If a truck collides with your vehicle while traveling on an Indiana highway, you may sustain serious injuries and property damage. You might be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other damages if the driver of the truck was negligent in allowing the crash to happen. Statistically speaking, driver error is one of the most common causes of a truck crash.
Why drivers make mistakes
Truck drivers often operate their vehicles while tired or distracted. They may also make unsafe decisions such as choosing to travel during periods of inclement weather or driving at speeds that are too fast for road conditions. An operator who is tired or distracted may fail to notice that a traffic light is red or that another vehicle has come to a stop before it is too late to take action.
Inadequate training may contribute to errors
Commercial vehicles are much larger than passenger vehicles, which means that they can be harder to operate without proper training. Those who do not receive adequate instruction prior to making deliveries may be more vulnerable to making poor decisions while traveling. These decisions may include making unsafe lane changes or following too closely to other vehicles.
Equipment failure can hinder even the best driver
Experience may not be able to prevent a truck crash caused by brakes that failed without warning. It may also be difficult for a driver to prevent a crash caused by dim headlights or other equipment that failed to work as it is supposed to. If cargo is not loaded properly, it may result in a weight imbalance that could cause a truck to be less safe to operate even if it is otherwise maintained properly.
Truck maintenance records, training records and other documents may all be used to establish that driver negligence caused a crash to occur. If a wreck was caused because of a defective truck, the owner of the vehicle may also be named as a defendant in any legal action that you may take.
