Kokomo Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents happen nearly every day in Indiana. According to state statistics, motorists on Indiana roads got into 217,000 collisions in 2018. These wrecks resulted in 873 fatalities and over 47,000 injuries. Kokomo’s roads also see plenty of car accidents each year. As a whole, Howard County saw 4,219 car accidents, resulting in 18 deaths and 658 non-fatal injuries. Car accidents cost Kokomo residents millions of dollars each year. After an accident, you need experienced legal assistance to make a claim for compensation. No car accident victim should pay for their own medical care or suffer lost income when they are injured through the negligence or recklessness of another driver. Please contact one of our Kokomo car accident lawyers today.

Why Fault Matters

Indiana remains a fault state using traditional tort principles when determining who must pay compensation for a car accident. This makes Indiana different from other states, like Florida, which have moved to a no-fault regime. In our state, it matters who or what is to blame for the accident. Typically, a negligent driver causes an accident when he or she fails to use reasonable care while driving. There are many examples of negligence, including failure to check a blind spot when passing or failing to look over your shoulder when backing up. Other drivers are reckless. They know their behavior will likely hurt someone, but they simply don’t care. Examples of reckless driving include passing illegally, speeding, and driving while high or intoxicated. Like negligent drivers, reckless ones are also legally liable for the injuries they cause. Fault isn’t always apparent with a car accident, so contact a Kokomo car accident lawyer to review your wreck. Our team can speak to witnesses and possibly inspect the vehicles involved to determine who or what is to blame.

Car Insurance & Your Car Accident Claim

Indiana requires that drivers carry liability insurance to register a vehicle. This coverage kicks in when the driver is at fault for the accident. Currently, Indiana requires that motorists carry:

• $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per injured person, up to $50,000 per accident
• $25,000 in property damage coverage

If you were at fault, you cannot make a claim on anyone’s liability coverage—not your own and not another driver’s. Indiana drivers might also carry underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage. These policies are a big help. They cover losses you suffer when the at-fault driver does not have adequate (or any) insurance.

How to Negotiate a Fair Settlement

Most Kokomo car accident cases settle. But insurers often drive a hard bargain, and some use questionable tactics to put pressure on injured motorists to settle. For example, some insurers will drag their feet when investigating a claim or when making an offer. This type of delay often constitutes bad faith, but that doesn’t stop many companies. To successfully negotiate a settlement, a car accident victim needs to know how much their claim is worth. With serious injuries, this is often difficult. Our clients often qualify for pain and suffering compensation, which is hard to translate into dollars and cents. Fortunately, our lawyers have negotiated many settlements and know how to get the most compensation available for our clients.

Hurt in a Wreck? Our Kokomo Car Accident Lawyers Are Standing By

Keffer Hirschauer LLP is the only law firm you need following a car accident. To discuss whether you have a valid claim, give us a call. We offer a free case evaluation in a comfortable, confidential setting.