Hammond IN Truck Accidents Attorney
Lake County Personal Injury Lawyer Representing Tractor-Trailer Crash Victims
Truck accidents can have devastating consequences, and it is frequently due to the size and weight of the vehicles involved. These crashes often lead to severe injuries, property damage, and fatalities. If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident in Hammond, Indiana, seeking legal representation from an experienced attorney is crucial. At Kadzai Law Group, LLC, our dedicated team will fight for your rights and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Qualified Truck Accident Attorney
Truck accidents can occur due to various reasons. Understanding these causes is important when determining liability and seeking compensation for your personal injuries:
- Driver Fatigue and Hours-of-Service Violations: Fatigue is a significant factor in many truck accidents. Commercial truck drivers often work long hours with demanding schedules that make getting adequate rest between shifts impossible. This lack of rest can lead truckers to fall asleep while driving, have slower reaction times, and make poor judgments.
- Distracted Driving: Any activity that diverts a driver's attention from the road ahead is distracting. Common distractions include using cell phones while driving (texting or talking), eating or drinking, grooming activities such as shaving or applying makeup, and adjusting music controls or GPS devices within the vehicle's cabin.
- Inadequate Training: Inexperienced truck drivers often lack sufficient skills to handle large vehicles on highways efficiently. This lack of understanding about appropriate braking techniques or maneuvering strategies increases their risk of causing serious accidents.
- Unsafe Speeds: Sometimes, drivers exceed speed limits or fail to adjust their speeds for prevailing traffic and weather conditions. The sheer size and weight of trucks means that they require additional stopping distances. When drivers fail to account for these factors, accidents can occur.
- Improperly Loaded Cargo: The improper loading or securing of cargo on a commercial truck can significantly affect its stability and maneuverability. Improperly distributed or secured loads can shift during transit, leading a truck driver to lose control of their tractor-trailer and cause an accident.
- Mechanical Failures: Truck accidents can also occur because the vehicle experiences mechanical problems. Factors that often cause serious semi-truck crashes include brake failure, tire blowouts, steering malfunctions, or faulty lighting systems.
The Different Types of Semi-Truck Collisions
Understanding the different types of truck accidents can help individuals recognize the risks and take necessary precautions while sharing the road with these large vehicles. Common types of accidents big rigs have include:
- Rear-End Collisions: Rear-end collisions involving trucks are, unfortunately, quite common. A truck may crash into another vehicle from behind. The force of impact in rear-end truck accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries, especially for occupants in smaller passenger cars.
- Jackknife Accidents: These accidents occur when a truck's trailer becomes stuck at an extreme angle compared to its cab, resembling a folding knife. This type of accident often happens due to sudden braking or slippery road conditions. Jackknife accidents can result in multi-vehicle pile-ups as other drivers struggle to avoid colliding with the unfolded trailer.
- Underride Collisions: An underride accident occurs when a smaller vehicle gets trapped beneath a truck's trailer during the wreck. These collisions typically happen when a motorcycle or car crashes into trailers without rear or side guards installed on them.
- Sideswipe Accidents: In sideswipe crashes, one vehicle's driver swipes the side of another automobile while traveling in either the same or opposite direction. When they involve trucks, sideswipe collisions could easily cause smaller vehicles to lose control due to their significant size difference.
- T-Bone Accidents: A T-bone collision occurs when one vehicle collides perpendicularly into another, forming the shape of a "T." T-bone crashes involving trucks often occur at intersections when the truck fails to yield or runs a red light. These accidents can cause severe injuries to occupants riding on the side of the vehicle that is struck.
- Head-On Collisions: Head-on crashes involving trucks are some of the deadliest types of accidents. They occur when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions collide with each other headfirst. The force of the impact can lead to catastrophic injuries and fatalities for all parties involved.
- Rollover Accidents: Rollovers happen when a truck tips over onto its side or roof due to various factors such as high speeds, sharp turns, uneven road surfaces, or driver error. Rollover crashes can involve multiple vehicles and result in serious injuries.
Contact Our Hammond Truck Commercial Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or your loved one has been involved in a truck accident in Hammond, consulting with an experienced attorney is crucial. At Kadzai Law Group, LLC, we have extensive experience handling truck accident cases, and we will fight tirelessly on your behalf. Our team will thoroughly investigate every aspect of your case to determine liability accurately.
We understand how overwhelming recovering from a significant accident can be both physically and emotionally; therefore, our compassionate team will guide you through each step while aggressively pursuing compensation.
To discuss your case during a complimentary consultation, please call us at 312-229-0050. Our Hammond trucking injury lawyers serve clients throughout Lake County, including Hammond, Munster, East Chicago, Gary, Cedar Lake, Dyer, Hobart, Merrillville, Highland, Lake Station, Whiting, Griffith, Schererville, Saint John, and Winfield. To schedule your free consultation, please contact us today.