Common Types of Semi-Truck Crashes in Indiana

Accidents involving large trucks carrying freight or cargo are much more likely to result in catastrophic or deadly injuries for those involved in the crash. This is extremely concerning for anyone on the roads here in the Crossroads of America, where Indiana ranks within the top ten states for freight transportation by truck, and where Hoosier truck routes are not only numerous but considered an indispensable part of the national freight transportation system. Read, Huge and Growing Freight Truck Traffic in Northern Indiana: Increasing Danger of Semi-Truck Crashes.

According to research findings of the non-profit research organization Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (“IIHS”), most truck crash fatalities involve those inside passenger vehicles in the collision. The IIHS suggests several contributing factors to fatal large truck crashes:

the weight of the truck, which “…weigh 20-30 times as much as passenger vehicles;”
the size of the truck, because “…they are taller and have greater ground clearance than cars;”
fatigued truckers, where federal regulations mandate they can be “…behind the wheel for as long as 11 hours at a stretch;” and
the braking capability of the truck, because “…stopping distances for trucks are much longer, particularly on wet and slippery roads or if the brake systems are poorly maintained.”

For more on the causes of Indiana large truck crashes, read Thelin, R., et al. “Indiana Crash Facts 2021,” Indiana Public Policy Institute (2022).

Common Types of Large Truck Crashes

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) warns of a rising trend in fatal large truck crashes in this country, with a 52% increase in fatal accidents between 2010 and 2021. Read, FMCSA Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts 2021 (latest publication). Sadly, safety organizations and advocates for truck crash victims and their loved ones understand that these are often preventable accidents that happen in a limited number of ways.

Consider the following common types of big rig, semi-truck, 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, tanker, reefer, etc., accidents together with examples of recent news media coverage of these types of large truck accidents happening in the State of Indiana:

1. Jackknife Accidents

According to FMCSA, a large truck “jackknifes” where there is “a loss of control of the vehicle by the driver in which the trailer(s) yaws from its normal straight-line path behind the power unit.”

See: “Jack-knifed semi shuts down eastbound lanes of I-94 in Northwest Indiana,” published by ABC7-Chicago on February 19, 2025.

2. Rear-End Collisions

A truck crash is deemed a “rear-end collision” by FMCSA when two vehicles, the truck and another motor vehicle, collide as one hits the other from behind. The truck can be struck in the rear or on the side at the rear.

See, “Deadly crash involving semi, car on I-65 in Boone County,” written by Matt Adams and published by FOX59 on May 22, 2025.

3. Rollovers or Overturns

In a truck accident involving a “rollover” or “overturn,” FMCSA explains that the truck rotates 90 degrees or more, either side-to-side or end-to-end. There may be multiple rotations before the rig comes to a halt.

Read, “Five semi trucks TOPPLED on Indiana interstate by ‘extremely strong gust of wind’” published by Live Trucking with media post by Indiana State Police, “Traffic Alert,” on April 2, 2025.

4. Underride Collisions

Some of the most horrific truck crashes involve “underride collisions,” where the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) explains “ …a car slides under the body of a truck—such as a tractor-trailer or single-unit truck—due to the height difference between the vehicles … in which any portion of a passenger vehicle slides under the body of a larger truck or trailer.”

See, “Wayne Township firefighters respond to second underride crash in a month,” written by Kara Kenney and published by WRTV on December 17, 2021.

5. Blind Spot (No-Zone) Accidents

Serious truck accidents also happen as “blind spot crashes” where vehicles are driving in areas where the truck driver cannot see them, called the trucker’s “blind spot” or “no zone.”

For more, read Blind Spots and Fatal Semi-Truck Accidents.

6. Head-On Collisions

A terrible truck accident where fatalities are often the result is a “head-on crash,” defined by NHTSA as “a collision where the front end of one vehicle collides with the front end of another vehicle while the two vehicles are traveling in opposite directions.”

Read, “Man dies in head-on crash with semi near Indiana Dunes,” written by Andy Koval and published by WGN9 on February 24, 2025.

7. Side-Impact (T-Bone) Collisions

Side-impact or “T-Bone collisions” happen when one motor vehicle slams into the side of the large truck with devastating results; these accidents often happen at intersections.

Read, “Decatur man dies after t-bone crash with semi,” written by Martin Murphy and published by WANE on August 5, 2024.

8. Multi-Vehicle Pileups

Especially in densely traveled Indiana, there is the risk of multi-vehicle pileups, where several different types of motor vehicles are involved in an accident, usually during severe winter weather conditions where visibility is low.

See, “17-year-old girl flown to Indianapolis hospital after crash involving train, semi and car in northwest Indiana,” published by WTHR on December 4, 2024.

Seeking Justice After Fatal Semi-Truck Accidents in Indiana

Here in the Hoosier State, it is commonplace to drive a car, SUV, minivan, or pickup truck on popular routes like the Borman Expressway alongside any number of fully-loaded big rigs, semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, reefers, tanker trucks, flatbeds, box trucks, or 18-wheelers, with everyone driving at speed limits exceeding 60 mph. We usually take all that large truck traffic as simply part of our daily lives.

Nevertheless, the huge volume of commercial truck traffic comes with a greater risk of a fatal truck crash where the trucker, the cab occupants, as well as the driver and passengers in other motor vehicles can be seriously hurt or even killed. For details, read our discussion in “Semi Trucks and Big Rigs: High Indiana and Illinois Commercial Truck Traffic Creates Dangerous Conditions.”

Understanding the various types of fatal truck accidents will hopefully help everyone on our roadways and truck routes to better protect against being involved in one of these tragic truck crashes.

Drivers knowing the importance of keeping a safe distance behind any semi may protect against a deadly underride accident. Truckers slowing to keep a safe space between their rig and vehicles ahead of them may serve to prevent a rear-end collision, especially in road work zones.

For more on Indiana semi-truck crashes, read:

When someone is harmed by a fatal truck crash, there are laws in Indiana that provide avenues for justice both for the wrongful death of the driver and other truck crash victims as well as the damages sustained by their loved ones and survivors in the accident’s aftermath. Fatal truck crashes are a very real danger in Indiana. Let’s be careful out there!