Companies often use dump trucks to transport dirt, construction materials, gravel, demolition waste, and more. At any given moment, multiple of these vehicles could be around you on the roadways. Regardless of what they are hauling, a collision with a dumper trailer can potentially leave you with serious life-altering injuries and damages. When a negligent trucker causes the crash, you have every right to expect them to pay for the damages. Call O’Connor, Acciani, & Levy to speak with our experienced commercial vehicle accident attorneys if you were involved in a dump truck accident in Columbus.
The Comparative Negligence Rule and the Right to Recovery
Dump truck drivers have a legal duty to act reasonably and safely to avoid causing harm to other people around them on the roadways. When they are negligent, the court can hold them financially accountable. Sometimes the negligent motorist will claim that you are partially to blame for your own injuries. When that happens the courts examine both parties’ contributions to an incident. In Ohio, if you share a portion of liability for a crash, the court will not stop you from recovering damages in many cases. However, per the Ohio Revised Code § 2315.33, if you are more than 50 percent responsible, you will lose eligibility to collect compensation. If you are under 50 percent liable, the court will subtract your portion of responsibility from the total award amount. For example, if you were found to be 10 percent at fault, you would be eligible to collect 90 percent of the owed damages. This makes it vital to have a legal representative who can answer questions on applicable statutes and defend you against allegations of shared fault after a dump truck wreck in Columbus. Our attorneys are here to provide you with this support.Recovering Damages After an Accident with a Dump Truck
The award amount after a collision with a dump truck in Columbus will depend on the case's circumstances, including the cause of the wreck, the extent of your injuries and damages, and how much these losses have impacted your life. Compensation can be calculated to include recovery for economic and non-economic damages such as:- Medical expenses, including emergency care, hospitalization, and surgeries
- The total cost of future medical expenses related to the accident
- Lost salary and benefits
- Physical therapy
- Pain and suffering
- The loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional trauma and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD)
