$48.5
Million
We Won $48.5 Million in a Truck Accident Case
In this case, we took more than 60 depositions in five different states. Because of Stephenson’s tireless advocacy, shortly before the trial was to commence, the defendants settled the case for $48.5 million.
The leafy, affluent streets of Carmel, IN, wind through beautiful residential neighborhoods, providing residents easy access to shopping, restaurants, and other activities. Carmel is also home to 142 roundabouts, the circular intersections that keep traffic continuously moving rather than stopping at stop signs or stoplights. That’s why Carmel is known as “the roundabout capital of the United States,” and the suburb is well known in traffic engineering circles. But roundabouts can lead to accidents involving delivery trucks, cement trucks, and other commercial vehicles because the roundabouts cause tight turning radiuses for trucks, which are much larger and heavier than cars. This can lead to truck accidents in Carmel.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. You don’t have to face mounting medical bills, lost wages, and future uncertainty alone. The skilled and experienced truck accident lawyers at Stephenson Rife can fight to get the financial compensation you deserve. For a free initial consultation, call us at (317) 680-2350.
A Truck Accident Lawyer in Carmel, IN, Who Will Fight for You
Why choose Stephenson Rife to represent your case for truck accidents in Carmel? There are many reasons:
- We have decades of experience and know how to win.
- We’ll use sophisticated technology and 3-D crash modeling to prove your version of what happened.
- We do our homework – interviewing witnesses, investigating the accident scene, researching police reports and medical information, and even hiring expert witnesses if needed.
- Our truck accident lawyers in Carmel, IN, have won major settlements over the years.
- Our attorneys – including Mike Stephenson and Brady Rife – are well-known and respected by other attorneys and judges.
- Our law firm has significant financial resources that other law firms don’t, and we can use this to build a strong case.
- Our legal team is compassionate and caring. We think of clients as part of our family.
Truck Accident Cases We Have Won
You want a winner on your side when choosing a truck accident lawyer. Stephenson Rife has a record of success. Following are some of the large truck accident settlements we’ve achieved on behalf of clients:
- $48.5 million in a case that involved 60 depositions in 5 different states
- $2 million in a case where a passenger in a vehicle was injured when struck by a delivery truck
- $250,000 in a case where a young woman sustained severe injuries when a semi-truck pulled out in front of her vehicle
- $6.5 million for a victim with brain injury in a garbage truck accident
- $3.97 million for a family of a man killed in a tractor-trailer crash.
You can rely on us to fight for the justice you deserve. We will leave no stone unturned to prove your case.
We Care About Our Clients
Because a truck is much larger and heavier than other vehicles, a crash may result in catastrophic injuries that can include head, back, neck, brain and spinal cord damage, paralysis, amputations, broken bones, and even death.
Survivors of accidents may face long, painful recoveries and need expensive rehabilitation and continuing care, at a time they are unable to work. The number of parties potentially liable for the accident is significant and may include large corporations and multiple insurance companies well-experienced in defending claims and lawsuits brought against them.
Proving negligence is essential in any lawsuit. The trucking industry is governed by state regulations, and trucks that engage in interstate commerce must adhere to federal regulations as well. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has rules (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (Title 49, Parts 350-399) for driver’s license standards, safety and fitness procedures, maximum hours truckers can drive, and for inspection, repair and maintenance of vehicles. When regulations are not adhered to, the responsible parties can be found negligent and liable for damages.
The Indiana truck accident attorneys at Stephenson Rife, LLP, know how to deal with the complex laws and multiple parties and insurers involved with a truck accident. Our Indiana accident lawyers understand the difficulties you and your family face, and we are deeply committed and fully prepared to take the burden off you by handling all legal hurdles involved with proving liability and winning your case, so you can concentrate on your recovery.
What Causes Truck Accidents?
Because they are built to handle huge loads such as heavy construction machinery, semi-trucks are particularly difficult to drive and maneuver, and they can cause major damage in a crash. As a result, both trucks and drivers are heavily regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. When these regulations are not followed, or a driver drives while impaired, fatigued, or distracted, risk increases for an accident.
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Freight Management and Operations, federal law controls maximum gross vehicle weights and axle loads on interstates. Federal limits are 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight; 20,000 pounds on a single axle; and 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle group. There are also federal standards for the length and width allowable on interstate roadways. In an effort to drive up profits, trucking companies sometimes violate state and federal requirements.
Following are common causes of truck accidents in Carmel and how we handle them:
Semi Driver Fatigue: Truck drivers are governed by federal trucking laws, known as Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, that regulate the amount of time a driver can be on the road without stopping, hours they are allowed to drive in a week, and the time they must be off between shifts. However, some trucking companies make additional demands on their drivers or push them to falsify records.
Our trucking accident attorneys in Indiana will examine all trucking records and driving logs to determine whether driver fatigue was a cause of the accident.
Negligent Maintenance: It is the truck company’s legal responsibility to properly maintain and repair its trucks, which requires daily inspections and regular maintenance, and drivers must also conduct daily vehicle checks. If a company is negligent in inspecting and maintaining the truck, equipment failures such as faulty brakes or couplings can lead to accidents. We would look for causes such as . . .
- Tires that were retreaded or unevenly worn
- Parts such as brakes, axles, and hitches that were not checked and maintained
- Maintenance logs that were not complete, updated, and in accordance with both state and federal statutes.
Negligent hiring, training, and retention: Trucking companies must check a potential hire’s safety history and criminal record and make sure all drivers are properly trained and have experience operating a semi-truck or commercial vehicle. We would examine all hiring and training records to make sure all federal and state provisions were adhered to.
Negligence by a broker: Brokers are middlemen who bring together truckers and the companies who want to ship goods. Brokers utilize computer tracking software and data to monitor the movement of goods and the trucks. They have a duty to inspect the motor carrier/truck, the safety history of the truck, and drivers they have contracted.
Our attorneys would inspect their records to determine whether the broker monitored and reviewed trip records or notes and approved receipts and bill of lading changes, and whether the broker maintained required control of the truck, cargo, and the driver.
Negligence by a cargo company: Improper load securement that shifted and caused the truck to go out of control could be the responsibility of the trucking company or the cargo company. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces strict cargo securement laws that trucking companies must adhere to, and our attorneys would investigate whether this was the case.
Depending on the circumstances of the crash, liable parties may include:
- The truck driver
- The manufacturer of the truck or its parts
- The trucking company the driver works for
- The shipper and/or loader of cargo
- Owner of the truck
- Third-party contractors
- A municipality or road repair company responsible for road repairs.
Our attorneys will take on one or all of the guilty parties when pursuing a legal claim on your behalf.
A Big Firm Without the Baggage
High hourly rates are common at large law firms, but not at ours. We are able to provide cost-effective legal services. We don’t have to pay rent in a downtown office building. We don’t have a bureaucracy made up of layers of partners and associates.
Call a Stephenson Rife truck accident lawyer in Carmel now at 317-680-2350.
Attorney Mike Stephenson
Attorney Mike Stephenson has 40 years of experience and is a trusted advisor to many individuals and companies. His current practice is dominated by civil litigation in state and federal courts. He focuses much of his time on handling catastrophic injuries caused by all types of accidents, including motor vehicle, trucking, workplace injuries, product liability, just to name a few. Mike is a proven advocate and trial attorney. He has served as lead trial counsel in more than 100 civil jury trials, and has handled litigation in 18 states. [ Attorney Bio ]
