Picture this: It’s 11pm on I-480, and you’re driving home from visiting family. Suddenly, an 18-wheeler weaves across three lanes before jackknifing across the median. The driver had been searching for a safe place to rest for over an hour but found every truck stop full. Exhausted and out of options, he kept driving… with dangerous consequences.
This scenario isn’t hypothetical. It’s happening across Ohio every single day.
The Hidden Epidemic Behind Ohio’s Truck Crashes
Most drivers don’t realize that the biggest threat on Ohio highways isn’t speeding or drunk driving—it’s exhausted truck drivers with nowhere to sleep. Consider these sobering facts:
- Ohio saw 167 fatal truck crashes in 2023—ranking 8th worst in the nation.
- Drowsy commercial drivers have caused nearly 700 crashes since 2015.
- These fatigue-related accidents resulted in 345 injuries and two deaths.
Nationally, there’s only one truck parking space for every 11 trucks on the road. In Ohio—the third-busiest state for commercial truck traffic—this shortage forces drivers into impossible choices: violate federal safety regulations or drive while dangerously fatigued.
When truckers can’t find legal parking, they resort to dangerous alternatives. Highway shoulders become makeshift truck stops. Entrance and exit ramps turn into parking lots. Rest areas overflow with illegally parked semis, creating blind spots and traffic hazards for passenger vehicles.
Ohio’s Game-Changing Response
Governor Mike DeWine recently announced Ohio’s most ambitious highway safety initiative in decades: a $150 million investment to create over 1,400 new truck parking spaces at 33 locations across 19 counties by 2027.
This isn’t just about convenience—it’s about preventing the 26% increase in freight traffic expected by 2045 from turning Ohio’s highways into even deadlier corridors. Once completed, Ohio will have more state-owned truck parking than any other state in the nation.
What if You’re Injured by a Fatigued Trucker?
When truck drivers operate beyond legal limits due to parking shortages, they’re not just tired—they’re operating in violation of federal safety regulations. This creates powerful evidence in personal injury cases.
Trucking companies cannot use driver fatigue or parking shortages as excuses for causing accidents. If you’re injured by a drowsy commercial driver, you may be entitled to substantial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and permanent disabilities!
Get the Legal Help You Deserve
If a fatigued truck driver has changed your life forever, don’t face the insurance companies alone. The Law Offices of Tim Misny specialize in holding negligent truckers and their companies accountable for the devastation they cause.
When trucking companies prioritize schedules over safety, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at (877) 614-9524 so I can evaluate your truck accident case right away.
