Wide-Turn Truck Accident Attorney in Indiana
Large trucks weigh thousands of pounds and are cumbersome when making turns. They have blind spots that can prevent a truck driver from seeing other motorists on the road. They also require much longer distances for braking and stops. For these reasons, trucks can cause accidents that are catastrophic and deadly for other drivers, especially when turning. If you’ve been hurt in a truck collision, a wide-turn truck accident attorney in Indiana can fight for the compensation you deserve.
Why Choose Us as Your Wide-Turn Truck Accident Lawyer
Attorney Mike Stephenson has 40 years of legal experience and has won many large personal injury claims totaling millions of dollars. He has served as lead trial counsel in more than 100 civil jury trials and has handled litigation in 18 states around the country. State and local polls by peers have listed Mike as one of Indiana’s top lawyers. The legal team at Stephenson Rife also includes Attorney Brady Rife, who prepares each case as though it may be tried in court. We have achieved outstanding case results and many satisfied clients.
How We Can Help
There are many ways a wide-turn truck accident attorney in Indiana can help clients build a strong case and secure a significant financial payout. We will:
- Gather evidence including surveillance videos, photos, emails, safety records, and other electronic data
- Review police and accident reports
- Gather and analyze medical records
- Interview accident witnesses
- Hire expert witnesses, if needed
- Negotiate aggressively on your behalf with insurance companies
- Argue your case in court, if needed.
No matter your circumstances, we will fight hard to get the justice you deserve. That is our commitment to every client. To learn more about what your case might be worth, contact our wide-turn truck accident lawyer at (317) 680-2350.
Your Life Is a Unique Story Filled with Your Family, Dreams, and Accomplishments. We Will Listen and Walk Beside You.
Accidents Caused by Wide Turning Trucks
There are several different kinds of accidents caused by wide turning trucks:
- Rollover accidents happen when cargo shifts during a turn.
- A trucker swings left into oncoming traffic before making a right-hand turn.
- A truck turning right “squeezes” motorists in right lanes, requiring hard stops.
- A trucker fails to check his blind spots and collides with other motorists.
- A trucker’s reaction time is reduced by alcohol or drugs.
- An inexperienced trucker is unfamiliar with the route, missing stops and road signs.
- A large truck jackknifes when making a wide turn.
- A trucker falls asleep because of fatigue and long hours.
Wide turning trucks are dangerous because there’s very little other motorists can do to avoid colliding with a semi-truck when the driver makes a mistake. There are few defensive driving options because the truck is so large. This can spell disaster for other drivers. In a crash with an 18-wheeler, injuries to other motorists can include TBI and brain trauma, broken bones, thermal or chemical burns, internal bleeding, and lacerations. In such unfortunate scenarios, consulting a skilled UPS truck accident lawyer
can be crucial for victims seeking justice and compensation.
Tractor trailers are cumbersome and heavy, difficult to maneuver, prone to rollovers, take longer to stop, and can carry toxic cargo. Because of their sheer size, crashes with tractor trailers often cause devastating and life-changing injuries and even death. Survivors frequently face long, painful recoveries that require expensive surgeries, rehabilitation, and long-term care. In such challenging times, consulting a rollover truck accident lawyer can be crucial for legal guidance and support. Medical bills can be astronomical, compounded by time off work and diminished earnings.
Truck Accident FAQs
Our attorneys hear many of the same questions from clients about truck accidents, so here for your convenience are answers to common questions.
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The statute of limitations for filing a truck accident claim in Indiana is two years. (Indiana Code Title 34. Civil Law and Procedure § 34-11-2-4) The clock starts ticking on the date you were injured.
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Injury victims represented by a lawyer typically receive larger payouts than do victims representing themselves. When victims interact directly with insurance companies, they frequently receive low-ball offers.
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Our lawyers work on contingency, which means our attorney fees and case expenses are paid by the defendant as part of a settlement agreement or jury award. If your claim is not successful, you owe us nothing.
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If your loved one was killed in a truck accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim to seek damages. (Indiana Code §§ 34-23-1-1, 34-23-1-2, and 34-23-2-1(2021).) The statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death claim is two years from the date of the individual’s death.
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The deadliest roads in Indiana include:
- U.S. 41
- Interstate 65
- Interstate 80
- Interstate 90
- Interstate 94
- Interstate 70.
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Trucking is a $792 billion industry in the U.S. that hauls 72.5% of all freight, far outpacing freight hauled by railroads. The trucking industry employs 6% of all full-time workers in America.
