Help from Merrillville, IN Semi Truck Accident Attorneys

Merrillville is surrounded by busy highways filled with semi-trucks delivering valuable goods to Illinois and Michigan. Semi-trucks are crucial for Indiana’s economy, but can make the roads more dangerous for anyone in a smaller vehicle. Truck accidents leave victims with life-altering injuries and a heavy financial burden that could last for years.

You do not have to go through filing a truck accident claim on your own. The semi-truck accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group will fight on your side to get the compensation you and your family deserve. Call today for a free consultation at (219) 400-4679.

Why You Should Call a Semi-Truck Accident Attorney

For victims of truck accidents, recovering damages can be extremely complicated. The chances of suffering severe or fatal injuries are much higher in accidents involving heavy trucks. While victims are recuperating, the trucking companies are already gathering evidence to discredit potential injury claims.

Merrillville truck accident attorneys know what tactics trucking companies and their insurance carriers use to get out of paying fair settlements. If you don’t know where to start with your personal injury claim, here’s how an attorney can help.

Truck accidents are complicated

Several different companies have a say in how a semi-truck is loaded, which route it takes, and who drives it. Any of these parties could share liability depending on the circumstances of the accident. But most people don’t know how to find insurance information for every company involved in the shipping process.

To further complicate things, commercial vehicles like trucks may be owned by a business entity, not the truck driver. The truck driver may not even be an employee, but a contractor. All of these factors can make filing a claim

This is where a semi-truck accident attorney can help. They have experience investigating crash sites and gathering evidence to determine what caused the accident and who shares responsibility. They can make sure that all liable parties are held responsible, while you can focus on healing.

Insurance companies are not on your side

Insurance companies will do almost anything to avoid paying other people money, especially those who insure trucking and shipping corporations. They will do everything in their power to discredit your injury claim, including placing blame on you for the accident or even minimizing your injuries.

It can feel so discouraging to ask for financial justice only to be stonewalled or discredited by insurance companies. But with an experienced truck accident attorney on your side, getting a fair settlement can be much less stressful. They are familiar with insurance companies’ shady tactics and can handle all negotiations on your behalf.

Call a Merrillville Semi-Truck Attorney As Soon As Possible

Your settlement amount depends on using evidence to back up your personal injury claim. But the more time that passes between the accident and hiring an attorney, the more likely it is that evidence will go missing.

Surveillance videos may be deleted or recorded over. Witnesses may disappear before they can give their statement. Crucial details like skid marks, road signs, and so on may disappear. Paperwork that could point to the trucking company’s liability may conveniently go missing or become extremely hard to find without a demand from a trial lawyer.

In Indiana, you have two years to file a lawsuit after a semi-truck accident. But some evidence won’t last that long. This is why it is crucial that you consult with a semi-truck attorney as soon as possible after your accident. At Hensley Legal Group, we can get started on your Merrillville truck injury case in as little as 30 minutes after signing.

An accident involving a tractor trailer is not handled the same way that a typical car-on-car collision is handled. Don’t let a lawyer who is unfamiliar with truck accidents mishandle your case. If you were injured in a semi truck accident, call a Merrillville truck accident attorney at Hensley Legal Group today, or contact us online for a free consultation.

What Causes Semi-Truck Accidents?

With Interstate 65 and US 30 running right through it, Merrillville sees a great deal of semi truck traffic. These big rigs haul freight across the state, making it possible for consumers to easily access goods.

Fully loaded tractor trailers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds – easily 15 times as much as a car. Semi-trucks also have large blind spots that other drivers may not be aware of. At that size, sudden maneuvers like changing lanes or hard braking at highway speeds can spell disaster.

Most tractor trailer accidents are caused by human error or recklessness, but not always by the driver. These are come common causes of accidents involving semi-trucks:

Lane changes: Semi-trucks have enormous blind spots. If a truck driver isn’t paying attention while merging or changing lanes, they could cause serious harm.

Speed: A passenger vehicle or motorcycle is no match for a speeding truck. Because of their weight, semi-trucks take much longer to accelerate and to stop than a car. At highway speeds, it can take the entire length of a football field for a loaded truck to come to a complete stop.

Distracted driving: Over 10,000 crashes in Indiana were caused by distracted driving in 2019. It is against the law to hold or use a phone while driving in this state. If a truck driver was distracted by their phone or other reading material, their negligence could put them at fault.

Fatigue: Drowsy driving is just as dangerous as driving drunk. Truck drivers are on the road for long stretches of time and as they become fatigued, the easier it is to make mistakes. Trucking companies must follow DOT regulations on driving hours. If they are pushing their drivers too hard, they could share liability.

Driving under the influence: Trucking companies are responsible for drug testing and hiring drivers with no history of driving under the influence. Even drinking during their off hours carries a risk for truck drivers, as the legal BAC limit for truckers is half that of non-commercial drivers. Companies who knowingly employ a driver who has been convicted of an OWI can be liable for accidents involving that employee.

Shifting cargo: Improper loading can be dangerous to both the truck driver and the other vehicles on the road. If not properly secured, the cargo inside the trailer can shift enough during transportation to cause the trailer to jackknife or roll.

Poor maintenance: The company that owns the truck is also responsible for regular maintenance. Brake failure, broken trailer hitches, and mechanical-related issues that the company knew about but didn’t fix can spell disaster on the road.

Inexperience: New drivers must complete 160 hours of training to get their Commercial Drivers License (CDL). Trucking companies must make sure their drivers are adequately trained before they get behind the wheel of a heavy truck.

As you can see, there are many parties who could share liability for a semi-truck accident depending on the details of the case. By investigating the accident scene and gathering evidence for why the collision occurred, a Merrillville truck accident attorney can determine who is ultimately responsible so you can get full compensation.

Getting Compensation After Merrillville Truck Accidents

Semi-truck accidents usually result in severe or fatal injuries, which lead to massive medical bills and weeks or months of lost wages. You shouldn’t have to bear financial responsibility for an accident that wasn’t your fault. At Hensley Legal Group, our goal is to hold trucking companies responsible and help you get the compensation that you deserve.

The types of damages you can recover after a serious truck accident through a personal injury claim include but are not limited to:

Medical expenses: This includes medical bills that are an immediate result of the accident, future medical costs, and physical therapy

Lost wages: You likely won’t get paid to stay home and heal after your accident. You may not even be able to do the same amount or type of work as before the accident depending on the extent of your injury. You deserve to be compensated for lost wages and any lost earning capacity caused by the accident.

Pain and suffering: Semi-truck accidents victims can develop depression, anxiety, and psychological aversions to being inside a vehicle. Sometimes these psychological damages can be treated, but the impact never really goes away. You can’t put a price tag on suffering but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to be compensated for your pain.

You can always start a personal injury claim on your own, but if you are struggling with injuries or loss of a loved one, the stress of fighting with insurance companies may be too much to handle.

Let a Merrillville personal injury lawyer fight for you. We want to make the legal process as easy as possible for you and your family. Together, we can make a difference with your truck accident claim.

Get Help From a Merrillville Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer

At Hensley Legal Group, we understand how hard it can be to get back on your feet after a semi-truck accident. We know how difficult insurance companies can be to deal with, especially those hired by trucking companies.

You don’t have to go through it alone. Our truck accident lawyers are on your side, whether we are able to reach a settlement or if we need to take the trucking company to court to get what your case is worth. We will not be intimidated out of getting justice for you and your family.

Please call our Merrillville injury lawyers to get started on your semi-truck accident claim. Call us at (219) 400-4679 or chat with us online for a free consultation about your case.