An accident with a large commercial truck can leave you with terrible injuries that require weeks or months to recover. You may be unable to work, and your bills may be piling up. It doesn’t seem fair when a reckless truck driver causes such turmoil in your life.
Landstar is a large, powerful company with tremendous assets at its disposal. Going against a big company so you can get the settlement you need to pay your bills can feel hopeless. An Indiana Landstar truck accident lawyer can help.
At Vaughan & Vaughan, our team of Indiana truck accident lawyers has recovered over $25 million in settlements and awards for injured victims like you. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn how we can help.
Important Actions to Take After a Landstar Truck Accident
In the days following your accident, you may wonder what to do next. A few key actions can increase your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.
Get Medical Care
If you haven’t seen a doctor yet, go and get checked out as soon as possible. Most importantly, you want to be sure the aches and pains you are feeling aren’t signs of a more serious injury. Your health is paramount.
Taking care of your health also shows you are serious about your injuries and your case. When you follow your doctor’s orders and get the care you need, you establish a record of your injuries and treatment needs.
Contact an Attorney
You should hire an Indiana personal injury lawyer as soon after your accident as possible. We can help you sort through the events of the crash, determine who was at fault, and walk you through the process of attaining fair compensation from the liable party.
An attorney understands the law and can offer advice on how to proceed with your case. We can help you avoid many of the common mistakes made by accident victims that prevent them from getting the settlement they need.
Hold on to Receipts
Keep a copy of every expense you have incurred as a result of the accident, such as medical bills, car repairs, lost wages, and any additional household expenses. This can help your attorney when we calculate your economic damages and assess your maximum compensation.
Write a Narrative
Write out the details of how the accident happened while events are still fresh in your mind. Include as many specifics as possible, as best you can remember. This will help your attorney when they investigate the crash and try to determine who is liable.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
Who is Liable in a Landstar Truck Accident?
Landstar is a large transportation and logistics company that operates in North America and worldwide. Its drivers are contracted owner-operators, not employees. This can complicate accidents, as assigning liability may be difficult, depending on the circumstances.
Because they are independent contractors, the driver is often liable for accidents, and you will need to deal with their insurance provider. Negligent behaviors that could make a truck driver liable for your accident include but are not limited to:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Aggressive driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Failure to follow traffic signals or signs
When is Landstar Liable for an Accident?
Landstar can’t control the actions of the drivers they work with while they are on the road, but there are some cases where Landstar may share responsibility for an accident. This may include things like:
- Failure to require drivers to carry the appropriate insurance
- Poor hiring practices
- Inadequate training
Your Landstar truck accident lawyer in Indiana can advise if or when Landstar may be considered at fault for your specific accident. Liability may also extend to other parties in cases where a third driver or pedestrian initiated the accident.
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What is a Landstar Truck Accident Worth in Indiana?
The compensation you may receive for your accident depends on how the accident occurred and the extent of your damages. Your Indiana Landstar truck accident attorney can calculate your damages and arrive at a fair number that can have a positive impact on your life.
Insurance companies may try to offer a low initial settlement, hoping you’ll take it without knowing what your claim is really worth. When you have a skilled attorney in your corner, you can avoid falling for their tactics.
Instead, your attorney will consider your economic and non-economic damages and fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the costs and expenses you’ve paid or expect to pay because of the accident and your injuries. Every case is different, but some of the things your attorney may consider include:
- The expenses associated with your medical care, such as doctor visits, medications, specialist visits, and physical therapy
- Earnings and wages you’ve missed because you are unable to work due to your injury
- The costs of long-term medical needs such as extensive rehab, recurring testing, or medications
- Property damage, which may include repairing or replacing your vehicle and other items of value that were destroyed in the wreck
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, lost enjoyment of life, and emotional distress are meant to address the social, psychological, and emotional damages of your accident.
They are not available in every instance, and your attorney can advise you if they apply to your case.
Contact an Indiana Landstar Truck Accident Lawyer
Landstar is a reputable company that takes safety seriously. They have strict requirements for working with them as owner-operators, and they have ongoing safety training. Unfortunately, none of that helps you much if you are in an accident with one of their drivers.
When you are injured, you can’t work, and your debts are mounting, it can be hard to know what to do next. An Indiana Landstar truck accident attorney can help you understand your rights and get the compensation you deserve.
For more than a century, Vaughan & Vaughan has fought for injured accident victims and their families in Indiana. Contact us for a free consultation and tell us your story.
