Noblesville Truck Accident Lawyer

Noblesville, Indiana is a city in and the county seat of Hamilton County, located in the suburbs north of Indianapolis. This vibrant and growing city now has a population of more than 60,000 residents and is considered a great place to raise a family. The historic downtown area offers historic roots but with a modern vibe through new restaurants, shops, and public artwork. The city’s highly ranked schools and affordable housing market have earned Noblesville accolades as a desirable place to live in the U.S.

However, due to Noblesville’s proximity to so many state highways, the city is no stranger to truck accidents. If you have been involved in a semi-truck crash, an experienced truck accident attorney at Wilson Kehoe Winingham can help you get fair and full compensation.

Truck Accident Statistics in Noblesville, Indiana

Semi-trucks are an essential element of commerce in the U.S., but they are also a safety concern on our roads. In 2018, the latest data available, there were almost 500,000 trucking accidents in the U.S. Rural areas, such as those surrounding Noblesville, accounted for 57% of truck crashes in terms of location. In Indiana, truck accidents accounted for 10% of all traffic fatalities.

How Are Truck Accidents Different Than Car Accidents?

Given the size and weight of the vehicle involved, trucking accidents are typically much more severe than car accidents. If a semi-truck crashes into a car, especially at highway speeds, severe injuries, or even death, is not an uncommon result. Another difference when a truck is involved in an accident is that there are more potential parties who could be at fault, from the mechanic to a safety inspector, to the team who loaded the cargo. It is essential to work with an experienced truck accident lawyer if you or a loved one has been involved in a crash.

Federal and Indiana Trucking Laws

Trucking companies are subject to a number of federal and state trucking laws they must follow. This is to ensure the safety of both their drivers and the other people on the road. Regulations are in place to guide and monitor the following:

• Weight limits
• Maintenance standards and requirements
• Drivers meeting the requirements of a commercial drivers license
• Safety standards in loading
• Regulations regarding the transport of hazardous materials

If any of these conditions are not met, the experienced truck accident lawyers at WKW will investigate the potentially liable party.

Possible Injuries From Noblesville Truck Accidents

Given the sheer size of an 18 wheeler, accidents involving these trucks tend to be more serious. Injuries caused by semi-truck accidents may include:

• Loss of limb or amputation
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury or paralysis
• Neck and shoulder injuries
• Broken bones
• Burns, cuts, and bruises
• Disfiguration
• Fatalities

Common Truck Accident Causes in Noblesville, IN

Trucks and the trucking industry are complex, with lots of different players in the mix. While the majority of semi-truck accidents are related to an action taken by the semi-driver, there can be other reasons for a crash. These can be maintenance-related or even due to a faulty manufactured part.

Negligence

Most truck accidents are at least in part the fault of the driver. Negligence by the driver can include:

• Driving while drinking or on drugs
• Distracted driving
• Driving too fast for conditions
• Hazardous lane changing
• Tailgating
• Not yielding
• Unsafe driving while in reverse

Fatigue

Driving while fatigued is a very real and serious issue in the trucking world. Even though regulations are in place to limit the number of consecutive hours any driver can work, they remain under pressure to deliver goods in a timely manner. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), truckers are the most likely to operate a vehicle while fatigued.

Mechanical Failures

Semi-trucks are complex vehicles. There are many more components in play that could fail than there are in a typical family-owned car. But trucking companies have a responsibility to make sure their vehicles are up to industry safety standards to protect both their own drivers as well as other road users. If they cut corners to save on costs, serious accidents or even fatalities may result.

Who Is Responsible for Paying Damages?

Accidents involving semi-trucks are more complex than a simpler “fender bender” type car accident, and there is a longer list of potentially liable parties. An experienced Noblesville truck accident lawyer at WKW would pursue every avenue to determine who could be at fault. Semi-trucks are complex machines that require regular maintenance to remain safe on our roads. They also need to be loaded properly or can become unstable. It is not uncommon for damages to be paid by a party who was nowhere near the scene of the accident but played a role in the crash through their actions.

Assigning Fault in a Truck Accident Case

Driver error often plays into the cause of a crash, but there are other potential contributors. Perhaps a mechanic didn’t repair a component correctly or the trucking company didn’t provide adequate training or looked the other way when drivers hit their legal drive time limits. An experienced truck accident attorney will know to look at all aspects of the case.

Noblesville Truck Accident Settlements

Truck accidents typically result in greater damage than car accidents, making these cases more complicated and with more at stake financially. It’s important to know the proper steps to take to ensure a full and fair settlement.

Without the help of a truck accident attorney from WKW, you run the risk of not negotiating to get maximum compensation. Trucking companies have teams of lawyers working for them and their job is to push as low of a settlement number as possible to make your case go away. WKW truck accident lawyers take every factor of the circumstances into account and look at both damages that have been incurred as well as future damages that could be negotiated for. If you go it alone, you are very likely to leave money on the table that could have been awarded to you.

How Much Is My Truck Accident Settlement Worth?

It’s impossible for any truck accident lawyer to offer a ballpark value of your case without first learning more details and doing some investigation. The Noblesville truck accident lawyers at Wilson Kehoe Winingham will run a full investigation of your accident, leaving no stone unturned as to any potential causes of the accident. Truck accidents often cause severe injuries, with higher dollar amounts at stake.

Possible Recoverable Damages

The main types of compensation granted following a truck accident are economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are quantifiable damages you have incurred or lost due to the accident. Examples include medical expenses, loss of wages and/or loss of earning capacity, or property damage.

Non-economic damages are injuries that impact your quality of life. These may include pain and suffering, loss of companionship, or trauma.

In rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded, but only in cases where an act of “gross negligence” can be proven, such as driving while under the influence.

Choosing the Right Truck Accident Law Firm to Represent You

The main priority in selecting a lawyer to work with you is to find someone with relevant experience in your particular case. If you’ve been in a crash with an 18 wheeler, you want to work with a lawyer who is not new to this type of law. You also want to find someone with whom you have a good rapport, as the case may take a while to complete. Lastly, be wary of any attorney who asks for money upfront. Most truck accident lawyers will only accept a portion of the settlement amount as payment.

Fighting for Compensation Against Large Trucking Companies

Negotiating with trucking companies is no easy task. Most will have a team of in-house lawyers who are first and foremost trained to protect corporate profits. They will try a number of tactics to keep the settlement offer as low as possible. Do not fall for their ruse. The truck accident attorneys at WKW have fought for their Noblesville clients for decades and know how to secure the largest and most complete settlements possible. Our truck accident lawyers also have significant litigation experience if a settlement cannot be reached and your case goes to trial.

Wilson Kehoe Winingham: Noblesville Truck Accident Representation You Can Trust

The Noblesville, Indiana truck accident lawyers at Wilson Kehoe Winingham are experienced and here to support you or a loved one through the stress that follows a truck accident. We limit the number of cases we take on so each and every client gets the attention they deserve. We’ll put our firm’s experience and resources to work for you, allowing you to focus on healing. Partner with an experienced firm you can trust for optimal results.