Identifying the Cause of a Tractor Trailer Accident | Colombo Law

Tractor trailer accidents are among the most complicated personal injury claims. In addition to causing serious injuries and damages, these crashes often involve negligence of multiple parties, including the truck driver, trucking company, parts manufacturers, loading company, and more.

If it is discovered that one or more of these parties were at fault for the accident, you must also deal with their insurance companies, who will do everything they can to discount your side of the story and pay you as little compensation as possible.

To recover the full compensation you deserve, our tractor trailer attorneys will gather evidence to determine how and why the accident took place. We investigate the scene of the accident, the truck driver, the trucking company, the truck itself, and more.

If you have been in an accident with a tractor trailer, Colombo Law can help. Our lawyers serve clients in Columbus and throughout Ohio in complex trucking accident claims. Please call (614) 362-7000 for a free case review.

Investigating the Tractor Trailer Accident

Our first step is to take a close look at the scene of the accident. Our goal at this stage is to develop a clear understanding of what happened. Did the truck fail to slow down or stop, crashing into your vehicle? Did it swerve out of its lane? Did it pull out in front of you?

Conditions and evidence at the scene will change quickly. Over time, any remnant of the accident will be cleaned up or fade away. So, it is important to contact our tractor trailer attorneys as soon as possible. Our team will obtain photos and video footage of the accident scene, including skid marks, bent or destroyed railing or road signs, and more, to begin building your case.

Investigating the Truck Driver

Once we have a good understanding of what happened, we will begin investigating how the accident happened. The first step is to take a close look at the truck driver, including a thorough background check.

In many cases, when a truck driver is responsible for an accident, it is not an isolated event. Instead, the driver may have a history of problematic behavior, including other accidents, substance abuse, traffic citations, or other potential red flags.

By gathering evidence of both the driver’s negligence leading up to the crash and any prior issues, we can make a case not only against the driver but the trucking company as well.

Investigating the Trucking Company

Truck drivers have important and dangerous jobs – they are asked to drive vehicles that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds for long hours on highways shared by Ohio residents and families. Because of the dangerous nature of their jobs, trucking companies have a responsibility to hire drivers they can rely on to be safe. Hence, if they hired a driver with a history of problematic behavior, they may also be held responsible for the accident.

In addition, trucking companies sometimes encourage – or force – their drivers to stay on the road longer than they are legally permitted. If the driver fell asleep at the wheel, and we discover the trucking company has a history of overworking drivers, the company could also be held responsible for the accident.

Similarly, if the company failed to uphold an appropriate maintenance schedule or is found to be acting in any way that puts others on the road in danger, the company could be considered negligent.

Examining the Tractor Trailer

Finally, it’s crucial we take a look at the truck itself. If, for example, a truck failed to stop in time, causing it to smash into your vehicle, the driver may claim a brake failure occurred.

If this was the case, the investigation may focus on the negligence of the trucking company or a parts manufacturer. However, if the driver is not telling the truth, they may be doing so to cover up their own negligent behavior.

We work with engineers and other experts to examine the tractor trailer. Our team will perform a thorough assessment of the brakes, the tires, and other components to see if a mechanical failure or defect contributed to the accident.

Our findings may point to negligence or wrongdoing on the part of the trucking company and/or maintenance provider. We may also uncover errors in the design or manufacturing of a part on the tractor trailer, in which case you may be able to recover compensation from the company or companies that made the part.

Contact Our Tractor Trailer Attorneys Today

If you have been injured in a tractor trailer accident in Ohio, it is important to understand that winning the compensation you deserve can be complicated. Building a successful claim requires thorough investigation, significant experience winning truck accident cases, and a complete understanding of the laws surrounding commercial trucking.

At Colombo Law, we delve into what happened and why so we can fight for compensation from all of the negligent parties. We charge no upfront costs, we only get paid if we win, and we do everything we can to pursue maximum compensation for our clients.

Please call (614) 362-7000 today for a free consultation. Our tractor trailer attorneys serve clients in Columbus and throughout Ohio.


by Colombo Law
Last updated on - Originally published on