Truck & Semi Accidents

Truck & Semi Accidents

Truck & Semi Accident Attorney Columbus OH

Truck & Semi Accident Attorney Columbus OH

A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh 80,000 pounds, which is roughly 20 times more than a sedan sharing the same lane. When such a large amount of weight and momentum collides with a passenger vehicle, it rarely results in a fair fight. At Kitrick, Lewis & Staley-Sladek Co., L.P.A., our attorneys have defended Ohio truck accident victims and their families for decades. We are aware of how aggressively trucking companies and their insurance companies fight these cases, and we tailor our strategies to match this level of resistance.

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  • From the moment I walked into Mark Kitrick’s office until the day my case was settled, I was impressed by the high degree of professionalism he demonstrated and grateful for the compassion he showed. The way he managed my case was simply outstanding. Mark Kitrick was able to successfully handle a complex situation that involved litigation in two states. In the process, he made a heartbreaking situation more bearable.
    Jean W.

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Why Truck Accidents Cause Such Serious Injuries

Size explains part of the danger, but three specific crash types account for most of the worst outcomes on Ohio highways.

  • Under-ride and over-ride accidents happen when a passenger vehicle slides underneath or on top of a trailer, often causing the car’s roof to be sheared off.
  • Rollover accidents occur when a top-heavy trailer tips over during a sharp turn or sudden lane change, crushing anything underneath it.
  • Jackknifing happens when the trailer swings out of the cab. This can block multiple lanes and hit vehicles that have no time to stop.

Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of new spinal cord injuries in the United States, responsible for roughly 38% of cases each year, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. Motor vehicle crashes also remain one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injury nationwide. Both injuries often lead to months in a hospital or rehabilitation facility, followed by permanent changes in how someone lives, works, and cares for their family.

How Common Are Truck Accidents on Ohio Highways?

More than 3.2 million tractor-trailers share the road with roughly 11 million single-unit trucks nationwide, logging over 330 billion miles a year, according to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration data. In 2024 alone, 5,340 people died in large-truck crashes nationwide. Most of them, 70%, were riding in the other vehicle. Columbus sits at the crossroads of I-70, I-71, and I-75, three of the busiest freight corridors in the state.

Those numbers aren’t abstract. They’re the reason trucking companies carry higher insurance limits than ordinary drivers, and the reason their insurers fight so hard to minimize what they pay out.

Sharing the Road Safely With Large Trucks

A few habits meaningfully reduce your risk around commercial trucks.

  • Give trucks room to stop. A loaded semi needs far more distance to stop than a car does, so cutting one off can be fatal.
  • Stay out of the No-Zones. Trucks have massive blind spots on both sides, directly behind the trailer, and just in front of the cab.
  • Pass fully and quickly – linger alongside a trailer, and you’re invisible to the driver.
  • Watch for wide turns. Trucks swing wide, sometimes into an adjacent lane, especially at intersections.
  • Expect crosswind sway. A tall trailer catches wind like a sail, and can drift or tip in gusty conditions.
  • Keep extra distance in wet weather, since blown tires and rear-end collisions spike when following distances shrink.

Federal Regulations Truck Drivers and Carriers Must Follow

CDL Licensing Requirements

Before anyone can legally operate a semi, they need to have a commercial driver’s license according to 49 CFR Part 383. To get one, you must pass skills tests in vehicle maneuvering, backing and parking, as well as hazardous materials handling if applicable. A physical examination and drug test are also required.

Hours-of-Service Limits

Fatigue causes a significant share of truck crashes, so federal law under 49 CFR Part 395 limits how long a driver can stay behind the wheel. The core rules are: 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, a 14-hour on-duty window that keeps running through loading delays, a mandatory 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving, and a weekly cap of 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days. A 34-hour “reset” is required before that weekly clock resets. Crash investigators pull logbook and electronic logging device data in almost every serious semi-truck crash for exactly this reason. It shows that the driver was and wasn’t allowed to do that day.

Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection

Carriers must inspect brakes, tires, and lights on a regular basis. A blown tire or a failed brake line often traces back to a missed inspection, and this failure can become strong evidence of negligence when uncovered.

What We Investigate After a Semi Truck Crash

We build these cases in the same way a prosecutor would build a criminal case: methodically and starting immediately.

