Lawyers Providing Experienced Counsel For Serious Commercial Vehicle And Truck Crashes

Last updated on May 15, 2025

Accidents involving semi trucks, 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles often result in severe injuries, given the size of the vehicles as well as the speed and force of the collisions. Victims who are injured often need lifelong, expensive medical care for catastrophic spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries.

You are not responsible for what happened, and you should not have to bear the burden alone. At Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates, we dedicate our motor vehicle injury practice to obtaining maximum compensation for the victims of accidents in Indiana and Illinois. We’ll be there for you every step of the way to make sure the commercial driver or company responsible for your damages is held accountable for their negligence.

We pursue personal injury and wrongful death claims involving a wide range of commercial vehicles, including:

• Buses
• Delivery vans
• Limousines
• Commercial trucks, such as semi trucks and tractor-trailers
• Box trucks
• Courier vehicles
• Rental vehicles and trailers

Don’t Fall Prey To The Insurance Companies

You need someone looking out for your interests, making sure you get the full compensation you need to pay for your medical expenses, ongoing care, pain and suffering, and other damages.

The lawyers at Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates can help you get the full and fair compensation you need to treat injuries now and in the future. With 65-plus years of combined experience, we know how important it is to begin working on your case immediately. We are here to help and to answer your questions.

Who Is Liable For Damages After A Truck Accident?

Liability in truck accident cases can lie with individual drivers or the companies that own the vehicles. In some cases, there is more than one liable party. You can rely on us to sort through these issues and mount an aggressive legal strategy for maximizing your compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, lost earnings, property damage and other damages.

Time Is Ticking Away (And So Is Your Ability To File A Claim)

In an ideal world, everyone would care more about helping those they injure than protecting themselves from liability. Unfortunately, this is not the world we live in. Some drivers, trucking companies and insurance carriers intentionally destroy or lose evidence, take evasive measures or do other things that can harm your case, including:

• Deleting black box information
• Losing or modifying driver logbooks
• Removing cargo from overweight trucks
• Delaying sharing evidence until the time to file has passed
• Claiming the company won’t pay unless you give a recorded statement, even if you are still in the hospital
• Hiring private investigators to follow you, secretly videotape you or find evidence on your social media sites that they can use against you

Even when all parties act in good faith, evidence can still get lost or destroyed in personal injury cases. The simple fact that highways need to be cleared means that you cannot preserve the scene until the trial, and crucial pieces of evidence can get lost when damaged vehicles are transported to alternative locations. Rain can even wash away evidence.

Common Causes Of Truck Accidents

Semis and other large commercial vehicles are inherently more dangerous to operate than passenger vehicles. In addition to their size and weight, they have other components that make them vulnerable to accidents if those components fail. Some of the most frequent causes of trucking accidents include:

• Tire blowouts: Losing one or more tires while driving can make the truck hard to steer. It may veer into other lanes and collide with other vehicles.
• Faulty brakes: When brake lines fail, the driver may lose control of the truck. In addition, brakes can overheat and cause fires.
• Steering failures: The steering components may break, or the truck’s wheels may not be properly aligned, causing the driver to be unable to steer.
• Lack of maintenance: When the trucking company does not keep their vehicles in good shape, many problems can occur and lead to accidents.
• Improperly loaded cargo: If the truck’s load is imbalanced or unsecured, it can cause the trailer to tip over or swerve into other lanes.
• Speeding or reckless driving: Driving too fast or carelessly can cause trucks to swerve, jackknife or overturn. 
• Drunk or distracted driving: Driving under the influence or while texting, talking or using social media may result in serious accidents with other vehicles.
• Driver fatigue: Sometimes drivers do not get the required rest breaks they need and will drive while sleepy, leading to a lack of attention to the road or losing control of the truck.
• Lack of driver training: Inadequate training can leave drivers unprepared to safely operate a large commercial truck.
• Poor road maintenance: Drivers may not be responsible for accidents caused by bad road conditions. The city, state or federal entity that should have kept the road in good condition may be liable in these situations.

In many trucking accident cases, there are multiple responsible parties. We will investigate the cause of the accident and hold all negligent parties accountable for your injuries and financial losses. Our legal team has the experience necessary to build a strong case for compensation, regardless of how complex the case may be.

Answers To Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accidents

Due to their great size and force, truck accidents can result in catastrophic injuries and even death. These accidents are overwhelming, and you may not know what to do next. Read answers to some of our clients’ frequently asked questions below.

Do I really need a personal injury lawyer after a truck accident In Indiana?

You’re not required to have an attorney after a truck accident, but it’s certainly a good idea. Your personal injury lawyer will be the one person looking out for you and your family in the aftermath of a semi-truck collision.

Won’t the insurance company help me after a truck accident?

Not really.

We’re not trying to be glib or drag them through the mud; there’s a very good reason the insurance company will not be jumping into action on your behalf: It isn’t good for their bottom line. To them, your care and other expenses are a line item in a budget, threatening to create red ink.

To a personal injury lawyer, you are an individual who deserves a strong advocate as you work to recover from your injuries. Your lawyer will look out for you, not the bottom line of the insurance company or anyone else.

Can’t I just accept their settlement offer after an Indiana truck accident?

Can you? Yes. Should you? No. Think about it: If the settlement was in your best interest, why would they be offering it? Chances are it’s a self-serving gesture being made to avoid providing you with the compensation you deserve for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, lost earnings and property damage.

What should I do after a tractor-trailer accident?

If you’re able, call the police and check on others involved. But once the scene is safe, talk to witnesses, take photographs, seek medical treatment and seek the assistance of an attorney.

I feel OK after getting in an accident with a truck. Do I really need to see a doctor?

You may feel fine in the moments after an accident, but that may not be the case tomorrow, next week or next month. It can take time for symptoms to arise. By seeing a doctor as soon as possible, you create a record of your treatment that will be important if the need for a personal injury claim arises.

In Indiana, who is responsible for the truck accident?

Depending on the unique circumstances of the accident, liability for damages could lie with the truck driver, the trucking company or both. For example, a driver is responsible for falling asleep behind the wheel, but the trucking company would also be responsible if they were pressuring truck drivers to violate regulations for how many hours they are allowed to drive in a given time period.

We Are Ready To Fight For You

You should be focused on recovery, not stuck in a battle with the insurance company. Let us carry this burden for you at no initial cost to you. We offer free initial consultations and never charge attorney fees unless we win your case.

Call our offices for help at 219-265-6061. We have offices in Portage and Valparaiso, but we serve clients throughout all of Northwest Indiana and Chicago. You may also contact us online.