Flatbed Truck Accidents in South Bend

A flatbed truck is one without an enclosed cargo area. A flatbed truck has a load floor and removable side rails plus a bulkhead in front to protect the tractor or cab in the event of a sudden load shift. It can haul almost anything that can be strapped down or stacked on the truck bed. Semi trailers are not the only kinds of flatbed trucks. A flatbed truck can also be available as a straight truck. Due to the heavy traffic and sheer population of South Bend, It is not uncommon for a flatbed truck to cause a wreck or crash on South Bend highways such as the I-80 or I-90 due to reckless driving.

Types of Flatbed Trucks on South Bend Highways

• Flatbed
• Lowboy flatbed
• Drop-deck flatbed
• Double drop flatbed

South Bend Flatbed Truck Accidents Caused By Reckless Driving

Aggressive driving by commercial truck drivers in South Bend is a common cause of flatbed truck accidents. South Bend has a large population of approximately 2.3 million people and it experiences heavy traffic on its many highways, interstates and roads. Flatbed truck accidents in South Bend are often caused by truckers who are trying to get from Point A to Point B in a hurry. A considerable number of flatbed truck accidents occur in congested traffic conditions in South Bend. Traffic congestion can unnerve a trucker and cause him or her to drive more aggressively than under less congested conditions. A flatbed truck driver can lose patience by changing lanes, speeding, tailgating or running a red light. A trucker can even lose it completely and experience road rage. When driving in South Bend, a trucker has a responsibility to follow South Bend laws and to drive their vehicle in a manner that is not going to cause an accident or run another driver off the road.

For example, let’s say there is a flatbed or tractor trailer accident involving a South Bend company like fulton Industries Inc or Hoosier Tank & Manufacturing that occurs on a South Bend highway or road, such as the I-80 or I-90 due to a reckless driving situation. The truck driver and trucking company in this hypothetical case would both be liable, but an everyday person might not know this. This is just one reason why you should hire an experienced South Bend truck accident lawyer to represent you.

Why You Need To Hire a South Bend Flatbed Truck Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one or friend is involved in a South Bend flatbed truck accident it is important to hire a South Bend truck accident attorney to protect your rights. A competent South Bend flatbed truck accident lawyer will usually retain the services of medical and scientific experts to prove both the cause of the accident and the cause of your injuries. Additionally, a qualified flatbed truck accident lawyer will conduct an investigation of the accident and gather important evidence found and collected from the scene of the wreck. Other important information including truck logs will usually be used in your case against the trucker, trucking company, or the insurance company of the trucking firm. Some of the ways a South Bend truck injury lawyer can help you after you’ve suffered a truck accident injury from a major flatbed truck wreck, is by preparing important physical and documentary evidence and by arranging expert witness testimony.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious flatbed truck wreck, 18-wheeler crash or big rig accident, and tragedy strikes you, a family member, or a friend, then it is important to hire a qualified truck accident lawyer as soon as possible, even though it is probably the last thing on your mind. Despite this fact, this is the time when you will need a South Bend truck accident lawyer most. Make sure to contact one of the qualified South Bend semi trailer accident lawyers listed on this page. Hire a qualified South Bend semi  trailer accident attorney to help protect your rights.

Reckless Driving and Road Rage in South Bend

Often times the South Bend truck driver will become so angry that a minor upset can turn into a major incident and result in an accident. This phenomenon is called “road rage.” Road rage is aggressive or angry behavior that a flatbed trucker can engage in, and may ultimately cause a serious truck accident. This type of behavior might include rude gestures and verbal insults and quickly escalate to a point where the trucker deliberately drives in an unsafe or threatening manner. Tailgating, making threats or running red lights are among the inappropriate behavior caused by road rage. Road rage can lead to altercations, assaults, and collisions which can result in injuries and even deaths. Road rage is considered to be an extreme case of aggressive driving. Under federal and state laws, South Bend truckers and trucking companies can be held liable for the driver’s road rage if it causes an accident in South Bend, Indiana, or nearby areas in St. Joseph County or Northern Indiana.

Aggressive Lane Changing and Speeding in South Bend

South Bend truck accidents are caused by the drivers of flatbed trucks or tractor trailers who tend to drive in an overly aggressive manner. Speeding or changing lanes on South Bend roads and freeways and interstates can happen if the driver is in a hurry or is impatient with other drivers on the road. A South Bend truck driver is an expert driver and chose to drive trucks as a profession. Failing to drive their vehicle in a reasonable, ordinary, and prudent manner is tantamount to negligence. Also, due to the fact that truck drivers are in the course and scope of employment while they are driving their flatbed, semi truck or tractor-trailer, their negligent behavior may be attributed to their employer under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. This is due to the principal-agent relationship existing between the truck driver and trucking company.

If you have been a victim of a flatbed truck or big rig truck accident in South Bend, Indiana caused by a trucker’s aggressive or reckless driving or road rage, then you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. You should immediately consult a qualified South Bend truck accident lawyer or a South Bend tractor trailer accident attorney who knows the federal laws and Indiana laws and regulations regarding commercial trucking, and who can protect your rights.

Flatbed Truck Accident Attorneys Serve South Bend and Surrounding Cities

Serving clients throughout Northern Indiana, including Albion, Columbia City, Elkhart, Gary, Goshen, Hobart, Kendallville, La Porte, Logansport, Lowell, Merrillville, Michigan City, Nappanee, North Judson, North Manchester, Pleasant Lake, Plymouth, Portage, South Bend, Warsaw, areas in the vicinity of Michiana Regional Transportation Center Airport, and other communities in St. Joseph County.

South Bend flatbed truck accident attorneys are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact a South Bend flatbed truck accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.