No-Zone Truck Accident Lawyers

With nearly 16,000 registered trucking companies transporting more than 417,000 tons of freight within its borders each day, Indiana is in many ways fueled by trucks. But the abundance of large trucks and semi-trailers in the state comes with a major downside in the form of truck accidents, 999 of which resulted in injury and 118 of which resulted in death in 2022 alone.

A truck accident could have various causes, though certain aspects of truck design could make a crash more probable, such as a truck’s extensive blind spots, known as “no-zones.” If you venture into a trucker’s no-zone, you have a much higher chance of getting involved in a truck accident, which can be physically and financially catastrophic.

While compensation may be available if you have been hurt in a no-zone truck accident, success is not automatic, particularly when squaring off against an insurance company looking to limit its exposure. To tip the odds in your favor, reach out to the no-zone truck accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group, who have devoted their practice to ensuring that hardworking Hoosiers enjoy the same rights under the law as the rich and powerful.

Please call or text (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form for a no-cost case review with a knowledgeable Indiana no-zone truck accident lawyer.

What Are No-Zones?

No-zones are the areas surrounding a truck that its driver cannot see, either directly or in one of the rear or side mirrors. No-zones are frequently created by objects and fixtures within the truck that impede the driver’s view of traffic, like the headrests, the windshield pillar, cargo, and even the mirrors themselves. The unique positioning of truck drivers can also add to their no-zones.

Though every vehicle has no-zones, they are much bigger in commercial trucks and semi-trailers. The chief truck no-zones are:

· Front No-Zones – Because truckers are elevated farther above street level compared to other drivers, they may be unable to see vehicles that are just ahead of them, with the front no-zone extending as much as 20 feet from a truck’s grille.

· Rear No-Zones – Anyone who is within 200 feet of the back of a truck could be in the driver’s rear no-zone.

· Side No-Zones – The most sizeable no-zones on a semi-trailer are on its sides, particularly the right-side no-zone, which may run the entire length of the trailer and block the driver’s view of vehicles two lanes over.

Truckers have an obligation to check their no-zones regularly in order to prevent truck accidents. Sadly, many forget to do so, sometimes with tragic results. The United States records 840,000 no-zone accidents and 300 no-zone fatalities each year for vehicles of all types, while the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration estimates that neglecting to check no-zones factors into 14 percent of total truck accidents.

Survivors of these accidents can be left with punishing injuries necessitating prolonged treatment that they may have trouble covering without skilled Indiana no-zone truck accident attorneys in their corner.

How Does a No-Zone Truck Accident Occur?

How a no-zone truck accident occurs may depend in part on the location of the accident in relation to the truck.

Front no-zone truck accidents generally happen when truckers do not stop as vehicles ahead of them do, leading to rear-end collisions.

Alternatively, a truck driver who does not decelerate gradually in consideration of vehicles in the rear no-zone runs the risk of an underride accident in which the trailing vehicle slides beneath the truck.

Finally, side no-zone truck accidents usually take place when truckers fail to check their no-zones before switching lanes or turning, potentially sideswiping adjacent vehicles, knocking them over, or pushing them into another lane or off the road.

Specialized conditions are not required for no-zone truck accidents, though they are likelier in settings with reduced visibility, such as intersections, multi-lane highways, or roundabouts. Additional elements that could contribute to a no-zone truck accident include:

· Driver inattention

· Drowsiness

· Inadequate training

· Intoxication

· Improperly adjusted or installed mirrors

Our Indiana no-zone truck accident lawyers will analyze the facts of your injury and advise you of the next steps to take if you are contemplating a case.

Guidelines for Preventing No-Zone Truck Accidents

Given how grave the consequences of these kinds of accidents can be, it is crucial to avoid them whenever you can. The following guidelines may be useful for preventing no-zone truck accidents:

· Keep away from no-zones – If you are not in a truck’s no-zone, you will probably not fall victim to a no-zone truck accident. When encountering a truck or semi-trailer, keep more than 20 feet ahead of it or more than 200 feet behind it so that the driver can see you, and be ready to slow down or speed up if you drift into a truck’s no-zone.

· Maintain a proper space cushion – Similarly, maintain a proper space cushion during all of your interactions with trucks, since traveling too close on their sides could leave you vulnerable to getting sideswiped, while tailgating could bring about a lethal underride accident.

· Merge cautiously – Merging is when you are most in danger of a no-zone truck accident, so you should enter a truck’s lane only after you have confirmed that you are not in the trucker’s no-zone, possibly because you have signaled to or made eye contact with the driver.

· Take care when passing – Pass trucks on the left if you have the opportunity. A truck’s most substantial no-zone is on the right side, so truckers expect vehicles to pass on the other side and will most often veer right during evasive maneuvers.

How Our No-Zone Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help

Safety is of the utmost importance, but a no-zone truck accident may still come to pass regardless of the precautions you take, and it can change your life in an instant, forcing you to cope with bill collectors who never stop calling and insurance companies who never call back. Merely making ends meet can become a challenge, much less satisfying the new demands on your wallet.

You need attorneys with the compassion to support you during this difficult period and the wisdom to get you through it. You need the Indiana no-zone truck accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group.

If you choose to hire Hensley, we will launch a far-reaching investigation into your truck accident and everyone who may be at fault for it, acting swiftly to amass the evidentiary materials to build your case, such as:

· Police reports

· Tickets and dispositions

· Eyewitness statements

· Crash scene photos

· Dash cam, streetlight, and surveillance footage

· Black box data

· Phone records

· Hours of Service (HOS) and vehicular maintenance logs

· Accident reconstruction and forensic analysis

If proof of wrongdoing exists, our Indiana no-zone truck accident lawyers will work tirelessly to find it.

Maximize the Value of Your No-Zone Truck Accident

After putting together a rock-solid case against every defendant, we will endeavor to negotiate a settlement that reflects the full spectrum of your losses, including:

· Medical bills

· Lost wages

· Pain and suffering

· Psychological and emotional trauma

· Permanent impairment

· Diminished quality of living

· Loss of consortium

· Punitive and wrongful death damages (if applicable)

And unlike some of our competitors, who rarely, if ever, see the inside of a courtroom, we are more than willing to go to trial if we do not receive an offer that is worthy of your claim.

No two no-zone truck accidents are exactly alike, but we will always strive to maximize the value of yours.

You Won’t Pay Until We Win

You may be reluctant to agree to more expenditures when you can least afford them, but you should know that our firm works on a contingency basis, so you won’t have to pay us anything until our Indiana no-zone truck accident attorneys win your case.

You have enough to worry about at this moment trying to restore your health. Let Hensley worry about getting you the resources to do it.

Our No-Zone Truck Accident Lawyers Will Be Here

Hensley Legal Group has been fighting for the everyday people of Indiana for more than 25 years. If someone else’s recklessness has turned your world upside down, our no-zone truck accident lawyers will be here to set things right again.

You can schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Indiana no-zone truck accident attorney by calling or texting (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form at any time.