What Kind of Evidence Should I Collect After a Car Accident?

Posted on September 9, 2019 by admin

After being involved in a car or truck accident, there are many important steps to take in order to protect yourself from the negligent party and their insurance carrier denying liability. The first and most important step is to contact the police and emergency services and obtain medical attention.

From there, if physically possible, it is wise to collect a fundamental amount of evidence from all parties involved to ensure you are well-prepared for an impending insurance or personal injury claim. The evidence will be used by both parties’ insurance companies to determine which company should be responsible for paying the other party’s vehicle damages and personal injury damages.

Continue reading to learn what kind of evidence you need to collect after a car accident.

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Car Crash Evidence to Collect

Once you receive medical care from on-scene emergency personnel, you should gather up as much evidence as you can from all drivers and passengers involved in the accident, as well as, potential witnesses. If you are not physically capable of doing so, you can ask a police officer to assist you, or delegate the task to someone else at the accident site. If these options are not available to you, an attorney can possibly provide assistance.

The investigating officer will also obtain some of this information so it is always vital to call 911 after being involved in a collision and always wait for an officer to arrive at the scene to write the report.

✒ Driver’s Information
❊The first piece of evidence you should collect is the at-fault driver’s information.

✒ Full Name

✒ Contact Information

✒ Drivers’ License Number

✒ Insurance Information

✒ Vehicle Information

✒ CDL Number (if a truck driver)

✒ Company Name (if a commercial vehicle)

✒ Cargo Being Transported (if a commercial truck)

✒ Photographs
❊ Using your phone or a camera, take as many pictures of the accident site as you can.

✒ Vehicle Damages (all vehicles involved)

✒ Nearby Street Lights, Signs & Intersections

✒ Personal Injuries

✒ Insurance Cards

✒ Other Involved Drivers

✒ Witnesses
❊ Witness statements and testimonies are key in any type of accident claim. Do not be shy or scared to ask onlookers for their contact information, as their statements might be needed to prove the facts of your case later on. Witnesses can be other drivers, pedestrians, store clerks, onlookers, and anyone else that happened to see the accident happen.

Indiana Car Accident Attorneys

Call The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, & Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to make a car accident claim in Indianapolis, Indiana and throughout Indiana. Our seasoned car accident attorneys are prepared to recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after being injured in an accident that was not your fault. Not only do we offer free consultations, we never collect lawyer fees unless we recover a settlement for you.

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Should I Settle My Auto Accident Claim Out of Court?

Posted on July 22, 2019 by admin

When a person is involved in an auto accident caused by an at-fault driver, they are entitled to make an insurance claim and receive a settlement. In many cases, an insurance settlement is often the most reasonable choice, unless the offer is too low. An attorney will try to settle out of court for a client, but if a fair agreement cannot be made with the defendant’s insurance company, then the case is usually taken to court and presented to a judge or jury for a judgment. There are several options for pursing a motor vehicle accident claim, and even more to know about them all.

Continue reading to learn the difference between settling an auto accident claim in and out of court, as well as, what do to as an injured victim of a recent car accident in Indiana.

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Car Insurance Settlement Outcomes

Just like all other cases, insurance claim settlements vary in outcome. If you sustained only minor injuries, and only required a few doctor visits and check-ups, then obviously, you case would be valued by and resolved for less than if you sustained moderate or major damages. Damages include hospital bills, medical expenses, medications, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage and possibly other damages.

With regard to property damages, most insurance companies will pay to cover the repairs initially because the insurance company is attempting to keep you happy long enough so that you do not obtain an attorney. If you do not obtain an attorney quickly however, evidence vital to the case can be lost forever so it is vital to contact an attorney immediately after you obtain your first medical care.

The insurance company may even advise you that they are “accepting responsibility” for the their insured causing the collision. While the insurance company may say this to you, in practice, this is usually not the case. In Indiana, the fact that a defendant driver has insurance is usually not admissible in court and anything an insurance company employee told you is also not admissible. Some judges in Indiana routinely keep out even the mere mention of the fact that a driver who caused a collision has insurance.

Insurance companies in clear cut cases of liability usually want to settle as soon as possible, but quick settlements can be a mistake. This is because once a person signs and accepts the offer and releases the defendant from further liability, the case is immediately closed and cannot be brought back up ever again. If more injuries are discovered after settlement, which can occur and is called “delayed onset” or other damages appear after the settlement has closed, the defendant and their insurance company will no longer bear any responsibility. This is why it is important to hire a licensed Indiana car accident attorney to represent you.

Out-of-Court Settlements

In order to receive the compensation that will fully and fairly cover all related expenses, pain and suffering, medical and property damage, you should take your claim to a lawyer so they can obtain the necessary evidence and conduct a proper investigation to present your case to the at-fault driver’s insurance company or other opposing party.

Contact a licensed personal injury lawyer who specializes in car accident injury claims if you were recently injured in a car accident that was not your fault. A seasoned car accident attorney has the proper knowledge, resources, and experience needed to recover a full and fair settlement you and your family deserves.

Trusted Legal Advice for Your Indiana Car Accident Claim

Call The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for trusted car accident personal injury representation in Indianapolis, Indiana and throughout the State of Indiana. Our seasoned car accident attorneys work hard to ensure our clients’ rights to full and fair compensation. We offer free initial consultations to review your case with you; and we never collect attorney fees unless we prevail for you!

Am I Covered By My Own Auto Insurance in a Rented Car?

Posted on April 2, 2019 by admin

Car rental companies make substantial revenue from selling insurance coverage to their customers. But do you really need this added insurance protection along with your existing automotive insurance policy? Continue reading to find out more about car insurance coverage in a rented car, as well as, what your options might be if you are injured in an accident while driving one.

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Car Rental Insurance

When renting a vehicle, you will be faced with the option of adding extra insurance coverage, offered by the rental company in a series of packages and prices. The cost of these supplementary protection plans vary from as little as $15 per day, to as high as $100 or more. It all depends on the plan you choose, the type of car you are renting, and more. Most often, customers opt for more insurance coverage for the sake of abating risk and liability. But is the cost worth it?

Your Automotive Coverage

Your existing automotive insurance policy, and even your bank card services, may already provide you with sufficient coverage in the case of an accident in a rental car. You see, most car insurance policies, including liability, comprehensive, and collision, cover any vehicles driven by the policy holder, whether they own the vehicle or not. In the case that a driver of a rental car is found at-fault for the accident, they will likely be required to pay the deductible, as they would for any other standard accident.

Rental Car Injury Claims

For this reason, and for the sake of avoiding liability, it is vital that you have a full understanding of your automotive insurance policy BEFORE renting a vehicle. Your understanding must include what would happen if you were to be involved in a car accident while driving a rental vehicle, your extent of coverage, and the method of payment. See our blog, “Can I File a Personal Injury Claim After a Rental Car Accident?” to learn more about your rights to compensation in a rental car accident.

Indianapolis Car Accident Attorneys

If you were injured in a car accident, contact a seasoned car accident attorney who can help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve for your damages and losses. Call the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to learn just how to get started on your car accident claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our law firm offers free initial consultations, and never collects lawyer fees unless we recover a settlement for you.

Top Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents in Indiana

Posted on March 15, 2019 by admin

Motor vehicle accidents are all too common throughout the country, and happen for a large number of reasons. Sometimes, nature interferes and there is not much drivers can do to protect themselves from an accident or collision. But mostly, car accidents occur as a result of some degree of carelessness, whether at the fault of the driver, or someone else. According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT), nearly 1.25 million people are killed in road crashes every year, which averages out to 3,287 deaths per day, and an additional 20 to 50 million are seriously injured or disabled.

Annual Car Accident Statistics

Here in Indiana, the statistics for annual car accidents are not much different. According to statistics gathered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the total number of motor vehicle accidents have increased by 10% since 2005, with a 44% increase in motorcycle accidents.

What can we do to reduce the number of road crashes in our state? To start, we can commit to safer driving habits, and increase our awareness on the road for other reckless drivers. Continue reading to learn what the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) says are the top causes for motor vehicle accidents in Indiana, as well as, what to do if you are negligently injured by a careless driver.

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Top Causes of Car Accidents Include,
but are not limited to:

Impaired Driving – Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a controlled substance is considered impaired driving under Indiana state law. According to the NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 22% of all traffic-related fatalities were caused by impaired drivers.

Reckless Driving – Reckless driving is a common cause for motor vehicle accidents, and includes any form of driving that is dangerous or irresponsible. The most common examples of reckless driving that has led to car accidents in Indiana are speeding, failing to yield, tailgating, unsafe passing, changing lanes without looking, ignoring road signs, and driving the wrong way on a one-way road.

Distracted Driving – Distracted driving causes several car accidents each year in Indiana. The Traffic Safety Division reports that recently, nearly 500 traffic accidents were caused by cell phone distractions. Examples that cause accidents include texting, eating, reaching for kids or items in the back seat, reading, cell phone talking, and pets.

Fatigued Driving – Fatigued and drowsy driving are similar to both distracted driving and impaired driving since it takes a driver’s focus away from the road. According to the Traffic Safety Division, fatigued driving recently caused over 1,600 accidents.

Backing Up – Unsafely backing up is another common cause for serious car accidents, especially among pedestrians and children. Although newer model vehicles have technologies such as cameras and alarms, which help drivers see behind them, these accidents can still occur when drivers do not use the proper precautions when reversing their vehicles.

Additional Causes:

➝ Automobile Manufacturer Defects

➝ Pedestrian Negligence

➝ Defective Stoplights

➝ Unsafe Road Conditions

➝ Missing or Obstructed Road Signs

Recover Compensation After a Car Accident Injury

If you were injured in a car accident as a result of another’s careless, please contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free initial consultation with a licensed car accident attorney who can help. You may be entitled to compensation for your related losses and damages, such as medical expenses, hospital bills, lost wages from work, pain and suffering, and much more. We never collect lawyer fees unless we recover a settlement for you. Get started today by scheduling your free consultation.