Car accidents can happen at any time. It doesn’t matter how careful you are: all it takes is a single encounter with a negligent, drunk, or distracted driver on Interstate 65 or State Road 135 to change your life forever. In 2024, there were over 200,000 motor vehicle accidents on state roads and highways, resulting in over 900 fatalities. If it happens to you or you lose someone you love, you deserve justice.

At Habig Injury Law, our Greenwood car accident lawyers fight for drivers and passengers who’ve been hurt due to someone else’s reckless driving. We’ve spent decades fighting for injured clients and won’t settle for anything less than the fair compensation you need to recover.

Why Choose Habig Injury Law for Your Car Accident Case?

When you hire our personal injury law firm, you’re entrusting your claim to experienced attorneys who care about your future. We know how stressful it is to be in serious physical pain and undergo one medical test or treatment after another, which is why we demand maximum compensation for your damages. We bring the following advantages to your insurance claim:

• Contingency Fee Structure: Our experienced car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case. You can afford to hire skilled legal representation without worrying about how you’re going to come up with the retainer.
• Aggressive Negotiation: We don’t settle for lowball offers from insurance companies. Our personal injury lawyers have a solid track record of negotiating favorable outcomes, and we aren’t afraid to take cases to court when needed. Insurance adjusters in Indiana also know we’ll fight for what’s right.
• Regular Case Updates: We keep you informed throughout your case and respond to questions promptly. That means you’ll always know what’s happening with your personal injury claim as it unfolds. Our legal team makes sure you understand your options at each stage of the negotiation process and feel confident about the direction everything is going in.
• Results-Driven Approach: We pursue financial compensation that covers all your losses. Our goal is to get you a fair settlement that restores you to where you were before the accident happened (as much as possible).

As your legal representation, we handle every aspect of your case so you can rest and recover from a severe accident. From the first consultation through final resolution, our skilled car accident lawyers are committed to fighting for the compensation you need to move forward.

How Do You Prove Fault in Car Accident Cases?

Evidence can make or break an insurance claim, which is why our Greenwood car accident attorneys conduct a thorough investigation and work with both medical professionals and accident reconstruction experts to create a clear picture of what happened. Here are some of the evidence types we collect to make your case as persuasive as possible:

• Police Reports: Police officers will document the accident scene and write a report that may include their opinion on what caused the accident. Insurance companies and courts rely on this documentation when determining responsibility.
• Witness Statements: If there were witnesses, their accounts provide additional perspectives on how the accident happened. Independent witnesses can contradict false claims made by the other driver or their insurance company.
• Traffic Camera Evidence: Security footage or traffic cameras may have captured the moment of impact. This visual evidence provides clear proof of what occurred and can be the strongest evidence in your case.
• Physical Evidence: Skid marks, vehicle damage patterns, and debris placement tell a story about how the crash happened. Your auto accident attorney will work with accident reconstructionists to analyze this evidence and build a compelling case.
• Health Records: Your medical documentation links your physical injuries directly to the collision. When auto accident victims seek medical attention, emergency room staff document their condition and begin treatment. This documentation becomes important when seeking compensation for crash-related expenses.

Who Pays Your Bills After a Car Accident?

After an automobile accident, one of your first concerns will be who covers your mounting expenses. The answer is that multiple parties may be responsible for paying your bills, depending on what caused the crash and the insurance coverage involved. 

