Few things match the terror of being in an accident with an 18-wheeler. Regular car accidents are bad enough, but semi-trucks are several times heavier and larger than cars. If a truck driver hit your car, you’ll benefit from the guidance of our Indianapolis 18-wheeler accident law firm.
Below, learn how a truck accident attorney can help you on the path to fair compensation.
Determining Liability
If a careless truck driver crashes into your car on the freeway, they’re obviously liable, right? Yes, but the driver might not be the only liable party. If other parties contributed to your accident, you can pursue a claim against each.
Aside from the driver, you might be able to recover damages from:
- Trucking companies: The truck driver’s employer is responsible for accidents and injuries caused by its drivers while on duty.
- Loading crews: Some loading crews stuff packages into trailers until they’re almost bursting at the seams. You can hold a crew liable for overloading the trailer.
- Maintenance companies: If a maintenance company failed to fix an obvious problem or used shoddy parts for repairs, it might be on the hook for your damages.
An experienced attorney can help you pinpoint all liable parties.
Calculating Your Damages
Your Indianapolis 18-wheeler accident law firm will calculate all of your damages, which can include:
- Medical expenses: Medical expenses for a truck accident can reach five, six, or even seven figures easily. Such expenses include emergency treatment at the hospital, surgery, follow-up care, and physical therapy.
- Lost wages: If your 18-wheeler accident left you too injured to work, you could miss out on a paycheck for weeks.
- Property damage: This includes the cost to repair or replace your car and other damaged belongings.
- Non-economic damages: This includes damages with no inherent monetary value, such as mental anguish and pain and suffering.
Understanding Trucking Laws in Indiana
Truckers and their employers have to abide by strict trucking laws, and if either party violated them, you stand a good chance of winning your case. A good Indianapolis 18-wheeler accident law firm will be familiar with laws regarding:
- How long truck drivers can work without taking a break
- Trailer load capacity
- Maintenance
- Insurance requirements
- Record preservation
- Driver qualifications
Collecting Evidence
Truck accident attorneys are skilled at collecting evidence that proves the truck driver, not you, was at fault for the crash. Such evidence might include:
- Witness statements: Truck accidents tend to draw a lot of attention, which means your accident probably had several witnesses.
- Photos and videos of the accident scene: Pictures and video footage can show what happened before, during, and after the crash.
- Black box data: 18-wheelers must have a black box, which is a computer that records everything the driver does while on duty.
Proving Negligence
Indiana follows modified comparative fault rules, which means you can recover damages as long as you’re no more than 50% at fault for the crash. This is why your lawyer must be skilled at proving negligence. They must establish that:
- The truck driver (and their employer, by extension) owed you a duty of care.
- The driver breached their duty of care, causing an accident.
- The accident resulted in damages that the court may compensate you for.
Negotiating With the Insurance Company
Insurance companies for the trucking industry often play hardball when it comes to negotiating for a settlement. A talented attorney will not buckle under pressure and will continue negotiating until you’re happy with your settlement offer.
Contact Our Indianapolis 18-Wheeler Accident Law Firm
Our Indianapolis 18-wheeler accident law firm proudly serves truck accident victims throughout Indiana. If you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury or wrongful death due to a truck crash, call Tabor Law Firm at 317-236-9000 or contact us online.
