Lafayette, IN Car Accident Lawyer

While unfortunate, car accidents are a common part of life in Lafayette. If a negligent driver injured you, our experienced car accident attorneys can help you hold them accountable.

There a no shortage of ways for car accidents to occur. The legal strategies employed and the routes to compensation will largely depend on the circumstances of your case. Also, car accident victims only have one year to file their lawsuits, so time is of the essence.

If you were injured because of another driver’s negligence, our car accident attorneys can help you recover the compensation you deserve. For a free case evaluation, contact Wruck Paupore today at (219) 322-1166.

Common Types of Car Accidents Cases That Our Lafayette, IN Lawyers Handle

While car accidents are traumatic events, they are hardly uncommon in Lafayette. Each car accident case presents its unique challenges. However, many car accident claims result from a few common situations, ranging from simply negligent behavior to criminal conduct. Our car accident attorneys are ready to review your case and get you started on the road to financial compensation.

Distracted Driving Cases

Distracted driving cases have only increased as more and more technology has made its way into our lives. While things like smartphones and GPS are useful, they can also distract a driver at the wrong moment. Drivers can easily be distracted and take their eyes off the road while texting, checking social media, or talking on the phone. However, more conventional distractions could also cause your car accident. Other passengers, eating, drinking, and other distractions on the road could also have contributed to your accident.

Traffic Violation Cases

Traffic violations are a common reason for car accidents in Lafayette. There are numerous traffic violations that drivers can be guilty of. The most common traffic violations that cause accidents include running red lights and stop signs, illegally changing lanes, and failing to yield the right of way. These types of accidents can result in serious and life-altering injuries. In most cases, the police will investigate your car accident, and if they determine a traffic violation occurred, they will ticket the negligent driver. A record of the citations issued after an accident will be included on your police accident report, which can help prove liability in your case.

Speeding Cases

Accidents caused by speeding drivers are a massive problem in Lafayette. Speeding drivers are responsible for some of the most serious accidents in Indiana and can result in death in the worst cases. Drivers speeding on highways and interstates might not have time to slow down before an impact or end up causing a chain reaction of car accidents if the traffic is heavy. While most people might do a mile or two over the speed limit, excessive speeding could be considered reckless driving at that point, which is not only negligent, it is a crime.

Drunk Driving Cases

Lastly, our firm can help you recover compensation if your injuries were caused by someone driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Drunk drivers typically experience slower reaction times and dulled senses. Thus, an intoxicated driver will likely not recognize the danger before it is too late, if they do at all.

In most cases, a drunk driver will be arrested and charged with a crime. Fortunately, the driver can also be held liable in civil court. If the driver is convicted in a trial or pleads guilty, their guilty verdict could be useful in your civil lawsuit. Our car accident attorneys can help you get justice for your injuries if a drunk driver injures you.

Evidence Used to Prove a Car Accident Case in Lafayette, IN

Indiana is an “at-fault” state to recover compensation after a car accident. In an at-fault state, the negligent driver will be liable for the damages they caused, meaning that victims can pursue compensation. To prove your case, you will need to provide evidence of the other driver’s negligence and your damages to recover compensation. The following are the most common types of evidence used to prove a car accident case in Lafayette:

• Police accident reports
• Hospital and other medical records
• Property damages estimates
• Physical evidence from the scene of the accident
• Photographic evidence of the scene and injuries
• Traffic camera footage
• Security surveillance footage
• Dash-cam footage
• Expert witness testimony
• Eyewitness testimony

Gathering the evidence listed above can be challenging since various parties will be in possession of it. For example, traffic camera footage is only stored for so long. Our car accident lawyers can help you obtain the evidence your case requires to get compensation for your injuries.

Time Limit to File a Lawsuit for a Car Accident in Lafayette, IN

Every state has a time limit to file a car accident lawsuit, known as the statute of limitations. In Indiana, I.C. § 34-11-2-4 provides car accident victims two years from the date of their accident to file a lawsuit in Lafayette.

While this rule is strict, there are a few exceptions. For instance, if a victim had a legal disability when the accident occurred, the clock would not start running until the disability is resolved. This includes victims under the age of 18 when injured. You might also have more time to file if the negligent driver left the state after the accident. You will usually not be able to serve the defendant with notice of your claim if they do not reside in Indiana. You will also have more time if the defendant conceals their liability. In these situations, the time will only toll once the concealment is discovered.

However, these exceptions are very narrow and rarely apply. Remember that the court will dismiss your case if it is not filed within two years or does not qualify for one of the exceptions listed above. Just as importantly, evidence from your car accident can begin to disappear very quickly after the incident occurs. Eyewitnesses may become more difficult to locate or may lose their recollection of what happened. In some cases we’ve been involved in, important witnesses have died before we have had an opportunity to obtain their testimony because of the victim’s delay in pursuing a claim.

Physical evidence, such as skid marks left on the road or information contained on vehicle data recorders (i.e. “black boxes”) can also disappear or be erased soon after the incident. Likewise, video from on board dash cameras or security cameras near the scene that may have captured the crash may be erased if action isn’t taken to preserve this evidence. Similarly, if responding police officers wore body cameras, this footage can be very useful in proving the severity of a crash, but is typically only preserved for a short period of time. Often information recorded by an eye witness during a 911 call is also very helpful evidence but these recordings are only kept for a short while, sometimes as little as 30-days after the accident. For these and many other reasons, it is important to get professional help as soon as possible after your accident, regardless of any legal deadline for filing a claim.

Contact us so our car accident attorneys can review your case to ensure that critical evidence is preserved and ensure any lawsuit is filed on time.

Our Lafayette, IN Car Accident Lawyers Can Help

If you were injured in a car accident, seek support from our experienced car accident attorneys by calling Wruck Paupore at (219) 322-1166 to review your case for free.