A truck crash can leave you facing devastating injuries, mounting medical bills, and an uncertain future. With major freight routes like I-70, I-75, and I-71 running through Ohio, thousands of commercial trucks travel across the state each day — and when something goes wrong, the results can be catastrophic. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a truck accident in Ohio, you need experienced legal help to protect your rights and secure the compensation you deserve.
At Munley Law, we have devoted decades of legal practice to heavy truck accident cases. Our attorneys are recognized national leaders in trucking law, with decades of experience taking on major trucking companies and winning life-changing verdicts and settlements for our clients. Attorneys Marion Munley and Daniel Munley have served in top leadership positions in the American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group and the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys.
Truck accident cases involve more than just proving who is at fault. They require a thorough investigation, knowledge of federal regulations, and the ability to stand up to large insurance companies. When you work with Munley Law, you get a team with the resources, experience, and dedication to handle every aspect of your case and fight for the justice you deserve.
Contact us today for a free consultation with an Ohio truck accident lawyer. You pay nothing unless we win.
$32 Million Wrongful Death
$26 Million Truck Accident
$20 Million Commercial Vehicle Accident
$17.5 Million Car Accident
$12 Million Work Injury
$11 Million Truck Accident
$9 Million Truck Accident
$8 Million Truck Accident
$8 Million Truck Accident
$7.5 Million Auto Accident
$6.9 Million Garbage Truck Accident
$6.5 Million Traumatic Brain Injury
What Makes Ohio Truck Accidents Different from Car Accidents
Truck accident cases are far more complex than standard car crash claims — and for good reason. Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, and a collision often results in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. But beyond the severity of the crash, truck accident cases involve unique legal, regulatory, and insurance challenges that make experienced representation essential.
Liability in truck accident claims
One major difference is the complex nature of liability. Unlike a typical car accident, where one or both drivers are usually the only parties involved, a truck crash may involve multiple potentially responsible parties — such as the driver, the trucking company, a third-party maintenance provider, a cargo-loading service, or even a manufacturer of defective equipment. Unraveling who is at fault requires a deep investigation and understanding of the trucking industry.
Federal and state trucking regulations
Truck accident cases also involve federal and state regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces rules regarding driver hours, required rest breaks, drug and alcohol testing, vehicle inspections, and load limits. If a trucking company or driver violated these regulations, it could provide strong evidence of negligence, but only if your lawyer knows how to find and use it.
Commercial auto insurance
Lastly, commercial trucking insurance policies have much higher policy limits than standard auto insurance. While this increases the potential compensation for victims, it also means trucking companies and their insurers fight aggressively to avoid liability. You need an attorney with experience negotiating against large insurers and their legal teams.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Ohio
From Cleveland to Columbus to Cincinnati, Ohio sees thousands of truck accidents involving large commercial vehicles each year. Each truck accident is unique, but one thing they share is that many of these accidents are preventable. Ohio’s location as a transportation hub with major interstates like I-70, I-71, I-75, and I-76 crisscrossing the state means heavy commercial truck traffic is a daily reality. Unfortunately, this also means that serious truck accidents are far too common. These crashes are often caused by a combination of human error, equipment failure, and regulatory violations.
Truck driver fatigue
Truck driver fatigue remains one of the leading causes of truck accidents. Despite strict hours-of-service rules set by the FMCSA, drivers often push beyond safe limits to meet delivery deadlines. A tired driver can suffer from slowed reaction times or even fall asleep behind the wheel, particularly on long, monotonous stretches of highway.
Distracted driving
Distracted driving is another major factor. Truckers may glance at a GPS, adjust a radio, send a text, or simply lose focus during long hauls. Just a few seconds of distraction can lead to devastating truck accidents at highway speeds.
Speeding and reckless driving
Speeding and aggressive driving are also prevalent, especially when truck drivers are under pressure to stay on schedule. Driving too fast for traffic or weather conditions — common in winter on Ohio’s interstates — can easily lead to rollover or jackknife accidents.
Improper truck maintenance
Poor truck maintenance is a danger that falls on the shoulders of trucking companies. Worn brakes, defective tires, broken lights, or steering problems can turn a manageable situation into a catastrophic one. Regular inspections are legally required, but corners are sometimes cut to save money or time.
Improperly loaded cargo
Overloaded or improperly secured cargo can cause a truck to become unbalanced, leading to rollovers or cargo spills that create secondary accidents.
