Semi-trucks are a frequent sight on Indiana’s interstates. Most truck drivers are safe and responsible professionals, but when accidents happen due to negligence or reckless driving, these massive trucks can cause tremendous damage.
If you have been in a semi-truck accident, you may face severe injuries and financial hardships. You may be unable to pay your medical bills, and your condition might make it impossible to work. You may experience horrible pain and suffering. You may be hesitant to reach out to a lawyer.
We want you to know that we understand the immense burden a semi-truck accident can be on a family, and we want to guide you through getting to the other side. We want to have a real relationship with you along the way and pursue what you deserve, not just a quick and easy settlement.
An Indiana truck accident lawyer can help. At Vaughan & Vaughan, our Indiana semi-truck accident lawyers have recovered over $25 million in damages for people just like you. We have recovered millions for truck accident victims and their families suffering from traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, torn ligaments, the loss of a loved one, and more. Reach out to us for a free consultation and tell us your story.
How an Indiana Semi-truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
It is crucial to have competent legal representation following a commercial truck accident. An Indiana personal injury lawyer will look into the details of your truck accident and negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company.
Accidents with large trucks are more complicated than fender benders between passenger cars and may involve several insurance companies and defendants. You need a law firm that has successfully represented victims of truck accidents and has the resources and dedication to help you with the legal process.
We take a comprehensive approach to investigating and reconstructing your accident. An Indiana semi-truck accident lawyer can do the following to help build your claim:
- Consult accident reconstruction experts to determine what happened on the accident scene
- Review all available evidence, including police reports, witness statements, and medical bills and records
- Review the driver logs and EDR to determine if they were compliant with federal regulations
- Conduct all communication with the insurance companies, defendants, and opposing counsel
- Consult with professionals in the field of accident reconstruction and the medical field to pinpoint the cause of your crash and injuries.
- Negotiate with insurance companies and defense counsel to maximize your compensation.
- Calculate a complete value of your truck-accident-related damages
- Investigate and identify all liable parties
- Complete and submit all legal filings and documents on time
- Help you to avoid costly mistakes and provide compassionate legal counsel
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
Who is Liable in a Semi-truck Accident Case?
Truck accident claims can become complicated due to the number of parties involved in operating a commercial truck. Multiple people or organizations could share responsibility for an accident involving a truck.
An Indiana personal injury lawyer can identify the liable parties in commercial vehicle accidents. Some possibilities include:
The Semi-truck Driver
If human errors like negligence or recklessness caused the accident, the truck driver may be held accountable. Excessive speeding, driving while distracted, or driving under the influence of alcohol are all examples of human error that could cause a collision. Careless driving and aggressive driving can also contribute to a crash.
Transport Company
The trucking company could be held accountable for the crash if it neglected to keep the truck in safe working condition or forced the driver to drive it in a hazardous manner.
Truck Owner
The truck’s owner could be the responsible party for the collision if they were responsible for the truck’s upkeep but failed to maintain it in legal working order.
Cargo Loaders
If the accident was caused by improper cargo loading, the firm responsible for loading the container could be held liable. Cargo could spill onto the road, causing a crash or causing the semi-truck to overturn.
Automakers and Suppliers
If an 18-wheeler collision was caused by a flaw in the vehicle or a component, you could sue the company that made it. Manufacturers of tires, vehicle components, and the vehicle itself have been held liable for these defective products and design flaws in the past.
Providers of Mechanical and Preventative Maintenance Services
If improper truck maintenance caused a crash, the auto repair shop may be held liable. Mechanics who fail to adhere to protocol or perform substandard work can create truck maintenance issues that lead to accidents.
Government and Municipal Entities
It is possible the state or local government responsible for maintaining the roadway may be the liable party.
Other Drivers and Pedestrians
Other drivers may be held responsible for an accident if it can be proven that their actions contributed to the 18-wheeler collision.
To establish liability against any of these individuals, it must be shown that their actions directly contributed to the accident. Knowing who to hold accountable after your unfortunate accident is vital to your case, and an experienced lawyer from Vaughan and Vaughan can help.
