If you’ve been in a truck accident, an Indianapolis truck accident lawyer can help you through this tough time. The stress and financial impact of these accidents can be overwhelming. How do you start to recover from such significant losses?
The Indianapolis personal injury lawyers of Vaughan & Vaughan can represent you and uphold your best interests as you try to recover from an accident. Our team can file a personal injury claim to help you fight for the post-accident financial support you deserve.
Our team has over 110 years of experience and can support you every step of the way. We’ll gather the necessary evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and fight for your rights to ensure you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages. Call or fill out our online contact form to learn more.
When Should You Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer in Indianapolis?
The professionals recommend contacting an attorney for help immediately after any commercial vehicle accident resulting in injury, death, or property damage. Getting legal assistance quickly can improve your chances of securing fair compensation from any liable parties.
You do not have to wait to get help. In fact, you can contact our firm 24/7 to get professional assistance from an Indianapolis truck accident lawyer.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
Types of Truck Accident Claims We Handle
Our team of truck accident attorneys can handle a wide range of claims. You can reach out to us if you need help from an:
- Indianapolis Amazon Truck Accident Lawyer: We can stand up for you if an Amazon driver strikes your vehicle. We have the resources and training to help you secure a fair settlement after this kind of collision.
- Indianapolis Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer: A commercial vehicle accident lawyer can represent you after a crash involving a garbage truck, dump truck, cement truck, or another large commercial truck. We provide professional guidance if you need to take legal action after this kind of crash.
- Indianapolis FedEx Truck Accident Lawyer: You have legal options if you sustained severe injuries in a crash involving a FedEx driver. We understand the strategies that work to resolve cases involving these delivery drivers.
- Indianapolis Semi Truck Accident Lawyer: You can trust us to help after a semi-truck crash. We can also help after collisions involving 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, or other large vehicles that cause you injuries and financial losses.
- Indianapolis UPS Truck Accident Lawyer: Our team can explore your legal options after a crash involving a UPS truck in Indianapolis. We can identify all liable parties and determine if you qualify to file a claim in this situation.
- Indianapolis Walmart Truck Accident Lawyer: You may qualify for money to cover all the losses you sustain after a crash involving a Walmart driver. We can help you stand up to this major retailer in the event of a collision.
- Indianapolis Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyer: Trucks jackknife when the driver loses control and the truck’s trailer swings forward towards the vehicle’s cab. A jackknife accident can easily catch other vehicles, potentially resulting in a multi-car pile-up. We can help you in this situation.
- Indianapolis Truck Rollover Accident Lawyer: You can reach out to us if you sustain injuries after a truck rolls over and strikes your vehicle. Trucks may roll over if they become unbalanced due to improperly secured cargo or for other reasons.
- Indianapolis Underride Truck Accident Lawyer: Smaller vehicles can end up pushed under large commercial vehicles in some situations, resulting in an underside accident. These collisions often result in catastrophic injuries. We can discuss your options after this type of crash.
The above list contains examples of the kinds of truck accident claims we handle in Indianapolis. You can reach out to us to discuss the specifics of your situation with a risk-free initial consultation.
An Indianapolis truck accident lawyer is here to help after a head-on, rear-end, or side-impact truck crash.
There is no fee
unless you win
Knowing the Value of Your Truck Accident Injury Claim
Truck accidents can do severe damage to your health, personal belongings, and plans for the future. Fortunately, a truck accident claim gives you the right to demand compensation for your losses.
So long as an Indianapolis truck accident attorney can defend your request for certain damages, the law firm can include all of the following in an estimate of your case’s value:
Medical Costs
When determining the value of your truck accident injury claim, one of the critical factors to consider is your medical bills. These can include expenses such as hospital bills, doctor visits, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and any future medical treatment you may require as a result of the accident.
In many cases, lawyers collect medical records to establish the full cost of your treatment.
