Our Dedicated Truck Accident Attorneys
If you have been injured in a truck accident, are you recovering from injuries that have left you in chronic pain, or are facing temporary or permanent disability, it is imperative that you talk with our Indianapolis, IN truck accident lawyer for help. You might already be receiving medical bills in the tens of thousands of dollars while at the same time being unable to work. Our team understands the challenges associated with truck accidents and would like to offer you a consultation in which we can discuss what happened, explore your legal options, and address your concerns. Contact Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers today to discuss your case. We also serve clients in Brightwood, Clermont, Noblesville, and Cumberland. Table of Contents The Basics of Truck Accidents
As a truck accident lawyer in IN can empathize with, being part of a serious truck wreck can be scary, painful, and confusing. Despite what we may have been told about what to do if an accident were to arise, it can be easy to get swept away in the chaos and forget. However, it is important to the outcome of your insurance claim and how much you receive in compensation if you remember to take certain actions shortly after the truck accident. Truck accidents can be devastating. Commercial trucks like tractor-trailers, construction trucks, moving trucks, and 18-wheelers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Their sheer size can lead to a heavy impact that is catastrophic. Often the driver of the truck walks away with minor injuries, while the occupants of the car may face life-changing injuries. Some will succumb to their injuries. Sadly, a large majority of collisions like these could have been avoided. When There Are Multiple Negligent Parties
One of the most challenging factors surrounding truck accidents is the reality that you might be facing multiple negligent parties. This can become incredibly complicated, especially considering the insurance companies and lawyers that you may be left to contend with. A qualified truck accident lawyer assists in not only identifying the responsible parties but also helping to prove your case against them. Potentially liable parties include the driver of the truck, the owner of the truck or trailer, the truck company, a leasing company, a manufacturer, the maintenance company, another vehicle’s driver, and more. Your Claim and Settlement
More often than not, commercial trucking companies have deep pockets and a team of high-cost attorneys on retainer. The same is true of their insurance company. Neither will likely hesitate to deny your accident claim or offer a low settlement amount for your injury. Though their offer will not be nearly enough to cover your medical costs and other injury damages, you might be tempted to accept it because it’s better than nothing. When you agree to a personal injury settlement with a trucking company and their insurance carrier, you agree to not pursue the matter further. Specifically, you cannot take them to court in a civil lawsuit. In addition, once you accept that settlement, if you need additional and unanticipated medical treatment, you cannot seek additional monetary compensation from the trucking company or their insurance carrier. Damages that May Be Recoverable
Truck accidents can cost victims tens of thousands of dollars. The more serious the injuries are, the more money you can expect to have to pay. By law, when another party causes you harm, you have the right to ask them to pay for your injuries and any other losses. The sooner you do this, the more likely you are to recover a fair and just settlement. Our team can review your case and may seek damages for medical bills, future medical treatment, therapy, and rehabilitation, necessary home or car renovation (i.e. ramps), lost wages or loss of income, loss of future benefits, loss of consortium, pain and suffering, mental and emotional distress, funeral and burial costs, and more. Our attorney can help you determine the full extent of compensation that you may be able to recover. The Long-Term Impacts of Truck Accidents
As experienced legal representatives, we understand that injuries from a truck accident can be far-reaching and long-term in their impact. For this reason, and when applicable, we include future medical treatment in settlement negotiations that we conduct with the at-fault parties. We have developed a network of medical professionals and other experts upon whom we rely to provide us with substantiated information to include in our compensation claims. We document this using current industry data and cost-based analysis. As an example, if a client suffered a severe back injury in a truck accident, we might call on a respected back surgeon to provide testimony about future surgeries the victim is likely to need in the future. From there we break down the costs of those anticipated surgeries and related treatment. If you were to accept a personal injury award settlement without first consulting our truck accident lawyer in Indianapolis, IN, you would probably not have the aforementioned data to include in your claim. As a result, the amount of compensation you are offered will likely be significantly less than what we may negotiate for you as your legal representative. The Severity of Truck Accidents
When sharing the road with large trucks, it should come as no surprise that other drivers in smaller vehicles are particularly vulnerable. The slightest misstep can produce incredibly damaging results. Our Indiana truck accident lawyer shares that when a large truck crashes another car, the sheer force can be detrimental, resulting in severe and even fatal injuries such as brain injuries, lacerations, broken bones, back injuries, paralysis, internal injuries, and more. Large trucks can be challenging to maneuver and require skilled drivers to manage them safely. Because of their size, they can’t always respond quickly when faced with a potential issue. What To Do in the 10 Minutes After a Truck Accident
