There is no Indiana law that says victims must hire a lawyer, but if you were injured in a car accident and are looking for help in negotiating a claim, a lawyer will work on your behalf so you can receive the greatest possible settlement you may be entitled to.
You may receive a settlement claim offer from the insurance company for the party who caused the crash, but you don’t have to accept this offer.
Consulting with an attorney after a crash may help you determine the settlement amount you may be entitled to. Additionally, a lawyer may represent your interests in negotiations with the insurance company, freeing up your time to heal and focus on returning to work.
Negotiating with the Insurance Company
If an insurance company contacts you after a crash, the representative may tell you that he or she is going to work to figure out the best settlement amount. However, the insurance representative may not have your best interests in mind.
The representative may instead be looking to wrap up the settlement as quickly as possible, which means they may not wait for all the effects of your injuries to become obvious. A fast settlement may sound like a good idea, but it may not be in your best interest, especially if the injuries continue to affect your life years into the future.
For a free legal consultation, call 317-636-7777
Determining the Cause of the Crash
Another reason you may want to hire an attorney to represent you in a car accident injury case is if the other party’s insurance company says your negligence may have played a role in the crash. If the insurer proves this, your ability to receive the maximum possible reward may be jeopardized.
Your attorney may study the facts in the case, looking to prove that your actions played no role in the crash, and that the other driver’s negligence or recklessness was the sole cause of your injuries. The ability to prove this may play a key role in determining the settlement amount you may be entitled to.
Proving the At-Fault Driver’s Negligence
An attorney may study the facts in your case, such as police reports, photographs of the scene and the wrecked vehicle, and interviews with witnesses. Some of the ways they may show that the other driver was completely at fault for the accident include:
- DUI: where police reports show the other driver violated DUI laws with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher at the time of the crash according to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).
- Distracted driving: where the other driver shows negligence by driving while texting, talking, or taking photographs with a smartphone, violating Indiana’s distracted driving regulations. Distracted driving leads to over 1,000 injuries and about nine deaths every day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Violating traffic laws: where the other driver received a ticket for speeding, reckless driving, or having an invalid license, proving negligence on his or her behalf.
There are other ways your attorney may be able to show the other driver acted negligently. An attorney may have tools available to help with your case.
Working on Behalf of Car Accident Victims
At the Sevenish Law Firm, P.C., we can help you to negotiate with an insurer so that you receive the compensation you deserve. We don’t believe you should try to deal with insurance companies on your own.
Insurance companies deal with personal injury claims on a regular basis. You, as the victim in the car accident, may only have to do this once, which may leave you at a disadvantage in the negotiation process. You also may be unsure how to calculate the true cost of your injuries, especially if doctors tell you the long-term injuries may continue to affect your life.
Let our team defend your right to seek the compensation you may be entitled to for your medical bills, pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life after a car accident. Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident may be stressful, and a lawyer can help you work toward the fairest possible settlement. Call us at (317) 720-3229 for a free review of your case.
Call or text 317-636-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
