Truck accidents are generally devastating as they leave victims with severe physical injuries, emotional trauma, and heavy financial burdens. In the worst-case scenario, these accidents may lead to long-term physical disabilities, paralysis, or the death of a loved one. The professionals at Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys understand what these victims and their families are going through, and we sympathize with them. This is exactly why we want to help victims recover compensation for their losses and recover financially. In order to do this, we offer comprehensive legal assistance and are willing to go to war for you to ensure you get the justice you deserve. If you want an experienced law firm to fight for your rights, contact our Indianapolis truck accident lawyer.
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What Our Clients Have To Say
I have worked with Schuerger Shunnarah twice and they have been very helpful on my personal injury cases. They went above and beyond my expectations and did a great job both times.
- Ashley C.
Schuerger Shunnarah helped me receive a settlement on my case in just months. I was treated with respect and dignity. Thanks to their help, I have been able to get my life back to normal.
- Michael S.
They provided me with excellent service throughout my personal injury case. They were available to answer my questions and helped me understand the process. I am very grateful for them!
- Deshawn B.
Should You File a Claim After a Truck Accident?
Many people contemplate whether to hire an Indianapolis truck accident attorney or not; however, there shouldn't even be a second thought! Truck accident victims are generally overwhelmed with their injuries and the costs of the crash. Therefore, they need compensation to be able to move on from the tragic event.
People generally file these claims to cover the expenses they incurred because of the negligent driver. By filing a claim, they are able to hold the at-fault party accountable for their actions and protect themselves against financial ruin.
Damages that victims will be able to claim when filing a case include:
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Property damage
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Medical bills
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Pain and suffering
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Emotional distress
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Physical therapy
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Lost wages
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And more
If you've suffered serious injuries because of someone else's negligence, you need to contact an experienced truck accident attorney from Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys. We help our clients get the care and compensation they deserve so that they don't have to suffer anymore. Contact us today or fill in the online form to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our compassionate attorneys.
What Are the Leading Causes of Truck Accidents?
Indiana's traffic congestion, construction on the roads, and hazardous weather can make travel challenging. Therefore, drivers need to constantly be on guard, especially truck drivers.
When a truck driver is careless, these scenarios become even riskier. Commercial vehicles have a limited ability to escape danger due to its size. Human error is often to blame for truck accidents.
The following are a few of the most common causes of truck accidents:
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Distracted driving
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Speeding
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Driving under the influence
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Driver fatigue
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Truck driver negligence
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Mechanical failure
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Unreasonable commercial demands for deliveries
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Poorly maintained or designed streets and highways
Key Reasons to Not Delay in Hiring an Indianapolis Truck Accident Lawyer from Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys
A victim's compensation is strongly influenced by the evidence they gather. The likelihood that evidence from an Indiana truck accident will vanish grows over time. The sooner the victim retains the services of an Indianapolis truck accident lawyer, the sooner a law office can gather the proof necessary to uphold their right to justice.
Even while most truck accident lawsuits in Indiana must be filed within two years, the evidence in the case might not last as long. Important physical and digital evidence could disappear, deteriorate, or be removed. As such, it is crucial that injured persons gather proof as soon as possible. Our commercial truck accident attorneys can assist with this.
Furthermore, our truck accident lawyer will work tirelessly to ensure all medical reports, expert opinions, and witness testimonies are obtained and presented appropriately as crucial evidence. This generally has a major impact on the outcomes of cases, so it needs to be handled by an experienced and caring truck accident attorney.
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The Most Common Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents
Accidents involving semi-trucks, box trucks, and other commercial trucks are generally more severe than collisions because of the size and weight of the trucks. The most common injuries sustained in accidents involving large trucks include:
Head or Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and other head traumas are common among truck accident victims. TBIs typically result from a hard hit to the head, which can cause trauma ranging from minor to catastrophic.
Other common head injuries are:
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Concussions
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Skull fractures
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Hemorrhages
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Hematomas
Some of the signs that victims might be suffering from a brain injury include:
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Seizures
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Persistent headache
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Constant nausea or vomiting
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Inability to wake up
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Dilation of the pupils
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Loss of consciousness
Memory loss, disorientation, motor problems, difficulty concentrating, aggression, speech impairments, depression, and mood swings are just a few of the psychological and behavioral issues that brain injuries can cause.
