Toledo Truck Accident Lawyer

Accidents involving large commercial trucks can cause severe injuries to the occupants of passenger cars due to the size and weight differences between these two classes of vehicles. Accident victims who have sustained catastrophic injuries or lost loved ones in truck crashes deserve a fair settlement. A Toledo truck accident lawyer can help you get yours.

Work With Spangenberg Shibley & Liber

The team here at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber has been practicing personal injury law since 1946. In our many decades in practice, we have handled countless truck accident claims and helped clients recover millions of dollars. We’ve also developed a reputation for handling challenging, high-value claims with persistence and skill. Let us bring our experience to bear on your truck accident case.

Reasons to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer

Large trucks caused 6,177 accidents in Ohio in 2025. Of those accidents, 143 were fatal. Another 2,673 people suffered injuries as a result of their crashes. If you have suffered serious injuries as a result of a truck crash that occurred within Ohio’s two-year statute of limitations, you need to hire a truck accident lawyer right away. Your lawyer can:

• Evaluate your case to determine whether you have a valid truck accident claim.
• Determine liability so you know who to file a claim against.
• Gather and analyze evidence.
• Interview witnesses and hire expert witnesses.
• Negotiate on your behalf.
• Represent you in court.

Having a lawyer on your side won’t just make it easier to get a fair settlement from the liable driver’s insurance company. It will also take some of the stress off you during a difficult time when you should be focusing on how to move on from your accident.

Determining Liability in a Truck Accident Case

Determining who is liable for a regular car accident is usually relatively easy. Insurance adjusters evaluate the evidence and witness statements and use that information to determine which driver acted negligently to cause the crash. Truck accident cases are more complicated. They often involve several liable parties, and it can be difficult to determine who they are. Depending on the circumstances of the crash, liable parties can include:

• Truckers. The truck drivers themselves are often held partially liable for accidents they cause. This is typically the case if the driver was acting recklessly or negligently or was not following the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).
• Trucking companies. Trucking companies may be held liable for accidents caused by their drivers, even if they use independent contractors, via the theory of vicarious liability. The companies are also responsible for following Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules and regulations.

If they did not sufficiently vet drivers, have not been maintaining drug testing protocols, or have not been maintaining the trucks, they may be held responsible for the crash.

• Cargo loaders. The people who load cargo into trucks can also be found liable for crashes caused by shifting contents or cargo escaping the trailer if they did not secure it properly.
• Maintenance contractors. Fleet managers and truck mechanics can be held liable for mechanical failures that result from improper maintenance or poorly performed repairs. Common examples include botched brake jobs and tire blowouts.
• Truck or part manufacturers. If the truck itself has a design flaw that contributed to the accident, the manufacturer may be liable. If a replacement part failed, the parts manufacturer could be at least partially to blame.

Because they often involve multiple parties, truck accident cases require extensive investigation and the help of an experienced Toledo truck accident attorney. Your attorney can identify all possible defendants to get you all the compensation you are owed.

Top Causes of Truck Accidents

Each trucking accident is unique. However, some types of accidents occur more frequently than others. Many of these accidents occur as a result of 18-wheelers’ size and poor maneuverability, as is the case with jackknifing accidents and trucks that get stuck under bridges. Other factors can also contribute to truck accident risk, including:

• Driver fatigue
• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence (DUI)
• Driver inexperience
• Speeding
• Carrying heavy cargo
• Not adjusting to inclement weather

These are all forms of driver negligence that could lead to truckers or the companies they work for being held liable for accidents.

Proving Liability in Truck Accident Cases

There are three elements you’ll need to show to prove the truck driver was liable for the crash:

1. The driver was acting negligently. If the driver was not following the rules of the road, the FMCSA regulations, or was intoxicated at the time, those factors can prove negligence per se, and your lawyer won’t need to provide further evidence to support this element of the case.
2. The trucker’s negligence was responsible for the accident. You need to show that the accident would not have occurred and you would not have been injured had it not been for the driver’s negligence.
3. You suffered material harm. Your hospital records, medical bills, and proof of lost wages will show that you suffered compensable damages due to the accident.

Essential Evidence in a Truck Accident Case

Truck accident litigation requires types of evidence not found in ordinary car accident cases. Every truck has a black box, or Electronic Logging Device (ELD). This ELD contains crucial data that can be used to prove your case, such as how fast the truck was driving, when the driver hit the brakes, and how the truck was being operated. It can be invaluable for determining the cause of the accident and proving liability.

