Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyer

Highly Qualified Personal Injury Lawyers Committed to Helping Car Accident Victims Seek Compensation in Indianapolis, Indiana

Motor vehicle accidents can often be life-altering moments for any victim, regardless of how serious or minor the accident may have appeared to onlookers. In addition to the possibility of suffering serious bodily injuries, many car accident victims sustain emotional distress and other forms of psychological damage as a result of surviving such a traumatic ordeal. The full extent of most auto accidents is not immediately apparent when an individual is injured in an accident, as there may be a long road to recovery, both in terms of their health and financial situation.

If car accident victims do not take proper legal action in the aftermath of their accident, they may be held responsible for medical expenses, lost wages, and other financial or non-financial losses related to their ordeal. To ensure that you recover a fair settlement for your injuries and other losses, you are encouraged to seek professional legal guidance from experienced attorneys who can assist you in filing your personal injury claim and exploring all other options for financial recovery.

Our law firm has extensive experience assisting clients through the claims process in pursuit of fair compensation in both personal injury cases and fatal car accidents. Many victims find that recovering compensation without dedicated legal counsel is more challenging than they might have ever expected, and your chances of maximizing your total compensation are increased with the legal representation of a car accident attorney. As your legal representatives, we will represent you in settlement negotiations with the at-fault driver’s insurance provider or your own insurance company, as well as take your case to trial if it is necessary.

We have represented clients in all sorts of car accident injury cases and have the knowledge and experience necessary to help you seek a favorable outcome in personal injury proceedings. Gerling Law Injury Attorneys also offers free consultations to prospective new clients, which presents victims with a risk-free opportunity to learn some of their legal options and the benefits of retaining our services. To initiate the legal process of filing your claim and seeking full compensation, please get in touch with our Indianapolis law office to schedule a complimentary initial consultation with our team today.

How Common Are Car Crashes in Indianapolis, IN?

Indiana utilizes resources from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to collect and analyze car crash data on an annual basis. According to data from recent years, there were approximately a dozen fatalities per 100,000 population across the state of Indiana annually. In 2022, there were 964 fatalities in traffic accidents, making it the deadliest year for a full decade up to that point.

In 2022, there were over 36,000 total automobile collisions in Marion County, ranking the county and Indianapolis as having the highest number of car crashes within the state of Indiana. In 2022, there were 140 recorded fatal car accidents, and over 5,000 crashes that resulted in non-fatal injuries. Most auto accidents in Indianapolis and Marion County resulted in only property damage, but these accidents could still prove costly to any motorist or passenger. In 2023 statistics, Marion County saw 36,662 recorded motor vehicle accidents; of those crashes, over 2000 were related to speeding, and nearly 300 involved drunk or impaired driving.

Even if you were only in a minor accident, you still may have suffered physical pain and suffering, expenses for vehicle damage, and other damages deserving of compensation through the legal process. By utilizing various pieces of evidence, our legal team can help you seek financial compensation for your losses. The hope is to help make car accident victims financially whole again and unburdened by the cost of their auto accident. Contact our Indianapolis car accident lawyers to schedule your free case review today.

What Should You Do in the Immediate Aftermath of a Motor Vehicle Accident in Indianapolis?

If you have been in a motor vehicle accident, you must take specific steps to safeguard your well-being as well as the validity of your insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Failure to take proper steps and precautions after a motor vehicle collision could put you in danger, as well as endanger your ability to recover maximum compensation.

Among the steps we recommend taking following a car crash include the following:

Call 911 to Summon Law Enforcement and Paramedics

Your first concern after an accident should be to contact emergency first responders and summon them to the scene. You mustn’t leave the accident scene without first speaking to law enforcement about how the car accident occurred. When police officers arrive, please provide them with a detailed account of what happened so that they can create a comprehensive police report, which will be valuable evidence for your personal injury case. It’s also imperative that victims seek medical care as soon as possible, even if they do not believe their injuries are severe.

