Ohio Truck Accident Help
A Division of Ohio Truck Accident
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The Trucking Industry Laws
Federal and state trucking laws govern commercial trucks. These trucking industry regulations are intended to reduce risk and improve driving conditions. But when truck laws are violated, terrible accidents can follow. At Ohio Truck Accident Help, our Ohio truck accident lawyers are dedicated to protecting victims and will fight to set things right. Let us investigate possible violations and pursue justice against those at fault.
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Ohio limits the height, weight, and length of large commercial vehicles. According to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), the max weight for a single-axle truck is 29,000 pounds, and 80,000 pounds for a long quad axle.
Truck weight limits are based on the Federal Bridge Formula, designed to protect our U.S. bridges and roadways from increasingly heavy vehicles. The State Highway Patrol enforces these limits for trucks traveling through Ohio, testing their weights at weigh stations.
Ohio also regulates the length, width, and height of large trucks. For instance, the height of a commercial tractor-trailer is limited to 13 feet, six inches. The max width of a commercial truck is 102 inches, and the typical length limit is 50 feet. But some semis with trailers can be up to 53 feet long. When trucks exceed state guidelines, the vehicle may be restricted to roadways that can handle its size.
The Ohio BMV regulates truck drivers and issues commercial driving licenses. (CDL). To acquire and remain compliant with CDL guidelines, drivers must:
In addition to Ohio trucking laws, the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) oversees the commercial trucking industry at the federal level. This agency ensures drivers and motor carriers remain safe on our nation’s roads by regulating driver behavior and trucking company practices.
Some well-known federal safety regulations for truck drivers include:
What If Laws are Broken?
Commercial transportation companies and their employees must comply with all Ohio and federal trucking regulations, which include routine safety training, regular vehicle inspections, maintenance, and record keeping. Unfortunately, many companies and drivers fail to live up to their obligation. Failing to follow federal trucking regulations can result in significant financial penalties and injuries if an accident occurs.
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Tragically, many FMCSA violations and unsafe trucking practices are only discovered after a devastating crash.
When truck regulations are disregarded, very large and extremely heavy vehicles fall into disrepair. Likewise, unsafe driver behaviors put other motorists at tremendous risk.
Some typical violations that result in truck accidents are:
Truck drivers frequently violate the rules around how much time they can drive because they are compelled to go further and for longer to make deadlines. This puts a lot of overtired drivers on the road and increases the odds of a collision.
The FMCSA can issue penalties on a driver or carrier who violates hours of service rules. Fines range between $1,000 and $16,000 per violation, with even larger fines reserved for hazardous cargo violations.
Truck drivers are held to a high standard and should never operate their vehicles while impaired by any drug, legal or illegal. Such violations can jeopardize the driver’s career, CDL, criminal record, and the public.
Balance, capacity, and cargo security are essential for a truck’s safe operation, but they are too often overlooked in a rush to make deliveries and meet shipping quotas. A serious accident can happen when overloaded cargo shifts, falls, or puts too much strain on a truck.
Specific systems on a truck need to be inspected regularly and kept in good working order. A truck’s braking system or engine is not correctly checked constitutes a violation and could result in a crash if these systems fail.
Motor carriers are required by law to maintain various records, including proof of insurance, confirmation of the carrier’s DOT number and MC identification, permits regarding their cargo, driver information, and licensing vehicle registration and maintenance records, and cargo details.
Trucking companies and drivers regularly cut corners regarding training and safety compliance. This usually happens when companies are understaffed and overworked, but forgoing safety checks to meet deadlines and hiring unqualified drivers should not be tolerated.
A lot of trust and responsibility is placed on truck drivers. We rely on them to transport the things we need and expect them to do it as safely as possible. Truck drivers should always drive at reasonable speeds for road conditions and follow all traffic laws. When they don’t, it’s a violation.
