Showing posts with label truck accident lawyer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label truck accident lawyer. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

5 Common Problems That Are Resolved By a Truck Accident Attorney

Filing a car insurance claim should not be an exercise in frustration. However, far too many auto insurance companies exploit the problems faced by claimants when seeking compensation. After you get involved in a car crash, you should follow a series of steps that help you receive the compensation you deserve.

First, you should call 911 followed by moving your automobile into a safe zone. Then, gathering physical evidence and speaking with witnesses provides you with the information you need to file a successful car insurance claim. If you sustained serious enough injuries, a trip to the nearest healthcare facility leads to the diagnosis and treatment of your injuries. The most important step to take after a car accident involves contacting an experienced auto collision lawyer. Getting legal support helps you resolve five common problems that are associated with an auto collision.

Gathering Evidence

Getting involved in a car accident can overwhelm you, especially if you have to deal with one or more injuries. The rapid flow of thoughts might make you forget to look for physical evidence and/or speak to witnesses that confirm what transpired before, during, and after the car accident. An experienced car accident attorney from Schiff & Associates immediately accesses the official police report to review physical evidence, as well as obtain the names and contact information of witnesses.

Gathering evidence helps your lawyer determine the cause of the crash, which can help resolve the next problem on our list.

Proving Negligence

To win a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages, your car accident attorney must show the judge hearing your case the presence of the four elements of negligence. First, your lawyer must demonstrate the other party owed you a duty of care to protect you against harm. Second, your attorney must submit persuasive evidence that establishes a violation of the duty of care doctrine. Third, the crash must have caused you to sustain injuries. Finally, you must have generated financial losses to become eligible for compensation.

Calculating a Fair Value for Compensation

Calculating a fair value for compensation seems like a straightforward process. All it appears that you have to do is add up the bills associated with your case. However, many auto accidents trigger mental and emotional issues such as acute anxiety that makes it difficult to assign a price tag. Hiring one of the proven car accident lawyers from Schiff & Associates ensures you receive compensation for non-monetary damages, such as the value of compensation for living with the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Negotiating a Settlement

An insurance adjuster and/or the lawyer representing the other party might want to negotiate a settlement to avoid the costly and lengthy litigation process. Negotiating a settlement requires the legal expertise of an experienced car accident attorney. You resolve the negotiation problem by receiving legal support that ensures you receive what you deserve in compensation. Your lawyer submits an initial offer, which the other party either accepts or rejects. If the other party rejects your initial offer, you might receive a counteroffer or a formal letter that requests you to move on to the next step in the process.

Filing a Civil Lawsuit

Without the legal support provided by an experienced car accident attorney from Schiff & Associates, you cannot expect to resolve the issues that arise by filing a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages. A car accident attorney interacts with the judge and the other party’s legal representative, as well as files your civil lawsuit before the expiration of the statute of limitations. Each state sets the deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit, with most states establishing the statute of limitations between two and four years.


Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Why Should Owner Operators Keep a Truck Accident Attorney on File?

Truck owners and operators have to take steps to prevent their rigs from getting involved in an accident. Two of the most important steps to take include following federal driving regulations and performing regular maintenance on their 18-wheelers. Another important precautionary step involves keeping a truck accident attorney on file. Keeping a truck accident attorney on file requires hiring a lawyer on retainer. A retainer arrangement gives an owner or operator quick access to legal representation in case a truck driver gets involved in a collision.

Why Do I Need to Have a Truck Accident Attorney on File?

Keeping a truck accident attorney on file dramatically reduces the amount of time it takes to hire a lawyer to represent you during a truck accident case. In addition to quick access to legal representation, truckers benefit from keeping a lawyer on file for several additional reasons.

Conduct a Thorough Investigation

The key to gaining approval for an insurance claim, as well as winning a favorable legal judgment, involves gathering sufficient physical evidence to support an insurance claim and a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages. To collect persuasive physical evidence, your truck accident attorney conducts a thorough investigation that includes gathering physical evidence such as traffic and/or security camera footage. Your attorney also reviews the official police report and interviews witnesses as part of a detailed investigation.

