Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyer

Have you been injured in an accident in Indiana? You might be entitled to financial compensation. Our Indianapolis car accident lawyers at Rob King & Associates, Trial Lawyers have over 24 years of experience helping injury victims recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress. Call us today at (317) 916-0000 to schedule a free consultation.

Our award-winning legal team has successfully recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients across Indiana. We know how overwhelming the aftermath of a crash can be, and we’re here to provide the personalized attention and aggressive representation you need to move forward.

How Rob King & Associates Can Help After a Car Accident in Indianapolis, IN

How Can Rob King & Associates, Trial Lawyers Help Me Recover Compensation After a Car Accident?

At Rob King & Associates, our law firm is dedicated to doing what’s right for our clients. Every case is unique. We will put in the work to develop a strategy that will be most effective for your case. 

When you hire us, you can count on our Indianapolis personal injury lawyers to:

  • Carefully evaluate your case and explain your legal options
  • Conduct our own investigation to locate the strong evidence you need
  • Identify all responsible parties and insurance coverage sources
  • Evaluate your damages and assess the value of your case
  • Track deadlines and handle the paperwork and insurance claims process
  • Work to minimize the insurance company’s efforts to blame you
  • Reject lowball settlement offers and negotiate for the full amount you deserve
  • Take your case to court and argue before a judge and jury, if necessary, to get a fair amount

It is important to hire a respected accident law firm to represent your interests as soon as possible. Remember that the insurance adjusters aren’t on your side. Their entire business is based on paying as little as possible.

To learn more about an attorney-client relationship, call our car accident lawyers today.

Why Should I Hire an Indianapolis Car Accident Attorney?

Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

You may think that winning your car accident case will be easy. Even if liability is clear, recovering compensation can be extremely difficult. Insurance companies don’t like to make big payouts. They’ll do whatever they can to downplay your losses and reduce the amount of money you receive.

Hiring an attorney makes it more likely that you’ll both win your case and maximize your financial recovery.

An attorney can help by:

  • Leveling the playing field. Insurance companies know exactly how the legal process works. They understand what your case is worth because they see cases like yours every day. Our attorneys also deal with insurers every day, and we know how to protect your interests. 
  • Expert testimony can be critical. An experienced car accident lawyer has relationships with experts in various fields. They also have the resources to hire them to testify on your behalf.
  • You have enough on your plate. The time after an accident can be traumatic and overwhelming. Taking a fast settlement can be tempting. Your injury lawyer can handle the insurance battle while you rest and heal.
  • You will be blamed. If they have even a shred of proof, the insurance company will try to blame you. If they succeed, you’ll walk away with less than you deserve. Skilled lawyers know how to fight back. 

When you hire an Indiana personal injury lawyer, you can rest more easily knowing that your case is in good hands. 

Do I Have a Car Accident Case?

Do I Have a Car Accident Case?

If you were involved in a crash, you may be wondering whether you have a car accident case. The answer depends on several factors, including who was at fault and whether you sustained damages. 

To have a valid legal claim, you typically need to prove that another party was negligent. For example, they may have been speeding or distracted while driving. You must have also suffered identifiable damages, like medical bills, physical suffering, and lost income. 

The best way to determine whether you can hold another individual responsible for your injuries is by speaking with an attorney. A lawyer can help you understand your options and protect your right to fair compensation.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

Most personal injury law firms take cases on a contingency fee basis. You only pay attorneys’ fees if your personal injury case is successful. When your attorney recovers compensation in your case, their fees are deducted from your settlement or verdict. Most attorneys charge between 33% and 40%.

That means you can afford to hire an attorney even if you’re already struggling after your crash. It also means your lawyer will have a powerful incentive to fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.

What Types of Damages Can I Recover in a Car Accident Lawsuit?

What Types of Damages Can I Recover in a Car Accident Lawsuit?

Car accident victims in Indiana can suffer all types of losses. Victims often struggle with physical, emotional, and financial losses. Under Indiana personal injury laws, you can receive compensation for your economic and non-economic damages.

Your economic damages award may compensate you for:

  • Past and future medical expenses, including ER visits, hospitalization, surgery, follow-up visits, medications, medical devices, and more
  • Lost wages, income, and employment benefits
  • Reduced earning potential
  • Nursing care
  • Rehabilitation 
  • Property damage to a vehicle and personal belongings
  • Out-of-pocket expenses, such as increased transportation costs, in-home assistance, childcare, etc.

