Indiana T-Bone Truck Accident Lawyers

There are more than 15,000 registered trucking companies transporting over 417,000 tons of freight throughout Indiana each day.  But though trucks and semi-trailers are indispensable to the state, the fact remains that truck accidents are some of the most devastating events on Indiana’s roads, responsible for 999 injuries and 118 deaths in 2022 alone.  

Indiana truck accidents can take many forms, and among the worst are side impact or T-bone crashes, in which trucks drive headfirst into the sides of other vehicles.  While motorists seated at the point of impact tend to experience the brunt of T-bone collisions, accounting for 22 percent of domestic vehicle occupants killed in 2021, anyone who has been T-boned by a truck can be left with physically and financially catastrophic injuries. 

But if you have been hurt in a T-bone truck accident in Indiana through no fault of your own, you may be eligible to pursue a personal injury case.  To increase your chances of a favorable outcome, get in touch with the Indiana T-bone truck accident lawyers at Hensley Legal Group, where we have been standing up for honest Hoosiers like you for more than 25 years. 

You can schedule a free consultation with one of Hensley’s accomplished Indiana T-bone truck accident attorneys by calling or texting us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form at your earliest convenience. 

Common Causes of T-Bone Truck Accidents 

T-bone truck accidents can occur for a variety of reasons.  Sometimes a truck or semi-trailer could veer out of control because of external elements, such as:  

• Poorly secured or excessive cargo 

• Mechanical breakdowns 

• Inclement weather 

• Streets in disrepair 

More often, however, T-bone truck accidents take place when drivers neglect to yield the right of way, typically within intersections in violation of traffic control signals.  In these situations, driver misconduct is usually to blame, as it is in around 87 percent of truck accidents. Examples of misconduct that could bring about a T-bone truck accident may include:  

• Traveling too fast – Speeding is the leading factor in motor vehicle accidents of all kinds, linked to over 15,000 collisions in Indiana per year.  Drivers who travel too fast give themselves less time to react yet require more time to slow down, which could make them likelier to disregard a stop sign or a red light. 

• Distracted driving – Distraction has long been a significant source of automotive injuries, but it has become an even greater concern with the rise of cellphones, which are associated with 12 percent of traffic accidents.

• Intoxication – Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs continues to be a major problem in Indiana, where law enforcement agencies make a DUI arrest every 11.98 hours.  Intoxication dulls reflexes and clouds thought, making drivers more prone to a potentially lethal error in judgment. 

• Fatigue – Drowsy driving can be as hazardous as drunk driving, with one study concluding that going more than 20 hours without sleep produces the same degree of impairment as a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent, the legal threshold for intoxication in Indiana.  The pressures of their jobs could make truckers particularly vulnerable to fatigue, which contributes to approximately 100,000 crashes, 50,000 injuries, and 800 fatalities annually in the United States.  

No matter what the root cause of your T-bone collision may be, our knowledgeable Indiana T-bone truck accident lawyers can determine the best course of action if you are contemplating a case.  

How to Prevent a T-Bone Truck Accident  

The consequences of a T-bone truck accident can be dire, so it is imperative to do whatever you can to avoid getting into one.  Luckily, there are certain steps that you can take that could either prevent a T-bone accident entirely or reduce the harm that might be inflicted, such as: 

• Maintain a safe speed – Do not go over the posted speed limit and be ready to decelerate if you encounter conditions that could compromise your traction. 

• Pay attention – Be aware of what is going on around you, since a careless driver could come rocketing towards you when you are not expecting it. 

• Obey traffic control signals – Ignoring red lights and stop signs could make a T-bone collision practically inevitable.  

• Exercise caution at intersections – You are most in danger of a T-bone truck accident in an intersection.  With this in mind, you should exercise caution when you approach these locations, no matter who has the right of way, making sure to check for oncoming vehicles in both directions before you move forward. 

• Drive when you are sober and well-rested – We have already discussed how detrimental drunkenness and drowsiness can be to driving, so do not get behind the wheel unless you are stone cold sober and wide awake. 

• Put on your seatbelt – Wearing a seatbelt might not keep you out of a T-bone truck accident, but it can save your life if you get into one, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reporting that seatbelts curb moderate to critical injuries for people in the front seat by 50 percent and casualties by 45 percent.  

• Choose safer vehicles – The next time you buy or rent a car, choose a model that is equipped with features that can better protect you during a T-bone collision, like side-door airbags.  

By following these guidelines and showing some good sense, you may be able minimize either the incidence or the effects of T-bone truck accidents. 

Our Indiana T-Bone Truck Accident Attorneys Can Make a Difference  

We hope that these tips prove useful.  Nevertheless, a T-bone truck accident may still happen, and it can turn your world upside down if it does, burying you under a mountain of medical bills while robbing you of the ability to go to work to pay for them.  You could soon find it hard just to make ends meet, much less acquire the resources to stave off ruin.  

You need attorneys with the compassion to support you through your struggles and the skill to overcome them – like the Indiana T-bone truck accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group, who are deeply committed to serving the interests of their clients. 

If you hire Hensley, we will carry out an exhaustive investigation into your T-bone truck accident and everyone who may be culpable for it within the time allotted by law.  We will then move swiftly to amass the evidence to build your case, including evidence of your damages, such as medical records, caregiver testimony, and employer documentation, as well as evidence of negligence on the part of the defendants, such as: 

• Police reports  

• Citations and dispositions 

• Witness statements 

• Crash scene photos  

• Dash cam, streetlight, and surveillance footage  

• Black box data  

• Phone records  

• Hours of Service (HOS) and maintenance logs  

• Forensic analysis and accident reconstruction  

Upon putting together the strongest case possible against all of the liable parties, our Indiana T-bone truck accident lawyers will endeavor to negotiate a settlement that reflects the totality of your losses, including your:  

• Medical expenses  

• Lost wages 

• Pain and suffering  

• Mental and emotional anguish  

• Diminished quality of living  

• Mobility restrictions  

• Loss of consortium  

• Punitive and wrongful death damages (if relevant)  

And unlike some of our competitors, who rarely, if ever, venture into a courtroom, we are not afraid to go to trial if we do not receive an offer that is worthy of your claim. 

No two Indiana T-bone truck accidents are exactly alike, but we will always strive to get you top compensation for yours. 

You Won’t Pay Until We Win 

If you are worried about spending more money when you can least afford it, you should know that Hensley Legal Group works on a contingency basis.  This means that you won’t have to pay us anything until our Indiana T-bone truck accident attorneys win your case.  

We take on clients because we believe in them, and we are willing to assume all of the risks involved in getting them justice.  

Fighting for the Seriously Injured Since 1998 

Hensley Legal Group has been fighting for the seriously injured since 1998.  If you are having trouble getting back to normal after a crash, reach out to our Indiana T-bone truck accident lawyers to explore the remedies available to you. 

Please call or text us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form for a complimentary case review with a dedicated Indiana T-bone truck accident attorney today.