Large trucks frequently cause serious injuries in Indiana car accidents because of their larger size and weight compared to smaller vehicles. Collisions with commercial vehicles can be devastating for automobiles, motorcycles, and other vehicles on the road.
Truck accidents increase yearly as more semi-trucks and commercial trucks crowd the country’s roads. Our truck accident attorneys have extensive experience representing injured victims of large truck crashes. Blackburn Romey understands the importance of conducting a thorough investigation of your case. We have earned a reputation for being tenacious advocates for personal injury victims throughout Indiana. If you have been injured, we will do everything we can to help you receive full and fair compensation.
Clients receive a focused, customized approach from our attorneys. As your case unfolds, we promise to keep you informed so that you’ll know what to expect and feel fully informed when important decisions need to be made.
We serve clients in various locations across Indiana, including South Bend, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Lafayette, Merrillville, and Terre Haute.
Table of Contents
Contact an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible if you have been injured in a collision with a large commercial truck, box truck, bus, or delivery truck such as an Amazon truck. You are more likely to lose your case if you wait too long to hire a truck accident lawyer. Blackburn Romey’s semi-truck accident attorneys will preserve key evidence and protect your legal rights when you work with us.
Following an accident, trucking companies will do everything in their power to minimize your chances in court. There have even been cases of trucking companies hiding evidence, tampering with evidence, or repairing faulty trucks after accidents. Now more than ever, Americans need truck drivers who are dedicated to safe driving.
With supply chain issues and a shifting workforce, we should appreciate long-haul drivers who help get our goods where they need to go. However, many of them cut corners for various reasons. The corners they cut usually impact the safety and security of others they share the road with. Sometimes it’s not just the truck driver cutting corners but also their employers or cargo loading companies.
With big rigs weighing more than 26,000 pounds and sometimes up to 80,000 pounds, traumatic, debilitating, and life-threatening accidents are bound to happen – especially when drivers or other parties are negligent. When someone or some entity is negligent, costing innocent victims their well-being, lives, or family members, Blackburn Romey isn’t afraid to fight for them.
We invite you to get in touch with our office to learn why it is so critical to have a truck accident lawyer on your side after a truck accident. We can help you if you have been injured in a truck accident in Indianapolis. Contact us today for a free case consultation.
Each day, thousands of commercial trucks travel across Indiana. Nationally, there has been a large increase in the number of commercial tractor-trailers registered. In recent years, Indiana has seen an increase in collisions involving large trucks. In 2022, 4,764 people died in large truck crashes across the country. Occupants of small vehicles can be seriously injured or killed in collisions with large trucks because of their weight and size.
Indiana’s highways are notorious for their danger, especially to those familiar with the area. U.S. 41, stretching 300 miles from the northern border near Chicago to Evansville in the south, is the most hazardous, with a staggering 111 deaths occurring between 2008 and 2017. The combination of high traffic volumes and numerous intersections creates perilous conditions that have made this road a focus for safety improvements.
Other roads across the state also present significant risks. Interstate 65 in northwest Indiana, Interstate 70 along a 60-mile stretch to Hendricks County, and Highway 60—aptly nicknamed “Death Row”—all see high accident and fatality rates. The I-90 corridor in northern Indiana and Interstate 80/94, the Borman Expressway, are notorious for serious collisions and fatalities.
In 2017, Indiana alone had 16,910 commercial vehicle collisions. Of those, over 14,706 involved property damage, 2,074 resulted in injuries, and 130 caused deaths. While this was only a 0.1 percent increase over the previous year, it was an increase of over three percent in five years. Who is liable for these collisions? The answer isn’t always as easy or straightforward as you might think. The following parties could be entirely or partially liable for your truck accident:
When you hire our seasoned Indianapolis truck accident attorneys to represent your claim, you are hiring a team who will get to the bottom of how your accident occurred. Our priority is identifying who is liable and why. Your compensation depends on the success of this task, and we take it very seriously.
Our team has combined decades of experience handling all types of injury cases, both with insurance companies and in civil court. We bring all that we know about injury law to the table in each and every case.
