Indianapolis Auto Accident Attorney
The personal injury attorneys at Lee Cossell & Feagley, LLP represent victims of automobile accidents in Indianapolis and throughout Indiana statewide. Insurance companies can be difficult to deal with; often they will offer a low settlement amount or even deny that the accident was caused by their insured. A favorite tactic of the insurance companies is to try to shift some of the blame to the injured plaintiff in order to lower the amount they have to pay, and if they can convince a jury that you are more than 50% at fault, then you can be prohibited from recovering any money at all. At Lee Cossell & Feagley, LLP, our auto accident attorneys work hard to establish the fault of the negligent or reckless driver while keeping you from being unfairly saddled with any of the blame for an accident which is not your fault.
Common Causes of Indiana Car Accidents
While car accidents can be caused by defective automobile components or poorly designed or maintained roadways, the vast majority of car crashes in Indiana are caused by careless, negligent or reckless drivers. Common causes of car accidents include:
- Speeding
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Driving too fast for current weather conditions
- Making improper turns or lane changes without signaling or checking blind spots
- Tailgating
- Driving the wrong way against traffic
- Driving while fatigued/falling asleep at the wheel
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
These days, a leading cause of traffic accidents is distracted driving attributed to talking or texting on a cell phone. Despite laws being introduced to reduce these distractions, more and more collisions are occurring because of distracted driving. Our personal injury attorneys can help with any type of negligence or recklessness in an Indiana car accident.
Car Crashes Caused by Uninsured Drivers
Indiana law requires all drivers to carry liability insurance to cover at least $25,000 for bodily injury to one person or up to $50,000 if more than one person was injured, as well as $10,000 for property damage. Of course, drivers may purchase more than the minimum amounts, but many choose to purchase only minimum coverage.
Even though Indiana law requires a minimum amount of liability insurance, many drivers ignore the law and drive without insurance, hoping they won’t get into an accident. If you are hit by an uninsured driver, that person may not have the financial means to cover your damages. Fortunately, you may be able to make a claim against your own insurance company under your uninsured motorist coverage. Indiana law requires all automobile liability insurance policies to come with Uninsured Motorist/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, unless the policyholder specifically rejects such coverage in writing.
If making a claim with your own insurance company under your UM/UIM coverage, it is still important to be represented by an attorney. Your interests are not the same as your carrier’s, and they may still try to deny coverage or pay as little as possible to settle your claim. Our Indiana auto accident attorneys use their skill and experience to negotiate a fair settlement or take the case all the way to a jury verdict if that is what is necessary to get the best result for you.
Get Help With Your Indiana Car Accident Claim
For any type of auto accident claim in Indianapolis or statewide, contact Lee Cossell & Feagley, LLP for a free consultation with knowledgeable and experienced Indiana car accident attorneys.
