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Hit-and-run accidents can have devastating consequences for both accident victims and their loved ones. Fleeing the scene of an accident can leave a victim helpless without any options for medical assistance. Hit-and-runs are not only harmful to victims and their families—they also can carry significant criminal and civil penalties.

As a recent news article sadly reported, one person died in a hit-and-run in Indianapolis, Indiana. When police responded to the scene, they found a person lying in the road. Sadly, they died at the scene. Local authorities are continuing to investigate the accident.

What Are the Penalties for an Indiana Hit-And-Run Accident?

People who commit a hit-and-run in Indiana may face a Class A misdemeanor if the accident results in bodily injury to another person. However, a hit-and-driver may face a felony charge if the accident results in moderate or serious bodily injury or if the driver had a previous hit-and-run conviction in the last five years. A driver may also face a more serious felony charge if the accident causes death or catastrophic injury. Finally, a felony charge can result if the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol and caused serious injury, catastrophic injury, or death. The driver may face separate felony charges for each person who suffered injuries in the hit-and-run accident. A conviction can result in jail time or steep fines. Additionally, a hit-and-run conviction will likely result in a suspension of a driver’s license or even a full revocation.

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Every parent’s worst nightmare is learning their child has suffered injuries or died in an accident. Accidents involving child victims can take an intense psychological toll on the child and the entire family. Fortunately, parents can take several steps to protect their children from injuries in the event of an accident on the road. However, when a child suffers harm in a car accident, the child’s parents may seek to hold the responsible party accountable for their harm through a negligence lawsuit.

As a recent news article tragically reported, an 8-year-old child passed away from a serious car accident. According to state police, the child was traveling in a car that stopped at an intersection. As the driver crossed the eastbound lane to enter the highway, her vehicle collided with another vehicle at a t-bone angle. Sadly, the child died at the scene. Both drivers suffered serious injuries and received treatment at a nearby hospital.

How Can You Protect Your Child from a Fatal Accident?

If you have young children, one of the best ways to protect them is to place them in a car seat. Car seats can keep children safe in the event of an accident. However, not all car seats are equal. First, make sure the car seat is appropriate for your child. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has an online tool that allows you to find a proper car seat based on your child’s age, height, and weight. In addition to selecting the right car seat, make sure to correctly install the seat in your vehicle. An incorrectly installed seat may not provide adequate protection from injuries. Finally, make sure your child is strapped into the car seat. If your child is in a booster seat, make sure your child is also wearing a seatbelt. These steps can help keep your child safe in the event of a car accident.

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Auto accidents can happen even when you have safely parked your vehicle on the side of the road. If other drivers are acting carelessly, they may collide with your parked vehicle and cause a roadside accident. While roadside accidents have a number of causes, they too often result from another driver’s negligence. If another driver has harmed you in a roadside accident, you may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages.

For example, a recent news story reported on an Indianapolis, Indiana roadside accident. According to state police, two troopers were investigating a crash inside a police car when a semi-truck crashed into their vehicle. Both troopers were transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

What Are the Causes of an Indiana Roadside Accident?

A roadside accident can result from several causes, many of which involve a driver’s negligence. First, a common cause of roadside accidents is distracted driving. When drivers are distracted, they may not see a vehicle parked on the side of the road until it is too late. To minimize the risk of a roadside accident, it is important to avoid talking on the phone, eating, or “multi-tasking” until you have parked safely at your destination. Roadside accidents can also result from driving under the influence (DUI). Intoxicated drivers experience significant difficulty maintaining control of their vehicles. As a result, they may veer off the side of the road and strike a parked car. Furthermore, even if drivers are not intoxicated, they may be too drowsy to operate their vehicles safely. For example, if a semi-truck driver is working a late shift, he or she may grow distracted or drive carelessly due to a lack of alertness. In addition to a driver’s negligence, roadside accidents may occur after a vehicle part malfunction, a faulty guardrail or other road equipment, or a government’s failure to maintain safe road conditions.

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Truck accidents can lead to significant injury. Following a truck accident, you may be left with mounting medical bills, lost wages, and emotional harm. To recover compensation for your injuries, you can bring a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible driver. A skilled Indiana personal injury attorney can help you create the strongest possible claim for recovery.

For example, a recent Indiana truck accident killed one passenger. The fatal accident occurred at an intersection and involved a pickup truck and a semi-truck. According to local officers, the pickup truck was sitting at the intersection’s red light when the semi-rear ended it, sending both trucks into a ditch. Sadly, a passenger inside the pickup truck died in the crash. The pickup truck driver was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash.

How Does a Jury Determine Truck Accident Damages Awards?

