Our Indianapolis personal injury lawyers help accident survivors like you address many negligence-based accidents. A personal injury lawyer can help with accidents caused by defective products, a car collision in Indianapolis, or a slip on someone else’s property.
Vaughan & Vaughan can bring decades of courtroom experience to your quest for personal injury compensation. We have been helping victims in Marion County and throughout Indiana rebuild their lives since 1913. With our legal experience, you increase your chances of a successful outcome for your case.
Schedule your free consultation today by filling out our online contact form or by calling (463) 241-6483.
Why Choose Vaughan & Vaughan Injury and Accident Attorneys For Your Claim?
Not all law firms are created equal. When you choose Vaughan & Vaughan, you get a team of seasoned Indianapolis injury attorneys with a long history of winning tough cases and standing up to insurance companies.
- Over a century of experience – Representing injury victims in Indiana since 1913.
- Proven track record – Millions recovered for injury victims across Indiana.
- Focused on Indiana law – Deep understanding of state-specific laws and how they impact your claim.
- Open communication – We keep our clients informed throughout every step of the legal process and are always available to answer questions and address concerns.
- Strong negotiators and trial lawyers – Prepared to take cases to court if insurance companies refuse fair compensation.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
Award Winning Indianapolis Law Firm
There is no fee
unless you win
What Kind of Claims Do Our Indianapolis Personal Injury Attorneys Handle?
Our team can assist you after a broad range of accidents in Indianapolis including, but not limited to:.
- Bicycle accidents
- Brain injuries
- Car accidents
- Construction accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Rideshare accident such as Lyft or Uber accidents
- Slip and fall injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Truck accidents
- Wrongful death accidents
Please keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list of cases that we will take on. If you’re unsure if your type of accident qualifies as a personal injury loss, you can schedule a consultation to discuss your circumstances. The trial lawyers at our personal injury law firm will put you first after a catastrophic injury.
What Our Clients Have to Say
★★★★★
“..[T]hey fight for the top dollar and will not stop until they are certain that is all they can get you. I will forever recommend them to anyone that is in need of their services!! Thank you so much to the Vaughan and Vaughan team!”
Courtney V. | Google Review
How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim?
The statute of limitations sets a time limit on how long personal injury victims can wait to seek compensatory damages after an accident.Under Indiana Code §34-11-2-4 you’ll generally have two years before the statute of limitations expires in Indiana.
However, exceptions can change the amount of time available. Therefore, we recommend contacting an experienced Indianapolis personal injury attorney immediately for specific information about your situation. If you wait too long to file your claim, the court system can dismiss your case.
Can You Get Compensation If You Were Partially at Fault?
Yes, you can still get compensation for an accident in Indiana even if you were partially at fault. Indiana uses a system called modified comparative negligence. Under this rule, as long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the crash or accident, you can recover damages from the other party. However, the amount you receive is reduced by your own percentage of fault.
- Sec. 5. In an action based on fault, any contributory fault chargeable to the claimant diminishes proportionately the amount awarded as compensatory damages for an injury attributable to the claimant’s contributory fault, but does not bar recovery except as provided in section 6 of this chapter.
For example, if a jury decides you were 20% to blame for the accident, and your total damages are $100,000, you would recover $80,000 instead of the full amount. But if you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you are not allowed to collect any compensation at all.
What Compensation Can You Get After an Accident?
No two personal injury incidents result in the same losses. As such, there’s no overarching estimate of what your personal injury compensation might look like.
Calculating your losses with an Indianapolis injury attorney helps you establish the unique elements of your accident. Our team can help you bring forward the bills and reports that may help prove your right to these damages.
We can then ensure that the defendant’s insurance provider doesn’t attempt to undersell your accident’s value. We have the experience and training to negotiate on your behalf.
In the aftermath of an accident, you can request maximum compensation for your:
Medical Bills
Our legal team can help you seek funds for medical expenses. Out trial lawyers understand the expenses associated with recovering from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and other serious instances of harm.
Accident victims may have a chance to secure a fair recovery for:
- Hospital bills, emergency room treatment
- Doctor’s appointments and specialist visits
- Medications and medical equipment
- Rehabilitation and therapy costs
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Loss of Income
If your condition has caused you to miss work, your Indianapolis personal injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation for lost wages. This includes both the time you’ve already missed and any future earnings you may be unable to earn as a result of your injuries.
Pain and Suffering
Physical pain, emotional distress, and mental anguish are all valid forms of compensable damages in a personal injury claim. Our experienced attorneys can assess the impact of your accident on your quality of life.
Property Damage
If your accident involved damage to your vehicle or other personal property, we can help you seek reimbursement for repair costs or replacement value.
Wrongful Death Damages
If you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, our compassionate attorneys can assist you in pursuing a wrongful death claim. Financial compensation may include funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of services, loss of companionship, and more.
Will Your Case Go to Trial or Settle Out of Court?
After an injury, many people wonder if their injury claim will end in a courtroom trial or if it’s more likely to settle out of court. The answer depends on the details of your case and how the insurance company chooses to handle it.
