If you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident in Ohio, but the responsible trucking company is located in another state, it is possible to sue the out-of-state trucking company. Your ability to sue in this case is based on the principle of personal jurisdiction.
Seeking compensation for truck accidents is complex, even without the added complication of jurisdiction. An Ohio truck accident lawyer with experience handling cases like yours can help you navigate your case.
How Is It Possible to Sue an Out-of-State Trucking Company?
Your ability to sue regardless of the responsible company’s home state depends on personal jurisdiction, a legal principle that decides which court has authority over a case.
According to this principle, if your accident occurred in Ohio, the trucking company and accident is under the jurisdiction of Ohio courts, regardless of where the company is located.
If you file a claim or lawsuit against the company, the company and its driver will be subject to Ohio laws.
For a free legal consultation, call (614) 538-1116
How Do You Sue an Out-of-State Trucking Company?
If you suffered serious injuries from a truck accident, you likely want to hold the trucking company accountable. To do so, you can file a personal injury claim or lawsuit (or a wrongful death action if you lost a loved one) against the company to recover compensation for your expenses and losses. Doing this on your own can seem impossible, especially if you have no experience with taking legal action or personal jurisdiction.
One of our firm’s injury attorneys can file your suit, attend the court proceedings on your behalf, and represent you there.
Is There a Deadline to Sue an Out-of-State Trucking Company?
If you decide to sue the trucking company, you must meet Ohio’s deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit. Generally, this deadline is two years from the date of an accident, according to Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10. Your lawsuit is not subject to any deadlines in other states, so if the responsible trucking company is located in Texas, you do not have to worry about the Texas deadline.
It’s important to meet Ohio’s deadline. If you don’t, you may lose any leverage you have over the insurance company, possibly resulting in a smaller settlement for you. In addition, some of the evidence critical to proving the trucking company’s liability can be tampered with or lost to time. Acting quickly can protect this essential evidence.
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How Can a Lawyer Help Me Sue a Trucking Company?
Obtaining personal jurisdiction in a case is not something you want to attempt on your own as the process can be difficult to understand. A truck accident lawyer from our firm can take over your case and file your lawsuit or claim for you.
The process of suing a company isn’t as simple as just filing a lawsuit. There’s a lot of work to be done before and after filing, and your lawyer can take care of all of it. This work includes:
- Obtaining personal jurisdiction
- Proving the company’s negligence
- Understanding your damages
- Putting a dollar amount on your damages
- Collecting and preserving evidence for your case
- Sending the trucking company a spoliation letter to prevent them from tampering with evidence
- Keeping track of filing deadlines
- Hiring experts who can provide testimony in court
- Negotiating a settlement or representing your case to a jury
- Arguing against the trucking company’s defense
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What Damages Can I Recover in a Trucking Company Lawsuit or Claim?
Your damages after a truck accident may include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional suffering
- Your emergency care bills
- Hospital bills
- Bills for rehabilitation or continual care
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
If you lost a loved one in an accident, our team can help you recover damages for funeral and burial expenses, lost wages, lost support, and non-economic damages. Let us handle the legalities while you spend time with family.
Contact Us For a Free Case Review and a No-Fee Guarantee
It is possible to sue an out-of-state trucking company, but before you do, you may want to learn more about personal jurisdiction and hiring a truck accident attorney from our firm. During a free case review, we can answer your questions and give you the individualized attention you deserve. Once we take your case, you won’t have to pay us anything unless we win.
Contact Bressman Law today for a free case review with a member of our team.
Call or text (614) 538-1116 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
