Hammond Car Accident Lawyer

Last updated on March 7, 2025

If you have suffered a serious injury in an auto accident, you need timely help from first responders, doctors and a reliable legal team. Our accident lawyers at Westland & Bennett P.C. will be dedicated to working to obtain the result you deserve after an accident. They represent clients in Hammond and throughout Lake County, across Northwest Indiana and in Illinois.

Our Hammond car accident lawyers at Westland & Bennett P.C. have helped countless victims recover the compensation they deserve after an accident. Schedule a FREE case evaluation with one of our car accident attorneys to learn how can we help you. Contact us at 219-809-6670 today.

Experienced Hammond Car Accident Attorneys Working Hard To Help You Recover

Many people have the mistaken idea that it is too soon to contact a lawyer right after a crash. In fact, an attorney can help most effectively in the immediate aftermath of a serious accident and can prove most valuable, if they are with you every step of the way.

Some of the ways we can help are by pursuing witness statements and obtaining your doctors’ evaluation of your condition, information about insurance coverage and more.

Our Lake County car accident lawyers are proven litigators with more than 100 years of experience. We have helped many clients find a way to move on after an accident. We understand how to gather and present the right kinds of evidence to benefit your case. We work to help people recover the compensation they deserve for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering

There are no cookie-cutter answers at this firm. We look at all facts with an open mind until we discover the key to a successful injury claim or lawsuit. We use the information we gather through investigations to develop creative, effective arguments on behalf of our clients.

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What Are Common Types Of Car Accidents?

Common types of car accidents include:

• Rear-end collisions
• T-bone collisions
• Head-on collisions
• Rollovers
• Multicar pileups
• Collisions with semi trucks
• Collisions with pedestrians
• Collisions with bicycles
• Collisions with motorcycles

Any of these accidents can result in significant injuries and complicated legal issues.

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What Are The Most Common Causes Of Car Crashes In Northwest Indiana?

There are many different factors that could have caused your car accident or truck accident. Some of the most common causes of car accidents include:

• Distracted driving
• Intoxication
• Speeding
• Reckless driving
• Bad weather
• Ignoring traffic signs
• Driving at night.

Our Northwest Indiana car accident lawyers will take the time to review your case to determine what caused your accident and who is liable for your injuries.

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What Should You Do After An Auto Accident In Hammond, Indiana?

After your accident, there are several steps you can take to protect your best interests, including:

• Determine if you or anyone else needs immediate medical attention, and call an ambulance if necessary
• Report the accident to the police and your insurance firm
• Collect the contact and insurance information of the other driver, as well as their vehicle information
• Gather as many pictures and videos of the scene as possible
• Record any witness testimony of the accident

Lastly, be sure that you reach out to us for the legal representation you need to maximize the compensation from your injury claim.

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Common Injuries From Car Accidents

Car accidents commonly result in some of the same catastrophic injuries. Typical examples of these injuries include concussions, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), broken bones, nerve damage, spine injuries, paralysis and death. Our goal as your legal representation is to identify the full costs of your injuries and secure a settlement that accurately reflects the current and future costs of those injuries.

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Which Factors Can Affect Compensation Numbers?

Numerous factors can influence how much compensation you get for an auto accident, including:

• The damage to your vehicle
• The extent of your injuries
• The amount of medical bills and related expenses you’ve incurred
• The amount of missed work and other accident-related financial repercussions
• How severe and lasting the injuries are
• Whether you suffered any permanent impairments or disfigurement
• The extent to which you were at fault (if at all)

When you work with our Hammond car crash attorneys, you can expect an upfront opinion about how these factors might impact your prospects for a financial recovery.

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How Can Fault Be Proven In An Indiana Car Crash?

Proving fault often comes down to the strength of your evidence. Depending on your situation, key evidence might include:

• Traffic cam footage
• Witness statements
• Physical damage to the vehicles
• Photos of the accident scene
• Police reports
• Testimonies of those involved in the accident

It’s common to run into obstacles when trying to prove fault. The other side or their insurance may try to shift the blame back onto you.

Indiana’s no-fault system follows the legal rule known as “modified comparative negligence,” or the 51% rule. If you are found to be 51% or more responsible for a car wreck, you are not entitled to ask for any compensation. Even if you are entitled to recover your losses, your compensation can be reduced by whatever percentage of fault for the crash is attributed to you, so it is essential to stop this from happening.

Our auto accident attorneys can anticipate these tactics and proactively build a strong case to prove fault with as much evidence as possible.

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How Do You File A Personal Injury Lawsuit In Hammond?

The first step is to speak with a personal injury attorney. They will start by negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurance company on your behalf. If the insurer refuses to offer a fair settlement, then your attorney will file a lawsuit and move the case to litigation.

Keep in mind that you only have a maximum of two years after the wreck to file your claim. This is known as the statute of limitations. Contacting a car accident attorney in Hammond early is always to your advantage.

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Should You Accept The First Settlement From An Insurance Company For Your Car Accident Claim?

