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Helping Car Crash Victims Seek Recovery & Justice

Indiana car accident attorney Zaki Ali has been helping crash victims recover and get justice for more than two decades. Strategic and trial-tested, he knows how to protect victims’ rights and fight for full compensation and favorable outcomes. No matter how complex a car accident claim may be — or how formidable the opponent is — Zaki Ali is the lawyer victims can always count on for fierce representation, client-focused service, and the strongest possible cases.

Why Choose Zaki Ali?

Choose car accident attorney Zaki Ali because:

You may only have one chance to recover from a wreck.
You don’t want to gamble with your rights or your future.
You want to be confident you have the best chances of success.

The truth is that victims can face a lot of challenges when it’s time to prove liability and make at-fault parties pay for the harm they’ve caused. And the lawyer they choose to represent them can make all the difference in the strength and success of their case. With Zaki Ali, victims will have an experienced advocate and ally in their corner. That can provide priceless peace of mind that:

Their rights and interests will be fiercely protected at every phase of their case: Inside and outside the courtroom, attorney Zaki Ali aggressively protects his clients’ rights and interests. This can be crucial to keeping a case on track and avoiding any missteps that could compromise victims’ recoveries.
They will receive responsive, compassionate, personalized service: Zaki Ali prioritizes his clients’ needs and cases. He gives honest advice and clear answers, aiming to respond quickly so his clients always know the status of their case and their options.
Their case will be set up for the best possible resolution: Zaki Ali is skilled at anticipating the opposition’s strategies to undercut their tactics and make them pay.

Why Do I Need An Indiana Car Accident Lawyer?

While you may not need an attorney for a minor fender bender, retaining a lawyer after a more serious crash can be essential. An attorney can help you with every aspect of your case, including (but not limited to):

Figuring out all parties that are at fault for the accident so they can all be held accountable
Determining the true value of a claim, based on past and future losses, so that victims are able to maximize their recoveries
Reinvestigating the accident to try to uncover additional evidence to support a claim
Dealing with insurance companies, which can be especially critical when there are disputes over liability or insurers are trying to devalue victims’ claims
Advising you of your options and counseling you when it’s time to make important decisions about your claim
Working diligently, while you focus on healing, to bring your case to the best possible resolution

The bottom line is that having an attorney in your corner can be the ultimate way to strengthen your case and your position. It’s a strong signal to your opponents that you mean business when it’s time to pursue a claim for compensation. And it can be the key to getting the justice you may deserve.

What Are The Most Common Causes Of Car Accidents?

Auto accidents are caused by an array of factors. In most crashes, some type of negligence is involved. When it is, it commonly comes in the form of:

Drunk driving: Alcohol impairs motorists’ perception, reaction times, and judgment. That often means drunk drivers misinterpret, misjudge, or overlook important visual cues in their environment, including other drivers, pedestrians and traffic signs.
Distracted driving: Like alcohol, distraction can cause major impairments for drivers, interfering with their ability to safely operate vehicles. Though cellphones are one of the biggest distractions for drivers, anything in or outside of a vehicle can be a source of distraction and, in turn, increase the risk of a crash.
Fatigued driving: As another form of driver impairment, fatigue seriously slows response times. In the worst cases, fatigued motorists can fall asleep at the wheel and crash.
Speeding: More than one in every four traffic deaths involves speeding. When motorists drive at speeds that exceed posted limits (or that are unsafe for the conditions), it’s far easier for them to lose control of their vehicles. Depending on the road conditions, speeding may also increase the risk of equipment failure (like tire blowouts on roads peppered with potholes).
Failure to comply with other traffic laws: This can cover anything from failing to yield the right-of-way to making illegal turns, running red lights, changing lanes without checking blind spots, and more. Motorists can be more likely to violate traffic laws when they are angry, impaired, and/or inexperienced behind the wheel.
Malfunctioning vehicle equipment: Part and system failures can affect nearly any major component of a vehicle, from the engine and steering systems to brakes, tires, exhaust systems, and safety features. These failures can be the result of design flaws, installation errors, and/or failures to maintain a vehicle.
Poor roadway conditions: Failures to design or construct roads safely, as well as failures to maintain them, are another major cause of auto crashes in Indiana.

It’s necessary to understand all of the causes of a car accident in order to determine each party who may be liable for it.

What Are The Most Common Car Accident Injuries?