Lost Wages
Another critical aspect to consider is the impact of the accident on your ability to work and earn income. If you have had to take time off work due to your injuries, you may be entitled to fair compensation for lost wages.
You may get funds from the insurance company to cover both past and future income that you would have earned if not for the accident.
Pain and Suffering
In addition to economic damages, you may have a chance to seek compensation for the physical pain and emotional suffering caused by the truck accident. For example, the liable party may need to pay for things like:
- Chronic pain
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium, if applicable
These non-economic damages can be more challenging to quantify but are still important to include in your claim.
Property Damage
If your personal belongings or vehicle sustained damage in the truck accident, you can seek compensation for the cost of repairs or replacement. For example, you may get money to pay for items such as electronics, clothing, cell phones, or any other personal belongings destroyed in the accident.
Our experienced Indianapolis truck accident lawyers can help you determine the damages you qualify for and how to defend your right to those damages during a risk-free initial consultation.
Will You Get Punitive Damages After a Truck Crash?
The court system in Indianapolis may award punitive damages to truck accident victims in some cases. Only some people injured in truck crashes qualify for these damages, which serve as a way to punish the party responsible for your crash.
We can use our many years of combined experience to determine whether the responsible party should pay punitive damages.
How Much Compensation Do You Get for a Trucking Collision?
The funds available to you after an 18-wheeler, semi-truck, or tractor-trailer accident crash will vary based on the losses you sustain and other factors.
A truck accident attorney in Indianapolis can review all the damages associated with your collision and provide information about the potential compensation you could receive.
We Can Help Your Family After a Fatal Truck Accident
You can turn to a compassionate Indianapolis wrongful death lawyer if you lose a loved one in a truck crash. Our team can provide the support and legal guidance you need in this situation. We take charge and handle all legal issues so you can focus on addressing your family’s emotional needs.
We understand that filing a legal claim cannot bring back your loved one or undo the harm caused by a crash. However, taking this step allows you to hold the liable party responsible, potentially bringing your family a sense of closure.
Additionally, filing a legal claim can help you get the damages you need to cover the financial hardships your family experiences after the loss of a loved one. The damages available through wrongful death claims vary in Indiana, so reach out to a lawyer to discuss the specifics of your situation.
Why Pick Our Firm After a Truck Accident?
Our team at Vaughan & Vaughan has the experience, legal training, and resources to handle complex personal injury claims after truck accidents. We’ve served our community for over a century and developed a deep understanding of the legal system in Indiana.
We maintain communication with our clients and tailor our services to fit your specific needs. You can reach out to us at any time if you have questions or want to check on the status of your claim.
We also have a reputation for successfully resolving truck crash claims. Recently, we secured $4.4 million for a client after a semi-truck collision. We invite you to read over our case results to see additional examples of our work.
We Work on a Contingency-Fee Basis
You only pay legal fees after the resolution of your truck accident claim when you hire us because our firm uses a contingency fee pricing structure. We never want to add to the financial pressures you experience after a crash.
You can discuss our pricing in more detail when you contact us for a risk-free consultation about your next legal steps.
In this video, Vaughan & Vaughan outlines the stark differences and heightened risks associated with semi-truck accidents versus regular car accidents, noting the severe injuries typically suffered by those in smaller vehicles. They stress the immediate priorities for victims: focusing on medical care, contacting loved ones, and securing legal representation promptly by hiring an Indianapolis truck accident lawyer. The firm highlights their expertise in managing these complex cases, from coordinating medical treatment to navigating legal challenges, ensuring clients receive the compensation they deserve through dedicated support and extensive experience in the field.
Services Provided by a Truck Accident Lawyer in Indianapolis
Your Indianapolis truck accident attorney can handle all legal matters on your behalf after a crash. We vary the services we offer to match the needs of each client. Depending on your circumstances, you can rely on us to:
Provide Answers to Your Legal Questions
We know that you may have many questions about your next steps and legal options after a truck crash. We’ll take the time to provide clear and straightforward answers because we want to help you regain your peace of mind.
