You should immediately contact the police, seek medical care, and get legal assistance after a crash in Indianapolis. You can get professional help understanding the steps you need to take from a legal professional.
An attorney can help with your personal injury claim, handle insurance agents, and answer any questions you have, giving you more time to recover. An experienced Indianapolis car accident lawyer can also explain crash victims’ rights.
You Should Contact the Police After a Car Accident
After an accident, you should get to a safe location at the crash site and call 911. In Indiana, unless you’re going to get emergency medical care, it is illegal to leave the scene of an accident that results in injuries, death, or significant property damage.
However, you can move your vehicle out of traffic to prevent the chances of causing an additional collision. For example, you could pull into a nearby parking lot or off the road by the accident scene.
So, wait at the scene until law enforcement arrives, usually the Indianapolis Metro Police Department (IMPD) or Indiana State Police (ISP). Once the police officer arrives, get their name, badge number, and agency. This information will help locate a critical piece of evidence: the Indiana crash report.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
Seek Immediate Medical Care After a Car Accident
You should seek medical attention if you sustain an injury in a car accident. Often, accident victims sustain serious injuries – like a traumatic brain injury (TBI), concussion, fractured bones, spinal cord injury, or internal damage – that do not show immediate symptoms.
Car accident victims frequently experience delayed pain. An EMT may be able to detect severe damage before you do.
Ideally, you will see a doctor on the same day as the crash. In Indianapolis, emergency trauma care is available at places like:
- IU Health Methodist Hospital
- Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis
- Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care in Zionsville
Seeing a doctor helps protect your health and creates another critical piece of evidence to support your claim: an official medical report of your crash injuries.
An Indianapolis personal injury lawyer may use the information in your doctor’s report to build your claim. Your attorney can also provide more information about what to do after a car accident in Indianapolis.
Collect Evidence After Your Crash
You may find a lot of solid evidence to support your claim at the crash site that will only be available briefly. The authorities will move wrecked vehicles out of the road, rain can wash away tire marks, and witnesses’ memories will fade.
So, if your health and safety allow, start collecting evidence at the crash site. Accident attorneys recommend that you take photos and video of the wreck, including:
- Vehicle position
- Road conditions
- Physical evidence like skid marks and broken glass
- Injuries
- Property damage
Lawyers also recommend you talk to witnesses and get their names and contact information. That way, your personal injury attorney can follow up with them later.
Keep a Private Record of the Crash
As soon as you can, write down the details you can remember from the crash, like time of day, location, road and weather conditions, actions taken by yourself or the other driver before the collision, injuries, and any other details.
Then, maintain a daily account of your crash injuries and treatment. Include descriptions of how the injuries are affecting your daily life. Your record could become important evidence to support your case and may help you recall details throughout the claims process.
Call Your Insurance Company
Most car insurance policies require you to inform them about an accident soon after it occurs. Skipping this step could hurt your claim. When you contact your insurance company, stick to the facts and say as little as possible: time, date, location, and names of those involved.
Do not go into detail about what happened, fault, or your injuries. It is enough at this time to say that you are being medically treated and leave it at that. Assume the insurance company will record you, but do not agree to make an informal or formal statement about the crash.
If you have a lawyer, they can handle notifying your insurance company for you. You can also refer any future questions or requests the insurance company has about your claim to your lawyer.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer
You can improve your chances of getting fair compensation after a crash by contacting a lawyer immediately. What does a car accident lawyer do? An attorney can:
Answer Your Questions
Your attorney can provide clear and straightforward answers to any questions you have. Therefore, you can rely on a lawyer to explain what to do after a car accident in Indianapolis.
Your lawyer will also explain your options for filing accident claims and discuss the steps you should take, helping you through each step of this stressful experience by providing professional legal advice.
Help with the Insurance Company
Your attorney can handle all communication with the insurance company while working to help you get the settlement you deserve after a crash.
Your lawyer may need to file technical forms and legal documents and, ultimately, beat an experienced insurance adjuster in a high-stakes negotiation that determines whether your settlement will cover your losses or run out before you get better.
Don’t take on the insurance company alone. An insurance adjuster’s job is to save the insurance company money, and that means reducing or rejecting your claim. That’s why you should never accept a financial offer from an insurance company without at least having a free consultation with a lawyer first.
