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 helps injured victims.

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Most recent accident reports

 

In a tragic incident during the early hours of Saturday morning, two people lost their lives in a snowmobile accident on frozen Blue Lake in Whitley Co

Date: 
Saturday, February 15, 2025

 

A tragic single-vehicle accident claimed the life of a Fort Wayne resident on Friday evening in Huntington County, Indiana.

Date: 
Friday, February 14, 2025
Type: Car Accident

 

A 51-year-old Fort Wayne man sustained injuries in a single-vehicle accident Thursday morning on County Road 327 in DeKalb County, Indiana.

Date: 
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Type: Car Accident

 

A 20-year-old Auburn woman sustained injuries in a single-vehicle rollover accident on County Road 60 in southeast DeKalb County, Indiana, on Wednesday

Date: 
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Roadway: 
County Road 60

 

In a tragic incident that unfolded on Friday morning, two individuals lost their lives in a severe crash on Allen County's northeast side.

Date: 
Friday, February 7, 2025
Roadway: 
State Road 37
Type: Car Accident

 

In a tragic incident on Friday morning, 62-year-old Bruce Ragland of Gaston, Delaware County, lost his life in a single-vehicle semi-truck accident on

Date: 
Friday, February 7, 2025
Roadway: 
Interstate 69
City: 
Markle, IN

A tragic collision on State Road 124 in Wabash County, Indiana claimed the life of 42-year-old Gregory Welch on Tuesday morning. The incident occurred just before 7:30 a.m.

Date: 
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Roadway: 
State Road 124
City: 
Wabash, IN
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Head-on

 

A police pursuit on Interstate 69 in Fort Wayne, Indiana culminated in a two-vehicle crash Monday afternoon, resulting in one arrest.

Date: 
Monday, February 3, 2025
Roadway: 
Interstate 69
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Police Chase

 

A devastating collision on Saturday afternoon claimed the life of an Ohio woman at a rural DeKalb County intersection.

Date: 
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Type: Car Accident

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

 

A serious two-vehicle crash occurred on US Highway 30 near County Road 700 East in Whitley County, Indiana on Friday evening, prompting a multi-agency

Date: 
Friday, January 31, 2025
Roadway: 
US Highway 30
Type: Car Accident

 

A tragic pedestrian accident claimed the life of 76-year-old Fort Wayne resident James E.

Date: 
Wednesday, January 29, 2025

 

A severe vehicle collision on Fort Wayne's northwest side has left one person fighting for their life on Sunday, January 26, 2025.

Date: 
Sunday, January 26, 2025
Type: Car Accident

On the evening of January 24, 2025, at approximately 9:13 p.m., a hit-and-run collision occurred near the intersection of North Wayne Street and Northcrest Road in Angola, Indiana, adjacent to the local Culv

Date: 
Friday, January 24, 2025
City: 
Angola, IN
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Hit and Run

A head-on collision between a pickup truck and a school bus occurred Thursday on US 6 in DeKalb County, Indiana, resulting in two injuries.

Date: 
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Roadway: 
US 6
Type: Bus Accident
Topics: 
School Bus

A semi-truck rollover incident disrupted Sunday morning traffic in Allen County, Indiana, when the vehicle overturned and blocked both eastbound lanes of US 24 near its intersection with I-469.

Date: 
Sunday, January 19, 2025
Roadway: 
US 24

 

A series of crashes on US Highway 24 in Huntington County, Indiana, resulted in one fatality on Friday afternoon.

Date: 
Friday, January 17, 2025
Roadway: 
US Highway 24
Type: Car Accident