Bloomington Car Accident Lawyer

Have you suffered from injuries in a Bloomington, Indiana car accident? When drivers act negligently, they endanger other road users and can cause significant harm. Depending on the severity of a motor vehicle accident, these incidents can often be life-altering.

After enduring auto accident injuries, you may experience physical, emotional, mental, and financial confusion and pain. Having an experienced Bloomington car accident lawyer at your side can help make the healing process more manageable.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident that was not your fault, you may be eligible for financial compensation. The Bloomington car accident lawyers at Wilson Kehoe Winingham are available to help you with your car accident case.’

Bloomington, IN

Bloomington, IN Car Crash Statistics

Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County. Located in south-central Indiana about 50 miles south of Indianapolis, Bloomington is home to Indiana University and boasts a population of 80,000 residents.

According to the Indiana Crash Facts book, the state of Indiana had 350,641 individuals involved in car accidents in 2019. After seeing annual increases for years, this number is down slightly from 2018, but is still a grave concern.

And Monroe County’s crash numbers remain high, with nearly 4,000 collisions and a ranking of #14 in the state for total collisions out of 92 counties.

Reasons to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Bloomington, IN

You will likely feel overwhelmed following a car accident. Maybe your car is damaged to the point that you need to get a rental. Insurance adjusters are calling. You may be off work, have medical bills piling up, or you need to take care of a loved one who’s been injured. But remember, there’s no need to go it alone.

Having an experienced WKW car accident attorney on your team here in Bloomington will take the pressure off and provide the guidance you need so you can focus on your recovery. A lawyer who focuses on car accidents will leave no stone unturned and go after every type of damage that can be awarded to maximize your settlement.

Steps to Take Following a Bloomington Indiana Car Crash

Immediately following your injury, you could be feeling under duress; it’s also possible you may not yet realize the full extent of your injuries, which could be masked by an adrenaline rush.

While the specifics of the scene of your injury factor into what happens next, there are a few basic steps you should follow to ensure both your own wellbeing and your ability to build a successful personal injury claim.

1. Ensure your safety. Try to remain calm and think clearly. If you’ve been in a car accident, get yourself and your vehicle (depending on its condition) out of the flow of traffic before more damage can
2. Call the police if there are injuries to report. It is important to get an official police report on file. They can also dispatch medical assistance to the scene if needed.
3. Gather information. You’ll want to collect the names and contact information of any other parties involved—including insurance details where relevant. If there are any witnesses, try to gather their information as well. If you were injured at work, ask for all details regarding your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance plan.
4. Document the scene with photos from your phone. Include not only property damage, but also the surrounding area, any road signage or road damage, signals, etc.
5. Seek medical attention. Your safety and wellbeing must be your top priority.
6. Take a deep breath. Now is not the time to go around town—or on social media—talking about what happened or about your injury. Anything you say could be turned against you later.
7. Hire a lawyer. It’s best to engage with an experienced personal injury lawyer from the beginning, so valuable time is not lost in pursuing a personal injury claim. WKW offers a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss the details of your case.

Receive the Proper Medical Care

It’s important to get checked out by a doctor, even if you don’t have any noticeable injuries. Injuries from a car accident could take days or months to appear. Also, immediately-obvious injuries can worsen over time. Don’t wait until you are in pain to see a doctor. Get a quick checkup as soon as you can after the accident.

Investigate the Accident to Build a Case

A thorough investigation is the first step in any car accident claim. Your lawyer will look at all evidence at the scene of the crash, and consider any factors that may have played a role, including road conditions and signage. They will also know to take a potential part failure (such as brakes) into consideration. A manufacturer that is nowhere near the scene of the crash could still be a liable party.

Review the Scene to Determine Who Is at Fault

When the lawyers at WKW investigate an accident, we always start at the actual crash scene. When you document the scene of the crash site with photos following your accident, it will help your lawyer build your case. Also, reporting the accident to the police is an important step to take after a car accident. While inadmissible in court, a police report can still provide valuable information for your lawyer.