It’s important to keep your receipts. After an accident, the insurance company will want to see documentation to prove your losses. If you don’t have a record of the expense, the insurance company will likely challenge it.

Non-economic damages compensate for the range of personal losses you’ve suffered due to a serious injury, such as:

  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional trauma and distress
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Anxiety
  • Depression 
  • PTSD
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Physical disfigurement or scarring
  • Loss of consortium or parental guidance in wrongful death cases

You won’t have receipts to prove these losses. It can be helpful to keep a journal that describes how the injury has impacted your life. We can also prove these losses by working with experts and comparing your case to similar cases.

You’ve probably heard of punitive damages awards. Punitive damages are rare in car accident injury cases. 

To receive punitive damages, you must convince the court that the defendant’s acts were intentional, malicious, or showed a shocking disregard for human safety. That’s because punitive damages punish the defendant rather than compensate a victim for specific losses.

How Much Compensation Can I Recover By Filing a Car Accident Claim?

How Much Compensation Can I Recover By Filing a Car Accident Claim?

Before we estimate your case value, we will have to investigate and review the evidence. No two personal injury cases are precisely the same. Your injuries are unique, and you deserve a lawyer who will dedicate the time to consider the specific losses you have suffered.

Factors that will most significantly impact your case value include:

  • Your medical treatment costs and other current expenses
  • Your prognosis for making a full recovery
  • The income you’ve lost during recovery thus far
  • How a permanent or long-term disability will impact your earning capacity
  • The pain, suffering, and trauma you have endured
  • How a long-term injury will impact your quality of life and ability to enjoy life
  • Whether the shared fault is an issue
  • The insurance policy limits involved
  • The strength of the evidence

While it can be tempting to accept any amount of money when the bills are piling up, taking a fast deal is rarely a good idea. Your settlement must account for all current and expected future losses. You won’t have another opportunity to ask for more if your costs end up being higher than you expect.

Let us evaluate your claim and help you understand how much you really deserve.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident?

What Should I Do After a Car Accident?

After a car accident, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself. Just a few basic steps can keep you safe and increase your odds of recovering full compensation if you file a claim for damages.

Those steps include:

  • Remain at or near the accident scene. Leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident is a crime in Indiana. It’s okay to move the vehicles to a safe nearby location to avoid further harm
  • Call 911 and request an ambulance if someone requires emergency medical care
  • Notify law enforcement of the accident. Under Indiana law, you must report any accident that causes bodily injury, death, or at least $1,000 in property damage. Remember that your insurance company will also want to see an accident report
  • Exchange insurance details and contact information with the other driver
  • Obtain the contact information of any witnesses who stopped to help
  • Gather evidence by taking photos and videos of vehicle damage, injuries, and overall conditions at the crash scene
  • Cooperate with the police, but avoid apologizing or making statements that indicate you were at fault
  • Avoid posting on social media
  • Avoid signing any insurance documents or making a recorded statement before talking to a lawyer

Seek medical attention. Prompt medical care is crucial even if you don’t think your injuries are serious. If you don’t visit a doctor right away, the insurance company might claim that something else caused your injuries. Of course, medical treatment is also critical to your health.

Also, remember that it is never too early to call a lawyer. The sooner your lawyer gets involved, the stronger your claim for compensation is likely to be. 

What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents?

What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents?

Identifying the cause of your accident is critical to making a financial recovery. Different factors can play a role in your case. By identifying each contributing factor, we’ll be able to hold all parties accountable.

While traffic accidents happen for different reasons, some of the most common causes of car accidents are as follows:

  • Distracted driving
  • Texting while driving
  • Inexperienced drivers
  • Failure to yield the right-of-way 
  • Tailgating 
  • Speeding
  • Fatigued drivers
  • Drunk driving
  • Driving under the influence of drugs
  • Aggressive driving
  • Dangerous lane changes or turns
  • Running a red light or stop sign
  • Driver error
  • Dangerous road conditions, including limited visibility and poor weather

The police report will contain important details about the cause of your accident. Still, that may not be enough to prove your case. You can count on our attorneys to conduct a thorough investigation into the crash. Once we locate all available evidence, we’ll be able to prove exactly why your accident occurred.

We Handle All Types of Car Accident Cases in Indianapolis

We Handle All Types of Car Accident Claims in Indianapolis

No two car crashes are exactly the same. To make the most out of your claim for compensation, it is essential to work with a law firm that has significant experience.

At Rob King & Associates, our car accident attorneys have seen it all. We have nearly three decades of experience in personal injury law. 

