Interstate Accidents

Interstate Accidents in Indiana

Indiana is known as “The Crossroads of America” . . . and for good reason. More major highways intersect in Indiana than in any other state. With a total 1,190 miles of interstates traversing it – most of them converging in Indianapolis – Indiana leads the country in interstates per square mile.
While convenient, these interstates pose unique dangers.

Those of us who live and/or work in Indiana benefit from the convenience of these multi-lane thoroughfares. Perhaps you are one of the commuters who regularly use one of these Indiana interstate highways:

• I-64, with 123 miles in Indiana
• I-65, with 261 miles in this state
• I-69, of which 224 miles are in Indiana
• I-70, with 156 miles going through Indiana
• I-74, which has 172 miles traversing the Hoosier state
• I-80, with 152 between our borders
• I-90, with 156 miles in Indiana
• I-94, with just 46 here.

CarInsuranceComparison.com ranks Indiana in the top three of the states with the safest highways, outranked by only Iowa and Minnesota. And yet, we have become accustomed to hearing news reports of accidents on Indiana interstates, some of them deadly. Read More: Highway Work Zone Accidents

At the Indiana law firm of Stephenson Rife, we have been representing clients injured in vehicle accidents for more than three decades. Our accident attorneys have successfully litigated cases involving cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles. Some crashes occurred on rural roads, some on city streets, and still others on those thousands of miles of Indiana interstates.
Example Accident Lawsuits

What causes interstate accidents?

One or more of the following primary factors could be the cause of an interstate crash:
Weather – About 50 vehicles were involved in a massive pileup on Interstate 70 in Hendricks County, Indiana, on January 31, 2013.The accident occurred in heavy snowfall, and road conditions were described as slick.
Reckless or distracted drivers:

• On October 1, 2013, state and county police responded to a two-vehicle crash on I-70 in Clay County. A driver struck the rear of another vehicle, causing both vehicles to run off the road and one to flip. Witnesses reported that the driver had been speeding and weaving in and out of traffic prior to the crash. He was cited for reckless driving, unsafe lane movement, and following too close.
• On the last day of September 2013, a man was killed in a multi-vehicle crash that closed I-69 for several hours. He had been stopped in traffic which was waiting to exit the interstate and was struck from behind by a car which did not brake. The force of the crash pushed the front vehicle into another car and into the path of an oncoming semi-truck. The semi then veered and struck yet another car.

Heavy truck traffic – A truck driver was blamed for a fiery crash on August 16, 2013, which happened on I-65 and killed seven family members. Their Jeep Cherokee was rear-ended by the semi and the impact pushed them into another semi ahead of them. The car was crushed between the two trucks.

Wrong-way drivers – A car going the wrong way on Interstate 74 in central Indiana on July 24, 2013, crashed head-on into a semi trailer, starting a fire and closing the highway for hours. The trucker said he saw the car coming toward him fast and he was unable to avoid the crash.

Drunk drivers – Drunk driving was responsible for a motorcycle accident that shut down Interstate 65 on September 2, 2011. Three motorcycles were traveling together; at least two of the drivers were drunk. Two cycles collided, throwing the drivers from their bikes. One was killed. If you or a loved one has been involved in a similar incident, it’s crucial to consult with an Indianapolis motorcycle accident lawyer to navigate the legal complexities and seek the compensation you deserve.