Neck and Back Injuries
The occupants of the smaller car may have soft tissue injuries such as whiplash, pinched nerves, ruptured discs, fractured vertebrae, etc., when a huge truck and a passenger vehicle collide. In order for victims to experience the best potential recovery from many of these injuries, considerable medical attention, rehabilitation, and medication are necessary. The worst neck and back injuries could result in permanent impairments.
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries from these accidents. It occurs when the impact causes the neck to snap back, much like a whip. This sudden movement can rip tendons, muscles, and ligaments in the neck and shoulders, causing chronic pain and a restricted range of motion. Victims will generally start to feel the effects of whiplash days or weeks after a truck accident.
Broken Bones
Truck accidents commonly result in broken bones, especially to the limbs, ribs, skull, and vertebrae. Fractures generally happen when passengers take a hard hit or get trapped inside their cars after a collision.
Many bone fractures require surgery, and it may take weeks or months for them to heal completely. Physical therapy sessions may also be necessary as part of the victim's recovery.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
The spinal cord is an essential component of the body's nervous system, carrying messages from the brain to the other parts of the central nervous system that are critical. Life-altering complications may arise from severe spinal cord injuries. A spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause loss of vital physiological functions and partial or complete paralysis.
The four most common spinal cord injuries include:
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Thoracic SCI
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Cervical SCI
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Sacral SCI
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Lumbar SCI
Internal Injuries
After a truck collision, internal injuries or internal organ damage may not always be visible, which is why getting immediate medical attention is crucial. An internal injury might be fatal if it is not treated.
The following are some of the most common internal injuries victims suffer from:
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Brain bleeding
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Internal bleeding
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Abdominal aortic aneurysm
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Punctured lungs - this is often caused by broken ribs
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Organ damage to the kidneys, liver, spleen, or diaphragm
When the victim's body slams into something in the car, blunt force trauma, which often results in internal injuries, happens. These wounds can cause a wide range of symptoms, including confusion, weakness, breathing problems, weariness, discomfort, chills, pale complexion, and blood in the urine or vomit.
Lacerations
Truck accident victims may sustain scrapes, cuts, and skin lacerations if they are exposed to broken glass, debris, and other objects. Usually, laceration wounds need to be cleaned and treated medically to avoid infection. Deep wounds from a truck accident might be fatal if not attended to.
Burn Injuries
Burn injuries often result from exposure to fire or hazardous chemicals in truck accidents and may cause persistent agony and permanent disfigurement.
These injuries are classified in terms of its severity:
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First-degree burns usually heal on their own as they only affect the top layer of skin.
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Second-degree burns affect the top two layers of skin and are more severe. Medical intervention is beneficial.
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Third-degree burns often cause scarring, tissue death, and nerve damage. They are the most severe types of burns and require long-term medical care. Doctors generally treat these burns with pain medication, skin grafts, and antibiotics.
Rib and Torso Injuries
The following injuries often result from blunt force trauma:
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Soft-tissue damage
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Fractured or broken ribs
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Flail chest - this is when multiple ribs detach from the rib cage and float without any skeletal support
Wrongful Death in Truck Accidents
Unfortunately, a lot of truck accidents result in death. The family of the deceased person may file a wrongful death claim against the party at fault if their loved one was killed in a truck accident as a result of the negligence of another party. Family members may receive compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit for funeral and burial costs, pre-death medical bills, lost future income, and non-economic losses, including loss of consortium.
Client Testimonial
They were polite and really cared throughout the entire process and made me feel like my case was important. I would highly recommend them to anyone that didn’t get a fair offer from the insurance company like me!
- Brian D.
Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident?
Determining liability in a truck accident case isn't always as simple as it seems. With so many different causes and consequences, the answer isn't always as simple or straightforward as it seems.
Generally, the following parties can be held completely or partially liable for a trucking accident:
The Truck Driver
If the truck driver was driving under the influence, driving while distracted, not resting in terms of federal regulations, speeding, or breaking the rules of the road, they may be held liable for the crash.
While truck drivers have demanding jobs, it's crucial that they stay alert and sober when they're behind the wheel.
The Trucking Company
When trucking companies don't allow its drivers to rest, fail to perform preventative maintenance, or conduct regular inspections, they're putting the lives of others at risk. Many owners of truck companies are only focused on the company's profits, so they pressurize the truck drivers to speed or drive in unsafe conditions.
