Indiana Car Accidents Attorney

Put 30+ Years of Experience in Your Corner

Shaw Law does more than just slip and falls. We've represented clients since the late 1980s. This includes clients that have been seriously injured in an auto accident due to the negligence of another person.

The simple truth is that car accidents and wrecks are the number one cause of personal injury claims in the United States. Our Indiana car accident lawyers understand the difficulties and financial hardships that a person injured in an Indiana auto accident experiences.

An auto accident with injuries is a horrible event and dealing with the aftermath of mounting medical bills, obstinate auto insurance companies, and necessary medical treatment and lost wages can be worse. Our job as Indiana car accident attorneys is to obtain maximum financial recovery for your pain and suffering, past and future medical bills, and past and future lost wages. And do it in a way that eases your worry and pain, if possible.

If it has been more than 24 hours since your car accident, then it is likely that either your car insurance company or the insurance company of the person that caused the accident has tried to contact you. A person injured in an automobile accident in Indiana should never speak to an insurance company without speaking to a lawyer first.

We go to work right away. We contact the insurance companies involved. We take care of everything so that you can focus on receiving the medical treatment that you need. We can assist with the process of obtaining doctor appointments and medical treatment, perhaps by making sure billings are properly handled. We immediately begin to investigate your car accident, so that we can determine who is responsible for causing your injuries and whether they have any insurance or assets to compensate you for your injuries.

We always offer a free initial consultation. You can hire us in a matter of a few computer clicks.

When To Hire a Car Accident Lawyer

As a general guideline, it’s best to contact a lawyer after a car accident as soon as possible. There are a couple reasons for this, the first being the statute of limitations, which is a law which is implemented on a state by state basis which allocates a specific timeline of when personal injury cases can be filed. According to the Indiana Code section 34-11-2-4 the state of Indiana has a two-year timeline. This means you have two years to file your claim. If you try to file a claim outside of this two-year period, you will most likely be unable to do so. There are some exceptions to this law where the filing time may change, including:

• If the injury victim is a minor at the time of the accident
• The negligent party left the state before a claim could be filed
• If the negligent party intentionally conceals their identity in order to avoid a lawsuit.

Beyond the statute of limitations, which applies to all personal injury claims, car accident injuries are different than other injuries covered by personal injury law in that they are most often soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue injuries are injuries that affect the tendons, ligaments and muscles in the body. An example of a well-known soft tissue injury is whiplash. Like whiplash, these types of injuries typically progressively get worse over a few days or weeks after the injury occurred.

Because of this, many injury victims sign a compensation agreement with an insurance company before talking to a lawyer only to discover later that their injuries have gotten worse but are not able to recover any additional compensation to cover their additional costs. If you have suffered injuries at the hands of a negligent driver, talk to our Indiana car accident attorney for help today!

There Are No Fees or Cost to Hire Us.

In almost every car accident in Indiana, it is an auto insurance company and not the individual that caused your injuries that will be paying for your damages. Auto insurance companies are multi-billion dollars companies that will look to challenge your claim and pay as little as possible for your injuries. That is their job.

Our Indiana personal injury attorneys have been battling these auto insurance companies for more than 50+ years combined experience and we are familiar with all of their tactics. Our lawyers deal with these companies on a daily basis and we know what it takes to make them pay. We demand maximum payouts for all our clients.

Statistics show that the great majority of cases are resolved without the need to go to trial and many are settled without filing a lawsuit. (Disclaimer: Every case is different and this is no indication that your case will result in a settlement or favorable verdict).

The car insurance companies are aware that we have the skill and financial resources to take them to court if they refuse to pay. We have recovered more than $15 million dollars for our clients in the last 3 years alone. Check out some of our Case Results by calling us for a FREE list including Wrongful Deaths and Injuries to Children. Check out our auto insurance company pages below to learn more about these insurance companies and some specific cases against them.

7 Things You can do at a Car Accident Scene

1. Stay at the Scene
   Never leave the accident scene until it's appropriate to do so. If you leave, particularly where someone has sustained injuries or was killed, you can face serious criminal penalties for being a hit-and-run driver. Make certain you are not in the road, so as to cause another accident. Get someplace safe and await the investigating officers to arrive.
2. Check on all Drivers and Passengers/Call 911
   Before assessing property damage, make sure everyone involved in the accident is okay. Get medical attention for anyone who needs it. If a person is unconscious or has neck or back pain, don't move them until qualified medical help arrives, unless a hazard requires moving the person.
3. Call the Police and Don't Move the Vehicles Unless it is Dangerous not to do so
   If there's significant property damage, physical injury, or death, you need to call the police. Ask that a police report be filed in situations where cops do arrive at the scene, and obtain the name and badge numbers of the responding officers.
4. Exchange Information
   Get the names, numbers, addresses, drivers' license numbers, license plate numbers, and basic insurance information from all drivers involved. If there are passengers, also obtain their names, numbers, and addresses. In talking to other drivers, try to be cordial and cooperative.
   However, you shouldn't apologize for anything at the scene. For example, if you say, "I'm so sorry I ran that red light! Is everyone okay?" you may be admitting legal responsibility and liability for what happened. Immediately after an accident, it might not be clear who was at fault or more at fault. Therefore, try not to admit guilt unintentionally or unnecessarily.
   Although there is a statutory law in Indiana that limits the use of apologies in court, it is subject to interpretation and is better avoided.
5. Locate and Talk to Witnesses/Get Their Info
   Ask every witness what he or she saw. Get their names, numbers, or addresses, if possible. Ask locals if they've ever witnessed other accidents in the same place. This is important because many investigating police departments do not ask witnesses for addresses. You might need that later.
   If you are too hurt to locate witnesses, ask the officers to write down all addresses of each witness.
6. Take Cell Phone Photos or Pictures if You can
   There is no law preventing you from taking photographs. It might prove valuable later in the investigation phase. Don't interfere with the investigation of the police officers, but if you can take photographs of the vehicles and people involved, there is nothing preventing you from doing so legally.
   If you don't have the correct frame of mind to start taking photographs, see if a friend could do so for you. You are allowed to call for assistance to friends and family.
7. Cooperate with the Police Investigation
   Be calm. Be cooperative. It is understandable that you are upset after being involved in a collision. The investigating officers will want to ask you questions about what happened. Make certain you give all of the pertinent details in a calm and collected manner. If you know of witnesses, identify them. If you can explain why the accident is the other driver's fault, explain why in simple and direct terms.
   You have a right to see the crash report later. If you believe mistakes have been made, you can request changes. But, it's best to avoid that necessity by cooperating and being inclusive initially.