What are common truck accidents?
Our lawyers handle all types of tractor-trailer crashes
Truck accidents can cover a wide range, from rear-end crashes caused by delivery trucks to jackknife accidents caused by tractor-trailers. Whatever type of truck accident you’re dealing with in Indiana, it’s important to take your crash seriously right from the start. That’s why we want to meet with you at our law firm right away.
Our dedicated team of trial lawyers at Glaser & Ebbs in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis can fight for your rights every step of the way. From investigating your accident to negotiating with insurance providers and trucking companies, you can count on us to demand the money you deserve. We know how the legal system works and we know what strategies can be the most effective. That’s because we have more than 100 years of combined legal experience handling serious truck accidents throughout Indiana. We will not rest until justice is served.
Different types of truck accidents
Commercial truck accidents can cover a wide range. Some of the most common crashes caused by commercial truck drivers involving other vehicles include:
- Tractor-trailer accidents
- Rear-end truck accidents
- Rollover accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Underride accidents
- Fatal truck accidents
Whatever type of truck accident you’re dealing with, don’t underestimate the complexity of your legal cases. The sooner you have a lawyer investigating your crash and gathering evidence in support of your claim, the better.
Who determines who’s at fault?
Many different people and organizations often investigate commercial truck accidents. This may include local police, the Indiana State Police and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), particularly in cases involving serious or fatal truck accidents.
Based on their investigation, the insurance companies for everyone involved in the accident will then determine who caused your accident. These insurance companies often represent all the drivers involved in the collision, as well as the trucking company the driver works for, if applicable.
What you might not realize is your lawyer can be part of these conversations. When you have an attorney working for you, they can present evidence and work on your behalf to make sure your best interests receive the attention you deserve when different parties are determining who caused your collision.
This step is very important since Indiana has a fault-based insurance system. That means the at-fault driver’s insurance company is responsible for compensating everyone injured in the accident. As a result, you need to prove you didn’t cause your crash to get the money you deserve for accident expenses.
How much are different accidents worth?
There’s no set dollar amount when it comes to how much different types of accidents are worth. Each crash is unique and can vary widely from one accident to another. Some might be worth a few thousand dollars. Others could be worth significantly more.
The bottom line is if a truck driver caused your crash, you shouldn’t have to pay for your accident-related expenses yourself. The at-fault truck driver’s insurance company and trucking company should pay for everything.
It’s also important to remember that your accident expenses aren’t simply short-term ones like emergency medical care and replacement income during your recovery. All future expenses related to your accident should be included when calculating how much your accident is worth.
Get the law firm that gets results. Contact us.
We take into account all past, current and future accident-related expenses when we represent injury victims and their families. We also understand the urgency of many truck accident investigations. Trucking companies only have to keep certain evidence for a limited amount of time. This includes Hours of Service (HOS) logs, which state exactly how long the truck driver was on the road and when they last took a mandatory break before the accident.
Details matter – and so does your case. Get the law firm focused on finding the facts and building the strongest possible legal case. Contact our law firm and schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers. We know how to negotiate a settlement offer with insurance providers and trucking companies. If they don’t cooperate, we won’t hesitate to file a lawsuit against them on your behalf. Make an appointment in our Fort Wayne or Indianapolis office or one of our other Indiana locations today.
Tractor-trailer accidents
Accidents caused by tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers and semi-trucks are among the most serious accidents on the road. Because tractor-trailers are significantly larger and are often involved in high-speed highway accidents, the injuries involved in such collisions can be catastrophic.
Many tractor-trailer collisions occur because of mechanical failure (defective brakes, tire blowouts), poor maintenance or mistakes made by inexperienced or reckless truck drivers. Whatever the cause of your tractor-trailer accident, be prepared for a tough legal battle with insurance companies, trucking companies and the attorneys representing them.
Our dedicated legal team can fight for your rights if you or a loved one was injured in a crash caused by a tractor-trailer driver. We’re familiar with the state and federal laws governing commercial truck accidents. As your attorney, we can demand the compensation you rightfully deserve for medical bills, lost income and all other accident-related expenses.
Rear-end truck accidents
Commercial truck drivers need to stay focused on the road at all times, especially if they’re driving a large 18-wheeler on a highway. When they don’t pay attention, one of the most common – and most serious – accidents they cause are rear-end accidents.
Many times, rear-end truck accidents occur because a truck driver is tailgating and following a car in front too closely. Other times, the truck driver might be distracted and crash into the car in front. This is especially true if the truck driver was texting, which is against the law nationwide for all commercial truck drivers.
Whatever the cause of your rear-end truck accident, don’t simply assume the truck driver or the trucking company they work for will fairly compensate you. Rear-end accidents can often be very challenging cases since the at-fault driver might try to blame you for causing the crash. We can thoroughly investigate your crash and help set the record straight. We fight for you.
Rollover accidents
One of the most serious types of truck accidents involves large commercial trucks rolling over and crashing into other vehicles. That’s because many rollover accidents involve tractor-trailers and other large trucks traveling a high rate of speed right before the crash occurs.
Many rollover accidents happen because the contents of the truck are improperly loaded and shift during transit, causing the truck to become unstable and roll over. Other times, inexperienced truck drivers lose control of the truck, especially if they’re speeding or driving recklessly around a sharp curve.
Whatever the cause of your rollover truck accident, our experience legal team knows how to find the evidence you need to build the strongest possible legal case. We frequently review accident reports and consult with accident-reconstruction experts. We leave no stone unturned in pursuit of the truth and the money you rightfully deserve.
Jackknife accidents
Jackknife accidents involve the trailer from a tractor-trailer folding in on itself towards the cab in a jackknife shape. These types of accidents can often be very serious since they often involve tractor-trailers traveling at high speed on a highway and several other vehicles on the road.
If a car becomes trapped between the truck’s cab and the trailer, the injuries can often be serious or even fatal. That’s why it’s important to have an experienced attorney thoroughly investigating your jackknife truck accident.
Many crashes happen because the truck driver was speeding, distracted or driving recklessly. Other times, accidents happen because of a mechanical problem with the truck or poor maintenance. Whatever the cause, you can count on us to investigate your crash and fight for your rights every step of the way.
Underride accidents
Underride truck accidents are among the most serious rear-end crashes involving tractor-trailers. These types of accidents occur when the front of a car becomes trapped under the underside of a trailer on a tractor-trailer. Injuries in these types of accidents can be severe or even fatal.
Tractor-trailers should be equipped with underride guards to prevent these types of accidents. Sometimes, these underride protection devices do not work properly. Other times, underride accidents happen because the truck’s brake lights aren’t working or other mechanical problems.
Whatever the cause of your crash, an experienced lawyer can thoroughly investigate your crash and find the facts you need to build the strongest possible legal case. Be prepared for trucking companies and their insurance providers to fight your claim. That’s because they’re often looking for any excuse to not pay injury victims. We can help you fight back and demand the money you deserve for your accident.
Fatal truck accidents
Truck accidents that result in fatalities sadly occur far too often. That’s because large commercial trucks often crash into cars, motorcycles and other smaller vehicles with such force, especially in the case of high-speed highway accidents.
Many fatal truck accidents end up being complicated legal cases because there’s so much money often at stake. As a result, the truck driver, the trucking company and their insurance providers often do everything they can to avoid paying substantial claims.
Our experienced attorneys know exactly how to handle complex legal cases. As your lawyer, we can thoroughly investigate your loved one’s crash and find the facts that prove the driver was to blame. Insurance companies for the at-fault driver often cooperate with us and make a fair settlement offer. If not, we will not hesitate to file a wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf in pursuit of the money your family rightfully deserves.