Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyers

It is not that unusual to read or hear about a car accident if you live in Indianapolis, though few locals may imagine that they will be badly injured or killed in a crash themselves.  Yet the reality is that most Indianapolis residents will be involved in at least one motor vehicle accident in their lifetime, since the safest driver in the world still has no control over another driver’s behavior. 

When that terrible moment arrives, you may be forced to cope with punishing injuries and profound emotional distress, to say nothing of the economic disaster that could be waiting for you right around the corner.  Even a minor accident could bury you under a mountain of medical expenses and make it harder to go to work to cover them, which could quickly put you on the path to ruin. 

But the compassionate personal injury attorneys at Hensley Legal Group feel strongly that accident victims shouldn’t have to pay for the negligence of others, which is why our firm has been standing up for the wrongfully injured for more than 25 years.  If you or your loved ones get hurt in a motor vehicle accident through no fault of your own, our Indianapolis car accident lawyers will be there to help. 

You can schedule a free consultation with an accomplished Indianapolis car accident attorney by calling us at (317) 526-1440, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form today. 

Common Causes of Indianapolis Car Accidents 

Accidents occur frequently in Indianapolis, including 30,883 collisions in 2022 alone – an average of one collision every 17 minutes.   

These incidents can range in severity from mild to catastrophic, but the vast majority of them are the entirely preventable outcomes of driver error, which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has linked to 94 percent of crashes nationwide.  Some of the most common driver-based causes of motor vehicle accidents are:  

• Speeding – Driving too fast is the number one factor in American auto accidents.  It may be tempting to put your foot on the gas when you are late for an appointment, but it is never a good idea, since speeding drivers take more time to react yet have less time to stop, a potentially lethal combination.  Exceeding the posted speed limit is obviously illegal in Indiana, but it is not the only form of speeding.  It is similarly risky not to adjust your velocity when you encounter poor weather conditions that could compromise visibility and traction, such as rain, snow, sleet, and fog.   

• Distraction – Distracted driving is a close second to speeding as a contributor to car crashes in the United States, where it claims approximately nine lives in traffic each day. Anything that takes a driver’s eyes off the road or mind off the task at hand could be a dangerous drain on attention, including conversing with passengers, eating, and, most critically, cellphone use, which is associated with 12 percent of modern motor vehicle accidents. 

• Recklessness – Drivers can put everyone else around them in jeopardy by engaging in such aggressively reckless actions as weaving in and out of lanes, tailgating, and failing to yield. 

• Intoxication – Countless accidents and injuries could have been averted if a drunk or high driver had called for a ride instead of getting behind the wheel, where intoxication can delay reactions, blur vision, and diminish motor functions.  Unfortunately, driving under the influence continues to be a huge problem both in Indianapolis and throughout the state, with Indiana law enforcement making a DUI arrest every 11.98 hours. 

• Drowsiness – Driving while drowsy can be as detrimental as driving while drunk, robbing motorists of their ability to perceive and respond to sudden developments.  One study found that going 20 hours without sleep can produce the same degree of impairment as having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 precent, the threshold for legal intoxication in Indianapolis.   

Aside from driver error, various external elements could significantly increase the chance that a collision will take place and the harm that may be inflicted if it does, such as improper road construction and maintenance or shoddy automotive design and repair.   

In some situations, a crash could have multiple underlying causes for which multiple parties could be culpable, and they must each be pursued within the period set by law or you could be forever barred from getting what you deserve.  

Regardless of what led up to your accident, you can rely on our tenacious Indianapolis car accident lawyers to go after everyone who bears responsibility for it. 

Steps to Take After an Indianapolis Car Accident  

There are certain steps that you should remember to take in the aftermath of an accident to protect yourself and any personal injury case that you might have.  Specifically, you should: 

• Move to a safe location – This might not be your last accident of the day if you linger in the street, so move to a safe location before attempting to do anything else.  

• Alert the authorities – Police and emergency personnel will need to document your car accident and attend to the injured.  If they do not show up on their own, pull out your phone and dial 911 to request their presence, and be sure to give a complete account of the incident to the responding officers so that an inaccurate police report does not come back to haunt you. 

• Take pictures and shoot videos – While you have your phone out, take pictures and shoot videos of your immediate surroundings, which could be invaluable in determining liability and cataloging damages. 

• Seek treatment – Because gaps in medical care could hinder the healing process and permit doubt to be cast on the extent and relevance of your injuries, seek treatment as soon as you can, either from paramedics on site or at the nearest emergency room. 

• Exchange driver and witness information – You must be able to identify the individuals and entities who harmed you if you hope to have a case against them.  Before you depart from the scene, exchange essential information with the key figures in the accident, such as:   

• • Name   

• • Address   

• • Phone number   

• • Email   

• • Driver’s license   

• • Vehicle year, make, and model   

• • Insurance company and policy number   

• • License plate   

Get the names and numbers of any witnesses too, as they could independently confirm the details of the accident. 

• Notify your auto insurance carrier – Promptly notifying your auto insurance carrier could allow you to remain in compliance with the terms of your policy and take advantage of any benefits, such as reimbursement for doctor visits, towing, rentals, and repairs.   

• Avoid other insurers – Unsurprisingly, the insurers for the other parties may be eager to get in touch with you.  However, anything you say could be used against you, so it may be better to avoid them until you… 

• Talk to an attorney – A knowledgeable Indianapolis car accident lawyer can answer your questions and educate you about what to expect if you initiate a case. 