ELDs can show that drivers were speeding at the time of the crash, proving negligence per se, or that they braked hard right beforehand. An erratic braking pattern can be a sign of distraction, fatigue, or intoxication. Your lawyer can use all of this information together with additional evidence gathered at the scene and during the discovery stage of the trial to prove the driver was liable for the crash. Additional data can include:

• Photos from the scene. If you were able to take pictures of the two vehicles, the damage they sustained, and any tire marks or other road conditions surrounding the crash site, that can prove invaluable to your lawyer in proving what happened.
• Vehicle damage. Even if you were not able to get photographs at the scene, the damage to the vehicles can be evaluated to help explain what happened.
• Eyewitness accounts. Witnesses to the accident can make your case even stronger. Take down their information before leaving the crash scene to seek medical attention if you are able.
• Surveillance footage. Your lawyer may be able to subpoena surveillance footage from nearby stores, homes, or traffic cameras.
• Police reports. The police report should contain valuable information such as the officer’s observations about the crash.
• Medical records. Your medical records can be used to show the extent of the damage you suffered as a result of the accident. Imaging, like MRIs and X-rays, can be particularly useful.
• Expert witness testimony. It may be necessary to bring in an expert witness to testify to the extent of your injuries or the circumstances surrounding the crash.

As you can see, some of this evidence can be gathered by accident victims either at the scene of the crash or following it at the hospital. Your lawyer also has tools available to gather additional evidence not available to the average person.

Key Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations

Passenger car drivers are governed only by state laws and basic rules of the road. Commercial truckers are subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. The FMCSR regulatory framework creates additional standards for truckers that don’t apply to other drivers to improve safety conditions on the road. Key provisions include:

• Maximum hours of drive time. The FMCSRs prevent truckers from driving more than 11 hours within a 14-hour duty window if they carry property or 10 hours if they are carrying passengers. The same rule mandates consecutive hours of rest following consecutive hours of work.
• Vehicle maintenance standards. Truckers aren’t the only ones who can violate the FMCSRs. Trucking companies are also held to high standards when it comes to maintenance and inspections. They must establish systematic programs for making sure their trucks are roadworthy and safe to drive.
• Driver qualifications. Inexperienced drivers can pose a serious danger to themselves and other motorists because 18-wheelers are much more difficult to drive than passenger cars. They must carry commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), which require special training programs and road tests, and pass medical exams. These qualifications should be monitored on an ongoing basis.
• Drug and alcohol testing. Trucking companies are required to test their drivers for drugs and alcohol on a regular basis. They must perform pre-employment tests, random tests, and post-accident tests, at a minimum, to ensure that their drivers are operating free from impairment.

These additional rules of the road apply to trucks no matter where they are driving, so it doesn’t matter whether you got into an accident on the I-75 or a busy surface street like Airport Highway. You can use information about whether the truck driver and trucking company were following federal regulations to help further your case.

FAQs

Q: What Should I Do Immediately After a Truck Accident?

A: Immediately after a truck accident, you should take steps to make sure that everyone involved is safe and away from the flow of traffic. If possible, you should then take photographs or videos of the scene and collect contact information from not just the truck driver but also any witnesses to the accident. All of this information can help your lawyer build a stronger truck accident case.

Q: How Much Can You Get Out of Pain and Suffering After a Truck Accident?

A: How much you can get out of pain and suffering after a truck accident depends on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, the liable driver’s insurance policy cap, and how skilled your lawyer is in negotiating with insurance companies. Pain and suffering and other non-economic damages are typically based on the value of the economic damages you’ve suffered.

Q: Should I Accept the First Settlement Offer After a Truck Accident?

A: You should not accept the first settlement offer after a truck accident. Insurance companies often make quick, low settlement offers to people who don’t have legal representation, knowing that they need the money to pay medical bills and make up for lost wages. Working with a Toledo truck accident attorney can improve your chances of getting a fair settlement that covers 100% of your damages.

Q: What Should You Not Tell Your Truck Accident Attorney?

A: You should not tell your truck accident attorney lies about the accident, but you don’t have to accept fault for it, either. Give your lawyer all of the relevant information and evidence, and let them make the determination about who they believe to be liable for the accident. Recall also that anything you say to your lawyer is protected under the attorney-client privilege.

Q: What Are the Signs of an Acceptable Settlement Offer?

A: The signs of an acceptable settlement offer include covering all of your current and future damages and getting the approval of your truck accident lawyer. Only an experienced attorney can tell you whether the insurance company is making a fair settlement offer or trying to take advantage of you. You can trust your lawyer to negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.

Your Toledo Truck Accident Lawyer

People involved in truck accidents often suffer catastrophic injuries. If you have been hit by a commercial vehicle and you’re struggling with injuries that will impact you for the rest of your life, you need an experienced Toledo truck accident lawyer to help you with your claim.

You can trust the team here at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber to assist you with every aspect of your truck accident case, from identifying liable parties to negotiating a fair settlement with their insurance companies or, if necessary, representing you in court.

We recovered $15 million in a wrongful death claim against a trucking company for a tractor-trailer collision for one client. * However, past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits. Find out how we can help you. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation today. *Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits.