Turn to an Evansville Car Accident Lawyer to Help
When you experience a car accident, it can leave you reeling. You’re left with the shock of the accident itself, damage to your vehicle, and potential injuries that can totally change your life. It will probably feel like you’re alone and no one understands what you’re going through.
But you aren’t alone.
There is help out there for these situations, and finding an Evansville car accident lawyer should be one of your top priorities.
What Can an Evansville Car Accident Lawyer Do?
When another driver is at fault because of negligence or carelessness, you shouldn’t have to suffer. We get it: accidents do happen. But what led to this accident to begin with? You’re dealing with financial losses, severe injuries, and damaging side effects. It’s only fair that you receive compensation and assistance to help you get through it.
The law acknowledges this factor, which is why you have the ability to seek compensation when an injury accident occurs. On another note, the insurance companies also know you are entitled to compensation, but they can be a bit focused on their bottom line.
Most insurance companies will try to get you to settle for the lowest amounts possible. And unless you have a car accident lawyer on your side, you likely wouldn’t know that you can fight for more (and probably receive it). A car accident lawyer can go to bat for you, using their skills and expertise to help you get maximum compensation.
But what you should know is that you should never simply accept an award or sum of money from the insurance companies in these cases. Instead, contact an experienced attorney and work with them on:
- Collecting evidence and accident reports
- Preparing documents for the claim
- Fighting for medical expense reimbursement, pain and suffering, and other necessary compensation
How the Laws Affect You in Evansville, Indiana
Technically, Indiana is an at-fault state. Ultimately, this means that the state law holds someone responsible for negligence and will declare a party to be at fault, entitling the other driver(s) to compensation from the person deemed responsible for the accident. In a no-fault state, this would be the opposite and each driver would be responsible for themselves.
In no-fault states, there is a comparative clause that can sometimes be enforced, reducing the liable person’s access to compensation if proven in court that they were responsible.
But since Indiana is an at-fault state, you are more likely to be able to receive the compensation that you deserve.
Personal Injury Protection Requirements
In some states, drivers are required to carry PIP insurance, which stands for “personal injury protection.” Unfortunately, Indiana is not one of those states. And with that in mind, some insurance companies don’t even offer PIP.
PIP is not required in Indiana, so some insurance companies will only offer coverage for medical expenses specifically related to the accident, but nothing more. While PIP is not required, drivers are required to have insurance to cover their own personal injuries should an accident occur. Legally, this must be at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
Calculating Pain and Suffering
There are certain ways to calculate pain and suffering. Each state determines its own formula. In Indiana, you can request compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, economic damages, and things with set dollar amounts. However, you can also request compensation for pain and suffering.
But what does that mean? These are the details included in the calculation:
- What was the injury experienced?
- Is the injury permanent, or how long will it cause suffering?
- What is the cost of treating this injury?
- Is there evidence available for the injury and treatment needs?
In the calculation, Indiana uses a multiplier of 1-5, which helps to calculate a specific dollar amount for compensation purposes. The multiplier is added to the known costs to come up with an amount.
Work with an Evansville Car Accident Lawyer
When you’re dealing with the aftermath of a car accident, hiring an experienced Evansville car accident lawyer is essential. They can help you get the compensation that you need – and deserve – based on the accident.
It is imperative to contact a lawyer as quickly as possible. Never discuss the accident at the scene, but be sure to document everything you can remember, taking notes and pictures if you are able to.
