When a startling car accident leaves you injured, there are a bunch of things to worry about. Firstly, if your injuries are severe, you may need months in recovery. This may mean losing out on work, which will only add to financial distress. Indiana is an at-fault state. If the other driver was negligent or careless, you may ask for compensation by filing an insurance claim with their insurer, or filing a personal injury lawsuit. In your own interest, you need to consider hiring an Indiana car accident attorney, and in this post, we are sharing basic laws and facts that drivers need to know.
The car accident laws
- Indiana follows the modified comparative fault rule for car accidents. If you had share of fault, your awarded compensation will be reduced by your share in percentage. In case your share of fault is more than 50%, you cannot recover anything at all.
- The statute of limitations in Indiana that apply to personal injury cases also apply to car accident lawsuits. You have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit against the party at fault.
What to do after a car accident?
Firstly, pull over and call 911. If you are injured, you need to seek medical attention immediately. Check if other drivers and passengers need help. Next, call the police and wait for them to arrive. Do not let anyone talk you out of calling the police or your attorney. In Indiana, drivers are required to report a car accident, if it resulted in injuries, death, or damage to an unattended vehicle.
When to hire an attorney?
Insurance companies often deny claims for odd and flimsy reasons. If the claim is accepted, the offer made by the claims adjuster will be lower than what you may deserve. Issues with filing your claim can also cause delays. To avoid all of that, hiring a car accident attorney is a wise idea. You definitely need to seek legal opinion, if the accident caused severe injuries, permanent or temporary disabilities. Your eventual compensation may be more than just a few thousand dollars. Also, a good attorney can help in evaluating the true worth of your car accident claim, and they will do their share of investigation to find evidence.
If you intend to hire a lawyer, make sure to call one immediately after the car accident, so that you have time to gather evidence.
