As one of the many towns and cities situated between Pittsburgh and Columbus, the St. Clairsville area sees plenty of commercial trucks and tractor-trailers pass through every day on Interstate 70, State Highway 40, and on State Route 9 for some northern and southern routes. Unfortunately, with all this traffic comes the possibility of collisions between these trucks and smaller commuter cars. Any negligent behavior by a truck driver or their employer increases that risk exponentially.
Deciding to take legal action after a traumatic traffic accident can be difficult under any circumstances, but a qualified personal injury attorney’s assistance is essential if you want to succeed in this claim. The personal injury law firm of Bordas & Bordas has a record of successful truck crash lawsuits, including those that end in hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation. If you were injured in any kind of incident involving a long-haul trucker, a conversation with a St. Clairsville truck accident lawyer could be a key first step toward obtaining the compensation you deserve.
A comprehensive lawsuit or settlement demand after a truck collision in Ohio should account for both economic and non-economic forms of harm stemming from the incident. It should also consider past and future losses relative to when you actually file suit. Specific damages that often factor into claims like this include:
Under Ohio Revised Code § 2315.18, you can only recover $250,000 or three times the value of their economic losses—whichever is greater—for non-economic forms of harm. If you recover three times the value, you are still only allowed a maximum of $350,000 for these damages. Support from a St. Clairsville truck crash attorney can make a huge difference when it comes to maximizing available compensation under these restrictions.
Just like anyone driving a personal vehicle on public roads, commercial truck drivers are legally obligated to act responsibly behind the wheel and obey all state traffic laws. Any trucker who causes a wreck because they violated that duty may be liable to pay for all of the losses you suffered, usually through their insurance company. However, knowing a truck driver caused a crash to happen and proving them legally at fault are two very different things, as any experienced St. Clairsville truck accident lawyer can affirm.
When pursuing a claim like this, it is important to have evidence from multiple sources demonstrating exactly how and when a truck driver was negligent. For example, evidence could include subpoenaed data from the truck’s black box showing that they were traveling over the posted speed limit or traffic camera footage showing they ran a red light. Other important evidence could include eyewitness testimony, photos and videos of accident-related damage and debris, police reports and input from accident reconstruction experts, and comprehensive documentation of all injuries you sustained and medical treatment you received.
Civil claims based on truck collisions are often difficult, and the trucking company will forcefully try to avoid paying out damages. Trying to pursue a case by yourself will usually lead to an unsatisfactory outcome. Fortunately, help is available from dedicated legal counsel who has the experience necessary to enforce your rights to compensation.
From the beginning to the end of your unique case, your St. Clairsville truck accident lawyer could work tenaciously on your behalf to demand fair financial recovery. Call today.
