18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers in Pike County, Indiana

When 80,000 Pounds Changes Everything: Your Fight Starts Here

You’re driving along US 231 just south of Petersburg, maybe heading toward the Dubois County line or coming back from Evansville, when the unthinkable happens. An 80,000-pound semi-truck crosses the centerline, runs a red light, or loses control on a curve. In that split second, your life changes forever.

If you’re reading this in a Pike County hospital room, or if you’re trying to figure out how to pay the bills while you recover at home in Winslow or Otwell, you need to know this: the trucking company already has lawyers working to protect them. Right now, while you’re focused on healing, their insurance adjusters are building a case against you.

We’re Attorney911, and we’ve spent over 25 years making trucking companies pay for the devastation they cause. Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, has been fighting for injury victims since 1998. We’ve secured multi-million dollar settlements for families just like yours—including $5 million for a traumatic brain injury victim and $3.8 million for a client who lost a limb after a crash. And we don’t just talk about results; we deliver them. Just ask Donald Wilcox, who told us, “One company said they would not accept my case. Then I got a call from Manginello… I got a call to come pick up this handsome check.”

The clock is ticking. Indiana law gives you just two years to file a claim, but critical evidence disappears much faster. Black box data can be overwritten in 30 days. Witnesses forget details. And trucking companies in Pike County and across Indiana have a playbook for minimizing what they pay you. You need someone who knows their playbook—and how to beat them. That’s why we have Lupe Peña on our team, a former insurance defense attorney who spent years working for the very companies he’s now fighting against. He knows exactly how they evaluate claims, and he uses that insider knowledge to maximize your recovery.

Call us now at 1-888-ATTY-911. We answer 24/7, and we don’t get paid unless we win.

Why Pike County Truck Accidents Are Different

Pike County isn’t like Indianapolis or Fort Wayne. Our roads here in southwestern Indiana carry a different kind of traffic—heavy farm equipment during planting and harvest seasons, coal trucks heading to and from the mines, and interstate commerce cutting through on I-64 and US 231. When an 18-wheeler crashes on these rural highways, the results are catastrophic.

Indiana operates under a “modified comparative negligence” rule with a 51% bar. What does that mean for you? If you’re found 50% or less at fault for the accident, you can still recover damages—but your award gets reduced by your percentage of fault. However, if a jury decides you were 51% or more responsible, you recover nothing. That’s why having an attorney who knows how to prove the truck driver was at fault matters so much. As client Ernest Cano said about our approach, “Mr. Manginello and his firm are first class. Will fight tooth and nail for you.”

The trucking corridors serving Pike County—including I-64, which cuts across the southern part of our state, and US 231, which runs north-south through the heart of the county—see heavy commercial traffic. These aren’t just local delivery trucks; we’re talking about 53-foot trailers carrying hazardous materials, overweight agricultural loads, and long-haul freight driven by drivers who may have been behind the wheel for 11 hours straight. When these trucks fail to yield, blow through stop signs in Spurgeon, or jackknife on icy patches along the White River, innocent people pay the price.

We’ve handled cases throughout Indiana, from Evansville to Jasper, and we understand the unique challenges of rural trucking accidents. Emergency response times are longer here. The nearest trauma center might be hours away. And local law enforcement may not have the specialized training to preserve critical evidence like ECM data from a truck’s black box. That’s why we send our own investigators to Pike County crash scenes immediately—to secure the evidence before it disappears.

The 10 Parties Who Could Owe You Money

Most people think the truck driver is the only one responsible for the crash. That’s exactly what the trucking industry wants you to think. In reality, multiple parties often share liability for a catastrophic 18-wheeler accident in Pike County, and each one may carry separate insurance policies.

1. The Truck Driver
The obvious first defendant. If the driver was speeding, texting, fatigued, or impaired, they’re directly liable for their negligence. Under 49 CFR § 392.3, no driver shall operate a commercial motor vehicle while their ability or alertness is impaired through fatigue, illness, or any other cause.

2. The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier)
This is where the real money usually is. Under Indiana’s vicarious liability laws and the federal doctrine of respondeat superior, employers are responsible for their employees’ negligent acts committed within the scope of employment. But trucking companies can also be directly negligent for:

• Negligent Hiring (49 CFR § 391.11): Failing to check if the driver had a valid CDL or a history of safety violations
• Negligent Training: Putting an inexperienced driver behind the wheel without proper instruction on navigating Pike County’s narrow rural roads
• Negligent Supervision: Ignoring hours-of-service violations or allowing drivers to falsify logbooks
• Negligent Maintenance: Failing to inspect brakes or tires as required by 49 CFR § 396.3

3. The Cargo Owner/Shipper
When a truck carrying soybeans from a Pike County farm or manufactured goods from Evansville causes a crash because of improper loading, the company that loaded the cargo may be liable. Overweight loads that violate 49 CFR § 393.100 make trucks unstable and prone to rollovers.