What to Do After a Fatal Car Accident in Bloomington, Indiana

Losing a loved one because of another driver’s negligence is both heartbreaking and life changing. While there is obviously nothing that can be done to bring them back, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim if you’re an immediate family member of the victim. Cases like this are sensitive and complicated, so we recommend you seek out experienced legal counsel as soon as possible. This will allow you to focus on healing and grieving without adding more stress to an already challenging situation.

Potential Damages in Your Case

There are two main types of auto compensation you may be entitled to following an accident: economic and non-economic damages. Some damages are straightforward to calculate due to their economic nature.

Other costs, such as pain and suffering, are more difficult to quantify. An experienced Bloomington car accident lawyer can help you determine what compensation you could receive.

Economic Damages

Also called special damages, economic damages cover losses that have a quantifiable dollar amount. These damages include:

• Medical expenses
• Vehicle damage
• Lost wages or income
• Hospital bills
• Property damage
• Car rental and towing costs
• Rehabilitation costs

Non-Economic Damages

Also known as general damages, non-economic damages do not have an exact dollar amount associated with them. Non-economic damages you could get covered following an auto accident include the following:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of companionship
• Mental anguish
• Lower quality of life
• Long-term disability
• Fear or anger

Indiana Statute of Limitations on Car Accidents

Indiana has a set of laws dictating when you can file lawsuits in court. These deadlines are called statutes of limitations. Statutes of limitations differ among states and are based on the type of claim you are filing.

The Indiana statute of limitations for an auto accident is two years from the day of the incident. There are some exceptions to this rule, however, such as if your accident involved a government vehicle. But because of this strict deadline, we recommend that you contact an experienced Bloomington road accident lawyer as quickly as possible following your accident.

How to Know If You Need a Bloomington Car Accident Lawyer

Every case is unique. If you’ve suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence, it’s worth pursuing to see if you have a valid claim. At WKW, we offer a free case evaluation, so why not reach out and learn more? Your attorney will need to do a thorough assessment of the circumstances to ascertain the situation and determine next steps.

The Guilty Party Is Trying to Escape Costs

Sadly, there are unscrupulous people in the world. Not everyone will voluntarily step up and do what’s right following a car accident. The other driver may try to re-write the story of the accident to make them appear less at fault. Insurance adjustors will try to pay out the least amount possible or deny legitimate claims.

It’s easy to feel frustrated and want to give up just to make the case go away. But an experienced Bloomington car accident lawyer will know all these tricks and take everything in stride to work towards a full and fair settlement for you.

Your Initial Offer Is Lower Than Expected

This is not uncommon. There are certain tactics that insurance reps will use to try to keep the payout low. First, they’ll quickly throw out a lowball offer, hoping that the victim has not yet hired an attorney, doesn’t know any better, and will accept the offer. They’ll also approach you in a friendly manner under the guise of wanting to help you. But they are trained to protect corporate profits; they’re not there to help you. An experienced car accident lawyer will know how this game is played and will not fall for these strategies.

What to Expect Working With WKW’s Bloomington, IN Car Accident Attorneys

With extensive experience in auto accidents and injuries, the Bloomington car accident lawyers at Wilson Kehoe Winingham can help you get the compensation you deserve. We are proud of our case results and winning record. Plus, our lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning no out-of-pocket costs to you.

Our firm was built on the foundation of “restoring lives” to help our clients move forward. In the event of a tragic car accident, let the legal team at WKW work toward the best possible outcome for you and your loved ones.

Contact Our Bloomington Car Accident Law Firm Today

The Bloomington car accident lawyers at Wilson Kehoe Winingham have the experience and knowledge needed to help you get full and fair compensation following an auto accident. There’s no need to go it alone, so reach out today.

Call 317.920.6400 or fill out an online contact form for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

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