Poor driver training and negligent hiring practices
And in many cases, driver inexperience or insufficient training leaves truckers unprepared to handle the challenges of Ohio’s urban areas, rural roads, or steep grades. Understanding the cause of the accident is key to proving liability. At Munley Law, our truck accident lawyers know how to identify the root cause of a crash and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Who Can Be Held Liable in an Ohio Truck Accident?
Unlike a typical car accident, liability in a truck crash is rarely straightforward. Multiple parties may share responsibility, each contributing to the unsafe conditions that led to the accident. Identifying and holding all liable parties accountable is crucial to maximizing your compensation.
The truck driver
The truck driver may be liable if they were speeding, distracted, fatigued, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. But the driver is often just one piece of a much larger puzzle.
The trucking company
The trucking company may also be held responsible for negligent hiring, inadequate training, overworking their drivers, or failing to maintain their fleet. Employers can be liable for their employees’ actions if their driver acted negligently.
Cargo loaders
A cargo loading company could be responsible if the load was unbalanced, overweight, or improperly secured — especially if the cargo shift contributed to a rollover or jackknife accident.
Maintenance providers and manufacturers
The vehicle maintenance provider might be liable if a failure to service brakes, tires, or other key components led to a mechanical failure. Similarly, if the accident was caused by a defect in the truck itself (like faulty brakes or a defective coupling system), the truck or parts manufacturer may be held accountable in a product liability claim.
In some cases, even a third-party contractor that scheduled or managed logistics for the trucking company can share responsibility, especially if their practices encouraged unsafe driving or unrealistic delivery times.
An experienced Ohio truck accident lawyer from Munley Law can conduct a full investigation to uncover all liable parties and ensure that you aren’t left footing the bill for someone else’s negligence.
How an Ohio Truck Accident Lawyer Investigates Your Claim
Truck accident cases often involve multiple layers of liability, extensive evidence, and powerful corporate defendants. To build a strong case, your lawyer must launch a comprehensive investigation immediately after the crash. At Munley Law, we have the experience, resources, and industry knowledge to uncover the truth and hold every responsible party accountable.
From the moment you hire us, we begin gathering vital evidence that can help prove how the crash happened and who is at fault. This includes:
- Police reports and crash scene photos
- Witness statements
- Traffic or dash cam footage
- Vehicle damage assessments
- Medical records and expert evaluations
Because much of this evidence can disappear quickly, we act fast to preserve it.
One of the most important pieces of evidence in a truck crash is the electronic control module (ECM) or “black box.” This device records crucial data about the truck in the moments leading up to the crash, including:
- Vehicle speed
- Brake usage
- Sudden acceleration or deceleration
- Steering inputs
- Hours of operation
- GPS location and route data
Our legal team works with forensic experts to retrieve and interpret this data. In many cases, black box information can reveal whether the truck was speeding, whether the driver tried to brake, or whether fatigue or mechanical issues were involved.
Investigating the Trucking Company
Commercial truck accident claims aren’t just about the truck driver. They often involve deeper problems with the trucking company’s policies, practices, or oversight. Our team digs into:
- Driver logs and hours-of-service violations
- Diver phone records
- Hiring and training records
- Maintenance and inspection logs
- Previous safety violations
- Company compliance with federal trucking regulations (FMCSA)
If the trucking company encouraged unsafe practices, failed to maintain the vehicle, or ignored federal safety rules, we work to prove that systemic negligence played a role in your crash.
At Munley Law, our truck accident lawyers treat every truck accident case like it’s going to trial. That means performing a thorough, evidence-based investigation to build the strongest claim possible, so you can focus on healing while we handle the fight for justice. Contact us today for a free consultation. We don’t get paid unless we win.
