If you were involved in a car accident in Marion County, you may qualify for compensation. An experienced attorney could help you obtain adequate compensation for vehicle repairs, medical expenses, loss of income due to an injury, and pain and suffering.
Furthermore, if another party to the accident is seeking compensation from you or your insurance company, a skilled personal injury attorney could defend you against such litigation. A Marion County car accident lawyer may be able to provide you with the legal counsel you deserve.
Damages and Liability
Under Marion County car accident law, the two most important things to consider are damages and liability. The term “damages” refers to the harm that an accident cause, which may include injury, damage to vehicles as well as other property, medical expenses, lost income from an inability to work during recovery, and pain and suffering.
Liability refers to who is at “fault” for causing any damages. In Marion County, damages stemming from a car accident are assigned by fault. This means that the driver deemed to be at fault may be held liable to pay for the damages they caused.
Determining who is at fault for an accident can be difficult, and each party may have a different opinion of who caused the collision. If a driver is deemed to be partially at fault in causing their own damages in Marion County, the amount of their final damage award will be reduced by the extent to which they are determined to be at fault. In order to recover anything, however, the injured party must be less than 51% responsible for their own damages. Consult with a Marion County car accident lawyer to learn more.
Proving Liability in a Marion County Car Accident
A skilled Marion County car accident lawyer could help prove fault by examining the many factors surrounding an accident. Such factors include:
- Road and weather conditions (Was there ice on the road? Was it raining? Was visibility poor?)
- Each driver’s speed and behavior on the road (Was one party speeding? Did they run a stop sign? Did they switch lanes without signaling?)
- The condition of the cars involved (Were all the lights and turn signals in working order? Were the brakes in proper condition?
What to Do After an Accident
In order for someone involved in a car accident to prove they are not at fault, make sure to do the following immediately after an accident:
- Write down as many details as possible as soon as it is safe to do so, since details can be difficult to remember and prove later on.
- Take photos with a smartphone or camera of the cars involved and the surrounding area
- Obtain contact information from any witnesses who may be able to give a statement about what they saw
- Make sure to call the police, who can file a police report at the scene of the accident
A car accident lawyer in Marion County could use this information to prove the individual was not at fault and show that the other party is responsible for causing the accident. If the responsible party caused any damages in the accident, the injured party may be able to receive compensation from the at-fault driver.
Call a Marion County Car Accident Attorney Today
After an accident, you may receive a call from the other party’s insurance company offering a settlement. If you accept this amount, you will not be able to seek further damages stemming from the accident later on.
Before talking with an insurance company, it is wise to speak with a Marion County car accident lawyer first. A skilled attorney could work to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve and may be able to protect you from liability as well. Call today to get started on your case.