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

We strongly recommend that all individuals involved in a car accident be evaluated by medical professionals immediately following the incident. You may believe that your injuries are relatively minor, but some injuries may be masked by adrenaline or otherwise invisible until they begin to manifest and worsen later. Additionally, failure to get medical treatment from paramedics or doctors could potentially devalue your claim in the eyes of the insurance companies, who could point to the fact that you did not seek medical care as evidence that you did not suffer severe injuries. When you see a doctor about your car accident injuries, medical records will be created, which can also prove helpful to your attorneys.

Obtain the Other Driver’s Insurance and Contact Information

If you are physically able and have not suffered especially catastrophic injuries following the crash, you should approach the other motorist and any other parties involved in the accident. You want to request their name, contact information, insurance policy details, and any other information that could be used to reach them as the case proceeds. You do not need to discuss what happened with the other driver, and in fact, we recommend that you refrain from doing so. Anything you say to the other motorist could potentially be used against your case, such as if you apologize or shrug off the seriousness of your injuries. If the other driver flees the scene of the accident, do not attempt to follow them. If you’ve survived a hit-and-run accident, attempt to write down as much relevant information about the driver and their vehicle as possible and then wait at the scene for first responders.

Gather Evidence from the Accident Scene

Before vacating the crash scene, gather evidence that could be used to support your personal injury case. You want to obtain photo and video evidence of any visible injuries, property or vehicle damage, environmental conditions such as weather or time of day, debris on the road, skid marks, and anything else that could be deemed relevant to your case. If there are any witnesses to how the car accident occurred, approach them and ask for their contact information. Eyewitness testimonies can be invaluable to strengthening your personal injury case.

Do Not Speak to Insurance Adjusters or Anyone at the Insurance Company

In most car accident cases, insurance adjusters arrive at the scene to survey the damage and speak with anyone involved in the crash. While an insurance adjuster or any other representative of an insurance company may seem sympathetic to your pain and suffering, you must remember that they are not on your side and are only looking for ways to save money and potentially devalue your claim. You do not need to speak with the insurance adjuster, and we advise against providing any statement, either verbally or in written form.

Contact Our Indiana Law Firm for a Free Case Review

Instead of speaking with the insurance company or anyone else involved in the crash, contact the Indianapolis car accident attorneys of our firm to discuss your legal issues in more detail in a free consultation. Our Indiana car accident legal team has extensive experience in these practice areas, and we will explore all options to help you seek a favorable settlement for your injuries, medical bills, and other expenses or losses. To get started, contact our Indianapolis law office to schedule your free, no obligation case evaluation immediately following the accident.

Do You Really Need the Legal Representation of an Attorney for Your Car Accident Claim?

There are many common myths and misconceptions about car accident cases, including the belief that insurance companies are on your side, that trials are unavoidable, and that you can obtain a satisfactory conclusion to your case without legal counsel.

Unless you are delighted with insurance companies offering you lowball settlements that do not take into account the full extent of your injuries and future expenses, we strongly encourage you to contact our experienced personal injury attorneys to discuss the possibility of maximizing your compensation. Additionally, you should not put your trust in the insurance companies to gather the necessary evidence from the accident scene. Remember, insurance companies are going to find ways to dismiss or devalue your personal injury claims at every opportunity, and that may include bad faith tactics.

There’s also the concern that, if you don’t accept the initial settlement offer, your case will go to trial, which can be costly and time-consuming. Most car accident cases never end up in the courtroom trial setting and are instead settled out of court in negotiations or mediation. Our attorneys will represent your interests in all settlement negotiations with the insurance providers and the at-fault parties, as well as take on lawyers representing the defense to help you secure a favorable settlement offer.

What Types of Indianapolis Car Accident Cases Does Our Legal Team Represent?

