Car Accident Lawyer Lafayette, IN

If you were injured in a car accident, you should discuss your case with a car accident lawyer Lafayette, IN residents trust. A lawyer can help you recover losses you suffered due to the accident, such as medical bills and lost wages. Having someone knowledgeable on your side can make the situation easier.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, ranging from mild to severe. Here are the most common injuries people suffer in vehicle collisions:

• Head Injuries: Car accidents can cause minor to severe head injuries. Concussions are one of the most common types of head injuries suffered in these accidents and can lead to nausea, dizziness, confusion and headaches. Coup-contrecoup head injuries are more serious and are more likely to occur in very violent accidents. Symptoms including bleeding in the brain, skull fractures, confusion and swelling in the brain.

• Whiplash: Whiplash is a common neck injury that occurs during car accidents when the head is jerked back and forth suddenly. Symptoms include neck pain and stiffness, dizziness and shoulder pain.

• Chest Injuries: Chest injuries can occur when a driver slams his or her chest against the steering wheel during a collision. These injuries can cause coughing, shortness of breath, bruising and rapid changes in heart rate. In severe cases, chest injuries can result in internal bleeding, broken ribs and collapsed lungs.
• Scrapes and Cuts: Scrapes and cuts can result during a car accident when broken glass, car parts and other objects hit your body. While scrapes and cuts might not seem as serious as other car accident injuries, they’re nothing to make light of. If they’re not treated properly, they can result in infection.

Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer

If you were hurt in a car accident, your next step is to consult a car accident lawyer in Lafayette, IN. He or she can help you gather evidence, identify witnesses and negotiate with the defendant’s insurance company. During your initial meeting with a lawyer, you should ask the following questions:

• How familiar are you with Indiana car accident law in this area?
• Will you be doing the work on my case?
• Have you given presentations on car accident law to other Indiana attorneys many times?
• How long have you been in the area and are you familiar with the community that the jurors are part of?
• Have you taken leadership roles in the personal injury legal community and the local legal community?
• Where did you go to school?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses in my car accident case?
• What is your fee structure?
• Is there anything I can do to help my case?

How a Car Accident Lawyer can Help You

Investigate the Accident

When you work with a car accident lawyer in Lafayette, IN, their first task is often investigating the accident. This investigation seeks to determine who or what caused the accident and gather evidence for a personal injury lawsuit, if necessary. These professionals review the accident scene, analyze police reports and gather eyewitness statements. They also legally procure video footage of the accident from surrounding businesses and traffic cameras. Finally, these individuals will review and organize your medical bills and reports.

As the investigation proceeds, a reputable attorney, such as those found at the Hall Justice Law Firm, will prepare and develop arguments for your case.

Calculate Your Future Financial Need

You may not know what kind of financial assistance you need now and in the future. However, a reputable car accident lawyer in Lafayette, IN can help you calculate your medical costs, lost wages, property damage costs and any future care costs you will have.

Your attorneys will then compare these calculations with any settlement the insurance company offers you. If the settlement is not enough, a great law firm, e.g., Hall Justice Law Firm, will pursue negotiations or a lawsuit in court.

Do’s and Don’ts

If you sustained injuries in a car accident, you may not know what to do afterward. There are several things you should – and shouldn’t – do.

You Should:

Render Assistance

Even though you’re injured, try to give first aid to other accident victims. You may save a life, and you’ll also have detailed information to pass along to emergency services.

Call 911

Emergency personnel’s response time can be the difference between life and death. When you reach the 911 dispatcher, share important information first, such as how many people are hurt, if anyone appears to have life-threatening injuries, and the nature of those injuries. With that knowledge, enough medical personnel can be sent to the scene.

Gather Evidence

Crucial evidence can disappear after a car crash. Witnesses might leave the scene, rain may wash away spilled liquids in the roadway, and video recordings from surveillance equipment might be lost. Although police and other investigators will make a record of their findings, the pictures, videos and statements you record might contain things that their investigations miss.

