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The aftermath of a car accident can be more than most can handle, especially when dealing with insurance companies that sometimes aim to minimize their payouts. This often results in victims not getting the compensation they deserve.
However, hiring our firm in Greenwood can make a significant difference in protecting your rights and securing the compensation you need to make a full recovery. Our team brings an in-depth understanding of car accident law and procedures to the table. We know that many people underestimate the true cost of their injuries, failing to consider future medical costs, long-term impacts, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering. That is why we take the time to accurately estimate the value of your claim, taking into account all the possible costs you might incur.
Contact Wruck Paupore today by calling (219) 322-1166 for a free case assessment with our car accident attorneys.
Understanding how car accidents occur in Greenwood and how they can lead to legal claims is essential for anyone in such an unfortunate situation. If you have been injured in a car accident because of someone else’s negligence, remember that you have rights, and our skilled car accident attorneys can help protect them. The following are common ways car accidents occur in Greenwood and who can be held responsible for them:
Rear-end collisions are a common type of car accident in Greenwood. These accidents often occur when the leading vehicle stops suddenly – at a red light, for example, or to make a turn – and the trailing vehicle does not have enough time to stop.
Distracted driving, such as texting while driving and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, significantly increases the likelihood of rear-end collisions. Drivers who are not fully focused on the road might fail to notice in time when the vehicle ahead of them has stopped or slowed down.
Generally, the driver of the trailing vehicle is held liable for a rear-end collision, as they are expected to maintain a safe following distance that allows them enough time to react to any sudden stops by the vehicle ahead. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For instance, if the leading vehicle’s brake lights were not functioning properly, the driver of that vehicle could potentially be held partly responsible for the accident.
T-bone collisions, also known as side-impact collisions, are car accidents that often occur at intersections. These accidents happen when one driver fails to give the right of way to another driver, which could be because of various reasons such as unclear traffic signals or poorly marked intersections.
One of the major causes of T-bone collisions is reckless driving and speeding. When a driver is speeding, they might not be able to stop in time when a traffic signal changes or might ignore a stop sign, leading to a collision. This can result in serious injuries and damages to both drivers involved in the accident.
Determining liability in T-bone collisions can be complex, as it often depends on factors such as which driver had the right of way at the time of the accident. However, the driver who failed to give the right of way is typically held responsible for the accident.
Head-on collisions are one of the most dangerous car accidents that occur when two vehicles collide with their fronts facing each other. Such accidents can lead to severe injuries or even fatalities and often happen because of a driver’s mistake of crossing into oncoming traffic. There are several reasons drivers make such errors, including driver fatigue, distraction, or driving the wrong way down a one-way street.
Many factors can contribute to head-on collisions, including weather conditions like heavy rain or fog, inadequate street lighting, or road construction. Such factors might impair a driver’s visibility and make it difficult to see the road ahead. Consequently, drivers might not realize they are veering into oncoming traffic until it is too late.
Determining liability in head-on collisions can be challenging, as it often involves proving which driver crossed into oncoming traffic and who is responsible for the accident. However, in general, the driver who was traveling in the wrong direction or who crossed the center line is usually held liable for the collision. It is essential to exercise caution when driving, especially in unfamiliar areas.
As mentioned, distracted driving is one of the primary reasons behind car accidents that occur in Greenwood. It is a dangerous practice that involves any activity that takes the driver’s focus away from the road.
These activities typically include texting, eating, drinking, applying makeup, talking on the phone, adjusting the radio or GPS, or even daydreaming. If an accident occurs because of distracted driving, the driver responsible can be held liable for any damages they caused through their inattention.
In Greenwood, speeding and reckless driving are two major factors that contribute to numerous car accidents. When drivers exceed the designated speed limit or engage in dangerous maneuvers such as tailgating or making unsafe lane changes, they put not only themselves but also other drivers and passengers at risk.
The consequences of such behavior can be severe, including property damage, injuries, and even death. In the event of an accident resulting from reckless driving, the driver responsible could be held liable for not only the damages they caused but could be assessed punitive damages as punishment. While rare, these damages would increase the compensation in your case.
Greenwood has seen its fair share of accidents involving large vehicles such as semi-trucks and delivery trucks. These types of accidents can be particularly dangerous because of the size and weight of the vehicles involved.
Unfortunately, such incidents are not uncommon in the area. Many factors can contribute to these accidents, including driver negligence, mechanical failures, and improper loading.
When accidents occur, multiple parties could potentially be held liable for any damages caused. This includes the truck driver who might have been responsible for the accident, the trucking company that employs the driver, or the company responsible for maintaining the truck. It is important to properly investigate these accidents to determine who is at fault and to hold them accountable for your harm.
Car accidents are often a distressing experience, leading to not only physical injury but also emotional trauma and significant financial strain. Fortunately, you are entitled to pursue compensation for both your financial losses as well as your more subjective damages. The following damages are those commonly claimed in Greenwood car accident cases:
Economic damages are the financial losses that result from a car accident and can be objectively calculated and proven. These damages are usually the most visible as they relate directly to the monetary expenses incurred as a result of the accident.
Medical expenses are a significant part of these damages, and they can include a range of costs such as emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, prescriptions, physical therapy, and future medical care. In the case of serious injuries that require long-term treatment, you can be compensated for the future expenses you will be required to spend.
Another significant component of economic damages is lost wages. If your injuries prevent you from working, temporarily or permanently, you might be entitled to compensation for your lost income and potential future earnings. This compensation can help cover your living expenses and alleviate the financial burden that comes with being unable to work.
