3 Reasons Why You Need a Local Lafayette Car Accident Attorney

December 18, 2020

First you were injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault. Now to add insult to injury, the insurance company doesn’t want to cover your bills. A personal injury attorney can help you get justice, but choosing just one attorney out of the thousands of firms showing up online can feel impossible.

Before you get too overwhelmed, there are a few factors to consider that can narrow down your search options. First, location is important. While there’s nothing wrong with getting representation from a big nationwide firm, there are benefits to choosing a personal injury attorney with offices close to home.

Here are three reasons why a local Lafayette car accident attorney could be a good choice for you.

1. A local attorney knows the roads

As a stopping point along I-65 between Indianapolis and Chicago, and as home to Purdue University, Lafayette sees a lot of traffic both in and around the city.

The heavier the traffic, the higher the chance of car accidents. According to the most recent crash report, there were over 5,600 car accidents in Tippecanoe County in a year. Most injuries were caused by failure to yield – a common issue near busy intersections and highway ramps. And seemingly never-ending construction only makes traffic worse.

Caterpillar, Subaru, and other major manufacturing plants around the county bring in semi trucks and commercial vehicles to Lafayette. Most truck drivers are responsible and fully trained to operate their vehicles. But the heavier the truck, the more catastrophic the injuries would be in an accident.

A local car accident attorney understands what the roads are like – after all, they take them to work every day. On top of legal expertise, a local attorney can offer sympathy and understanding of your situation.

2. A local car accident attorney is accessible

Maybe the best part of working with a local personal injury attorney is accessibility. National law firms don’t have the time to build a relationship with every single client, and with the number of clients they serve, one bad review on Google won’t hurt them. Local personal injury attorneys on the other hand have the time and incentive to maintain good relationships with their clients in the community. And you’ll never have to worry about scheduling around different time zones.

Your attorney is a member of the community, just like you. At Hensley Legal Group, we even do home visits to answer questions from clients in person (although due to certain recent events, home visits have been replaced with virtual visits for safe, contactless signups).

3. A local attorney knows the local courts

Not every state is the same when it comes to getting compensation for a car accident. Indiana is a fault state, which means the amount you are able to recover will depend on how much fault you have for the accident. Some states are no-fault states, which means everyone involved in the accident is responsible for covering their own losses.

These laws drastically affect your compensation after an accident. A local attorney has a deep knowledge of local and state law, and knows the best way to handle your case within these boundaries.

If your personal injury claim goes to trial, a local Lafayette car accident attorney can be of help there, too. Local courts are not all the same. Judges have different personalities and preferences. A national firm won’t be familiar with local courts, and your trial may be the first time they meet the judge. And when it comes to jury selection, they aren’t going to be as attuned to the community as a local attorney will be.

This doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a win if you have a local personal injury attorney. But it will be easier to prepare your case if your legal team is already familiar with local courts.

Help from a Lafayette, Indiana Personal Injury Attorney

Local attorneys aren’t inherently better than nationwide attorneys, but one may be better for your situation than the other. All that matters is that you have a personal injury attorney who you feel comfortable with, and who you would want to represent your personal injury claim.

At Hensley Legal Group, we serve injured Hoosiers across the state from our offices in Merrillville, Muncie, Evansville, Fishers, Indianapolis, and now Lafayette. We have the strength to make a difference in your personal injury claim. Call us today or contact us online for a free conversation about your case.