18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys Serving Spencer County, Indiana

When 80,000 Pounds Changes Everything in an Instant

The impact was catastrophic. One moment you’re driving along I-64 near Rockport, and the next, an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer is jackknifing across your lane. In Spencer County, where Interstate 64 connects the industrial heartland of America to the Ohio River corridor, these accidents happen too often—and they change lives forever.

We don’t need to tell you how dangerous Spencer County’s highways can be. You already know. What you need to know is this: the trucking company that hit you has already called their lawyers. Their insurance adjuster is already looking for ways to pay you less. Evidence—critical data that could prove the driver was fatigued, distracted, or outright breaking federal law—is disappearing right now.

That’s why, since 1998, our firm has fought for victims across Indiana and beyond. Ralph Manginello brings over 25 years of courtroom experience to every case, including federal court admission that lets us handle complex interstate trucking litigation. And here’s what makes us different from other Spencer County injury attorneys: our team includes Lupe Peña, a former insurance defense lawyer who spent years on the inside watching trucking companies minimize claims. Now he uses that insider knowledge to fight for you.

Your clock started ticking the moment that truck hit you. In Indiana, you have just two years to file your lawsuit—but waiting even weeks can cost you the evidence you need to win. Spencer County trucking accident victims deserve immediate action. That’s why we answer calls 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911.

Why Spencer County Truck Accidents Are Different

Spencer County sits at a critical crossroads. Interstate 64 slices through the county seat of Rockport, carrying thousands of commercial trucks daily between St. Louis and Louisville. The Ohio River bridges bring freight from Kentucky into Indiana’s manufacturing belt. And when winter ice coats the hills around Grandview or dense fog rolls off the river near Richland, those 80,000-pound rigs become lethal weapons.

We’re not just any personal injury firm parachuting into Spencer County from out of state. We understand the local industries—agricultural operations hauling grain to the river ports, manufacturing facilities receiving parts via I-64, and the logging trucks navigating rural routes near Ferdinand. We know that a truck accident on Highway 66 or State Road 161 isn’t just a traffic incident; it’s a potential financial catastrophe for hardworking Indiana families.

The physics aren’t fair. Your sedan weighs roughly 4,000 pounds. That fully loaded semi? Up to 80,000 pounds. That’s not a collision—it’s a demolition. And when a fatigued driver pushes past the 11-hour federal driving limit to make a delivery deadline in Evansville, or when a trucking company skips brake maintenance to save money, innocent Spencer County families pay the price.

Indiana Law: What Spencer County Victims Must Know

Indiana doesn’t treat trucking accidents like regular fender-benders. The Hoosier State applies a two-year statute of limitations for both personal injury and wrongful death claims—but that clock ticks fast. Wait too long, and you lose your right to compensation forever.

Here’s another crucial detail about Spencer County cases: Indiana follows modified comparative negligence 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 you’re found even 51% responsible, you recover nothing. Zero.

Trucking companies and their insurers will exploit this rule. They’ll try to shift blame onto you—claiming you stopped too fast, merged improperly, or violated some traffic law. That’s why we investigate immediately, preserving ECM data and ELD logs that prove what really happened on that Spencer County roadway.

Unlike some states, Indiana does not cap non-economic damages like pain and suffering in personal injury cases. When a catastrophic injury changes everything—your ability to work, your family life, your very identity—the law allows juries to award what’s truly needed.

The Federal Regulations That Prove Negligence

Every 18-wheeler on Spencer County’s interstates must comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. When trucking companies break these rules, they create dangerous conditions that courts recognize as negligence. We’ve built our reputation on knowing these regulations inside and out.

49 CFR Part 395: Hours of Service Violations

Federal law is clear: property-carrying drivers cannot drive more than 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. They can’t stay on duty beyond 14 consecutive hours, and they must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving. Yet we constantly see drivers pushing past these limits to meet impossible delivery schedules in the Tri-State area.