In addition to medical and lost wages, property damage is a significant part of economic damages. If your vehicle was damaged or destroyed in the accident, you could be compensated for repair or replacement costs. Whether it is minor cosmetic damage or major structural damage to your vehicle, you can be reimbursed for the costs of getting your vehicle back on the road, as well as covering a rental car if one is needed while yours is getting repaired.
Non-economic damages are a type of damages that are awarded to compensate for losses that are not related to money. These damages typically seek to compensate for losses that are more subjective and harder to quantify than economic damages. Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages do not have a specific price tag and can vary significantly from case to case.
One of the most common types of non-economic damages is pain and suffering. This type of damage compensates for the physical pain and emotional distress that a person might experience as a result of the accident and the resulting injuries. Pain and suffering can be very difficult to quantify, as the amount of compensation will depend on various factors, including the severity of the injuries, the length of time the person suffers, and the impact the injuries have on the person’s daily life.
Another type of non-economic damage is loss of enjoyment of life. If you are unable to participate in activities that you previously enjoyed, such as hobbies, recreational activities, or other life pleasures, you might be entitled to compensation for this loss. Loss of enjoyment of life can be particularly devastating, as it can impact a person’s overall quality of life and the relationships they hold dear.
Loss of consortium is another common type of non-economic damage. This type of damage compensates a spouse for the loss of companionship, affection, comfort, and sexual relations that can result from severe injuries. Loss of consortium can be particularly difficult to quantify, as it depends on the nature and extent of the injury and the strength of the relationship between the spouses.
While economic and non-economic damages are intended to compensate the victim for their losses, punitive damages are designed to punish the defendant for their egregious behavior and deter others from engaging in similar conduct. In Greenwood and the rest of Indiana, punitive damages are only awarded in cases where the defendant’s actions were fraudulent, malicious, or grossly negligent.
These situations include instances where the defendant acted with intentional malice or recklessness or where they knew their actions would cause harm but proceeded anyway. Punitive damages are not commonly awarded in most cases since they are reserved for the most severe actions.
Further, the law limits punitive damages to three times the amount of compensatory damages awarded, or $50,000, whichever is greater. This means that if a plaintiff is awarded $10,000 in compensatory damages, the maximum amount they could receive in punitive damages would be $30,000. However, if the plaintiff were awarded $20,000 in compensatory damages, the maximum amount they could receive in punitive damages would be $50,000. This limit ensures that punitive damages are not excessive and unreasonable but can increase your compensation considerably.
As discussed, economic damages refer to the quantifiable expenses that stem from a car accident. As such, these damages are typically much easier to calculate than non-economic damages as they correspond to actual financial losses incurred because of the accident. However, our team has a few methods of evaluating your non-economic damages so that your losses are fully detailed in your claim.
The “per diem” (per day) method is a popular approach to calculating non-economic damages like pain and suffering. The idea behind this method is to assign a daily monetary value to your pain and suffering, which is then multiplied by the number of days you have endured pain since the accident.
While there is no standard rule for determining the daily value, a common approach is to use your daily wage. The rationale is that your pain and suffering warrant at least the same amount you earn daily.
For example, if you earn $100 a day and have been in pain for 100 days, you would calculate your pain and suffering as $10,000.
The multiplier method is another common approach to calculating non-economic damages. Using this method, your total economic damages are multiplied by a certain number (the multiplier) to estimate the value of your pain and suffering.
The multiplier usually ranges from 1.5 to 5 and is chosen based on factors such as the severity of your injuries, the impact of the injuries on your life, and the clarity of the other party’s liability. More severe or life-altering injuries will generally result in a higher multiplier.
For instance, if your economic damages total $20,000 and a multiplier of 3 is used because of the severity of your injuries, your pain and suffering would be valued at $60,000.
For a free review of your case with our car accident lawyers, call Wruck Paupore at (219) 322-1166.
Don is a founding partner and one of the nation’s top-ranked personal injury litigators. He is a member of the Multi-million Dollar Advocates Forum, which includes less than 1% of the nation’s trial lawyers, and awarded the highest ranking given by Martindale Hubbel and AVVO.
More importantly, Don understands representing personal injury victims is about more than recovering the best settlement: it’s about helping clients get back on their feet and supporting them in every aspect of their recovery.
In nearly all cases, our clients seek compensation from the wrongdoer’s insurance company. Before forming Wruck Paupore, Jason worked for a prominent law firm representing some of the world’s largest insurers. This experience gives Jason a deep understanding of the insurance industry and the strategies it uses to pay injury victims as little as possible.
Jason -- and our entire team -- put this inside knowledge to work to force insurance companies to pay what is actually owed. Often, we use the insurance company’s own tactics against them as we fight for the full compensation our client deserves.
For more than four decades, Keith has been fighting for injury victims. During that time, he’s watched the insurance industry change, with insurers now more interested in protecting their stock price than treating injury victims fairly.
Since the beginning, Keith has put people first. From his childhood in Gary, Indiana during the 1960’s and working his way through law school, Keith has risen to become one of the Midwest’s most respected trial lawyers. He has never forgotten that being a lawyer is about helping people -- and seeing injury victims through struggles in a way that could change their lives forever.
Over the decades, Keith, Don and Jason have fought relentlessly for clients, even when other lawyers have said the case was impossible to win.
Contact Us:
Wruck Paupore P.C.
Injury Lawyers
275 Joliet St. Suite #250
Dyer, IN 46311
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