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Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyers Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyer Blog Car Accident Settlement Process: Timeline, Demand Letter, and Payouts
Request a Free ConsultationUpdated October 16, 2024 | By Wilson Kehoe Winingham staff
To file a traffic accident lawsuit in Indianapolis for a car accident settlement, you will have to document the crash, get medical treatment, write a demand letter, and negotiate a fair settlement amount. Working with the car accident lawyers at Wilson Kehoe Winingham will make this process much easier for you. Call our team at 317-218-9643 to schedule a free consultation.
New cars are full of the most modern technology and safety features: backup cameras, lane keep assistance, automatic parking, smartphone integration, automatic emergency braking, even Wi-Fi in some cases. Even with all of these amenities in the latest cars, driver negligence still occurs on the road every single day. In 2018 alone, Indiana had 873 car-related fatalities and 47,482 non-fatal car accidents.
Every person involved in a car crash is impacted, whether that be emotionally, mentally, physically, or financially. Car crashes bring burdens and cause harm due to negligence. Having experienced Indiana auto accident lawyers to help you through the process of car accident settlements can shift worry about finances aside, allowing you to focus on your wellbeing and recovery.
When you get into a car accident at the fault of another driver’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation to cover a multitude of expenses, including:
Compensation for your expenses and difficulties may be possible through car accident settlements.
Settlements are an agreement between a victim and a negligent party or their insurance company. The opposing party is asked to pay compensation upon negotiation. Settlements (as opposed to court cases) usually save both parties time, money, and effort.
A car accident injury settlement process differs from a court verdict. The car accident settlement can be reached either before a court case or even in the midst of one. Deciding whether to keep a personal injury lawsuit as a settlement or go to trial can be a tough decision that depends on the victim and the case. Consulting an experienced attorney can help make that decision easier.
Auto accident settlements can get you the compensation you deserve out of a car accident. There is no set equation for what your settlement payout may be, yet there are steps you should take to form your claim and negotiate a settlement.
Make sure you and those in the car with you are safe. By Article 26 of Indiana State Law, you should provide the assistance you are able to. Seek medical attention immediately if there is anyone who is seriously injured.
Making a police report can help document your case. Let them know of any injuries you or others may have. Stay at the scene and cooperate with the officer(s).
Indiana has a comparative fault system. In other words, Indiana is an at-fault state, meaning the person at-fault for the accident takes responsibility for the damages. Gathering evidence at the scene may include taking photographs and videos right after the accident, any physical evidence, and witness statements.
Document whatever you can. Write down your account of what happened and note any key details and damaged property.
Future evidence for the settlement includes medical records that resulted from the accident and police reports.
Gathering information will help quicken the timeline of your settlement. You may share your information with the other parties. Make sure you do not apologize or take any fault for the accident. Information to collect includes:
Do not sign anything yet, but give your insurance company an accident report.
Randy Erickson2024-08-16 Our Father died from a fall due to negligence at the facility he was at for rehab. Our family is grateful for Kent Winingham and Maria Dicken for their support and dedication to our case. Kent has a thorough knowledge of Indiana laws and prepared a successful case. They answered all of our questions and kept us informed during the entire process. Our family would highly recommend WKW. Rachael Stone2024-07-16 Kent and Maria were absolutely amazing to work with!!! You can tell that they genuinely care about you and your family and the case. They take time to explain everything to you in words that you will understand. And they did AMAZING with our case and fought hard for our family and won. Thank you so much for all you guys did for our family, especially in a time of sadness!!! I highly recommend Wilson Kehoe Winingham you definitely will not be disappointed at all! DAVID RUSSELL2024-07-12 “ Kent Winingham and his Paralegal Angie were there to assist my Son and I throughout the entire process from start to finish in two different cases. Kent and his staff helped us navigate the unique challenges that presented themselves in these particular cases. Kent and his staff was thorough, diligent, and professional, handling our cases in a timely manner. Kent and his staff were patient with us and communicative at all times, involving us in every step. I highly recommend Atty. Kent Winningham and his staff at Wilson Kehoe Winingham. Ron Bryan Sr2024-06-04 Nice people to talk to and work with. Would recommend to anyone needing a good law firm. Michael Lennartz2024-06-03 The whole team at WKW worked tirelessly to help us receive compensation after an auto accident. Bill Winingham personally visited us in Lafayette to talk about the case and contacted us after hours several times to discuss issues. Our paralegal, Cynthia, was wonderful as she helped us gather all the information needed to provide evidence in our case. Additionally, as the case unexpectedly dragged on, everyone at WKW continued to be patient and optimistic as we finally worked towards a successful outcome in our case. Jennifer Peterson2024-03-26 After suffering a life changing work related injury, I was left with no other choice than to reach out to an attorney to assist me with getting financial assistance for my past and future medical bills. The first attorney I worked with in Massachusetts stated they would be able to assist me with my case but ultimately stated it was in my best interest to reach out to a law firm in the state where the accident took place. So I had to start researching the Indianapolis area and spoke to a few attorneys who stated that they didn't feel I had a good case and therefore couldn't assist me. Finally after almost giving up hope, I was referred to Wilson Kehoe Winingham. I called and spoke with Bill Winingham and Jon Noyes who were expecting my call. They both listened to my story and immediately stated I did have a case and they would be happy to help. The process was long and I had to make a few trips to Indianapolis to meet with them and the judge but in the end they helped me. I always felt like they had my best interest at heart and gave me honest feedback at all times. I would highly recommend them and the firm if you ever find yourself in need a assistance. I can't say enough about them. Chelsea Moore2024-03-07 I was referred to use Kent Winingham for an injury I had suffered in an auto accident. I was nothing but pleased! Kent and his team went above and beyond to make sure that I got every penny I deserved! He was a great listener, great negotiator, and EXTREMELY prepared! If you find yourself needing legal help due to injury look no further than Kent Winingham! Thanks again Kent!
