It is not right that so many truck accident victims suffer alone. Because of the size of semi-trucks and the speed at which accidents often occur, most truck accident victims suffer from serious or even catastrophic injuries. Far too often, victims of these accidents are left to navigate their injuries, bills, and paperwork on their own.
When someone is injured in a Zionsville truck accident, the long-term impact can be almost unimaginable. You deserve to have an experienced, compassionate attorney on your side. At Yosha Law Firm, it is our responsibility to protect the rights of our clients who have been seriously injured or lost a loved one.
The process of filing a truck accident claim can be pretty grueling, especially if you are trying to do it on your own. It’s unfair that someone else’s negligence causes pain, suffering, and financial losses.
We can’t go back in time to make it so that the accident never happened, but we can help you get justice. We fight for the compensation you deserve so that you can heal and recover.
- What makes semi-truck accidents so serious?
- How to get compensation after a truck accident in Zionsville
- Determining fault after a Zionsville truck accident
- Causes of truck accidents
- Truck accidents change lives
- 3 steps to take after a truck accident
- Yosha Law Firm: We protect accident victims in Zionsville and beyond
What makes semi-truck accidents so serious?
In 2020, there were 178 fatalities from truck accidents in Indiana. Of the 1,254 vehicles that were involved in fatal collisions that year, 148 of them were trucks. Another statistic is that 11.8% of fatal accidents involved a semi-truck that year.
Every year, dozens or even hundreds of people die in semi-truck collisions on Indiana’s highways, interstates, and other roadways.
There are several reasons why truck accidents are often so deadly, especially for drivers and passengers in other cars. Let’s go over some of these reasons.
Accident speed
Semi-truck drivers spend the majority of their time on highways and interstates, where the rate of speed is higher than in towns and cities. No matter the vehicles involved, high-speed collisions are always more dangerous than their lower-speed counterparts.
The speed limit for trucks in Indiana is 65 mph, and 70 mph for cars. Many drivers exceed these limits, despite the risks. Driving at an excessive rate of speed increases the risk of being in an accident, but it also increases the potential for life-threatening injuries.
Truck and cargo weight
The maximum allowed weight for a semi-truck in the US is 80,000 pounds. Even though many trucks on the road weigh less than that (because they are not hauling at full capacity), they will always be significantly heavier than the average car.
The typical car only weighs about 4,000 pounds. As you can imagine, the difference in weight causes serious injuries when a truck slams into a car!
Truck dimensions
The weight of a semi isn’t the only issue. The dimensions of the truck are a problem in accidents, too.
The front end of a truck cab strikes a car at a higher point than another vehicle would. This means that truck/car collisions are often more damaging than a wreck involving two cars, or a car and a van or SUV.
How to get compensation after a truck accident in Zionsville
There is probably so much on your mind right now! You may be suffering from serious injuries, facing a long recovery, or grieving the loss of a loved one. Compensation is important to you, of course, but mostly because you are trying to get your life back together after an unthinkable accident!
Recovering from a truck accident isn’t just painful; it’s also stressful, expensive, and overwhelming.
When your injuries were caused by the negligent or careless behavior of a truck driver, a trucking company, or a government that failed to maintain safe roadways, holding the responsible party accountable can bring about a sense of justice!
When you work with an experienced truck accident lawyer in Zionsville, they can help you recover compensation for the following (and more):
- Lost wages from the time you were off work
- Lost earning capacity if you have been unable to return to your job
- Medical bills, including hospital stays and emergency treatment
- Therapy and rehabilitation expenses
- Medication costs
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Humiliation
- Emotional and psychological distress, including PTSD
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
When you work with an attorney from Yosha Law Firm, they can use their expertise to determine how much value your case may have and how much compensation you should be paid.
Determining fault after a Zionsville truck accident
Compensation is heavily dependent upon proving who was at fault for the accident.
Determining fault after any accident is complicated, but accidents that involve commercial trucks are even more complex. That’s because you also have to take into consideration the special rules that govern commercial trucks, which are overseen by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
An attorney can help to determine who was at fault
A Zionsville truck accident attorney has a big responsibility to determine who was responsible for the accident.
Instead of trying to figure out how to understand everything, you can depend on your attorney’s knowledge of Indiana laws and the FMCSA rules. A reputable law firm will also have the experience needed to understand how the accident happened and how to prove who was at fault.
Truck accidents aren’t always caused by just one party. There could be several defendants in a truck accident claim. Sometimes, you might even share some of the responsibility, and you’re not sure how that will affect your claim.
A lawyer does not make guesses about who was responsible, and they do not try to prove that someone was at fault if the evidence isn’t there. Rather, a truck accident attorney analyzes the accident, comes to an understanding about who was at fault, and then proves their conclusions to an insurance company, a judge, or a jury.
Truck accidents may be caused by:
- Commercial truck drivers
- Truck or car manufacturers
- Trucking companies (the driver’s employer)
- Truck owners (if the owner is neither the driver nor the employer)
- Shipping companies who load cargo incorrectly
- Third-party shipping contractors which are supposed to handle maintenance, repairs, inspection, loading, leasing, etc.
- Municipalities and other governments who failed to maintain safe roads
- Drivers who were struck
- Multiple drivers on the road, including those who weren’t actually in the collision
Liability can be complicated!
Comparative fault in Indiana
Indiana uses comparative negligence (AKA: comparative fault) to assign financial liability for an accident.
