Indiana Injury Lawyer Blog

Putnam County, Indiana was the scene of a Semi Truck Crash Tuesday. The truck accident happened in a Construction Zone on United States Interstate 70. Indianapolis Semi Truck Lawyers can report the driver of the truck was not hurt in the Vehicle Accident. If the driver, 48 year old Bryan Clarke, had been injured, Indiana Workers Compensation issues might have been involved.

Indiana State Police say in this Semi Collision, the tractor trailer did not decrease its speed enough and ended up almost hitting other vehicles. Instead, Indiana investigators say the driver veered out of the way, went off the road and flipped. An Indiana State Trooper examined the truck and its trailer after the crash and did not find any brake problems. Thus, the big rig's driver was ticketed for not slowing down to avoid a collision.

This isn't the first time a Vehicle Accident occurred in this construction zone of United States Interstate 70. Indiana Vehicle Crash Lawyers learned this week's truck crash was at least the 4th major collision since August 15th. That's when the construction project began.

Road construction zones do pose hazards for drivers and for workers. The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) looked into this danger. According to its research of LIUNA members who died on the job, while only 38% of the LIUNA’s members were working on road construction projects, more than 73% of the on-the-job deaths happened in road and highway construction. In a nationwide survey of road construction zone deaths, 23% of the fatalities were due to workers who were hit by traffic. And it is estimated that about one-third of work zone deadly collisions involve large trucks.

Large trucks are becoming more present on Indiana's highways and throughout the country. The website, www.truckinfo.net, estimates more than 15 million trucks operate in the United States, and about 2 million of them are tractor trailers. And those trucks log many miles each year. In fact, in 2006, the transportation industry logged more than 432 billion miles. So how many Truck Accidents might there be? The United States Department of Transportation found more than 500,000 truck crashes happen every year. While that might seem like a larger number, data shows commercial trucks are involved in about 2.5% of all vehicle accidents each year. And, trucks are 3 times less likely to be in a collision than a regular motor vehicle. In terms of minutes in day, studies show one person is hurt or killed in a truck crash every 16 minutes.

Continue reading "INDIANA CONSTRUCTION ZONE IS SITE OF SEMI TRUCK CRASH" »

Eight Semi Trucks Crashed on an Indiana highway Monday evening. The truck accident happened on United States Interstate 70 near Terre Haute which is in western Indiana.

According to Indiana State Police, the chain reaction Auto Accident began when vehicles suddenly decreased speed in a construction zone. Three semi truck drivers and one passenger were hurt in the vehicle crash. They were transported to local Indiana hospitals for treatment for their injuries.

If the injured drivers were on the job when they suffered their injuries, they might be able to file a Work Comp claim. Work Comp is a shortened term for "Worker's Compensation." Workers' Compensation encompasses the body of laws concerning injuries a person suffers while in the course and scope of employment. Employers and companies pay into work comp insurance which in turn gives injured employees certain benefits.

Fortunately, in Monday's truck crash, the injuries, work comp related or not, were not fatal. However, construction zones can be extremely dangerous for construction workers and drivers alike. The website, www.workzonesafety.org, found that in 2009, 13 people died in vehicle crashes in construction/maintenance zones in Indiana.

Continue reading "SEVERAL SEMI TRUCKS COLLIDE ON INDIANA HIGHWAY" »

A Truck Crash involving two Semi Trailers happened on United States Interstate 70 in Indianapolis. Indiana State Police say the early Wednesday morning Vehicle Accident sent one man to the hospital with serious injuries. Workers' Compensation laws might come into play if it is determined that the injured party was in the course and scope of employment when he was hurt.

As for what caused the Semi Truck Accident, media outlet reports indicate one of the semis hit the other one in the back. Indiana State Police officers say that collision severely damaged the cab of the rear semi and the trailer of the first tractor trailer. Apparently, both semi trucks had been trying to get into the middle lane. The wounded driver is at Indianapolis's Wishard Hospital seeking treatment for his injuries.

With all the semi trucks on Indiana roads, it should come as no surprise to find that the transportation industry has one of the highest number of workplace, or Work Comp, deaths. The Indiana Department of Labor found that in 2009, transportation (coupled with warehousing) had the second most work related fatalities.

When we look specifically at tractor trailer accidents, one finds that there were more than 3,000 in 2009 throughout the country. And rear-ending another vehicle is quite common. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found a rear collision with another vehicle was the second most common form of large truck crashes.

Continue reading "TWO SEMI TRUCKS CRASH IN INDIANAPOLIS CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES" »

A man and woman from Marion, Indiana were arrested after a Truck Crash on United States Interstate 70 near Richmond. Indiana State Police say the suspects were in a stolen pickup truck from Anderson with a trailer when they crashed and then left the scene in a stolen car.

