Indiana Injury Lawyer Blog

A former Center Grove, Indiana teacher died in a Vehicle Accident in Jackson County last week. The Indianapolis Auto Collision Attorneys at Crossen Kooi learned the victim was Sharlene Mellencamp. Her husband, from Greenwood, Indiana, was hurt in the auto accident. He was identified as 74 year old William Mellencamp.

According to Indiana authorities, two vehicles -- a van and a car -- were involved in this Vehicle Crash. William Mellencamp was listed at a local Indianapolis hospital at last check with chest injuries. Jackson County's coroner says Sharlene Mellencamp died at the scene.

At this time, it is unclear who was the driver in this deadly Auto Accident. Statistics show it is often the driver who is killed in vehicle crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that in 2009, 17,640 drivers were killed in crashes while 6,770 passengers died in vehicle collisions. When you look at Indiana alone, the scenario is similar -- more drivers die than passengers. For example, in 2009 in the Hoosier state, 386 drivers died in auto accidents while 136 passengers were killed.

Age, unfortunately, can sometimes play a role in a car crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found statistics show the number of fatalities begins to increase after the age of 74. For example, in 2009, in the 65-74 year old age group, 2,374 people were killed in vehicle crashes. In the over 74 years old age group, 2,914 people died in auto collisions.

Of course, the Indianapolis Auto Accident Attorneys at Crossen Kooi realize you can be the victim of a serious and even deadly car crash regardless of your age or if you were the passenger or the driver. However, if you are involved in such situation, there are certain actions you can take to protect yourself and help ensure you receive the proper benefits. As soon as possible, if not immediately after the accident, you should gather and keep key pieces of evidence for future communication with insurance companies and for possible legal proceedings. Those key pieces of evidence can be police reports, accident photos, and witness statements.

Continue reading " INDIANA TEACHER DIES IN CAR ACCIDENT IN SOUTHERN INDIANA " »

The Indianapolis Workers Compensation Attorneys at Crossen Kooi have learned an Indiana company is facing a $3600 fine due to a work-related injury that resulted in an employee dying. The fine was levied by the Indiana Department of Labor against Tiller Sanitation. The deadly incident happened on Labor Day of last year. Workplace injuries and deaths are often connected to Indiana Work Comp issues.

As for this workplace death, it apparently happened when two males, 17 year old Stephen Tiller and 19 year old Michael Scott fell off the front of a garbage truck that loaded from the front side. Tiller ended up under the vehicle and died. Scott was thrown to the side and was injured. Delaware County's coroner said the two should not have been on the front of the vehicle.

Tiller Sanitation was fined $1500 for not reporting a worker's fatality to the nearest United States Department of Labor's OSHA office. The company was fined an additional $2100 for not giving its workers an operating manual for the truck and not teaching them how to properly adhere to the operating manual. That booklet details how sanitation employees are not to ride outside the truck on a ledge that's in the front part of the vehicle.

In Indiana and in states throughout the country, employers have specific Work Comp rules and laws to follow to help ensure worker safety. Recording work-related deaths and injuries can help Indiana's Department of Labor make the workplace safer by identifying problem areas.

The Indiana Worker's Compensation Lawyers are very familiar with the specific steps an injured worker should take immediately following the incident. Sticking to these steps can greatly help an injured employee receive the Work Comp benefits he or she deserves. Plus, these steps should be taken no matter how small you might think your injury is. First, you should immediately report your injury to your supervisor or manager and ask them to complete a formal accident report. You should receive a copy of this report from your supervisor or employer. If you require formal medical attention, you should follow all directions of the provider and your employer. That includes going to all appointments and examinations scheduled and following all restrictions. If you will need to miss more than 7 days of work due to your workplace injury, you should contact an attorney for a consultation concerning your temporary total disability rights.

Continue reading " INDIANA COMPANY FINED AFTER WORK-RELATED INJURY RESULTING IN DEATH " »

The Indiana Semi Truck Accident Lawyers at Crossen Kooi can report a Tractor Trailer Driver died in a Vehicle Accident just after midnight Thursday. Indiana State Police say the Truck Crash happened on United States Interstate 65 near Downtown Indianapolis. The truck driver is identified as 30 year old Sukhinder Dhuga from Ontario. His passenger did suffer injuries. Indiana Workers Compensation issues could be involved.

Indiana State Police say the semi truck driver might have fallen asleep while driving; thus, causing the crash. Dhuga apparently went off the right side of the highway, struck a guardrail and flipped. Indiana police say he was stuck under the semi while his passenger was thrown from the vehicle. Medics took both victims to a local Indianapolis hospital. Dhuga died there while his passenger's status is not known at last check by Indianapolis Vehicle Crash Attorneys.

As mentioned earlier, Indiana Work Comp issues might be involved in this case. Workers Compensation is defined as the body of laws that pertains to an injury a worker suffers while in the course and scope of employment. In other words, it's an injury a person suffers while on the job. Each state has its own specific laws to cover Workers Compensation. And the experienced attorneys at Crossen Kooi are well-versed on Indiana's and Illinois's Work Comp laws and can help answer your questions if you believe you are suffering from a work-related injury.

Semi Truck Drivers are frequently victims of Work Comp injuries due to vehicle crashes. According to Truckinginfo.net, the United States Department of Transportation estimates there are more than 500,000 trucking accidents every year. The website further explains more than 75% of truck driving crashes are because of an error by the driver of the passenger vehicle. Only 16% of all truck driving crashes are due to the truck driver’s fault.

No matter who is to blame, injuries can be severe in a semi truck accident. Statistics show about 5,000 people are killed in truck crashes every year. And unfortunately, about 98% of the time, the drivers of the other vehicle are killed in a truck crash.

Continue reading " SEMI TRUCK DRIVER DIES IN TRACTOR TRAILER CRASH IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA " »