you will need to prove fault, and you also face time limits for filing an auto insurance claim or a personal injury suit in response to your truck accident.
Truck companies aggressively and promptly respond to accidents to gather important evidence from the accident scene to build a strong defense, while accident victims are recuperating from their injuries. Carriers often have a team of experts and investigators who are sent to the accident scene to gather evidence to minimize liability.
Many large companies have internal legal departments that primarily focus on defending the company from liability for their drivers’ accidents, in whatever way they can. Confronting such a company may seem daunting, but having an experienced attorney on your side allows you to approach the situation with confidence and a better chance of ensuring accountability.
It is important that you act quickly to obtain legal advice and representation when you are involved in a truck collision. Rumizen Weisman Attorneys investigates the cause of collisions and gathers pertinent information from truck companies to determine how and why accidents occur. It uses experts who gather vital information to reconstruct accidents. This helps level the playing field so you can protect your rights after being involved in a truck accident.
Many trucking companies have bonus programs for truckers who have good driving records. Because truckers sometime receive a financial bonus if they maintain a clean record, they may try to cover up their involvement should they have an accident. When representing clients, Rumizen Weisman Attorneys will take the appropriate steps to prevent trucking companies from intentionally destroying or hiding evidence that may incriminate them.
You should hire a truck accident lawyer at your first opportunity after a commercial vehicle accident so they can begin gathering the evidence you will need to prove liability. Ohio resolves all vehicle accident cases based on fault, meaning whoever is at fault for causing an accident is liable for the resulting damages.
Various forms of evidence can come into play in these cases, such as trucking company records, vehicle black box data, maintenance records, cell phone records, and testimony from any eyewitnesses who saw the accident happen.
It is important to remember that in Ohio, the modified comparative fault rule means that a plaintiff in an accident case could bear partial liability for their damages and still recover compensation. However, their fault percentage must be lower than the defendant’s, and this percentage is deducted from their case award. If they are found more at fault, they are barred from claiming compensation.
Most truck accidents result from negligence, like distracted driving, speeding, or moving violations. They can also happen when truck drivers and/or their employers violate hours of service rules and drivers become fatigued, or if cargo is not loaded properly and the truck is off-balance, resulting in a crash. You must establish fault before you can recover any compensation for your losses.
In Ohio, all drivers are required to have auto insurance that meets minimum coverage requirements, but most trucking companies have commercial policies that provide more expansive coverage when their drivers cause accidents. However, you should not assume that filing an auto insurance claim for a truck accident will be easy. Most insurance companies do everything they can to avoid paying out settlements.
You should expect the insurance carrier to look for any justification they can find to deny or devalue your claim. They will attempt to use your own words against you in your negotiations, and they may even engage in bad faith in their efforts to convince you to accept a lowball settlement offer. Hire a truck accident lawyer before filing your claim so your attorney can ensure you are treated fairly.
If you must file a personal injury case to recover from the accident, your attorney can potentially help you recover compensation for the economic and non-economic damages you suffered. Truck accidents can easily cause catastrophic harm like brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and severely broken bones, and you may not only face expensive medical bills but also further economic strain from the inability to work.
Rumizen Weisman Attorneys can provide compassionate and responsive legal counsel for your personal injury case. Success with the case hinges on your ability to identify the party or parties responsible for causing the accident and showing the full scope of the damages they caused. If successful, you could receive compensation for vehicle repair costs, medical expenses, lost income, and for your pain and suffering.
The right attorney can have a tremendous positive impact on the outcome of your case in Cleveland. The team at Rumizen Weisman Attorneys can listen to your story and identify your key areas of concern for your case. We can explain the legal services we provide and offer our impression of your legal options. Then, we can develop an individualized case strategy aimed at maximizing your recovery.
Trust us to build your case while you focus on your medical care and personal affairs. We can gather the evidence needed to firmly establish fault for the accident and carefully assess the full scope of the damages you are eligible to claim to maximize your total compensation. You can rely on us to handle your auto insurance claim, and if necessary, build a comprehensive personal injury suit for you.
Under our contingency fee policy, there are no upfront fees for our legal counsel, and we will only charge a percentage of the compensation we recover for you if and when we win your case. This ensures there is no financial risk in choosing our firm to represent you.
With years of experience representing families and individuals who were seriously injured or suffered wrongful death due to a truck driver’s misconduct, Rumizen Weisman Attorneys will aggressively represent you and protect your interests against large truck companies. Don’t be the victim of a negligent truck driver. Call Rumizen Weisman Attorneys at 216-304-2318 or contact us and arrange a free consultation. All cases are handled on a contingency basis.
216-658-5500 Call Us Today
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