Drivers of commercial trucks spend a lot of time behind the wheel. There are numerous risks to driving for hours at a time, including boredom and distraction. One of the most serious dangers, however, is fatigue. A tired driver is much more likely to get into a truck accident than their well-rested counterparts, putting everyone on the road in danger.
If you have been in an accident in Columbus, Ohio, involving a tired trucker, you may be able to hold them liable. At Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers, our team of truck accident lawyers can provide the legal support you need. We have 71 years of combined experience and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.
Contact us online or call (614) 587 8423 to schedule a free consultation.
How Mani Ellis & Layne Can Help After A Truck Accident In Columbus, OH
At Mani Ellis & Layne, our Columbus truck accident attorneys offer numerous services to assist you after an incident.
These include:
- Investigating the truck accident
- Gathering evidence to prove fault
- Calculating damages
- Handling negotiations with the insurance company
- Litigating as needed
Filing a personal injury claim offers you the chance to get compensation for what you’ve been through. Our Columbus personal injury attorneys understand just how important having experienced representation is, and we’re here to put your mind at ease. Members of our legal team have been recognized by the American Association for Justice and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
We have been helping people in Ohio for decades and are proud of the substantial settlements and verdicts we have obtained for our clients.
Call our law office in Columbus, Ohio, to schedule a free consultation.
The Dangers Of Fatigued Truck Drivers
To ensure that truckers are getting the rest they need and aren’t behind the wheel for too many hours at a time, the federal government has strict working hour requirements. Drivers must not surpass the limit because they can put themselves and others at risk. But why is driving while fatigued so dangerous?
One reason is that it can slow down reaction times. A tired truck driver can have significant trouble responding quickly enough to changes on the road. That’s dangerous when dealing with all vehicles, but especially with commercial trucks, because they take much longer to respond.
A truck driver who is exhausted can have impaired judgment. They could struggle with depth perception and misjudge speed and distances. It’s very similar to being intoxicated.
Along with these issues, fatigued truck drivers tend to have lapses in concentration. They may try many different things to stay awake, such as changing radio stations or even calling someone on the phone. All of those actions can lead to accidents.
There is also the risk of microsleeps. Truckers can experience lapses in consciousness that cause them to lose control of their vehicles, leading to severe accidents.
These kinds of crashes also tend to result in more serious injuries. That’s because the truck driver may not be alert enough to use the braking system or try any evasive maneuvers. Often, fatigued driving accidents also involve high speeds because an unconscious driver could press down on the gas pedal.
How Common Are Truck Accidents?
In 2023, 114,552 large trucks were involved in crashes that caused injuries throughout the country. Because of the size of these vehicles, collisions can result in catastrophic injuries that impact every aspect of your life. If the accident occurred because of another party’s negligence, it’s essential that you consider filing a claim to have a chance to recover your losses.
Understanding Ohio’s Fault-Based System
Ohio operates under a fault-based system for traffic accidents that requires proving that the other party was responsible for the crash. In a truck accident, that could be the driver, the trucking company, and other third parties. To establish that the other party was negligent, it’s important to have attorneys representing you.
Because Ohio has modified comparative negligence laws in place, you can still recover losses if you were partly to blame for the crash. However, you must show that you were not more than 50% responsible for the crash. It’s very likely that the other party’s insurance will try to pin the blame on you, so having assistance can protect your right to receive compensation.
Contact Our Columbus Truck Accident Lawyers For A Free Consultation
After suffering injuries in a truck accident, you may be entitled to receive compensation. To give yourself the chance to be fairly treated in the process, you need a Columbus truck accident lawyer to assist you.
At Mani Ellis & Layne, our team of Columbus truck accident attorneys has decades of experience helping people with all manner of personal injury claims. We’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients.
Call us to schedule a free consultation with one of our dedicated lawyers.
