Michael Leizerman has spent many years working with clients who have been involved in accidents with big rigs and other large vehicles. Michael has represented accident victims nationwide, including in Indiana, and he is regularly referred to by other lawyers for his specialized knowledge on handling truck accident cases.
Outside of court, Michael devotes much of his time to sharing knowledge with other legal professionals through lectures that afford him the opportunity to discuss the trial strategies and courtroom maneuverings that have helped him successfully represent clients throughout the United States.
Or contact me online. All information is kept confidential. I will not accept a case in a state where I'm not ethically permitted under the circumstances.
Last month, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released safety data from 2011, including the following: One-third of truck occupant fatalities occurred when occupant was not wearing a seatbelt; 64% of large truck fatal crashes occurred on rural roads; … [Read more]
Read more >A man was killed when his car was rear-ended by a tractor trailer on US-30 near Bourbon, Ind., on Sunday, April 29. According to WNDU.com, the 82-year-old driver was slowing to turn right onto Cedar Road off of US-30 when … [Read more]
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I am honored that West Thompson—the world’s largest publisher of legal books—asked me to write this multi-volume book on truck accident law in 2004. I had already begun the project for my own reference. My book includes the federal regulations that are the same in each state for interstate tractor-trailer crashes, as well as state law that differs in areas, like whether there are monetary limits or “caps” in the lawsuit, whether you can receive punitive damages, and the varying technical requirements for filing a lawsuit.
I have handled cases across the country. I am licensed in several states, and have local counsel in many states who I trust and work with closely. Select your state to learn more:
Because of the state's proximity to hubs throughout the Great Lakes region, trucks rely on Indiana's freeway system to transport goods nationwide. And with metropolitan areas like Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Gary, in-state truck commerce in Indiana greatly affects traffic on freeways such as Interstate 69, Interstate 94 and the Indiana Toll Road, as well as on the countless two-lane roads that reach all corners of the state. Every year, more than 4,000 accidents involving trucks occur on those roadways, injuring thousands of motorists and killing more than 100. If you've been injured in a truck accident, contact Michael to ensure that you get the legal representation you deserve.
I regularly engage in continuing legal education presentations around the country, including the following events in or near Indiana:
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (Title 49, Parts 350-399) govern all vehicles engaged in interstate traffic.
There are some situations where a tractor-trailer or other commercial motor vehicle is involved in only intrastate travel. For example, an appliance store in Gary may own a truck that only makes in-state deliveries.
The Indiana Department of Public Safety has adopted Title 49, Parts 382, 383, 384, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, and 399 of the federal regulations.
For an overview of laws that affect trucks operating only in Indiana, visit our Indiana Trucking Laws page.
Your truck accident case may be larger than you think. My experience often enables me to maximize awards, well beyond what the co-counsel originally expected. My book Litigating Truck Accident Cases, published by West Publishing, is considered the definitive work on handling truck accident cases. Contact me if you are seeking co-counsel on your case.
Fatal Truck Accidents: 166 per year
Non-Fatal Truck Accidents: 4,289 per year
Accident Locales: 82%(Rural), 18%(Urban)
Carrier Fact: 57% of Indiana's truck accidents involve carriers whose principle place of business is not Indiana.
In 85% of Indiana's truck accidents, weather conditions were NOT a factor.
Interstate 65: From Alabama to Indiana, I-65 spans a significant section of America's midsection. Its 261 miles pass through the Indiana cities of Indianapolis and LaFayette.
Interstate 69: I-69 runs from Indianapolis to the Canadian border in Michigan, traveling 157 miles through Indiana, including passage near the cities of Muncie, Marion and Ft. Wayne.
Interstate 70: Spanning the distance from Utah to Baltimore, I-70 spends 157 miles in Indiana where it passes through Indianapolis.
Interstate 74: I-74 runs from Iowa to Ohio, spending 172 miles in Indiana, intersecting I-70 and I-65 in Indianapolis.
Interstate 80: America's second-longest highway (see I-90 below), I-80 runs from San Francisco to New Jersey. Its 157 miles in Indiana include the cities of Gary and South Bend, and the suburbs of Chicago.
Interstate 90: I-90 is America's longest highway running from Seattle to Boston. Its 156 miles in Indiana are known as the Indiana Toll Road, and link Hammond, Gary and South Bend.
Interstate 94: From Montana to Michigan, I-94 provides a major connection between America's Great Lakes and Intermountain regions. Its 46 miles in Indiana are known as the Borman Expressway, and pass through Hammond, Gary, Portage and Michigan City.
