Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyer

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Enduring a serious injury in a car accident can cause permanent impairments and a lengthy recovery, but it can also bring a tremendous financial burden. If you need help recovering these damages, contact a car accident attorney today.

Motor vehicle collisions are probably some of the most common injury-inducing events. With thousands of car accidents occurring across the state every year, it’s no wonder so many Indianapolis residents face serious auto injuries.

If you are one of these car accident victims, you should be able to recover without the added burden of financial woes. Fortunately, you have the opportunity to seek compensation from the person or persons responsible for your accident. To get started, call a qualified Indianapolis car accident lawyer at Kooi Law who has the experience you need to obtain maximum compensation for your suffering.

Common Car Accident Injuries

When a car accident happens, you’ll need to seek medical attention immediately. Your injuries could be severe, but you might not know it until later. Symptoms of some injuries might not fully appear until hours, days, or even weeks later, such as internal bleeding or a concussion.

You might not notice too many symptoms in the hours after the crash, but untreated injuries can quickly turn fatal. This is especially true in highly vulnerable wrecks, such as motorcycle crashes or semi-truck collisions.

Of course, not all car accident injuries are fatal, but avoiding medical care could cause you trouble when seeking compensation. If you don’t seek medical attention, the insurance provider might take that as a sign that you don’t need compensation. When the ambulance arrives on the scene of your Indianapolis crash, don’t take a chance with your health or your future recovery funds.

If you’re involved in a car accident, you might suffer one or more of the following severe injuries:

• Bone fractures
• Organ damage
• Whiplash
• Head trauma
• Spinal injuries

Liability in Indianapolis Car Accidents

It’s easy to assume that the driver of the other car is the one responsible for your Indianapolis auto collision and subsequent injuries. After all, you know you were doing your part to drive safely, and they hit you. Keep in mind, however, that Indiana is a fault state, for insurance purposes. That means the at-fault driver is financially responsible, but you’ll need to prove who caused it.

Some cases aren’t so simple. Although the other driver does usually hold some blame, you might be surprised to know that many other parties could have played a part in causing your car crash. Proving that these parties are responsible will be vital to your claim, and an experienced attorney can help analyze the wreck and pull together the necessary evidence.

Driver Negligence in Car Accidents

Driver negligence is more common than is acceptable. When a driver operates a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, while fatigued, while distracted by a cell phone or radio station, or while driving aggressively, they put the lives of all other travelers in jeopardy.

If a driver is found liable for a car accident, they will likely deal with consequences that include fees, drivers license loss or suspension, and even criminal charges. You can also hold the driver accountable by filing an Indianapolis car accident claim to recover fair compensation for your damages.

Car Manufacturers and Mechanics

It isn’t just the other driver who could have played a part in your collision, however. It’s shocking how many vehicle technicians and parts manufacturers don’t take the safety of passengers and drivers seriously.

By law, if a car part is faulty or has been recalled, manufacturers are obligated to notify the vehicle owners of the malfunction and offer repairs. When manufacturers fail to do this, thousands of accidents that could have been prevented result in critical or catastrophic  injuries.

The Government and Car Accidents

In addition, Indiana governmental road authorities have a responsibility to maintain safe roadways. If debris, gaping potholes, improperly secured construction zones, or missing traffic lights or signs were the cause of your accident, you may be able to pursue compensation from a government agency.

As you can see, numerous individuals and entities can be found liable for the damages you’ve suffered in your Indianapolis car accident. Failure to drive safely at all times, install functioning parts, or maintain safe roads can cost lives. Fortunately, you have the opportunity to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions, and an Indianapolis car wreck lawyer can help.

Your Car Accident Lawyer Will Handle the Insurers

Insurance companies can be difficult to deal with. Masquerading as corporations that will protect you if you are injured, but then failing to deliver and, in some cases, attempting to make you out to be the one at fault, is simply dishonest.

Unfortunately, nearly every insurer prioritizes its needs above those of policyholders and claimants in an attempt to protect the company’s profits.

