National and local truck companies send their large commercial trucks across Indiana roadways daily. Given the volume of truck traffic in Indiana, accidents involving trucks frequently occur. For example, one type of accident that can happen is a truck rollover accident. If such an accident leaves you injured, you will need an Indiana truck rollover accident attorney. 

How Do Truck Rollover Accidents Occur in Indiana?

To answer that question, it helps to know that a big rig, also known as a semi-truck, tractor-trailer or an 18-wheeler, weighs about 35,000 pounds hooked up to an empty trailer. Moreover, fully loaded big rigs can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. In comparison, passenger cars weigh 2,000 to 3,500 pounds. Also, a big rig will usually be the tallest vehicle on a highway.

Interestingly, a study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration examined 239 large truck rollover accidents. Notably, the study found the failure of the driver to adjust his speed to meet the road conditions caused truck rollover accidents. For example, speeding while going into a curve caused rollover accidents. Not slowing down on a slippery road is another example. The study found this driver error caused almost half the accidents.

Other Causes of Truck Rollover Accidents

Correspondingly, the other causes for truck rollovers the study found were:

• Inattention – A driver not paying attention to the road, distracted, dozing, etc.
• Oversteering – The driver goes leaves the lane and oversteers to get back
• Problems relating to the cargo – If the shipping company did not properly secure the cargo, the cargo can shift. This can alter the truck’s center of gravity, leading to a rollover

As can be seen from above, truck driver error primarily causes truck rollover accidents. However, other drivers who cut off a truck or otherwise cause the truck driver to steer quickly can cause rollovers.

Does This Sound Like Your Accident?

A Jeep Cherokee is traveling on Rt. 65 behind an 18-wheeler. The Jeep, in a line of cars, follows the 18-wheeler onto an exit ramp. As the ramp curves to the right, the 18-wheeler fails to follow the curve. Instead, he goes on the shoulder of the road. As it almost hits the divider, the 18-wheeler sharply turns back onto the exit lane. However, the trailer sways. Thus, the 18-wheeler falls on its side, landing on the divider. 

As a result, the Jeep driver slams on her brakes to avoid hitting the cab.  However, the cab had come to a stop. It was now blocking the exit lane. The Jeep hit the back of the truck. As a result of the rollover, a series of rear-end collisions occurred.

Unfortunately, several drivers in the collisions suffered soft tissue and whiplash injuries. 

What Should You Do if You Get in a Truck Rollover Accident in Indiana?

 The first thing you should do is make sure you are safe. Then, if you can safely, take pictures of your car and the truck before moving your car.

In any event, if a truck rollover accident leaves you injured, you should immediately seek medical care. Remember, there are many types of injuries which may not appear to be serious at first. However, they can later develop serious symptoms. Therefore, if you are hurt, even slightly, see a doctor as soon as you can. In addition, if an ambulance comes to the accident scene, do not refuse medical treatment. Moreover, be sure you describe all of your injuries and give an accurate description of how the accident happened.

What to Do in an Indiana Truck Rollover Accident

Take pictures of the accident scene. Also, get pictures of the damage to the cars and truck involved in the accident. 

Additionally, if there are skid marks from the accident, take pictures of them.

Get the names,phone numbers and addresses of the other drivers involved in the accident. Exchange license and insurance information. If there were witnesses to the accident, get their contact information. 

Lastly, make sure someone called the police. You will need a copy of the police report for your insurance company. Give the police a brief but accurate description of how the accident happened. Get the police officer’s name and badge number. Ask the police officer if you can read his report of the accident. You will want to make sure he accurately wrote what you told him.

You should call your insurance company to report the accident in the next day or two. Give them a brief description of the accident. 

Do Not Discuss Your Accident With The Truck Driver’s Insurance Company Until You Talk to an Indiana Truck Rollover Accident Attorney

If the accident left you with injuries, you may get a call from the truck driver’s insurance company in a few days. Your car insurance policy requires you to report the accident to your insurance company. However, there is no rule that you have to speak to the other driver’s insurance company. They may want to make an offer to you to settle your injury claim. However,do not accept any offer until you talk to an experienced Indiana truck rollover accident attorney. Remember, insurance companies are not in the business to pay money out to injured people. Thus, they are in the business to collect insurance premiums and pay out as little as possible in claims. Moreover, you can bet the insurance adjustor for the truck driver’s insurance company wants to pay you as little as possible to settle.

Above all, talk to an Indiana truck rollover accident lawyer first. 

