According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Indiana truck drivers travel over several millions of miles on the state’s roadways each year, and over 400,000 of these vehicles are involved in crashes. Indiana experiences a high number of trucking accidents every year, in part because of the state’s geographic location. The state acts as a conduit for freight delivery between states, which results in significant truck traffic. Further, commercial vehicle registration is significantly less expensive than several other surrounding states. Many trucking companies maintain hubs in the state because of the lower registration fees.
Indiana truck accidents are among the most likely to result in serious injury or death because large trucks can cause significant damage. Many trucks weigh up to 80,000 pounds or more when they are loaded with cargo. The sheer magnitude of these vehicles makes them disproportionately more likely to be involved in a multi-vehicle accident.
Truck drivers often remain unscathed during these accidents because their vehicles protect them. For example, recently, an Indianapolis man died in a wrong-way crash with a semi-truck. According to a local news report, the 72-year-old man died when he was driving in the wrong lane and slammed into an enormous truck. The driver of the Freightliner noticed the man approaching him and tried to avoid the collision but could not do so in time. The truck driver and his co-driver did not suffer any injuries. Another vehicle then collided into a state patrol car while police were investigating the scene of the accident.
When these accidents occur, Indiana trucking companies will take quick measures to protect themselves from liability. Large companies often maintain a legal team to assist them in avoiding liability. Trucking companies regularly train their drivers on immediate steps to take after they are involved in an accident. Many times these steps are in place to protect the trucking company from responsibility. Truck drivers will often immediately report the crash to their dispatcher. These dispatchers will then send the trucking company’s team of investigators to the scene of the accident.
In some cases, the investigators will reach the scene of the accident and conduct investigations before police officials arrive. The company may collect evidence, conduct interviews, and take recorded statements from witnesses and victims. Injury victims should not engage with these companies before seeking prompt medical care and legal representation.
Have You Been Involved in an Indiana Trucking Accident?
If you or someone you know has suffered injuries or died in an Indiana trucking accident, you should contact the experienced injury attorneys at Parr Law. The attorneys at Parr Richey Frandsen Patterson Kruse LLP have years of experience zealously representing its clients before various courts and administrative agencies throughout Indiana and the United States. We have successfully represented clients and recovered compensation on their behalf in numerous cases. Our attorneys handle injury claims stemming from car and truck accidents, defective products, medical malpractice, and other similar incidents. Contact our office at 317-269-2509 to schedule a consultation with an attorney at our law firm.