Interacts With the Insurance Adjuster

A truck accident lawyer from Schiff & Associates helps you file a convincing insurance claim, as well as acts as an intermediary to prevent an insurance adjuster from taking advantage of you. By working with an experienced truck accident attorney, you can considerably reduce the amount of time it takes to get an insurance claim settled. You also can focus your attention on other issues, such as recovering from any injuries sustained as the result of a truck accident.

Submit a Reasonable Request for Compensation

One of the most common reasons for truck accident claims to come back denied is an unreasonable request for compensation. By hiring an experienced truck accident attorney, you submit a fair value for compensation that leads to the approval of your claim. Your truck accident lawyer considers the value of economic damages, such as the cost of medical bills and repairing property damage. Then, your lawyer calculates a value for non-economic damages, which can include treating the symptoms associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Prove Another Party Committed Negligence

To win a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages, your truck accident attorney must prove the presence of the four elements of negligence. First, your lawyer must show another party owed you a duty of care to prevent a truck accident. Second, another party must have committed at least one act that violated the duty of care doctrine. Third, you must prove that the truck accident caused your injuries. Fourth, the truck accident has to generate financial losses, such as medical bills and payments to repair the damage done to your rig.

Negotiate a Settlement

Hiring a truck accident attorney provides you with an experienced negotiator to represent your financial interests for an insurance claim, as well as a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages. Negotiations start with your lawyer submitting the initial offer, which the other party accepts or rejects. If the other party rejects the initial offer, you might receive a counteroffer or a certified letter that requests both parties move on to the next step of the insurance claim and/or civil lawsuit process. Several counteroffers can follow the initial offer until both parties resolve their differences or decide to take another action.

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

5 Examples of Commercial Truck Accidents Being More Complex Than Car Accidents

If you have experienced the aftermath of a car accident, you understand that a legal case can get complex quickly. From a lack of physical evidence to confusing insurance jargon, you can get bogged down in a car accident case for months on end. Although car accident cases often turn into complicated legal messes, they do not compare in complexity to the complex issues that arise from a commercial truck accident case.

Why Are Commercial Truck Accidents More Complex Than Car Accidents?

Accidents involving commercial trucks represent some of the most devastating accidents that occur on American roads and highways. Victims of a commercial truck accident frequently develop severe, even life-threatening injuries as a result of colliding with a massively sized commercial truck. In addition, truck accident insurance claims typically introduce many more complex factors than the insurance claims filed for other types of motor vehicle accidents.

Damages and Injuries

The sheer size and weight of a commercial truck cause more property damages and serious injuries than any other type of auto accident. Determining the extent of property damage and serious injuries requires a much more thorough investigation that introduces complex legal and insurance issues.

The more serious the injuries and the higher the value of property damages, the more complex the commercial truck accident case.

Liability

Liability boils down to ownership, which varies among the drivers of commercial trucks. Although most truck drivers are considered owners/operators of their vehicles, a substantial percentage of commercial truck drivers operate big rigs that are owned by a company. Legal and insurance issues concerning liability become even more complex if a truck driver operates an 18-wheeler to haul loads for another party.

Since ownership is often difficult to ascertain, a truck accident case can create issues that make it difficult to determine the liable party. Liability also is problematic because the type of cargo can make a truck driver not liable for causing a collision.

Laws and Regulations

Truck drivers must follow more laws and regulations than the average driver. For example, truck drivers cannot operate a big rig for more than a certain number of hours a day. A truck driver who exceeds the maximum number of operating hours and then causes a commercial truck accident might be guilty of operating a commercial truck while fatigued.

Due to a large number of laws and regulations, discovering fault in a commercial truck accident case generates several complex legal and insurance issues.

State Laws

Although the United States Department of Transportation issues the regulations for operating a commercial truck, each of the 50 states has implemented laws that vary in the types and strength of regulations. The actions taken by a commercial truck driver in one state might produce different legal and insurance ramifications for the same actions taken in another state.

