Common causes of truck accidents in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Truck accidents in Fort Wayne, Indiana, often stem from several common causes, many of which are linked to the inherent challenges of operating large commercial vehicles. One prevalent cause is driver fatigue. Truck drivers frequently work long hours to meet tight delivery schedules, leading to exhaustion that can impair their judgment and reaction times. Fatigued driving increases the risk of accidents, especially on the busy highways and interstates around Fort Wayne. Additionally, distracted driving, whether due to cell phone use, eating, or adjusting the radio, is another significant contributor to truck accidents. Given the size and weight of trucks, even a momentary distraction can have catastrophic consequences.

Another major cause of truck accidents in Fort Wayne is improper maintenance of the vehicles. Trucks require regular inspections and upkeep to ensure all parts are functioning correctly, including brakes, tires, and lights. When companies or drivers neglect maintenance, it can lead to equipment failures on the road, such as brake malfunctions or tire blowouts, which can cause severe accidents. Weather conditions also play a role, as Fort Wayne experiences harsh winters that can make roads slippery and hazardous. When combined with a large truck's momentum, icy roads can easily lead to loss of control and accidents.

Commercial truck crashes are particularly dangerous for several reasons:

  1. Size and Weight Disparity: Commercial trucks are significantly larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, often weighing up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. This vast difference in size and weight means that in a collision, smaller vehicles are much more likely to sustain severe damage, leading to serious injuries or fatalities for the occupants of those vehicles.

  2. Longer Stopping Distances: Due to their size and weight, commercial trucks require much longer distances to come to a complete stop compared to regular cars. In emergency situations, this extended stopping distance can make it difficult for truck drivers to avoid collisions, especially if they are traveling at high speeds or if road conditions are poor.

  3. Potential for Catastrophic Damage: When a commercial truck crashes, the potential for catastrophic damage is high. The sheer force of a truck collision can cause multiple-vehicle pileups, hazardous material spills, fires, or explosions. These incidents not only increase the risk of injury and death but can also cause significant damage to property and infrastructure, making truck accidents particularly perilous.

When someone is seriously injured or killed in a truck accident, there is commonly another vehicle involved, and the resulting injuries can be catastrophic or even fatal. A good accident lawyer works with injured folks to get financial compensation for victims of truck accidents and injuries. Learn more about how truck accidents can relate to:

How do you deal with an insurance claim after a Fort Wayne accident?

Regardless of how severe an accident is, almost everyone involved has to deal with insurance companies and claims. For accidents with very minor injuries and damage, a claim can sometimes be handled by working with the insurance adjuster. For crashes involving more serious injuries, or when a fatal crash occurs, a Fort Wayne personal injury attorney is needed to manage the insurance claim. Go here to learn more about how a Fort Wayne truck accident lawyer(link is external) helps injured victims.

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Most recent accident reports

 

A 27-year-old Albion man lost his life early Wednesday morning following a single-vehicle accident in Noble County, Indiana.

Date: 
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Roadway: 
Albion Road

A woman is fighting for her life following a serious two-vehicle collision that occurred Saturday night in southeast Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Date: 
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Type: Car Accident

One person has died and another was seriously injured following a brief police pursuit that ended in a fiery crash early Friday morning in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The incident occurred shortly before 3 a.m.

Date: 
Friday, April 4, 2025
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Police Chase

A single-vehicle crash in Bluffton on Saturday resulted in a gas leak after a driver veered off the road and struck a gas line near the Wabash River.

Date: 
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Type: Car Accident

A high-speed pursuit spanning four Indiana counties ended in a crash and arrest on Wednesday morning after a Wells County Sheriff's detective attempted to stop a vehicle during a drug investigation.

Date: 
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Police Chase

On Friday evening, a single-vehicle crash near the railroad crossing on West Coliseum Boulevard in Fort Wayne created significant disruptions to both rail and road traffic.

Date: 
Friday, March 21, 2025
Type: Car Accident

 

A serious two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Capitol Avenue and Woodsdale Lane near McMillen Park in southeast Fort Wayne left a woman with l

Date: 
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Type: Car Accident

A collision involving two vehicles occurred Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Maplecrest Road and Vance Avenue on Fort Wayne's northeast side, resulting in injuries and significant traffic disruption

Date: 
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Type: Car Accident

 

A failed traffic stop escalated into a police pursuit that culminated in a three-vehicle collision at a major southeast Fort Wayne intersection on Mond

Date: 
Monday, March 17, 2025
Type: Car Accident

 

In the early morning hours of Monday, a garbage truck driver sustained injuries requiring hospitalization following a single-vehicle accident on Inters

Date: 
Monday, March 17, 2025
Roadway: 
Interstate 69

 

On Tuesday, March 4, a devastating crash between a passenger car and a semi tractor-trailer resulted in one fatality in Southern Allen County, Indiana.

Date: 
Tuesday, March 4, 2025

A tragic hit-and-run collision on Fort Wayne's southwest side resulted in the death of a male pedestrian on Friday evening, January 31, 2025. The incident occurred around 8:00 p.m.

Date: 
Friday, January 31, 2025

 

On Monday afternoon, a notable traffic incident occurred north of Monroeville when two semitrailers collided, causing one vehicle transporting pigs to

Date: 
Monday, March 10, 2025

 

A significant two-vehicle collision occurred Friday afternoon on South Clinton Street in Fort Wayne, causing extensive traffic disruptions throughout t

Date: 
Friday, March 7, 2025
Type: Car Accident

 

A devastating collision between a semi-truck and a pickup truck claimed the life of a female passenger on Monday afternoon near the General Motors Fort

Date: 
Monday, February 5, 2024

 

A tragic accident claimed the life of a Fort Wayne resident in Whitley County, Indiana, on Thursday evening.

Date: 
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Roadway: 
U.S. 24

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, a serious single-vehicle accident on U.S. 24 near West County Line Road left one man fighting for his life. The incident occurred at approximately 5:39 a.m.

Date: 
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Roadway: 
U.S. 24
Type: Car Accident

 

In the early morning hours of Monday, a tragic single-vehicle crash on northbound Interstate 69 in Fort Wayne claimed the life of one person.

Date: 
Monday, March 3, 2025
Roadway: 
Interstate 69
Type: Car Accident