Truck accident
Truck Accident Attorneys in Fort Wayne, Indiana
The firms in this guide
1. Truitt Law Offices
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck collisions, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on truck collisions, distracted driving truck accidents, drowsy driving truck accidents, impaired driving truck accidents, failure to inspect and maintain truck accidents
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, investigation and evidence preservation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: More than 40 years of experience handling truck accident claims on behalf of victims and their families in Fort Wayne, Huntington, and throughout Northeast Indiana. Knowledge of Indiana motor vehicle laws and federal trucking regulations. Experience with immediate investigation of truck accidents.
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Contact: https://www.truittlawoffices.com/accident-attorney/truck-accident-lawyer/
Consultation: Free consultation available
2. Yosha Law
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck collisions, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on truck collisions, speeding truck accidents, driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving truck accidents, improper vehicle maintenance accidents
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, crash investigation, evidence gathering, liability determination, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Indiana’s trusted personal injury advocates since 1963. 100 years of combined legal experience among attorneys. Won more jury verdicts than any law firm in Indiana history. Recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for injured clients. Knowledge of trucking accident hotspots along Interstate 69 including Exit 102 (North Clinton Street) and Exit 111 (North Anthony Boulevard).
Location: 116 E Berry St # 1600, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Contact: (317) 334-9200 | https://yoshalawfirm.com/fort-wayne-injury/truck-accident-lawyer/
Consultation: Free case evaluation and legal consultation
3. Hensley Legal Group, PC
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck collisions, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on truck collisions, design defect accidents, manufacturing defect accidents, maintenance failure accidents, driver fatigue accidents
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, product liability claims for truck defects, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Fighting for hardworking people of Indiana since 1998. Experience with meticulous attention to statute of limitations deadlines and filing requirements. Knowledge of government claim procedures for accidents involving government vehicles.
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Contact: (317) 472-3333 | https://hensleylegal.com/fort-wayne-personal-injury-lawyers/fort-wayne-truck-accident-lawyers/
Consultation: Free complementary case review
4. Wilson Kehoe Winingham (WKW)
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck collisions, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on truck collisions, cargo loading accidents, driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving truck accidents, drunk driving truck accidents
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, evidence gathering (including black box data, driver logs, maintenance records, employment records), insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Experience handling complex truck accident claims in Fort Wayne and throughout Indiana. Knowledge of Indiana Statute 34-11-2-4 regarding two-year statute of limitations. Understanding of multiple causes of truck accidents and investigation techniques.
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Contact: (317) 689-0654 | https://www.wkw.com/truck-accident-attorneys-fort-wayne-in-hire-a-fort-wayne-truck-accident-lawyer/
Consultation: Free, no-obligation consultation
5. Finderson Law
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck collisions, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, unsafe lane change accidents, improper passing and turning accidents, following too closely accidents, failing to yield accidents, speeding accidents
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, cargo company liability claims, truck manufacturer liability claims, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Over 25 years helping accident victims across Indiana secure recovery after 18-wheeler crashes. 5-star ratings on Facebook and Google. Represents clients throughout Allen County and Indiana. Knowledge of Indiana’s most dangerous roads for truck accidents including I-80/94/90 corridor, I-70, I-65.
Location: 744 E Till Rd, Suite 102, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Contact: (260) 420-8600 | https://www.findersonlaw.com/truck-accident-attorney/
Consultation: Free, no-obligation initial consultation
Truck Maintenance, Hazardous Loads and Adult Wrongful Death Limits in Fort Wayne Truck Crash Cases
In a Fort Wayne truck crash, federal rules ask whether the carrier inspected and repaired the truck, carried the coverage its load required and kept a driver at or above the 0.04 alcohol line off duty. Indiana law then sets the wrongful death action, with a separate damages rule and a $300,000 limit on love and companionship damages when the person killed was an unmarried adult without dependents.
Maintenance and Inspection
Under 49 CFR 396.3, every motor carrier must systematically inspect, repair and maintain each vehicle subject to its control, keep maintenance records for 1 year where the vehicle is housed or maintained, and keep them for 6 months after the vehicle leaves its control. Under 396.17, each commercial motor vehicle, including each unit of a combination, must have passed a periodic inspection within the preceding 12 months.
Hazardous Loads and Alcohol
Under 49 CFR 387.9, listed oil and hazardous materials not covered by the higher rows require $1,000,000 in public liability coverage, and bulk hazardous substances and listed explosive, poison and radioactive categories require $5,000,000. Under 382.201, a driver subject to the federal testing rules may not report for or remain on safety-sensitive duty with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater.
A Wrongful Death Action
Under IC 34-23-1-1, the personal representative must commence the action within two years, and the damages include medical, hospital, funeral and burial expenses and lost earnings, with the remainder after expenses going to the widow or widower and dependent children or dependent next of kin.
When the Person Killed Was an Adult Without Dependents
Under IC 34-23-1-2, for an adult person as defined there, only the personal representative may sue, damages for grief and punitive damages are not recoverable, and under (e) aggregate damages for loss of love and companionship may not exceed $300,000, a limit the jury is not told. A parent or child must prove a genuine, substantial and ongoing relationship with the adult person.
Fort Wayne Truck Accident Questions
How long do I have to sue after a Fort Wayne truck crash?
Two years under IC 34-11-2-4(a) for an injury claim, and two years under 34-23-1-1 for a wrongful death action. A claim over a city, county or state truck is barred without earlier notice: 180 days to a political subdivision under IC 34-13-3-8, or 270 days to the state under 34-13-3-6.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault?
Yes, unless your fault is greater than the fault of everyone else who contributed, under IC 34-51-2-6. For example, imagine $240,000 in damages and 45 percent of the fault on the injured driver: under IC 34-51-2-5 the recovery would be $132,000.
What happens to a truck driver who leaves the scene?
Under IC 9-26-1-1.1(b), knowingly failing to stop, remain and give information is a Class B misdemeanor, a Class A misdemeanor with bodily injury, a Level 6 felony with moderate or serious bodily injury, and a Level 4 felony with death or catastrophic injury.