Recovering Against Negligent Drivers in Indiana Car Accidents

Car accidents are tragic events, and can have severe, life-altering consequences for those involved, including permanent injury or death. Sometimes accidents occur even though no one was at fault—they are truly just accidents. However, more often than not, Indiana car accidents result from one driver’s negligence.

Negligent driving includes failing to follow traffic laws, distracted driving, driving over the speed limit, or driving while intoxicated. When someone is driving negligently and an accident occurs, Indiana state law allows the victim to recover against the at-fault driver through a civil suit. If successful, these suits can hold the negligent driver liable for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, as well as other expenses related to the accident.

For example, take a recent Indiana car accident that happened earlier this month. According to a local news report covering the story, the crash occurred in Cherry Tree, Indiana, late one Monday afternoon. A 32-year-old Cherry Tree woman was driving west in her SUV when she crashed into the driver’s side of a southbound pickup truck, driven by an 18-year-old Cherry Tree man, that had run a stop sign. The crash caused the truck to roll over onto its roof and hit a utility pole. One of the truck’s passengers, a 14-year-old boy, was tragically killed, and pronounced dead at the scene. At this time, details about the injuries of the others involved—including the two drivers and another passenger in the pickup—are unknown.

Because running a stoplight is typically considered negligent, or even reckless, the deceased victim’s family and the others involved in the crash may be able to hold the pickup driver liable through an Indiana personal injury suit. To prove negligence, a plaintiff needs to prove four essential elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. For instance, in this case, the plaintiffs would have to prove that (1) the driver had a duty to drive carefully; (2) the driver breached that duty by running a stop sign; (3) the driver’s breach caused the accident to occur; and (4) real damages were suffered as a result.

Every case is different, and establishing that another driver was negligent can be tricky. Accident victims should reach out to a dedicated Indiana injury lawyer to ensure that their case is handled efficiently.

Have You Been Injured In an Indiana Car Accident?

If you or a loved one have recently been injured in an Indiana car accident, you know first-hand how difficult it can be to deal with the expenses in the aftermath of the accident. Indiana law allows victims to recover against the driver or drivers who are at fault for your injuries. However, on occasion, the process may seem too confusing and overwhelming. Attorney Burton A. Padove wants to help you. With years of experience helping Indiana car accident victims recover against negligent drivers, Attorney Padove can skillfully handle every aspect of your case from beginning to end, allowing you to focus on healing. Attorney Padove is knowledgeable in all aspects of Indiana personal injury law, and from the moment you enlist his help you can trust that your case is in good hands. To learn more, and to schedule a free, no-risk, initial consultation, call Attorney Padove today at 219-836-2200, or contact us online.