Trucking Company Negligence Lawyer in Indianapolis, IN
Were you injured in a truck accident in Indianapolis that wasn’t your fault? The semi-truck driver and the trucking company that employs the driver may be financially responsible for your injuries. Trucking companies are required to employ qualified commercial drivers and maintain their fleets of tractor-trailers in safe operating conditions. When they fail to fulfill these requirements, they should be held accountable for the harm caused.
The experienced Indianapolis truck accident attorneys of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC can determine who should be held financially responsible for your injuries and demand just compensation. Our attorneys have handled hundreds of truck accident cases. We understand that no amount of money can undo what has happened to you. But we firmly believe that a settlement can help relieve the financial, physical, and emotional burden of your injuries and help you move forward with your life.
You deserve justice for a truck accident caused by a trucking company’s disregard for safety. Let us help you demand it. Contact Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC today for a free case review with one of our Indianapolis truck accident lawyers.
What To Do Right After an Indianapolis Accident Due to Trucking Company Negligence
After an Indianapolis truck accident, you must move quickly to protect your right to seek compensation from a negligent trucking company. In our experience, you should take the following steps as soon as possible:
- Get medical attention– Truck accidents inflict devastating injuries on victims. Emergency medical services usually respond to the scene of a truck accident. If you do not require emergency medical care, then you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Delaying medical attention could put your health in jeopardy. By seeking medical attention, you create a verifiable record of your injuries and their connection to the accident.
- Be wary of the company’s representatives– After an accident involving a semi, a trucking company’s representative, such as an insurance agent, may contact you. Their goal is to help the company avoid responsibility for the accident or limit the company’s liability. They will look for evidence or statements that shift the blame away from the truck driver and trucking company. You should decline to answer their questions and refer them to your lawyer.
- Consult a lawyer– You need to focus your strength on recovering your health, not on battling with insurance companies. That’s why you should consult a personal injury lawyer immediately after the accident. A knowledgeable attorney can ease your burden and improve your chances of securing compensation from the trucking company.
- Keep all records– Evidence is the key to holding a negligent trucking company accountable. Keep all records and correspondence from the hospital, your doctor, your insurance company, the trucking company’s insurance company, and the company’s lawyer. All these documents could become evidence in your case.
- Start a pain journal– Truck accident injuries can be excruciating, and you can seek compensation for this pain and suffering. Keeping a journal of your progress and setbacks throughout your recovery can help your attorney show your pain and suffering.
- Stay off social media– You may be used to frequently posting on social media, but we would encourage you to take a break and refrain from posting anything during your recovery. Insurance companies will scour your social media accounts, looking for posts that undercut your claim. It’s best to take a break from social media.
Why Choose Craig, Kelley & Faultless To Handle Your Indianapolis Trucking Company Negligence Case?
Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC was founded in 1999 on the belief that accident victims deserve compassionate, experienced, and strong legal representation. With decades of combined legal experience on our team, we have the knowledge and resources to fight the big trucking companies and their insurance companies for the compensation you deserve.
You don’t have to take our word for it. Hear directly from our satisfied clients how we helped them through some of the most challenging times in their lives.
What Are Recoverable Damages in an Accident Due to Trucking Company Negligence?
When a truck driver or company causes you harm, you can seek compensation from them for your accident-related losses. With the assistance of a lawyer, you may demand compensation for the following:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages during your recovery
- Loss of future earning capacity if your injuries result in a long-term disability
- Property losses, such as vehicle repairs or replacement
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of quality of life
What Is the Time Limit To File Lawsuits Due to Trucking Company Negligence?
