Override Truck Accident Lawyers

Nearly 16,000 trucking companies haul more than 417,000 tons of freight in Indiana each day. The trucks transporting these goods can weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds, almost twenty times the weight of an average new-model passenger vehicle.

In addition to the vast disparity in mass, trucks and semi-trailers may be so much higher off the ground that they could be in danger of running over cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and even pedestrians. These so-called override truck accidents are often deadly, and even the survivors can be left with punishing injuries that few Hoosiers could manage on their own.

While compensation may be available with a personal injury case, a favorable outcome is not guaranteed, particularly when dealing with stubborn insurance companies desperate to minimize their exposure. To increase your chances of success, get in touch with the Indiana override truck accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group, who have built their practice on staunch advocacy for the innocent victims of negligence.

You can call or text us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form to schedule a free case review with a dedicated Indiana override truck accident lawyer today.

How Do Override Truck Accidents Happen?

An override truck accident can be catastrophic, with the force of the truck sometimes crushing or shearing off the top of the smaller vehicle. But how do override truck accidents happen?

While every incident is unique, seasoned Indiana truck accident attorneys might focus their attention on the truck’s driver, since a study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that driver error is the “critical reason” for 87 percent of domestic truck accidents. Common mistakes that could trigger an override truck accident may include:

· Ignoring blind spots – Blind spots or no zones are the areas surrounding a vehicle that its driver cannot see. Commercial trucks have more pronounced blind spots, such that anything within 20 feet of the front of a truck may be obscured. Truckers have a duty to check their blind spots regularly to ensure that they are not encroaching on others, and override truck accidents may occur if they ignore this duty.

· Following too closely – Given how much trouble they have seeing what is right in front of them, truck drivers need to leave ample space when following other vehicles or risk plowing over them.

· Distracted driving – Distraction is one of the chief elements in serious motor vehicle accidents, resulting in 39 automotive deaths in Indiana in 2020 alone. A truck driver whose mind is elsewhere may not realize the vehicle ahead has stopped until it is already underneath.

· Speeding – Exceeding a safe speed can increase both the probability and the severity of an override truck accident.

· Intoxicated driving – Intoxication plays a role in 31 percent of all traffic fatalities nationwide, claiming 13,384 lives in 2021. Truck drivers who are drunk or high have diminished judgment and delayed reaction times, making them less likely to notice or slow down for other vehicles.

· Fatigue – Drivers who go more than 20 hours without sleep can be as impaired as those with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent. Because of their grueling schedules, truckers may be more susceptible to fatigue, which is linked to 100,000 collisions, 50,000 injuries, and 800 casualties in the United States each year.

Override truck accidents may also be caused by:

· Mechanical issues – A badly designed, or inadequately serviced truck could experience mechanical issues that could prevent it from coming to a stop, like a tire blowout or brake failure.

· Improper loading – Trucks and semi-trailers routinely contain thousands of pounds of cargo. If a load surpasses what can be feasibly carried, or if that load is not properly distributed or secured, it could shift around or place undue strain on a truck while it is in motion, which could make the driver lose control.

· Inclement weather – Rain, sleet, snow, and ice can lessen traction, making it harder for a truck to decelerate.

· Hazardous roads – Overly rough surfaces, potholes, and other hazards could send a truck off course, possibly overtaking other vehicles.

No matter how your override truck accident happens, Hensley Legal Group will determine the next steps to take if you are contemplating a case.

Who Is Liable for an Override Truck Accident?

Any case you initiate will need to specify who is liable for the override truck accident, though exactly who that might be will depend upon the circumstances leading up to it.

For example, a truck’s driver could be culpable for behavior giving rise to an override truck accident, along with the truck’s owner (if separate from the driver), both for what the driver did and for the owner’s own conduct. If an outside company is deploying the truck at the time of an override truck accident, it could be civilly pursued along comparable lines.

Other parties could be held accountable as well, such as a servicing agent when lax maintenance precipitates a breakdown-related override truck accident, a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer when a defective part contributes to that breakdown, a loader when a cargo mishap is a factor, or a public works department and any contractors it employs when poor road conditions are to blame. In some instances, multiple parties could share varying levels of legal liability simultaneously, for which they could share varying levels of economic liability.

Neglecting to go after every potential defendant within the time allotted by law, known as the Statute of Limitations, could forever bar you from full recovery – a careless oversight that our detail-oriented Indiana override truck accident lawyers will not allow.

What Our Indiana Override Truck Accident Attorneys Can Do for You

An override truck accident can turn your world upside down, inflicting devastating injuries that could hinder your ability to work while stretching your finances to their absolute limit.

You need attorneys with the compassion to support you during this unstable period and the wisdom to get you back on solid footing. You need the Indiana override truck accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group. No task is too daunting or adversary too intimidating to keep us from getting justice for our injured clients.

If you choose to hire Hensley, we will launch a thorough investigation into your override truck accident and everyone who may be responsible for it within the time permitted by law, taking swift action to procure all of the evidence necessary to build your case, including:

· Police reports

· Citations and dispositions

· Crash scene photos

· Streetlight, dash cam, and surveillance videos

· Witness statements

· Black box data

· Phone records

· House of Service (HOS) and vehicular inspection logs

· Forensic analysis and accident reconstruction

If proof of wrongdoing exists, our Indiana override truck accident lawyers will work tirelessly to find it.

Maximize the Value of Your Case

Once we have put together an airtight case, we will attempt to negotiate a settlement that takes the entirety of your losses into consideration, such as:

· Medical bills

· Lost wages

· Pain and suffering

· Mental and emotional trauma

· Reduced quality of living

· Permanent mobility restrictions

· 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 claim, we are not afraid to go to trial for a verdict that does, unlike many of our competitors, who rarely, if ever, venture inside a courtroom.

No two cases are completely alike, but we will always strive to maximize the value of yours.

You Won’t Pay Until We Win

We understand that spending more money may be the last thing you can afford to do at this moment, so you may be pleased to learn that our firm works on a contingency basis. This means that you won’t have to pay us anything until our Indiana override 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 Override Truck Accident Lawyers Are Ready to Help

Hensley Legal Group has been fighting for the everyday people of Indiana for over a quarter century. If you are still scrambling to get back to normal, our Indiana override truck accident lawyers are ready to help.

You can schedule a no-cost consultation with an accomplished Indiana override truck accident attorney by calling or texting us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or fill out our contact form.