Personal Injury Lawyer
Fort Wayne·Indianapolis, Indiana

William Shatner TV Spokesperson

Fort Wayne(260) 424-0954
Fort Wayne(260) 424-0954
Indianapolis(317) 636-5211
Indianapolis(317) 636-5211

Trucking Companies & Truck Accidents

Our lawyers can help you hold trucking companies accountable

Dealing with trucking companies after a serious truck accident caused by truck driver can be complicated. If you try to tackle your case on your own, you will likely have a hard time getting the money you deserve for your accident-related expenses.

We know exactly how to handle complicated cases at Glaser & Ebbs. That’s because our talented team of trial lawyers has more than 100 years of combined legal experience fighting for the rights of injury victims in Fort Wayne, Indianapolis and throughout Indiana.

As your lawyer, we can work with you to hold the trucking company responsible for its actions. Whether it’s demanding access to information in possession of the trucking company or negotiating a settlement offer with them on your behalf, we will vigorously fight for your rights every step of the way. We’re focused on winning your case.

What makes dealing with trucking companies so complicated?

Dealing with trucking companies after an accident caused by one of their drivers often turn out to be complex legal cases. Some of the reasons why include:

  • The estimated value of your accident claim may be significant. As a result, the trucking company and its insurance provider will often do everything they can to deny your claim.
  • Trucking companies sometimes refuse to cooperate with anyone investigating the crash.
  • Trucking companies often deny responsibility for the accident, hoping they can avoid having to pay your accident claim.
  • Trucking companies often hire a lawyer or several attorneys to defend their actions.

The stakes can often be very high when it comes to many truck accident claims. Trucking companies know this. That’s why they often do everything they can to avoid paying injury victims. Your lawyer can help level the playing field and work with you to hold trucking companies responsible for your crash.

What evidence do trucking companies often have after a crash?

Trucking companies often have some of the most important evidence related to your truck accident. They also only have to keep some of this evidence for a limited amount of time – sometimes just a few months – before they can legally destroy it. That’s why it’s important to get access to this information right away. Such information often includes:

  • Hours of Service (HOS) Logs – Truck drivers are required by federal law to keep accurate records of exactly how many hours they work each shift and each week. That’s because there are strict federal laws that limit how many hours commercial truck drivers can drive each day before they must take mandatory breaks. These laws were created primarily to prevent asleep at the wheel accidents. HOS logs detail exactly how many hours a driver worked before accident. We can also cross reference the truck driver’s HOS logs with pick-up and delivery times to see if the driver’s HOS logs are accurate or if they have been fabricated or altered.
  • "Black Box" Data – Most commercial trucks have a device known as a “black box,” which are also sometimes called electronic control modules or event data recorders. These devices record information about the truck, including the last time the truck stopped before your crash, the speed the truck was traveling at the time of your accident and if the truck driver applied the brakes before the collision. Trucking companies only have to keep data for a limited amount of time. That’s why it’s critical that your attorney gains access to this critical information right away.
  • Maintenance Records – Trucking companies normally keep accurate records of any maintenance they perform on all the trucks in their fleet. As your lawyer, we ask to see when was the last time any routine repairs or maintenance was performed on the truck that caused your crash. Were the truck’s brakes in proper working order, for example? What about the truck’s tires? Were they properly inflated and did they have enough tread on them? We focus on the details and carefully inspect all maintenance records.
  • Inspection Records – Commercial trucks must be regularly inspected to make sure these large vehicles are in safe working order on the road. If the trucking company failed to have the truck that caused your crash inspected or any of its inspection stickers were expired, such evidence can help support your accident claim.
  • Driving Records – Trucking companies sometimes hire truck drivers with a history of causing accidents and reckless driving. We can demand to see the driving history for the truck driver who caused your crash. Many times, drivers who cause accidents have done so in the past, as well, especially in cases involving drunk driving, speeding or reckless driving.

Evidence matters when it comes to building a strong legal case. That’s why it’s critical that your lawyer demands to see as much evidence as possible when dealing with trucking companies after your accident.

How can a lawyer help?

Thoroughly investigating the trucking company that employs the truck driver who caused your crash is just one way an attorney can help you. Some of the other ways include:

  • Compare the trucking company’s information with the official police accident report for your crash.
  • Negotiate a settlement offer with the trucking company or its insurance provider on your behalf.
  • File a lawsuit on your behalf against the trucking company or its insurance provider, especially if they refuse to negotiate a settlement offer in good faith.

Dealing with trucking companies, their insurance providers and their attorneys can be challenging. Because there’s often so much money at stake, they’ll often do everything they can to reduce or deny your injury claim. They don’t scare us. We know how to take on trucking companies and hold them accountable for their actions.

Demand justice after your accident. Contact us.

The clock is running after your truck accident. Trucking companies only have to keep certain information for a limited amount of time. You also only have two years from the date of your truck accident to file a lawsuit or take other legal action in Indiana. If you miss that deadline, you could miss out on your only opportunity to get any money for your accident.

Get the law firm that gets results. Contact us and schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers. We have offices in Fort Wayne, Indianapolis and other locations in Indiana.

Locations
Fort Wayne

132 E Berry St
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
(260) 424-0954

Indianapolis

845 S Meridian St #1000
Indianapolis, IN 46225
(317) 636-5211

Decatur

103 N 2nd St
Decatur, IN 46733
(260) 728-9997

Warsaw

107 E Market St
Warsaw, IN 46580
(574) 269-3634

Kendallville

812 N Lima Rd
Kendallville, IN 46755
(260) 242-5253

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