Ohio Truck & Bus Accident Statistics

Ohio State Patrol issues an annual report on crash statistics involving trucks, cars, buses and other vehicles. The most recent report shows that in 2017 there were 116 fatalities in Ohio involving a “heavy truck”, a nearly 25% increase over 2016. The same report revealed that 2017 was also the second highest year for heavy truck related fatalities in the previous five years. Trucks and motor vehicles tend to be safer over time, and the federal requirements for safety have become better as well. However, it appears that in Ohio there may be an upward trend in truck related fatal accidents. The Ohio Department of Public Safety issued a report in for 2016 incidents citing that there were 6,274 accident involving heavy trucks, and that roughly 50% of them were caused by truck drivers. The same result revealed that there were 1,325 accident involving school buses throughout Ohio and that the bus driver was in error for 636 (48%) of those incidents.

Unfortunately, there will likely always be truck accidents involving serious or fatal injuries as long as there are trucks on the road. In fact, The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) found that Ohio is currently one of the top 10 states in the country that represented over 50% of fatal crashes involving a large truck or bus in a report published in November of 2017. This same FMCSA report concluded that speeding was a factor in 17% of fatal truck accidents and that 6% of fatal accidents were attributed to driver distraction (16% of those involved distraction were caused by a mobile device). Most truck drivers are hard working people who want to put food on their table just like everyone, but when behavior or cutting corners results in serious injuries the responsible parties must be held liable.

There will always be significant dangers associated with trucking and catastrophic injuries resulting from collisions. The size & weight differences of a semi truck or bus versus a light weight passenger vehicle, motorcycle or even an SUV usually means that injuries are often very serious or fatal. If you or a family member was seriously injured in a trucking collision, you need to talk to a truck accident lawyer in Ohio with the experience and reputation to secure the compensation your family needs to cover medical expenses and move forward.

Ohio Truck Accidents Lawsuit Statute of Limitations

The “statute of limitation” is defined as the legal length of time that a plaintiff has to bring an action against a defendant. This varies based on state, and the type of incident: civil or criminal. Generally, the statute of limitations for truck accident injury lawsuits in Ohio is 2 years, this is inclusive of nearly all personal injury claims involving drivers, passengers, pedestrians, etc. This is known as Ohio Revised Code section 2305.10. The same 2 year statute of limitations applies to injury claims against Ohio state agencies, however the process and rules for filing a claim are a bit different.

If a personal injury claim is not filed within the time limits as set above, any potential compensation will almost surely be forfeited and lost. If you have questions about how you or your family’s claim will be impacted by a Statute of limitations, you should consult with a truck accident lawyer in Ohio today for the most accurate information.

Pursuing a Truck Accident Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Ohio

If a family member was killed in a truck accident you should seek the advice and representation of a skilled and experienced Ohio truck accident attorney. The reality is that when a person dies due to a trucking accident, there may be numerous parties involved: the truck driver, the trucking carrier, insurance companies, state agencies, federal agencies, City & State road engineers, Etc. Don’t trust your future to an inexperienced personal injury lawyer. TruckAccidentAttorneyNetwork.org has organized a nationwide database of truck accident law firms who focus their practice on Motor Vehicle Vehicle collisions, with significant experience litigating big rig accidents.