Goshen Truck Accident Lawyers

The aftermath of a truck accident presents numerous challenges that differ from typical passenger vehicle incidents. Besides serious injuries, fatalities, and significant property damage, the legal path toward fair compensation can have twists and turns. Trucking companies maintain comprehensive insurance policies and often deploy teams of lawyers immediately following an accident. This creates an imbalance that can overwhelm injured parties attempting to recover physically while simultaneously addressing legal matters.

Wilson & Kinsman, LLC can be your trusted legal balance in the fight to protect your rights. Our Goshen truck accident lawyers provide thorough investigation, careful documentation, and aggressive representation throughout the claims process.

What Makes Truck Accidents Different From Car Accidents?

Truck accidents possess several distinguishing factors that separate them from standard automobile collisions.

Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, approximately 20 times heavier than the average passenger vehicle. This disparity creates tremendous force during impact, often resulting in more severe injuries and property damage. The trucking industry operates under specific federal and state regulations that introduce additional layers of liability considerations. The legal landscape surrounding truck accidents involves potential claims against multiple parties, including the truck driver, trucking company, vehicle manufacturer, maintenance providers, cargo loaders, and others. Each of these entities may bear responsibility depending on the circumstances of the accident.

Our Goshen truck accident lawyers possess the knowledge and experience needed to identify all potentially liable parties and construct comprehensive claims that address the full scope of damages suffered by our clients.

How Is Fault Determined in Truck Accident Cases?

Determining fault in truck accident cases requires thorough investigation and analysis. Evidence collection begins immediately after the collision and may include an examination of the truck’s Electronic Logging Device (ELD), which records hours of service, speed, braking patterns, and other operational data. Additional evidence might comprise witness statements, police reports, photographs of the scene, skid mark analysis, and vehicle damage assessment.

Our Goshen legal team works with accident reconstruction professionals to develop clear timelines and identify contributing factors such as driver fatigue, improper maintenance, improper loading, or violations of commercial driving regulations. We understand how to preserve critical evidence that might otherwise be lost or destroyed, such as driver logs and maintenance records. This detailed approach to investigation allows us to establish liability convincingly during negotiations or trial proceedings.

What Compensation Is Available After a Truck Accident?

Compensation in truck accident cases can cover several categories of damages designed to address ‘economic’ and ‘non-economic’ impacts.

Economic damages include quantifiable costs like medical expenses (both current and future), lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, and rehabilitation costs. These damages aim to restore the financial position you would have maintained had the accident not occurred. Non-economic damages address the intangible but very real effects of an accident, including physical pain, emotional suffering, diminished quality of life, and loss of consortium. In cases involving particularly negligent behavior, ‘punitive’ damages may also be available.

Our Goshen truck accident lawyers work meticulously to document all applicable damages and construct compelling arguments for maximum compensation that truly reflects the full impact of the accident on our clients’ lives.

How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Claim?

Indiana law establishes specific timeframes within which accident claims must be filed, known as statutes of limitations. For most personal injury cases, including truck accidents, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. However, if the accident resulted in a fatality, the two-year period generally begins from the date of death rather than the accident date. Failing to file within this timeframe will likely result in the court dismissing your case regardless of its merits. Additionally, claims against government entities may have even shorter notice requirements.

What Should I Do Immediately After a Truck Accident?

The actions taken immediately following a truck accident can significantly impact health outcomes and the strength of subsequent legal claims. Safety should remain the primary concern, so call 911 and move to a safe location if possible. Seek medical attention for all injuries, even those that appear minor initially. Some injuries might not manifest symptoms immediately but could develop into serious conditions if left untreated.

Document the accident scene thoroughly by taking photographs of vehicle positions, damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Collect contact information from witnesses and other involved parties, including the truck driver’s name, employer information, and insurance details. If you are uncomfortable and unable to do so, ask the responding officers for help.

Be sure to inform your auto insurance company about the accident, but avoid discussing fault or providing recorded statements to insurance representatives before consulting with a lawyer. Do not post about what happened on social media or discuss it with friends either, as your comments could be held against you.

How Can Wilson & Kinsman, LLC Help With My Case?

Our Goshen truck accident lawyers offer comprehensive representation for truck accident survivors, beginning with a free consultation. If you agree to work with us, we will complete a thorough investigation of the accident circumstances and continue with the final resolution of all claims. Our team handles all communications with insurance companies, gathers and preserves evidence, interviews witnesses, consults with relevant professionals and accurately calculates the full value of damages sustained.

Throughout the legal process, Wilson & Kinsman, LLC maintains clear communication with clients regarding case progress and available options. Our approach emphasizes aggressive advocacy when confronting opposing parties and compassionate service when working with clients who are recovering from traumatic experiences. This balanced methodology has produced consistent positive outcomes for individuals affected by commercial vehicle accidents throughout the Goshen area.

Let Our Skilled Goshen Truck Accident Lawyers at Wilson & Kinsman, LLC Fight to Protect Your Rights

If you have suffered injuries in a truck accident, contact the Goshen truck accident lawyers at Wilson & Kinsman, LLC today regarding your potential claim. We can evaluate your situation, explain applicable laws and procedures, and recommend the appropriate next steps based on decades of combined legal experience. Call 574-522-1900 or contact us online for a free consultation. With our offices located in Elkhart and South Bend, Indiana, we proudly serve clients in St. Joseph County and throughout the state.