As reported by www.wishtv.com in the article, "2 Arrested After Crash of Stolen Truck on I-70," Indiana State Police say 36-year old Dustin Havens was driving the stolen truck when he lost control, and the truck tipped over. He then apparently got out of the truck and into a stolen getaway car driven by 30-year old Danielle Denham. Officers with the Wayne County Sheriff's Department and Hagerstown Police Department found the suspects on Indiana 38 shortly after the truck accident. Officers arrested both suspects who now face a series of charges.

Many pickup trucks do have a tendency to roll over. The website, www.cars.com, cites a U.S. Department of Transportation study that found rollovers in any vehicle made up 35% of all deadly crashes in 2007 with rollovers making up 46% of pickup truck fatalities.

Continue reading "TWO MARION RESIDENTS ARRESTED AFTER STOLEN TRUCK CRASH IN INDIANA" »

The east and westbound lanes of Interstate 74 in Indianapolis, Indiana near the exit for Ronald Regan Parkway was shut down by Indiana State Police due to a jackknifed semi tractor - trailer and numerous slide offs Sunday morning.

Although numerous incidents, slide-offs and accidents were reported on the Central Indiana highway, no serious injuries were reported.

www.CompFirm.com

Continue reading "HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS SHUT DOWN PORTIONS OF INTERSTATE 74 IN INDIANPOLIS INDIANA" »

By noon in Indianapolis, Indiana, cars, trucks, and semis around the city were reporting numerous accidents and road closures. The following are a few:

--An auto accident closed 3 lanes of NB of I-465 near I-70 (mile marker 42.8).
--A crash in the right lane of SB 465 near West 71st Street (near mile marker 21.0).
-- 3 right lanes of eastbound I-70 were closed near Shadeland Avenue (mile marker 88.2).
--Clean up of a wreck close the left lane of northbound I-65 near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (near mile 116.5).
--3 lanes of westbound I-70 were shut down near Rural Street/Keystone Avenue due to an automobile crash near mile marker 84.5.

Continue reading "FIRST INDIANA SNOWFALL LEAVES INDIANAPOLIS ROADS FILLED WITH ACCIDENTS AND FRUSTRATED DRIVERS" »

Kooi Law Firm, a full service personal injury and worker's compensation law firm has expanded its practice to assist victims of personal injury, wrongful death and work injuries in Central, Southern and Northern Illinois, as well as the entire State of Indiana. Kooi Law Firm is dedicated to assisting victims and their families, providing them a voice, knowledge and skill-set required in today's legal climate. The attorneys at Kooi Law Firm represent only victims and their families and never represent Insurance Companies, Employers or their affiliates. For the past five years, Kooi Law Firm has continued to increase their web presence at www.IndyFirm.com and www.CompFirm.com

Continue reading "INDIANA INJURY ATTORNEYS HELP VICTIMS OF FATAL AND SERIOUS CAR AND SEMI TRUCK ACCIDENTS, CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT AND WORK RELATED INJURIES" »

Erin C. Ford, 20, of Coatesville, became the second victim to succumb to injuries in Sunday's head on collision on Interstate 70. Ford was taken off life support at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, at approximately 4:15 p.m. on Sunday afternoon according to a press release.
The two-car crash happened around 6 p.m. Saturday near Indiana Highway 267.

Luke Lovins, 21, the driver of the vehicle in which Ford was riding, was pronounced dead at the scene. Lovins had been driving eastbound in his 2005 Chevrolet Malibu with four passengers, including Ford, when a westbound 2000 Ford pickup truck driven by Alfredo Luviano Martinez, 31, of St. Louis, crossed the median and hit them head on.

Thomas F. Ford, 53, Coatesville, remained in critical condition late Sunday at Wishard Memorial Hospital. Debora S. Ford, 50, and Chandler B. Ford, 13, both of Coatesville, Indiana, were taken to Methodist on Saturday and were listed in critical condition.

Martinez was treated at Methodist and released Saturday. Police said his pickup truck might have blown a tire just before the crash. Martinez was not cited, and alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the fatal collision.

IMPD officers were forced to close all lanes of northbound traffic on Indiana's Interstate 465 in Indianapolis after 55-year-old John Wright rolled his semi truck over while trying to exit from eastbound Interstate 70 on Wednesday morning.

Citing excess speed as the cause, police indicated that Wright rolled his truck as he exited from the ramp on I-70 eastbound to I-465 northbound. The semi truck and its trailer, which was carrying four rolls of coiled steel, separated during the rollover. One of the coils reportedly struck another semi, but no injuries were reported in that vehicle. Wright was transported by ambulance to Methodist Hospital for evaluation. His injuries were last reported as minor.

It took wrecker crews and additional emergency personnel nearly two hours to clear the road and reopen the Interstate to traffic. Wright was reportedly issued a ticket for operating his vehicle at an excessive speed.

Continue reading "SEMI TRUCK DRIVER TICKETED FOR DRIVING TOO FAST AFTER HE FLIPS HIS RIG OFF OF RAMP FROM I-70 EASTBOUND TO I-465 NORTHBOUND IN INDIANAPOLIS, MARION COUNTY, INDIANA" »