Under Indiana’s statute of limitations, injured people have two years from the date of a truck accident to file a lawsuit. Two years might seem like plenty of time to file a lawsuit, but truck accident cases require significant investigation, preparation, and work because of their complexity. In two years, you and your attorney will need to:
- Investigate the accident
- Gather evidence
- Identify and interview eyewitnesses
- Request key records, such as driving records
- Analyze the evidence and identify the liable party
- Identify applicable insurance policies
- Write a demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurance company
- Negotiate with the insurance company
- Prepare a lawsuit against the at-fault party if the insurer refuses to agree to a fair settlement
You could weaken your case if you wait too long to start the process. If the trucking company knows the two-year statute of limitations is approaching, it could try to delay a settlement until the filing deadline has passed. Without the threat of a lawsuit, the trucking company and their insurers will have less incentive to settle your case. Do not delay contacting a truck accident attorney to explore your legal options.
How Is Liability Determined in a Truck Accident Due to Company Negligence?
Trucking accidents are complex because many different entities are typically involved, including the trucking company, driver, manufacturer, and maintenance company. Determining liability when so many different parties are involved is more complicated and time-consuming. The lawyers at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC know how to collect an array of evidence and use it to build a compelling case of trucking company negligence.
To prepare a personal injury case based on trucking company negligence, our attorneys will investigate the accident and collect critical evidence, such as:
- Photos and videos of the accident
- Medical records
- Company employment records
- Drug and alcohol testing records
- Driving records
- Eyewitness testimony
- Expert testimony
- Truck’s event data recorder
- Truck maintenance records
Trucking companies will often attempt to prevent victims’ attorneys from accessing evidence, sometimes moving a wrecked truck out of state quickly to limit investigators’ access to it. We have encountered this situation. That’s why you need to hire an experienced, aggressive lawyer as soon as possible who can act quickly to secure essential evidence in your case before it is lost or destroyed.
How Our Attorneys Can Help with Your Indianapolis Truck Accident Case
After a truck accident, you need to focus on your health and well-being, not a legal case. That’s how our attorneys can help. We will devote our considerable resources to pursuing a negligent trucking company for compensation for your injuries. We’ll take your case to court if necessary.
With a dedicated and Indianapolis truck accident attorney on your side, you have a much better chance of going up against powerful trucking companies.
Most Common Negligent Hiring Practices Among Trucking Companies
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires companies to screen and train their drivers before putting them behind the wheel of a big rig. Many of the federal regulations have been adopted by the State of Indiana as well. Unfortunately, many companies fail to uphold their responsibilities. Some of the most common negligent hiring practices among trucking companies include the following:
- Failure to perform background checks– Trucking companies must run background checks on their employees to search for past offenses that may disqualify them from driving a truck. For example, suppose a company hires a driver who previously was convicted of operating a commercial motor vehicle while intoxicated. In that case, the company could be liable for an accident caused by the employee.
- Failure to check employees’ driving records – Trucking companies must check a new driver’s record in each state where they held a driver’s license in the previous three years. If a trucking company fails to review a driver’s records or ignores a record that should have disqualified the driver, the company could be liable for an accident caused by the employee.
- Failure to perform drug and alcohol testing– All new drivers must be tested for drugs and alcohol before beginning work. If a company fails to implement testing or ignores a test that shows drug or alcohol use, the company could be liable for an accident that occurs due to this negligence.
- Failure to verify commercial driver’s license– All truck drivers must obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) issued by their state or jurisdiction, which typically involves passing a knowledge and skills test. If a company fails to require the driver to have a valid CDL, it could be responsible for an accident caused by an unlicensed employee.
- Failure to require completion of entry-level driver training– The FMCSA establishes a baseline for training requirements for entry-level truck drivers. Failure to require this training from its drivers could expose the company to liability.
- Failure to require a medical examiner’s certificate– Truck drivers must be healthy enough to perform the job and receive a medical examiner’s certificate stating the driver is healthy. Hiring an unhealthy employee to drive a truck would expose the company to liability.
Schedule a Free Case Review with Our Experienced Indianapolis Trucking Company Negligence Attorneys
If you suspect a trucking company’s disregard for safety may have caused your injuries, contact Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC immediately. We can act quickly to seek evidence that demonstrates the company’s liability and pursue the compensation you need. Call our Indianapolis trucking company negligence attorneys right now for a free case review.