Car accident injuries can be mild to life-threatening, depending on how a wreck happened. Some of the most common types of injuries people suffer in auto crashes include:

Neck injuries, like whiplash and slipped discs
Spinal cord and back injuries, which can leave irreversible damage
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), the mildest form of which is a concussion
Soft tissue injuries, like severe bruising and muscle damage
Broken bones, which may require multiple surgeries
Loss of limb, potentially limiting mobility and impacting the quality of life
Disfigurement, which can cause deep psychological damage
Burn injuries, the worst of which cause lasting pain and irreversible disfigurement
Fatal injuries, which permanently rob families of their loved ones

Although many car accident injuries are visible after crashes, some can take time to arise. That’s why it’s strongly advised that victims seek medical attention both right after a crash and in the days or weeks that follow.

What To Do After A Crash In Indiana

Always call 911 after a serious wreck. It’s also important to call 911 if you’re in a hit and run, you’re hit by a drunk driver or anyone is hurt in the accident. If you’ve been injured, your priority should be getting medical treatment ASAP. In the event your injuries are not incapacitating or disorienting, here are some other steps you can take after a car accident. If you do you, you can start to gather evidence and take action to safeguard a potential car accident claim:

Stay at the scene until the police get there.
Do not admit fault at any point.
Get contact and drivers’ information from anyone else involved in the accident.
Get contact information from any witnesses.
Tell your side of the story to the police at the scene, only explaining the things you witnessed (and not filling in the blanks or guessing).
Take lots of pictures of the crash and scene.
Call your insurance company to report the accident.
Talk to a lawyer about your rights and options.

How Much Is The Average Car Accident Claim Worth?

The value of a car accident claim is highly specific to the injuries and circumstances involved. That means there is no “average” dollar amount (or range) that can answer this question. Instead, an attorney will need to review the facts and evidence of a particular case to evaluate its worth. Usually, that involves looking at who’s responsible for the accident, the extent of the harm caused, and whether punitive damages may be on the line.

What Can Be Recovered In A Car Accident Claim?

In general, compensation for successful car accident claims can result in victims securing damages for:

Medical bills: This can include any past or future medical costs that have arisen (or will arise) from the injuries and harm caused by the crash. Ambulance and emergency room bills, hospital costs, surgeries, and follow-up doctor’s visits are just some of the medical bills that can be included in compensation for crash victims.
Lost earnings: Also spanning past and future losses, lost earnings can be wages, commissions, bonuses, and/or benefits that were (or will) not be earned due to the car accident injuries.
Pain and suffering: Although it’s difficult to quantify pain and suffering in a dollar amount, financial recoveries for crash victims can also include compensation for this ineffable harm that usually results from wrecks. In some cases, it may include awards for therapy to deal with the profound suffering or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by a car accident.
Property damage: The costs of repairing or replacing damaged vehicles and/or other personal property can also be included in compensation for accident victims.

Calculating past and/or future costs from a crash can clearly be a complex process. This is another crucial place where a lawyer can be invaluable, helping to ensure all financial losses are accounted for so victims can seek the full compensation to which they may be entitled.

Indiana Car Accident Statistics

The data on Indiana car crashes drives home just how often these wrecks happen and cause preventable harm. According to the latest findings.

1 in 3 fatal car accidents in Indiana happens on a rural road.
Although drunk driving deaths have declined about 4% since 2014, about one in four traffic fatalities in Indiana is the result of a drunk driving accident.
Speeding is a factor in at least 9% of Indiana auto accidents resulting in injury or property damage only—more than 20% of fatal auto crashes in Indiana.
Motorists between 15 and 20 are the most likely to be victims of deadly car accidents, and the rate of fatalities in this age group has soared nearly 8% since 2014.

The following chart depicts drivers, by age group, who have been involved in Indiana car accidents over recent years. The data featured in the image below have been sourced from the Indiana Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The next chart shows how car accident deaths in Indiana have been increasing over recent years.

Indiana Car Accident Laws

Car accident laws in Indiana are focused on promoting safety, in terms of preventing wrecks and helping victims get the assistance they need whenever a crash does happen. Consequently, Indiana car accident laws don’t just cover standard traffic laws. They also dictate the mandatory minimum auto insurance coverage that all drivers in the state need to carry and when motorists are required, by law, to call police after an accident.

Is Indiana A No-Fault State?

No. Indiana is a comparative fault state. That means that fault for car crashes in Indiana matters when it’s time to determine options for compensation. It also means that:

Victims who are partly to blame for causing a wreck can still be eligible for compensation: Indiana law lets victims pursue compensation as long as they are less than 51% at fault for the accident. Put another way, this means that victims who are 51% or more at fault will not be able to seek compensation, under Indiana law.

These victims will see reduced recoveries: The compensation for victims who are partly to blame for an accident is decreased by the degree to which (s)he is found to be at fault. So, if a victim is 40% at fault, the recovery for a successful claim would be reduced by 40%.