Truck accidents are often the result of violations of state and federal trucking regulations. These violations can be challenging to uncover without a thorough investigation. This is where an experienced truck accident lawyer becomes invaluable. A lawyer gathers critical evidence and connects these violations to the accident to prove fault and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Many trucking violations, such as hours-of-service breaches or improper maintenance, are not immediately apparent. A lawyer will:
By conducting a comprehensive investigation, a lawyer can uncover the violations that led to the crash.
Ohio Truck Accident Help is committed to helping you get the financial security to heal. We’re compassionate about what you endured and practical about your needs after a truck accident.
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Proving a Violation Happened
A successful truck accident claim or lawsuit may hinge on showing how the driver, employers, or another party was negligent and, therefore, liable for your losses. One way is to demonstrate that the party at fault violated state or federal trucking regulations. You may be able to show a history of ‘hour of service’ violations resulting in an overtired driver being on the road or those lax inspections resulting in a defective truck part being used.
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A lawyer plays a vital role in linking trucking violations to the cause of your accident. For example, hours-of-service violations may prove driver fatigue, failed maintenance can explain mechanical issues like brake failure, and overloaded cargo could account for a rollover or jackknife. These connections are crucial for establishing negligence and liability.
To strengthen your case, a lawyer gathers and presents critical evidence, such as driver logs, black box data, maintenance records, and visual documentation from the crash. Expert testimony and accident reconstruction further demonstrate how these violations caused the accident, allowing your lawyer to counter-defense arguments and negotiate effectively.
Truck accidents often involve multiple responsible parties, including the driver, trucking company, maintenance providers, or cargo loaders. Your lawyer will identify all liable entities, negotiate with insurers to ensure fair contributions, and pursue litigation if necessary to secure full compensation.
By proving violations and linking them to your injuries, a lawyer helps recover damages for medical expenses, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more.
When negligence or failure to comply with trucking regulations leads to a truck accident and your injuries, you should not be held responsible for the cost.
Ohio law allows you to pursue compensation for all your assorted losses. And while every accident is different, an experienced lawyer can help calculate your damages and what compensation you can recover. If a violation of trucking regulations or law resulted in a crash, you might be entitled to your:
When trucking companies, drivers, or other parties negligently violate regulations and laws, they will quickly deny responsibility and may even blame the victim. These tactics are designed to pressure you into accepting less than what your claim is worth and resolve accidents quietly without shining, bringing attention to their often-dangerous practices.
This makes it crucial to work with a legal team who can properly investigate, find evidence of state and federal violations, and determine how best to secure max compensation.
At Ohio Truck Accident Help, we focus on helping Ohio truck accident victims with every aspect of their claim and know how to present the clearest possible case for everything you deserve. Our goal is to stop lowball offers, prevent negligence in the trucking industry, and give injury victims the best chance at a maximum settlement or best courtroom verdict possible.
The most common violations include hours-of-service rule breaches, driving under the influence, overloading cargo, improper maintenance, deficient training, and speeding or reckless driving. These violations often stem from pressure to meet tight deadlines, resulting in unsafe practices.
If a truck driver or company violated state or federal regulations, it can serve as evidence of negligence in a claim. For instance, proving an hours-of-service violation may demonstrate that driver fatigue caused the crash, directly linking the violation to your injuries.
Federal rules limit truck drivers to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour work period after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Drivers must also take breaks and adhere to weekly driving limits. Violating these rules can lead to accidents and severe penalties.
Consult an experienced truck accident attorney immediately. They can investigate the crash, request truck driver logs, maintenance records, and black box data, and uncover evidence of regulatory violations that could strengthen your claim.
Yes, trucking companies can often be held liable for their drivers’ actions, especially if they failed to enforce safety rules, provided inadequate training, or pressured drivers to break regulations, such as skipping rest breaks or overloading cargo.
Penalties vary but may include fines ranging from $1,000 to $16,000, CDL suspension, or criminal charges for severe violations like DUI. These penalties can also strengthen a victim’s case by demonstrating negligence.
A lawyer can identify state and federal trucking law violations, gather critical evidence, and demonstrate how these breaches caused the crash. They can also counter defense tactics, such as blaming the victim, and negotiate for maximum compensation on your behalf.