We represent people in all kinds of car accident cases, including:

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end crashes are more than simply frustrating fender-benders. They can cause serious injuries and damage. Whether the at-fault driver was distracted, tailgating, or speeding, our attorneys can help you establish liability. Call our law firm to schedule a free case review with a lawyer who can help.

Head-On Crashes

Head-On Car Crashes

Head-on car accidents can cause devastating injuries. These accidents can also happen in the blink of an eye–and you may have no idea why. If you or a family member were injured in a head-on crash, count on our head-on car accident attorneys to find out what happened. To help secure the compensation you deserve, call for a free case evaluation right away.

Speeding Accidents

Speeding Accidents

Speeding can make any car accident more dangerous. Unfortunately, speeding is one of the most common causes of serious car accidents. In 2022, excessive speeds were a factor in 28% of all fatal crashes across Indiana. If you were injured in an accident, contact an Indianapolis speeding accident attorney for help proving your case. 

Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk Driving Accidents

Despite being illegal in all 50 states, drunk driving remains a serious problem. In a single year, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research shows that 13,524 people were killed by drunk drivers.

You might think proving your case would be easier if the at-fault driver was intoxicated. That’s not always the case. If you were involved in an accident with a drunk driver, our Indianapolis DUI lawyers are ready to help you fight for every dollar you deserve to get you on the road to recovery.

T-Bone Accidents

T-Bone Accidents

T-bone collisions can cause devastating injuries. Occupants on the side of impact tend to suffer the most severe injuries. Typically, T-bone accidents happen when drivers race through intersections or ignore stop signs. If you were involved in a T-bone accident, let our accident lawyers take the lead and build the strongest claim for compensation possible.

Fatal Car Accidents

Fatal Car Accidents

Far too many people die in preventable car accidents. You’ve lost your loved one forever because another driver couldn’t bother to be careful. Our attorneys are ready to help you fight to hold the responsible party accountable. Call us to learn more about how we can help your family get the compensation you need and deserve.

We also represent victims in cases involving:

  • Rollovers
  • Sideswipe accidents
  • Multiple vehicle crashes and pile-ups
  • Chain reaction auto accidents
  • Single-vehicle accidents
  • Highway accidents 
  • Trucking accidents
  • Accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists 
  • Accidents involving teens or inexperienced drivers
  • Commercial vehicle accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Uber and Lyft accidents
  • Accidents involving passenger negligence
  • Red and yellow light accidents
  • Distracted driving crashes
  • Intersection accidents
  • Accidents involving uninsured/underinsured motorists
  • Hit-and-run accidents

Regardless of the facts, we’re here to help. Call our experienced accident lawyers to schedule your free initial consultation if you were hurt in a motor vehicle accident.

Common Types of Car Accident Injuries

Car accident victims often suffer a range of serious injuries, including:

  • Broken bones
  • Nerve injuries
  • Whiplash injuries
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Chest injuries
  • Head and neck injuries
  • Concussions
  • Back injuries
  • Organ damage and bleeding
  • Burns
  • Degloving injuries
  • Amputations
  • Paralysis
  • Catastrophic injuries
  • Wrongful death of a loved one

You deserve compensation for all of your injuries. When the insurance company is trying to downplay the severity of your injuries, reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney who can help. With a respected attorney on your team, the insurance company will have no choice but to take your case seriously. 

Car Accident FAQ

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Car Accident in Indiana?

Under Indiana law, you have two years from the date of an injury to file a lawsuit. The two-year statute of limitations period starts running on the date of your accident. Missing the deadline carries severe consequences. Your case will be dismissed entirely if you wait more than two years to start the process.

It’s also important to remember that different deadlines could apply depending on the facts.

When in doubt, consult an attorney as quickly as possible. We’ll take steps to get the ball rolling and preserve your right to seek compensation and justice.

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit After a Car Accident in Indiana?

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Can I Still Get Compensation If I’m Partly to Blame For an Indiana Car Accident?

Indiana uses a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar to recovery. If you share any responsibility for your accident, this law will come into play.

Here’s how it works:

    • If you are more than 50% to blame, you cannot recover any compensation from the other party.

    • If you are 50% or less to blame, you will receive a reduced payout. For example, if you’re 20% at fault, you can receive 80% of your damages.

Insurance companies use this law often to undermine claims and pay victims less. We can protect your right to compensation.

Can I Still Get Compensation If I’m Partly to Blame For an Indiana Car Accident?