The Challenges of an Indianapolis Car Accident Case 

It is natural to have reservations about launching an accident case in light of the challenges that it may pose, particularly when it comes to dealing with insurance companies. 

This may be your first car accident, but it definitely won’t be the first for a veteran insurance adjuster assigned to your claim, whose primary job is to save the insurance company money.  To achieve this goal, the adjuster may try to exploit your relative inexperience in order to settle your claim for less or deny it altogether.  And in your inexperience, you could give the adjuster the ammunition to do it.   

For instance, Hoosier politeness is typically a good thing, but expressing concern for the occupants of the other vehicle could be misconstrued as an admission of guilt, especially when it is accompanied by the words “I’m sorry.”  Basically, if you didn’t cause the car crash, don’t apologize for it. 

Moreover, your odds of misspeaking could escalate dramatically if you give a recorded statement about how the accident occurred, your role in it, and your injuries.  The most innocuous phrases could easily be twisted to blame you for the accident, minimize your claim, or impugn your character.  A simple misstatement of fact or a slight exaggeration about your injuries could be mischaracterized as deceptions or boldfaced lies, whereas any modesty about your losses may be cited as evidence that you were barely harmed. 

Additionally, your ignorance about what your case is worth could make you much more receptive to a seemingly “generous” settlement that may actually constitute a fraction of your case’s value, and you could be stuck with the true costs of your car accident when they finally emerge. 

As you can see, the challenges of an accident case can be considerable, with one false move threatening to derail your case before it has begun, but you can overcome those challenges by partnering with a seasoned auto accident attorney. 

Overcoming Challenges with an Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyer 

Just as it won’t be the first car accident for the adjuster, it won’t be the first for your auto accident attorney either, who will be far better equipped to construct your case and bring it to a satisfying conclusion. 

Your attorney will have the resources to track down all of the defendants for your car injury accident case, thereby leaving no avenue of financial recovery unexplored.  Your lawyer will also be able to assess what your case is really worth and will work to equal or exceed that amount during negotiations and legal proceedings, which is one of the main reasons why injured people obtain 3.5 times more with attorneys than they would without them. 

Though many Indianapolis accident cases are resolved prior to trial, sometimes a trial is necessary, at which point a capable litigator will become indispensable, since plaintiffs who represent themselves in court lose about 96 percent of their cases.  In contrast, plaintiffs with professional representation are statistically favored to prevail. 

What Hensley Legal Group Can Do for You 

The benefits of retaining an auto accident attorney may now be clear, but it can still be difficult to choose the best lawyer for you. 

The ideal candidate should be empathetic enough to support you during your struggles and skilled enough to guide you through them.  The personal injury attorney should be open and communicative with you but fearless with your opponents, with a sterling reputation and a proven record of success with these kinds of auto injury claims, both inside and outside of the courtroom. 

Qualities such as these would set a firm of Indianapolis car accident attorneys head and shoulders above its competitors – and these very qualities are on full display at Hensley Legal Group. 

Hensley has been fighting for the hardworking men and women of Indiana since in 1998.  We pride ourselves on our steadfast commitment to our clients, which has earned us more than 3400 positive reviews on Google, along with recognition from The National Top 100 Trial Lawyers and America’s Top 100 Attorneys. 

If you hire Hensley, we will carry out a comprehensive investigation into your Indianapolis car accident and establish valid claims against each of the defendants by sending formal notification in writing and informing their insurers.  If the circumstances warrant it, a lawsuit can be filed as well in a court with the authority to issue a binding judgment. 

We will then move swiftly to amass the materials to support your claim, such as:

• Police reports   

• Citations and dispositions  

• Dash cam, streetlight, and surveillance footage   

• Black box data   

• Eyewitness statements 

• Phone records   

• Driving histories   

• Servicing logs  

• Accident reconstruction and forensic analysis 

After assembling a rock-solid accident case, we will endeavor to get you compensated for the totality of your losses, be they short-term, long-term, monetary, or non-monetary, including your: 

• Medical bills 

• Lost wages 

• Pain and suffering   

• Psychological trauma   

• Mobility restrictions  

• Reduced standard of living  

• Loss of consortium   

• Punitive and wrongful death damages (if applicable)   

And if we do not receive an offer that is commensurate to your claim, we are more than willing to go to trial for a verdict that is, unlike many of our competitors, who seldom, if ever, venture into a courtroom.  

No two Indianapolis car accident cases are exactly alike, but we will always strive to secure the largest compensation package possible for yours.  

You Won’t Pay Unless We Win  

We realize that you may be reluctant to agree to more expenditures that you may be unable to afford, but you should know that Hensley Legal Group works on a contingency basis.  This means that you won’t have to pay us anything unless our auto accident attorneys win your case.   

At Hensley, we take on clients because we believe in them, and we will do everything in our power to reward our clients’ belief in us. 

Turn to Our Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyers  

Hensley Legal Group built its practice on the principle that justice belongs to everyone, no matter what they have or who they know.  If you are having trouble getting back to normal in the wake of a serious collision, turn to our accident lawyers to discover the remedies that may be available to you. 

Please call us at (317) 526-1440, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form at your earliest convenience for a complimentary case review with a dedicated Indianapolis car accident attorney.