The chances of getting hurt on any given day exist for all of us. You could stub your toe on a piece of furniture as soon as you get out of bed in the morning. However, you may suffer more severe injuries due to someone else’s negligence, such as in a car accident. What can you do to avoid injury, and when is it time to contact an Indiana personal injury attorney?
Three Personal Injury Risk Avoidance Strategies for Indiana Residents
Personal injury cases can involve several different situations, many of which are often avoidable if people pay attention to their surroundings and watch for others. What can you do to avoid injury?
Avoid Distracted Driving
Phones, the radio, passengers, and even hands-free calls can distract you as a driver. Texting or using a mobile device while driving is one of the most common causes of accidents in Indiana, leading to the passing of the hands-free device driving law on July 1, 2020.
In the first year the law went into effect, law enforcement issued over 5,000 tickets and 10,000 warnings for using or holding a mobile device while driving.
Practicing defensive driving, staying alert, and keeping your phone out of sight can prevent car accidents.
Watch for Dangers Around Your Children
Children are susceptible to certain types of injuries as they interact with other children and learn more about how the world around them works. Trampolines, bounce houses, pools, slip-and-slides, playgrounds, sports, and other social activities can pose a severe risk to children of different age groups.
You can’t protect your children from every risk, but keeping a close eye on them as they play can help you prevent some injuries. Simply reminding your children to stop running on the wet pool deck or not to have so many people on the trampoline at once can prevent injuries.
Have the Right Insurance
Accidents will still happen. Sometimes other people’s actions lead to injuries and other losses. Having the appropriate insurance policies can protect you in case of an accident.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, approximately 16% of drivers in Indiana don’t carry insurance. Having uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance (UM/UIM) can help you cover medical bills, car repair costs, and other fees after a car accident.
You should also look at your homeowner’s insurance policy, renter’s insurance policy, health insurance coverage, and other insurance policies to determine if your coverage is adequate or if you need to update certain aspects of your insurance plans.
When To Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
If you’ve been injured by someone else’s negligence, you should contact an Indiana personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Indiana is an at-fault state for car accident insurance claims, meaning that you must file your claim through the negligent driver’s auto insurance policy. If the other driver doesn’t have insurance, your own uninsured motorist/under-insured motorist policy can cover your medical bills and other losses.
Insurance companies don’t like to pay claims. Whether you file your claim through a negligent driver’s policy, your own auto policy, a homeowner’s insurance policy, or any other relevant claim process for your injury, the insurance company will likely try to deny or devalue your claim.
Having an experienced personal injury attorney can help you reach an adequate settlement for medical bills, property damage repairs, pain and suffering, and your attorney’s contingency fees.
Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm for a Consultation With an Injury Attorney
When you need an experienced Indiana personal injury attorney for your injury claim in Carmel, contact us at Stewart & Stewart Attorneys, your trusted Carmel Injury Lawyer. Call us at 1 (800)-333-3529 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation at one of our offices.