indiana injury and family lawyer blog

Head-on collisions commonly occur when a driver veers into oncoming traffic, striking a driver traveling in the opposite direction. The sheer force of a head-on collision can lead to serious injuries or fatalities. When people suffer injuries in an Indiana head-on collision, they may choose to sue the responsible driver for damages.

As a recent news article reported, two people tragically died in a head-on collision in Monroe County, Indiana. The collision occurred when one car traveling south on the highway collided with another car heading north. Sadly, both drivers died at the scene. Police are still investigating the crash.

How Does Indiana Apportion Fault Among Multiple Parties?

Sometimes, multiple people share responsibility for the same victim’s injuries. For example, in a head-on collision, both drivers may have contributed to a passenger’s harm. Under Indiana law, a plaintiff can recover damages from more than one defendant. If the jury or judge finds each defendant liable for damages, they will assign a damages amount proportionate to each defendant’s degree of fault. For example, if a defendant is 10% responsible for the plaintiff’s harm, that defendant will pay 10% of the plaintiff’s total damages award.

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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