4. The Loading Company
Third-party warehouses or agricultural facilities that load trucks must secure cargo according to federal standards. If they fail to use proper tiedowns or overload the trailer, causing a shift that leads to a jackknife on US 231, they share the blame.

5. The Truck/Trailer Manufacturer
Defective brakes, faulty steering systems, or poorly designed underride guards can turn a minor accident into a fatal tragedy. We’ve litigated against major manufacturers when equipment failures caused catastrophic injuries.

6. Parts Manufacturers
Tire blowouts are common on Indiana’s hot summer highways and icy winter roads. If a defective tire contributed to the crash, the manufacturer can be held strictly liable under product liability laws.

7. The Maintenance Company
Third-party mechanics who service trucking fleets must follow strict inspection protocols under 49 CFR § 396. When they overlook worn brake pads or faulty air lines to save time, they endanger everyone on Indiana roads.

8. The Freight Broker
Brokers who arrange transportation but don’t own the trucks can be liable for negligent selection—hiring a carrier with a terrible safety record just because they’re cheaper. This is common in the logistics-heavy corridors around Pike County.

9. The Truck Owner (If Different from Carrier)
In owner-operator arrangements, the person who owns the tractor may bear separate liability for negligent entrustment or maintenance failures.

10. Government Entities
If poorly maintained roads, lack of signage on IN 56, or dangerous intersection design contributed to the crash, the state or county may share liability. However, Indiana has strict notice requirements for claims against government entities—sometimes as short as 180 days—making immediate legal consultation critical.

We investigate every single one of these potential defendants. As Glenda Walker, one of our clients, put it: “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.” That’s because we don’t leave money on the table by only suing the obvious party.

Types of 18-Wheeler Accidents We Handle in Pike County

Jackknife Accidents

When a truck driver brakes too hard on the curves near the Pike-Dubois county line, the trailer can swing out perpendicular to the cab, creating a deadly barrier across the roadway. These accidents often block both lanes of traffic, causing multi-vehicle pileups. Under 49 CFR § 393.48, brake system maintenance is mandatory, and failure to properly maintain anti-lock systems can cause these devastating crashes.

Rollover Accidents

Pike County’s mix of flat agricultural land and rolling hills creates unique rollover risks. When cargo shifts on a curve near Otwell or a driver takes a turn too fast on US 231, the high center of gravity of a loaded trailer can cause it to tip. These accidents frequently spill hazardous materials onto Indiana farmland or crush smaller vehicles beneath the trailer.

Underride Collisions

Perhaps the most horrifying type of truck accident occurs when a passenger vehicle slides underneath the rear or side of a trailer. These accidents often result in decapitation or catastrophic head injuries. While 49 CFR § 393.86 requires rear impact guards, many trailers have weak or poorly maintained guards that fail in crashes. Side underride guards aren’t federally mandated yet, but trucking companies can still be held liable for unsafe designs.

Rear-End Collisions

A loaded semi traveling at 65 mph needs nearly 525 feet to stop—about two football fields. On I-64 through Pike County, when traffic slows for construction or farm equipment, truck drivers following too closely (violating 49 CFR § 392.11) can slam into the back of passenger vehicles, causing whiplash, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.

Wide Turn Accidents (“Squeeze Play”)

In downtown Petersburg or at rural intersections throughout Pike County, trucks making right turns often swing wide left to clear the curb, trapping passenger cars in the “squeeze play.” Drivers unfamiliar with truck blind spots or truckers who fail to signal properly cause these crushing accidents.

Blind Spot Collisions

Trucks have massive blind spots—20 feet in front, 30 feet behind, and the entire right side of the trailer. When truckers change lanes on I-64 without checking these “no-zones,” they can sideswipe vehicles or force them off the road.

Tire Blowout Accidents

Indiana’s extreme temperature swings—from summer heat topping 90 degrees to winter ice—cause tire deterioration. When a truck suffers a blowout on US 231, the driver may lose control, sending the rig into oncoming traffic or causing a rollover. Under 49 CFR § 393.75, truck tires must have minimum tread depths, and violations are common.