There is no fee
unless you win
Compensatory Damages You May Claim in a Semi-truck Accident Case
If you have been involved in a semi-truck accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your losses. It isn’t helpful to consider the average settlement for a truck accident in Indiana, as your maximum compensation will depend on your personal situation.
Some of the types of damages that may be available to you include:
- Medical expenses: You may be able to recover the cost of medical treatment and rehabilitation, including hospital bills, medication, and therapy. Retain your medical records for evidence.
- Lost wages: If the accident has caused you to miss work, you may be able to recover the wages you would have earned during that time.
- Property damage: If your vehicle or other property was damaged in the accident, you may be able to recover the cost of repairs or replacement.
- Pain and suffering: You may be able to recover damages for the physical pain and emotional suffering that you have experienced as a result of the accident.
- Wrongful death: If a loved one was killed in a semi-truck accident, you may be able to recover damages on their behalf with a wrongful death claim. Loss of companionship and funeral and burial expenses can be claimed in addition to the above.
It is important to note that the amount of compensatory damages you can receive will depend on the specific circumstances of your case. A semi-truck accident attorney in Indiana can help you understand your legal options and pursue the maximum amount of damages available to you.
Causes of Indiana Semi Truck and Commercial Trucking Accidents
A variety of factors can cause semi-truck accidents.
- Distracted driving: Truck drivers may be negligent if they are distracted while behind the wheel, such as by texting or using a cell phone.
- Driver fatigue: Drivers of commercial vehicles who are tired or fatigued may experience reduced reaction times and an increased risk of accidents
- Poor training: The trucking company may also be partially responsible for the accident if it has not properly trained the driver or forced them to work excessive hours, resulting in driver errors.
- Improper maintenance: It may also be negligent if it has not maintained the vehicle, leading to equipment failure.
- Road conditions: Drivers who fail to slow down and operate their vehicles responsibly on slick roads or in poor visibility can cause accidents.
- Other drivers: Another motorist’s reckless driving may cause a semi-truck accident, making them the responsible party.
- Manufacturing defects: In some cases, the truck or its parts manufacturer may also be at fault if a defect in the vehicle caused the accident.
An Indiana semi truck accident lawyer can help you navigate the complex investigation process and hold the negligent parties accountable.
Types of 18-Wheeler Accidents We Represent
We know that various circumstances can cause 18-wheeler accidents, and we represent victims of all types of semi-truck accidents. In certain situations, a semi-truck trailer can swing out and crash into cars, causing a jackknife crash.
In some cases, a semi-truck can roll over and slide into other vehicles at high speed. A smaller passenger car may collide with the rear or side of a semi-truck and slide under the trailer, with devastating results. This is known as an underride accident.
Sadly, we represent many victims of truckers making illegal U-turns, crossing over lanes of traffic, traveling in different directions, and not paying attention to everyone on the road. Illegal u-turn semi-truck accidents frequently cause extensive injuries to our clients, and they are almost always due to truckers wanting to save time at the cost of safety.
Often, we represent people who have been rear-ended by a semi-truck or those who have been the victims of inattentive semi-drivers who pull out onto main roads, causing devastating accidents. We even see big rigs drift over the center-line of narrow roads and interstates, causing extensive harm to our clients.
Regardless of the type of truck collision you experienced, a truck accident lawyer in Indiana can investigate to find evidence of negligence and wrongdoing. An experienced attorney will understand how to examine these factors and present the evidence needed to prove an injured person’s case.
Common Injuries in Indiana Semi-truck Accident Cases
When a semi-truck is involved in an accident, the consequences can be devastating. Victims of tractor-trailer accidents often suffer serious injuries that can have long-term physical, emotional, and financial repercussions.
In some cases, truck accident victims may even require lifelong medical care or be left with a permanent disability. Some of the most frequent injuries we see include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken or fractured bones
- Soft tissue injuries and whiplash
- Knee injuries, including torn ligaments
- Amputation, loss of limbs
- Severe burn injuries
- Permanent disfigurement
- Scarring
Medical costs can become overwhelming in each case. When a semi-truck is involved in an accident, it is important that victims seek legal representation from an experienced Indiana semi-truck accident lawyer to fight for maximum damages.