Damages in an Ohio Truck Accident Case
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Ohio, you may be entitled to significant compensation (also called “damages”) to help you recover physically, emotionally, and financially. These damages are meant to cover the full impact of the crash on your life, from immediate medical bills to long-term consequences that affect your ability to work, care for your family, or enjoy everyday activities. In Ohio, damages fall into two main categories: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
These are the tangible, financial losses resulting from the accident. There is no cap on the amount of economic damages you can recover. Common examples include:
- Emergency medical care and hospital bills
- Ongoing treatment and rehabilitation costs
- Prescription medications and medical equipment
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Property damage (such as your vehicle)
- Future medical expenses and long-term care needs
Non-Economic Damages
These damages compensate for the intangible losses you’ve suffered; these are things that don’t come with receipts but deeply affect your life. Non-economic damages may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement or permanent disability
- Loss of companionship or consortium
Wrongful Death Damages and Fatal Truck Accidents in Ohio
If a truck accident results in the loss of a loved one, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim. Compensation may include:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of services the deceased provided
- Loss of companionship, care, and guidance
- Emotional anguish and grief
In Ohio, a personal representative (also known as an executor or administrator) of the deceased person’s estate must file the wrongful death claim on behalf of surviving family members. The claim is brought in the name of the estate, but the compensation is distributed to the surviving relatives who suffered losses. Those eligible to receive compensation may include:
- The surviving spouse
- Children (including adopted children)
- Parents of the deceased
- Other next of kin, depending on the circumstances
Families may also be able to file a survival action, which is a separate type of legal claim from wrongful death. A survival action allows the estate to recover damages the deceased person could have claimed had they survived the truck accident. This may include:
- Pain and suffering endured before death
- Medical expenses incurred between the time of the injury and death
- Lost wages or loss of earning capacity during that period
Unlike a wrongful death claim, which compensates the family’s losses, a survival action addresses the harm suffered by the deceased. The damages recovered through a survival action become part of the decedent’s estate and are distributed according to their will or Ohio’s intestacy laws.
Damage Caps in Ohio Truck Accident Cases
Ohio places limits on non-economic damages (like pain and suffering), but not on economic damages or wrongful death claims. There is no cap on compensation for measurable losses like medical expenses, lost wages, and future care costs. However, non-economic damages are capped at the greater of three times the economic damages or $250,000, with an overall limit of $350,000 per plaintiff and $500,000 per accident if there are multiple plaintiffs involved. Families pursuing compensation for the loss of a loved one in a fatal truck accident can recover full damages, including non-economic losses.
Can I still recover damages if I was partly at fault for the truck accident?
Yes, you may still recover damages for truck accident injuries in Ohio even if you were partly at fault. Ohio follows a modified comparative negligence system. This means that you can still recover compensation as long as you were not more than 50% at fault for the accident. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example, if a jury finds that you were 20% responsible for the truck accident and your total damages amount to $100,000, you would still be able to recover $80,000. But if you’re found to be 51% or more at fault, Ohio law bars you from recovering any damages at all. Modified comparative negligence issues make it even more important for injured truck accident victims to have a highly skilled truck accident attorney on their side.
Lawyers Representing Injured Truck Drivers in Ohio
Ohio is among the top five U.S. states for the employment of heavy truck and tractor trailer drivers. Ohio truck drivers who get injured on the job need a law firm they can count on to protect their livelihood. At Munley Law, our experienced truck accident lawyers know that not all truck accidents are the trucker’s fault, and that truck drivers face a substantial risk of job-related injuries. We have represented numerous truck drivers who suffered serious injuries in a crash, and families of truck drivers whose loved one was killed or disabled on the job.
A truck accident attorney at Munley Law can help you recover medical expenses and lost wages through workers’ compensation if a truck crash keeps you from doing your job for an extended period of time. Furthermore, we can help you pursue a liability claim against the driver who caused your crash, the property owner responsible for a loading/unloading accident, or any other applicable third party.
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in Ohio?
In Ohio, truck accident victims have a limited time to file a claim. This rule, known as the statute of limitations, gives Ohio plaintiffs two years from the date of the truck accident to file a claim. Similarly, families have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim.
If you miss the filing deadline, you will almost certainly lose your right to seek compensation, no matter how strong your case is. Additionally, critical evidence like crash data, surveillance footage, and witness statements can disappear or become unreliable over time. That’s why it’s essential to speak with a truck accident attorney as soon as possible after your crash.
At Munley Law, our team of truck accident attorneys act quickly to protect your rights and preserve key evidence, giving you the strongest chance at a full recovery. There are some exceptions to the statute of limitations. An experienced truck accident lawyer at Munley Law can identify any applicable deadlines in your case and ensure all necessary steps are taken in a timely manner.
Get a Free Consultation with an Ohio Truck Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a truck accident in Ohio, don’t wait to get the experienced legal help you deserve. The road to recovery begins with a free consultation with an experienced truck accident attorney. This initial consultation is your opportunity to tell your story, get answers to your questions, and seek advice about what to do next.
Trucking companies and their insurers will act quickly to protect themselves — so you need a legal team that will fight just as hard for you. At Munley Law, our nationally recognized truck accident attorneys have the knowledge, resources, and dedication to stand up to powerful opponents and pursue the full compensation you’re entitled to. Your consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win. Call us today or fill out our contact form to speak directly with an experienced truck accident lawyer.
