Truck Driver Negligence

America’s growing economy and the rapid transition to e-commerce have made trucking one of the nation’s most vital occupations.

Chillicothe is a hub of economic activity in Southern Ohio. Malls, hospitals, prisons and  college campuses combine with a history of mills, mining and manufacturing. It’s a diversity that offers an increasing array of job opportunities but also brings a growing threat as it puts more large trucks, delivery vehicles, semi trucks, dump trucks, and other large commercial vehicles on our roads.

Our semi truck accident attorneys see growing risks – from neighborhoods to interstates – as these vehicles clash with motorists and pedestrians. In 2020, our Chillicothe trucking accident attorneys secured a $2.1 million settlement in a case involving a dump truck at a road construction site along Highway 35, as we continue to fight for the rights of those injured or killed in these accidents.

Causes of Chillicothe Trucking Accidents

Top causes of commercial truck collisions in Southern Ohio include:

• Violations of Motor Carrier Rules and Regs: From Hours-of-Service regulations meant to keep tired truckers off the road, to weight and cargo restrictions and licensing requirements, truckers and trucking companies routinely disregard the rules of the road.
• Traffic Infractions: Speeding, use of phones by commercial drivers (illegal under federal law), and aggressive driving are all top causes of trucking accidents.
• Unsafe Trucks: The trucker shortage and supply-chain issues continue to keep trucks on the road even after routine maintenance issues or critical safety issues are discovered, or should have been discovered and repaired.
• Bad Carriers: Overworked regulators and an industry that has long relied upon independent carriers, limited liability corporations and other tactics aimed at shielding assets and reducing liability, are contributing to an environment where bad operators are allowed to continue operating, or simply close up only to reopen under a new name.
• Regional Operators: A growing number of independent delivery services – including those delivering the vast majority of Amazon packages – are making their way onto neighborhood streets, where children and pedestrians face growing risks.
• Construction: Building the infrastructure to keep up with an economy increasingly dependent upon suburban warehouses and rural delivery carriers, is contributing to clogged roads, frustration and traffic congestion.
• Third-Party Liability: Carriers often operate under limited liability corporations or shell companies. They hire drivers as independent contractors, and build relationships with warehouses, shippers and regional couriers that can lead to a labyrinth of liable entities in the wake or a serious or fatal trucking collision. In other cases, freight owners, other motorists, maintenance contractors, and even municipalities may share blame for a collision.
• Inexperienced truckers: The industry was short more than 60,000 truckers at the start of the coronavirus pandemic and that shortage is expected to grow to nearly 200,000 by the end of the decade. More than 100,0000 new truckers will need to be put on the nation’s roads each year to handle the demand for new truckers and replace those aging out or otherwise leaving the industry.
• Medical Issues: Sleep apnea is an epidemic among truckers, who often suffer from obesity and other medical conditions caused by inactivity, including high blood pressure and diabetes.
• Substance Abuse: Long hours, poor sleep and constant deadlines lead far too many truck drivers to rely on prescription and illegal drugs to get the job done.

The complexity of these cases means they should always be handled by a Chillicothe trucking accident attorney with extensive experience. Your chosen law firm must:

• Identify all of the factors of causation, as well as all of the entities and individuals who share liability for your injuries.
• Determine the full extent of your current and future losses, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future costs or disabilities.
• Build a case capable of winning a settlement or verdict against some of the nation’s largest companies and their commercial insurance carriers and attorneys.

If you are involved in a collision with a commercial vehicle, contact the Warren Law Firm.

Featured Image by @jaredmurray