It is no secret that collisions between tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles can be devastating. What may surprise many people, however, is that some of the deadliest crashes occur when the smaller vehicle does not hit the truck head-on at all.

Because the trailers of tractor-trailers ride very high above the surface of the road, certain types of collisions between these trailers and commuter cars can end with the smaller vehicle getting wedged underneath the bottom of the trailer. The force of the crash can cause the car’s roof to crush, collapse, or shear away entirely, leaving occupants with catastrophic or fatal injuries.

If you or a loved one were harmed in an underride truck accident in Cleveland, do not wait to seek legal guidance. The attorneys at The Law Firm for Truck Safety have extensive experience handling complex underride claims and are ready to fight for the full compensation you deserve.

Holding Trucking Companies Liable for Underride Crash Injuries

Truck crashes in Cleveland and North Olmsted that result in underrides typically involve a passenger car coming into the path of the truck’s trailer either from the side or directly from the rear, since those are the only places where there is a big enough gap between the trailer and the road for any part of a motor vehicle to fit into. Truck drivers who fail to check their blind spots before turning or changing lanes, stop without warning, or drive while distracted or overly fatigued are particularly likely to cause incidents like this. This is especially the case if they are also inexperienced behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer.

If a reckless or careless act by a truck driver was the primary cause of your underride collision, you may be able to hold both them and their employer liable for the harm that accident causes you to experience. We can help you seek fair restitution for medical bills, lost work income, physical and psychological pain, and more. Additionally, we can make sure insurance companies do not unduly pressure you into accepting less than you deserve.

Taking Action Within Filing Deadlines

Our team can also provide vital help with building, filing, and getting paid fairly through a truck injury lawsuit within the filing time limits set by Ohio’s “statute of limitationsThe time limit within which a lawsuit must be filed.” for personal injuryLegal term for an injury to the body, mind, or psyche, as opposed to an injury to property. claims. This can be especially tricky for claims built around underride truck wrecks in Cleveland, since incidents of this nature often cause life-altering injuries with consequences that will negatively impact your life long after the filing deadline imposed on you by state law.

Under Ohio Revised Code §2305.10, you typically have no more than two years to formally take legal action against someone who harmed you through their own negligence. This two-year filing period usually starts on the date of your actual accident, but sometimes it can start from the date on which you first learned—or reasonably should have known—you were hurt as a direct result of that accident.

Discuss Legal Options With a Cleveland Attorney After an Underride Truck Accident

Any collision with a tractor-trailer has the potential to cause very serious injuries, but underride truck accidents in Cleveland are exceptionally dangerous even in this context. If you have lost a loved one or sustained injuries in a wreck like this, seeking help from compassionate legal counsel is a vital first step toward protecting your entire family’s best interests.

Our truck injury attorneys take a holistic approach to civil recovery designed to help you understand what happened to you, hold the right people accountable for your losses, and help prevent something like this from happening in the future. Call today to learn what the Law Firm for Truck Safety can do for you.