Due to Indiana’s location in the central part of the country, the state sees a constant flow of large commercial vehicles traveling along the state’s highways as trucks travel from the East to West Coast and vice-versa. For the most part, semi-truck drivers are well-trained, responsible motorists who take pride in the work they do. However, each year there are thousands of Indiana truck accidents that are caused by negligent truck drivers.
According to the state’s most recent data, there are approximately 14,000 Indiana truck accidents per year. While some of these accidents are minor, it is reported that there are over 3,500 people injured and 120 killed each year due to Indiana truck accidents. In most cases, the motorist who is injured is not the truck driver, but instead the drivers or passengers of the other vehicle that is involved in the collision.
There are several causes of truck accidents in the state, and in some cases the most common causes overlap with the common causes of Indiana car accidents. However, equipment related accidents accounts for a higher percentage of the total number of truck accidents. These incidents include those that are the result of improperly maintained or inflated tires, brakes, signals, and lights.
Greyhound Bus Accident Claims At least Seven Lives
Recently, an accident between a Greyhound bus and a semi-truck claimed at least seven lives and injured dozens more. According to a local news report, the accident occurred on Interstate 40 in the afternoon hours.
Evidently, an eastbound semi-truck driver lost control of his rig after one of his tires blew out. The truck crossed into the divided median, and entered the westbound lanes of travel, where the truck collided with the Greyhound bus.
The bus was carrying at least 46 passengers at the time of the collision. Authorities released a preliminary death toll of seven, expecting that number to rise as those who suffered critical injuries are seen by doctors at a nearby hospital. Authorities estimate the number of injuries in the dozens, but confirmed that 40 were taken to a nearby hospital and another 6 treated at the scene.
The National Highway Safety Board (NTSB) has begun an investigation into the fatal bus accident, which may eventually shed light on the cause of the tire blow-out. At this point, both the truck driver as well as Greyhound seen to be cooperating with the investigation.
Have You Been Injured in an Indiana Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in an Indiana truck accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The dedicated Indiana personal injury attorneys at the law firm of Parr Richey Frandsen Patterson Kruse have decades of collective experience representing Indiana injury victims in a variety of accident claims, including cases arising out of Indiana semi-truck accidents. To learn more, call 888-532-7766 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with an attorney today.