A car accident in Muncie can occur in an instant, leaving you with serious injuries. Whether you’ve suffered a concussion from a crash on the Muncie Bypass, broken bones from a collision on State Road 32, or whiplash from an accident near Ball State University, it’s crucial to consult with a Muncie car accident lawyer to understand your rights and explore your legal options.
The Muncie, IN, personal injury lawyers at Vaughan & Vaughan have been fighting for the injured in Indiana since our founding in 1913. We’ve grown a lot, and a new generation of the family now runs the firm. But we are still focused on helping people who have been injured through no fault of their own recover the financial compensation they deserve.
In this video, Vaughan & Vaughan guides you through the process of filing a car accident lawsuit. They emphasize the initial steps of determining fault through witness statements and police reports. The firm explains how they evaluate the impact of the accident on clients, considering factors like medical bills, lost wages, and long-term recovery. The process involves making a claim to the insurance company, initiating negotiations for a fair settlement. If necessary, Vaughan & Vaughan is prepared to escalate to filing a lawsuit, involving discovery, mediation, and potential jury trial. Throughout, having strong legal representation is crucial to navigating the complexities and achieving a favorable outcome. Contact Vaughan & Vaughan today for personalized assistance with your car accident case.
Your Right to Civil Action After a Car Accident in Muncie
It only takes one negligent driver to cause an accident in Muncie. Every year, people are hurt in crashes on highways, city streets, and rural roads. An accident can happen anywhere at any time. For example:
- A texting driver crashes into a car on East Washington Street.
- A speeding driver causes an accident on State Road 67.
- There’s a T-bone accident at McGalliard Road and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd when a driver fails to pay attention while making a turn.
- A drunk driver loses control on West Jackson Street.
- A fatigued driver falls asleep at the wheel on Isanogel Road.
When people are hurt due to someone else’s negligence, they deserve financial compensation. But the legal process can be complicated, and insurance companies have the advantage. Our lawyers build strong cases built on facts and fight back against an insurance company’s attempts to pay you less.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
Holding Negligent Drivers Accountable
Car accidents can rapidly transform your plans for the future. You may find yourself needing surgery, medication, and physical therapy without the finances to afford such treatments. What’s more, you may not be able to work because of your injuries. As you seek out essential care, your expenses can add up out of your control.
When a negligent driver causes an accident that leaves you injured, you shouldn’t have to pay. But recovering financial compensation can be complicated. The driver who caused your Muncie car accident may deny doing anything wrong and refuse to accept responsibility. That leaves you in the position of having to prove negligence.
You may have to prove negligence to both an insurance company and a civil judge if you want to benefit from damages related to your accident. This can be a time-consuming process, particularly if an insurance company decides to be an obstacle on your path to recovery instead of an aide.
Insurance Companies don’t Always Value Your Losses
When you first start contributing to an insurance policy, you want to trust that your provider has your best interests at heart. Unfortunately, most insurance providers operate like corporations do. They’re not always going to value a car wreck the same way you do, meaning that they may choose to deny your car or truck accident compensation based on inaccurate estimates of your losses.
That doesn’t mean, however, that you shouldn’t submit a civil claim to your insurance provider after an accident. Rather, more providers require you to submit information regarding your accident within 24 hours of your initial crash. You can, however, work with a Muncie car accident attorney to negotiate with your insurance provider, should they not offer you the fair settlement you deserve.
There is no fee
unless you win
Experienced Attorneys Can Bring Your Fight for Car Accident Compensation to Civil Court
If an insurance company refuses to capitulate and offer you the financial support you deserve, you have other means through which you can secure the maximum compensation for your losses. Our car accident attorneys in Muncie have extensive experience identifying liable parties on behalf of injured parties. We can then present your case to a civil judge courtesy of a car accident complaint.
A claim allows you to demand an accident settlement for the financial losses foisted upon you by a liable party’s negligence. We can walk you through the process of compiling your claim to better argue your position.
How to Calculate the Value of an Auto Accident Case
No two accident victims share the same losses. As such, it’s difficult to say what the average settlement victims might receive for an automobile accident looks like. That said, you can work with experienced attorneys to establish the value of your case with the help of evidence from the scene of your wreck.
Specifically, our team breaks down your automobile accident losses into two categories: economic and non-economic. Economic losses generate bills or result from tangible damage done to your person and/or property. These can include your car accident medical expenses, upcoming surgeries, and the restoration of damaged property. You can even request compensation for wages lost while you’re recovering.
The non-economic losses tied to your car accident do not generate bills through traditional means. They may, however, have a noticeable impact on your quality of life. If you find yourself contending with emotional distress, PTSD, or declining mental health after a car accident, Indiana allows you to use multipliers to stand in for these losses’ bills when building an accident claim.
How to Hold Negligent Drivers Responsible for Your Losses
Whether you want to hold another driver liable for your losses or fault falls with an unexpected party, you need to provide evidence indicating that negligence resulted in your accident. You can do this by submitting police reports, medical records, and even medical bills to elaborate on the nature of your accident.
For example, police records may indicate that you were in a head-on car accident. Your medical records can support this, while your medical bills can elaborate on the severity of your injuries.
That said, don’t claim someone bears responsibility for your accident without the evidence to back your statement up. While negligent drivers are often responsible for roadway accidents in Muncie, other liable parties can include:
- Negligent construction crews
- Negligent government officials
- Truck drivers
- Bicyclists
- Motorcyclists
- Wayward students and Ball State University staff members
- Your car’s mechanic and/or manufacturer
When in doubt, let our attorneys follow the evidence and direct your car accident complaint toward the appropriate liable party.
When to Submit Your Indiana Car Accident Complaint
If you want to request fair compensation for the losses you endured in a motor vehicle accident, you need to act quickly in the days following your accident. Indiana’s statute of limitations, Indiana Code §34-11-2-4, caps your ability to act at two years. This means you cannot request personal injury damages if more than two years have passed since your accident.
The good news is that you’re not forced to compile your personal injury lawsuit in this time period without help. You can work with our law firm from the get-go to make the most out of the time that the state makes available to you.
Our Experienced Muncie Car Accident Lawyers Provide You with Comprehensive Legal Representation
If you’ve been hurt in a Muncie car crash, it’s important to get legal advice as soon as you can. In Indiana, the statute of limitation for taking legal action is two years from the date of your accident. That may seem like plenty of time, but it’s not. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that evidence will be lost and that witnesses will forget a detail.
Our car accident lawyers in Muncie are ready to meet with you. Contact us today using our online contact form or by calling our office, and we can schedule your free consultation.