Truck Data

Many truck drivers carry a black box that records a wide variety of data, such as the different speeds traveled throughout the day. The data recovered from a truck’s black box helps investigators determine the cause of a commercial truck crash. However, any discrepancies between the data recovered from a black box and the physical evidence gathered at the scene can turn a relatively easy commercial truck accident case into a difficult case to resolve.

Friday, June 30, 2023

Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Truck Accident Attorney

If you sustained one or more injuries as the result of a truck accident, you should act with a sense of urgency by contacting an experienced truck accident lawyer to schedule a meeting to discuss your case. Most truck accident attorneys offer a free case evaluation for potential clients to discuss their cases. During the first meeting with a truck accident attorney, the lawyer reviews your case to determine what type of action to take, which can include filing a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages.

The attorney reads the official police report of your case, examines the physical evidence collected by the responding law enforcement agency, and interviews witnesses that describe what transpired before, during, and after the truck collision. You learn about how to file a persuasive insurance claim, as well as discuss the steps required to take legal action to recover the financial losses generated by the truck accident. Toward the end of the first meeting with a truck accident attorney, you get the opportunity to ask questions to help you decide whether the lawyer sitting across from you is the right one to handle your case.

What Type of Questions Should I Ask the Truck Accident Attorney?

The questions that you ask a truck accident lawyer can determine the direction you take for your case. You should ask questions that pertain to the attorney’s legal background, as well as clarify how the lawyer approaches handling truck accident cases that result in a victim sustaining one or more injuries. You also should ask questions that explain the legal process, as well as educate you on what you need to do to boosting the strength of your case.

Here are the top five questions to ask a truck accident attorney:

Do You Specialize in Handling Truck Accident Cases?

Personal injury lawyers typically specialize in one, maybe two areas of personal injury law. You want to determine whether the attorney sitting across from you specializes in handling truck accident cases. Truck accident laws vary from other types of personal injury cases such as medical malpractice and premises liability. Although case and truck accident cases share many similarities, there are enough legal differences to require a truck accident attorney to handle your case.

Do You Work on a Contingency Fee Basis?

Hiring a truck accident attorney can cost a considerable amount of money, especially if a lawyer charges clients for legal services by the hour. You want to hire an attorney who operates on a contingency fee basis, which means the lawyer gets paid when you receive compensation from an insurance company and/or a personal injury lawsuit that seeks monetary damages. Truck accident attorneys who charge on a contingency fee basis receive a percentage of a client’s compensation.

Will You Work on My Case from Start to Finish?

The truck accident attorney that you meet for an initial consultation might not be the same attorney who helps you file an insurance claim and/or a personal injury lawsuit. You want to avoid hiring a truck accident lawyer who meets with you for an initial consultation, only to delegate legal responsibilities to a paralegal or a less experienced litigator.

Do You Negotiate Settlements?

Your goal as a victim of a truck accident is to receive compensation in the least amount of time. You can accomplish this goal if your truck accident attorney is willing to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company processing your claim, as well as the defendant in a civil case.

How Much Time Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Each state has established a deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit. Although most states have set the statute of limitations to take legal action between two and four years, other states have set the deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit as long as six years or as short as one year. Regardless of the statute of limitations established by the state where you live, you should act with a sense of urgency to recover your financial losses.


Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Ohio Attorney for Truck Accident Victims

If you have been involved in a highway accident involving a semi truck, also known as an 18-wheeler or a tractor-trailer, you may have incurred devastating injuries or experienced the wrongful death of a loved one.  Commercial trucking accidents can turn your world upside down as the people in any other type of vehicle will sustain the most serious injuries or fatalities in accidents involving large commercial trucks.  It can feel overwhelming knowing what to do following a serious accident with a large truck.  