The first settlement offer from an insurance company is typically a lower offer and not typically a fair settlement. The goal of all insurance companies is to spend as little on you and your claim as possible. A first offer may be presented as “the best they can do,” but that’s not the case. If your injuries were not your fault, you deserve better. Hiring an attorney will make that a lot easier.

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What Types Of Damages Can You Receive From A Hammond Car Accident Claim?

You can receive two types of damages for your injury, economic damages and noneconomic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses such as:

• Hospital bills
• Medical transportation
• Rehab costs
• Mobility aids
• Medications

Any medical bill, any tangible cost associated with your recovery is an economic damage, and should be fully compensated. Noneconomic damages are the less easily calculated damages, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress and punitive damages. Noneconomic damages can be a major source of potential compensation, as in Indiana, with some exceptions, there is no cap on noneconomic damages on personal injury cases.

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What Happens If You Are Hit By An Uninsured Motorist In Hammond?

The law in Indiana requires that all car insurance policies include uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. If you get into an accident with someone who either isn’t carrying insurance or isn’t carrying enough insurance, you will file a claim with your insurer.

However, UM/UIM insurance has a low required minimum coverage and is not as comprehensive as normal injury and collision coverage. A lawsuit to recover fair compensation for severe injuries is a complicated legal process. But you don’t have to go it alone.

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Who Can File A Claim After A Fatal Accident In Northwest Indiana?

A fatal accident claim will be a wrongful death claim. Under Indiana law, the only person able to file for a wrongful death claim is the personal representative of the estate. Personal representatives are either appointed by the court or indicated in a will, and they are the individuals with the power to make that filing.

On the surface, this does appear to keep the family of the victim from pursuing damages. However, the personal representative has important responsibilities to the estate and its heirs, and if there is any chance that the deceased was the victim of negligence, then they should pursue a lawsuit.

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Why Is It Essential To Work With An Attorney After A Car Accident?

It is always in your best interest to work with an attorney after a crash rather than trying to handle a claim on your own.

• An experienced attorney can assess the true value of your claim and provide a realistic estimate of what your claim may be worth. That allows for negotiations with the insurance company from a position of strength.
• Attorneys have the resources and experience needed to conduct a thorough investigation into an accident, interview witnesses and collect other evidence that supports your case.
• Attorneys are skilled negotiators who cannot be tricked or intimidated by insurance companies. They can advocate for your rights when an insurer tries to minimize your injuries or claim and ensure that you are not taken advantage of during settlement negotiations.

Having an attorney on your side is also a good way to let the insurance company know that you intend to pursue a settlement that fully covers your losses.

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How Much Does A Hammond Car Accident Attorney Cost?

After your life has already been upended by an auto accident, you should be able to get legal help without adding to your financial worries. At Westland & Bennett P.C., we offer contingency fee representation. That means you won’t owe us any attorney fees unless we obtain compensation for you. The fee will be taken out of the compensation as a set percentage. By charging nothing upfront, we make high-caliber personal injury representation accessible and affordable to all.

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Why Hire A Hammond Car Accident Lawyer From Westland & Bennett P.C.?

There is significant statistical evidence that hiring a personal injury lawyer increases the award a person receives after an accident, even when accounting for the attorney’s fees. However, a larger settlement is only possible because of these factors:

• Legal experience: A local attorney is familiar with the local laws and knows just what evidence and arguments make the biggest impact in court.
• Familiarity: A local attorney will understand the individuals and practices in each courtroom, allowing them to act faster and with more confidence.
• Personalized attention: Local attorneys not only know the community, their invested in getting to know you and securing the best possible outcome.

Working with a member of our team in Hammond is a smart choice because you’ll get the benefits of working with someone invested in your success and highly familiar with the road ahead.

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Resources For Indiana Car Accident Victims And Their Families In Hammond

If you’re in an accident, here are some resources to turn to near Hammond, Indiana:

Local Hospitals

• Community Hospital: 901 MacArthur Blvd., Munster, IN 46321; Phone: 219-836-1600
• St. Catherine Hospital: 4321 Fir St., East Chicago, IN 46312; Phone: 219-392-1700

Local Police Departments

• Hammond Police Department: 509 Douglas St., Hammond, IN 46320; Phone: 219-852-2900
• East Chicago Police Department: 2301 E. Columbus Dr., East Chicago, IN 46312; Phone: 219-391-8400
• Griffith Police Department: 115 N. Broad St., Griffith, IN 46319; Phone: 219-924-7503

Local Mechanics

• Tony’s Auto Repair: 4747 Hohman Ave., Hammond, IN 46327; Phone: 219-932-6000
• Jimenez Auto Repair: 4914 Calumet Ave., Hammond, IN 46327; Phone: 219-803-7016

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Contact A Hammond Car Accident Lawyer For A Free Consultation

Your initial consultation with a Lake County car accident attorney at Westland & Bennett P.C. will be free, and we will not charge attorney fees until we recover compensation for you.

Get in touch today by calling 219-809-6670 or completing our easy online form.

Suggested Reading:

• Do you need to replace your child’s car seat automatically after a crash?
• What is the most dangerous road in Indiana?
• Which age group gets into the most car accidents?
• Common mistakes that drivers make after a car crash