Accidents that take place on the interstate often occur at high speeds. Because of this, the damage caused tends to be extensive. If you were injured in an interstate accident, you may be entitled to collect compensation from the liable party. Securing compensation can be essential when faced with medical bills and other expenses. At Vaughan & Vaughan, our team of Lafayette car accident lawyers has been helping accident victims recover fair compensation for their damages for over 100 years. Contact us today to learn more about your legal options. We offer free, no-obligation consultations, so don’t hesitate to give us a call or complete our online contact form today.
Who Is to Blame for an Interstate Accident?
Before you can begin the process of recovering compensation for your damages, you must first figure out who is liable. Proving fault is rarely simple, even when it seems obvious who is responsible. The good news is that you don't have to attempt to prove liability on your own. An experienced Lafayette Personal Injury Lawyer, specializing in interstate accidents, will know exactly what to look for when attempting to establish fault.What an Interstate Accident Attorney in Lafayette Will Do to Help
When you hire an interstate accident attorney to represent you, they will take a variety of actions on your behalf. One of the first things your lawyer is likely to do is investigate your accident. This investigation will be independent of any police investigation, and the purpose will be both to prove liability and to gather evidence to support your claim for compensation. Once your attorney has wrapped up their investigation, they will assess your losses and calculate how much your accident claim is worth. After that, your lawyer will either submit an insurance claim to the liable party’s insurer or file a lawsuit against the at-fault party with the court. If you’re pursuing a lawsuit, the next step will be for your attorney to go through the steps of the pretrial process. Then it will be time for your lawyer to represent you in court if necessary. At every step of the way, your attorney will contact opposing counsel to negotiate a settlement agreement that will allow you to collect compensation more quickly.Be Mindful of the Statute of Limitations When Filing an Interstate Accident Lawsuit
The Indiana personal injury statute of limitations generally allows accident victims to file a lawsuit against the liable party up to two years after the date of the accident. If you let this deadline pass without submitting all of the required paperwork, you will likely find that you have lost your right to pursue compensation. Although the statute of limitations is typically quite strict, many exceptions exist. Depending on the particular circumstances of your case, you could find that you are able to file a lawsuit even if the standard deadline has already passed. In some cases, you may even be able to bring legal action years after this deadline. However, it is essential that you realize that an exception can work the other way around as well. Rather than having two years to file your lawsuit, you could find that you are limited to a matter of months. In order to protect your right to compensation, you should hire an experienced Lafayette interstate accident attorney as soon as possible after your crash.Damages You May Be Eligible to Recover After an Interstate Accident
Following an interstate accident, there are a variety of damages you will most likely be eligible to pursue. However, identifying all of the damages you qualify to claim can often be challenging. Fortunately, when you hire an experienced interstate accident attorney in Lafayette, they will assess all the losses you have suffered and determine which damages apply to your case. All the damages you can potentially recover after an interstate accident are divided into three primary categories.Economic Damages
Any financial losses that you endured as a result of your accident are considered economic damages. Because these damages cover monetary losses, they are typically fairly easy to quantify. Some of the most commonly claimed economic damages in interstate accident cases include:- Lost wages
- Lowered earning ability
- Property damage
- Money spent to complete daily tasks that your injuries prevent you from performing yourself
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
Non-Economic Damages
All your other losses sustained because of your accident are categorized as non-economic damages. Since these damages are not financial in nature, assigning a monetary value to these losses is often challenging. Some of the most commonly claimed non-economic damages in interstate accident cases include:- Permanent disability
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
- Emotional distress
- Decreased quality of life