Sandusky Truck Accident Attorneys
A Murray Will Take Your Call
When you call Murray & Murray in Sandusky for legal help after a truck accident, you do not need to worry about being bounced around to legal interns and assistants. We strive to connect every single caller with a Murray from our team, like Attorney Charles Murray or Attorney Florence Murray.
Protecting and upholding the rights of the wrongfully injured runs in the family, and it is why we treat all of our clients like family or close friends. This deliberate and compassionate approach to casework not only helps us better manage our clients’ cases but also helps put their worries at ease as their cases progress. At our law firm, you can trust that your trucking accident case is in the right hands.
Discover the difference that our representation can do for your truck accident claim. Call our truck accident law firm at (419) 664-3711.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Sandusky, OH
If you have been involved in a trucking accident in Sandusky, Ohio, there are several important steps that you should take to protect your rights. Doing so can help your attorney build a case that better pursues the compensation that you deserve.
After a truck accident, you should:
- Seek medical attention: Your health and safety should be your top priority after any accident. Even if you feel fine immediately following the crash, it is important to get checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible. Some injuries may not be immediately apparent and could worsen over time if left untreated.
- Contact an experienced truck accident attorney: Truck accidents can be much more complex than car accidents due to the various parties involved (such as the truck driver, trucking company, and potentially even the manufacturer of the truck or its parts). An experienced trucking accident attorney can help investigate the accident and determine who may be liable for your injuries.
- Gather evidence: If possible, try to gather as much evidence as you can at the scene of the truck accident. This could include taking photos of the damage to vehicles or property, getting contact information from any witnesses, and obtaining a copy of the police report.
- Notify your insurance company: You will need to notify your own insurance company about the accident, even if the truck driver was at fault. However, it is important to avoid making statements that could be used against you later on.
- Be cautious with social media: Avoid posting anything on social media about the accident or your injuries until after your case has been resolved. Insurance companies and defense attorneys may use social media posts against you in court, such as to dispute the severity of your injuries.
By following these steps after a trucking accident, you can help protect yourself legally and financially while focusing on your physical recovery. Don't hesitate to reach out to an experienced attorney for guidance during this difficult time.
Where Do Truck Accidents Happen the Most?
Truck accidents can occur anywhere, but there are certain areas where truck accidents tend to happen more frequently than others, such as:
- Intersections: Because trucks are larger and heavier than most other vehicles on the road, they require more time and space to make turns or stop at intersections or traffic lights. This can lead to trucking accidents if other drivers are not paying attention or do not give the truck enough room.
- Highways: Trucks travel long distances on highways and interstate roads and are often carrying heavy loads, which can increase the risk of an accident if something goes wrong. Speeding, reckless driving, or distracted driving by either the truck driver or other motorists can also contribute to highway accidents involving commercial trucks.
- Construction zones: In a construction zone, drivers will usually have to deal with reduced speed limits and narrow lanes, which can be challenging for even the most experienced truck drivers. Additionally, construction zones may have temporary barriers or uneven pavement that can be hazardous for large vehicles.
While it is impossible to predict exactly where a truck accident will occur, being aware of these common locations can help drivers stay alert and avoid potential hazards on the road.
Determining the Cause of Your Truck Accident
Murray & Murray has been handling difficult personal injury claims for clients in Sandusky since 1931. Throughout the decades, we have seen all sorts of truck accident claims and we have made numerous connections with local accident reconstruction experts. When it comes to figuring out what caused your semi-truck accident and who is liable for it, few trucking accident law firms in the nation can match our experience.
A truck accident can be caused by various forms of negligence, including:
- Truck driver exhaustion: There are few things more dangerous on the average highway than an exhausted truck driver. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations allow most truckers to be scheduled for 14 hours in one day with only 3 hours on break, meaning many truckers drive 11 hours a day. It is plain to see how exhaustion can set in, spiking the chances of a truck driver causing a crash.
- Truck driver intoxication: Another serious issue that contributes to trucking accidents across the nation is truck driver intoxication. Technically, it is only illegal for a truck driver to operate their vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.04 or more. Yet it is widely accepted that any detectable BAC level worsens a driver’s reaction times and motor controls. Truck drivers need to be completely focused to keep others in smaller vehicles safe, so not even one alcoholic drink on-the-job should be acceptable.
- Incorrectly loaded cargo: The freight that a commercial truck hauls can significantly contribute to or directly cause a truck accident. If a truck is overloaded and exceeds its FMCSA weight limit, then it will take longer for the truck’s brake to bring the vehicle to a complete stop, raising the risk of a rear-end accident. Or a poorly loaded trailer can become top-heavy and prone to tipping over in the wind or when the truck turns. Weakly secured cargo can fall off or out of a trailer, hitting vehicles behind it.
- Poorly maintained trucks: There are many components to a commercial truck that need to be in excellent condition for the truck to be driven safely. Everything from the brakes and the trailer hitch to the engine and steering column should be inspected and maintained frequently. This responsibility usually falls upon whatever party owns the truck, not necessarily the trucker who drives it.
Given how many common causes of truck accidents there are, multiple parties may be liable for your truck crash injuries. Everyone from the trucker and the parent trucking company to third-party crews placing freight in a tractor-trailer could be partially liable for the accident. Rather than trying to sort through all of those details on your own, allow our Sandusky truck accident attorneys to do that work for you.
Injured in a truck accident in Sandusky or within the surrounding area? If so, contact us today at (419) 664-3711 for a free consultation.
Bad Injury? Great Lawyers!
Ohio Expertise, National Excellence.
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Charles M. Murray"No different than most kids, I dreamt of being a hero as a child—and there was no bigger hero in my life than my father. He often told us stories about the people who were relying on him to resolve their tragedies; I always knew that was the kind of person I wanted to be." -
Margaret M. Murray"I work to be an advocate for my clients and help them in the best and most meaningful way possible. Presenting a case to the court and having the clients understand just how much we care about their very personal and individual claims is very important to me."
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James L. Murray"The relationships with my clients are built through hours of listening and working together. That is what makes my job worthwhile. It is a great thrill when I get to tell clients that we’ve won a case and that they will be able to rebuild or improve their lives as a result of our hard work together."
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Florence A. Murray"Fairness has always been my driving force—knowing that no one ever deserves or wants to be in a situation where they need an attorney. I believe that one of the greatest joys in life is interacting with and helping other people, and it’s this knowledge that I take with me to my practice every day."
The Murray & Murray Difference
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Maximize Our Clients Outcome
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Stake Our Reputations on Our Cases
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