As long as you bear less than 50% of the responsibility for the accident, you can sue for damages. However, your liability will affect any compensation you receive. Whether you are offered a settlement or a court award, the total will be reduced by the same percentage as your responsibility.
In other words, if you were 20% responsible for the accident, your compensation will be reduced by 20%.
Causes of truck accidents
Even though many different things can cause an accident, many truck accidents are caused either by driver failure or mechanical failure.
This may include:
Inexperienced commercial drivers who lack sufficient training and practice to operate large trucks can cause accidents. Though commercial drivers must be licensed, newer operators enter the industry daily without ample skills to respond quickly in hazardous situations, leading to crashes.
Additionally, some unscrupulous trucking firms employ unqualified drivers or skirt safety regulations that otherwise protect all on the roads. No company should ever compel drivers to haul overweight loads past capacity.
Fatigued drivers also pose grave threats, as exhaustion breeds perilous errors and collisions. Reputable carriers never force operators beyond legal hour limits, because flouting these rules begets tired truckers and dire mistakes that follow.
Faulty equipment (such as defective brakes, steering issues, air and fuel leaks, broken lights, and worn tires) also triggers countless annual truck accidents. These crashes are avoidable if trucking personnel thoroughly inspect vehicles and address mechanical problems before they endanger roadway travelers.
Additionally, the following behaviors could all cause a semi-truck collision:
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI)
- Excessive speeds
- Reckless driving
- Distracted driving
- Failing to adjust driving behaviors to poor road conditions and/or bad weather
- Failing to check the driver’s blind spots
- Attempting unsafe turns/maneuvers
- Improperly loading the cargo on a truck
- Failing to maintain roads (potholes, damaged roads, etc)
- Creating and failing to clean up construction debris
- Failing to maintain adequate road signage
Truck accidents change lives
In rare circumstances, people walk away from truck accidents without significant injuries, and their only loss is property damage. Unfortunately, that is just not the norm when it comes to truck/car collisions.
Most people who survive trucking accidents face serious consequences to their bodily health and well-being.
Common injuries from truck accidents
Some of the typical injuries we see in trucking accidents include:
- Brain injuries
- Head wounds
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Neck and back injuries
- Seat belt injuries
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Cracked or dislocated ribs
- Injuries to the internal organs
- Lacerations and bruising
- Soft tissue damage
- Joint injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Burns
- Amputation of digits and limbs
Wrongful death is perhaps the most tragic outcome of these kinds of accidents. All of the injuries listed and others can prove to be fatal, leading to the pain and suffering of the deceased’s loved ones. A premature death can also cause financial hardships for children, spouses, and other loved ones.
Symptoms to watch out for
Be aware of symptoms that may develop in the hours, days, and even weeks after the accident.
- Headaches
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Muscle soreness
- Joint pain or swelling
- Changes in vision
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Memory problems
- Changes in mood such as irritability or nervousness
- Trouble concentrating or paying attention
- Trouble sleeping
- Fatigue
- Tingling or numbness in the arms or legs
It’s important to monitor any unusual symptoms after an accident, even if they seem minor at first. Some symptoms of injuries like concussions or soft tissue damage can take time to appear.
Seeking prompt medical care can diagnose issues early and help improve recovery. Contact your doctor with any concerns about new or worsening symptoms after a collision. Tracking your symptoms and being an advocate for your health is key.
3 steps to take after a truck accident
In the confusion and chaos that follows an accident, everything can become a blur.
Retaining a lawyer who can go through your case with you is one of the best ways to bring some order into your life following a truck collision. Your attorney can help you make informed decisions about each step in the legal process.
In short, someone else is taking care of your legal needs so that you can focus on your physical recovery!
After an accident, we recommend that you follow these three steps:
- Stay put at the accident scene until authorities arrive, unless emergency staff transports you away. Provide officers with an account of the events preceding the collision to ensure police reports are precise. Fully cooperate with police, as accurate crash details aid investigations.
- If you are able, document evidence like vehicle damage, road conditions, weather, and injuries through photos and videos. Alternatively, ask trusted friends or family to collect evidence if you cannot. Documenting key facts provides your attorney with critical data to support your case later.
- Consult an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as your health allows. Legal experts explain options, manage insurance claims, communicate with insurers in your stead, and vigorously seek maximum recompense in court if needed. Their know-how is invaluable after major wrecks.
Yosha Law Firm: We protect accident victims in Zionsville and beyond
At Yosha Law Firm, we tirelessly champion our clients’ rights, seeking the justice you deserve through compassionate support at each step. You endured trauma and need caring advocates.
Our exhaustive case investigations uncover exactly what occurred and who bears responsibility. Although we prepare every case for trial, we aim first for meaningful compensation through settlement. Still, we remain willing and able to argue meritorious claims before juries if lesser offers leave you uncompensated. Our clients can rely on both relentless negotiation and court representation.
You don’t pay us anything if we don’t win
At Yosha, all of our clients are accepted on a contingency basis. Put simply, that means that you don’t pay us anything to retain our services until we win your case for you. If we don’t win, we don’t get paid!
There is no risk to you to retain an attorney from Yosha Law Firm. You don’t owe us a single dollar to get started.
When we win your case, either as a settlement or court award, your legal fees are simply deducted from your compensation total.
Yosha’s Zionsville accident attorneys are here to help
When you’re ready to hold people responsible for causing you pain, suffering, and financial losses, reach out to us here at Yosha for a free case review.
We will look at your unique circumstances and help you determine the next best steps toward seeking justice.
Call us today to schedule that free consultation or ask us your questions!