It is important to take the proper action immediately to receive the compensation that you deserve for your injuries. Commercial trucking companies are covered by large insurance companies who are often quick to respond to the scene of the crash and will immediately try to gather information to discredit your claim. Drivers of semi-trucks are backed by their corporate lawyers and if you have been injured by a semi truck, you need a truck accident lawyer with equal experience who is not afraid to fight for your rights.


Schiff & Associates Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer


Schiff & Associates understands the devastation following an accident with a large commercial truck. We have over 35 years of experience helping Ohioans get the settlement that they deserve from car accidents, truck accidents, personal injuries or wrongful death. We offer free initial consultation, will prepare your case, gather evidence, negotiate with insurance companies and take your case to court to get the settlement that you deserve.


We hold the negligent driver and their company responsible for truck accidents caused by negligence, distracted driving or other reasons. Semi-truck drivers are often fatigued and may fall asleep at the wheel or engage in reckless driving due to fatigue such as speeding or aggressive driving. 


Schiff & Associates offers a free initial consultation and works for you on a contingency basis, you don’t pay anything unless we make a recovery for you.  We have a history of getting our clients the compensation they deserve.  Contact us today for trusted legal representation for your car or truck accident from Ohio’s top car accident attorney.


Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Information You Need to Know After a Motor Vehicle Accident


If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, one of the most important things you can do is to stay calm.  If anyone is hurt, you need to immediately call an ambulance and always call the police.  If the police do not show up, you still need to file a police report as well as to notify your insurance company. 
At the scene of the accident, you should try to move the vehicle out of the way if possible and keep yourself and others out of the way of moving traffic.  You need to exchange information with the other driver/drivers including names, drivers’ license numbers, phone numbers, addresses, insurance companies, policy numbers and license plate’s numbers.  Also you will want to take down the information regarding the vehicle/vehicles involved in the accident including the make, model year and color of the care.  Experts recommend that you protect your I.D. and that you do not hand them to another driver or let them photograph your driver’s license.
Record the location where the accident occurred and the details of how the accident happened. Use your smart phone to take pictures of the damage to your vehicle and to the other vehicles.  If there are witnesses to the accident, you should get a statement from them as well as their names and phone numbers.   
If you or your family’s injuries are non-critical, seek medical attention as soon as possible.   Even if you feel you were not hurt in the accident, it is still a good idea to see your doctor as symptoms may not show up for a few days.  
Schiff & Associates is an experienced personal injury law firm with a long history of recovering the maximum compensation for our clients for injuries and property damage that occurred as a result of a motor vehicle accident.  Please visit our website to learn more.
The experienced attorneys at Schiff & Associates have offered the area trusted legal representation in cases of personal injury and wrongful death since 1982.  We have a history of getting clients the results they deserve and recognize that financial recovery from an accident is just as important as physical recovery.  Call today for information regarding legal services from Columbus, Ohio’s top personal injury lawyer.

Monday, November 20, 2017

Trust Your Case to the Top Attorneys in Ohio


Schiff & Associates has been committed to providing the Columbus Ohio area with trusted legal services for over 30 years and proudly offers clients skilled personal injury attorneys who specialize in a variety of practice areas.  Our firm was even recognized in 2013 by Time Magazine as one of the top personal injury firms in the U.S.  In addition the founder of Schiff & Associates, Scott W. Schiff, was included in a 2014 article from Columbus Business First that was a list of “People to Know.”
Our team also includes James E. Arnold who is recognized as one of Ohio’s top trial attorneys.  Since 2001, Arnold has been consistently named by Best Lawyers in America, which highlights the top 5% of practicing attorneys in the US.  He has also been recognized as one of the state’s top litigators in commercial and personal injury litigation by Ohio’s Superlawyers.  Columbus Business First named Arnold as one of “Central Ohio’s Top 100 Lawyers;” and in 2007 he was selected by Lawdragon as one of the “500 Leading Plaintiff’s Lawyers in America.”  
Several of Schiff & Associates’ attorneys such as Ryan Lauer have tried and won cases for both Plaintiffs and Defendants in counties throughout Ohio.  Another one of our attorneys, Terry Hummel, has litigated a wide variety of personal injury claims and successfully tried them to juries throughout the State of Ohio.  Our talented team also includes Todd Fitz who is a workers’ compensation expert.  His background includes the perspective of representing injured workers administratively and in court as well as representing employers throughout the state of Ohio on workers’ compensation matters.
We invite you to visit our website to learn more about the exceptional team that comprises the firm of Schiff & Associates.  Keep in mind that your initial consultation is free, and as we represent you on a contingency basis, there is no attorney costs or fees unless we successfully recover compensation.
The experienced attorneys at Schiff & Associates have offered the area trusted legal representation in cases of personal injury and wrongful death since 1982.  We have a history of getting clients the results they deserve and recognize that financial recovery from an accident is just as important as physical recovery.  Call today for information regarding legal services from Columbus, Ohio’s top personal injury lawyer.

