Head-On Truck Accident Lawyers

Indiana is home to almost 16,000 registered trucking companies hauling over 417,000 tons of freight within its borders each day. Trucks are central to life and commerce in the state, but the fact remains that truck accidents are some of the most harmful events on the road, with trucks accounting for 11.88 percent of the vehicles associated with deadly Indiana crashes in 2020.

The worst kinds of truck accidents by far are head-on collisions, which represent 31 percent of truck-related casualties in the United States despite making up only three percent of total truck accidents. Even non-fatal head-on truck accidents can inflict cataclysmic injuries like brain and spinal damage, loss of limbs, and paralysis, which very few families are equipped to manage without assistance.

That assistance may be available if you pursue a personal injury case, though full recovery is not guaranteed, especially if you face stiff opposition from insurance companies looking to minimize their financial exposure. To increase your chances of success, reach out to the Indiana head-on truck accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group, who have been advocating on behalf of hardworking Hoosiers since 1998.

Please call or text us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form for a free case review with a dedicated Indiana head-on truck accident lawyer.

Why Do Indiana Head-On Truck Accidents Happen?

A head-on truck accident typically occurs when a driver ventures into oncoming traffic, often by crossing the median or using the wrong ramp to enter or exit a roadway. Why do incidents like this happen?

While every head-on truck accident is unique, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that driver error is the primary factor in 87 percent of truck accidents. Examples of driver misconduct which could make Indiana head-on truck accidents more probable may include:

· Distraction – Distracted driving is the second most common cause of auto accidents, killing nine Americans each day. Distraction has become even more pervasive with the rise of cellphones, which play a role in 12 percent of domestic crashes.

· Intoxication – Truckers are statistically less likely to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, though the same may not be said of drivers who share the road with them.

Intoxicated driving remains a persistent issue in Indiana, where law enforcement makes a DUI arrest every 11.98 hours.

· Fatigue – Drivers who go more than twenty hours without sleep can be as impaired as drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent. Fatigue is linked to approximately 100,000 traffic accidents, 50,000 injuries, and 800 deaths per year nationwide, and truckers may be particularly susceptible to drowsiness because they spend the bulk of their days behind the wheel.

Aside from driver error, Indiana head-on truck accidents could be the result of:

· Mechanical problems – Deficiencies in a truck’s design or upkeep could cause it to experience mechanical problems while in motion that could bring about a head-on crash, such as tire blowouts and steering system malfunctions.

· Improper loading – If a truck is overloaded with cargo or the cargo is improperly distributed or secured, it could shift around during transit, potentially throwing off a truck’s balance and precipitating a dangerous loss of control that could send the vehicle in the wrong direction.

· Road hazards – Overly rough surfaces, sharp curves, narrow lanes, and other road hazards could increase the risk of a truck veering off course.

· Bad weather conditions – Inclement weather, including rain, sleet, and snow, could significantly reduce traction and hinder overall visibility, allowing a driver to miss a turn at a critical juncture.

Regardless of the specific circumstances of your injury, our knowledgeable Indiana head-on truck accident attorneys can advise you of the appropriate steps to take against the responsible parties.

Who Is Responsible for a Head-On Truck Accident?

But who exactly is responsible for a head-on truck accident? The answer is not always obvious. Many hands may take part in completing a single shipment by truck, and they could all be implicated if there is a collision.

For instance, the driver of a truck could be liable for actions leading to a crash, along with its owner (if different from the driver), both for the driver’s misbehavior and the owner’s own mistakes. Any company making use of the truck on the date of the accident (if different from the owner) could share blame as well for comparable reasons.

Similarly, an outside loader could be at fault when a cargo mishap initiates a collision with an approaching vehicle, as could an outside servicing agent if irregular or careless maintenance triggers a breakdown that leads to a head-on truck accident. If that breakdown is linked to a defective component, its manufacturer, distributor, and/or retailer could be culpable too. And if a road is in such disrepair that a head-on truck accident is basically inevitable, the government body with authority over that road and any subcontractors that it employed might be held to account if the accident takes place. In some situations, multiple individuals and entities might have varying degrees of legal liability for the same incident, for which they might have varying degrees of economic liability.

Given this inherent complexity, it is important to go after every possible defendant within the time allotted by law, known as the Statute of Limitations. In Indiana, the Statute is two years for most truck accidents, though the window could be narrower in claims against the government, with additional requirements that may have to be satisfied.

If you do not file a lawsuit or reach a resolution before the Statute elapses, you could be forever barred from doing so – but you can rest assured that Hensley’s meticulous Indiana head-on truck accident lawyers will never allow a regulatory oversight to stall your case.

How a Head-On Truck Accident Attorney Can Make a Difference

A head-on truck accident can turn your world upside down, overwhelming you with mounting expenses while curtailing your ability to earn a living. Very quickly, it could become a challenge just to make ends meet, much less cover the new demands on your wallet.

You need attorneys with the compassion to support you during this trying period and the wisdom to guide you out of it. You need the Indiana head-on truck accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group, who have been fighting for the everyday people of Indiana for more than 25 years.

If you choose to hire Hensley, we will carry out a comprehensive investigation into your head-on truck accident and everyone who contributed to it, promptly amassing the materials necessary to build your case, such as:

· Police reports

· Citations and dispositions

· Eyewitness statements

· Crash scene photos

· Dash cam, traffic light, and surveillance footage

· Black box data

· Phone records

· House of Service (HOS) and vehicular inspection logs

· Forensic analysis and accident reconstruction

If evidence of wrongdoing exists, our Indiana head-on truck accident lawyers will work tirelessly to find it.

Get Compensated for the Entirety of Your Losses

Once we have put together a rock-solid case, we will endeavor to negotiate a settlement that compensates you for the entirety of your losses, including:

· Medical bills

· Lost wages

· Pain and suffering

· Mental and emotional trauma

· Permanent disability

· Diminished quality of life

· Loss of consortium

· Punitive and wrongful death damages (if applicable)

And if we do not receive an offer that is worthy of your case, we are not afraid to go to trial for a verdict that is, unlike many of our competitors, who rarely see the inside of a courtroom.

You Won’t Have to Pay Until We Win

You may be worried about committing to more expenditures at this moment, but you should know that our firm works on a contingency basis, so you won’t have to pay us anything until our Indiana head-on truck accident attorneys win your case.

Hensley is willing to shoulder all of the burdens involved in getting you the resources to become whole again.

Our Indiana Head-On Truck Accident Lawyers Will Be Here for You

Hensley Legal Group has devoted its practice to helping the innocent victims of negligence. If you have been seriously hurt through no fault of your own, our Indiana head-on truck accident lawyers will be here for you.

Arrange a no-cost consultation with an accomplished Indiana head-on truck accident attorney today by calling or texting us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form.