If you suffered injuries in an Evansville car accident, you are not alone.
Thousands of car accidents occur on Indiana roads every year. Aside from the frustration, car accidents can leave you with medical expenses, injuries, and damage to your property.
The experienced Evansville car accident attorneys at Gerling Law are prepared to represent your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us online or call (888) 437-5464 today for a free consultation.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Evansville, Indiana?
The moments following a car accident are often confusing and traumatic. However, gathering evidence relevant to your case is easier in the moments immediately following the accident than in the days following.
Contact Authorities
You should always contact the police after being involved in an Evansville car accident. If you have obvious injuries, request emergency medical attention. Police will complete an accident report documenting relevant information about your collision. Information from the accident report is vital evidence for your case, as it in place will provide transparency if someone tries to change his or her story.
Gather Witness Information
If possible, you should collect as much information as you can from the scene of the accident. That includes retrieving contact information for anyone who witnessed the accident.
Take Photographs
Take as many photographs of the environment surrounding your accident as possible. In the event the police report does not contain this information, photographs can be used as evidence to show the conditions that were present at the time of your accident.
Get a Medical Evaluation
After a car accident, you should obtain a full medical evaluation. Even if you did not realize you were hurt at the time of the accident, some injuries reveal themselves after some time has passed. The doctor’s notes and your medical record can be used as evidence to prove the injuries you suffered in the accident and the damages you sustained as a result.
Don’t Talk to the Insurance Companies
Insurance companies make a profit by limiting the amount of money they pay on claims. They are skilled at getting the information they need from clients and victims to prove that they do not owe anything. Let your attorney handle all of the interactions with insurance adjusters, and do not agree to release any medical records unless you have already talked to your lawyer.
Hire an Evansville Car Accident Lawyer
Last but not least, contact an Evansville car accident attorney to review your case. At Gerling Law, we are committed to getting the justice and compensation our clients deserve. We know this is a challenging time for you, but you do not have to face it alone. If you suffered injuries in an Evansville car accident, contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Indiana
Car accidents occur all across the United States several times a day. Even for the most cautious drivers, involvement in a car accident is always a risk. According to the Indiana Crash Facts of 2019, 217,387 total car crashes occurred in the state throughout the year. 7,144 collisions occurred in Vanderburgh County, where Evansville is located. Vanderburgh County ranks sixth in the state for most collisions in 2019.
Car accidents don’t just happen. They are almost always the result of a driver not following traffic laws or traffic signs. While there are many causes of motor vehicle collisions, the most common causes of car accidents include the following.
Following Too Closely
Motorists should always leave ample room between their vehicle and the car in front of them. This way, if the car in front needs to come to a sudden stop, they have room to come to a safe stop as well. However, tailgating and following too closely are common, especially during rush hour and other times of congestion.
Failing to Yield Right of Way
Everyone assumes that other drivers will follow traffic laws. However, when drivers don’t yield the right of way to others, it can cause confusion which can quickly lead to an accident.
Unsafe Lane Change
Lane changes are one of the most dangerous maneuvers drivers make, although they don’t have to be. Drivers who change lanes without warning, signaling, or checking their blind spot increase the risk of a car accident.
Driver Loss of Control
When a driver loses control of their vehicle, they can drift out of their lane and strike another car, a pedestrian, or a cyclist. Of course, barring a situation where a motorist experiences a medical emergency, most loss-of-control accidents result from either drunk or distracted driving.
Distracted Driving
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, distracted driving accidents are responsible for more than 424,000 injuries each year. While distractions have always presented a serious risk to motorists, the prevalence of cellular phones has resulted in a dramatic increase in distracted driving accidents. The CDC estimates that one out of every five people killed in distracted driving accidents are pedestrians or cyclists.
Driving Under the Influence
Alcohol affects a person’s judgment, depth perception, and the motor skills necessary to safely operate a vehicle. The human body, regardless of gender or weight, metabolizes alcohol at a rate of about one drink per hour. Consuming alcohol at a pace beyond that rate increases the potential for an individual to become a statistic. In fact, more than 10,000 Americans become a statistic to drunken driving each year, and those who survive an alcohol-related accident may never fully recover.
