When driving on Interstate 465, I-70 or I-65 around Indianapolis, you’ve likely felt dwarfed by massive commercial trucks barreling down the highway. The sheer size disparity between your vehicle and a fully loaded semi creates potentially catastrophic consequences in a collision.
A commercial truck weighs over 25 times more than your car or SUV, and this weight difference often leads to devastating injuries for passenger vehicle occupants.
Pursuing compensation after a truck accident involves navigating complex federal regulations, multiple insurance policies and potentially several responsible parties, making these cases far more challenging than typical car accidents.
Common causes and injuries
When an 80,000-pound semitrailer collides with your 3,000-pound car, the laws of physics work against you. The massive size and weight difference frequently result in severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, internal bleeding, broken bones and disfiguring burns.
These life-altering injuries can require months or even years of medical treatment and rehabilitation. That stress is compounded when someone’s negligence causes your injuries. Truck accidents commonly result from:
- Driver fatigue from excessive hours on the road
- Distracted driving behaviors
- Inexperienced truck operators
- Speeding or aggressive driving
- Overloaded cargo
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Driving under the influence of substances
The medical treatment required after a truck accident often includes emergency care, surgeries, lengthy hospital stays, rehabilitation services and ongoing therapy – creating substantial medical bills while you’re unable to work.
Why are truck accident claims complicated?
Unlike a typical car accident, where fault typically lies with one driver, truck accidents often involve multiple responsible parties. The trucking industry operates under complex federal regulations that govern everything from driver hours to vehicle maintenance.
Determining who bears responsibility requires thoroughly investigating logbooks, black box data, maintenance records and employment practices. Potentially responsible parties in a truck accident may include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- Vehicle or parts manufacturers
- Cargo loading companies
- Maintenance contractors
- Government entities responsible for road conditions
After a truck accident, you need someone who understands how to investigate these complex crashes, gather critical evidence before it disappears and calculate the full extent of your current and future damages.
An experienced truck accident attorney can negotiate with powerful insurance companies allowing you to focus on recovery. A skilled lawyer helps ensure you don’t settle for less than what you deserve for your medical bills, lost income and diminished quality of life.