Light Truck Accident Lawyers

There are approximately 6.5 million vehicles of practically every body type imaginable registered in Indiana, including light trucks, a classification that applies to pickups, vans, and sports utility vehicles (SUVs). Though they are notably smaller than commercial trucks and semi-trailers, light trucks have ample cargo space and off-road capabilities that more and more Hoosiers are finding appealing.

Despite these positive attributes, light trucks come with considerable drawbacks that can make accidents more likely and more destructive, which has wreaked havoc in Indiana, where light trucks were involved in 39.5 percent of all fatal crashes in 2021, the most represented class of vehicle by far. Even the survivors of light truck accidents may be left with punishing injuries that could break the bank of the average Indiana family.

If you have been hurt by a light truck in Indiana, you may improve your chances of recovering fair compensation by reaching out to the light truck accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group, who have been fighting for the everyday people of Indiana for more than 25 years.

Schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Indiana light truck accident lawyer today by calling or texting (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form.

Why Are Light Trucks So Dangerous?

Light trucks are on the rise in the United States, where a reported 15.46 million pickups, SUVs, and vans were purchased in 2023, constituting 80 percent of new automotive sales.

Certain features have made these kinds of vehicles attractive to Indiana motorists. Light trucks have significantly more hauling capacity than cars, allowing drivers to transport unwieldy bulk items like construction materials, furniture, and recreation equipment, making them a favorite of contractors and other small business owners. Moreover, many light truck models can be driven off road and onto more rugged terrain, providing a means for nature enthusiasts to enjoy the great outdoors.

But the appealing aspects of light trucks only tell half the story. They are also saddled with design flaws that could increase both the probability and severity of light truck accidents, including:

· Limited maneuverability – Their larger frames make light trucks harder to maneuver and therefore more prone to encroaching on other vehicles’ space when turning, merging, and proceeding through traffic, which may precipitate a crash.

· Higher centers of gravity – Because they have higher centers of gravity, light trucks are susceptible to rolling over when they get sideswiped or make overly sharp turns. Rollover accidents are disproportionately lethal, accounting for 30 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed nationwide in 2020.

· Poor braking – Light trucks generally have poor braking in comparison to cars, which could transform a sudden stop into a catastrophic rear-end collision.

These hazards are expected to have a disastrous effect on public safety as light trucks become more popular. One study calculated that “a one percentage point increase in light truck share raises annual traffic fatalities by 0.34 percent, or 143 deaths per year” – a growth rate that was almost achieved in the most recent sales year on record.

Regardless of the specific cause of your accident, Hensley’s light truck accident attorneys are available to discuss the best course of action if you are contemplating a case.

What to Do After a Light Truck Accident

A light truck accident can be disorienting, but there are steps you can take in the immediate aftermath to better protect yourself and your case, such as the following:

· Move to a safe place – You run the risk of getting into another accident if you remain in the street for too long, so move to a safe place before attempting to do anything else.

· Alert the authorities – Be ready to dial 911 to alert the authorities if they are not at the scene. Make sure you give the responding officer a comprehensive account of the light truck accident, as an inaccurate police report could come back to haunt you.

· Get medical treatment – Your health is of the utmost importance, so get medical treatment as soon as you can, ideally from paramedics on site or at the nearest emergency room. Delays in care could be detrimental to the recovery process and allow doubt to be cast on the relevance and extent of your injuries.

· Exchange information – You will have no case at all if you do not know who hit you, so exchange pertinent information with every driver involved in the light truck accident, including:

o Name

o Address

o Phone number

o Email

o Driver’s license

o Insurance carrier and policy number

o Vehicle make, model, and year

o License plate

If possible, obtain the contact information of anyone else who saw the incident as well, since eyewitnesses could independently confirm what happened.

· Take pictures and shoot videos – Because a contemporary visual record of the crash site could be invaluable in establishing liability and cataloging your damages, take pictures and shoot videos of your surroundings if you are able to do so. Businesses often make use of light trucks, so try to capture any text printed or painted on the vehicle in question, as it could indicate additional defendants.

· Inform your auto insurance company – Informing your auto insurance company about the light truck accident will allow you to remain in compliance with the terms of your policy and take advantage of its benefits, such as reimbursement for doctor bills, repairs, towing, and rentals.

· Stay away from other insurance carriers – On the other hand, it may be wise to stay away from the insurance carriers for the other drivers, since even the most innocuous comment that you make to an adjuster could be used against you.

· Seek legal counsel – A knowledgeable Indiana light truck accident lawyer can examine the facts of your injury and determine whether you have grounds to pursue a case.

How Our Indiana Light Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help

Nobody is ever prepared for a light truck accident, which could upend your life in a matter of moments. Before you realize it, you may have trouble simply making ends meet, much less acquiring the resources to cover the new demands on your finances.

You need attorneys with the compassion to support you during your struggles and the skill to help you overcome them. You need the Indiana light truck accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group, who have been standing up for the wrongfully injured since 1998.

If you hire Hensley, we will conduct an exhaustive investigation into the causes of your Indiana light truck accident and everyone who may be responsible for it within the time allotted by law, acting swiftly to secure the evidence to build your claim, such as:

· Police reports

· Tickets and dispositions

· Witness statements

· Dash cam, streetlight, and surveillance footage

· Black box data

· Phone records

· Driver histories

· Servicing logs

· Accident reconstruction and forensic analysis

After putting together an airtight case against all of the liable parties, our Indiana light truck accident lawyers will negotiate with their insurance carriers to reach a settlement that takes into consideration the totality of your losses, which may include:

· Medical bills

· Lost income

· Pain and suffering

· Psychological and emotional trauma

· Diminished quality of living

· Permanent impairment

· Loss of consortium

· Punitive and wrongful death damages (if applicable)

And if we do not receive an offer that reflects the true worth of your case, we are not afraid to go to trial for a verdict or judgment that does, unlike some of our competitors, who rarely, if ever, set foot inside a courtroom.

Every light truck accident is different, but we will always endeavor to get you top dollar for yours.

You Won’t Pay Unless We Win

You may be reluctant to spend more money when you can least afford it, but our firm works on a contingency basis, so you won’t have to pay us anything unless our Indiana light truck accident attorneys win your case.

What might have started out as a short trip may now seem like a harrowing journey that will never end, but you can trust Hensley to bring it to a satisfying conclusion.

Turn to Our Indiana Light Truck Accident Lawyers

Hensley Legal Group has devoted its practice to getting justice for the innocent victims of negligence. If you have been injured through no fault of your own, turn to our Indiana light truck accident lawyers to explore your potential remedies.

You can call or text (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form for a no-cost case review with an accomplished Indiana light truck accident attorney.