Accept Medical Attention

This isn’t the time to be stoic. You were involved in an accident, and you need a medical evaluation immediately. Adrenaline may hide your pain, and some injuries get worse as time progresses. You may feel fine while you’re bleeding internally. Medical personnel can find hidden injuries that could be life-threatening.

There’s also another reason to get a medical assessment. It will be used as a baseline for your medical condition in your personal injury case, showing your injuries and their severity.

Call a Car Accident Lawyer in Lafayette, IN

Although you can wait to consult an attorney, there’s no reason to. Hiring a car accident lawyer quickly means that they can get started on your case faster. Insurance companies won’t want to pay sufficient compensation, but your attorney will fight for your rights from day one.

You Shouldn’t:

Share Details of Your Accident on Social Media

“Anything you say can and will be used against you…” That includes posts you make on your social media accounts. Your actions will be scrutinized during your claim process, and insurance companies can use anything you post as evidence.

State That You Are Responsible for the Accident

The compensation you may receive is affected by your degree of liability in causing the accident. Let appropriate parties assign guilt; don’t admit to anything.

Refuse Continued Medical Treatment

Your health is important, and discontinuing medical treatments for any reason will likely hinder your recovery. In addition, insurance companies can imply that you weren’t severely injured if you refuse treatment.

Communicate and Negotiate With the Insurance Company

As for-profit entities, insurance companies have one primary goal, to make money. Therefore, they will do all they can to reduce your settlement amount. Sometimes, they will deny your claim entirely. Their hope is that you think your claim is only worth the amount they offer you and that you won’t pursue a lawsuit. If you sign any paperwork, you could actually waive your right to sue.

However, a great car accident lawyer in Lafayette, IN will not only communicate with the insurance company to ensure that your claim is accepted, but this professional will also negotiate a settlement that will meet your current and future financial needs. If the negotiation doesn’t go anywhere, your attorney will pursue a lawsuit and sue for damages, including legal fees.

Protect Your Finances From Debt Collectors

If you are recovering from a car accident, the last thing you want to think about is how you will pay your bills. Your focus should be on recovering, not on financial matters. If you fall behind on your bills, including your medical bills, your debtholders can sell your debt to collections agencies. When this occurs, these agencies tend to harass you with daily phone calls, letters and other scare tactics. They may even threaten you.

This is where your lawyer comes in. A great lawyer will stop this harassment and defend you against these collection agencies. They work with these agencies so you can focus on healing.

4 Ways Road Rage Can Lead to Car Accidents

Sharing the road with other vehicles can leave you at the mercy of someone who is angry. This kind of driving, commonly known as road rage, can cause serious accidents for drivers. Knowing how this phenomenon influences crashes can help you determine what to do next if a crash occurs.

1. Driving Over the Speed Limit

Continually breaking the speed limit in order to catch up to another vehicle is not only illegal but can also put everyone around a driver in peril. Drivers with anger issues may tailgate a car that irritated them and try to catch up with them, even if there are multiple lanes of traffic surrounding them.

This kind of reckless driving can leave others at risk for a crash, since the person with road rage may not be able to stop in time if the car in front of him or her came to a stop. If you are in a car accident, talking to a car accident lawyer in Lafayette, IN, like the Hall Justice Law Firm, may be your next step.

2. Distracting Others

Continual honks and flashing high beams can cause people on the road to turn around and stare. This can be dangerous when these distractions cause an accident. An angry driver who is trying to intimidate a car on the road can use these tactics to enrage or distract you. Contacting a car accident lawyer in Lafayette, IN, after a crash may be one idea for how to handle this.

3. Erratic Turning or Braking

One way some angry drivers try to irritate others is by stopping short while they are driving in front of you on a highway or other road. You may not be able to stop in time, which could lead to an accident. Brake checking and swerving wildly around between lanes can leave you fearful of what this driver could do next.

A person weaving in and out of a lane may not allow anyone to pass him or her, which can cause another vehicle to accidentally ram into the side or the back of your car. Describe the scene to a car accident lawyer in Lafayette, IN, if you visit one, like the Hall Justice Law Firm.