According to the CDC, 29 people die every day in car accidents involving a driver who is under the influence of alcohol. This makes driving under the influence one of the leading causes of car accidents in Indiana and across the country. What’s more, every single drunk driving accident is entirely preventable, making these accidents especially tragic.
For those who have been in an accident, consulting with an Evansville car accident lawyer is an important first step on the road to recovery. An Evansville car accident attorney can provide accident victims with an honest assessment of their case and help them prepare a compelling case for recovery.
Other negligent driving behavior can cause accidents as well. No matter what caused your accident, our Evansville car accident injury lawyers know how to help.
Damages in an Evansville Car Accident
Car accidents result in injuries, medical expenses, and, in extreme cases, death. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a car accident, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your losses.
Evansville, Indiana car accident victims are eligible to receive economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are objective monetary losses. Examples of economic damages include:
- Lost wages,
- Past and future medical expenses,
- Loss of future earnings,
- Loss of the use of property, and
- Costs of repair or replacement.
Economic damages are easier to calculate than non-economic damages but can still be tricky to prove. An experienced accident attorney in Evansville, IN can assist you in determining what economic damages you are owed.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages attempt to compensate for an injured person’s non-monetary losses.
Examples of non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress,
- Loss of companionship,
- Loss of consortium,
- Loss of enjoyment of life, and
- Inconvenience.
Non-economic damages are difficult to quantify. An Evansville car accident lawyer can help you prove that you are entitled to the full compensation you are seeking.
Over $500 Million in Recoveries
Knowledgeable, professional, and easy to talk with. Gerling Law Injury Attorneys provide a truly exemplary example of a metropolitan law firm that still cares for the welfare of the little guy who needs great representation! - Tresa H.
How Can an Evansville Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?
Having an experienced car accident attorney in your corner is crucial to your car accident case. An attorney can help you collect the information you need for your case, contact possible witnesses to give testimony, and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. Our Evansville car accident attorneys fight aggressively and tirelessly for our clients to secure the compensation they deserve.
With over 50 years of experience handling thousands of car accident cases, we are confident in our ability to obtain a desirable result for you. Call Gerling Law Injury Attorneys for help with your Evansville car accident at (888) 437-5464 or send us an online message.
Evansville Car Accident FAQs
When Should I Contact an Attorney After a Car Accident?
You should contact an Evansville car accident lawyer as soon as possible if you are in a car wreck. We can gather the essential evidence necessary for you to bring a successful claim. Insurance companies frequently offer low amounts to injured parties that may not cover all your expenses. We can help handle each aspect of your car accident claim so that you recover what you deserve.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Indiana?
Under Indiana law, you will have two years from the accident date to file a car accident case. The “clock” starts to run beginning on the day of the collision. The process of filing a claim can be lengthy, so ensure that you reach out to a lawyer early on. A skillful attorney can help you build your claim in advance and file it in a timely fashion.
How Long Do Most Car Accident Settlements Take?
The amount of time it takes to receive a car accident settlement varies based on the complexities of your claim. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several years. For instance, if the level of fault needs to be clarified, this can make a claim take longer to settle. Additionally, if you have more severe injuries and losses, receiving a fair amount of compensation will take time.
What Should I Do If the Other Driver’s Insurance Company Contacts Me?
You do not have to speak to the other driver’s insurance company. They do not have your best interests in mind, so it is essential to be cautious. If you do talk to them, explain that you will not discuss any details about the collision or who is responsible. You can also ask them to gather specific information from your car insurance company.
What Happens If I Was Partially at Fault for the Accident?
It is common for multiple parties to be liable for a car accident. Nevertheless, if you are partially at fault, it does not necessarily mean that you won’t be able to recover compensation. In Indiana, you could still recover some compensation if your percentage of fault is under 51%. This is because Indiana follows modified comparative negligence laws.
