Distracted Semi-Truck Driver Rear-Ends Car in Plainfield Traffic Accident

Semi-truck driver distractions continue to be a leading cause of big rig accidents across Indiana as well as the entire country. Be it the long hours, in-cab devices and items, or something as simple as a billboard glance, it only takes a second of inattention to result in a collision that leads to serious injury and/or death.

Attorney Matt Boulton has 25+ years’ experience investigating and handling auto accidents throughout the Hoosier state, and he is all too familiar with cases that involve one or more distracted drivers. Sadly, over the years, he has witnessed a dramatic rise in the number of these case types, including those involving semi-trucks.

Such was the case for a Boulton Law Group client who was rear-ended by a distracted semi-truck driver in Plainfield, Indiana.

Plainfield Semi-Truck Accident Details

According to the Indiana accident report filed by the Plainfield Police Department, immediately before the collision, attorney Boulton’s client was stopped eastbound on a red light at Stafford Road and Airtech Parkway.

As our client remained at a complete stop, they were suddenly rear-ended by a semi-truck that was also headed eastbound on Stafford Road. Unfortunately, in front of our client’s vehicle, also stopped at the red light, was a second semi-truck, as pictured in the following accident diagram:

According to the report, the offending truck driver told officers “I don’t know what happened, but I looked up and saw the car slowing/stopped in traffic.” The trucker further stated he “tried to stop but couldn’t in time.”

Despite the 45-mph speed limit, and the truck driver’s attempt to stop, the force of the collision was still enough to push our client’s car into the back of the lead semi-truck. The initial impact caused their vehicle to go partially under the lead truck’s rear bar guard.

As a result of the collision, our client sustained injuries that required 6 months of chiropractic treatment. Being rear-ended by a semi-truck often proves to be traumatic, let alone being pushed into the back of another truck. As a result, our client feared for their life at the time of the crash. It later proved that they would benefit from multiple sessions of counseling to address the psychological aftereffect.

Even though the accident resulted in serious injury to our client, had the trucker not been able to apply his brakes, traveling at a higher speed, or our client not been wearing a seatbelt, the outcome would likely have been much more tragic.

Indiana Semi-Truck Personal Injury Attorney

Following the accident, the driver of the car was unsure of their next steps. As such, they sought a free case review from Matt Boulton, a local, experienced Indiana semi-truck injury attorney. A short time later, they hired him to handle the entire case from start to finish.

After reviewing the facts of the case, attorney Boulton was confident that he could maximize the value of his client’s personal injury claim. And while the police report listed the official cause of the accident as following too closely, it was apparent the truck driver was also distracted, having said in his statement to the officer that he “looked up,” and saw the car stopped.

Despite clear evidence that places a trucker fault, such as in this case, semi-truck accident claims can still prove to be more complex than a collision between one or more passenger vehicles. The reasons are many, however, 3 factors which often account for the difficulty of these cases include:

• Larger insurance policies – Semi-truck companies are often required by federal law to carry a minimum of one-million dollars in liability coverage.
• State and federal laws – Semi-truck companies and operators are subject to a variety of specific laws and safety standards to help ensure the safety of other drivers.
• Insurance companies – Semi-trucks present significant liability exposure following an accident. Because the stakes are higher, the insurance company will treat the claim with a much higher level of vigilance.

An experienced semi-truck injury attorney can help identify various types of accident liability by using their past case history of similar cases, as well as securing unique evidence, such as a semi-truck’s black box data.

Additionally, an attorney that has handled multiple trucking cases should be able to recognize when a case can be settled versus instances in which a lawsuit and/or trial may be required.

In the above accident, attorney Boulton prepared a demand package on behalf of his client that provided a sound legal summary explaining why the case deserved maximum compensation. The insurance company agreed with his assessment, enabling the case to settle without a trial. More importantly, the client was happy with the results.

About Boulton Law Group

Boulton Law Group is an award-winning, Indiana personal injury firm dedicated to helping injured Hoosiers throughout the state.

Founded and led by attorney Matt Boulton, the firm’s exclusive focus is personal injury law. In addition to helping victims of semi-truck accidents, Boulton Law Group also handles cases involving:

• Car accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Wrongful death lawsuits
• Slip and fall injuries
• Dog bite injuries
• Negligent security
• Nursing home abuse

Boulton Law Group never charges accident victims for a legal review, nor does the firm accept any payment for services while a case is ongoing. In fact, our clients owe us nothing until a financial recovery is made and secured on their behalf. It’s the foundation of our Zero Fee Guarantee.

If you’ve been involved in an accident with a semi-truck, or have questions about another type of personal injury, please submit your story to us by using the firm’s confidential, free contact form.