What Can I Expect to Happen in the Event of an Accident With a Semi Truck?

June 24, 2022

Indiana is known as the “Crossroads of America” for a reason. The state has many major highways that semi trucks use to transport goods. But because there are so many semi trucks on the road, some of them are bound to end up in collisions at some point or another. 

Most truck drivers are well-trained and know how to handle their rigs. However, there are still many factors that result in an accident. 

Semi trucks can weigh up to 10 times more than a passenger vehicle. In other words, traffic accidents involving these large trucks are much more likely to result in serious injury or even death. 

If you were involved in a truck accident and sustained serious injuries, then you might wonder where you should turn next. If you weren’t to blame for the accident, you may be eligible for compensation. 

Successfully claiming compensation can be incredibly difficult if you don’t have an experienced Indiana truck accident lawyer on your side. Trust the professionals at Hensley Legal Group to help you recover the damages you need. 

You can get in touch with our offices at (317) 472-3333, chat,  or by contacting us online.

What can I do to prevent an accident with a semi truck from taking place?

Each traffic accident is unique and comes with its own set of factors. However, accidents involving large semi trucks can prove to be catastrophic. According to information from the National High Traffic Safety Administration, 5,005 people were killed in traffic accidents involving large trucks. 

Each of these deaths were a tragedy and likely could have been prevented. Defensive driving tactics and learning to share the road with large commercial vehicles can go a long way in preventing additional deaths. 

Keep in mind that large commercial vehicles have blind spots, so even the most careful drivers rely on other drivers to engage in safe driving habits. 

Some examples of poor driving habits around semi trucks involve: 

• Driving in a truck’s blind spots
• Distracted driving
• Failing to give the truck driver plenty of space 
• Failing to safely change lanes

Doing your part to keep the roads safe can prevent additional injuries or deaths from happening on the road.

Who is to blame in the aftermath of my accident with a semi truck?

Sometimes, fault can be incredibly difficult to determine after a collision with a large commercial vehicle. And in many cases, there might be multiple parties at fault. But if you weren’t to blame for the accident, you shouldn’t have to pay. 

Working with a truck accident lawyer who fully understands your case and the full scope of the law can help you pursue the parties responsible and recover the compensation you really need. 

If the truck driver engaged in unsafe driving practices that caused the accident, they might be to blame. But sometimes, they may share blame with the company that hired the truck driver.

Trucking companies have a responsibility to look into everyone they hire. If they hired a trucker that had a poor driving record, they may also be to blame. 

There are time limits regulating how many hours truckers may drive in one shift without a break. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone is following these rules. If a driver deliberately broke the rules and fell asleep behind the wheel, they may certainly be to blame for the crash. But if the trucking company pressured the driver to break the rules, they may share part of the blame.

Ultimately, determining fault in an accident involving a semi truck can be tricky. This is why it definitely pays to hire a truck accident lawyer to help with your case. 

What kind of compensation can I recover after my truck accident?

Truck accidents may cause a myriad of serious injuries that will require treatment. When you choose to hire a personal injury attorney, they will go over the details of your case and help you determine what kind of compensation you are eligible to receive. 

It’s possible that you might receive compensation for:

• Medical expenses, including treatment you already received as well as future treatments 
• Lost wages and the loss of any future wages
• Emotional damage 
• And more

Each case is different, which is why it’s a good idea to seek out professional legal help. You’ve been through a lot and need someone on your side that can help with your case.

The good news is that you don’t have to go through all of this alone. The attorneys at Hensley Legal Group really care about your case and want to provide the best services possible. 

You can get in touch with our offices by calling (317) 472-3333, chat, or by using the online contact form. We would be happy to hear the details of your case and vow to treat you just as we would treat our family members. 

Trust the attorneys at Hensley Legal Group to help recover compensation for your truck accident today.