Personal Injury | Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
Charleston, WV and Columbus, OH

Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys

We can help with crashes involving big rigs, 18-wheelers and dump trucks

You see tractor-trailers and other commercial trucks on the roads every day. Usually, we hardly think about them. Getting into an accident with one of these trucks can have a devastating effect on your life. The truck accident lawyers at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC help victims of tractor-trailer crashes throughout West Virginia and Central Ohio. Our attorneys know how truck accidents are different from other types of crashes – and how to handle them.

We are one of the leading personal injury law firms in the state, with three partners who each belong to the elite, invitation-only Million Dollar Advocates and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a crash involving a large commercial truck, our lawyers will put our skill, experience and resources to work for you and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Most trucking companies are major corporations, with a team of investigators, lawyers and experts on their side. Following a truck crash, the company will immediately send a response team to the accident scene. Our attorneys act quickly for you, too. Our lawyers will preserve and gather important evidence before it becomes “lost” or otherwise inaccessible.

Additionally, we will make sure we get information that is in the trucking company’s possession. This includes information from the truck’s event data recorder, or “black box,” which typically includes the vehicle’s speed and brake use in the seconds just before the crash. We will make sure that the trucking company retains the hours of service (HOS) logs. Our attorneys can also demand to see the trucking company’s vehicle inspection, maintenance and repair records.

Our lawyers can maximize your compensation

The injuries suffered in a truck accident can be catastrophic. They include:

  • Multiple fractures
  • Burns
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Spinal cord damage (paraplegia or quadriplegia)
  • Internal organ injuries.

Commercial truck drivers increase the risk of a crash or near-crash by 23 times when they text and drive

As part of our investigation, our attorneys will thoroughly review all your medical records. We will also consult with medical experts and life-care planning specialists. We want to ensure that your medical expenses are fully covered and that you have the funds you will need to cover your medical treatment in the future.

Our lawyers will seek compensation through the responsible parties’ insurance coverage and maybe even your own coverage. Because a truck accident may involve many different responsible parties, your case could involve sorting through numerous insurance policies, including commercial liability policies that carry significantly high limits. Our goal is simple: We want to get the maximum amount for you and your family by any legal means necessary, up to and including filing a lawsuit against the trucking company.

The truck driver may be responsible because the driver's negligence caused the accident. Common causes of truck accidents include:

If a driver caused a crash while "on the clock," the trucking company can be held liable for the driver's negligence. This is called employer liability. The trucking company's own negligence could also be the cause of a crash. Examples of trucking company negligence are:

  • Hiring unfit drivers due to inadequate background checks
  • Poorly training or supervising drivers
  • Failing to conduct inspections and make repairs
  • Encouraging drivers to break federal rules.

The other parties who could contribute to a crash include mechanics, warehouse operators, shipping brokers and the manufacturers or others who hire trucking companies to transport goods.

You must move quickly after a truck accident in order to protect your rights. Contact us today to discuss your case. We provide a free consultation at our Charleston, WV and Columbus, OH law offices or any location that is convenient for you and your family.

Charleston, WV

Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC
10 Hale St Suite 501
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 720-1000

Columbus, OH

Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC
20 E Broad St Suite 1000
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 587-8423