Car Accident Lawyer Indianapolis
Fighting for the rights of auto accidents victims in Indiana, including those injured in Indianapolis, Greenwood, Carmel, Fishers and throughout the state
Auto accidents in Indiana can have serious consequences. Whether you're dealing with a rear-end collision in Indianapolis or distracted driving accident on I-70 or I-74 in Indiana, you need to make sure your rights are protected and your motor vehicle crash receives the attention it rightfully deserves. Roads and highways where accidents happen in Indiana include I-65, I-465, U.S. 31 and U.S. 421.
At Hocker Law, LLC, we know how serious car wrecks can be in Indiana. That's why we work so hard to help people injured in severe motor vehicle accidents recover the compensation they need to get on with their lives.
If you are represented by our firm, you will have an experienced attorney handling your car accident claim. We will stand up to the insurance companies and help you fight for the full compensation you need.
When you have a knowledgeable Indianapolis car accident lawyer at your side, we can dictate the terms of your negotiations with insurance companies. Instead of accepting an offer that doesn't even come close to covering the cost your car accident, you and your attorney can demand the compensation you rightfully deserve. We will help you make sure your medical bills are covered. We will examine the impact of the accident on your job. You may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages.
Issues often associated with different types of auto accidents in Indiana
The following represent common types of accidents and topics related to injury claims:
- Distracted Driving Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Rear-End Accidents
- Uninsured or Underinsured Driver
- Insurance Claims
- Hit & Run Accidents
- Fatigued Driving Accidents
Whatever type of car accident you're dealing with, no matter how straightforward or complicated it might seem, contact our law firm as soon as possible. We will work with you and thoroughly investigate your car accident in Indianapolis or wherever it occurred in Indiana.
What should I do if I'm involved in a car accident?
We strongly urge you to take the following steps if you're a victim of a car accident caused by another driver in Indiana:
- Seek immediate medical attention.
- Call the police. You will want to have an official report about the details of the accident. The Indiana Officer's Standard Crash Report is a document insurance companies routinely use when deciding how much to compensate accident victims.
- Talk to witnesses of your accident. Make sure to get their full names, addresses and phone numbers so investigators can contact them later.
- Take photographs of the scene and injuries.
- Get the other driver's full name, address, phone number and insurance information.
- Do not make any statements about your accident to the other driver. Anything you say can be used against you by insurance companies to deny your claim.
- Contact your insurance company and tell them you've been involved in an accident caused by another driver.
- Contact our law firm as soon as possible.
Why do I need an Indiana auto accident lawyer for my case?
Police officers, insurance companies and any other investigators do not work for you, nor do they have your best interests at heart. When you hire an attorney after your car accident case, that lawyer works solely for you.
That's why you want an attorney who consistently delivers results, thoroughly understands Indiana's legal system and who will rigorously investigate your accident in search of the truth.
Car accident victims in Indiana regularly turn to us for help. Find out how Hocker Law, LLC can help you, if you were injured or lost a loved one in an accident. Contact our law firm and schedule a free consultation. Call (317) 578-1630. We're conveniently located in Indianapolis and other locations throughout Indiana. We can meet with you in one of our offices, your home, your hospital room or wherever's convenient for you. We want to be your lawyer for life.
Drivers cause serious accidents because they're not paying attention to other vehicles, pedestrians, motorcycles, bicycles and others sharing the road. Increasingly, in recent years, drivers talking on their cellphones or texting have caused serious distracted driving accidents in Indiana.
Texting while driving is against the law for all drivers in Indiana. But that doesn't stop some drivers from engaging in such dangerous behavior and causing serious car accidents. Other causes of distracted driving accidents in Indiana include:
- Eating while driving
- Adjusting the radio
- Checking directions on a GPS device
- Personal grooming
Drinking and driving in Indiana remains a common cause of serious and fatal car accidents in Indiana. In 2013, a total of 198 people in Indiana were killed in motor vehicle accidents caused by drivers with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Some people might think they don't need a lawyer if they're injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver in Indiana. The other driver clearly did something wrong. Therefore, injury victims believe they will be fairly compensated in such cases.
Don't be so sure. Even if the other driver was clearly intoxicated, you and your family might not receive the money you deserve for your accident. Insurance companies often care more about keeping expenses down. That's why you need a strong legal advocate working on your case.
Whiplash and other serious neck injuries are linked to rear-end car accidents in Indiana. The driver and passengers in the front car often sustain these injuries when a car behind them crashes into the back of their car.
Rear-end auto accidents happen for many reasons. In recent years, distracted drivers (especially texting drivers or drivers using their cellphones) have increasingly caused rear-end accidents. Other common causes of rear-end accidents include:
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Drunk driving
Uninsured or Underinsured Driver
All drivers in Indiana are required to have auto insurance. Unfortunately, some drivers choose to drive without purchasing a car insurance policy, putting everyone on the road financially at risk if they have an accident with an uninsured driver.
Other drivers are underinsured and do not have enough insurance to cover the full cost of their accident. The minimum amount of auto insurance required in the state of Indiana includes:
- Bodily injury - $25,000 per person
- Bodily injury - $50,000 per accident
- Property damage - $10,000 per accident
You have legal options available to you if you're involved in an accident caused by an uninsured driver or underinsured driver. You may be able to take a claim out against your own policy, if you have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. We encourage everyone to check their policy to see if they have purchased this important coverage.
Filing an insurance claim in Indiana might seem straightforward after an accident - until you try to do so yourself. Dealing with insurance companies can be very confusing and frustrating. That's because most insurance companies do everything they can to pay injury victims as little as possible.
That's not right. If someone else caused your car accident, that driver's insurance company should pay for all your expenses associated with your accident. Some of the common expenses - and financial implications - associated with auto accidents include:
- Medical expenses
- Vehicle repair costs
- Lost income
If you hire us as your attorney, we can negotiate on your behalf with the goal of maximizing your compensation. In addition to monetary damages such as those listed above, you may also be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering and, in some cases, punitive damages which are meant to punish the defendant and deter others from similar dangerous behavior.
If you're in an accident, you are required by law to stay at the scene until police officer says you can leave or you have exchanged information with the other parties. Unfortunately, hit-and-run accidents occur more often in Indiana than you might realize. Drivers may flee the scene because they don't have any insurance, or they may have committed a crime.
Whatever the reason a driver has to leave, the victim of a hit-and-run may not have to pay out of his or her own pocket. Indiana law requires insurance companies to offer a policy that covers hit-and-run crashes. These are uninsured/underinsured motorist policies (see section above about uninsured and underinsured drivers). We can help you file a claim against your insurance company, if you carry UM/UIM coverage.
Falling asleep at the wheel might seem like an innocent mistake. But the reality is tired drivers have a choice to pull over. When they choose to continue to drive and either fall asleep at the wheel or lose their concentration because of extreme fatigue, they put everyone on the road in danger. If they cause an accident, they should be held accountable.
Studies have found drivers who have gone too long without sleep can be as impaired as drunk drivers. They might weave in and out of their lane. Their reaction time is delayed. They may not brake in time for sudden traffic changes. In some instances, drivers asleep at the wheel might even accelerate before crashing into another car.
Some tired drivers deny falling asleep before causing an accident. As your attorney, we can aggressively investigate your accident and search for evidence to build a strong case on your behalf. We may be able to find witnesses and gather evidence that proves the driver was overly fatigued at the time of the crash. Make a fresh start after your Indiana car accident. Contact our law firm today.