If a truck accident case goes to trial, a jury will determine the appropriate damages award owed to the injured plaintiff. Even if a case does not go to trial, plaintiffs must assert a damages amount in settlement negotiations that they believe will fairly compensate for their injuries. The amount of compensatory damages a plaintiff receives will depend on a number of factors. One major consideration is the medical expenses a plaintiff incurred as a result of the accident. After a truck accident, an injured plaintiff may have to pay hospital bills, surgery expenses, medication costs, or physical therapy bills. A damages award will often include these medical expenses. Accordingly, a plaintiff with severe injuries or who incurred higher expenses may receive a higher damages award. A physician who treated the plaintiff may be able to provide information about the plaintiff’s expected future medical expenses.

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Due to the size and weight of a commercial truck, a collision with a smaller vehicle can lead to significant injuries. When a truck driver’s negligence leads to a serious accident, an injured party may seek compensation from the driver’s employer. However, the accident victim must prove certain legal elements before an employer can be liable for damages. An experienced Indiana personal injury attorney can help argue that an employer should be liable for their employee’s negligence.

Sadly, a 6-year old died and two children suffered injuries after a recent truck accident in Jackson County, Indiana. According to a local news article, a Ford was traveling east with three young passengers when it collided with a semi-truck traveling north at an intersection. The force of the collision sent both vehicles off the road. First responders arrived and transported all three passengers to the hospital, where one child tragically died from his injuries. Police are continuing to investigate the crash.

Can You Sue a Truck Driver’s Employer After an Indiana Truck Accident?

If a truck driver was completing a delivery during the crash, you may be able to recover damages from the driver’s employer. Truck drivers may not possess the means to pay the full compensation you need after a debilitating truck accident. To hold an employer liable for a truck driver’s negligence, a plaintiff must prove the driver was acting within the “scope of employment.” Typically, employees act within the scope of employment when they perform job duties at their designated work location within a designated time frame. For example, a truck driver acts in the scope of their employment if they are driving on a pre-determined route to complete a delivery at a scheduled time. However, if a driver used a company truck to make a personal delivery outside of working hours, that driver would not be acting within the scope of employment. Plaintiffs who can prove the driver acted within the scope of employment may be able to hold an employer liable through a legal concept know as vicarious liability or respondeat superior.

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Sometimes, car accidents result from a chain of events that no one could possibly predict. More than one vehicle may be involved in a single accident, or one accident may lead to a second accident between different drivers. When accidents involve multiple vehicles, determining fault can be a difficult task. However, if you bring a negligence lawsuit against the drivers responsible for your harm, establishing causation will be a critical element of your case.

Recently, a local news article reported on a bizarre Indiana multi-vehicle accident. According to a preliminary investigation, the accident occurred on the highway as a Nissan SUV hydroplaned and struck a concrete barrier. Seeing the Nissan in the middle of the highway, the driver of a Lexus pulled over to assist the Nissan driver. As the Nissan driver walked across the roadway toward the Lexus, she was struck by a Ford driver swerving to avoid the crash scene. The Ford then struck the Lexus on the shoulder of the highway. The Nissan driver died from her injuries. The Lexus driver and two passengers suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Police later charged the Ford driver with Operating While Intoxicated (OWI).

How Can You Prove Causation in an Indiana Multi-Vehicle Accident?

Complex or unusual accidents can complicate issues of causation when bringing a negligence lawsuit. To hold a defendant liable for negligence, the plaintiff must prove that a defendant’s negligent behavior was the actual and “legal” cause of the accident. If the defendant can point to any superseding causes that provide an alternative explanation for the accident, they may be able to escape liability. Examples of superseding causes are another driver striking the victim or a repair shop’s failure to properly secure the defendant’s tires. To succeed on a negligence claim, a plaintiff must prove that the defendant’s actions caused the accident and disprove any other explanations the defendant may provide. Proving cause in fact and legal causation is key to recovering compensation for your harm.

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If a car strikes you when you walk down the street, you may suffer serious injuries. A pedestrian accident may lead to expensive medical bills, hospital treatment, and lost wages. In these situations, accident victims’ financial harm only worsens the physical and emotional harm they have suffered. Thankfully, Indiana law allows pedestrian accident victims to bring a personal injury lawsuit for negligence against the responsible driver. A personal injury lawsuit can help provide closure and ease the financial burden of a serious pedestrian accident.

For example, as a recent news article tragically reported, a man lost his life in a Gary, Indiana pedestrian accident. The pedestrian was walking on I-80 when two vehicles struck him. Both drivers stopped at the scene. Police arrested one driver for operating a vehicle under the influence (OWI).

What Are the Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?

There are multiple possible explanations for a serious pedestrian accident. For example, a driver may be operating their vehicle under the influence. People who consume alcohol before driving lack the concentration and reflexes necessary to avoid crashing into another person or vehicle. Even if drivers are not under the influence of alcohol, they may hit a pedestrian if they are distracted. Drivers who attempt to “multitask” may lose control of their vehicles or fail to brake before striking a pedestrian. Additionally, a driver may fail to obey traffic signals indicating that a pedestrian has the right-of-way. On the other hand, an accident could result if the pedestrian does not obey traffic signals giving a vehicle the right-of-way. Drivers and pedestrians alike should stay focused and follow all traffic signs to avoid a pedestrian accident.

