Indiana Sideswipe Truck Accident Lawyers

There are nearly 16,000 trucking companies registered in Indiana, collectively transporting approximately 417,000 tons of freight each day. Trucking is essential to life and commerce in the Hoosier State, but truck accidents are unfortunately some of the most destructive events on the road, responsible for 999 injuries and 118 deaths statewide in 2022 alone.

Truck accidents can take many forms, though some of the most frequent are sideswipe collisions, in which the side of a truck strikes or “swipes” the side of a vehicle traveling next to it. Sideswipes account for almost 20 percent of all truck-related crashes resulting in bodily harm. They can be especially damaging when passenger vehicles are sideswiped, with the occupants of the smaller vehicle statistically likely to sustain about 72 percent of the casualties. Even non-lethal sideswipe truck accidents can inflict catastrophic injuries that could stretch a family’s finances to the breaking point.

Though compensation may be recoverable if you get injured in a sideswipe truck accident, a favorable outcome is not guaranteed, which is why many turn to the truck accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group, who have been fighting for the everyday people of Indiana for more than 25 years.

For a free case review with a dedicated Indiana rear-end truck accident lawyer, please call or text us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form today.

Why Do Sideswipe Truck Accidents Occur?

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, driver error represents 87 percent of the “critical reasons” for all truck accidents. Sideswipe truck accidents are no exception, with failure to check blind spots being the error most associated with these occurrences.

Sometimes referred to as “no-zones,” blind spots are the areas surrounding a truck that the driver cannot see, either directly or in the mirrors. Blind spots can be created by fixtures and objects within the truck that impede the driver’s view of traffic, like the headrests, the windshield pillar, cargo, and even the mirrors themselves, with the heightened position of truck drivers adding to their blind spots as well.

While trucks do have significant front and rear blind spots, sideswipe truck accidents chiefly take place when truckers change lanes without checking their side blind spots. These are also the most pronounced no-zones on commercial trucks and semi-trailers, particularly on the right side, potentially running the full length of the trailer and blocking a driver’s view of vehicles as far as two lanes over.

In addition to disregarding blind spots, sideswipe truck accidents may be caused by:

· Distraction/inattention – Distracted driving is the second leading factor in all traffic accidents, taking 39 lives in Indiana in 2020. Truckers who let their minds wander may not realize they are veering off course until it is too late.

· Fatigue – Their grueling schedules can make truck drivers more prone to fatigue, which is linked to 100,000 crashes, 50,000 injuries, and 800 fatalities across the country each year.

· Intoxication – Though drunk driving has plummeted in recent decades, it remains a serious concern in Indiana, where law enforcement makes a DUI arrest every 11.98 hours. Intoxication dulls a driver’s judgment, awareness, and reflexes, all of which could contribute to a sideswipe truck accident.

· Inadequate training – Professional truckers need extensive training in order to keep their semi-trailers under control. When this training proves to be inadequate, a sideswipe truck accident could be inevitable.

· Neglecting to signal – Truck drivers who neglect to signal when changing lanes could put unsuspecting motorists in jeopardy.

· Improperly adjusted or installed mirrors – Some sideswipe truck accidents could be a function of the way in which the trucks have been set up. Improperly adjusted or installed mirrors could expand the area contained within a trucker’s blind spot beyond what would usually be anticipated.

No matter what the specific cause of a sideswipe collision is, our Indiana sideswipe truck accident attorneys are ready to advise you of the best course of action to take if you are contemplating a case.

How to Prevent Sideswipe Truck Accidents

Given the punishing nature of sideswipe truck accidents, it is wise to take pains to avoid them entirely. Luckily, there are numerous guidelines you could follow to prevent sideswipe truck accidents:

· Stay out of blind spots – Always maintain a healthy distance from the side of a truck so that its driver can see you, as venturing too close could expose you to a sideswipe collision. If you believe you have drifted into a trucker’s blind spot, attempt to move as much as you can in the opposite direction so that you can return to the driver’s field of vision.

· Merge cautiously – You are most in danger of a sideswipe truck accident when you are merging. Be sure you only enter a truck’s lane after you have confirmed that you are not in the driver’s blind spot, perhaps by signaling to or making direct eye contact with that driver.

· Exercise care when passing – When feasible, try to pass trucks on the left, since they have much more substantial blind spots on their right sides. Consequently, truck drivers tend to expect vehicles to pass them on the other side and may instinctively veer towards the right when they make evasive maneuvers.

With a few basic tips and a little common sense, you may be able to escape the sorts of situations for which a capable Indiana sideswipe truck accident lawyer may be necessary.

What an Indiana Sideswipe Truck Accident Attorney Can Do for You

We hope you find this advice helpful, but the sad truth is that a sideswipe truck accident may still happen even if you take every take every precaution, and it can turn your world upside down in an instant. Simply making ends meet could soon become difficult, much less acquiring the resources to stave off ruin.

You need attorneys with the compassion to support you during your struggles and the skill to overcome them. You need the Indiana sideswipe truck accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group, who will never let the intimidation tactics of multi-billion-dollar insurance companies stop you from obtaining what you deserve.

If you decide to hire Hensley, we will launch a comprehensive investigation into your sideswipe truck accident and everyone who may be at fault for it within the time allotted by law, moving swiftly to amass the materials to build your case, such as:

· Police reports

· Citations and dispositions

· Crash scene photos

· Dash cam, streetlight, and surveillance footage

· Black box data

· Eyewitness accounts

· Phone records

· Hours of Service (HOS) and vehicular maintenance logs

· Accident reconstruction and forensic analysis

If evidence of wrongdoing exists, our Indiana sideswipe accident lawyers will do whatever it takes to find it.

Get Compensated for the Totality of Your Losses

After putting together an airtight case against every defendant, we will endeavor to negotiate a settlement that compensates you for the totality of your losses, including:

· Past, present, and future expenses

· Lost wages

· Diminished earning capacity

· Pain and suffering

· Mental and emotional trauma

· Reduced quality of living

· Mobility restrictions

· Loss of consortium

· Punitive and wrongful death damages (if applicable)

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

No two sideswipe truck accidents are exactly the same, but we will always strive to maximize the value of yours.

You Won’t Have to Pay Until We Win

If you are reluctant to commit to more expenditures when you can least afford them, you should know that our firm works on a contingency basis. This means that you won’t have to pay us anything until our Indiana sideswipe truck accident attorneys win your case.

Hensley is willing to assume all of the risks involved in making you whole again.

Reach Out to Our Indiana Sideswipe Truck Accident Lawyers

Since 1998, Hensley Legal Group has devoted its practice to tireless advocacy for the wrongfully injured. If you have been hurt through no fault of your own, reach out to our Indiana sideswipe truck accident lawyers to explore the remedies available to you.

You can schedule a complimentary consultation with an accomplished Indiana truck accident attorney by calling or texting us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form at your earliest convenience.