The state of Indiana is rich in beautiful and jaw-dropping landscapes. In the last couple of years, the state is becoming more modernized and it’s definitely becoming more open to welcoming tourists. That’s why the number of people populating Indiana has been on the rise and naturally, its roads have become more crowded.
As transporting goods and different types of merchandise is important for each country due to the many economic benefits, truck drivers have been busier than ever. If you know someone who shares the same job, you know that it’s no easy task. The long working hours, the tight deadlines and the lack of physical activity are all big disadvantages of the job. Not to mention the constant threat of collisions and accidents due to the heavy weight.
Truck accidents are becoming more frequent by the day and their impact is huge for the parties involved. Filing a claim and dealing with the insurance afterward can be a daunting task, especially for the inexperienced ones.
That’s why we got you covered. In the next lines, we’ll talk a bit about why insurance can be such a big issue and try to provide you with some strategies to combat these problems.
Indiana regulations for trucking companies
Before we dive deep into the issue, it’s important to reflect on the laws Indiana currently has in place for trucking companies. All of the rules and regulations that exist serve a purpose to reduce the number of accidents and ensure the safety of truck drivers but others as well.
The main reason for putting these rules in place is the alarming data. In 2021, there were almost 500,000 police-reported crashes involving large trucks and 22% of those resulted in an injury of some kind. And, as you can probably guess, the injuries caused by truck accidents are much more severe than those in a car accident.
Regulations to abide by
There are specific regulations for truck weight, meaning that you need to ensure you stay within that limit. Additionally, there are also maintenance requirements.
Trucking companies often fail to schedule regular truck check ups and this leads to faulty parts going unnoticed, which of course increases the risk for all. That’s why it’s necessary to check the main components(brakes, emergency equipment, lights, etc).
Worker hours are also denied by federal laws and state that drivers can drive up to 11h with a mandatory 10h break afterwards. Also, regular 30 min driving breaks are required after driving for a long time.
Dealing with insurance
The legal aftermath can be confusing and overwhelming, especially when you deal with insurance companies that never make it easy for you. As truck accidents almost always result in severe injuries, the insurance claim is often a complex process.
It’s important not to face these challenges alone. You could easily get tricked or settle for less if you decide to go through this all by yourself. That’s why it’s advisable to look for a truck accident lawyer before you even start the process. An expert in the field can help break down the complexities of the issue and explain the process step by step.
Let’s take a look at what makes insurance a painstaking task.
Multiple insurance policies
Truck accidents usually involve more parties, such as the truck driver, the trucking company and other drivers that were potentially impacted. And each of these have their own insurance policies.
Things get complicated because at this point it’s important to determine which policies apply and to negotiate with the different insurers. It’s often a very complicated and stressful task as you need to deal with multiple insurance companies.
The best way to cope with the situation is to document everything and provide as much evidence as possible to help the insurance company get insight into what really happened. Also, your lawyer can help you understand which documents are important and how they can work in your favor.
Complex liability issues
This relates to the above mentioned issue directly. With multiple parties involved, it can be difficult to establish who is at fault.The truck driver, trucking company, vehicle manufacturer, or even a third-party maintenance provider could be partially or fully responsible for the accident.
The accident needs to be investigated in detail to determine fault and it can be a very long process.
Aggressive adjusters
The insurance policies involved in the matter are usually quite high and come from large insurance companies. Unfortunately, insurance companies have a reputation of employing aggressive and unfriendly adjusters whose main goal is to minimize payouts and challenge your claim by any means necessary.
This causes frustration as not only do you have to gather all the evidence but you also have to deal with all sorts of people in the insurance company who want to reduce your fair payout. At this point, it’s important to keep a cool head and understand that this is just a nasty tactic they employ.
If you’re not able to stay calm, then make sure your truck accident lawyer handles all the communication to spare you the trouble.
No matter what makes the insurance claim process difficult, it’s important to be cautious and not make any rash decisions. Consult with your lawyer at all times and do not accept first settlement offers, There is always room to negotiate. By understanding your policy, they’ll also be less likely to trick you if you’re already familiar with the matter.
The key takeaways
Insurance companies are rarely your friend as they have an interest of their own to pursue. So, if you do end up in a truck accident in Indiana, immediately document all the evidence and get yourself a truck accident lawyer to guide you through the process.
The multiple insurance policies involved and the fact that there is always more than one party at fault make the situation a bit more difficult to resolve so patience is of the essence. Also, if possible, try to avoid direct communication with insurance companies as they might adopt an aggressive approach and trick you into saying something you shouldn’t.
