Hammond Truck Accident Lawyers

If you have been injured in a truck accident, get aggressive help from our Hammond truck accident attorneys.

overview

Truck Accidents

Any traffic accident can be a traumatic and devastating event for those involved. An accident involving a smaller vehicle and a large, commercial truck, however, can be horrific. Because of the enormous size and weight differential, occupants in passenger vehicles can be seriously or catastrophically injured or die when colliding with a truck.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident in or around the greater Hammond area, getting experienced legal representation is imperative. These types of claims are more complex than those involving smaller vehicles, since you will likely be dealing with a commercial trucking company that is subject to both state and federal regulations.

Truck Accident Case Results

3625000

Serious Injuries

Mother and child rear-ended by a concrete truck after school.

900000

Back & Head Injuries

Elderly man hit from behind by dump truck on the interstate.

750000

Back & Neck Injury

Elderly man hit by a commercial truck in a private parking lot.

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help for victims of truck crashes

Hurt In A Truck Accident?

At Anderson Traylor Edwards, our legal team is well-versed in the challenges and complications that can arise in truck accident claims. With 50 years of combined experience to draw on, we know what to do and how to do it in seeking maximum results for our clients.

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how often they happen and who is involved

The Basics of Truck Accidents

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that 4,678 individuals lost their lives in trucking accidents in the U.S. in 2018. This was an increase from 2017 figures. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that most fatalities in truck accidents occur to the occupants of passenger vehicles.

In 2018, passenger vehicle occupants comprised 67 percent of all truck accident fatalities while pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists comprised 15 percent. 74 percent of all truck crash fatalities involved tractor-trailers.

Truck accidents can involve:

18-wheeler tractor trailers

Tankers

Dump trucks

Garbage trucks

Tow trucks

Flatbeds

the most common factors in crashes

What Causes Truck Accidents?

Causes of truck accidents include:

Driver fatigue

Driver distraction, such as texting, adjusting GPS, or other devices

Speeding

Improper lane changes

Tailgating

Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs

Improperly loaded cargo which then shifts or is ejected when stopping or turning

Poorly or improperly trained truck drivers

Poor truck maintenance leading to improperly functioning components

Blind spots, especially when changing lanes which can endanger adjacent vehicles

Severe weather

These causes can lead to a variety of accidents, including:

Jackknifing

Rollovers

Tire or braking crashes due to defects

Wide turns that trap vehicles to the rear and right

Rear-end collisions

Head-on collisions

T-bone crashes

Underride accidents, where smaller vehicles become trapped under a 18-wheeler

What can happen in a truck crash

Common Injuries from Truck Accidents

Massive vehicles such as 18-wheelers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and be 75 feet in length. In comparison, the average weight of a passenger car is 3,000 pounds. Those unfortunate enough to be involved in a crash with a big truck can sustain massive injuries due to the impact of being hit, crushed, or forced off the roadway.

Injuries from truck accidents can include those typical to other motor vehicle accidents, such as whiplash, road rash, sprains, broken bones, severe burns, internal bleeding or organ damage, concussions, loss of limbs, and neck, back, hip, and knee injuries. However, due to the disparity in size and weight between trucks and most other vehicles, there is also a higher risk of catastrophic injury or even death for anyone involved in a truck crash.

determining fault after a truck crash

Who Is Responsible in a Truck Accident?

Various parties may be liable in a truck accident depending on the unique circumstances of the situation.

These can include:

The trucker as an independent contractor

The trucking company, a manufacturer of a defective component part of the truck

The agency that is responsible for inspection and maintenance of the truck

And third parties who may have played a role in the accident

These are often complicated cases that can involve more than one party or entity and both state and federal regulations governing the trucking industry. Investigation and the gathering of evidence as soon as possible is critical in such cases.

Many commercial trucks use “black box” equipment that records information that can be crucial to a case, such as braking and speed data that occurred prior to the crash. This information needs to be documented before it is overwritten and forever lost.

hammond personal injury lawyers

Legal Counsel That Makes a Difference

In the aftermath of a truck accident in which you have been injured, Anderson Traylor Edwards will do everything possible to protect your legal rights and put you in the strongest position possible for a positive result in negotiation or litigation in court. We know how to fight back against insurance company tactics and can use our knowledge, resources, and skills to help you obtain the justice you deserve.