When an overtired trucker causes a wreck on I-64 near Santa Claus or Dale, we subpoena their Electronic Logging Device (ELD) records. These digital logs prove whether the driver violated federal hours-of-service regulations—often the smoking gun in Spencer County fatigue cases.

49 CFR Part 391: Driver Qualification Standards

Trucking companies must verify their drivers are qualified before putting them behind the wheel. This means checking:

• Valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
• Medical examiner’s certification (renewed every 2 years maximum)
• Clean Motor Vehicle Record (MVR)
• Previous employer verification for 3 years

If a Spencer County accident reveals the driver had a suspended CDL, failed a medical exam, or had a history of safety violations the company ignored, that’s negligent hiring—and it exposes the trucking company to direct liability.

49 CFR Part 393 & 396: Vehicle Safety and Maintenance

Brake failures cause 29% of truck accidents. Federal law requires systematic inspection, repair, and maintenance. Drivers must conduct pre-trip inspections, and companies must keep detailed maintenance records for at least one year.

When we handle a Spencer County brake failure case—particularly devastating on the downhill grades approaching the Ohio River—we immediately demand these records. Deferred maintenance to save money isn’t just a violation; it’s evidence of reckless disregard for human life.

Types of Truck Accidents We See in Spencer County

Not every 18-wheeler crash is the same. In Spencer County, we see distinct patterns based on geography, industry, and weather.

Jackknife Accidents on I-64

When a truck driver brakes too hard on wet pavement—or when their brakes fail entirely—the trailer swings perpendicular to the cab, creating a deadly barrier across the interstate. We see these often on I-64 during winter weather or sudden traffic slowdowns near the Ohio River Bridge. These accidents frequently involve multiple vehicles and catastrophic injuries.

The data tells the story. The truck’s ECM records speed and brake application. If the driver was traveling too fast for conditions or slammed the brakes due to distraction, that evidence proves negligence.

Underride Collisions: The Deadliest Crashes

Rear underride occurs when a passenger vehicle crashes into the back of a trailer and slides underneath. Side underride happens when a truck changes lanes into a blind spot. These accidents are often fatal—decapitations and catastrophic head trauma are common.

While federal law requires rear impact guards (49 CFR § 393.86), many trailers have inadequate guards, or guards that have been damaged and never repaired. We investigate whether the trucking company maintained these life-saving devices properly.

Rollover Accidents on Rural Routes

Spencer County’s winding roads through hilly terrain—particularly around the Hoosier National Forest approaches—create rollover risks. When trucks take curves too fast or cargo shifts due to improper securement (49 CFR Part 393), these massive vehicles tip over, crushing anything in their path.

Rear-End Collisions: Physics Isn’t Fair

An 80,000-pound truck needs approximately 525 feet to stop from 65 mph—nearly two football fields. When distracted or fatigued drivers follow too closely (49 CFR § 392.11) on I-64, they can’t stop in time. The resulting impacts cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and wrongful death.

Cargo Spills and Hazmat Incidents

Spencer County’s position on the Ohio River means transporting hazardous materials—chemicals, fuels, industrial waste. When cargo isn’t secured properly under 49 CFR § 393.100-136, spills create secondary accidents and toxic exposure. We hold cargo owners and loading companies accountable, not just drivers.

Winter Weather Crashes

Indiana winters bring ice, snow, and fog off the Ohio River. Truckers and their companies have a duty to adjust for conditions. Drivers who don’t reduce speed on icy roads or companies that dispatch trucks without proper winter equipment violate the FMCSA requirement to operate safely for conditions (49 CFR § 392.3).

Who’s Really Responsible? All Liable Parties in Spencer County Trucking Cases

Most Spencer County accident victims think they can only sue the driver. That’s exactly what the trucking company wants you to believe. The truth? Multiple parties may owe you compensation.

