Indiana Fuel Truck Accident Lawyers
Being in any motor vehicle accident is a frightening experience, but when the accident involves a fuel truck, the crash can be terrifying – and deadly. Fuel truck accidents are especially hazardous due to the size and weight of the vehicles and the dangerous cargo the trucks carry.
If you have been seriously injured in a fuel truck accident, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. You need an Indiana truck accident lawyer by your side. An experienced, relentless legal team will stand up for you against all of the parties who are looking to dismiss your claim. The fuel truck accident lawyers at Custy Law Firm | Accident & Injury Lawyers have spent over ten years taking on companies for clients just like you, and we will stop at nothing to get you the compensation you need to get back on your feet.
The foundation of our practice is putting people first. To us, our clients are not just another file or another face walking through our doors. We begin every case by getting to know you on an individual level. We want to know your story and all of your challenges so that we can create a legal strategy that meets your goals and enables you to start again.
You have limited time to take legal action in a fuel truck accident case, but, at Custy Law Firm | Accident & Injury Lawyers, we are ready to get to work. Our team is here for you, and we are ready to meet with you at a free consultation to help you understand your options. Call us today at (219) 286-7361 or contact us online.
Do I Need A Fuel Truck Accident Lawyer?
While all accidents are dangerous, not all are the same. A car accident and a fuel truck accident are not only different in size and damage but also in the number of potentially liable parties involved. It is always smart to have a lawyer in your corner, but it is especially important when dealing with commercial vehicles.
If you have been in a truck accident involving a fuel truck, you need a lawyer who knows exactly how to identify every possible responsible party and hold them accountable.
It is important to note that the truck driver or the trucking company’s insurance provider will do everything they can to deny your claim. They are interested in protecting their bottom line. They are a business, and their job is to close your claim as cheaply and easily as possible. They may try to pressure you into making a decision that benefits them and gets them off the hook. They know that you are in a vulnerable place, and instead of respecting your recovery, they may take advantage of your discomfort and uncertainty.
You will receive calls from adjusters after the accident, and they will be nice on the phone, but they are tracking every word you say to potentially use your words against you. It is crucial that you say nothing other than that you wish to speak to a lawyer first.
Don’t let them get away with paying you anything less than you deserve. Call an experienced truck accident lawyer, and let them handle that fight for you so you can focus on your recovery.
What Kind of Compensation Could I Qualify for?
Every case is different, but if you are trying to recover from a fuel truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your loss. For purposes of calculating compensation for victims of truck accidents, damages are broken down into two categories. There are economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages refer to any kind of financial loss that results from an accident. This includes any and all medical expenses, lost wages from work, either presently or in the future, due to injury. If the injury has harmed your earning potential in any way, this also qualifies. In addition to your person and your wages, property damages also qualify.
In order to make sure that we can defend these claims, it is crucial that you keep all copies of your medical records, medical bills, insurance copays, appointment dates, and any receipts for prescriptions or anything else related to your medical treatment. Make sure to also note days missed from work, keep copies of pay stubs, and anything else that will support your claim for lost wages. Finally, if you are able, take your vehicle to a repair shop for an estimate and make a copy of your receipt. If any other property was damaged, document the value by providing receipts that show the cost of the item or what it costs to replace it.
Having the receipts and documentation of your losses will go a long way in strengthening your case.
Non-economic damages refer to losses that cannot be easily assigned a monetary value. These damages include any sort of mental or emotional trauma or grief or the ability to enjoy life in the same way as before. For example, someone who has lost a limb may no longer be able to do the things that they used to do that brought them joy.
These kinds of damages are less clearly defined than property or wage loss, but they are no less important. The best way to document any sort of emotional/mental trauma is to put your thoughts in writing. Keep a journal about how the stress and fear of missing work have affected your family or how a serious injury has affected your happiness and your ability to function on a daily basis. Documenting everything gives us tangible evidence about the pain you are experiencing and can show how much support you really need to get back on your feet.
Regardless of what kind of suffering you are going through, it is valid and deserves to be compensated.
Why Choose Custy Law Firm | Accident & Injury Lawyers?
You are suffering because of an injury that resulted from an accident with a fuel truck, and you need someone in your corner you can trust. Your future is riding on the outcome of this, and having just any lawyer is not enough. When you walk through our doors, you are our number one priority. From day one, our staff will do everything we can to be available and establish an open line of communication. We will get to know you and your situation, and we will empathize and connect with you. It’s that connection with our clients that sets us apart and enables us to build the strongest case possible.
We also have access to extensive resources that will help us substantiate your claim. We secure the highest level of expertise ranging from medical professionals to investigators in order to craft a rock-solid case to earn you what is fair so that you can move forward after this challenging situation.
Frequent Causes of Fuel Truck Accidents
There are countless rules and regulations that truck drivers have to follow at all times, and failing to abide by any one of them may end in catastrophe. Here are several common causes:
- Driver error
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Driving under the influence of alcohol
- Speeding
- Unqualified drivers
- Untrained drivers
- Faulty mechanics
- Overloaded cargo
- Chemical leaking/spills
Common Fuel Truck Accident Injuries
Big trucks do big damage. There are many different types of injuries that can result from a tanker truck accident. These are what we most often see:
- Bruises, cuts, and scrapes
- Whiplash
- Chemical burns
- Soft tissue damage
- Dislocated joints
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Paralysis
- Internal bleeding
- Disfigurement
Fuel Truck Accident Statistics
Sadly, commercial vehicle accidents are commonplace across the country. Here is what the numbers bear out nationally and statewide:
According to a 2017 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration report, truck accidents cause serious harm in the U.S. Here are truck accident statistics for 2017:
- 164,052 truck accidents
- 56,422 truck accidents caused injury
- 4,657 truck accidents were fatal
- 1,372 truck accident injuries involving hazardous cargo
- 262 trucks involved in non-fatal crashes were carrying flammable liquids
- 142 truck accident fatalities involved hazardous cargo
- 20 trucks involved in fatal crashes were carrying flammable liquids
Regionally, the state of Indiana reported the following on truck accident statistics in 2017:
- 16,910 commercial vehicle accidents
- 400 commercial vehicle accidents carrying hazardous materials
- 130 truck accident fatalities
- 2,074 truck accident injuries
The data is very clear about the dangers involved in commercial vehicle accidents. Unfortunately, accidents with commercial trucks and fuel trucks are not uncommon. We have dealt with situations like yours many times. We are well-equipped to handle cases like yours, and that tested skill has served our clients well.
Call an Indiana Fuel Truck Accident Lawyer Today
If you are injured in a collision with a fuel truck in Indiana, you could be entitled to significant compensation. Contact an experienced Indiana truck accident lawyer at Custy Law Firm | Accident & Injury Lawyers to schedule a free and 100% confidential consultation with us. We will discuss your accident and how we can help you. We represent clients on a contingency-fee-basis, which means you won’t owe us anything until we secure compensation for you.
Call us today at (219) 286-7361 or contact us online to set up your free consultation.
