How do you recover from a highway accident? South Bend lawyers recommend that you take legal action against the people responsible for your crash. We can help you identify a negligent party and file a personal injury claim before your statute of limitations expires.
Why do we go to these lengths to help our fellow Hoosiers? Vaughan & Vaughan believes that all accident survivors have the right to demand the help they need to get their lives back on track. That’s why our South Bend personal injury lawyers dedicate themselves to the pursuit of justice on your behalf.
You can book a free case assessment with our team today to learn more about the services we’re prepared to offer you.
What Causes South Bend’s Highway Accidents?
Negligence causes the majority of South Bend’s highway accidents. What does “negligence” mean, though? The term describes a range of behaviors, criminal and otherwise that put the people on South Bend’s highways in immediate and avoidable danger. Some of the most common forms of negligence to plague South Bend highways include the following:
- Distracted driving
- Driving on a suspended or revoked license
- Drunk or intoxicated driving
- Driving without appropriate training
- Speeding
- Reckless passing
Accidents that stem from someone else’s negligence entitle survivors like you to legal action against the acting driver. You can work with an experienced highway crash lawyer in South Bend to file a personal injury claim and demand accident compensation from the party responsible for your accident.
You Cannot Pursue Criminal Action Against a Liable Party
You cannot, unfortunately, take criminal action against the party responsible for your highway accident. Only the state can assume legal action against the driver who allegedly engaged in criminal roadway behavior. You can, however, keep an ear out for any progress the state makes against a party accused of criminal misconduct.
If the state takes legal action against the party responsible for your accident, a guilty charge can make it easier for you to get the financial support you need to recover. Guilty charges can serve as proof of negligence in a civil case, thereby helping prove that your losses stemmed from another person’s avoidable misconduct.
Our highway accident attorneys in South Bend can help you stay on top of any developments in a criminal case before integrating any relevant findings into your pursuit of accident compensation.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
What Can You Do After a Highway Accident?
Highway accidents can leave you with a considerable amount of bills to pay, some of which you may not have the savings to tackle. Fortunately, there are a few different avenues toward accident financing that can help you get back on your feet. These can include the following:
File an Insurance Claim With a Liable Party’s Provider
Driver negligence on Indiana’s highways can entitle you to file a personal injury claim with a driver’s insurance provider. So long as a driver has the state’s minimum liability coverage or more, their provider should have funds available that can help you pay your most pressing bills.
That said, you have to interact with an insurance claims adjuster to get the financial support you need. Unfortunately, insurance claims adjusters prioritize their provider’s finances, not your right to recover. You may find yourself battling against a provider’s bad faith behavior as an adjuster reduces your request for support or outright denies your claim.
How can you get the support you deserve in the face of bad-faith conduct? Let a highway wreck lawyer in South Bend know. Our lawyers can communicate with a liable party on your behalf and help you fight for the financial support you deserve.
Pursue Civil Action Against the Liable Party
You also have the right to bring a driver’s negligence to the attention of South Bend’s civil judges. Filing a personal injury claim against a liable party allows you to arrange private negotiations or a civil trial with that negligent party.
The civil process allows you to demand loss-based compensation from the party you can prove bears liability for your crash-related expenses. You do not have to go before a jury to get the support you deserve. If the liable party opts to meet with you, you can arrange an exchange of funds in private. An attorney can alternatively arrange a bench trial on your behalf.
You can book a free case evaluation with Vaughan & Vaughan to learn more about the civil process. Your initial evaluation does not obligate you to pursue further action against a liable party.
There is no fee
unless you win
How to File a Highway Accident Claim
If you’re ready to bring a highway accident claim forward, make sure you file your paperwork within the statute of limitations set by Indiana Code section 34-11-2-4. This personal injury statute of limitations gives you no more than two years to bring information about a highway accident claim forward.
You may struggle to secure the compensation you need to recover if you try to file your claim outside of the statute of limitations. If you feel like you don’t have enough time to compose a claim, talk to a South Bend highway accident attorney to discuss what steps they can take to file a claim on your behalf.
Experienced Attorneys Can Help You Get Back on Your Feet
Many South Bend locals – possibly including you! – find its highways preferable to its interstates and toll roads. Unfortunately, local highways pose as many dangers to your safety as the other roads in the area, if not more. Even if you take every possible step to stay out of trouble, you may still fall victim to someone else’s bad behavior.
Fortunately, you have access to legal professionals who can help you hold negligent parties accountable for their negligence. Vaughan & Vaughan can connect you with South Bend highway accident lawyers who can fight for your right to accident compensation. You can contact our team today to learn more about our legal services.
