Fostoria Truck Accident Lawyer

An accident between a truck and a smaller motor vehicle can cause catastrophic damages. This is primarily due to the large size and weight disparity between a large commercial truck and a car, SUV, van, or pickup truck. If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in a trucking accident, a Fostoria truck accident lawyer can advise you of your legal rights and help you pursue justice. Contact a skilled personal injury attorney about how to seek damages for the pain you have suffered.

Tractor Trailer Hazards

There are certain incidents that tend to affect trucks more than other motor vehicles. Sometimes these incidents occur without fault, but many times there can be negligent found on the part of the driver or the trucking company. Fostoria truck accident lawyers know that these kinds of vehicles are more prone to rollover accidents, jackknife accidents and driver fatigue.

Due to trucks’ higher center of gravity, they are at greater risk of rollover accidents than other motor vehicles. A properly trained truck driver should be aware of how factors such as driving conditions and the truck’s cargo load affect the risk of rolling over.

Tractor trailers are uniquely subject to a risk of jackknifing. Jackknifing occurs when the truck’s trailer section begins to travel in a different direction than the tractor section. This can cause the driver to lose control and can result in devastating harm to the occupants of surrounding vehicles.

Driver fatigue – while drivers of all motor vehicles must take care to avoid drowsiness, fatigue is especially of concern among truck drivers.

To combat driver fatigue, the federal government closely regulates the number of hours commercial vehicle operators may work within a certain period of time.

Federal Laws and Industry Regulations

Due to the hazards involved when large trucks travel alongside smaller motor vehicles on the same roadways, the trucking industry is highly regulated by the federal government. The US Department of Transportation (DOT), through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA, enacts regulations that require all trucking companies to comply with the same safety and reporting rules, such as:

• Hours of service and logbook requirements
• Drug and alcohol testing
• Transportation of hazardous materials
• Licensing of commercial motor vehicle drivers
• Cargo securement

Filing a Lawsuit with a Fostoria Truck Accident Lawyer

Plaintiffs in truck accident litigation usually pursue relief under the legal theory of negligence. The legal definition of negligence is a failure to behave with the care that another person with ordinary prudence would have exercised.

If you think your injuries may be the result of another’s negligence, you may be able to obtain monetary compensation for past and future medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more.

You may even be entitled to receive punitive damages in addition to your compensatory damages.

If you have been hurt in a trucking accident, your damages may be significant. A Fostoria truck accident lawyer can try to help you investigate your accident to identify all of the parties that may be legally liable for your injuries. Your lawyer will assess all factual and legal information available in order to protect your legal rights and help you receive fair compensation.