You can reach out to us 24/7 when you have questions or concerns about your claim.
Handle All Legal Communication
After you hire us, we will take over all communication about legal matters involving your accident. We’ll deal with the liable party and their insurance company, giving you more time to focus on healing.
Allowing an Indianapolis truck accident attorney to handle legal communication also protects your claim. The insurance company can try to twist anything you say against you, potentially damaging your case or preventing you from securing the compensation you need.
Help You Avoid Common Mistakes
The choices you make after a truck accident can impact your ability to secure fair compensation for your losses. Our legal team can explain common mistakes seen after a truck crash and help you avoid them.
For example, we may advise you to avoid apologizing for the collision. Additionally, we often recommend that our clients avoid posting on social media after a truck crash. The insurance company can see these posts and may use the information you share against you during negotiations.
We also recommend that you do not provide the liable party’s insurance company with a recorded statement. We can provide more information about what to avoid after a collision when you reach out to us for help.
Find the Liable Party
We need to establish liability after a collision to bring you compensation for your losses. We use a variety of techniques to show that someone else owed you a duty of care, violated that duty, and directly caused the crash, your injuries, and the financial losses you face.
Track All of Your Losses
We take the time to create a thorough record of all the economic and non-economic losses you sustain after a crash. We collect documents and other proof that establishes the full extent of your expenses so we can help you secure maximum compensation.
Resolve Your Truck Crash Claim
Finally, you can count on us to explore all potential options to resolve your truck crash claim in Indianapolis. We’ll review all the methods available to secure compensation and help you select the option that best fits your needs.
Establishing Liability With an Indianapolis Truck Accident Lawyer
If you want to secure compensation for your truck accident losses, you need to know who to hold responsible. Your first instinct may be to blame a truck driver for your accident. Building a claim against the trucker may represent a viable path forward, as truck driver negligence and recklessness can readily put you in harm’s way.
However, you need to consider the evidence at the scene of your accident before you name a specific driver as liable for your losses. The evidence may reveal that government officials, construction companies, or even truckloaders need to pay for your losses.
When we take your case, an experienced Indianapolis truck accident attorney with our firm may collect evidence by:
- Gathering video footage of the trucking accident
- Looking for photos of the accident
- Visiting the accident scene
- Collecting statements from all eyewitnesses
- Hiring expert witnesses who understand truck crash cases
- Working with accident reconstruction experts
- Getting copies of all police reports
- Looking into your medical reports
- Taking statements from your insurance company
- Getting information from the truck’s black box data recorder
- Reviewing the trucker’s past driving record
We must be able to defend your assertion of liability to demand damages from another party. With that in mind, our legal team makes the most of the timeline afforded to you by the state of Indiana for an investigation after your accident.
It’s crucial that you reach out to a lawyer immediately to begin an investigation against the responsible party. The truck company can attempt to get rid of evidence, especially information from the truck’s data recorder, in the aftermath of a collision.
We can take legal action to prevent this destruction and collect the evidence, potentially strengthening your claim. We’re ready to take charge of the investigation and all other parts of the legal process on your behalf.
Who Holds Liability in a Truck Accident Case?
Many parties may share liability in a truck accident. You may find yourself facing several attorneys and insurance adjusters. Some of the parties that are frequently responsible for trucking accidents include:
The Truck Driver
Truckers can be held liable for a crash if they cause the accident due to dangerous actions such as speeding, distraction, or making an improper lane change. An attorney can obtain the semi-truck driver’s logs and interview witnesses to prove negligent actions.
The Trucking Company (Carrier)
As the driver’s employer, the trucking company is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior for their driver’s negligent actions during employment. An attorney will subpoena the company’s training and safety records during the investigation.
The Leasing Company
If someone leased the truck to the carrier, the leasing company may share liability depending on the agreement. We can examine the terms of the leasing contract to determine liability percentages.