We have many satisfied clients who were able to move forward with their lives in a better financial position following a serious accident and injuries. We can discuss our past results with you during your free consultation.
We are dedicated to our clients and communities in Indiana. Our goal is to provide comprehensive and compassionate legal services to injured and grieving individuals. We work hard to obtain the money you need so you can focus on recovery instead of worrying about medical bills, insurance claims, or lawsuits.
Due to their higher potential to cause serious harm, large trucks must carry substantially more liability insurance than passenger vehicles. A trucking company’s insurer will contact you after a serious accident occurs. Truck drivers, trucking companies, and cargo shippers may have different insurance companies representing them. Insurance adjusters may appear friendly, but their job is to protect their company’s profits and minimize the amount they pay out in claims. When insurance companies attempt to settle a claim, they often convince the victim that an attorney is unnecessary and will only complicate matters. To avoid being taken advantage of by insurance adjusters or making a statement that may undermine your claim, you need your own attorney to represent you. Our experienced Indianapolis truck accident attorneys will protect your rights if you or your family are involved in a serious accident with a semi-truck. Additionally, we provide legal assistance to Indianapolis accident victims involved in construction zones. You must contact an experienced attorney immediately after an accident because the trucking company will be working on their defense immediately following the accident.
Several factors can lead to a commercial truck collision. These serious accidents are too often caused by truck driver errors and vehicle failures, often with devastating results for the victims. According to the NHTSA, large truck drivers have the highest percentage of previous accidents compared to drivers of other vehicle types. A recent study found that nearly 17 percent of truck drivers involved in fatal crashes had at least one prior speeding conviction. You and your family may be at serious risk as truck drivers make up time on the road. We can help you and your family after a truck accident:
We are committed to uncovering the truth about your truck accident. Our goal is to protect your financial future by securely storing information and evidence.
Steps to Take After a Truck Accident Infographic
It is common for truck drivers to make mistakes that lead to accidents. Drivers may speed, drive too fast for the road conditions, tailgate, drive drowsy, or be inattentive to the changing traffic situation. Large truck collisions are often caused by defective brakes, speeding, drug use, driver fatigue, and tire problems, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Snow and ice often cause truck accidents during the winter months. When driving in bad weather, many drivers underestimate how much space they need to stop. Due to the immense weight of most commercial trucks, the failure to be cautious often leads to disaster for other drivers. The thought of several tons of steel sliding along an icy road at a high rate of speed is simply unthinkable. It is imperative that truck drivers remain vigilant and careful during snowy or icy conditions on Indianapolis roads during winter. Fatigue is often a factor in accidents caused by drivers. Commercial vehicle operators are well aware of the dangers of fatigue. The National Transportation Safety Board has published over 180 safety recommendations on reducing fatigue in long-haul truck drivers and pilots.
Decades of handling truck accident cases in Indiana have equipped Blackburn Romey with the expertise to challenge insurance companies effectively. We start fighting for your compensation from day one, making sure no piece of evidence is overlooked.❞ Act now! Contact Chris Blackburn today, and let us work for you.
Chris Blackburn
Suppose you were seriously injured or lost a loved one in a large commercial truck crash. In that case, you need the experienced Indiana truck accident attorneys at Blackburn Romey. It’s likely that the trucking company or its insurance company will attempt to get you to accept a settlement offer that is much less than the fair value of your accident injury claim. After you sign their settlement agreement and accept their check, they can close the case and move on. They are left with extra money in their pocket, which should have been yours if your case had been settled fully and fairly. Many people in Indianapolis turn to us when they’ve been injured and need a lawyer.
Let our dedicated legal team at Blackburn Romey handle your truck accident case for you. We meticulously investigate truck collisions. These cases are frequently complex, so we often work with private investigators, mechanical experts, an industry expert qualified to download data from a commercial truck’s black box, and an accident reconstructionist. Even though most cases settle outside of court, we thoroughly and carefully prepare each truck crash case as if it is going to trial. Call us today to schedule a no-obligation consultation.