Settling Out of Court
Most personal injury cases in Indiana settle without ever seeing the inside of a courtroom. Settlements typically happen because the insurance company and your lawyer are able to negotiate an agreement that covers your medical costs, lost wages, and other damages. This option is usually faster, less expensive, and less stressful for everyone involved.
When a Case Goes to Trial
Sometimes, an insurance company simply refuses to pay a fair amount, or they blame you for the crash and deny responsibility altogether. If liability or damages are strongly contested, your lawyer may recommend taking the case to trial and letting a jury decide what’s fair. At this stage, the strength of your evidence along with expert witnesses and credible documentation can make a major impact.
When a trial is necessary, it’s crucial to work with an experienced Indianapolis personal injury attorney who knows how to present your story appropriately in court. Attorney Charles V. Vaughan brings board certified in Civil Trial Law (held since 2001) and puts proven skill and courtroom insight behind every trial he leads. Having someone with this level of experience gives you peace of mind and a significant advantage should your claim go before a jury.
Can You Settle Your Claim Without an Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyer?
You may receive a settlement offer from the party allegedly responsible for your personal injury losses. These settlement offers are often made with good intentions, particularly if they come from a single person. However, insurance companies often undervalue your losses.
With that in mind, we recommend against accepting a personal injury settlement without consulting an attorney first. Our team can assess the nature of your losses and estimate your case’s value without concerns about an insurance company’s bottom line getting in the way.
As such, the estimate you get from an Indianapolis personal injury attorney may more likely represent the maximum compensation you can get from your case. Once we have said estimate in hand, we can negotiate with insurance companies to ensure that their settlement offer adequately meets your needs.
How Do We Prepare a Personal Injury Claim?
If you find that the settlement offer you’ve received won’t cover your expenses, or if you haven’t received a settlement offer, you can file a personal injury claim. These claims allow you to demand damages equivalent to the value of your accident.
When preparing a personal injury claim, we need to address:
- Who you want to hold liable for your losses
- What evidence of that party’s negligence you have
- The value of your losses
- What evidence you have elaborating on your financial circumstances after your accident
Our years of combined experience allow us to pursue the person responsible for your losses. We strive to bring our clients fair settlements so they can move forward after a serious accident.
Working with a qualified injury attorney also means you can get prompt answers to any legal questions you have. We maintain open communication so you can feel confident about the path that we choose for your legal needs.
How Do We Investigate Accidents in Indianapolis?
Frequently, you can hold an individual liable for your personal injury losses. However, exceptions may impact liability in your case. We need to assess the evidence found at the accident scene before we name the responsible party.
Our team may draw on:
- Video/photo footage of your accident
- Bystander testimony
- Expert witness statements
- Debris from the scene of your accident
- Your accident report
- Evidence of legal precedent
This information can help determine if an individual, corporation, or related institution is responsible for your losses. Our dedicated team will guide you through all steps of the legal process, including a thorough investigation of the facts.
How Do You Prove Fault in a Personal Injury Claim?
Proving fault in a personal injury claim means showing that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. For insurers or a court to agree you should get compensation, you need to provide strong evidence. This often includes:
Physical Evidence
Physical evidence, like photos of what happened or any evidence of what caused the injury can help show what took place and how you were injured. Preserving things like damaged clothing, broken personal belongings, or any debris from the scene can be essential in building your case.
Medical Records
Medical records are one of the most important forms of evidence in a personal injury case. These documents include information from doctors, hospitals, and specialists showing the diagnosis, treatments received, and the progression of your injuries over time. They connect what happened during the accident directly to your pain, recovery process, and long-term medical needs.
Accurate medical records can show the seriousness of your injuries and help establish the amount of compensation you should receive for your suffering and expenses.
Witness Testimony
Witnesses/bystanders can describe what they saw as the accident happened. They may offer details and perspectives that strengthen your case, especially when both parties give very different accounts. Names and contact info for people who saw the event can be vital.
Police Reports and Official Documentation
Official collision or incident reports summarize facts gathered soon after the accident. Officers will note contributing factors, draw simple diagrams, or issue citations (in the case of car accidents). These reports can persuade an insurer or jury which party was negligent and how the rules were broken.
What Do Injury Lawyers in Indianapolis Charge for Their Services?
At Vaughan and Vaughan, we handle cases on a contingency basis, so the cost to hire a law firm varies on a case-by-case basis. Contingency pricing means that you only pay legal fees after the personal injury firm resolves your claim.
After a settlement or jury verdict in your favor, you’ll receive damages to cover your losses. Your lawyer will receive a percentage of this compensation for their services. Your Indianapolis personal injury attorney can discuss this process in more detail during the initial meeting.
Schedule Your Free Consultation With Our Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Don’t wait to seek legal representation. You can schedule a consultation with Vaughan & Vaughan within days of your personal injury accident. We have extensive experience handling a wide array of cases.
Our team can review your losses in a free case evaluation. After that, we can help you understand your legal options and determine how best to start you down the road to recovery and a path toward fair compensation for your medical costs and other losses.
Contact our law office or reach out to our team online today to kickstart your case. Work with one of our experienced lawyers to seek fair damages.
