Hensley Legal Group Is Here for You after a Merrillville Car Accident

For centuries, travel has been essential to Merrillville and its economy. From the historic Sauk Trail to the Lincoln Highway, the city has been particularly crucial to connecting Indiana to its neighboring states, Illinois and Michigan.

Unfortunately, when it comes to car accident law, those connections only complicate matters. Merrillville sees frequent out-of-state traffic, increasing the likelihood of accidents involving individuals not from the Hoosier state. Lake County actually has one of the highest rates of hit-and-run accidents in the state of Indiana.

Regardless of whether you’re from Merrillville or just passing through, Hensley Legal Group is here to help after a Merrillville car accident. Our local office makes it easy for us to connect with injured members of the community and fight for the compensation they deserve.

Our award-winning Merrillville trial attorneys have decades of combined experience representing those who have been injured in northwest Indiana. Plus, we work on contingency which means that if we don’t win your case, you don’t owe us a single cent.

Your initial consultation with us is always free. Fill out the form to contact us online, or call us today for a free conversation about your Merrillville car accident.

Why Hire an Attorney After a Merrillville Accident

Filing a claim after a motor vehicle collision should be easy. All you have to do is report the accident to the at-fault driver’s insurance and they will pay for your medical bills, damaged vehicle, and pain and suffering.

But insurance companies want to avoid paying money at any cost. They may deny your claim or use your medical history to justify a lower settlement offer.

Handling a Merrillville car accident on your own can quickly become a headache. If you’ve been injured in a Merrillville car accident, you should be focused on your health. That means, as much as possible, recovering physically, mentally, and emotionally. This is where a Merrillville personal injury attorney can help. They know how to deal with stubborn insurance companies and will fight for a fair settlement on your behalf so you can avoid stress and focus on healing.

Here’s how a Merrillville personal injury attorney can help you:

Calculate what your claim is worth

If you ask a Merrillville car accident attorney how much your case is worth, you won’t get a straight answer — and for good reason. No one can know what your case is worth until you stop receiving medical treatment for your injuries. Only as your recovery comes to a close can you know just how much your damages cost you. Every car accident settlement should at the very least cover your medical bills, including physical therapy. It should also include compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages. An Indiana car accident attorney will let you know what you can expect from your settlement.

Determine liability

Your car accident attorney will immediately begin gathering evidence and investigating the scene of your accident. Their investigations can protect you from counterclaims from other drivers who would benefit from you having more fault. Your attorney will track down the insurance information of the at-fault driver and all liable parties that played a role in your accident.

Negotiate with insurance

The first offer you get from the insurance company will be the bare minimum based on whatever medical bills and appraisals they can find. But that offer won’t account for continuing medical treatment, counseling, or pain and suffering. Our Merrillville car accident lawyers have two decades of experience negotiating with greedy insurance companies and know which tactics will get you the settlement you deserve.

Taking your case to court

Sometimes just the threat of a lawsuit is enough to make the insurance company cough up settlement money. But if you end up going to court, you want an experienced trial attorney on your side. At Hensley Legal Group, our injury attorneys don’t shy away from going to court if that’s what it takes to get you full and fair compensation.

What Can I Recover from a Merrillville Car Accident?

Most people find that it’s too overwhelming to deal with the insurance company while trying to recover their health and happiness. That’s why a Merrillville car accident lawyer focuses on your financial recovery while you focus on what’s really important: getting back on your feet.

In the legal world, your losses in a Merrillville car accident are known as damages. There are two different types of damages: economic and noneconomic. Economic damages are easily calculable losses, such as medical bills or lost wages. Noneconomic damages, on the other hand, are much more difficult to quantify, but no less real and no less damaging: things like pain and suffering or loss of one’s chosen career path.

Legally, you have a right in Indiana to recover both economic and noneconomic damages after a Merrillville car accident. But if you speak alone with your insurance adjuster, you’re likely to hear a different story. Many injured victims are tempted to accept settlement offers from the insurance company that only promise to cover their medical bills. But it’s important to know that the insurance company may be responsible for other damages as well.

If you’re worried the insurance company isn’t offering you a reasonable settlement, call our Merrillville office or contact us online for a free case review. While we cannot say definitively what your case is worth, our Merrillville car accident attorneys can help you examine all of your options for recovery.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you shouldn’t have to fight for compensation alone. Our Merrillville car accident attorneys can help. Call us today or contact us online for a free case review.

In the meantime, feel free to browse our blog for posts all about car accidents. Be sure to download our free ebooks, Consumer’s Guide for Injured Victims and A Quick Guide to Property Damage.

When you’re ready, give us a call, send us a text, fill out a form, or start an online chat. We’re available 24/7.

Common Causes of Merrillville Car Accidents

Due to the high number of hit-and-runs in the Region, Merrillville drivers need to be extra careful of reckless drivers. Most auto collisions are caused by unsafe driver action, according to data from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, and may have been prevented if the at-fault driver had been responsible.

If the driver who caused your car accident was doing these irresponsible behaviors, you could be entitled to compensation.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of car accidents in the US. It’s tempting to pick up your phone or give your attention to your passengers instead of the road, but your sole focus should always be on driving. It is illegal in Indiana to use your phone while driving. If you were injured in a car wreck caused by someone who was distracted by their phone, you can recover damages by filing a personal injury claim.

Speeding

Speed-related factors can lead to deadly accidents. In 2019, speeding caused 25 percent of all fatal collisions in Indiana. It may be tempting to push the speed limit if you’re in a hurry to get to the office or if you’re late for an appointment. But the faster you drive, the longer it will take to come to a complete stop if you need to slam on the brakes.

Speeding is especially unsafe in rough weather. If snow, rain, or sleet has made the road slick, or if fog reduces visibility, it is safer to reduce your speed. Over half of speed-related collisions are caused by driving too fast for weather conditions. Keep the road safe for yourself and others by sticking to the speed limit.

Reckless Driving

Sometimes you can see a reckless driver coming from a mile away as they swerve around traffic. Other times, you may just have the bad luck of driving beside someone who decides to enter your lane without checking their mirrors first.

Unsafe driving like tailgating, passing in the wrong lane, not using turn signals, failure to yield, ignoring stop signs, and speeding is dangerous and puts everyone on the road at risk. If someone’s recklessness caused your car accident, contact a Merrillville car accident attorney as soon as possible.

Driving Under the Influence

When you hear “impaired driving” your first thought is probably driving under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol slows your reflexes, blurs your vision, and hinders basic motor skills. When someone decides to drive drunk, nobody wins.

Impaired driving also includes drug use, both illegal substances and prescription drugs. Drivers impaired by drugs are more likely to get into a fatal car accident. If the warning label on the side of your prescription warns against operating heavy machinery, taking it may hinder your ability to drive safely.

Drowsy Driving

Do not underestimate the danger of drowsy driving. Driving while fatigued is nearly as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Exhausted drivers may have slowed reflexes or might not notice road debris or lane changes until it is too late.

Schedule Your Free Consultation with a Merrillville Car Accident Attorney

If you were injured in a car accident in Merrillville, contact the personal injury attorneys at Hensley Legal Group today. An auto accident attorney can help file a claim, communicate with insurance, explain what compensation you could be eligible for, so you can focus on healing after the accident.

At Hensley Legal Group, we treat our clients like we would like our family to be treated. No one should have to muddle through the legal process on their own, especially if they are recovering from a serious injury. As our client, you will receive honest and assertive representation.

Our law firm has successfully represented car accident victims in Merrillville and throughout the state of Indiana. Your consultation with us is always free. Fill out the online form or call our Merrillville office at (219) 400-4679 to schedule a consultation.