The Party That Loaded the Truck
A company or employee responsible for improperly loading a truck may face liability if the loading caused or contributed to the accident. We may conduct an inspection of cargo securement and weight distribution paperwork.
Equipment Manufacturers
Defective parts like brakes or tires are a defect claim against the manufacturers. An expert can assess any faulty equipment to support design or manufacturing defect claims.
Truck Maintenance Facilities
Negligent maintenance by repair shops can result in liability for accidents. We can obtain vehicle maintenance and inspection records to reveal any missed issues that led to component failure.
The Broker or Dispatcher
A transportation broker arranging loads can be responsible if the commercial truck drivers or carriers they hire are insufficiently vetted. We can conduct interviews to determine how the broker evaluated safety qualifications.
Municipalities or Government Agencies
Poor road conditions caused by lack of maintenance or repair by cities or counties can open them up to liability. Public works records show the accident location’s repair history.
It’s essential to identify all sources of liability to ensure you have the best chance of collecting the maximum amount of financial compensation possible through the legal process. An experienced attorney can handle this process for you.
Independent Contractors Can Complicate Liability Proceedings
Trucking agencies can complicate the process of assigning liability for your losses via their hiring practices. Specifically, if the driver you get into an accident with appears to hold liability for your losses, you need to assess the nature of their employment with their company.
Commercial drivers operating on W2s may benefit from their company’s legal protection if they go to court. Comparatively, drivers operating on 1099s or as independent contractors must defend themselves in civil court as they legally do not constitute a business’s employees.
You can work with an experienced truck accident attorney to determine a driver’s status and draft your complaint accordingly.
Challenging an Insufficient Insurance Settlement Offer
There’s always a chance that the party responsible for your truck accident may approach you before you’ve had time to fully assess your losses. These parties may offer you settlements designed to allegedly address the breadth of your economic losses.
Unfortunately, insurance providers don’t always have your best interests at heart. These parties may seem as though they’re offering you a comprehensive settlement when, in fact, they’re overlooking several of your losses. You need to compare an offered truck accident settlement against an attorney’s estimate of your case’s value.
You can bring a settlement offer to our team without accepting it after an accident. We can then enter negotiations on your behalf and ensure that an insurance provider treats you fairly.
Injuries Our Indianapolis Truck Accident Lawyers Frequently Handle
Some common injuries that can occur in a truck accident include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Neck and back injuries
- Fractures and broken bones
- Internal organ damage or internal bleeding
- Whiplash
- Burns and lacerations
- Amputations or loss of limb function
- Catastrophic injuries
It’s important to seek medical attention immediately after a truck accident to ensure that doctors properly document and treat your injuries. Getting medical care quickly will also help strengthen your compensation claim.
Working with an Indianapolis truck accident lawyer can greatly benefit your case. We have the knowledge and experience to navigate the complexities of truck accident claims and will fight to protect your rights and secure the maximum compensation you deserve.
How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Crash Claim?
You need to act fast if you want to bring your truck accident losses to a judge’s attention. Indiana Code §34-11-2-4 dictates that accident victims only have two years from the day their accident takes place to bring their losses forward. Failure to submit a complaint within this deadline allows a court to dismiss your case.
Unfortunately, it can be tricky to gather all the information you need to make your case without the help of a personal injury attorney. Fortunately, our team of experienced lawyers knows how to make the most of the timeline that the state awards you through the statute of limitations.
You can contact an attorney at any point in your two-year period and discuss how best to use the remaining time to file a complaint against the at-fault party.
The video from Vaughan & Vaughan’s Indianapolis Truck Accident Lawyers advise those involved in semi-truck accidents to take immediate steps. Firstly, they emphasize the importance of documenting all details and preserving evidence from the scene and subsequent events, including medical treatment and communications. They caution against accepting settlements offered by trucking companies without legal representation, stressing the need to hire a personal injury law firm that will advocate for full entitlements under the law. Vaughan & Vaughan pledges to offer a thorough case review at no cost and to only charge fees upon winning a settlement or verdict for their clients.