Brake Failure Accidents

Brake problems contribute to approximately 29% of large truck crashes. When trucking companies defer maintenance to save money, or when drivers fail to perform pre-trip inspections required by 49 CFR § 396.13, the results can be deadly on Pike County’s steep grades.

Cargo Spill Accidents

When Pike County agricultural products or manufactured goods aren’t secured properly per 49 CFR §§ 393.100-136, they can spill onto the roadway, creating hazards for following vehicles or causing the truck to overturn.

Head-On Collisions

Fatigued drivers crossing the centerline on narrow county roads, or impaired drivers on late-night hauls, cause devastating head-on crashes. These often result in wrongful death or catastrophic permanent injuries.

Federal Regulations That Protect You (And Prove Negligence)

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets strict rules that every truck driver and company must follow. When they break these rules, we use the violations to prove negligence in your case.

Hours of Service (49 CFR Part 395)
The most commonly violated regulations limit how long drivers can operate:

• Maximum 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty
• 14-hour total duty window limitation
• Mandatory 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving
• 60-70 hour weekly limits

Since the ELD (Electronic Logging Device) mandate took effect in 2017, these violations are harder to hide—but drivers still cheat the system, and companies still pressure them to do so.

Driver Qualification (49 CFR Part 391)
Trucking companies must verify that drivers are qualified: proper CDL, valid medical certification, clean driving record, and adequate training. When they skip these steps to get a warm body in the seat, they’re negligent.

Vehicle Maintenance (49 CFR Part 396)
Systematic inspection, repair, and maintenance are mandatory. Post-trip inspection reports must document defects, and companies must repair them before the truck returns to service. When they ignore brake issues or tire wear to keep deliveries on schedule, they gamble with your life.

Cargo Securement (49 CFR Part 393)
Specific rules govern how different types of cargo must be secured. Agricultural products, heavy equipment, and palletized goods each have specific requirements. Violations cause rollovers and spills.

Drug and Alcohol Testing (49 CFR Part 382)
Commercial drivers must undergo pre-employment, random, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion drug testing. A positive test or failure to test after a fatal crash is powerful evidence of negligence.

The Evidence That Makes or Breaks Your Case (And It’s Disappearing Right Now)

Here’s what the trucking company doesn’t want you to know: within 24 hours of a serious accident in Pike County, they dispatch a “rapid response team” of investigators, lawyers, and insurance adjusters to the scene. Their goal? To control the narrative and destroy evidence that proves they were at fault.

Critical Evidence We Preserve:

ECM/Black Box Data
The Engine Control Module records speed, braking, throttle position, and fault codes in the seconds before a crash. This data can prove the driver was speeding or failed to brake properly. But here’s the urgent part: this data can be overwritten in 30 days or with subsequent engine cycles. We send spoliation letters immediately to prevent deletion.

ELD Records
Electronic Logging Devices track hours of service. They prove whether the driver was fatigued or violating federal rest requirements. FMCSA only requires companies to keep this data for 6 months, and some delete it sooner.

Dashcam Footage
Many trucks have forward-facing and interior cameras that capture exactly what the driver was doing. We see everything from cell phone use to falling asleep at the wheel. But footage often records over itself within days.

Driver Qualification Files
Under 49 CFR § 391.51, trucking companies must maintain extensive files on each driver. These files often reveal the company knew the driver was dangerous before they hired them—a key to punitive damages.

Maintenance Records
Brake inspection reports, tire logs, and repair invoices prove whether the company maintained the vehicle safely or cut corners.

Witness Statements
Memories fade fast. We interview witnesses while the accident is fresh, preserving testimony that may disappear by trial time.

When you hire Attorney911, we act within hours—not weeks. We send formal preservation notices to every potential defendant, putting them on notice that destroying evidence will result in sanctions and adverse jury instructions. As client Angel Walle told us, “They solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.”

Catastrophic Injuries and What They Mean for Your Future

18-wheeler accidents don’t cause fender benders. They cause life-changing trauma. The 20-to-1 weight differential between a passenger car and a loaded semi means that even “minor” truck accidents often result in catastrophic injuries.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
The force of a truck impact causes the brain to slam against the skull, even without direct head contact. TBIs can range from concussions that resolve in weeks to severe trauma causing permanent cognitive impairment, personality changes, and inability to work. The lifetime cost of care for severe TBI can exceed $3 million. We’ve recovered between $1.5 million and $9.8 million for TBI victims.