 

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Injured in a Rear-end Collision?



Rear-end collisions can cause a person to suffer from serious spinal damage and many of these injuries can take months to recover from or result in a permanent disability.  They also typically require extensive medical care.  Common injuries are hyperextension/hyperflexion (also known as whiplash) as well as myofascial injury, neck sprain or strain and cervical strain or sprain.  

When a vehicle is rear-ended and the driver and passenger are taken by surprise, it can often result in more severe injuries as the individuals did not have time to react and stabilize their spine.  In these cases, there may be damage to the ligaments rather than just to the muscle.  Rear-end accident injuries can result in neck pain and stiffness; broken bones or ribcage; brain injury; a decreased range of motion; dizziness; shoulder, arm or back pain; headaches, facial disfigurement and more.  

Rear-end collisions are often caused by negligence that may be the result of distracted driving or a person driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  The accident may also be caused by aggressive driving that involved excessive speed or tailgating.  However you should know that insurance companies are skilled at reducing the claims of injured parties.  In fact in Ohio we are a modified comparative negligence state, which means if the insurance company can prove you are completely or partially at fault for the accident, the insurer can reduce the damages it pays you, or pay you nothing at all.  This is why if you have been injured in a rear-end collision you need an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side.   

The attorneys at Schiff & Associates are very experienced at ligating rear-end collision cases and we know how to get the evidence we need to prove negligence.  In addition we work with a team of specialists who help us to determine the type of current and future expenses associated with your injuries.  Before you talk to the insurer, please give Schiff & Associates a call to set up a free case evaluation and consultation with an experienced motor vehicle accident attorney.     

The experienced team of Schiff & Associates has offered the area trusted legal representation in cases of personal injury and wrongful death since 1982.  We have a history of getting clients the results they deserve and recognize that financial recovery from an accident is just as important as physical recovery.  Contact us for more information on expert legal services from Columbus, Ohio’s top personal injury lawyer.

Monday, October 23, 2017

The Majority of our New Clients are from Referrals!


We are proud of the fact that seventy-one percent of our new clients come from previous clients’ recommendations, or from other lawyer’s referrals, and that means a lot to our team!  At Schiff &Associates, we know that suffering a debilitating injury as a result of someone else’s negligence can affect you for the rest of your life, which is why we are ready to help.  Our team is experienced with recovering the expenses you may have already incurred as well as any future losses associated with the injury. 
We work hard on each and every case as we recognize that the outcome can significantly impact our client’s lives.  In fact when you visit our website, we invite you to take a look at our small sampling of case results we have posted and read about our success in getting clients the settlements they deserve. 
Recently one of our clients took the time to post a review of their experience with Schiff & Associates legal services.  Jackie writes, “This Company is 100% Ready to Work for You.”  As a first-time client, she found our services through one of our TV ads and wants others to know that her attorney was both professional and easy to talk to.   She ends her comments with a recommendation for our services. 
Another recent comment comes from Hannah who writes, “Great Work, Very Satisfactory!”  She too recently used our services and reports how pleased she was with them.  She states that everyone was very courteous and explained things in a way that made it easier for her to understand.  She finishes by saying, “Overall I was very satisfied with how the work from Schiff & Associates went and I will definitely continue to use them in the future.  I highly recommend their services.”
While these may just be two clients out of our hundreds we help each year, it is what keeps us motivated.  We feel honored to get recommendations from prior clients as well as from area lawyers who know the quality of our work.  Please visit our website to learn more about Schiff & Associates. 
The experienced attorneys at Schiff & Associates have offered the area trusted legal representation in cases of personal injury and wrongful death since 1982.  We have a history of getting clients the results they deserve and recognize that financial recovery from an accident is just as important as physical recovery.  Call today for information regarding legal services from Columbus, Ohio’s top personal injury lawyer.