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Drivers who operate their vehicles while intoxicated are a danger to everyone else on the road. Accidents that result from driving under the influence (DUI) often leave accident victims with serious injuries and medical expenses. Fortunately, DUI accident victims can sue the responsible driver in a negligence lawsuit to recover compensation for their harm. In addition to criminal penalties, an intoxicated driver may therefore be liable to an accident victim for civil damages.

For example, a recent news article reported on a possible DUI accident in Indianapolis, Indiana. Police arrived at the crash scene and learned a driver had left an exit and attempted to enter a southbound lane. When leaving the exit, the driver crashed into two other vehicles. Multiple people suffered serious injuries. Police officers suspected drugs and alcohol to be factors in the crash.

What Are the Burdens of Proof for Civil and Criminal DUI Cases?

The burden of proof for a criminal prosecution is much higher than a civil negligence lawsuit. To convict the defendant of a crime, all twelve jury members must find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Any shred of doubt about the defendant’s guilt requires the jury to find the defendant not guilty. If even one juror is not absolutely sure that the defendant is guilty, the jury cannot convict the defendant of a crime. If the jury cannot agree, the prosecution may re-try the case against the defendant. The burden of proof is high because the defendant may serve time in prison if they are convicted. By contrast, the burden of proof to impose civil damages is a “preponderance of the evidence” standard. To hold the defendant liable for negligence in a civil lawsuit, the judge or jury must find it is more likely than not that the defendant’s negligence caused the plaintiff’s harm. Under this lower burden of proof, the defendant is liable even if it is only 51% likely that their negligent behavior resulted in harm.

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Truck accidents may occur for any number of reasons. From a driver’s negligence to a defective part, even a single truck accident might have more than one cause. No matter the cause, truck accident victims likely have significant medical expenses or missed paychecks as they recover from their injuries. Understanding the causes of a truck accident is an important step toward receiving a damages award that compensates for your harm.

For example, a recent news article reported a Greenfield, Indiana crash involving four semi-trucks. The trucks were driving in the westbound lanes on the highway as one semi-truck attempted to pass another. The driver, who believed the other truck would crash into him, swerved into a concrete barrier. He then hit the other semi-truck he was passing. In the eastbound lane, a semi-truck struck the same concrete wall. In total, four semi-trucks were involved in the crash, and one caught on fire. One driver suffered minor injuries.

What Are the Causes of Truck Accidents?

Even a single truck accident can have multiple causes. The clearest cause is the truck driver’s negligence. Driving while drowsy or under the influence of drugs or alcohol can impact drivers’ ability to control their trucks. In addition, distracted driving is common cause of auto accidents. Drivers who attempt to “multitask” on the road cannot react quickly to changes in the flow of traffic. For example, if a car slows down in response to traffic, a distracted driver may rear-end the car if they are not paying attention. Distracted truck drivers can cause especially serious harm due to the heavy weight of a typical truck. On the other hand, a truck accident may result from another driver’s negligence. For instance, a truck driver might swerve to avoid a car that attempts to change lanes without checking their mirrors. Occasionally, truck accidents do not result from a driver’s negligence. A faulty part or a poorly designed piece of equipment could lead to an accident even if all drivers exercised reasonable care.

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When passengers suffer injuries in an auto accident, they often have to deal with medical bills, emotional distress, and even lost wages. For many passengers, these injuries feel especially unfair because they had no control over the vehicles that collided. To recover compensation for their injuries, passengers can bring a negligence lawsuit against the responsible driver.

For example, a recent Greenfield, Indiana accident led to a passenger fatality. As a local news article reported, two drivers were traveling northbound in adjacent lanes. Both drivers were speeding and refused to let the other pass them. As vehicle in the right lane began to cross into the other driver’s lane, he lost control of his vehicle. As a result, the two cars collided in the middle of the lanes. One vehicle rolled, which caused a passenger to be ejected from the rolling vehicle. Sadly, the passenger died from her injuries. According to investigators, the drivers were traveling over 90 miles per hour, and the driver who crossed into the left lane had marijuana in his system.

Can At-Fault Plaintiffs Recover for an Indiana Passenger Accident?

When a passenger or their loved ones bring a negligence lawsuit, the defendant may claim that the passenger was partially at fault for the accident. Under Indiana’s modified comparative negligence rule, plaintiffs cannot recover any damages if they were more than 50% at fault for the accident that led to their injuries. Plaintiffs who are 50% or less at fault, they can still recover damages. However, their damages award will be reduced by their degree of fault. For example, a plaintiff who receives a $100,000 damages award but is 10% at fault would ultimately recover $90,000 in damages. To escape liability, defendants will attempt to present evidence that a passenger was at fault for the accident.

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