If this is the case, the truck company may be held liable for any collisions.
The Truck Manufacturer
If it is found that the truck had defective parts, such as faulty brakes or tires, at the time of the accident, the manufacturer could be held accountable.
Local Municipalities
If the truck collision was caused by poor road conditions, sign or light malfunctions, etc., the entity responsible for the road will be held responsible.
Other Drivers on the Road
Many times truck accidents occur because of more than one party. If other drivers also contributed to the accident, their claim will be impacted by their degree of fault.
The Goods Distributor
Most of the time, another firm will hire a trucking company to transport certain goods. If this goods distributor failed to issue proper safety precautions for flammable materials or balanced or secured loads improperly, they should be held liable for the incident.
The Maintenance Provider
If the maintenance provider failed to identify and fix any issues with the truck, used substandard parts, or had poor workmanship, they can be sued.
When victims choose one of our knowledgeable Indianapolis truck accident lawyers to handle their claims, they are choosing a law office that will investigate how the accident happened. Finding out who is responsible and why is our top priority. We take the success of our clients' cases extremely seriously and will work tirelessly so that they end up with the maximum compensation possible.
Indiana Truck Accident Information Center
How Our Experienced Indianapolis Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help Victims
Our Indianapolis truck accident lawyer can help victims heal from the trauma of a truck accident in a number of ways. A few of the things our attorneys will do to ensure our clients' rights are protected include:
Gathering Supporting Evidence
In order to establish negligence, it's crucial to gather sufficient evidence. We understand that proving a case can be difficult, which is why we try to obtain the following to build a compelling case:
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The police report
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Video footage
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The vehicle's black box data
Additionally, we will interview witnesses, review photos of the accident scene, discuss the case with any necessary experts, and use forensic evidence to prove the cause of the truck accident.
Calculating the Total Value of Damages of Our Clients' Claims
We want victims to be compensated for all their losses—past, present, and future—in full. This entails going over all the invoices, bills, and receipts relating to the injury. We will consider the following factors to assess the value of non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering):
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The cost of any financial losses
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The severity of the condition and its impact on the victim's life
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Time spent away from work
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Quality of life and mobility
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The injured person's ability to pursue their hobbies and care for minor children.
One of the benefits of Indiana law for injured victims is that it does not limit the amount of non-economic damages in truck accident cases. If you want to know more about this, our Indianapolis truck accident attorney will be happy to explain it to you.
Filing the Insurance Claim
The first step in recovering compensation is filing an insurance claim. Therefore, we'll send the at-fault party a "demand letter" detailing the cause of the accident, the amount the victim is requesting, and the severity of the injuries sustained.
Once we have sent this, the insurance company will be open to negotiations. During this stage, we'll work out an agreement that's beneficial for both parties. However, if the at-fault party and their insurance company don't want to cooperate, we'll file a civil lawsuit.
In terms of the statute of limitations, victims have two years from the date of the collision to file a lawsuit. Furthermore, our experienced truck accident lawyer will be there to assist you every step of the way.
Representing Clients in Court
Unfortunately, negotiations aren't always successful. If this is the case, our Indianapolis truck accident lawyer will help victims take legal action to ensure our clients receive a fair court-awarded offer.
A few of the things our compassionate truck accident lawyers will do include:
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Representing clients before a judge and jury
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Taking care of all the paperwork associated with going to court
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Protect your legal rights
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Abiding by all necessary deadlines
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Interviewing witnesses
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Keeping clients updated on the progression of their case
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Communicating with the other party's legal team
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Presenting the cost of present and future costs associated with the trucking accident
Get a Free Case Evaluation from Our Truck Accident Attorneys Today
The dedicated and compassionate lawyers at Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys have had years of experience when it comes to truck accident cases. Therefore, we're ready to fight on behalf of victims to ensure they get the compensation they deserve. Healing from a traumatic accident is never easy; however, by holding the responsible party accountable and obtaining fair compensation, it is easier to get back to normal life.
Our Indianapolis truck accident attorneys evaluate and prepare each case carefully to ensure we can negotiate aggressively to obtain the maximum compensation our clients are entitled to.
If you're ready to fight for justice, contact Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys today or fill in the online quote form, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. Our team of experienced lawyers is ready to go to war for you!