Ohio Truck Accident Help
A Division of Ohio Truck Accident
Common Types of Truck Accidents in Ohio
When a truck carrying hazardous materials crashes, the consequences can be catastrophic, causing chemical burns, toxic exposure, long-term health complications, and widespread environmental damage. These types of accidents are rare but high-risk, often requiring large-scale emergency response and medical intervention for victims and first responders alike.
Hazardous material (hazmat) transport is governed by strict state and federal safety regulations, but when corners are cut, the results can be devastating. At Ohio Truck Accident Help, we know how to handle these complex, high-stakes cases. From investigating the cause to uncovering Hazmat violations, our experienced hazmat truck accident attorneys are ready to fight for the compensation you need.
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Commercial truck accidents are dangerous on their own. Add in hazardous materials, and minor injuries can turn into lifelong health issues. Hazardous material may be:
Ammonia, for example, is a chemical hauled across Ohio (all along I-70, I-71, and other highways). It can cause respiratory distress, lung damage, burns, and even death. Chemical chain reactions can also occur, resulting in explosions or severe fires.
Toxic and hazardous materials turn already dangerous head-on crashes into toxic exposure that leads to:
Federal and state regulations exist to protect motorists and the environment, including:
All hazardous waste transporters in Ohio must file an annual registration. Registered transporters are responsible for the waste from the time of pick-up until it arrives at their respective facilities.
Driver error is a common cause of truck accidents, often stemming from negligence. Vehicle size and weight contribute to the challenges of driving a commercial vehicle, but some causes include multiple third parties and conditions outside of the driver’s control.
Ohio receives 40” of precipitation per year and 28” of snow, with some areas, such as Cleveland, seeing 60+” of snow annually. Slippery and slick roadways contribute to the risk of truck accidents.
Distracted driving is an avoidable driver error caused by smartphone usage, eating and driving, adjusting GPS, speaking to dispatch, or other in-cab distractions.
Ohio has 83.69% of roads that are in “acceptable” conditions. Poor road conditions increase the risk of accidents. Areas such as Cleveland rank among the top 6 cities with the worst-maintained roads.
Potholes, uneven surfaces, and other road conditions increase the risk of accidents.
Hazardous waste transport is highly regulated. Failing to meet regulatory compliance puts motorists at risk. Carriers may skip inspections or fail to routinely train employees to follow industry best practices.
Long shifts, scheduling pressures, and lack of sleep all lead to driver fatigue. Reaction time and focus both decrease when a driver is fatigued, making it more challenging to avoid potential road hazards and react to changing road conditions.
Driving too fast increases the risk of weather conditions contributing to an accident and increases a big rig’s already long stopping distance.
Load shifts can destabilize vehicles, causing spills, overturns, or rollover accidents. If containers fall off the truck and contain hazardous materials, fires can break out, toxins can enter the air, or surfaces can become slick.
Tire blowouts, brake failures, transmission malfunctions, and other equipment failures can cause serious accidents. These malfunctions may result from poor maintenance, aging equipment, overloading, a lack of pre-trip inspections, or manufacturer defects.
Multiple parties may be liable in crashes involving hazardous waste trucks, including:
When hazardous waste spills and environmental damage are involved, expert witnesses may be brought in to analyze the cause of the spill and identify liability.
In some cases, liability may follow the cradle-to-grave principle established by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which can hold generators liable even after shipping the waste.
If you were injured in a hazardous truck accident, you may be eligible for compensation under Section 2315.18 of Ohio law.
Ohio allows injured victims to seek economic and non-economic damages for their injuries.
If you were involved in an accident with a hazardous waste truck, you don’t have to go through the claims process alone. Having an experienced legal team on your side can help you achieve the best possible outcome.
Here’s how an attorney can strengthen your case:
One of the first things an attorney will do is conduct a thorough investigation to identify all responsible parties. In accidents involving hazardous trucks, several parties may share in the liability.
Evidence will play a key role in securing a fair settlement. An attorney will start gathering and preserving critical pieces of evidence right away, including:
Evidence collection can be a challenging process to manage on your own. Attorneys will handle this complicated step and take the right measures to protect key pieces of evidence.
In truck accident cases, experts are often brought in to support claims and strengthen your case.
Expert testimony can weaken the other party’s arguments, identify liability, and establish negligence. An attorney will know how to bring these individuals in to support your case and present their statements as evidence.
An attorney will handle every aspect of your case, including negotiations with insurance companies or other parties. Attorneys know the tactics insurers use to minimize settlement payouts and will fight back to pursue maximum compensation. They handle this stressful and overwhelming aspect of your case, so you can focus on your recovery.
Strong evidence can help establish negligence and liability in a hazardous waste truck accident. The most important types of evidence in cases like these are photographs or videos, police reports, witness statements, driver records, hazardous material documentation, compliance records, and expert testimony.
When collisions involve hazardous waste trucks, the effects can be far-reaching. In addition to property damage and injuries, there may be hazardous material spills, fires, explosions, or chemical reactions that make the accident scene dangerous.
Crash prevention starts with proper training and behavior monitoring. Trucking companies should ensure all drivers have HAZMAT endorsements and undergo safety training for defensive driving, spill response, and handling dangerous loads. Proper vehicle maintenance and loading can further prevent accidents.
If you are involved in an accident with a hazardous truck, the first thing you should do is call 911. If possible or necessary, pull over to a safe place away from traffic. Seek medical attention, even if you believe your injuries are minor. Document the scene if you are able, and call an attorney to start the claims process.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10, the statute of limitations on personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident. Exceptions are in place for minors and if an injury is not immediately discovered. In these cases, the two-year clock starts ticking after the victim’s 18th birthday or the date the injury was discovered, respectively. For most claims, the countdown will start ticking from the date of the accident.
Hazardous waste truck crashes can be devastating. Many victims suffer serious, life-altering injuries from the impact and chemical spills, including severe burns, respiratory injuries, and disfigurement.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries from a hazardous truck crash, you need an experienced truck accident law firm in Ohio on your side. Our legal team will fight for maximum compensation in your case and hold the responsible parties liable for their negligence.