Common Causes of Indiana Truck Accidents
Every year, there are roughly 140,000 accidents involving large “big rig” trucks. In addition, 8% of all fatal automobile accidents involved one of these trucks. Our Indiana semi-truck accident lawyers say there are many reasons for this, which are listed below.
If you or a loved one has been injured from an Indiana truck accident, contact our Indiana truck accident lawyers now!
Actions of Passenger Cars
Many motorists of smaller cars simply do not know how to drive in the presence of large trucks. In attempting to maneuver around them, smaller cars contribute to accidents involving large semi-trucks. Such actions include hastily changing lanes in front of a truck, misjudging an approaching truck’s speed at an intersection, being blown out of position by air turbulence after passing a truck, driving between two trucks, improperly merging into traffic in such a way that a truck is forced to slow down, and many others. In such cases, the car driver will likely be at fault. Even still, he should consult an Indiana semi-truck accident lawyer before making any mistakes.
Actions of Indiana Commercial Truck Drivers
While commercial truck companies take great pains to train their drivers, these drivers are nonetheless at fault in more than 50% of accidents. Our semi-truck accident lawyers in Indiana say that happens when big rig drivers have received mediocre training on how to drive defensively, or other safety concerns. Also, some Indiana trucking companies give their drivers unreasonable deadlines. In such cases, they feel pressured to speed, or to stay on the road even when they are tired.
Indiana semi-truck accident lawyers say this might be a reason for the growing number of commercial truck accidents. They point to statistics showing that 75% of all trucking accidents took place while the truck driver was making a delivery. Technology is also a contributor to accidents: when a truck driver sends or receives a text message while driving, he is 23 times more likely to get into an accident. In conjunction with this, some trucking companies install computers to help their drivers check orders, and find routes to get to their destination. However, these trucks are ten times more likely than their counterparts to get into an accident.
When to Hire an Indiana Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a big rig truck, you should consult with a semi-truck accident lawyer in Indiana. That is because there are many legal complications in these accidents. Sometimes the truck driver is an independent contractor who is making a delivery for his own business in addition to making a delivery for another company. In such a case, does the company he is contracting for share some liability? In addition, whose insurance carrier pays for the eventual settlement to those injured or killed in the accident?
These are among the difficult questions that semi-truck accident lawyers in Indiana have to face. But they also may have to deal with lawyers for the trucking industry who try to low-ball on settlements to accident victims. With that in mind, a semi-truck accident lawyer in Indiana eeds to know relevant case law well, and have solid negotiating skills as he fights for his client, who likely has suffered a life-altering, debilitating injury.