They will help you navigate the settlement and, if necessary, a court case in order to receive compensation.
Once the first step is complete, it’s time to draft, write, and send a demand letter to the insurance company. A demand letter is a professional document, typically written by a lawyer, to request payment or another demand that corrects the opposing party’s fault. In a personal injury case specifically, a demand letter, also known as an insurance claim letter, is meant to present the facts about the car accident in order to persuade the insurance company to pay compensation. Indiana auto insurance laws state that Indiana is an at-fault state, meaning the driver responsible for at least 51% of the accident is liable to take responsibility for damages. Find out how to write a demand letter for an auto accident settlement below.
The potential outcome after the negotiation is reaching a settlement agreement. To do this, both parties must agree to settle. Many auto accident civil disputes end before a court trial needs to be held. If the defendant agrees to the financial proposal, the settlement is reached and the conflict is resolved.
If the conflict is not resolved, meaning one or both parties want to pursue and defend their case, then it will go to trial. Moving from settlement to trial can be taxing and expensive.
Writing a demand letter is an important step in your settlement process for a car accident. There should be three main components:
The demand letter should include a description of the accident. If any injuries were involved, it should contain details of the injury along with any medical treatments, a list of medical bills, and other receipts pertaining to the car accident.
The letter further needs to discuss the liability of the accident (the fault of the insured) and a settlement demand. The demand should explicitly state expected car accident settlement payouts. You want to make sure that the demand is polite and direct. Remember, this is a formal document, so be as objective as possible.
Your car accident settlement letter should be both clear and concise. Write out in detail what you expect from the opposing party, including
Being concise jumps right to the point. Being direct in your letter shows that you are serious about this settlement. You want to include all of the details in a concise manner, especially since you will have proof of incident via your evidence.
Keep hard copies of receipts, photographs, financial statements, and personal statements (which you will need to write out), and the demand letter. If you need to move to a court case, having hard copies at hand, especially when they match up to your demand letter, can strengthen your claim.
Demand letters are typically written by an attorney. Speak with your attorney about the best way to write and send your demand letter.
After you send a letter to insurance companies, there are four main responses that can happen.
Negotiating a settlement is only possible if both parties agree to the settlement. Auto accident settlement timelines vary from case to case, though most car accident lawsuits take at least one year to complete if taken to court.
There are five general litigation steps in auto accident lawsuits:
At any point, the parties can decide to negotiate a settlement. As for a timeline for a car accident settlement process, you can expect anywhere between a few months to several years depending on the case and how much time is spent in any of the steps listed above.
In Indiana, you are able to recover both economic (special) and non-economic (general) damages. Unfortunately, there is no equation for your settlement amount. Every case is different and calculating compensation varies on:
A personal injury settlement is the fastest way to resolve legal disputes. Though each case is different, settlements usually take one to three months on average.
There are deadlines for filing a lawsuit. In the state of Indiana, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident. There are exceptions, but negotiating a settlement or going to trial should be done as soon as possible because of this strict deadline.
If you have further questions about pursuing a personal injury settlement, contact the Indianapolis auto accident attorneys of Wilson Kehoe Winingham. For car accident settlement examples, check out our past case results and download our WKW Car Accident App. For your free case evaluation, call us at 317.920.6400 or fill out an online contact form for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
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