Interstate 65 Truck Accident Attorney

Interstate 65 is one of Indiana’s busiest highways and one of several principal interstates that intersect at Indianapolis. It is a heavily-traveled route for commercial trucks because it links metropolitan areas in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana with Chicago. As a commercial truck route, I-65 is a hotspot for truck accidents. According to the Indiana University Public Policy Institute, nearly 80 percent of fatal commercial truck accidents in Indiana in one recent year occurred on the state’s highways.

If you have been injured in a truck accident on I-65 that was not your fault, you may have a right to seek compensation for your medical bills and other accident-related expenses. The interstate truck accident attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC are ready to help.

For more than 30 years, our dedicated personal injury lawyers have advocated for the rights of injured people in Indiana and helped our clients seek just compensation for their medical bills, lost income, and more. We are prepared to use our legal skills to hold the truck driver, trucking company, or other at-fault parties liable for your injuries. Because our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, you will not owe us any legal fee unless we succeed in securing compensation for you through an insurance settlement or court award.

Contact our office for a free case review with a knowledgeable semi-truck accident lawyer.

Congestion and road conditions lead to more I-65 truck accident fatalities

I-65 is one of the most-traveled highways in the state. In 2011, Indiana’s Department of Transportation reported the following numbers of daily commuters that travel the Interstate, by county:

39,700 vehicles in Tippecanoe County
33.900 vehicles in Jasper County
33,800 vehicles in White County
36,800 vehicles in Clinton County
51,300 vehicles in Boone County

The increasing number of travelers causes the roads to deteriorate more quickly and affects driving patterns. For example, one commuter expressed his frustration with trucks taking up two lanes at once or using the passing lane to remain on adequate pavement. A civil engineer further noted that when roads require repair work, lanes close down, which can actually lead to further chaos and more accidents.

What To Do if You Are in an Accident on I-65 in Indiana Today

The actions you take in the immediate aftermath of a truck accident on I-65 can affect the outcome of your claim. To protect your health and your legal rights, you should take as many of the following steps as possible:

Call 911 – Dial 911 to report the accident and summon law enforcement and emergency medical services. You need to see a doctor after the crash to have your injuries diagnosed and treated. Your medical records may be helpful evidence as you pursue compensation. Ask the officer who investigates the truck accident how you can obtain a copy of the official accident report and when it will be available.
Get the contact information of the truck driver– If your injuries permit, talk to the truck driver to get their name, phone number, commercial driver’s license number, license plate number, and insurance information. Be sure to get the name and contact information of their employer. If other motorists or road users were involved in the crash, get their information, too. If a driver is uncooperative about exchanging information, the police will obtain the information.
Document the crash scene – Take pictures of the accident scene if you can. Try to capture images of vehicle damage, injuries, skid marks on the road, and any conditions that might have contributed to the accident, such as loose gravel, potholes, or other road hazards. You should also speak to any eyewitnesses to the accident.
Save your medical bills and other receipts – Keep any statements you receive from the hospital or your doctor. Gather pay stubs and tax returns. Keep receipts for any repair bills and other expenses you incur because of the crash. These records can be helpful when determining the appropriate amount of compensation to seek.
Stay off social media – Do not post anything about the accident or your injuries on social media until your case has been resolved. Insurance companies often look at social media accounts seeking evidence to undermine claims about the severity of injuries.
Do not give any statements to insurance companies – Do not speak to any insurers without speaking to a lawyer first. Insurance adjusters work to minimize the amount paid in claims to protect the insurers’ bottom line.
Hire an Indiana truck accident attorney – Commercial truck accident cases are more complicated to investigate and resolve than other kinds of motor vehicle accidents. You will want to work with an attorney who has experience handling them.

Determining Fault in a Truck Accident on I-65

Determining who is at fault for a truck accident can be complicated. Multiple parties and entities are involved in the ownership and operation of a large commercial truck. Each may be financially liable if their actions contributed to the crash. Some of the parties who could be at fault in a truck accident on I-65 include:

The truck driver – If a truck driver’s actions cause a crash in which you are injured, the driver may be held accountable for your injuries and related losses.
The trucking company – Trucking companies are responsible for the actions of their employees. Commercial transportation companies are required to hire qualified commercial drivers and monitor them for potentially dangerous behavior. If a trucking company fails to fulfill its obligations and leaves a dangerous driver on the highway, the company may be liable for a resulting crash.
Cargo loaders – A truck’s cargo must be balanced and properly secured to minimize the chance of it shifting in transit which could shift a truck’s center of gravity and cause an accident. If improperly loaded cargo contributes to an accident, the owner of the trailer or the company responsible for loading the trailer that put it onto the truck could be partially to blame.
Parts manufacturers – If a defective or malfunctioning part causes a loss of control that results in a collision, the manufacturer of that part could be liable.
Maintenance crews – Trucks must be meticulously maintained to ensure they are safe on the road, and maintenance crews can be liable for a crash if they fail to keep the truck in good working order.

How Can You Avoid a Semi-Truck Accident on I-65?

Here are a few tips to reduce your chances of being involved in a semi-truck accident on I-65:

Do not linger in a truck’s blind spots. A tractor-trailer has blind spots on all four sides in which a truck driver may be unable to see other nearby vehicles The blind spots extend diagonally back from the truck’s cab on the driver side and passenger side.
Do not follow directly behind a truck.
Allow trucks extra space when driving near trucks in bad weather.
If the truck is moving erratically, back off and call 911.
Use your signals when turning, passing, or merging near a truck.
Never try to pass a truck on the right.

Common Causes of Truck Crashes on I-65

Some common causes of truck accidents on I-65 include:

Distracted driving
Drunk truck driver
Fatigued driving
Speeding
Tailgating
Weaving through traffic
Not using turn signals
Failure to check blind spots
Aggressive lane changes
Broken or defective parts
Unsecured cargo
Bad weather
Poor road conditions
Impaired driving

Schedule a Free Case Review with Our Experienced Semi-Truck Accident Lawyers

If you were injured in an interstate truck accident on I-65 in Indiana, you may be trying to recover from serious injuries and facing financial stress from medical bills. You should talk to a knowledgeable I-65 accident lawyer about your legal rights. You may be entitled to seek compensation for the injuries you have suffered. The legal team at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC is prepared to help you pursue justice and just compensation. Contact our office to speak with an experienced semi-truck accident lawyer during a free case review.