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Family Killed in Indiana Crash
Posted by: Steve Wagner
June 30, 2009
Topic: Motor Vehicle Accidents

Five family members were killed in a fiery crash on Friday when a semi-trailer rear ended their pick-up truck. The accident occurred in Crown Point, Indiana on Interstate 65. The semi-trailer was unable to stop in time as traffic came to a stop. The pick-up was crushed between two semi-trailers and caught fire. Brian Workman, 33, Joanna Workman, 31, and children Ashley, Tyler, and Ryan, Hobart, Indiana, were all killed in the crash. The drivers of the semi-trailers were not injured.

This is yet another horrible tragedy illustrating how dangerous tractor trailers can be. A careful investigation will be needed to determine whether the at fault driver was simply inattentive, or whether the accident was caused by some more preventable cause such as fatigue caused by driving in excess of the hours allowed by law. An accident reconstruction expert should also be utilized to make sure that equipment failure did not contribute as well. For more information on truck accidents, visit http://www.injuryattorneys.com/.

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Brookston Indiana Crash
Posted by: Steve Wagner
June 30, 2009
Topic: Motor Vehicle Accidents

Cale Paschen, Brookston, Indiana, died after a collision with a gravel truck on State Road 18 and Springboro Road. The 16 year old failed to yield at a stop sign. John Leill, Lafayette, Indiana, slammed into the driver's side of Paschen's vehicle. Paschen died at St. Elizabeth Central Hospital. Leill was not injured.

If you've been injured due to the carelessness of another motorist, call the accident attorneys at Wagner Reese & Crossen today for a free consultation! Call toll free at (800) 792-0332 or visit us on the web at http://www.injuryattorneys.com/.

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Indianapolis Convention Center Accident
Posted by: Steve Wagner
June 18, 2009
Topic: Worker's Compensation

An unfortunate accident occurred yesterday at the construction site of the Convention Center in Downtown Indianapolis. Stanley Roberts, 55, Indianapolis, Indiana was killed while operating a boom lift. Initial reports indicate that Roberts was thrown from the basket and fell about 50 feet. While Roberts was wearing a harness, it was not securely attached.

Under Indiana law and pursuant to most commercial construction contracts, a general contractor has a duty to maintain jobsite safety. This duty includes ensuring that all subcontractors on the job comply with OSHA safety regulations such as the rules requiring use of fall arrest equipment. If you of a loved one had been involved in an Indiana construction accident, call Wagner Reese & Crossen today. We will immediately investigate the accident by interviewing witnesses, photographing the scene, hiring experts, and preserving evidence. Call today for a free evaluation. Toll free (800) 792-0332.

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Riverwalk Village Electrocution
Posted by: Steve Wagner
June 18, 2009
Topic: Worker's Compensation

Two men installing guttering at Riverwalk Village in Noblesville, Indiana were injured when they came in contact with electrical wiring. Paul D. Holman, 55, Martinsville, Indiana, is in critical condition while Kenneth D. Brummett, Jr., 31, Martinsville, Indiana is expected to be released from Methodist Hospital. Both men were employees of D&B Continuous Guttering.

For assistance with an Indiana worker's compensation claim, call the Indiana work injury attorneys at Wagner Reese & Crossen for a free case evaluation today.

Toll Free (800) 792-0332.

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Evansville Two-Car Accident on University Parkway
Posted by: Steve Wagner
May 26, 2009
Topic: Motor Vehicle Accidents

Donald Ketchem, Evansville, was injured after being rear ended by Brandon Becker on Saturday afternoon. Eyewitnesses to the crash said that Becker had been traveling at a high rate of speed. The impact caused Ketchem's truck to go off the road and down an embankment. Shortly after the accident, Ketchem was conscious and complaining of neck and back pain. Ketchem had to be cut out of his vehicle by the Perry Township Fire Department.

If you've been injured due to the carelessness of another motorist, call the accident attorneys at Wagner Reese & Crossen today for a free consultation! Call toll free at (800) 792-0332 or visit us on the web at http://www.injuryattorneys.com/.

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Formal Charges Filed in INDOT Death
Posted by: Steve Wagner
May 07, 2009
Topic: Motor Vehicle Accidents

Highway workers have one of the most dangerous jobs around. The latest example occurred March 24^th when an accident claimed the life of 49 year old Mark T. Shepherdson, of Newburgh, Indiana. Shepherdson was driving an Indiana Department of Transportation truck towing an arrow board in order to alert drivers to change lanes as highway workers repaired the shoulder of Interstate 164. William M. Hurt, 62, Boonville, was driving a dump truck that ran into the arrow board and rear of the INDOT truck. Shepherdson died at a hospital following the accident. Hurt was taken to a hospital, and his injuries were not life-threatening.

