Car accidents happen every day across Indiana, and the Wabash Valley is no exception. From busy streets in Terre Haute to highways and rural roads throughout Vigo County and the surrounding communities, local drivers face a variety of hazards that can lead to serious collisions and injuries.
According to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute’s 2024 crash data, Vigo County recorded 6,113 traffic crashes in 2024. Those crashes included fatal collisions as well as hundreds of crashes involving injuries.
For people who live and work here, a crash can quickly become much more than a damaged vehicle. A serious crash can mean emergency-room visits, medical treatment, missed work, vehicle repairs, and uncertainty about how the bills will be paid.
At Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin, we represent people throughout the Wabash Valley who have been injured in automobile accidents. We understand that when a crash happens close to home, people often have questions about what they should do next and whether the insurance company is treating them fairly. After an auto accident in the Wabash Valley, here is what local drivers should know after a crash.
No two crashes are exactly alike, but many automobile accidents involve some form of driver negligence. Common causes include:
Crashes in the Wabash Valley can occur on busy city streets, at intersections, on highways, and on rural roads, and local drivers need to know to be prepared for anything. Drivers may encounter everything from heavy traffic to poorly lit rural roads, changing weather conditions, construction zones, and large commercial vehicles.
Drivers should know that not every auto crash in the Wabash Valley results in an obvious injury. Some people walk away from an accident believing they are fine, only to develop pain or other symptoms hours or even days later. Common injuries from automobile accidents include:
Some injuries can require months of medical treatment and rehabilitation. More serious injuries may permanently affect a person’s ability to work, care for their family, or participate in activities they enjoyed before the accident.
Attorney Caleb Fleschner of Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin says, “After an automobile accident, people are often focused on getting their vehicle repaired and getting back to their normal routine. But when an accident causes an injury, there can be much bigger issues to address. Medical treatment, lost income, insurance coverage, and the long-term effects of an injury can all become important parts of a claim.”
If you are involved in a crash in Terre Haute, Vigo County, or elsewhere in the Wabash Valley, there are several steps local drivers can take to protect themselves afterward.
Your health should be your first priority. If you are injured, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Some injuries may not be immediately apparent after a collision. Following your doctor’s recommendations and keeping appointments can also help document the extent of your injuries.
Indiana law requires law enforcement to investigate and submit a crash report when a motor vehicle crash results in an injury, death, or property damage of at least $1,000. The Indiana State Police maintains the state’s central repository for vehicle crash reports.
If you are physically able, take photographs or videos of:
Also obtain the names and contact information of witnesses when possible.
You should generally notify your insurance company about the accident. However, you should be cautious about giving a recorded statement or making detailed statements about fault before you understand what happened and what your claim may be worth. The other driver’s insurance company may contact you shortly after the crash. Remember that the other driver’s insurer does not represent you.
Keep documentation of medical bills, prescription costs, mileage to medical appointments, lost wages, vehicle-related expenses, and other costs resulting from the accident. These records can become important when determining the full extent of your damages.
Indiana follows a modified comparative fault system. This means that your own percentage of fault can affect the amount of compensation you may recover. For example, if you suffered $100,000 in damages but were determined to be 20% responsible for the accident, your recovery could potentially be reduced by 20%.
Because fault can affect the value of a claim, it is important for local drivers to preserve evidence that shows what actually happened during the Wabash Valley auto accident. This may include photographs, witness statements, police reports, vehicle damage, surveillance video, and other evidence.
It is important for local drivers to know that insurance companies may make settlement offers soon after an accident in the Wabash Valley. While receiving an offer can feel reassuring, you should understand what you agree to before signing a settlement or releasing your claim.
Once a claim is settled and a release is signed, it may be extremely difficult or impossible to seek additional compensation later, even if you discover that your injuries are more serious than you initially realized. This is particularly important when an injury requires ongoing treatment or could have long-term consequences.
Unfortunately, not every local driver on Wabash Valley roads carries adequate insurance coverage in the event of a car crash. If the at-fault driver does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance to fully compensate you, your own insurance policy may provide uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
Determining what coverage is available can sometimes be complicated, particularly when multiple vehicles or insurance policies are involved. An attorney can review the applicable insurance policies and help determine what sources of compensation may be available.
A serious automobile accident in Wabash Valley can involve much more than determining which local driver received a traffic citation. An injury claim may require investigating the accident, determining liability, evaluating insurance coverage, documenting medical treatment, calculating lost income, and determining whether an injury could affect you in the future.
Working with an attorney who understands Indiana personal injury law and serves the Wabash Valley can give you someone familiar with the local community and the challenges that injured people face after a crash.
At Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin, we have represented injured people in Terre Haute and communities throughout the Wabash Valley. We understand that our clients are not simply dealing with an accident claim; they are dealing with the consequences that accident has had on their lives.
It is important for local drivers to know what to do after an auto accident in the Wabash Valley. If you or a family member has been injured in an automobile accident, you do not have to deal with the insurance companies alone. The personal injury attorneys at Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin can review the circumstances of your accident, explain your legal options, and help you determine what steps to take next. If you were injured in an accident in Terre Haute, Vigo County, or elsewhere in the Wabash Valley, contact our office today to discuss your case.
Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin
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The financial burden that often comes with a serious injury can be too much for many people to bear. Unexpected medical debt, damaged personal property, and the sudden loss of income can impact the budgets of most families. The good news is that a successful injury claim could help reduce that financial strain after a serious accident. Get in touch with a Terre Haute personal injury lawyer with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin to learn more.
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