Our Indianapolis law firm handles many different types of auto accident cases. We are dedicated to helping our clients achieve satisfactory and efficient outcomes for their legal matters with the utmost compassion.

Examples of the different types of car accident cases we represent include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

Single vehicle collisions and multiple vehicle pileups
Hit and run accidents
Uninsured or underinsured car crashes
Wrongful death accidents
Crashes involving large trucks and other commercial vehicles
T-bone crashes, rear-end collisions, side impact swipes, rollovers, and head-on collisions
Motorcycle and bicycle accidents
Pedestrian accidents involving motor vehicles
Car accidents caused by defective parts or malfunctioning vehicles
Drunk driving accidents and dram shop violations
Incidents where passengers are left injured
Distracted driving accidents, such as texting while driving
Railway collisions
Car wrecks at intersections or crosswalks
Serious injuries suffered by children
Rideshare accidents, including those involving Uber and Lyft companies
Accidents involving government entities or municipalities
Drugged driving accidents, including crashes caused by drivers operating vehicles while under the influence of marijuana
And more

By seeking our legal advice, you ensure that your case is in capable hands and increase the likelihood of securing a fair financial recovery for your injuries and damages.

Why Do Traffic Accidents Commonly Occur?

An auto accident can happen at any time and any place. One moment, you’re minding your business and traveling to where you want to be, and the next moment, another vehicle violently collides with your passenger car, sending your life into a spiral of pain, economic concerns, and questionable recovery. While motor vehicle accidents can have numerous causes, specific root causes are more commonly observed than others.

Among the many common causes of car accidents in Indianapolis are the following:

Speeding, particularly driving at speeds that are unsafe for certain conditions, such as weather conditions, winding roads, or traffic buildup
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, which can impair reaction times, judgment, and other factors necessary for safe driving
Adverse weather conditions can affect maneuverability, stopping times, and traction. Examples of dangerous weather conditions include downpours, snow, ice, and high winds
Distracted driving, which includes texting, talking on a cell phone without hands-free technology, adjusting GPS settings, and other examples that draw a motorist’s eyes away from the road and their responsibilities to other drivers
Poor road conditions, including improperly designed roads, potholes, and debris left in the roads, can endanger even the most experienced motorists
Drowsy driving and driver fatigue, which can cause motorists to fall asleep behind the wheel of a vehicle, endanger everyone who shares the roads with them
Improper lane usage, dangerous passing attempts, and unsafe turns
Driving on the wrong side of the road, or other instances where unfamiliarity with certain streets causes confusion and driver error
Aggressive or reckless driving, including road rage, can dramatically increase the likelihood of accidents occurring
Failing to use your mirrors properly and backing up in a dangerous manner is a common cause of accidents in parking lots and garages
A failure to yield, particularly at an intersection or crosswalk, can endanger other individuals, especially pedestrians
Disobeying traffic laws or disregarding the necessity of using proper turn signals and other traffic safety measures
And more

What Are Common Types of Car Accident Injuries?

Statistics show that almost half of all fatal crashes involve drivers and passengers of cars who were either impaired by drugs or alcohol, driving at excessive speeds, or not wearing seat belts at the time of the collision.

Common injuries that our personal injury law firm sees in car accident claims include the following:

Broken bones and fractures
Various types of head injuries, including concussions, open head wounds, and severe traumatic brain injuries
Deep cuts, heavy bruising, road rash, and other injuries that caused significant scarring or damage to the skin
Internal injuries, including nerve damage, organ failure, and internal bleeding
Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and other psychological injuries
Loss of hearing or sight
Disfigurement, dismemberment, and disability
Back and neck injuries, which can range from minor whiplash to spinal cord injuries that can result in paralysis
And more

Why is it Essential to Prove Negligence on the Part of the At-Fault Driver?

Indiana law operates by a fault system (also known as a tort system), meaning that individuals or entities who cause car accidents are expected to be liable for any resulting damages. Personal injury victims have the right to take legal action against at-fault drivers, their insurance company providers, and other entities in pursuit of financial compensation through the legal process, potentially taking their case to court.