Spinal Cord Injury
Damage to the spinal cord can result in paraplegia (loss of use of legs) or quadriplegia (loss of use of all four limbs). These injuries require lifelong medical care, home modifications, wheelchairs, and personal assistance. The financial impact easily reaches into the millions.

Amputation
When a passenger vehicle is crushed or when severe burns require surgical removal of limbs, victims face prosthetics, rehabilitation, and permanent disability. Our firm has secured between $1.9 million and $8.6 million for amputation cases.

Severe Burns
Fuel fires and hazmat spills cause third-degree burns requiring skin grafts, multiple surgeries, and years of rehabilitation. The pain and disfigurement last a lifetime.

Wrongful Death
When a truck accident takes a loved one from a Pike County family, the loss is immeasurable. Indiana law allows recovery for lost income, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and mental anguish. We’ve helped families recover between $1.9 million and $9.5 million in wrongful death cases.

Internal Organ Damage
Liver lacerations, spleen ruptures, and internal bleeding often require emergency surgery and can cause lifelong complications.

Hablamos Español. Lupe Peña provides fluent Spanish representation for Pike County’s Hispanic community. No interpreters needed—just direct, compassionate communication during the most difficult time of your life. Llame al 888-ATTY-911.

Indiana Law: What You Need to Know

Statute of Limitations
You have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Indiana. For wrongful death claims, the clock starts running from the date of death, which may differ from the accident date. Miss this deadline, and you lose your rights forever—no matter how severe your injuries or how clear the liability.

Modified Comparative Negligence (51% Bar Rule)
Indiana follows a modified comparative fault system. You can recover damages as long as you are 50% or less at fault for the accident. However, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If a jury finds you 20% at fault and awards $1 million, you receive $800,000. But if they find you 51% at fault, you receive nothing.

This makes aggressive representation crucial. The trucking company’s insurance adjusters will try to shift blame to you—claiming you were speeding, didn’t yield, or were distracted. We fight back with black box data, ECM records, and accident reconstruction to prove the truck driver was 100% at fault.

Punitive Damages
When trucking companies act with gross negligence—like knowingly hiring a driver with multiple DUIs or instructing drivers to falsify logbooks—Indiana law allows punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer. These are capped at the greater of three times compensatory damages or $50,000, but they send a powerful message that safety violations won’t be tolerated.

What Happens When You Call Attorney911

When you dial (888) 288-9911, you’ll speak with a real person, not a call center. We understand that if you’re calling us from Pike County, you’re dealing with a crisis. Here’s what happens next:

Immediate Response
We answer 24/7 because evidence doesn’t wait for business hours. We ask key questions about the accident, your injuries, and the trucking company involved. If we take your case, we begin work immediately.

Evidence Preservation
Within hours, we send spoliation letters to the trucking company, demanding preservation of black box data, ELD logs, maintenance records, and driver files. We deploy investigators to the crash scene to photograph skid marks, debris patterns, and road conditions before they disappear.

Medical Care Coordination
We help you find top-tier medical care, even if you don’t have health insurance. We’ve built relationships with medical providers who will treat you on a lien basis—meaning they get paid when your case settles.

Investigation
We subpoena the driver’s qualification file, safety records, and inspection history. We analyze ECM data to reconstruct exactly what happened in the seconds before impact.

Negotiation and Litigation
Most cases settle without going to court, but we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. Insurance companies know which lawyers are willing to go the distance—and they pay more to avoid facing Ralph Manginello in front of a Pike County jury. If they won’t offer a fair settlement, we’re ready to file suit in the Pike Circuit Court or federal court if necessary.

Communication
Unlike big billboard firms where you never speak to your attorney, we keep you informed every step of the way. As client Chad Harris said, “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.”

Why Choose Attorney911 for Your Pike County Truck Accident Case

25 Years of Experience
Ralph Manginello has been fighting for injury victims since 1998. He’s admitted to federal court in the Southern District of Texas and has gone toe-to-toe with Fortune 500 companies like BP in the Texas City refinery explosion litigation that killed 15 workers and injured 170 more. He brings that same tenacity to every Pike County case.

Insider Knowledge
Lupe Peña isn’t just any attorney—he’s a former insurance defense lawyer who used to represent trucking companies. He knows exactly how they evaluate claims, what their reserves are, and when they’re bluffing. That insider advantage translates to higher settlements for you.