What Causes Truck Accidents in Indianapolis?
Many different negligent actions can cause a truck collision. In many cases, driver error represents the underlying cause of a crash. However, other factors can also contribute to your collision. Our team can step in to help you after many types of accidents.
Some examples of causes of truck accidents include:
Distracted Driving
Truckers engage in distracted driving when they take their attention off the road or hands off the wheel. Many motorists engage in distracted driving when they look at a cell phone or text while driving.
Eating, drinking, changing the radio station, or getting over-involved with a passenger can also cause distraction behind the wheel. Looking away from the road for even a few seconds can have catastrophic results.
An Indianapolis distracted driving accident lawyer can provide you with legal services in this situation.
Driver Fatigue
Trucking companies often expect drivers to put in long hours in order to meet deadlines. This expectation can cause truckers to drive when they’re too tired to safely operate a vehicle. Fatigued drivers may fall asleep at the wheel or make dangerous decisions.
Drunk Driving
Drivers who get behind the wheel while impaired by alcohol have a higher chance of causing a crash that could result in permanent injuries and high financial losses. You can count on an Indianapolis drunk driving accident lawyer to help if an impaired truck driver strikes you.
Poor Weather Conditions
Poor weather, like heavy rain or snow, can increase the chances of a truck crash. You can seek compensation even if the weather contributed to your accident because Indiana expects drivers to adjust their driving behavior based on conditions.
For example, drivers who ignore poor weather and drive too quickly or swerve around between lanes may hold liability for a crash.
The Steps You Need to Take After a Truck Accident
Taking the correct steps after a truck collision can strengthen your claim and improve your chances of securing maximum compensation. Generally, our legal team strongly recommends that you:
Contact the Police and Report the Truck Crash
Legally, you should report any head-on, side-impact, or rear-end collision to the police if the crash results in injuries, property damage, or death. If you leave the scene of the crash without notifying the police, law enforcement could accuse you of committing a hit-and-run.
Reporting the crash also means the police can visit the accident scene, review what happened, and create an official report. Your lawyer will likely use the information in the police report when building your claim for compensation.
Get Medical Treatment
You should seek immediate medical care if you sustain any injuries in a trucking accident. Getting treatment right away can improve your chances of making a full recovery and demonstrates that the collision directly caused your injuries.
Collect Evidence from the Accident Scene
If possible, you should gather evidence from the truck crash scene. For example, we recommend that you get pictures of:
- Your injuries
- The damage to your vehicle
- The position of all vehicles involved in the crash
Additionally, you should collect contact information from all eyewitnesses. We also suggest that you write down everything you remember about the crash.
How Long Does it Take to Resolve a Truck Crash Claim?
The time it takes to get compensation after a truck accident will vary. In many cases, you can minimize the time you spend going through the legal process by immediately hiring a lawyer who can expedite each step you need to take in this difficult time.
In many cases, our team can wrap up insurance negotiations and bring clients a settlement in only a few months. However, the negotiation process may take longer if the insurance company wants to prevent you from getting fair compensation for your losses.
Generally, going through the court system by filing a personal injury lawsuit will take longer than settling. A truck accident lawsuit could take a year or more to resolve. We’ll provide more information about both of these options and how they could work in your situation when you call us for help.
Contact Our Team for Legal Guidance After a Truck Crash
Truck drivers have a higher standard of responsibility on the road than their peers in private vehicles. A negligent truck driver who fails to uphold the duty of care owed to you on the road can be later held liable for the economic extent of your losses.
When you present your case to a civil judge, you have the chance to demand compensation from the truck driver, their insurance provider, or the employer.
You can do so with help from an Indianapolis truck accident lawyer from our team at Vaughan & Vaughan online or over the phone today to schedule a free case consultation with the team that can help you recover.
