Articles Posted in Auto Accident

Fatal car accidents have a number of causes. The responsible driver may be distracted, speeding, or driving under the influence. Regardless of the cause, a person injured in a fatal car accident may seek to hold the responsible party accountable through a negligence lawsuit. However, filing a lawsuit can be complicated if the person who caused the accident died in the crash. An experienced Indiana personal injury attorney can guide you through the process of bringing a claim for relief.

For example, a recent news article reported a fatal accident in Indianapolis, Indiana. The accident occurred on I-465 when a driver traveling northbound attempted to change lanes. As the driver passed through a construction zone, he struck a crash attenuator. He then collided with four other vehicles. The driver died at the scene.

How Can You Prevent a Fatal Accident?

While not all accidents are completely preventable, there are several steps you can take to stay safe while operating your vehicle. Most importantly, stay focused. Distracted driving, such as attempting to “multi-task,” can take your eyes off the road. As a result, you could easily drift away from your lane and collide with other drivers. To minimize distractions, wait to take calls or send texts until you are safely parked at your destination. Second, take your time. Excessive speeding can make it harder to maintain control of your vehicle, potentially leading to an accident. Additionally, resist the urge to weave in and out of lanes if you are in a rush. Doing so may lead you to strike another vehicle, crash attenuator, or divider. To avoid driving in a rush, leave early and allow yourself ample time to arrive at your destination. Finally, never drive under the influence. Otherwise, you place yourself and other drivers in danger of a fatal accident.

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Indiana residents are all too familiar with the freezing temperatures and severe storms that come as fall turns into winter. Winter weather can bring heavy snow and ice, which inevitably makes its way onto the road. Unfortunately, wintry weather conditions may cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles, resulting in serious car accidents.

For example, a recent news article reported multiple serious car crashes during a winter storm in southern Indiana. The first crash involved a semi-truck and several other vehicles that collided in Bartholomew County, which closed the northbound lane of I-65. The semi-truck endured significant property damage. The next day, another semi-truck accident occurred in Dearborn County, resulting in road closures along I-74. A few hours later, police found a jackknifed semi on I-65 northbound in Jackson County. The accident occurred when the semi-truck spilled its cargo, causing the vehicle to veer off the roadway.

Finally, Indiana state police reported a serious crash involving multiple vehicles. According to police, the accident occurred due to extremely slippery, ice-covered roads. In fact, the slippery road conditions led to multiple other crashes throughout the state within a three-hour time frame. Across Indiana, winter weather advisories warned of slick road conditions and cautioned drivers to avoid travel when possible.

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When a car accident happens, you may find yourself contemplating what next steps you should take. Whether you are researching lawyers in your area who handle personal injury suits, dealing with insurance claims, handling medical debt, and/or thinking about what claims to bring in a lawsuit, these are just a few of the things that you may be juggling. Knowing what your options are in a lawsuit, the deadline for filing a lawsuit, and other factors can be critical to recovering the damages you deserve after a car accident.

A recent news report revealed the details of a tragic accident in Fishers, Indiana. According to the report, a 2009 Toyota and a 2011 Toyota were involved in the crash, and there were three victims, one of whom was pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers of both vehicles were taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. The crash is still under investigation.

Indiana’s Negligence Laws for Car Accidents

Generally, negligence means that a person (in this case, a driver) had a responsibility or a duty of care to keep others safe, but failed to abide by the duty of care, which resulted in harm to others. There are elements that must be proven in order for a court to find that a driver was negligent, which includes a duty of care, breach of the duty, causation, and damages. In the state of Indiana, a modified comparative fault rule is applied. This means that a plaintiff can recover damages from a car accident as long as they are found less at fault for the car accident than the defendant. In response, the court will reduce the damages the plaintiff recovers according to the percentage of blame assigned to the plaintiff.

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With the excitement of a new year, many friends and families may find themselves traveling on the roads to attend new years events and celebrations. In some situations, the holidays may be a time of greater alcohol consumption, which can be a deadly combination when paired with driving on the road. New Year’s can be one of the main holidays where drunk driving is at its worst. People may find themselves on the road late at night or in the early hours of the morning after celebrating the ring of the new year, which can also present its risks, including limited visibility, distracted driving or driving while tired and not as alert. On busy nights like New Year’s Eve, some rideshare apps, such as Lyft, promote free or reduced Lyft rides. The National Safety Council estimated that 408 people may die on U.S. roads during the New Year’s Day holiday time.