Lastly, DO NOT ADMIT FAULT TO ANYONE. That includes the police, medical responders and the truck driver. Remember, even if you think you did something wrong, a mechanical failure about which you did not know could have caused the accident. Or the actions of another driver you did not see could have caused the rollover accident.

Why You Need an Indiana Truck Rollover Accident Attorney If  a Truck Rollover Accident Left You Injured

 If a truck rollover accident injured you, immediately call an Indiana truck rollover accident attorney. Indiana has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. As a result, you have to sue within two years of the accident if you can’t settle with the insurance company for the truck driver.

However, you may need an experienced Indiana truck rollover accident lawyer to immediately investigate the accident.

First, witnesses to the accident will have to be located and interviewed.

Second, if there were multiple vehicles involved in the accident, the actions of each of the other drivers will have to be examined. 

Third, if road conditions contributed to the accident, experts may have to be retained to examine the accident scene.  They can determine if the excessive curvature of a road or exit/entrance ramp caused the accident

Lastly, most commercial trucks have “black boxes” similar to an airplane. If you are in an accident with a commercial truck, your attorney can get the data on the black box downloaded. For example, the data on the box will show what the speed of the truck was before the accident. In addition, it will show whether and when the driver applied the brakes. Morover, the data will show if the truck was on cruise control at the time of the accident, among other information.

You Need an Indiana Rollover Truck Accident Attorney

So, as you can see from the above, the accident you get in may require a great deal of work. As a result, an experienced Indiana truck rollover accident attorney will collect all relevan evidence. That evidence will be used toconvince the truck driver’s insurance company to settle on favorable terms. Or, if the truck driver’s insurance company is being unreasonable, to convince a jury to make a favorable damage award.

In short, if a truck rollover accident in Indiana left you injured, get an experienced Indiana truck rollover accident attorney as soon as you can. 

Who Can be Held Liable if You Are Injured in an Indiana Truck Rollover Accident?

 We can hold multiple parties liable for injuries you receive in an Indiana truck rollover accident:

Truck driver-If the truck driver was speeding or otherwise driving recklessly, anyone injured in a truck rollover accident can hold the truck driver liable. Likewise, a fatigued or intoxicated driver can cause a truck rollover accident. In that instance, injured parties can hold him accountable

Owner of the Truck-Injured persons can hold the truck owner liable for the negligent actions of his employee truck driver

Shipping Company-As noted above, improperly secured cargo can shift, causing the truck’s center of gravity to move. As a result, a truck rollover accident occurs

And Do Not Forget Other Motorists

Motorists may drive negligently and cause the tractor-trailer to turn or stop suddenly. As a result, a truck rollover accident can happen. Consequently, you can hold them liable for your injuries 

In brief, every truck rollover accident is unique. An experienced Indiana truck rollover accident attorney will know how to investigate the accident. Furthermore, she will preserve evidence and hire an expert to examine the truck or reconstruct the accident itself to determine where fault lies. 

What Kind of Injuries do People Get in Indiana Truck Rollover Accidents?

Soft tissue/whiplash-Repeatedly, we see soft tissue injuries occurring in a truck rollover accident. As a matter of fact, such injuries can range from being a nagging injury to one that leaves you bedridden

Bone fracture-Frequently, a truck rollover accident can mean broken bones to the occupants of the car rear-ended. Generally, truck rollover accidents injure car passengers because of the size and weight of the truck

Concussions-In many instances, a truck rollover accident can also result in concussions to the car’s occupants. Again, the size and weight of the truck can severely jostle the car passengers. At the same time, their heads may strike the interior of the car

Wrongful death-Unfortunately, truck rollover accidents can result in the death of car occupants. Again, given the size and weight of large trucks, wrongful death claims are not unusual

Other common injuries in a truck rollover accident are:

• Shoulder, back and neck sprains/strains
• Burns
• Internal organs
• Traumatic brain injury
• Amputations
• Spinal cord/paralysis

The trucks that roll over can are large and carry significant loads. Therefore, rollover accidents involving large trucks can lead to major injuries, leading up to death. Likewise, serious injuries in a truck rollover accident can mean hospitalization and multiple follow-up visits to a doctor. Of course, treatment for some injuries above will likely require a course of physical therapy 

Experienced Indiana Truck Rollover Accident Lawyer

In conclusion, if a truck rollover accident injures you or a loved one, you need an experienced Indiana truck rollover accident attorney. As you can see from the above, an accident involving a large truck is probably more complicated that an accident involving passenger cars. First, we will investigate the accident. Then we will determine who caused the accident. Lastly, we fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us at our Hammond office at 219-200-2000 or online at alexmendozalaw.com for a free consultation.