If the truck accident happened in a spot where you are now in the way of other drivers, our truck accident lawyer in Indianapolis suggests safely getting yourself and the vehicle (if possible) off to the side of the road. Wait nearby until an officer and ambulance can arrive to assist. Do not permit the truck driver to leave, and always get medical care at the scene even if you don’t believe you have been seriously injured. Vehicle-related injuries may not be felt until a later time after the original bodily shock has diminished. - Turn On Your Hazard Lights
By activating hazard lights you are drawing attention to the truck accident so other drivers can be cautious when passing by. This helps warn people to slow down as they approach. If you have road flares, this would be a good time to use them. - Call the Police Once You Are Safe
After you have moved your vehicle and yourself over to a safe area of the road, notify the police immediately. There is no better resource than an officer within the first few minutes after a truck accident happens. A police officer can guide you through handling the scene, in addition to taking a report of what happened. - Exchange Details with the Truck Driver
While it may be awkward to talk with the truck driver who hit you, it is a necessary part of handling a truck accident. If you do not ask for their information promptly, they may get other ideas such as trying to flee the scene. Unless the truck driver appears drunk or hostile, exchange details as you wait for police to arrive. The first ten minutes after a truck accident can be the most stressful part. You may be in pain, dizzy, in shock, and feel inclined to neutralize the stress by talking with others. However, do not say you are sorry or make any other statements that could be interpreted as taking responsibility for the truck accident. Do not admit fault, even to bystanders who may have rushed over to help. The truck driver may ask to get these witnesses’ information and their statements about you admitting fault could drastically hinder your case. Indianapolis Truck Accident Infographic
Indianapolis Truck Accident Statistics
According to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, large trucks are involved in more than 5,000 fatal crashes each year in the United States. The most common type of truck accident is a rear-end collision. Due to the massive size and weight of these vehicles, truck accidents are more likely to be fatal than car accidents. Contact a truck accident lawyer for legal help if you or a loved one has been injured to ensure you receive the financial compensation you deserve for the losses your injuries have caused. These injuries are often catastrophic, leaving victims and their families financially devastated.
Indianapolis Truck Accident FAQs
What Evidence Is Important for My Case?
Whether you are pursuing a truck accident lawsuit or an accident claim with the insurance company, evidence will play a critical role in pursuing your case. Successful outcomes, yielding fair compensation for damages, will require that your lawyer prove several elements. With strong evidence, they will work to determine that a duty of care was owed and that there was a breach of the duty of care which resulted in damages. It’s important to note that in some cases, multiple parties could be held accountable in a truck accident in the state of Indiana. Because of this, taking legal action can be complicated and will require your lawyer to present significant evidence, including truck driver information, driving records, maintenance logs, photographs and videos of injuries and the accident scene, medical records, eyewitness accounts, police records, and drug and alcohol testing results.
How Is Compensation Evaluated?
Seeking out the services that our team can provide will be essential in taking action. When insurance companies review your case or judges preside over a case, they will want to consider the evidence presented when making a decision. Having strong evidence available helps to outline all of the ways that the injury has impacted you. Additionally, this can help prove that the other party was at fault and should be held responsible for their negligence. Because of the severity of truck accidents, it should be no surprise that truck accidents often yield higher compensation levels. When you meet with us, we will look for several factors when proving your case. This might be determining who was responsible based on the evidence, the extent of your injuries, the financial losses you have suffered from missed time away from work and medical expenses, whether your injuries will require long-term care, emotional damages you have suffered, and more.
Why Should I Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer?
At Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers, you can depend on our team to assist with your case by standing by your side to strategize the most appropriate way to manage your case. In addition to physical pain and financial losses, you may be dealing with calls from lawyers and insurance companies. During the recovery process, this may be overwhelming; in some cases, you may even inadvertently share information with the opposing side that could be harmful to your case. We want to help you prevent complications by protecting your rights throughout the process. Our firm even provides risk-free consultations that can determine whether you have a case and allow you to get a feel for our team and the services we provide our clients. To get started with our Indianapolis truck crash lawyer, call our office today.
Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers, Indianapolis Truck Accident Lawyer
728 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
Contact Our Indianapolis Truck Accident Lawyer Today
Trucking accidents are often life-changing, leaving you to face injuries, physical pain, emotional damage, and more. Seeking compensation is a primary way to not only cover your losses but also assist in making you feel whole again after such a tragedy. Allow yourself to obtain an outcome that helps you in the recovery process. Get started today by contacting our team at Ward & Ward Law Firm. Our truck accident lawyer in Indiana is standing by to help victims take action. Call us today for a free and confidential consultation with an IN truck accident lawyer so we can win fair compensation in a difficult case. 
