According to the Indiana University Public Policy Institute, 896 died in Indiana motor vehicle accidents in 2020. Although this is a ten-year low, these deaths are preventable. 38,913 non-fatal injuries also occurred in the same year. Hamilton County saw 6,196 motor vehicle accidents in 2020, resulting in 26 fatalities, 329 capacitating injuries, and 1,234 nonfatal injuries. In Fishers, 1,641 collisions occurred in 2020. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a car accident, a Fishers car accident lawyer from Fountain Law Firm, P.C. can help.
Our legal team is ready to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. We are personally invested in your accident case and want to help you move into the next chapter of your life with confidence. We can provide you with the personal attention you need and deserve after being injured because of someone’s negligence. Contact us today for your free case review.
All drivers are required to follow traffic rules, safely drive, and take the steps necessary to avoid injuring others. Unfortunately, not all drivers fulfill these responsibilities, often leading to avoidable injuries and deaths to other drivers, passengers, and other road users.
Thousands of motor vehicle accidents occur in Indiana each year. Some of the most common causes of car accidents include:
In 2020, 124 people died in Indiana car accidents involving alcohol, representing 13.8% of traffic fatalities for the year. 142 collisions occurred in Hamilton County because of impaired driving. Alcohol impairment can negatively impact a driver’s ability to drive safely, including their:
In 2020, 15,033 traffic collisions in Indiana were due to speeding. 330 of these occurred in Hamilton County. Speeding is particularly dangerous because it makes it more likely that:
Speeding includes driving beyond the speed limit or too fast for weather conditions.
In 2020, 5,614 car crashes were blamed on distractions. 413 of these were due to cell phones or other electronic devices, while 5,2014 were due to some other distraction.
In 2020, 110,164 car crashes were attributed to unsafe driving actions, including:
In 2020, 1,266 wrecks occurred when drivers were fatigued or fell asleep behind the wheel. Fatigued driving mimics many of the same effects as alcohol impairment.
Some motor vehicle accidents are due to problems with vehicles. When brakes fail, tail lights are out, or windshield wipers don’t work, accidents can occur. These accidents may be due to poor maintenance or because of a vehicle defect.
Fountain Law Firm represents clients who have suffered various injuries in car accidents, including:
We also represent individuals who have lost a loved one in a car accident.
Many car accidents are ultimately resolved through a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. The minimum liability and uninsured motorist coverage limits in Indiana are:
Underinsured motorist coverage must be at least $50,000 for bodily injury.
The at-fault party could have more insurance, or you could have claims against other parties or be able to file a personal injury lawsuit if there is not sufficient insurance for your damages. An experienced Fishers car accident lawyer can discuss your legal options during a free initial case review.
In general, you will make a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance provider. If they are uninsured, you would file a claim with your uninsured motorist coverage.
However, there are times when other parties may be responsible for the accident. For example, if the at-fault party was working at the time of the accident, their employer may be responsible for the accident due to vicarious liability principles. The owner of the vehicle might be responsible for accidents involving other drivers. Manufacturers can be responsible for accidents caused by defective parts.
The best way to determine who is at fault for an accident is to hire an experienced Fishers car accident lawyer who can investigate the case and determine fault.
To recover compensation in a car accident case, you must be able to prove the other party was at fault. This often requires obtaining evidence such as:
In some cases, a car accident lawyer may hire an accident reconstruction expert witness to further bolster your case.
In Indiana, personal injury victims have the right to pursue compensation for the damages or losses they suffer in accidents. These include losses for their economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are tied directly to a certain dollar amount, such as medical bills stemming from the accident. Car accident victims may be able to recover compensation for economic damages such as:
Non-economic damages compensate accident victims for losses they suffer that do not have a particular value, such as:
An experienced car accident lawyer in Fishers, IN can review your case and determine the damages for which you can seek compensation.
You are already going through a lot if you have been injured or lost a loved one in a car accident. You have medical appointments to balance, painful injuries to deal with, and uncertainties about your next steps. A Fishers car accident lawyer can help by handling your legal claim so you can focus on your recovery.
Car accident attorney, Merry Fountain, of Fountain Law Firm, P.C. can handle all aspects of your claim, including:
Our goal is to obtain the maximum amount of compensation available for your claim so you can move confidently forward in your life.
Contact our Fishers car accident lawyer, Merry Fountain, today to learn more about how we can help.
The first thing you should do after a car accident is to seek medical assistance if you are injured. You can request an ambulance when you call 911. Answer the responding law enforcement officer’s questions truthfully but avoid giving an opinion about things you don’t know. Stay at the scene of the accident unless you must be transported immediately to the emergency room. Exchange information with the other driver. Ensure you get their name, driver’s license number, insurance information, and contact information. Ask any witnesses who stayed at the accident for their names and contact information. Take pictures of the accident scene, relevant traffic signals or signs, debris in the roadway, and your injuries. Finally, consult with an experienced car accident lawyer to learn about your next steps.
Indiana law requires that a car accident be immediately reported to police if the accident involves injury or death. Even if you don’t suspect you were injured, you may still want to report the accident anyway because you may have been injured and just do not know it yet. Also, reporting the accident can help you obtain an objective record of the accident. You can request a copy of the accident report to help you with your insurance claim. Ask the responding officer about how to obtain your copy of the report.
There are a few different ways to determine who was at fault for the accident. First, the accident report may indicate fault or that the other driver was cited for a traffic violation. While this is not indisputable, it can be strong evidence in a car accident claim. The insurance company will conduct its own investigation to determine fault. You may also want to conduct an independent investigation of your own to ensure the insurance company does not simply make findings that limit its own liability. Working with an experienced car accident lawyer can ensure that a proper investigation is carried out and you are aware of all of your options for obtaining fair compensation for your injuries.
Under Indiana law, car accident victims can still pursue a claim for compensation if they were partially at fault as long as their degree of fault is not greater than the defendant’s degree of fault. However, your compensation is reduced by your degree of fault. For example, if you are found to be 30% at fault for the accident and you suffer $100,000 of damages, your compensation would be reduced by $30,000, which is 30% of your total damages.
All states have different time limits that apply to taking different types of legal action. In Indiana, personal injury victims generally have two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. If this timeline passes and you have not filed a lawsuit, you can lose your chance to recover compensation through the courts. Do not let this happen to you. Contact a skilled Fishers personal injury lawyer, who specializes in car accidents to preserve your rights.
If you were hurt in a car accident, a Fishers car accident lawyer from Fountain Law Firm, P.C. can explain your legal rights and options. We are dedicated to helping you through this difficult process. Our lead attorney, Merry Fountain, is also a recovered car accident firsthand, so she knows firsthand what you are going through. Contact our firm today for your free initial consultation with a compassionate car accident lawyer.