Here, it’s also important to realize the police, insurance companies, and others do NOT always make the correct calls when assigning fault for accidents. Evidence can be overlooked and misinterpreted. Sometimes, the new evidence can come to light in the days or weeks after a crash, providing a more accurate picture of fault. An attorney can help victims avoid being wrongly blamed, preserving their rights to recovery.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Filing an Insurance Claim in Indiana?

Two years is the statute of limitations for Indiana car accident cases. This timeframe begins counting down as of the date of:

The car accident: Missing the two-year deadline can bar claims for compensation. There are some exceptions to this statute of limitations, including extended deadlines for minors and shorter statutes of limitations when the defendant is a state government agency.
The injuries being discovered: When the injuries caused by a wreck are not immediately apparent, the date on which they are discovered or diagnosed will be the start date for the statute of limitations. Injuries that may fit into this category can include TBIs, back injuries and whiplash. If the accident leaves victims in a state of shock, delays in recognizing and diagnosing injuries are far more likely to happen.
A death: When life-threatening injuries result in death at any point after a crash, a new two-year statute of limitations will restart as of the date of death.

Although getting medical care should be your first priority after a serious crash, initiating a claim as soon as possible is also important. It’s the best way to preserve the strength of a claim, especially considering that:

Evidence can get misplaced or destroyed as time goes on.
Witnesses move, change phone numbers, and may forget crucial details over time.

Do I Need A Police Report?

Police reports can be extremely helpful after car accidents. Not only will these reports document key details about exactly where and when a crash happened, but they can also record other specifics, like (but not limited to):

The weather and road conditions: While these factors may not clearly point to any single party being at fault, they can paint a picture of how risky the roads were when the accident occurred. And that can help inform the evaluation of who may have been acting carelessly or recklessly immediately before the crash happened.
Names and contact information for those at the scene: This can include others involved in the accident, as well as any witnesses who come forward.
Any evidence collected from the scene: If, for instance, blood samples are taken because driver impairment is suspected, the police report will detail this, along with the findings of the blood analysis.
The extent of the damage observed on the vehicles: Police reports can include diagrams showing where (and how severely) vehicles were damaged.
Victims’ state after an accident: For example, police reports can explain whether anyone was unconscious or appeared to be impaired after the crash. Reports can also detail what victims said, including whether they admit to causing the accident, drinking alcohol, and more.
Whether any citations were issued or arrests were made: This would indicate that a driver or another involved party broke the law. It can be an important indication that another party is at fault for a car accident.
Officers’ conclusions: Police reports will include a statement of findings, explaining the officer’s official opinion of what caused the accident. If this is not immediately apparent or possible to opine on, officers may note that they are unable to come to a clear finding on questions of fault for the accident.

With this information (and potentially more), police reports can provide essential evidence to prove fault and/or provide clues to new potential evidence. Request a copy of an Indiana car accident police report. If you retain a lawyer to help you, your attorney can take care of this request and analyze the report for all details that could be useful in supporting your potential claim.

Car Insurance Requirements

Indiana motorists are required, by law, to carry at least the minimum auto insurance coverage, as specified in the table below.

Required Coverage	Minimum Per Person	Minimum Per Accident
Bodily injury liability	$25,000	$50,000
Property damage liability	N/A	$25,000
Uninsured motorist bodily Injury	$25,000	$50,000
Uninsured motorist property damage	N/A	$25,000
Underinsured motorist bodily injury	$50,000	$50,000

With Indiana car insurance requirements, it’s essential to know that:

Uninsured coverage can be rejected: If drivers don’t want this coverage, they must reject it in writing. As a result, if an insurance company is denying this coverage and they don’t have a record of a driver refusing it in writing, the driver may have solid ground to argue that this coverage still applies.
Minimum coverage may not fully protect you: In some cases, the bare minimum can fall way short of providing the financial support victims need to recover. For example, after a hit-and-run accident, the minimum uninsured motorist coverage may not be enough to help victims pay for medical bills and recover.
Having coverage does not mean the insurance company will stand by it: This is critical for victims to remember because it can be easy to think insurers are on their sides when they seem sympathetic after a wreck. The truth is, however, that insurance companies are almost always looking for ways to avoid paying money out. It’s how they profit. So, don’t expect an insurance company to play fair, honor your coverage, or explain what you deserve after an accident.

Whenever that happens, Zaki Ali is the car accident lawyer in Indiana that survivors and families can trust for the highest-quality counsel and fierce representation. Discover more about your potential claim in a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. One meeting and recovery with us can make all the difference in your future.

When Your Future Is At Stake, Do Not Wait To Act

Call 765-252-1539 or email attorney Zaki Ali now to schedule a FREE phone, virtual or in-person consultation.