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Trust Your Case to a Firm with Over 30 Years of Experience!


With a reputation for winning, Schiff & Associates has provided the greater Columbus Ohio area with experienced personal injury legal representation for more than 30 years.  We have a team of skilled attorneys who specialize in every aspects of personal injury law including motor vehicle accidents, workers’ compensation, animal attacks, soft tissue injuries, wrongful death cases and other injury claims.  Moreover we work diligently to ensure our clients get the settlements they deserve. 
Our long history has shown us just how devastating a serious injury or the death of a loved one is on a family, and when the injury is the result of someone else’s negligence, you need to have an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side.  Schiff & Associates’ attorneys can determine who is responsible and who should pay and can help take the burden off of your shoulders.  Also keep in mind that by filing a lawsuit it forces the liable party to take responsibility for their actions and may even help to prevent similar wrongful deaths or serious injuries in the future. 
Another reason clients trust the lawyers at Schiff & Associates is as our firm’s founder, Scott W. Schiff, explains, “The attorneys I’ve hired over the years, and our support team, have all been groomed in accordance with the values and beliefs of my law firm.”  Furthermore, our team recognizes that they are fighting for the rights of people who do not have the knowledge or the resources to confront the attorneys of an insurance company.
On your behalf, we work alongside a team of medical, rehabilitation and financial experts to figure out what you require to compensate for your loss of current and future income, long-term medical and therapy expenses, pain and suffering, and other costs.  Please visit our website to learn more about our firm and to set up a free, no obligation caseevaluation and consultation. 
The experienced attorneys at Schiff & Associates have offered the area trusted legal representation in cases of personal injury and wrongful death since 1982.  We have a history of getting clients the results they deserve and recognize that financial recovery from an accident is just as important as physical recovery.  Call today for information regarding legal services from Columbus, Ohio’s top personal injury lawyer.

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Driver Fatigue May Have Been a Factor in Your Accident


We know it can be unsafe to drive if you are feeling drowsy or for long periods of time but it is especially hazardous when the driver is behind the wheel of a large tractor-trailer or commercial truck.  The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration states that, “Fatigue is the result of physical or mental exertion that impairs performance, and may be due to a lack of adequate sleep, extended work hours, strenuous work or non-work activities, or a combination of other factors.” 
In fact The Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) reports that 13 percent of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers were considered to have been fatigued at the time of their crash.  Furthermore, the FMCSA notes that research shows that being awake for “18 hours is comparable to having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent, which is legally intoxicated and leaves you at equal risk for a crash.”
At Schiff & Associates, we have proven that driver fatigue was a factor in many of our cases involving tractor-trailer or truck accidents, and we are ready to help you or a loved one if you suspect you were a victim of such an accident.  Our team includes experienced truck accident attorneys as well as an investigator who was a former highway patrolman and we know how to litigate truck driver liability claims and claims against trucking companies to ensure you get the financial compensation you deserve.  Once you hire the firm of Schiff & Associates, we move quickly to secure all versions of driver logbooks and truck satellite systems, which may be used to prove violations of safety rules and regulations. 
As our case results clearly demonstrate, we have a tradition of winning and encourage you to contact Schiff & Associates to allow the experts to determine if negligence was the cause of your accident, and if so, who should pay.  Your initial consultation and case evaluation is free and your will not pay any attorney fees or costs until we recover financial compensation.
The experienced attorneys at Schiff & Associates have offered the area trusted legal representation in cases of personal injury and wrongful death since 1982.  We have a history of getting clients the results they deserve and recognize that financial recovery from an accident is just as important as physical recovery.  Call today for information regarding legal services from Columbus, Ohio’s top personal injury lawyer.
Source: fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/driver-safety/cmv-driving-tips-driver-fatigue