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A total of 5,005 people were killed in large truck accidents in the U.S. in 2019, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). An estimated 159,000 people were injured in truck accidents that same year.
If you have additional questions about your wide-turn truck accident, we’d be happy to provide answers. Call us for a free, no-obligation consultation at (317) 680-2350.
Examples of Truck Accidents We’ve Handled
Whether it’s a wide-turn truck accident in Indiana, a fatal truck collision in another state, or an interstate pile-up caused by a large truck, Stephenson Rife, as a seasoned fatal truck accident lawyer, is prepared to fight aggressively for clients injured in truck crashes. Following are brief case studies of some of our successful truck accident cases:
We obtained a settlement of $5.3 million for the family of a father and son who were killed.
Stephenson Rife obtained a settlement of $5,350,000 for the family of a father and son who were killed when their vehicle was rear-ended by a semi-tractor trailer at highway speed. Stephenson Rife worked quickly to preserve critical evidence, including downloading data from the semi’s electronic control module and the semi driver’s cell phone. Through the collection of this evidence, it was determined that the cruise control for the semi was set at 65 mph and no braking or evasive action was taken by the driver of the semi until after impact. The team at Stephenson Rife, along with its experts, were able to utilize the driver’s cell phone activity in the week prior to the crash to establish that the driver had likely fallen asleep at the wheel.
We obtained a settlement of $48.5 million for the family of the deceased.
In this truck accident 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. In this case, a commercial truck veered across the center line and struck a motor vehicle head on, killing the driver. Stephenson Rife was hired shortly after the crash to represent the family of the deceased. Our firm immediately began an aggressive investigation and preparation for trial. The discovery phase of the litigation included successfully petitioning the court to have important documents turned over by the defense. Experts from across the country were hired and prepared for trial.
Our Truck Accident Settlements
Determining Fault in Indiana
Indiana applies the modified comparative negligence test to truck accidents (Indiana Code Title 34, Section 51-2-5, et seq.). Also known as “comparative fault,” the law states that you can be partially at fault – but must be less than 51% at fault — for the truck accident to recover damages in an injury claim. Courts will reduce your financial compensation by the percentage of responsibility you bear. For example, if you’re hit by a wide turning truck making an illegal turn, but you were texting while driving, a court could decide that the truck driver was 70% at fault and you were 30% at fault. If the total award is $500,000, then the amount you receive would be $350,000 (the total reduced by 30%).
Who Can Be Sued in a Wide-Turn Truck Accident?
Depending on the facts in your case, there can be one or multiple parties that could be sued in a wide-turn truck accident. Each case is different. The possible defendants include:
- Truck Driver
- Trucking Company
- Cargo Owner
- Municipal/Government Agency
- Truck Manufacturer
Let’s take a closer look at each and examine how they could be at fault:
Truck Driver
If the truck driver caused or contributed to the accident by swerving into your lane or rolling the truck over onto your vehicle, you can sue the truck driver’s insurance company.
Trucking Company
You can sue the trucking company if it failed to train its drivers properly or failed to conduct necessary maintenance on its trucks.
Cargo Owner
If cargo in the tractor trailer was loaded improperly, overloaded, or contained illegal toxic substances, the cargo owner could be sued. Such entities could include a shipping company, an oil and gas company, a product manufacturer, or a chemical company.
Municipal/Government Agency
If a wide-turn truck accident was caused by missing guardrails, deep potholes, road debris, poorly lit detours, roadside construction sites, or another aspect of the roadway itself, you might be able to sue the municipality or government agency charged with maintaining and overseeing that interstate, highway, or county road.
Truck Manufacturer
If there is a design or assembly flaw in the semi-trailer that caused the accident, you could sue the truck manufacturer that produced the vehicle. Sometimes manufacturers know there are defects in their trucks but don’t notify regulators or the public.
If you’re curious about who might be named as a defendant in your claim, talk to an experienced truck accident lawyer at Stephenson Rife. We can assess the facts in your case.
Contact a Wide-Turn Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you have been injured or a loved one was killed in a wide-turn truck accident in Indiana or elsewhere, you could be entitled to financial compensation. Truck accidents can be horrific given the size and weight of tractor trailers, dump trucks, and other large trucks. Injuries are often catastrophic and deadly. If you want aggressive, skilled legal representation, look no further than Stephenson Rife. As experienced dump truck accident lawyer, we’ve won millions of dollars in compensation for families traumatized by large truck crashes. To find out more about how we can help you, call us for a free, no-obligation consultation 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 ]