William Hurt was later formally charged with reckless operation of a vehicle and disregarding a traffic control device. If Hurt is convicted or pleads guilty, the criminal record would be admissible in any later civil lawsuit. For more information on pursuing a personal injury claim arising out of a highway accident, contact the injury attorneys at Wagner Reese & Crossen for a free consultation. Toll free (800) 792-0332.

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State Road 64 Evansville Indiana Crash
Posted by: Steve Wagner
May 01, 2009
Topic: Motor Vehicle Accidents

Harry Stevenson, 67, Mount Carmel, Illinois was pronounced dead at the scene of an accident near the border of Illinois and Indiana on State Route 64. Stevenson was slowing to make a left turn on to County Road 950 West when the car behind him, driven by Nancy Carpenter, hit the right rear of his vehicle as she attempted to pass Stevenson. The impact pushed Stevenson into the westbound lane of traffic. Stevenson was hit by Alex Windes, 22, Allendale, Illinois. Windes and Carpenter were sent to area hospitals with minor injuries. All three drivers were wearing seatbelts.

If you have been injured in an accident, contact the personal injury lawyers at Wagner Reese & Crossen for a free consultation. We don't get paid until you do!

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Steel Dynamics Inc Death
Posted by: Steve Wagner
April 28, 2009
Topic: Worker's Compensation

Cory G. Cochlin, Columbia City, Indiana, died after being run over by a large vehicle that transports slag from the plant at Steel Dynamics, Inc. Whitley County Coroner Scott A. Smith revealed that Cochlin died of "massive blunt-force trauma."

Unfortunately, this was not the first time a Steel Dynamics, Inc. employee has died while working. In 2006, James K. Hall died from asphyxiation after two 3-ton steel beams fell on his chest. For that incident, Steel Dynamics, Inc. was cited by Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration for a "serious" violation.

Under Indiana Worker's Compensation law, an injured party or his or her surviving spouse cannot sue the employer even if the employer's carelessness caused the injury. Instead, worker's compensation benefits are the worker's only remedy. Many people think this rule should be changed so that unsafe companies would have more of an incentive to keep the workplace safe. As the law stands now, Steel Dynamics could face an OSHA fine (as it did before) if there was an unsafe condition which contributed to this accident. However, Steel Dynamics will not have any civil liability other than worker's compensation death benefits.

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Indiana State Road 44 Crash
Posted by: Steve Wagner
April 23, 2009
Topic: Motor Vehicle Accidents

John Gilley, 33, Connersville, Indiana suffered serious injuries following an accident on SR 44 between Rushville and Glenwood. A Ford F-150 driven by William Dawson, Jr. crossed the center line while traveling eastbound, striking the driver's side door of Gilley's Ford Thunderbird. It is still unclear why Dawson crossed the center line. The impact forced the door off of the Thunderbird, pushing him into a ditch and back up an embankment. Gilley was airlifted to a hospital in Indianapolis after receiving treatment on the scene from RMH Ambulance. On Sunday, he continued to be listed in critical condition.

If you're injured in an accident, call the Indiana accident attorneys at Wagner Reese & Crossen. We will immediately investigate the accident, preserve all available evidence, and then aggressively pursue your claim.

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Distracted Drivers
Posted by: Steve Wagner
March 24, 2009
Topic: Motor Vehicle Accidents

In Indiana, it appears that distracted drivers are to blame for a high percentage of highway fatalities. In two recent accidents, distracted drivers are to blame for the deaths of two people. While swatting at a spider, a driver in Spencer County hit the back of an SUV causing the SUV to swerve and hit a semi truck head on. The driver of the SUV died as a result of the crash. A teenager also died in Perry County after being rear-ended by a tractor trailer. Inattention is also to blame in that accident as well.

In February, 2009, it was reported that 465 accidents were caused by distracted drivers. However, that figure is not completely accurate. In reality, 465 drivers admitted to being distracted while driving which led to a crash, and in some cases, a fatal crash. What is the leading culprit? Cell phone usage. In Indiana, police crash reports now have a special section devoted to whether or not the driver was on a cell phone at the time of the accident. With the proliferation of text messaging and emailing using smart phones, accidents caused by distracted drivers will only increase.

If you have been injured by a distracted driver, the personal injury law offices of Wagner Reese & Crossen today for a free consultation at (800) 792-0332. http://www.inuryattorneys.com/.

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