South Bend Truck Accident Lawyer
Fort Wayne Truck Accident Lawyer
Indianapolis Truck Accident Lawyer
Lafayette Truck Accident Lawyer
Merrillville Truck Accident Lawyer
Terre Haute Truck Accident Lawyer
Yes, you must call the police after a truck accident. Regardless of how minor or severe the truck accident is, call 911. In some cases, failing to report can lead to legal consequences. It is in your best interest to call the police. While you are required to call the police, there is also a benefit to your injury claim. The police can sift through the chaos of the accident scene and provide an accident report that can be vital to your lawsuit. Within the report, they can include:
All of this preliminary information will be essential to your injury claim. The police report can also help determine the cause of the accident. If the officer issues a traffic ticket, that is also essential evidence for your claim. Therefore, calling the police is crucial to your injury claim.
The police have one way that they determine fault for a semi-truck accident, and the insurance company has another method. Several parties can be liable for a truck accident, including:
The primary way to determine who caused your truck accident is to review the evidence. Gathering it can be tricky without the help of an Indiana truck accident attorney. The police will gather preliminary information to determine if anyone committed a crime or negligent act. They aim to issue citations or make arrests based on the evidence they gather.
Insurance companies and personal injury attorneys have different goals when determining fault. The insurance company is looking at evidence of fault to find ways to lower claims. They will usually look at the police report as a starting point. They are looking at damages and how they can reduce their liability.
An Indiana truck accident lawyer will review the same evidence as the insurance company but will use it to garner compensation for you. Some of the evidence that we will look at includes:
This evidence will be the foundation for recovering compensation. The insurance company will review this evidence to make an offer.
No. You must get an accurate evaluation of what your truck accident case is worth before you consider any settlement offers. An Indiana truck accident lawyer must gather how much your accident costs you physically, emotionally, and financially. This is challenging to do. The insurance company usually sends small initial offers. They are trying to offer you the least amount to save money. It is best not to accept the first offer and to review every offer with a local truck accident lawyer.
Your case worth will depend on various factors. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. Every truck accident is unique and, therefore, deserves an individual assessment. Generally speaking, truck accident cases are worth more than other personal injury claims. The biggest reason is because they often result in severe or permanent injuries.
Many factors will play a role in your truck accident claim. The first consideration is truck accident liability. Another issue is the insurance company, policy limits, and how many parties are involved. When assessing your damages, an Indiana truck accident lawyer will review economic and noneconomic damages, including:
In cases involving gross negligence, you may also qualify for punitive damages. These damages punish the defendants for their actions. It is also meant to prevent them and others from committing the same acts. A truck accident resulting in death can result in a much higher settlement.
Indiana gives truck accident victims two years to file injury claims. The timeline will vary depending on several factors. Often, the clock starts ticking from the accident date. However, some exceptions can apply. A delayed injury can move this deadline. If the victim dies within two years, the timeline extends an additional 18 months. Minors and anyone who suffers a legal disability from a truck accident will have different timelines to consider.
Blackburn Romey founding partner Tom Blackburn graduated with honors receiving a degree from Indiana University at the Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Initiating his legal career in 1977, he has been active in practicing law and currently serves as a member of the Indiana State Bar Association on the Ethics and Advertising Committees, the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, as a board member at the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, and as an appointed member of the Executive Committee for the State of Indiana for the National Trial Lawyers Association.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Tom Blackburn, who has more than 47 years of legal experience, including over 39 years specializing as a personal injury attorney.
If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you deserve the best legal representation. Reach out our dedicated and caring team of Fort Wayne truck accident lawyers.
Were you injured in South Bend truck wreck? You deserve the best legal advice from a dedicated and sympathetic team of South Bend Truck and Tractor Trailer Accident Lawyers.
If you’ve been injured in any type of truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you deserve the best legal counsel from a team of Indianapolis truck accident lawyers.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, secure the representation you deserve. Contact our Merrillville truck accident lawyers right away to ensure your rights are protected.
After a serious truck accident, you need quick and competent legal assistance. Reach out to our experienced truck accident lawyers in Lafayette to help you navigate your recovery and claim.
Victim of a truck accident due to someone else’s negligence? Don’t wait—our knowledgeable Terre Haute truck accident lawyers are here to provide you with the expert legal representation you need.
