Lawyers helping the injured in Indiana since 1913
If you've been hurt in a truck accident in Indiana caused by negligence, you deserve compensation for your injuries. But getting that compensation can be a difficult process. Insurance companies will likely try to pay you as little as they can for your claim. The experienced truck accident attorneys at Vaughan & Vaughan fight to get you the best outcome possible. Our firm has been dealing with insurance companies in Marion, Monroe, Tippecanoe, Hamilton, and other Indiana counties for generations. We are familiar with the tactics they use to avoid their responsibility. They may question the extent of your injuries, and insist that you be examined by a doctor of their choice. They may even try to blame you for what happened. They don't intimidate us. We know how to take them on and win.
Common legal issues
Dealing with insurance companies after a truck collision can be especially complicated. Why?
There's a lot more money at stake. Trucking companies and associated businesses have a lot of assets to protect. Liability policies worth millions of dollars, that cover everything from cab to cargo, may be available to you after a crash. In Indiana, cargo is likely to be related to the state’s main manufacturing industries – chemical production, motor vehicle parts manufacturing, aluminum manufacturing/fabricated metals and production, food or tobacco.
There may be several insurance companies involved. If you got into a collision with a fully loaded semi-truck on I-65, for example, the cab and the trailer probably had separate insurance policies. And there may be another policy for the cargo on board. In this scenario, you could be dealing with three separate insurance companies - or even more - each with their own attorneys, each fighting to avoid responsibility. An insurance company may offer you a settlement soon after your crash. But their offer will fall far short of covering all of the damages you suffered. Their lowball insurance settlement offer is just another tactic to try to justify paying you less. We think you deserve better.
The trucking company possesses key evidence. This includes hours of service (HOS) logs and "black box" data. Following a crash, a trucking company will take quick action to retrieve this and other evidence from the scene. They also possess maintenance, hiring and supervision records that could provide crucial information. That's why it's so important to have an experienced truck accident attorney on your side when you've been injured in a crash. We know how to take on insurance companies and their lawyers. We know how to handle these complex situations to help you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Make our team your team
Whether you were in a truck wreck in Bloomington, Lafayette, Carmel, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis or anywhere else in Indiana, you can count on us to swiftly conduct our own investigation. Our team takes steps to secure evidence in possession of trucking companies. We identify all of the parties involved and determine the extent of their liability. We interview witnesses to the crash and if needed, consult with accident reconstruction experts. Our lawyers will also determine the total damages you suffered in the collision and demand compensation. This includes compensation for all current and future medical bills related to your injuries, lost income (or lost wages) if you couldn’t work and other damages such as pain and suffering. Our focus is on building a strong case that insurance companies have to take seriously. Many times, we are able to negotiate settlements with the insurance companies involved. But if they won't agree to a settlement that meets your needs, we are ready to fight for you in court, where we have won many significant awards for clients.
Talk to an attorney as soon as possible
It’s important to get legal advice as soon as possible after you’ve been injured. In Indiana, the statute of limitations for taking legal action is two years after the date of the accident. But the more time that goes by, the more challenging it can be to build a strong case. Important evidence can be lost or destroyed. And witnesses may move or forget key details. If you've been injured in a truck accident in Indiana, we can help.
Contact us today. Call 765-742-0056 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney.