What To Know About Truck Crashes
Trucks are the largest vehicles on the road, which makes them the most dangerous. So, when they are involved in an accident, the results can be catastrophic. At Cooke Law Firm, we represent drivers, passengers and pedestrians injured in truck accidents caused by negligence. We represent victims of truck accidents, including tractor-trailer wrecks and 18-wheeler crashes.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a truck-related accident in Indiana, our experienced commercial vehicle accident attorneys can help you pursue the compensation you need and the justice you deserve.
The Right Firm For The Job
These cases are often highly complex, which takes a law firm that handles these kinds of cases. It potentially can involve multiple liable parties, including the drivers, companies, employees who load the trailers, or manufacturers of vehicles and parts. Moreover, an intricate web of federal and state regulations governs the trucking industry to keep the roads safer. An attorney must also analyze the logbooks, maintenance records and driver histories for negligence, which adds to the complexity.
Representing Indiana Truck Injury Victims
Cooke Law Firm has extensive knowledge of all federal and state laws concerning accidents with trucks, semi-trailers, commercial vehicles, trains, mass transit, and other situations with multiple defendants and potentially large-scale damages. We know how to determine which parties are responsible for the accident and what claims to bring, including personal injury, wrongful death, and property damage.
Our experience pursuing such claims means our attorneys and investigators know where to look and how to find information about what really happened so we can present compelling cases to insurance companies, judges, and juries.
Understanding The Causes Of Indiana Truck Crashes
Collisions involving tractor-trailers and other types of trucks occur for various reasons. We strive to hold the responsible parties accountable for injuries caused by:
- Driver fatigue
- Overworked drivers
- Improper loading
- Defective equipment
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Poor training
- Inexperience
- Intoxication
- Defective roadways
- Speeding
When a truck causes an accident, our attorneys fight for victims’ rights to recover any compensation available under the law.
Truck Crashes Are Not Isolated Incidents
Indiana’s official motto is “the Crossroads of America.” Unfortunately, the crossroads can be a dangerous place. The heavy commercial traffic carried on our highways can lead to severe and sometimes deadly accidents.
In 2022, Indiana had 62,193 nonfatal crashes involving semi trucks and other commercial vehicles, which resulted in 10,021 injuries and 114 fatalities. Most of these accidents occurred on the interstates and other major arteries.
Why Semi Trucks Are Especially Dangerous
A truck is a single-unit vehicle in which the engine, cabin and storage bed are inseparable. This includes any kind of box truck or even a pickup truck. By contrast, a semi truck has a tractor and a trailer, which can be disconnected. Semis go by many names, among them tractor-trailers, big rigs and 18-wheelers.
Semis have many advantages over other commercial trucks, such as greater load capacity and the ability to bend around corners for tighter turning. However, these vehicles can be destructive and deadly in certain circumstances. The greater load requires a greater stopping distance, creating more force in a crash. The play between the tractor and trailer can cause the vehicle to jackknife, jeopardizing several lanes of vehicles with a broad sweep by the trailer.
Explaining Underride And Override Collisions
The high clearance of 18-wheelers and other large commercial trucks makes them susceptible to certain accidents. These accidents are known as override and underride accidents. An override accident occurs when a truck driver fails to stop and hits the vehicle in front of him. Because of the height of a truck’s bumper, the truck may ride over the trunk of the car and collide directly with the passenger cabin.
Conversely, when a truck stops short, a car may literally drive under a truck’s bumper or side. The first point of contact with the truck in an underride could be the car’s windshield or passenger cabin. Understandably, underride and override are common causes of truck accident fatalities.
Responsible Parties In Indiana Truck Accident Cases
Depending on the cause of an accident, the law may hold different parties responsible. Our attorneys bring claims against:
- Truck Drivers. When drivers are negligent in operating, loading or inspecting their vehicle, it may be possible to hold them liable.
- Trucking Companies. When a company fails to maintain its trucks or forces a driver to work too many hours, it may be possible to hold the trucking company responsible for your injuries.
- Equipment Manufacturers. If a defect in a tire, truck part or other equipment causes the accident that led to your injury, we may be able to pursue a claim against the manufacturer.
- Government Entities. In some cases, it is possible to hold a government agency liable for failing to fix known roadway defects.
When the actions of another driver cause a truck wreck, we pursue claims against that driver or their insurance company.
Unique Truck Laws Indiana Injury Claims
At Cooke Law Firm, our attorneys have a strong grasp of the special laws governing commercial transportation. Truckers must log their hours to demonstrate that they have complied with labor and safety standards intended to prevent fatigued driving.
Our attorneys scour these logs (referred to disparagingly as “comic books” by law enforcement personnel skeptical of the logs’ accuracy) for inconsistencies, overages and signs of tampering. We also review the trucking company’s hiring and training procedures to ensure that all regulations were followed and due care was taken.
Count On Our Experience
Anyone involved in a wreck with any commercial vehicle needs an attorney with the skill and resources to take on even the biggest trucking companies. At Cooke Law Firm, we do everything possible under the law to obtain fair and complete compensation for the damage caused by your accident.
Call 765-340-2776 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation. We will even come to you.