To prove that the other party was to blame, you and your attorneys must often prove negligence. This typically involves establishing that the other party held a reasonable duty of care to keep others safe from their actions. If the at-fault party failed in this duty of care, your legal representatives must draw a direct line between that breach of duty of care and the resulting injuries. Then, provided you suffered real losses due to the cause of the accident, you may be able to establish negligence and recover compensation.

Indiana also operates under a modified comparative negligence system for personal injury cases. Under this system, even motorists who were partially to blame for causing the accident may still be able to seek compensation for their losses. However, injured parties must demonstrate that they were 50% or less at fault to recover damages. Those who were 51% or more at fault are likely to be barred from any financial recovery. Additionally, any amount of shared negligence can devalue your maximum compensation. For example, if you were 30% responsible, you would see your total compensation reduced by 30%.

How Can Our Indiana Car Accident Lawyers Help You Recover Maximum Compensation?

By utilizing various pieces of evidence, our Indiana car accident attorneys can work to strengthen your personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim in hopes of helping you recover the maximum compensation available in your case. Useful evidence that could be used in your case includes accident reports, medical records, witness testimonies, and the opinions from professional car accident reconstructionists.

With a successful claim, you may be awarded economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are typically easier to calculate than their counterparts, as they can be traced back to receipts for medical expenses and other out-of-pocket costs. Non-economic damages, which are intended to compensate victims for pain and suffering and other intangible losses without a monetary value, can be more challenging to calculate. To ensure that you receive the proper compensation in both economic and non-economic damages, you must work with attorneys well-versed in these practice areas.

Potential financial recovery in your car accident case could include the following:

Past medical bills and future medical expenses, including reimbursement for physical therapy, necessary surgeries, prescription medication, and more.
Lost wages if unable to return to work, and estimated lost income earning capacity if your car accident injuries rob you of your ability to return to any line of employment.
Property damage, including compensation for vehicle damage, repairs, and replacements
Compensation for mental anguish, emotional distress, and chronic pain and suffering.
Wrongful death damages, which can compensate surviving loved ones for expenses such as medical bills incurred before death, lost benefits or loss of inheritance, lost companionship or consortium, and settlements for funeral, burial, and memorial expenses.

The value of your insurance claim or car accident lawsuit will depend upon several factors. To learn more, contact our Indiana law office to speak with our attorneys about the potential financial recovery in your case.

Is There a Deadline for Filing Personal Injury Lawsuits?

According to Indiana laws, victims in personal injury cases have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in pursuit of compensation. This deadline, known as the statute of limitations, is strict and cannot be dismissed. Failure to file a lawsuit against the other driver within the statute of limitations will usually result in you being barred from recovering compensation in your personal injury or wrongful death case.

There may be certain exceptions to the statute of limitations, however. To ensure that you file your claim within the allotted time window, we encourage you to speak with our attorneys and legal staff as soon as possible.

Contact Our Indianapolis Personal Injury Law Firm to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with Our Experienced Attorneys Today

No two car accident cases are exactly alike. Some are more complex than others, such as those involving hit-and-run drivers, those with questionable shared negligence, or those that require uninsured motorist coverage for compensation. Our Indianapolis auto accident attorneys have represented clients in all sorts of car accident cases, making us highly qualified legal professionals capable of defending your interests throughout the proceedings in hopes of recovering fair financial compensation.

Our Indianapolis law firm operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you do not owe us any legal fees unless and until we recover compensation in your case. That, combined with the free consultations, presents a risk-free opportunity for injured victims to learn about their legal rights and explore potential options for recovering a suitable settlement in their case.

To begin the attorney-client relationship, contact our Indianapolis car accident lawyers to request your free, no-obligation case evaluation today. You can reach us at 812-213-4551.