4. Physical Confrontations

In some extreme circumstances, a person with road rage may exit his or her car and approach yours. You could notice this driver holding a weapon or attempting to harm you in another way. These physical confrontations can leave you injured, which may lead to you seeking a car accident lawyer in Lafayette, IN.

Schedule a consultation with Hall-Justice Law Firm car accident lawyer in Lafayette, IN today to discuss your case.

Lafayette Car Accident Infographic

Lafayette Car Accident FAQs

Car accidents are a stressful and often confusing experience. Victims and witnesses alike usually have several pressing questions in the aftermath. If you have been injured in a crash, you likely have many questions about what legal recourse you may have for your losses. The following are some common questions clients ask each Lafayette, IN car accident lawyer at our firm. For more detailed information about your situation, contact Hall-Justice Law Firm LLC directly.

What Should I Do Immediately After A Car Accident?

One of the most common questions is what steps to take right after a collision. The immediate aftermath of an accident can be chaotic, but following a clear protocol can protect your safety, legal rights, and insurance claims:

• Check for injuries: Ensure everyone involved is safe and call emergency services if medical attention is needed.
• Move to safety: If possible, move vehicles to the side of the road to prevent further accidents.
• Call the police: Even for minor accidents, it’s wise to file a police report. This provides an official record, which may be crucial for insurance or legal claims.
• Document the scene: Take photos of the vehicles, damage, and surroundings; exchange contact and insurance information with the other party.
• Avoid admitting fault: Focus on facts when talking to others or the police, but don’t apologize or admit fault, as this could be used against you later.

Do I Need To See A Doctor Even If I Feel Fine?

Yes, you should see a doctor after a car accident, even if you feel fine initially. Many injuries, such as whiplash, concussions, or internal damage, may not present symptoms immediately. Seeing a medical professional ensures you get proper care and establishes a record of your injuries, which is essential for insurance claims or legal actions.

Delaying medical treatment can not only complicate your recovery but it can also weaken your case if you later decide to seek compensation. Insurance companies may argue that your injuries weren’t serious or were unrelated to the accident if you don’t seek immediate treatment.

How Do I Determine Who Was At Fault?

Determining fault is critical for resolving claims but is not always straightforward. Fault can depend on traffic laws, witness statements, and evidence from the scene. Here’s how fault is typically assessed:

• Police report: Officers investigating the scene may indicate who they believe was at fault in their report.
• Eyewitness accounts: Statements from unbiased witnesses can provide clarity on what happened.
• Traffic laws: Violations like running a red light or failing to yield often point to a fault.
• Accident reconstruction experts: Experts can analyze the evidence to determine fault for complex cases.

Should I Contact My Insurance Company?

You should contact your insurance company immediately after an accident, even if you weren’t at fault. Most policies require prompt notification to ensure coverage. When speaking to your insurer, provide accurate information but avoid speculation. Stick to the facts, and don’t admit fault.

If the other driver is at fault, their insurance may be responsible for covering damages. However, your insurer can still play a role by covering initial costs or pursuing subrogation (recovering expenses from the other party’s insurer).

Consider consulting an attorney before providing recorded statements to any insurance adjuster, as they may use your words to minimize payouts.

Do I Need A Lawyer For My Car Accident?

While not every car accident requires legal representation, you may need a car accident lawyer if the accident involves significant damages, injuries, or disputes over fault. An attorney can help:

• Negotiate with insurance companies: Insurers often try to minimize payouts, and a lawyer can advocate for fair compensation.
• Calculate damages: They’ll consider medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
• Represent you in court: If a fair settlement can’t be reached, your lawyer can file a lawsuit and represent you in legal proceedings.
• Handle complex cases: Multi-car accidents or those involving commercial vehicles often require legal expertise to navigate.

Consulting a lawyer soon after the accident can help you understand your rights and options, especially if liability is disputed or the insurer is uncooperative.

Let Our Personal Injury Law Firm Help

Although having a Lafayette car accident lawyer is not required by law to pursue an injury claim, having a lawyer advocating for you against the insurance company gives you a better chance of obtaining the full compensation you deserve. Contact Hall-Justice Law Firm LLC today to schedule a free and no-obligation case evaluation.