It’s true that, as part of a for-profit industry, insurers lose money by paying out on claims. But, we have little tolerance for businesses that manipulate the well-intentioned statements given to them by injury victims to further their own agendas.

To protect your car accident claim from these attempts, your Indianapolis attorney can deal with the insurance adjusters on your behalf. We have the necessary experience working with insurance companies to ensure that you receive the full compensation you’re entitled to.

Compensation for Your Car Accident Losses

By now, you know that you should be fully compensated for all of your losses. But you might not know what being fully compensated looks like. Essentially, you should be made whole and have every car accident-related expense and hardship you’ve endured covered by the person who has devastated your life through carelessness.

Economic Damages from Car Accidents

A car accident isn’t just scary and painful, it’s expensive. Recovering completely takes time, energy, and money, which might be in short supply. When you’re suffering and unable to work, it can be nearly impossible to cover the cost of a full recovery. That’s why your economic damages should cover all your financial losses.

We usually calculate the value of an Indianapolis car accident claim by taking into consideration any expenses you’ve incurred, including your medical costs and the costs of replacing or repairing your car, as well as your lost income.

Those future expenses should cover any costs stemming from the accident in the future as well. For example, you might know you’ll need a surgery in the future, once you’ve made more progress in your recovery. Although that expense hasn’t happened yet, you should include it in your compensation. This also includes future lost earning potential, as well.

Non-Economic Damages from Car Accidents

In addition, we believe you should be compensated for your pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and any other non-economic damages you might be facing. These losses encompass the mental toll on you after an auto accident, which can be just as devastating as the financial damages.

For example, after your accident, you might struggle to start driving again. Every time you get behind the wheel, you feel anxious or afraid. In more severe cases, you might experience flashbacks, causing you to avoid driving at all. That affects your mobility, your feeling of safety, and your ability to enjoy life as you once did.

These damages are intangible, however, so they can be a little more difficult to calculate than economic damages. Fortunately, a car crash lawyer can help you quantify these losses so you can determine the total value of your injury claim.

Indiana Laws Affecting Your Accident Claim

When you’re involved in an accident in Indianapolis, you’ll need to focus on fighting for the compensation you’re owed. You’ll also need to focus on protecting that compensation, not just how much it’s worth. If you’re not paying attention to the effects of these laws, your claim could suffer for it.

Indiana laws can affect your claim before you ever get started. All claims have a time limit, and for Indiana residents, you’ll only have two years to file. If you don’t file your claim within two years of your accident, you could lose your chance at compensation for your suffering.

You’ll also need to avoid any claims of fault. Indiana lawmakers understand that not all accidents are one person’s fault alone, so the other driver might claim you were partially responsible. Under modified comparative negligence, your compensation could be reduced by the amount of fault you’re found responsible for. If you’re found more than 50 percent at fault, you could be barred from recovery.

For example, let’s say you’re hit by another driver, but it’s late at night, and you’re too drowsy to avoid the accident. You might be found 15 percent at fault for the accident, which doesn’t sound like much. Unfortunately, that means you’ll only receive 85 percent of the total compensation you deserve for your accident, which can translate into thousands of dollars less than what you expected.

An experienced auto wreck attorney can help protect your claim against accusations of fault and ensure you’re receiving the maximum compensation you deserve.

Call a Car Accident Attorney

When you need help determining who is responsible for your motor vehicle accident, or you have questions regarding the total value of your claim, contact an experienced Indianapolis car accident lawyer at Kooi Law. Our team of highly trained attorneys will stop at nothing to ensure that you receive maximum compensation for your damages.

Considering filing a claim for your car crash but aren’t sure where to start? That’s why our attorneys offer free consultations. We know how challenging it can be to recover after a major injury, and we know how overwhelming it can feel to determine the right lawyer for you. We’ll review your claim and explain how we can help before you sign anything.

When you’re ready to file a claim, reach out to a lawyer to discuss the details before you begin. You can schedule a free claim evaluation with a car wreck lawyer from Indianapolis today by filling out the contact form at the bottom of this page or by giving us a call at 317-569-1335.