Proven Results

• $5+ Million for a traumatic brain injury (logging accident)
• $3.8+ Million for a partial leg amputation (car accident with medical complications)
• $2.5+ Million for a commercial truck crash
• $2+ Million for a maritime back injury
• Currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against the University of Houston

Client Satisfaction
Our 4.9-star Google rating with over 251 reviews speaks for itself. Clients like Kiimarii Yup, who told us, “I lost everything… 1 year later I have gained so much in return plus a brand new truck,” and Mongo Slade, who said, “I was rear-ended and the team got right to work… I also got a very nice settlement.”

Accessibility
With offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, and the ability to travel to Pike County for depositions and trials, we provide big-city resources with small-town attention. We offer free consultations, and you pay nothing unless we win.

Spanish Language Services
Hablamos Español. Lupe Peña and our team provide bilingual representation without interpreters, ensuring nothing gets lost in translation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pike County Truck Accidents

How much is my 18-wheeler accident case worth?
Every case is unique, but trucking accidents typically result in higher settlements than car accidents because the injuries are more severe and trucking companies carry higher insurance policies (minimum $750,000, often $1-5 million). Factors include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages if the company acted recklessly.

What if the trucking company calls me with a settlement offer?
Never accept the first offer. Insurance companies calculate “nuisance value” settlements—lowball offers designed to make you go away before you realize the full extent of your injuries. Once you accept, you waive your right to future compensation. Let us evaluate the offer first.

Do I really need a lawyer, or can I handle this myself?
You can technically represent yourself, but you shouldn’t. Trucking cases involve complex federal regulations, multiple defendants, and sophisticated defense teams. Studies show that represented plaintiffs recover significantly more than unrepresented victims, even after attorney fees. As we tell our clients: the trucking company has lawyers—you should too.

What if I was partially at fault?
Under Indiana law, you can still recover if you’re 50% or less at fault. But determining fault percentage requires evidence and legal argument. Don’t let the trucking company’s adjuster convince you that you were mostly at fault without talking to us first.

How long will my case take?
Straightforward cases with clear liability might settle in 6-12 months. Complex cases involving catastrophic injuries or multiple defendants can take 18-36 months. We push for resolution as fast as possible while ensuring you don’t settle for less than you need for long-term care.

Will my case go to trial?
Probably not. Over 95% of personal injury cases settle before trial. However, we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial because that’s how you get maximum settlement leverage. Insurance companies offer more when they know you’re ready to face them in court.

What if the truck driver was from another state?
Federal law governs interstate trucking, and we can pursue out-of-state drivers and companies in Indiana courts or federal court. Ralph Manginello’s federal court admission and multi-state bar licensure (Texas and New York) gives us flexibility to handle complex jurisdictional issues.

Can I afford an attorney?
Yes. We work on contingency—our fee is a percentage of your recovery (typically 33.33% pre-trial, 40% if trial is necessary). You pay nothing upfront, and we advance all costs. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing.

What if my loved one died in the accident?
We’re deeply sorry for your loss. Indiana allows wrongful death claims to recover funeral expenses, lost income, loss of companionship, and mental anguish. The two-year statute of limitations applies, so contact us immediately to preserve your family’s rights.

Should I post about my accident on social media?
Absolutely not. Insurance companies monitor social media and will use photos of you smiling at a family barbecue or working in your garden to argue you aren’t really injured. Stay off social media until your case resolves.

The Call That Changes Everything

Right now, while you’re reading this, the trucking company involved in your Pike County accident is strategizing how to pay you as little as possible. They have investigators, lawyers, and insurance professionals working to protect their profits.

You need someone working just as hard for you.

At Attorney911, we don’t just handle cases—we fight for families. We’ve recovered over $50 million for injured victims. We’ve taken on the biggest corporations and won. And we treat every client like family, not a case number.

Don’t wait. Evidence is disappearing every day. Indiana’s two-year statute of limitations is running. And the trucking company is already building their defense.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (that’s 1-888-288-9911) right now. The consultation is free, and we’re available 24/7. If you prefer Spanish, ask for Lupe Peña—he’ll handle your consultation directly without interpreters.

Or email us at ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com. With offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, and the ability to serve clients throughout Indiana including Pike County, we’re never far away when you need us most.

You didn’t ask for this fight. But you deserve a team that knows how to win it. Call Attorney911 today.

“You are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” — Chad Harris

“They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.” — Glenda Walker

“Mr. Manginello and his firm are first class. Will fight tooth and nail for you.” — Ernest Cano

Attorney911 | The Manginello Law Firm
1-888-ATTY-911
Available 24/7 for Pike County, Indiana