According to a recent news report, at least one person was killed in the early hours of 2023 after multiple car accidents occurred in Indiana. One person was killed when a vehicle hit a bridge support on Interstate 70 before 6 a.m. Additionally, multiple vehicles, including a State Police car, were involved in a crash on the highway. Initially, a crash occurred involving eight vehicles around 3:30am. The State Police car was hit later in the morning while investigators were working at the scene. The trooper was not injured, as she was out of her vehicle at the time of the crash. However, one person was taken to the hospital with serious injuries and later died at the hospital. The cause of the crashes was unclear and is still being investigated.

Holiday Safety Tips for Driving

Traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of death in the United States, claiming thousands of lives every year. Rollover crashes are a significant contributor to these statistics as they often lead to serious injuries and fatalities. Various factors increase the likelihood of an Indiana rollover accident; although, most are avoidable. However, determining the cause of the accident is critical to recovering damages after an accident.

According to crash data, rollover accidents have a high likelihood of serious and fatal injuries compared to other types of crashes. Some factors that impact the likelihood and severity of an accident are :

• Restraint Use

Car accidents can be a harrowing experience, and the physical and financial impact can be just as devastating, regardless of whether there were multiple factors at play or if it was a single-vehicle accident. Indiana follows the “at-fault” theory of liability and insurance recovery. In at-fault states, such as Indiana, drivers who caused the accident are liable for the ensuing damages. In these cases, the at-fault driver’s insurance should compensate all parties involved in the accident. However, it is essential to note that its comparative negligence laws may impact this general rule. Under comparative fault, plaintiffs can recover from the at-fault party; however, the victim’s recovery will be reduced by their share of liability. Most importantly, the plaintiff will not be able to recover if their fault exceeds 50%.

While insurance companies use their own methods for determining liability and apportioning damages, they often cite the state’s comparative negligence laws when making compensation determinations. This is especially relevant after a single-vehicle accident, as insurance companies will go to great lengths to avoid paying out hefty claims. However, a single-vehicle accident does not automatically impute liability on the driver. There are many causes for a single-vehicle accident that do not involve the driver’s negligence.

Some common causes of single-vehicle accidents in Indiana are:

The state Supreme Court recently addressed a critical question regarding the scope of the Indiana Medical Malpractice Act (IMMA). The underlying lawsuit arose when a woman ran a red light and crashed into another vehicle. The woman was traveling with her granddaughter, who testified that she saw her grandmother swallow two pills before saying, “I can’t stop,” while approaching the intersection. The husband and father of the decedents filed a lawsuit against the Physician who prescribed the woman opiates and against the Indiana Department of Insurance under the IMMA.

The plaintiff argued that the physician breached the standard of care by failing to :

• To warn the driver of operating a vehicle under the influence of the medications he prescribed her,

The law defines Indiana hit-and-run accidents as a collision caused by a motorist who leaves the scene of an accident. The injury victim may be another motorist, a passenger, a motorcyclist, a biker, or a pedestrian. Indiana law classifies hit-and-run accidents as a criminal offense. In addition, hit-and-run motorists may face civil charges. These accidents tend to result in serious injuries and death, and pursuing a legal claim against the at-fault driver can help accident victims recover from the financial losses they incur as a result of their injuries.

For example, a recent news report described a harrowing Indiana fatal hit-and-run accident. Witnesses called law enforcement to the scene of the accident to report the incident. According to witnesses, the victim was traveling on his scooter when a vehicle slammed into him. The impact caused the victim to be thrown from his bike. The driver fled the scene, and the victim succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Under the law, drivers involved in an accident must stop, provide identifying information, contact emergency officials and police. If someone suffers injuries in the accident, the driver must remain at the scene and provide reasonable assistance until emergency responders arrive. Albeit difficult, the law still allows hit-and-run injury victims to recover compensation for their damages. Indiana State Police are asking the public to come forward with any information.