Cleveland Truck Crash Lawyer

Pursuing Compensation for Those Injured in Truck Crashes

A fully loaded semi tractor trailer can weigh 80,000 pounds. An average passenger car or SUV may weigh 3,000 to 6,000 pounds. You do not have to be a mathematician to understand that a big rig can do a massive amount of damage to smaller vehicles in a truck accident.

If you were injured or if a family member was killed in a truck crash, it is important to speak to an attorney as soon as possible to preserve your right to recover financial compensation.

Ohio Truck Accident Lawyers

Howard Mishkind and David Kulwicki, with a combined 60+ years of courtroom experience, have tried over 100 jury trials and have recovered over $200 Million in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our deserving clients.

Recovering full compensation for victims of car and truck accidents often requires skilled analysis of insurance coverage, vehicle ownership and other circumstances like drunk driving or underinsured/uninsured motorists’ issues. Our attorneys have achieved positive results for hundreds of clients throughout Ohio. We are here to help you obtain full and fair compensation for damages.

To learn more about our motor vehicle practice, please visit the following pages:

  • Truck and semi-truck collisions
  • Drunk driving accidents
  • Bus, train, taxi, plane accidents
  • Distracted driving (e.g., texting while driving)

A Strong Advocate for Your Rights

Car and truck crashes can result in serious, permanent injuries, like spinal cord injuries, brain damage, amputation and disfigurement. We understand the unique nature of these injuries and how they affect your life, your ability to work and your future. Our lawyers know how Ohio laws can be used to your advantage after a motor vehicle accident. We are here to help you and to get your questions answered.

To arrange a free initial consultation with a Cleveland car crash attorney, please contact us by Contact us, call 216-595-1900 or call toll free 866-558-0231. We represent clients throughout Ohio.

What Caused the Accident?

The attorneys of Mishkind Kulwicki Law Firm Co., L.P.A., in Cleveland, will respond quickly to truck crashes. We will send investigators to the scene to gather evidence and interview witnesses. When necessary, we will hire accident reconstruction experts to determine how the accident happened.

We will consider the many factors that could have caused or contributed to the accident, including driver fatigue, drunk driving or substance abuse, failure to comply with state and federal trucking regulations, speeding or aggressive driving, inadequate safety markings or equipment.

Who Is At Fault?

Our Attorneys will examine the evidence and determine who is responsible for causing your injuries. Was it the driver, the owner of the tractor, the owner of the trailer, the shop that serviced the truck or the warehouse workers who loaded it? We will consider all the options.

For trucking companies and their insurers, accidents are just a cost of doing business. For our clients, they are a life-altering event. Our law firm understands how devastating the results of a truck accident can be. We will be by your side, guiding you through each step of the process as we pursue full compensation for damages.

Our attorneys are skilled at representing the victims of any type of trucking accident, including:

  • Driver error
  • Overloaded trucks
  • Imbalanced loads
  • Falling debris
  • Jackknife accidents

How Many Truck Accidents Are There Each Year?

Truck accidents often cause life threatening, if not fatal, injuries. Sadly, a number of people will lose their life in one of these collisions. According to the most recent 2018 statistics from the  Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the number of fatal truck accidents increased by 1 percent, from 4,804, to 4,862. The number of large trucks involved in an injury crash increased by 5 percent in 2018, from 107,000 to 112,000. Finally the number of large trucks involved in property damage only collisions increased by 14 percent, from 363,000 to 414,000. 

Although statistics for 2019 have not yet been published, fatal truck accident collisions are projected to increase in 2019. Furthermore, it is believed that in states allowing truck drivers to work longer hours during the coronavirus outbreak, there will be a significant increase in injuries and fatalities. 

Large trucks are considered to be anything that has a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds. In half of these collisions, the truck driver, the company of the truck, the manufacturer, or another affiliated party of the truck is liable for what happened. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident. Compensation may be available. Because of the challenges that are often associated in these accidents, we would recommend that you contact a Cleveland truck crash lawyer.

Large Trucks Are More Dangerous than Vehicles

There are a number of elements to large trucks that make them more dangerous than other vehicles, especially when they are involved in a collision. These trucks can weigh 20 to 30 times more than a passenger vehicle. The dangers also apply because:

  • Large trucks require more time to come to a stop
  • They are more difficult to control
  • There is an increased chance of a driver being fatigued

The Causes of Truck Accidents

As a Cleveland truck crash lawyer, we have known of accidents that occur because of behaviors such as the following:

Speeding – Truck drivers may be more inclined to speed as a means of getting to their destination sooner. Speeding may be done as a result of the company putting pressure on the driver or a financial incentive for the driver. 

Distracted Driving – Talking on the phone, eating or drinking, using a CB radio, or anything else that can distract the driver from the road can cause an accident. 

Using Substances – A driver under the influence of alcohol, stimulants, or other drugs can put the driver and others on the road in danger. 

Failure to Signal – Like cars, truck drivers are obligated to signal when turning, going around, or stopping. If they do not signal, or their lights are broken, and an accident occurs, they can be liable. 

Tire Blowout – Tire blowouts are very common. They can happen unexpectedly and may be the result of a failure to maintain the truck or a defective tire. 

Exceeding the Driving Hours – Truck drivers are required to follow state and federal rules that mandate the number of hours they can drive on the road. Although this is supposed to be tracked and logged, it is not uncommon for companies to look the other way and allow a driver to exceed these hours. This can result in fatigue and falling asleep at the wheel. When this happens, a serious accident can occur. 

Contact a Cleveland Truck Crash Attorney

To arrange a free initial consultation, please contact us by email, call 216-595-1900 or call toll free 866-558-0231. From offices in Cleveland, we represent people injured in truck crashes throughout Ohio.