The Truck Driver

Obviously, the operator who caused the crash bears responsibility. We investigate:

• Cell phone records for distracted driving
• Drug and alcohol test results (required by 49 CFR Part 382)
• ELD data showing hours-of-service violations
• Prior accidents and safety violations

The Trucking Company / Motor Carrier

Under respondeat superior, employers are liable for employees’ negligence. More importantly, we pursue direct negligence claims:

• Negligent Hiring: Did they check the driver’s CDL and medical certification?
• Negligent Training: Did the driver know how to handle Spencer County’s winter conditions?
• Negligent Supervision: Did they monitor ELD data for violations?
• Negligent Maintenance: Were brake inspections skipped to save money?

Companies like those operating out of Evansville and Owensboro often pressure drivers to meet impossible deadlines, creating the fatigue that kills.

The Cargo Owner and Loading Company

When a Spencer County logging truck spills its load or a manufacturing facility overloads a trailer, the companies that loaded the cargo may be liable. Improper securement (49 CFR Part 393) causes rollovers and lost-load accidents that shut down I-64 for hours.

Truck and Parts Manufacturers

Defective brakes, tire blowouts from manufacturing flaws, or faulty steering components create product liability claims. We preserve failed components for expert analysis and research recall histories through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Freight Brokers

Brokers who arrange transportation often go for the cheapest carrier without checking safety records. When they select companies with poor CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) scores, they may be liable for negligent selection.

Maintenance Companies

Third-party mechanics who perform shoddy brake work or ignore dangerous conditions in pre-trip inspections share liability for resulting crashes.

Government Entities

When poor road design on Spencer County highways contributes to accidents—inadequate signage for sharp curves down to the river, or failure to maintain safe conditions—government liability may apply, though sovereign immunity limits these claims.

The 48-Hour Evidence Crisis

Here’s what the trucking company doesn’t want you to know: critical evidence starts disappearing immediately.

We don’t wait. Within 24 hours of your call, we send spoliation letters to every potentially liable party—the trucking company, their insurer, the broker, the maintenance shop. These legal notices put them on notice that destroying evidence will result in court sanctions, adverse jury instructions, or even default judgment.

Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, has been admitted to federal court since 1998. That matters because interstate trucking cases often involve federal jurisdiction. When a truck crosses state lines from Kentucky into Indiana, or when we need to access FMCSA safety records, federal court experience isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Catastrophic Injuries: When “Recovery” Means Rebuilding Your Life

Spencer County trucking accidents don’t cause simple whiplash. They cause life-altering trauma.

Traumatic Brain Injury ($1.5M – $9.8M+ Settlement Range)

TBIs range from concussions to severe brain damage requiring 24/7 care. Symptoms—memory loss, personality changes, inability to concentrate—may not appear for days or weeks. That’s why we tell Spencer County victims: see a doctor immediately, even if you feel “okay.”

As our client Kiimarii Yup said after we helped him through his case, “I lost everything… 1 year later I have gained so much in return.” While every case differs, we fight for the resources that give TBI victims their best chance at recovery.

Spinal Cord Injury and Paralysis ($4.7M – $25.8M+ Range)

Partial or complete paralysis changes everything—your home, your career, your family dynamics. These cases require life-care planning, vocational experts, and economists to calculate decades of future needs.

Amputations ($1.9M – $8.6M Range)

Whether traumatic (severed at the scene) or surgical (due to crushing injuries), limb loss requires prosthetics, rehabilitation, and home modifications. Our documentable results include multi-million dollar amputation settlements.

Wrongful Death ($1.9M – $9.5M Range)

When negligence kills a spouse, parent, or child, Indiana law allows wrongful death claims for:

• Lost future income and benefits
• Loss of consortium and parental guidance
• Mental anguish of survivors
• Funeral and burial expenses

These are the hardest cases we handle. Glenda Walker, whose family member we represented, told us, “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.” That’s our promise to every Spencer County family facing loss.

Commercial Insurance: Why These Cases Are High-Value

Federal law requires trucking companies to carry substantial liability coverage:

Unlike car accidents involving minimum coverage policies, trucking accidents have real money available to compensate catastrophic injuries. But accessing it requires overcoming the insurance company’s tactics.

