Cincinnati Box Truck Rollover Accident Lawyers
Were you injured in a rollover accident involving a box truck? Was the crash the result of the truck driver, trucking company, or another party’s negligence? If so, contact the Cincinnati box truck accident lawyers of Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC immediately. You might be entitled to financial compensation for your rehabilitation expenses, prescription drug costs, and additional bills and other losses.
A box truck is made up of a cab in the front where the driver sits and an enclosed cargo area at the back of the vehicle that looks like a box. Companies often use box trucks to carry consumer goods and similar items to retail store locations from their warehouses. These vehicles are also perfect for transporting heavy or large cargo, such as construction materials and furniture.
Since box trucks sit high off the ground and weigh as much as 30,000 pounds, they can cause massive destruction during collisions with smaller vehicles, such as passenger cars. They also have a high center of gravity, making them more susceptible to rolling over if the driver makes a sudden maneuver or crashes into a pothole or curb.
Rollover accidents can be deadly, particularly if the box truck lands on a small car, crushing the occupants inside. Surviving accident victims often face a challenging recovery. Many people suffer physical or mental limitations and require ongoing treatment to heal. The cost of medical bills can result in financial strain and lead to debt.
At Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC, we understand how traumatic a box truck rollover accident can be. We have the experience and resources to help you hold the negligent driver liable and recover the maximum compensation you deserve. Call us at (513) 351-5997 now for a free consultation with one of our Cincinnati box truck rollover accident lawyers.
The Dangers of Box Trucks
Box trucks are dangerous because of their unique characteristics. They differ from passenger cars due to their size and weight. Although not as massive as other commercial trucks, such as tractor-trailers, they’re big enough to cause serious damage during an accident.
High Center of Gravity
Box trucks are more susceptible to rolling over because of their high center of gravity. That means truck drivers must operate the vehicle carefully at all times. An abrupt change in direction, such as braking too hard, turning too quickly, or swerving the opposite way, can cause the truck to roll.
Stopping Distance
Due to the extra weight, box trucks require a greater stopping distance than small cars. A stopping distance is the distance it takes for a vehicle to come to a complete stop. The formula involves the amount of time required for a driver to notice a perceived danger and apply the brakes.
A truck traveling at 65 miles per hour will likely need about 200 yards to stop. That means the truck driver must observe the road far ahead and start applying the brakes well before a red light, sharp turn, stopped traffic, or a hazard. If a trucker takes a turn too fast or brakes suddenly to avoid crashing into another vehicle, the momentum could cause the entire truck to tip onto its side or roll over.
Blind Spots
Large trucks, such as box trucks, also have significantly larger blind spots than a standard car. Passenger vehicles only have blind spots on either side. However, a commercial truck has a blind spot on all four sides.
Truck drivers must check each blind spot thoroughly before turning or changing lanes. If they don’t, they could end up sideswiping a driver traveling next to them, running them off the road. Unfortunately, a rollover accident is more likely when a trucker fails to check their blind spots because they might overcorrect their steering or swerve away from another vehicle quickly, causing the truck to become off-balance and roll.
Compensation Available After a Rollover Accident Involving a Box Truck
Federal regulations and state laws require motor carriers to purchase liability insurance for drivers operating box trucks. Minimum limits depend on the weight of the vehicle and the type of cargo its carries.
For example, a box truck weighing less than 10,001 pounds and transporting non-hazardous materials must have at least $300,000 in liability coverage.
If you decide to file an insurance claim for your injuries sustained in the rollover crash, you could receive compensation to cover some or all of the losses you suffered, such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damage
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
If the insurance carrier denies your claim or offers a settlement much lower than your total losses, you could proceed with a lawsuit. However, it’s vital to understand the risk you take if you’re partially responsible for the accident.
Modified comparative negligence allows the jury to reduce an accident victim’s financial award by their percentage of shared fault.
For example, if your losses total $100,000, but a jury determines you were 20 percent at fault for your injuries, you could receive no more than $80,000 in compensation. Additionally, state law prohibits recovering any amount of money if you were more than 50 percent to blame for the collision.
Deadline to File a Lawsuit for a Box Truck Rollover Accident Case
If you were involved in a box truck rollover accident in Cincinnati, you could pursue a lawsuit against the truck driver or another liable party. You must file your lawsuit within a specific timeframe known as a statute of limitations.
The Ohio statute of limitations is two years. That means you have two years from the date of the crash to initiate your lawsuit. Otherwise, you could lose your right to seek compensation.
Contact Us
At Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC, our Cincinnati box truck rollover accident lawyers will fight by your side for the justice you deserve. You can depend on our legal team to work hard to try to secure the maximum available compensation. We will do what we can to meet your needs and try to achieve your desired outcome.
If you were injured in a rollover accident with a box truck due to someone else’s negligence, do not hesitate to contact Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC. We will be happy to discuss the incident during a free consultation and advise what we can do to help you hold the at-fault party accountable for their actions. Call us now at (513) 351-5997.