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What Is Negligence?

Negligence is the basis of most Indiana car accident claims. In other words, most crashes occur due to careless behaviors rather than intentional conduct.

To prove that the other party was negligent, we must demonstrate the following elements:

    • They owed you a duty of care, such as to drive responsibly and follow traffic rules

    • They breached their duty by acting unreasonably under the circumstances – for example, they were speeding

    • Their breach of duty was the direct cause of the accident

    • You suffered damages as a result

We can prove negligence in your auto accident case by collecting evidence, such as medical records, surveillance footage, and witness statements.

What Is Negligence?

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Examples of responsible parties include:

    • The at-fault driver who caused the crash

    • Employers of at-fault drivers who were working at the time of the crash

    • Manufacturers of defective car parts

    • Government agencies

    • Trucking companies

    • Pedestrians

    • Bicyclists

    • Motorcyclists

    • Negligent passengers

As your lawyer reviews the facts, they’ll be able to determine who can be financially responsible for the crash.

Who Can Be Held Liable for My Car Accident Injuries?

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What to Do When Dealing with Insurance Companies After an Accident

Most accident claims involve insurance companies. The insurer will typically have an adjuster assess the vehicle damage and investigate the accident and injuries. However, keep in mind that their primary goal is to protect the company and pay you as little as possible.

An insurance company may employ various tactics to make the process as difficult as possible. They might undervalue your damages, ask for unnecessary paperwork, or even deny your claim altogether. An attorney can help you deal with these issues and protect your best interests.

Your lawyer will review the applicable policy, communicate with the insurer on your behalf, and prevent you from making mistakes that could hurt your claim. They can ensure that you receive a settlement that covers the full extent of your losses.

What to Do When Dealing with Insurance Companies After an Accident

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Why Do I Need a Police Report?

A police report can strengthen your accident claim in many ways. It will provide an official account of your collision from a third party’s (the officer’s) point of view. These reports typically outline the position of the vehicles, each driver’s version of events, traffic conditions, and other pertinent information. This can be vital during settlement negotiations.

Why Do I Need a Police Report?

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How Long Does a Car Accident Claim Take?

The amount of time it takes to resolve your car accident claim will vary based on numerous factors. Some cases wrap up in a few months. However, if you need to file a lawsuit and take the matter to court, it could take over a year to conclude.

Things like serious injuries, complex liability issues, and an unwillingness to negotiate can lengthen the process. However, if you work with our team, we’ll do everything possible to expedite your claim and obtain the compensation you deserve from all responsible parties.

How Long Does a Car Accident Claim Take?

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Will My Car Accident Case Go to Trial?

Most personal injury claims can be successfully resolved via settlement negotiations.

However, going to court may be necessary when there are serious disputes about your case. Recovering a fair compensation award is critical. Otherwise, you’ll be left on the hook for your damages. Trial–or the threat of trial–can be the only way to convince the insurance company to pay the amount you deserve.

Litigation may also be necessary when there are serious disputes about who was responsible for the crash. Even when the evidence is strong, insurance providers don’t always play fair. Sometimes, it’s necessary to take them to court to get them to uphold their end of the bargain.

Will My Car Accident Case Go to Trial?

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Statistics on Car Accidents in Indianapolis

Indiana University has published detailed data and statistics on car crashes. During 2022, more crashes occurred in Marion County than in any other Indiana county: 36,489 crashes were reported in the area that year. Unfortunately, the highest number of traffic fatalities (145) was also reported in Marion County.

The Indiana Annual Report indicates that in 2023, the state experienced 894 fatalities and 4,232 serious bodily injuries in traffic crashes. Of the 894 fatalities: 

  • 122 involved alcohol impairment
  • 236 involved speeding
  • 131 involved drivers aged 20 and under

According to early estimates from the NHTSA, in the first nine months of 2024, 635 people died in auto accidents in the state of Indiana. This represents a 6% decrease from the prior year. 

Contact an Experienced Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Initial Consultation

Contact an Experienced Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Initial Consultation Today

Car accident cases are rarely simple. Recovering compensation from an insurance company is almost always a struggle. Even when you do have an offer on the table, it is nearly impossible to know whether it’s fair unless you consult an Indianapolis car accident lawyer.

Our team at Rob King & Associates knows how the process works and how to succeed. To learn more about the benefits of legal representation and get answers to your questions, contact us online or by phone for a free consultation. There’s never any obligation or risk when you hire us for your crash case.

Car Accident Infographic

Car Infographic