Semi Truck Accidents on I-70 Through Indianapolis: Why These Cases Are Different

July 14, 2026

• The laws governing semi truck accidents on I-70 in Indianapolis tend to be different from the ones governing normal car crashes, potentially making your claim more complicated.
• On top of the challenges imposed by federal regulations, truck accident claims frequently have more defendants too, which can force you to deal with multiple insurance companies and legal teams eager to put obstacles in front of you.
• Hiring an experienced Indianapolis semi truck accident lawyer can be the best way for you to overcome these obstacles and get the compensation you need to get your life back on track.

I-70 is a confusing road no matter how often you’ve driven down it. Traveling east to west, you’ll cross 465, merge with 65, suddenly veer south for the length of downtown, then split with 65 just in time to cross the Sam Jones Expressway and 465 (again) before hitting airport traffic. It can be a lot.

Compounding the confusion is the number of trucks that are regularly on the road. Thousands of trucks cross through Indianapolis every day. And that can increase the chances of a dangerous truck accident that could force you to cope with devastating injuries necessitating prolonged treatment at a cost that can be tough to afford on your own.

Fortunately, compensation may be available if someone else is responsible for a semi truck accident on I-70 through Indianapolis, though it’s important to know how different these cases can be from car accident cases, with different rules that may apply and a different clock for gathering evidence. This is why you’ll want to make sure you have an Indianapolis truck accident lawyer who can cut through the confusion and get you the compensation you deserve.

Understanding the Federal Laws That Govern Truck Accidents on I-70

If you’ve been in a car accident in Indiana before, you’ve probably dealt entirely with the state’s laws. But when you’re in a trucking accident, federal laws can come into play.

That’s because the majority of truck traffic on I-70 is interstate commerce and therefore governed by Congress, which has built a massive regulatory regime to oversee the trucking industry.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has rules for every aspect of trucking (listed under FMCSA 59 C.F.R. Parts 300-399 for those of you into light reading), including rules pertaining to such areas as:

• Driver qualifications and licensing
• Drug and alcohol testing
• How long drivers have to rest
• The insurance policies that must be held
• Vehicle maintenance and inspection standards
• Methods of securing cargo

Most of these guidelines have also been incorporated into Indiana law, but where they differ, federal law reigns supreme. This matters when determining liability during an Indianapolis truck accident claim.

Please note that this does not mean that you will be in a federal court or talking to the FBI or anything. The Indiana legal system will still handle your claim, and you’ll likely be in a civil court in Marion County.

But these overlapping regulations do make certain things more complicated, including the collection of evidence.

Semi Truck Accident Evidence Has to Be Gathered Quickly

There are a lot of ways in which a truck driver or trucking company might be negligent. Some of them can be relatively easy to prove with the official accident report, but others may depend heavily on data, including data from the truck’s Event Data Recorder (EDR).

The EDR (“black box”) captures information like:

• Engine speed (RPM)
• Velocity before impact
• Status of the accelerator pedal
• Brake pedal on/off status
• Steering wheel angle
• Seatbelt usage
• Cruise control engagement
• Deceleration events
• Airbag deployment

Trucking companies are legally required to save this data after a crash, but that doesn’t always happen. However, a seasoned semi truck accident attorney will know to send a “Spoliation Letter” to make sure that the relevant data is preserved. This letter will also demand that the trucking company hold on to training records, driving logs, and any internal communications related to the accident or the driver.

All of this evidence can be used to determine liability, and it may be at risk of getting lost or destroyed if you don’t gather it quickly.

Multiple Parties May Be Defendants

Another way in which semi truck accident cases are different is that they frequently have multiple defendants. These could include:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company
• The freight broker
• Truck maintenance contractors
• The cargo loader
• Truck or parts manufacturers
• Outside drivers

Most of these parties will have their own insurance companies, who will all have their own lawyers, and they’ll all try to shift blame or run out the clock.

This can be maddening. It can be demoralizing. And if you have been in a life-changing Indianapolis semi truck accident, it can feel like you are getting hit over and over again: with medical bills, with lost wages, with obstinate insurance companies, with paperwork.

In times like these, you want someone who can make the confusion of I-70 look like an easy drive down a country road. You want Indianapolis semi truck accident lawyers who know the law and will fight for you.

Reach Out to Our Experienced Indianapolis Truck Accident Attorneys

The truck accident lawyers who will fight for you are 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.

Simply call us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form now for a free consultation with a knowledgeable Indianapolis truck accident attorney.