• The At-Fault Driver’s Insurance: When another driver causes your accident, their liability insurance should cover your damages. This includes medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering up to their insurance policy limits. However, many drivers carry only minimum coverage, which may not fully cover serious injuries.
• Your Own Auto Insurance: Your insurance may provide several types of coverage for your expenses. Personal injury protection or medical payments coverage can pay immediate medical bills regardless of fault, while uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you when the other driver lacks adequate insurance.
• Your Health Insurance: Your health insurance plan will typically cover accident-related medical treatment, though they may seek reimbursement later. This coverage ensures you can get immediate care while liability issues get sorted out. Keep track of all medical expenses, as these costs become part of your injury claim.
• Government Programs: If a government entity caused your accident through poor road maintenance or defective traffic signals, they may be liable for your damages. Workers’ compensation may apply if your accident occurred while working. Medicare or Medicaid may also provide coverage depending on your eligibility.
• At-Fault Driver Personally: When insurance coverage is insufficient, you may be able to pursue the at-fault driver’s personal assets. This step usually becomes necessary when dealing with serious injuries and inadequate insurance limits. Your automobile accident attorney can help you determine if this option makes sense in your case.

Compensation Available in Car Accident Claims

Indiana law allows injured drivers and passengers to seek financial compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. The total value of your claim will depend on the severity of your injuries and how they’ve impacted your life. Here are the types of compensation available in car accident cases.

• Medical Expenses: Medical costs represent a major portion of car accident claims. Emergency room visits, hospital bills, surgeries, physical therapy, and ongoing treatment costs add up quickly. Future medical bills must also be considered when calculating compensation amounts, particularly for severe injuries requiring specialized medical equipment and long-term care.
• Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: Lost income affects car accident victims who can’t work during their recovery. When injuries prevent them from returning to their previous job, lost earning capacity becomes part of the claim. Self-employed individuals face additional challenges proving lost income, but an attorney can help compile the necessary evidence.
• Pain and Suffering: Pain and suffering compensation addresses the physical and emotional impact of car accidents. These intangible losses include emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of quality of life, and loss of companionship (consortium).
• Property Damage Costs: Vehicle repairs or replacement costs are recoverable in accident claims. Damaged personal property inside the vehicle can also be included in your insurance claim. These costs can be proven with receipts and repair estimates from qualified mechanics or dealerships.

Indiana’s Comparative Fault Law

Indiana follows a modified comparative fault system for personal injury cases. Under this law, when accident victims bear some responsibility for their injuries, their compensation gets reduced according to their percentage of fault. For example, if you’re found 30% at fault, you can still recover 70% of your damages.

However, if you’re found 51% or more at fault for the accident, you won’t be able to recover any compensation. Insurance companies often try to assign partial blame to car accident victims to reduce their payouts. They may claim the victim was speeding, not paying attention, or violating some traffic law.

Our attorneys challenge these allegations with physical evidence, witness statements, and expert testimony. We work to minimize any fault assigned to our clients and maximize their compensation. Having experienced legal counsel is important when insurance companies try to unfairly shift the blame.

What to Do After a Car Accident

The steps you take immediately after an auto collision can affect both your safety and your legal claim. While the situation may feel stressful, following these guidelines can help protect your well-being and preserve important evidence. Acting quickly gives you the best chance of recovering full compensation for your damages.

• Ensure Your Safety and Call 911: Move to a safe location if possible and call emergency services immediately. Even if injuries seem minor, having police document the scene creates an official record that becomes valuable evidence later.
• Seek Medical Attention: Get a medical evaluation even if you don’t feel hurt right away. Some injuries, like whiplash, concussions, and even internal bleeding, may not show symptoms until hours or days after the crash.
• Document Everything: Take photos of vehicle damage, the accident scene, and any visible injuries. Collect contact information from other drivers, passengers, and witnesses who saw what happened.
• Contact Your Insurance Company: Report the accident to your insurer, but avoid admitting fault or making detailed statements about what occurred. Stick to basic facts about the time, location, and vehicles involved.
• Preserve Evidence: Keep all medical records, accident reports, repair estimates, and documentation related to the crash. This paperwork becomes important when building your compensation claim.
• Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer: The Indiana law statute of limitations gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, but evidence can disappear quickly. The sooner you contact a personal injury attorney, the better positioned you’ll be to pursue fair compensation.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Greenwood

Motor vehicle accidents happen in Johnson County for many reasons, but most result from the careless actions of other drivers. When motorists fail to follow traffic laws or drive responsibly, crashes follow. Here are the most frequent causes we see in our practice.