Do You Need an Attorney for Your Truck Accident Claim?
It is smart to contact an Indiana semi-truck accident lawyer as soon as possible following your accident. We can help you navigate the complexities of your claim and avoid common mistakes.
Some of the common reasons you may need to seek an attorney after an accident include:
Insurance Company Denied Your Claim or Made a Lowball Offer
Your insurance company has rejected your claim or is only providing a meager settlement. If you need help negotiating with the insurance company or litigating for the money you’re owed, a semi-truck accident attorney in Indiana might be invaluable.
Significant Injuries or Catastrophic Injuries
An Indiana catastrophic injury lawyer can assist you in obtaining damages to pay for your medical costs and other losses if you have had substantial injuries, such as shattered bones or a traumatic brain injury.
These types of injuries can cost many thousands of dollars in medical expenses, and the insurance company is likely to fight your claim.
Significant injuries may create lasting symptoms that go well into the future, or they may lead to symptoms that will only show and affect our clients years later. We have nurses in our firm, experts out of our firm, and attorneys with decades of experience in trucking injury cases so that we can paint the picture to the full extent of your injuries to the insurance and trucking companies.
When a client settles a semi-truck accident case or obtains a jury verdict, that settlement is meant to compensate a victim for all the harm the accident will cause them for the rest of their life. You need a full team to investigate and communicate to wrongdoers what your future will look like and you need skilled doctors to make sure no stone gets left unturned for your future.
Multiple Parties or Businesses Involved
If your commercial truck accident case is complicated due to a truck defect or because it involved numerous parties in the trucking industry, you will want legal representation to help you through the maze of paperwork and decisions.
You Don’t Know Your Options
You don’t know what your rights or options are under the law. A knowledgeable truck accident attorney can explain your legal options and help you decide which ones are best for your situation.
We want to guide you through the legal maze of a semi-truck accident case. Our firm is built on educating and caring for our clients, and we take pride in empowering them with the knowledge to build their case best and maximize their recovery.
The Expenses of the Accident Are Overwhelming
You’re having a hard time mentally and monetarily recovering from the accident. A lawyer can take care of the legal details of your case so that you may focus on getting better instead of worrying about the costs and stress of the accident.
We will help you manage the medical and legal expenses of your case, so that you can focus on the most important thing, your recovery.
When looking for a lawyer to handle your semi truck accident claim, experience and a proven record of winning such cases should be top priorities. Your Indiana semi-truck accident attorney will know insurance company tactics and obstacles and how to combat them.
Why You Shouldn’t Deal With the Insurance Company on Your Own
It is generally not a good idea to deal with a truck accident insurance adjuster without a lawyer. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize the amount of money that the insurance company pays out, and they may use a variety of tactics to try to get you to settle for less than you are entitled to.
At Vaughan & Vaughan, we often tell our clients that the trucking company and the insurance adjustors are working to give victims what will get them to go away, and at our firm, we hold them accountable for what you are entitled to under the law.
Truck companies carry much larger insurance policies than private policyholders, and they know that a lot of money is at stake. They will work to minimize your payouts and deny your claim. Without a lawyer, you may not know your legal options or the type of compensation you are entitled to receive.
An experienced truck accident attorney can help you navigate the legal process and protect your rights. They can negotiate with the insurance adjuster on your behalf and make sure that you receive a fair settlement. A knowledgeable truck accident attorney can also help you understand your legal options and advise you on the best course of action for your case.
Experienced Indiana Semi-truck Accident Attorneys Who Get Results
Our law firm knows how to hold negligent drivers and trucking companies accountable. We understand how insurance companies operate and how they try to avoid responsibility. We’re here to fight for the financial settlement you need.
We are here to have a real relationship with you after a serious semi truck accident. We want to get to know you, we want to help you maximize your recovery, educate you on your rights, and to advocate for your goals in this case.
Our legal team at Vaughan & Vaughan will investigate your case and determine fair compensation. Don’t accept what the insurance company thinks you deserve. Because we work on a contingency basis, you only pay if we get results.
Contact Vaughan & Vaughan for a free consultation with an Indiana semi-truck accident lawyer.