Gather Evidence About Your Car Accident
Lawyers must establish that someone else caused your auto accident through negligence to bring you compensation for your losses. An experienced attorney will vary the strategies used to investigate based on the specifics of your situation.
Depending on your circumstances, your attorney may:
- Get a copy of the official police report
- Visit the scene of your auto accident
- Collect witness statements from everyone who saw the crash
- Gather photos and videos showing the crash
Gathering evidence can strengthen your claim and improve your chances of securing fair compensation from the at-fault driver. Contacting a lawyer immediately after a crash gives the law firm a better chance of collecting all relevant evidence before it disappears.
File a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Sometimes, an experienced car accident attorney will recommend suing the party responsible for your traffic accident. Filing a lawsuit may become necessary if the insurance company representing the liable party refuses to treat you fairly.
You can learn more about all your legal options and what to do after a car accident in Indianapolis by contacting a local law firm today.
What Shouldn’t You Do After a Car Accident in Indianapolis?
You should avoid any actions that could damage your claim after a motor vehicle accident. An attorney can provide detailed information about what to avoid after a collision. Generally, you should:
Avoid Discussing Your Accident
There are a lot of people asking questions after a crash. However, you should say as little as possible at the crash site. Be polite, and if you talk to the police, stick to the facts: name, driver’s license, insurance information, and time of crash.
Do not go into detail about the actions leading up to the crash or comment on fault. Never say “I’m sorry” at a crash site. An insurance adjuster can twist this polite phrase and interpret it as an admission of fault.
Avoid Talking to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company
Do not talk to the other driver’s insurance agent. When one wrong word can chop thousands of dollars off your settlement, it is a good idea to have a lawyer with your best interests in mind who can help you make the right moves.
The sooner you contact a lawyer, the sooner they can handle police and insurance adjuster questions and requests for you.
Avoid Posting on Social Media
You should not post about your accident on social media. In some cases, lawyers advise against making any posts at all without legal input. Sometimes, insurance companies review these posts and may use them to downplay the extent of your injuries.
Avoid Waiting to Contact a Lawyer
You should not wait to reach out to a lawyer after an accident. If you wait too long, you’ll lose your chance of securing fair damages for your losses. A statute of limitations does apply to your accident.
What is the statute of limitations on a car accident in Indiana? Generally, Indiana only gives you two years to move forward with a case after a crash. It’s important that you contact a lawyer during this time frame to discuss your next steps.
So, when should you hire a lawyer after a car accident? Most professionals recommend getting help as quickly as possible.
Your Steps After a Car Accident Can Help You Get Compensation
The liable party may need to cover all the economic and non-economic damages caused by your collision. An attorney can track these losses and push to bring you maximum compensation for your:
Medical Expenses
You may qualify for money to pay for your emergency care, time in a hospital, medications, physical therapy, and other healthcare treatments. Your lawyer can track the costs of your current and long-term medical needs.
Lost Wages
In many cases, individuals hurt in car accidents can receive compensation for the money they lose while off work to recover. You may qualify for funds to pay for your lost earning potential if your accident causes a disability.
Property Damage
A lawyer may push the liable party to cover property repairs after a crash. For example, you may get the money you need to repair or replace your car.
Pain and Suffering
Finally, you may qualify for money to cover the non-economic effects of your accident. Your lawyer may bring you funds to cover your emotional distress, mental anguish, and pain that keeps you from living your life.
Knowing what to do after an Indianapolis car accident can boost your chances of getting fair coverage for all these losses.
Talk to Us About Your Car Accident in Indianapolis
Are you wondering what to do after a car accident in Indianapolis? Our team at Vaughan & Vaughan can take charge of your legal situation and build your claim. Since 1913, our law firm has been committed to getting maximum compensation for our clients. Our team has recovered millions of dollars in damages for Indiana accident victims.
If you were in an Indianapolis car accident, we have no upfront costs for our service. Our law firm represents injured accident victims on a contingency fee basis. Therefore, our payment is an agreed-upon percentage of the settlement or verdict.
A member of our team is available to hear from you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Schedule your free case consultation today.
