Indiana Dump Truck Accident Lawyers

Dump trucks are among the most essential vehicles in the construction industry, capable of transporting literal tons of building materials and debris anywhere they are supposed to go, but disaster could strike whenever a dump truck is driven or deployed recklessly.

Yet as physically and financially devastating as a dump truck accident can be, compensation may be available if you have been hurt by a dump truck in Indiana through no fault of your own. To increase your chances of success along with how much you ultimately obtain, consider reaching out to the construction accident lawyers at Hensley Legal Group, PC, a dedicated Indiana personal injury law firm whose experienced attorneys have been fighting on behalf of the wrongfully injured since 1998.

To schedule a free consultation with a knowledgeable Indiana dump truck accident lawyer, please call us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form today.

Why Do Dump Truck Accidents Occur?

Dump truck accidents can generally be divided into two main categories:

Collisions with other vehicles, individuals, and objects
Unloading errors

Beyond these broad groupings, however, the form that an accident might take can vary, and so too can the reasons why dump truck accidents might occur. Sometimes, an element that is completely external to a dump truck can play a significant role in initiating an accident, like inclement weather or a road hazard that could impede visibility or traction to a dangerous degree.

At other times, these accidents may arise out of attributes that are unique to dump trucks, such as the hydraulic or pneumatic mechanisms through which they lift and deposit their loads. Flaws in the design or production of these intricate systems could lead to major malfunctions, just like the greater size and weight of dump trucks might hasten crashes or make them more destructive.

But most often dump truck accidents are the result of something that these vehicles have in common with nearly every vehicle out there: they are driven by people, who occasionally make mistakes. Indeed, mistakes by drivers are at the heart of approximately 87 percent of accidents involving trucks and 94 percent of accidents involving vehicles of any type, and the consequences can be especially dire when a mistake is made behind the wheel of a dump truck.

Examples of misconduct by dump truck drivers or associated personnel that could bring about Indiana dump truck accidents include:

Premature cargo releases – A dump truck’s load should always be dropped off at the correct location, and drivers who release their cargo prematurely could trigger chain reaction accidents in traffic, damage other vehicles, or even crush unsuspecting bystanders.
Excessive or unsecured loading – A dump truck could be much tougher to maneuver when its bed has been loaded beyond its capacity, while the added strain could potentially send the contents flying into the street. Moreover, a haul that has not been properly secured could similarly be at risk of spilling out into traffic.
Not checking blind spots – Dump trucks tend to have more pronounced areas beyond the standard field of view known as no-zones or blind spots, and dump truck drivers could hit small cars, motorcycles, or pedestrians hidden within them if they fail to check their blind spots frequently.
Sharp turns – Since dump trucks also have higher centers of gravity, they may be more prone to tipping or rolling over if they turn too sharply.
Speeding – Drivers who speed usually have less time to react yet require more time to stop, an unfortunate combination that could make a dump truck accident both more likely and more severe.
Distraction – Second only to speeding as a factor in American traffic accidents of every kind is distraction. Anything that takes a dump truck driver’s eyes or mind off the task at hand could put anyone in the immediate vicinity in jeopardy.
Driving under the influence – Despite being incredibly illegal and profoundly foolish, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs remains a legitimate concern in Indiana, with law enforcement officers making a DUI arrest somewhere in the state every 11.98 hours.
Drowsiness – Almost as detrimental as driving while drunk is driving while drowsy. In fact, one study found that drivers who go more than 20 hours without sleep can be as impaired as drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent.
Irregular maintenance – Because of their inherent complexity as well as the substantial wear and tear that they endure, dump trucks need to be regularly inspected and maintained by qualified mechanics so that breakdowns at the worst possible moments can be prevented.
Inadequate training – Indiana motorists must undergo exhaustive training before they can be licensed to drive dump trucks, and they can inflict grievous bodily harm on themselves and others if that training is inadequate.

No matter what the root cause of an accident is, our Indiana dump truck accident attorneys are committed to doing whatever it takes to hold everyone who may be responsible for it to account.

Who Is Responsible for a Dump Truck Accident?

This raises an important question: exactly who is responsible for an Indiana dump truck accident? The answer will probably depend upon the circumstances surrounding the accident, though the defendants may include the:

Dump truck driver
Dump truck owner (if separate from the driver)
Company making use of the dump truck (if separate from the owner)
Cargo loader
Mechanic or servicing agent
Manufacturer, distributor, or retailer of a defective dump truck or component
Government department in charge of a roadway in disrepair

If a dump truck accident should take place at an Indiana construction site, other defendants might be culpable too, such as the:

Property owner
Project developer
General contractor, contractors, or subcontractors
Municipality with authority over a public space under construction

In some situations, multiple parties could share varying levels of legal and fiscal liability for the same dump truck accident, and you could be forever barred from full and fair recovery if you don’t pursue each of them within the time allotted by law.

Nevertheless, you can avoid senseless oversights that might otherwise stall your personal injury claim when you have a meticulous Indiana dump truck accident lawyer in your corner.

How Hiring Hensley Can Make a Difference

A dump truck accident can change your life in an instant, burying you beneath an avalanche of escalating expenses while robbing you of the ability to earn the funds to dig your way out. Soon you could have trouble simply making ends meet, much less acquiring the funds to stave off ruin, but this is where retaining the Indiana dump truck accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group can make a difference.

If you hire Hensley, we will carry out a comprehensive investigation to identify how your dump truck accident happened and the defendants who are to blame for it, then establish valid claims and/or file suit against them all within the time permitted by law.

After amassing irrefutable evidence of the defendants’ negligence, our tenacious Indiana dump truck accident lawyers will negotiate fiercely with their insurance carriers for a settlement that reflects the totality of your damages, including your:

Medical bills
Lost income
Pain and suffering
Psychological trauma
Mobility restrictions
Scarring and disfigurement
Diminished quality of living
Loss of consortium (if applicable)

And in contrast to many of our competitors, who rarely set foot inside of a courtroom, we are not afraid to go to trial if we do not receive an offer that is worthy of your claim.

You may be reluctant to spend more money after spending so much already, but our firm operates on a contingency basis, which means that you won’t have to pay us anything unless our Indiana dump truck accident attorneys win your case.

At Hensley, we take on clients because we believe in them, and we are willing to take on every burden necessary to make them whole again.

Get in Touch with Our Indiana Dump Truck Accident Lawyers

Hensley Legal Group has been advocating for hardworking Hoosiers like you since the firm first opened its doors over a quarter century ago. If you are struggling to get back to normal after a catastrophic dump truck accident in Indiana, get in touch with our Indiana dump truck accident lawyers to explore your legal options.

You can arrange a complimentary case review with an accomplished Indiana dump truck accident attorney by calling us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form now.