That’s where Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney gives us an unfair advantage. He knows:

• The “Colossus” software adjusters use to lowball claims
• How claims departments are incentivized to deny valid claims
• The delay tactics designed to pressure desperate victims
• When settlement offers are genuine vs. when they’re fishing for information

We never accept the first offer. Our firm prepares every case as if it’s going to trial—because that’s how you get maximum leverage in settlement negotiations.

What to Do After a Spencer County Truck Accident

If you’re lying in a Spencer County hospital bed—or if you’re caring for a loved one who was injured—here’s your immediate checklist:

1. Document everything. Photograph the truck’s DOT number, license plates, and company name. Take pictures of the scene, your injuries, and any skid marks.

2. See a doctor immediately. Adrenaline masks pain. Traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding may not show symptoms for days. Medical records create the link between the accident and your injuries.

3. Don’t talk to their insurance. The adjuster is not your friend. They’re trained to get you to say things that minimize your claim. Refer them to your attorney.

4. Call us immediately. The trucking company is already building their defense. Their lawyers are reviewing the driver’s logs right now. You need someone fighting just as hard for you.

Spencer County victims have specific needs. You’re dealing with local hospitals like Deaconess or Memorial, navigating Indiana’s healthcare system, and wondering how to pay bills while you can’t work. We help coordinate your medical care under letters of protection so you can focus on healing while we focus on winning.

Frequently Asked Questions: Spencer County Truck Accident Law

How long do I have to file a lawsuit in Indiana?
Two years from the accident date for personal injury; two years from death for wrongful death. But evidence disappears much faster. Call immediately.

What if the truck driver was from out of state?
Interstate commerce means federal jurisdiction often applies. Our federal court admission lets us pursue Indiana-based claims even when drivers are from Kentucky, Illinois, or beyond.

Can I recover if I was partially at fault?
Yes, if you were 50% or less responsible. Your recovery gets reduced by your percentage of fault. But if they claim you’re 51% at fault, you get nothing. We fight these allegations aggressively.

What is a “nuclear verdict” and can my case get one?
Recent trucking verdicts have reached into the hundreds of millions when companies show gross negligence—like knowingly hiring dangerous drivers or falsifying logbooks. While we can’t promise specific results, we prepare every case for maximum impact.

How much does it cost to hire you?
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency: 33.33% if settled before trial, 40% if we go to trial. You pay nothing unless we win. We also advance all investigation costs.

Do you speak Spanish?
Sí. Hablamos Español. Lupe Peña provides direct representation without interpreters for Spencer County’s Hispanic community. Llame al 1-888-ATTY-911.

Why Spencer County Chooses Attorney911

Ralph Manginello has built his career on taking on the largest corporations in America—literally. His litigation against BP in the Texas City refinery explosion demonstrates we aren’t afraid of Fortune 500 defendants. We’ve secured settlements against Walmart, Coca-Cola, Amazon, FedEx, and major commercial carriers.

But what matters to Spencer County families aren’t our past victories—it’s how we treat you. Chad Harris, one of our clients, put it perfectly: “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.”

Donald Wilcox came to us after another firm rejected his case. We took it—and won. “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.”

Angel Walle appreciated our efficiency: “They solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.”

We’ve earned our 4.9-star Google rating across 251+ reviews by treating clients like people, not case numbers. When an 18-wheeler upends your life in Spencer County, you deserve an attorney who knows federal trucking law, Indiana negligence rules, and the local courts serving Rockport, Dale, and Grandview.

Your Next Step: Call Before Evidence Disappears

The trucking company has resources. They have rapid-response teams. They have lawyers working right now to minimize what they pay you.

You have us.

With 25+ years of experience, federal court credentials, a former insurance defense attorney on your side, and a track record of multi-million dollar results, we’re ready to fight for every dime you deserve.

Spencer County families work hard. When a trucking company’s negligence shatters your world, you need hardworking attorneys who won’t back down.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 right now. The consultation is free. We answer 24/7. And remember: you pay nothing unless we win.

Spencer County truck accident victims: Don’t let the trucking company win by default. Evidence is disappearing. Your future is worth fighting for. Call Attorney911 today.