No-Zone Accident Lawyers
18-wheelers pose a significant threat to other drivers and passengers on the road. Due to their size, mass, and momentum, an accident with an 18-wheeler can cause catastrophic injuries to all drivers and passengers involved.
Collisions commonly occur when drivers enter into a truck’s “no-zone.” These no-zones are the blind spots surrounding an 18-wheeler. When another driver occupies a truck’s no-zone, the truck driver cannot see it, even when they physically turn around.
Many of the accidents that involve these sizable blind spots occur when the truck fails to see a nearby vehicle and abruptly turns or brakes. If a no-zone crash has left you with injuries and expenses, the truck driver or their employer may be liable. Reach out to an injury lawyer as soon as possible.
The team at Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC understand the physical and financial consequences that truck accidents have on victims. Exorbitant medical bills, ongoing treatment, and physical pain all diminish accident victims’ quality of life. If a truck driver’s negligence has left you with significant injury and expense, get in touch with our team today at (513) 351-5997 for a free case evaluation.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
If you are serious about recovering much-needed compensation for your injuries, hire a qualified injury lawyer. An attorney will evaluate your expenses and figure out how much compensation you deserve. To determine liability, your lawyer will also perform an investigation of the events leading up to your accident. This investigation may include accessing traffic records, employment information of the truck driver, driving logs, and other relevant documentation.
Dealing with the administrative aspect of your case requires time, dedication, and experience. An experienced attorney understands the value of your claim and fights to make sure that you receive the settlement you deserve. Nothing is more important than your health and recovery, by entrusting your case to a lawyer, you can focus on healing while a lawyer fights for your rights.
Why Hire Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC?
Our team believes that you should not have to pay the price for a truck driver’s failure to see you in their no-zone. A knowledgeable attorney can inform you of your rights, legal options, and ultimately help you get the compensation and justice you deserve. Our Cincinnati-based truck accident lawyers have the experience and skill necessary to help you hold the truck driver and the company who hired them responsible for their negligence.
We are passionate about defending the rights of our clients, and we also believe that everyone should be able to afford skilled legal representation after a no-zone truck accident. Our team handles injury claims on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don’t owe us a dime unless we recover the compensation you deserve. Start the path toward healing and financial security, call us at (513) 351-5997 to speak with an attorney from our team.
No-Zone Cases We Handle
Although a variety of accidents can take place when a passenger vehicle is in a large truck’s no-zone, some are more common than others. Here are some of the most common types of no-zone collisions:
- Accidents Involving Right turns
- Rear-Ending (Either by the Large Truck or Passenger Vehicle)
- Head-on Collisions on Highways without Dividers
- Sideswipe Accidents
- Under riding—When a Passenger Car Slides Under a Truck
All of these accidents have the potential to be extremely hazardous, even fatal. Truck drivers are required to follow specific safety regulations. The companies that hire them may be negligent and therefore liable as well if they fail to properly hire drivers, train them, and maintain the trucks. The following factors are a few potential causes of a no-zone accident:
- Tailgating
- Long Hours Causing Driver Fatigue
- Drug or Alcohol Abuse
- Failure to Perform Routine Maintenance
- Broken Nose or Cab Mirrors
- Brake or Tire Failure
- Improperly Loaded Cargo
- Right-of-Way Violations
- Speeding
- Brake or Tire Failure
- Neglecting Traffic Laws and Safety Violations
Accidents caused by large trucks’ no-zones cause severe damage, mainly when wrecks occur at high speeds. Some of the most common injuries sustained during no-zone wrecks include:
- Head Injuries—Traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, and serious concussions frequently occur in intersection crashes. In collisions involving large trucks, these can occur even at low speeds.
- Spine and Back Injuries—A side-facing collision can shatter vertebrates and inflict cervical spine damage. Many of these wounds are permanent and require intense, long-term physical rehabilitation.
- Cuts, Bruises, and Internal Bleeding—The enormous amount of force involved in collisions with 18-wheelers can result in external and internal injuries.
- Broken Bones—Fractures to the arms, legs, ribs, hip, and pelvis occur on impact.
Frequently Asked Questions About No-Zone Accidents
Because no-zone safety laws vary by state, there is often confusion about who is responsible for the accident and who can be held liable. Read over some frequently asked questions to learn more about these accidents. Please don’t hesitate to follow up with our team at (513) 351-5997 to discuss your case in more detail.
What are No-Zones?
Around 500,000 accidents involving 18-wheelers occur each year in the U.S., and approximately 1/3 of these crashes include blind spots. When a driver enters any of these three areas around a large truck, they become highly susceptible to the devastating accidents that large trucks can cause. There are three main no-zones around a commercial vehicle where the driver has limited or zero visibility. These are:
- A Short Distance Behind the Truck
- The Rear Quarter to the Right
- The Rear Quarter to the Left
Trucks can also have a fourth no-zone in the roughly twenty feet in front of the 18-wheeler because of the large front hood. Because of the size of commercial trucks, these blind spots are much larger than they would be for the average passenger vehicle. Our team can walk you through your legal options in a free consultation.
What if I Am Partially Responsible for the Wreck? Can I Still File for Damages?
Even if you believe that you are partially to blame for the accident, Ohio’s comparative negligence laws still allow you to receive compensation for damages. The court will decide what percentage of the blame lies on your shoulders, and as long as it is less than 50% of the liability, you can still recover damages. The caveat to this is that your final reward depends on your percentage of fault. For instance, if you filed for $500,000 in damages but were found to be 20% at fault for the wreck, you would be entitled to receive $400,000.
What Kind of Damages Can I Claim Compensation for After a No-Zone Accident?
Beyond medical bills, you could be entitled to receive compensation for several types of damages. Depending on the circumstances, you could file a claim for all past and future medical costs, psychological treatment, physical rehabilitation, lost wages or earning potential, pain, suffering, and possibly punitive damages. An experienced attorney will help you understand your legal options and pursue the maximum possible compensation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10 requires that victims file a personal injury lawsuit within two years from the date the injury becomes apparent. Kentucky law varies slightly. According to Kentucky Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(a), the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Kentucky is one year after the injury occurred. Along with the statute of limitations, substantial evidence or witness testimony may disappear or become cloudy if you wait too long to take action.
No-Zone Accident Statistics
As severe as truck accidents tend to be, they are sadly quite frequent as well. According to federal data, there were 22,490 crashes involving commercial vehicles in Ohio in 2015. Of these crashes, 181 were fatal. Although such accidents have been declining nationally, they are on the rise in Ohio. Since 2011, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has implemented a federal tracking system that keeps truck drivers accountable.
The system, known as CSA (Compliance, Safety, and Accountability) evaluates drivers on their safety and assigns points. These scores can provide helpful evidence in no-zone accident cases. Of the thousands of crashes that occur each year in Ohio, an estimated one-third are at least partially caused by driver blind spots.
Contact an Ohio No-Zone Truck Accident Lawyer Today
The experienced truck accident attorneys at Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC will be ready to use all of our available resources to get you the compensation you’re owed. We have accident reconstructionists and logbook auditors, along with many other specialists who understand truck accidents and who know how to identify signs of negligence. These tools are especially necessary for no-zone accidents, which can sometimes present challenges in securing concrete evidence. We also have experience dealing with insurance companies.
Trucking companies or their insurers may attempt to minimize the cash payout you deserve. Our attorneys have the knowledge and experience to navigate the complexities of each case. We are passionate about fighting to make sure each of our clients gets the compensation they deserve, so call us at (513) 351-5997 for a free consultation today.
