Mishawaka is one of Indiana’s many gateways to Michigan. The city sees considerable semi-truck traffic thanks to Interstate I-20 and US 31. Locals and passers-through regularly find themselves driving alongside truck drivers. When that proximity causes life-changing accidents, survivors can turn to Mishawaka truck accident lawyers for support. Survivors like you can recover millions in damages following a truck accident. If you can prove negligence caused your truck accident, you can file a personal injury claim with local civil courts. A claim allows you to demand the compensation you need to recover. Mishawaka personal injury lawyers with Vaughan & Vaughan can help put that money in your hands today.
Identifying Your Right to File a Truck Accident Claim
You have the right to take civil action against someone after a truck accident. If you want to file a truck accident claim in civil court, you must prove that negligence caused your truck accident. Proving negligence allows your case to move forward, assuming that a liable party violated the duty of care they owed you. You can work with experienced truck accident lawyers in Mishawaka to find the data needed to meet Indiana’s burden of proof. Vaughan & Vaughan can investigate your accident scene and compile the necessary information. You may not take criminal action against the party responsible for your accident. Indiana’s state prosecutors can charge a negligent party with roadway violations. Those prosecutors may ask you to testify about the nature of your crash, but you will not receive compensation for your contributions.Using Evidence to Assign Truck Accident Liability
Evidence makes up the backbone of your truck accident case. You need evidence on hand if you want to accuse another party of causing your truck accident. The evidence that you can use to argue for support can include the following:- A truck’s black box data
- Electronic evidence
- Physical debris
- Video and photo footage of the accident
- Bystander statements
- Expert witness statements
Accounting for Contracts When Filing a Truck Accident Claim
Contracts can override the evidence in your case. For example, the evidence from your accident scene may pin the blame for your crash on a truck driver. However, a corporation may employ that driver. If the driver was on duty during your crash, then the driver’s employer may take the blame for your losses. Corporations prefer to hire independent contractors to get out of responsibility for their employees’ accidents. A trucking corporation may attempt to misrepresent an employee’s employment status to avoid taking the blame for your crash. You can work with our attorneys to determine whether foul play may complicate your fight for support.Calculating the Value of Your Truck Accident Case
Personal injury claims let you recover compensation based on the losses you endured in a truck accident. You have the right to include your emotional and physical losses in your request for support. Our team can help you determine the dollar value of losses like the following:- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
Mishawaka Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help You Communicate With Relevant Insurance Claims Adjusters
Insurance claims adjusters do not want to give you the financial aid you need to recover from a truck accident. You may have the right to file an insurance claim with an insurance provider, but you may have to fight for support. You can rope an attorney into that fight by requesting our help:- Calculating the value of your losses
- Filing your insurance claim
- Arranging settlement negotiations with an insurance claims adjuster
- Turning away insufficient settlement offers