Truck Accidents
Collision with a Tractor-Trailer?
Experienced Indiana Trucking Accident Attorney
Any truck accident is a potential nightmare. While truck drivers often walk away without injury, the occupants of a car or motorcycle are likely to suffer permanent, disabling injury or death.
If a family member was injured or killed in an Indiana trucking accident, contact an attorney immediately. Sevenish Law Firm of Indianapolis will promptly visit the scene to investigate for evidence of negligence to support a personal injury claim for damages.
National Truck Accident Statistics (2005)
- Almost 90,000 people were injured in U.S. large truck accidents
- Trucking accidents killed 5,212 people
- Only 15 percent of deaths, and 23 percent of the injured, were occupants of the truck. (The rest are occupants of the car, or pedestrians)
Truck Crashes in Indiana (2005)
- 3,013 people suffered injury in collisions with trucks
- Large truck accidents in Indiana killed 158 people
Definition: A "large truck" is any vehicle weighing 10,000 pounds or more.
Source: National Highway Transportation Safety Administration
Truck Accidents: Causes and Liability
Most tractor-trailer drivers are hard-working professionals who follow the rules of the road and drive with caution. And, to be fair, passenger vehicle drivers cause many trucking accidents.
But truck driver negligence is the primary cause or contributing factor in a large percentage of cases:
- Driving too fast for conditions
- Crossing the center line
- Illegal maneuvers (passing, turning, failing to yield)
- Fatigue
- Inattention and failure to recognize dangers
- Decisions and reactions in accident avoidance
The condition of the truck is also a common cause or factor:
- Bad brakes (one out of four accidents)
- Improper lights or reflective tape
- Worn tires
- Unbalanced or unsecured cargo
Trucking companies are often found negligent:
- Hiring drivers with a history of violations
- Failing to train drivers properly
- Pressuring drivers to drive beyond the maximum hours allowed by the U.S. Department of Transportation
Compensation in Indiana Truck Accidents
With the potential for severe injuries or deaths, commercial trucks are highly insured. Once negligence is established, most victims are compensated fully. However, these are complex cases involving vehicle defects, DOT regulations, and technical medical matters. There may be multiple plaintiffs (27 percent of accidents involve three or more vehicles) and multiple defendants (one company owns the cab, another company hires the driver, and a third company leases the trailer). Let us sort it out for you.
Indiana, and Indianapolis in particular, is a crossroads of America. In addition to freeway tractor-trailer accidents on I-465, I-70, I-65, I-69, I-74 and I80/I94, Sevenish Law Firm knows the outstate highways notorious for truck crashes.
Toll-Free Injury Hotline - 800.278.9200
Randy Sevenish offers 21 years of experience leading to dozens of settlements and verdicts. Contact a veteran Indiana trucking accident attorney for a free consultation and aggressive representation. We can come to your home or hospital, and collect no attorney's fees unless you collect compensation.
