Have you thought about pursuing a construction accident lawsuit? That civil action can win you the compensation you need to fully recover from your physical and financial losses. That said, the legal process can prove intimidating, particularly if you’ve never been to civil court before.
Fortunately, you don’t have to try and pursue a construction accident claim alone. If you don’t know where to begin, you can turn to Indiana’s construction accident lawyers. Vaughan & Vaughan can step in and guide you through the steps needed to complete your claim. When the time comes, we can represent your best interests both in and out of civil court.
Work With Emergency Responders
Your and your loved ones’ health should be your first priority following a construction accident. These accidents can often involve heavy machinery and can leave you with temporary or permanent disabilities. The last thing you want to do is exacerbate a construction accident injury by not working with emergency responders.
With that in mind, make sure that you, a loved one, or a passerby call 911 as soon as you can after a construction accident. Then, follow the instructions that experienced medical professionals give you. The sooner you get the care you need, the safer you’re going to be in the long run.
Document Your Accident Scene
If you can walk or otherwise aren’t terribly injured, you still need to work with emergency responders to address any latent injuries. That said, you can also document your accident scene. Take pictures or request that strangers do so on your behalf. Get witnesses’ contact information.
If possible, connect with the party you believe to be liable for your accident. You can get this party’s contact information as well as their insurance information. Should the party in question serve as a representative of a larger company, you can ask them to call said company and get the information you need to file an insurance claim.
Do not pursue a liable party if said party opts to flee the scene of your accident. Doing so can put you in great danger and even, in some cases, open you up to criminal charges. Remain on the scene until law enforcement arrives and tell law enforcement if you saw someone run from the scene. Law enforcement can then assume a chase if necessary.
File an Insurance Claim
So long as you have a liable party’s insurance information, you can initiate a claim against them. That said, be wary of insurance providers’ bad faith behavior. Many corporate insurance providers will attempt to undervalue your losses. Some providers may even deny your claim outright.
You can, in these circumstances, appeal a denied claim or call on an attorney for guidance. Indiana’s construction accident attorneys can step in and manage conversations with a relevant insurance provider on your behalf. We can even sue providers who refuse to acknowledge the severity of your construction accident.
Call an Attorney
If the party liable for your accident doesn’t have insurance, or if you want to take additional action against that party, you can call on a construction accident lawyer. The team with Vaughan & Vaughan can meet you within hours of an accident to discuss your next best legal steps.
Should the need arise, we can help you file a personal injury claim against the party responsible for your losses. In doing so, we can help you fight for the compensation you need to fund your recovery.
Assign Liability Based on Evidence
If you want to hold a particular party liable for your losses, you need to bring forward evidence of that party’s negligence. You have an obligation to meet Indiana’s burden of proof if you want a civil case to move forward.
If you documented the scene of your accident, you can submit your findings to an attorney for their analysis. Our team can alternatively return to the accident scene, communicate with witnesses, and reach out to experts to gather their contributions to your case.
Calculate the Value of Your Losses
You additionally need to calculate what the value of your construction accidents’ economic and non-economic losses may be. Our attorneys can do so by first looking at the reduced pay stubs, medical bills, and property damage related to your accident.
Then, we can account for the non-economic losses afforded to you by the state. The damages tied to these losses can see you compensated for your pain and suffering, emotional distress, stress, and mental anguish.
Determine How You Want Your Case to Proceed
After you file your construction accident claim, you need to determine how you want your case to move forward. You have the right to either negotiate for the coverage you deserve or take your construction accident to trial.
There are pros and cons to both processes. For example, negotiating for a construction accident settlement gets you up close and personal with the parties liable for your losses. That said, construction accident settlement negotiations tend to resolve more quickly than comparative trials.
Trials, on the other hand, can help you keep a belligerent defendant in line. Trials also help you call forward a company or party that might otherwise refuse to meet with you. You can discuss which means of securing compensation best suits your circumstances when you first meet with an Indiana construction accident lawyer.
Complete These Steps Within Indiana’s Personal Injury Statute of Limitations
Note that if you want to move a personal injury case forward, you need to complete these steps within the statute of limitations established in Indiana Code section 34-11-2-4. This personal injury statute of limitations gives you no more than two years to act on your losses.
Vaughan & Vaughan Wants to Help You Recover from a Construction Accident
We believe that Indiana residents have the right to hold negligent parties accountable for those parties’ negligence. If you’re ready to take a construction accident case to civil court, let our team represent your best interests. We have the experience to carefully and effectively help you navigate the legal process.
You can contact our team today to schedule your free construction accident case evaluation. Let our Indiana construction accident attorneys help you estimate the value of a personal injury lawsuit today.