  • Whether the driver’s CDL was valid or already suspended at the time of the crash
  • Criminal history and prior citations, sometimes going back years
  • The number of previous wrecks tied to that driver or that carrier
  • Financial records – a carrier under financial strain sometimes cuts corners on maintenance or hiring
  • Training records and supervision history
  • Drug and alcohol screening results, both pre-employment and post-crash
  • Whether the cargo load exceeded legal weight limits (overloaded trailers behave very differently under hard braking)
  • Maintenance logs for the tractor and trailer
  • Hours-of-service compliance, cross-checked against GPS and toll records
  • Cell phone records and in-cab camera footage, where available

Building Your Case: Evidence That Matters

What you do in the hours and days after a crash can shape the entire case.

Immediately After the Crash

  • Call the police. Provide them with a detailed report of the accident, including any insurance information and any citations that may have been issued at the scene.
  • Take photographs of everything relevant: the trucks involved, skid marks, damaged signs, and the point of impact from multiple angles. Also, record what you can remember about the incident, including any statements made by the driver. An admission such as “I didn’t see you” may be important months later.
  • Gather the names and contact information of any witnesses, as police reports often omit people who leave before the officers arrive.
  • Check for nearby surveillance cameras, as businesses, schools, and traffic cameras may have captured footage of the crash.

In the Days That Follow

  • Return to the scene or send someone to measure skid marks and take photos of anything that has been cleared away since.
  • Preserve your vehicle instead of repairing or scraping it right away.
  • Avoid giving a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer before speaking with an attorney.
  • From my first meeting with Mark Kitrick, I had total confidence in him and trusted him to guide me through this unfamiliar process of litigation. Because I am a woman of faith, it was incredibly important to me to have a person of integrity and character represent me. I found that with Mark. Until you go through something like this, you may not understand how important it is to be guided in the right direction. Mark Kitrick’s manner is so gentle, yet highly professional. He is approachable, and very sensitive to what you’re experiencing. You think of him as a friend who is looking out for you and will always keep your best interests in mind.
    Patti E.

Ohio Legal Deadlines and Rules That Affect Your Claim

Ohio gives injury victims two years to file a claim under Ohio Rev. Code Section 2305.10, starting from the date of the accident. Wrongful death claims have the same two-year time limit under R.C. Section 2125.02, starting from the death date instead of the accident date. If you miss either deadline, the claim is lost. There is no exception for the strength of evidence.

Ohio also follows a modified comparative negligence rule under R.C. Section 2315.33. You can still recover damages if you are found 50% or less at fault, but your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are over 51%, you recover nothing. Trucking insurers know this well, which is why they often try to shift blame onto the other driver early on in a claim.

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About Kitrick, Lewis & Staley-Sladek Co., L.P.A.

Mark Kitrick founded the firm in 1986, after five years as a senior litigator for a larger injury law firm. His goal was simple: to help people who had been hurt by someone else’s negligence obtain real representation, rather than a rushed settlement. Mark Lewis joined the firm in 1997.

Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers both recognize the firm’s work over the years. We handle serious personal injury, wrongful death, defective products, and malpractice claims exclusively, without any volume caseload or rotating cast of associates.

If a semi, box truck or delivery van crashes and leaves you or someone you love seriously injured, the clock is already running on your claim and so is the trucking company’s investigation. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

Common Truck & Semi Accidents FAQs

Generally, two years after the date of the accident, under Ohio Rev. Code Section 2305.10, wrongful death claims must be filed within the same two-year period, measured from the date of death.

Often, more than just the driver is involved in a crash. A trucking company, cargo loading company, maintenance contractor, or parts manufacturer can all share liability if a defective component caused the crash.

You can still recover damages under Ohio’s modified comparative negligence rule, as long as you are found 50% or less at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your share of the fault, and you are barred entirely if you exceed 51%.

Electronic logging device data, driver’s paper logbooks, in-cab camera footage and carrier’s maintenance records all tend to carry a lot of weight. It’s difficult to dispute them after the fact.

Yes. A documented violation of hours of service or a CDL can serve as strong evidence of negligence, as it shows that the driver or the company has broken a rule specifically designed to prevent such a crash.

Under a legal doctrine called “respondeat superior”, employers are generally responsible for the actions of employees acting within the scope of their job. A denial does not end the analysis – it usually just means that the case is contested more strongly.

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