Until you experience it for yourself, it is difficult to comprehend just how much force a commercial truck can generate in the event of a collision. Weighing as much as 80,000 pounds, 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers are enormous vehicles. At 70 mph, they carry twice as much energy as they do when traveling at 50 mph.
On the highway, occupants of cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs often stand little chance when a truck driver makes a mistake or loses control. Even on city and suburban streets, being hit by a commercial truck can have life-altering consequences. Approximately 80 percent of all victims of serious and fatal injuries in truck accidents are occupants of passenger vehicles, and accidents involving large commercial trucks have a disproportionately high rate of death.
Caress Worland Law Group is a personal injury and wrongful death law firm that represents victims of serious accidents in the greater Indianapolis area. Founding attorney Tim Caress has well over 20 years of legal experience, and we have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for drivers, passengers, and their families. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident, you need a legal team with the skill, resources, and commitment required to take on the trucking companies and their insurers. With a proven record of success in insurance settlement negotiations and at trial, you can trust our Indianapolis Truck Accident Lawyers will fight for every last penny you deserve.
From driver negligence to truck defects, there are numerous factors that can cause and contribute to 18-wheeler, tractor trailer, and other commercial truck accidents. When our experienced Indianapolis truck accident lawyers investigate your case, we will identify all of the factors involved so that we can hold each of the responsible parties accountable for your injuries and losses. In our experience, some of the most-common factors involved in truck and auto accidents include:
- Aggressive driving
- Alcohol and drug use (including abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medications)
- Cell phone use and other driving distractions
- Cargo loading, securing, and pressurization errors
- Defective truck parts and components
- Driver fatigue
- Failure to inspect tires, brakes, lights, and other truck components
- Failure to install blind spot mirrors
- Speeding (including exceeding truck speed limits)
- Sudden braking resulting in jackknifing
- Tailgating
- Unrealistic schedules and long work shifts
In order to answer this question, our Indianapolis truck accident attorneys will need to know all of the details of your accident. From the cause of the collision to the extent of your injuries, virtually every variable will impact your financial recovery. If you have suffered a severe injury that has left you suffering from chronic pain and that impairs your ability to work, the types of compensation available to you would generally include:
- Current and future medical expenses and prescription costs
- Current and future loss of income
- Other current and future expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life and other non-economic losses
If you have lost a loved one in a commercial truck accident, calculating your losses will require a comprehensive assessment of the financial and non-financial costs associated with your loved one’s death. We offer you our deepest sympathies, and we encourage you to contact us to discuss your family’s legal rights.
To learn more about your rights after a truck accident in Indiana, please contact our experienced Indianapolis truck accident lawyers to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with attorney Tim Caress. You can reach our Indianapolis, IN, law offices 24/7. So call (317) 255-5400 or submit your case online now.