• Distracted Driving: Texting, talking on phones, or adjusting GPS devices causes many accidents on Greenwood roads. When drivers take their eyes off the road, even for a few seconds, they can miss important traffic signals or fail to see other vehicles. These crashes often happen at intersections or during heavy traffic when attention is most important.
• Speeding: Excessive speed reduces a driver’s ability to stop quickly or control their vehicle in emergencies. Speed-related crashes tend to cause more injuries because of the increased force of impact. Many accidents on Interstate 65 involve drivers who were traveling too fast for the road conditions.
• Drunk Driving: Alcohol impairs judgment, reaction time, and motor skills needed for safe driving. Despite strict DUI laws in Johnson County and across Indiana, impaired drivers continue to cause serious accidents throughout Johnson County. These crashes often happen late at night or during weekends when bar traffic is highest.
• Running Red Lights and Stop Signs: Intersection accidents frequently occur when drivers ignore traffic control devices. Red light runners and those who roll through stop signs put other motorists at serious risk. These crashes result in T-bone collisions that cause injuries to occupants on the struck vehicle’s side.
• Following Too Closely: Rear-end collisions happen when drivers don’t maintain safe following distances. When traffic slows suddenly, tailgating drivers can’t stop in time to avoid hitting the vehicle ahead. While these accidents may seem minor, they can cause whiplash and other soft tissue injuries that require treatment.
• Weather-Related Factors: Rain, snow, and ice create hazardous road conditions that increase accident risks. When drivers fail to adjust their speed or driving behavior for weather conditions, crashes become more likely. Poor visibility during storms also contributes to many accidents on Greenwood’s roads.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Motor vehicle collisions can cause a wide range of trauma, from minor cuts and bruises to life-changing damage like spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Their severity often depends on factors like vehicle speed, impact angle, and whether the occupants were wearing seatbelts. Here are the most common types of trauma we see in crash cases:

• Whiplash and Neck Injuries: Sudden impact can cause the head and neck to snap back and forth violently. This motion can damage muscles, ligaments, and vertebrae in the neck area. While whiplash symptoms may not appear immediately after an accident, they can cause long-term pain and mobility issues.
• Back and Spinal Injuries: The force of a car accident can damage the spine and surrounding structures. Herniated discs, compressed nerves, and fractured vertebrae are common in serious crashes. Some spinal injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis that requires lifelong care.
• Head and Brain Injuries: When occupants strike their heads during a crash, traumatic brain injuries can occur. Even mild concussions can cause ongoing symptoms like headaches, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating. Brain injuries may require extensive rehabilitation and can permanently change a person’s life.
• Broken Bones: The impact from car accidents often breaks bones in arms, legs, ribs, and other areas. Multiple fractures can require several surgeries and months of recovery time. Some bone injuries heal improperly and cause permanent disabilities or chronic pain.
• Internal Injuries: Blunt force trauma can damage internal organs like the liver, spleen, or kidneys. These crash-related injuries may not be apparent but can be life-threatening without prompt treatment. Internal bleeding requires emergency surgery and intensive care.

Get Help From Our Experienced Greenwood Car Accident Lawyers

At Habig Injury Law, we’ve helped many Johnson County residents recover compensation after serious car accidents. We fight to hold negligent drivers accountable and ensure our clients get the medical care and financial support they need. Our dedicated team knows how to handle insurance companies and won’t back down from a fight.

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, contact us for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.  Call our offices at 866-558-1139 or fill out the form below, and one of our representatives will reach out to get you started. We’re here to help you through this difficult time and fight for the compensation you need.

Is your question not answered?  Contact us today and we will answer all your questions.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, don’t wait to seek the help you need. Contact Habig Injury Law in Greenwood and Bloomfield, Indiana, for a free consultation and let us support you on the path to recovery. It’s as easy as filling out the form below and one of our attorneys will reach out to you get started.