Truck Accident Attorney In Toledo

Last updated on August 12, 2025

Put 100-Plus Years Of Combined Experience In Your Corner

Even if you are a safe, defensive driver, there is still a chance that you may be injured in an accident due to a negligent driver who is driving recklessly. Unfortunately, one of the most devastating accidents that can occur is caused by semi trucks. If you or someone you love has been injured by an irresponsible or negligent truck driver, you should not hesitate to retain a lawyer from our firm to represent you. Our Toledo truck accident lawyers at Williams DeClark Tuschman Co. L.P.A. are ready to hear your case. Allow our legal team to help you file a claim to get you fair and full compensation for your injuries and for any related damages.

Why Choose Our Toledo Truck Accident Lawyers?

• A century of trusted legal experience
• Included in Ohio Super Lawyers®
• $500-plus million won for our clients
• Selected for U.S. News – Best Lawyers

Start with a completely FREE, no-obligation consult: 419-719-5195.

Safety Regulations For Commercial Trucks

There is a reason that commercial truck drivers need to obtain a special commercial license to operate their vehicles: a semi truck is more difficult to steer than virtually any other type of vehicle. The best of truckers doing their best to drive safely can still manage to cause catastrophic yet preventable truck accidents. Should they choose to violate one of the FMCSA’s federal regulations, the chances of them causing injury to those around them is inexcusably magnified.

FMCSA regulations that truck drivers must adhere to at all times include:

• Vehicle speed: A semi truck becomes more and more dangerous the faster it travels, due to basic laws of physics regarding weight and velocity. If a trucker pushes his vehicle beyond the posted speed limit for commercial trucks, the safe stopping distance is exponentially increased.
• Trailer weight: A commercial truck’s total weight must not exceed 80,000 pounds and must be distributed a certain way over all of its axles. This is to prevent the vehicle from breaking down and careening, as well as to take extra steps to keep the stopping distance minimal.
• Hours worked: In an attempt to stave off truck driver fatigue, there are regulations in place that mandate a trucker does not work more than 14 hours in a day. Additionally, three of those hours cannot be spent behind the wheel.
• Actual route: Getting from point A to point B in a commercial truck is not as simple as finding the best, fastest route. The FMCSA can set particular paths a trucker must follow, with the goal of keeping hazardous materials out of suburban areas and avoid areas of high congestion in mind.

Truck Accident Case Results

• $750,000 verdict for a wrongful death of a semi-truck accident victim.
• Our client was hit from behind by a semi truck, causing emotional distress and bodily injury. We obtained a $600,000 result on behalf of the injured party.
• Our team achieved a $550,000 settlement for an individual who was run off the road by a semi truck. The client suffered head and skeletal injuries.

Where Are Truck Blind Spots?

One important thing for drivers to remember when they are driving around semi-trucks is that these vehicles have massive blind spots. Smaller cars can be entirely hidden in the blind spots so that the truck driver cannot see them. Commercial truck drivers do have extensive training, but cars that linger in blind spots are still at a vastly greater risk because the driver may not know that the vehicle is there until a collision occurs.

These blind spots can be found on every side of the semi-truck. For instance, for 30 feet directly behind the truck, the driver typically cannot see a vehicle that is closely following them. But they also cannot see small vehicles for 20 feet in front of the truck, because of the height of the cab. On the driver’s side, there is a blind spot to the left that runs back about halfway down the trailer, before they can see other cars in their mirrors. On the passenger side, that blind spot is even larger and can encompass two full lanes.

In other words, drivers are best to be on either side of the truck, rather than in the same lane, and they typically want to be slightly ahead or slightly behind the truck. It is true that drivers have to move through some of these blind spots to pass, such as if they are passing a truck on the interstate, but they should try to spend as little time there as possible.

Blind spots also apply when it comes to turning, as semi-trucks have a turning radius of about 55 feet. A truck that is turning right may move slightly to the left to ensure that the trailer will get around the curb, as it cuts a closer track than the cab. But drivers can get into trouble if they move up into the blind spot on the right side of the truck, not realizing that it is going to turn. As the truck goes around the corner, the trailer swings through the blind spot and strikes the smaller vehicle.

Similarly, drivers should avoid cutting into the blind spot ahead of a truck as it is slowing down, as trucks have longer stopping distances than passenger cars. Overall, drivers just need to try to give trucks extra space and be wary that the drivers cannot always see their vehicles.

Why You Need An Experienced Lawyer

In semi-truck accident cases, you will be dealing with an insurance company, the trucking company and their team of powerful defense lawyers who are determined to minimize your compensation. As obvious as it may be that your accident was caused by a fatigued driver, insufficient training, defective brakes, a traffic law violation, drugged or drunk driving, or poor vehicle repair, the insurance company will still fight to avoid paying you a fair settlement. You need a trusted law firm and an aggressive, experienced attorney on your side who is ready to help. When it comes to our clients, we fight for the best possible outcome, using our cutting-edge trial advocacy and diligent case preparation.

Don’t wait to get help! Contact us at 419-719-5195 to schedule a FREE evaluation today.