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Trucking Accidents Can be Devastating



The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) undertook an extensive study in 2007 that showed approximately 5,000 people die each year in the U.S. due to an accident with a truck, and another 150,000 people are injured.  The study also reported that excessive speed was a contributing factor in 18% of the crashes and 27% were due to a lack of driver training or driver fatigue.  Other factors that contribute to truck driving accidents include improper truck maintenance, distracted driving, equipment failure, overloading, wide angle turns, lane drift, and improperly pulling over on the shoulder.   
When a car and an 18-wheeler collide, it often results in serious injury and even fatalities, especially to the passengers of the car who typically receive the worst of the injuries.  Many of these accidents cause permanently disabling injuries that change people’s lives forever.  This is why you need to obtain the legal services of a personal injury attorney who knows how to recover the full scope of current and future losses associated with your injuries.
At Schiff & Associates we have experience proving the exact causes of tractor-trailer and other truck accidents.  Along with our team of experts including a former highway patrol officer, we have an established relationship with seasoned truck accident investigators that work with us to help determining the cause of an accident.  In addition we are well versed in both Ohio and federal laws regarding the trucking industry and use that information in our investigation to find evidence that proves violation of safety regulations. 
As we represent our clients on a contingency basis, there will be no attorney costs or fees unless we successfully recover compensation for you.  Visit our website to learn more.   
The experienced team of Schiff & Associates has offered the area trusted legal representation in cases of personal injury and wrongful death since 1982.  We have a history of getting clients the results they deserve and recognize that financial recovery from an accident is just as important as physical recovery.  Call today to learn how Columbus, Ohio’s leading personal injury attorney can help.

Monday, July 31, 2017

Learn More about the Causes of Trucking Accidents






Schiff & Associates has a long history of successfully litigating accidents involving semi-trucks, delivery trucks, moving vans, and construction vehicles.  Furthermore, we know that tractor-trailer accidents can result in serious personal injuries and fatalities and require the expertise of attorneys who have experience with these types of accidents.  

So what are some of the factors that contribute to tractor-trailer accidents and how is negligence determined in the event of one of these devastating crashes?  Based on our own experience and the Department of Transportation statistics, an accident can be the result of a poorly maintained truck or driver error as well as the size of the load or how the cargo was secured.  In addition lack of driver training, the use of drugs or alcohol, or even highway defects can cause serious truck accidents. 

As you can see proving the exact cause of your accident can be difficult, which is why it is important to have a personal injury attorney with a background in handling truck accidents on your side.  Not only do we have a team of experts including a former highway patrol officer working to determine who or what was at fault but we have a relationship with professional accident Reconstructionists who provide their expertise to help figure out what happened.  In addition we take advantage of all legal channels available in order to obtain documents pertaining to the accident such as the driver’s logbook, the truck’s black box, and the truck’s satellite system if there is one.  

Using all of this information, we then determine whether the tractor-trailer accident was the fault of the truck driver, the tractor owner, or the trailer owner.  We even investigate whether the shop that serviced the vehicle is to blame or the warehouse that loaded the goods.  Once we have put together a case, we will fight for a fair settlement for you.  

Please contact Scott W. Schiff & Associates today for a free initial consultation and case evaluation.  Remember you will not pay any attorney fees or costs unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.

The experienced attorneys at Schiff & Associates have offered the area trusted legal representation in cases of personal injury and wrongful death since 1982.  We have a history of getting clients the results they deserve and recognize that financial recovery from an accident is just as important as physical recovery.  Call today for information regarding legal services from Columbus, Ohio’s top personal injury lawyer.