Hit by a Distracted Driver? Here’s How Our Attorneys in Bloomington Can Help

Distracted driving crashes can leave you dealing with medical treatment, lost wages, and confusion about how to handle insurance companies. However, you don’t have to do this alone.

Christie Farrell Lee & Bell provides clear, practical support in these situations. Our Bloomington injury attorneys handle every detail, from gathering evidence to negotiating with insurers or taking your case to court if necessary, so you can focus on recovery.

Here is how our team helps victims of distracted driving in Bloomington recover the compensation they deserve:

  • Local crash experience: We have handled cases involving distracted driving in Indiana. Our familiarity with local intersections, traffic flow, and road conditions helps us investigate how crashes occurred.
  • Digital forensics expertise: Our lawyers know how to preserve and analyze digital evidence such as cell phone records, vehicle infotainment logs, and surveillance footage. This evidence can make the difference between a denied claim and a successful settlement.
  • Proving what others miss: Distracted driving often leaves no clear physical evidence at the scene. We work with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and data analysts to connect subtle facts like braking patterns or timestamps on phone records to establish fault.
  • Combating insurance tactics: Insurance companies frequently argue that victims were partly at fault or claim a driver was only briefly distracted. We use thorough investigation and strategic legal arguments to counter these defenses and protect your right to full compensation.
  • Trial-tested representation: Our attorneys, including Kyle Christie, Kevin P. Farrell, and William W. Lee, have decades of courtroom experience in personal injury litigation. Insurance companies know we are prepared to take distracted driving cases to trial when necessary, often resulting in stronger settlements for our clients.

When a distracted driver causes serious injuries in Bloomington, you need a team with a record of handling these cases, achieving significant results, and understanding how to turn complex evidence into compelling proof.

Speak with a personal injury lawyer today. Call: 317-488-5500

What Counts as Distracted Driving in Indiana?

Distracted driving includes any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from safely operating a vehicle.

The Three Categories That Matter Most

Overall, Indiana drivers face three types of distractions:

  • Visual distractions: Taking eyes off the road, such as looking at a phone or reading a message.
  • Manual distractions: Removing hands from the wheel to adjust controls, eat, or reach for objects.
  • Cognitive distractions: Thinking about something other than driving, like conversations or personal stress.

Texting combines all three distractions and is one of the real dangers of distracted driving. Under Indiana’s hands-free law (Indiana Code § 9-21-8-59), drivers are prohibited from using handheld devices behind the wheel, and violations can serve as evidence of negligence in a civil injury claim if a crash occurs.

Physical Trauma You Can’t Ignore

Distracted driving accidents often cause one or more of the following injuries:

If you suspect a driver’s distraction caused your injuries, do not guess about your rights. Contact us for a free consultation. We will review the facts of your case, explain how Indiana’s distracted driving laws apply to your situation, and help you understand your options for holding the responsible driver accountable.

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Who’s Legally Responsible? Understanding Liability in Indiana

Liability determines who’s legally at fault for an accident. In distracted driving cases, proving fault requires evidence and legal arguments that connect the driver’s inattention to the crash and resulting injuries.

How Indiana Defines Driver Negligence

Proving negligence in Indiana requires establishing these four legal elements:

  1. Duty of care: The driver had a legal obligation to operate their vehicle safely.
  2. Breach of duty: The driver failed to uphold that duty by becoming distracted.
  3. Causation: The distraction directly caused the crash and resulting injuries.
  4. Damages: The victim suffered financial or physical harm due to the accident.

Our Bloomington car accident lawyers analyze every detail to establish liability. We preserve evidence, interview witnesses, and work with experts when needed, using this thorough approach to build a strong case for maximum compensation.

When It’s More Than Just the Driver

In some cases, other parties beyond the driver may share legal responsibility, such as:

  • Employers of commercial drivers: Companies can be liable if their employees cause a crash while working.
  • Rideshare companies: Services like Uber or Lyft might share liability depending on the driver’s status at the time of the crash.
  • Vehicle manufacturers: Faulty infotainment systems or vehicle technology that distracts drivers can also lead to claims against automakers.

Our attorneys review cell phone records, company policies for commercial drivers, and technical data from vehicles to connect the dots and prove how distraction led to your injuries. We know how to build strong arguments that meet Indiana’s legal standards for negligence and protect you from insurers who try to blame the victim or shift fault elsewhere.

If you’re unsure who may be responsible for your crash, we will analyze the facts of your case, explain your legal options, and help you claim for the compensation you deserve.

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What to Do Immediately After a Distracted Driving Crash

  1. Call law enforcement right away: The police will document the crash and gather important details for your case.
  2. Seek medical care as soon as possible: Some injuries aren’t obvious right away but can worsen without treatment.
  3. Take photos of the scene and vehicles: Images of damage, road conditions, and surroundings help preserve evidence.
  4. Gather names and contact details of witnesses: Witness statements can help establish fault and support your claim.
  5. Avoid discussing the accident with insurers without legal advice: Insurance companies may use your statements to reduce or deny compensation.

Why Calling a Lawyer Quickly Is Critical

Evidence like cell phone records or surveillance footage can be lost, overwritten, or deleted if not preserved right away. Also, insurance companies may contact you quickly to get statements, and without legal guidance, it’s easy to say something that unintentionally harms your claim.

Reaching out to a lawyer immediately allows us to send preservation letters to secure evidence, speak with witnesses while memories are fresh, and handle conversations with insurers on your behalf. The sooner an attorney steps in, the stronger your case can be—and the better your chances of recovering fair compensation.

What Compensation Can You Recover in Indiana?

In fatal cases, families may pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim. Otherwise, victims may be entitled to the following compensation categories:

Tangible Financial Losses (Economic Damages)

Economic damages cover the measurable financial impact of an accident, including:

  • Medical bills for treatment and rehabilitation.
  • Lost wages from missing work.
  • Long-term care or therapy costs.
  • Vehicle repairs or replacement.

Pain, Suffering & Emotional Loss (Non-Economic Damages)

Non-economic damages reflect how an accident changes a victim’s life, including:

  • Pain and physical suffering from injuries.
  • Loss of enjoyment of daily activities and hobbies.
  • Psychological impacts such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression.

Attorney insight from Kyle Christie:

“Clients often ask, ‘What is my case worth?’ The truth is, no two distracted driving cases settle for the same amount. In Indiana, we’ve handled cases that resolved for under $100,000 when injuries were moderate and recovered over $1 million for severe injuries like traumatic brain damage or spinal cord injuries. Factors like how much treatment you need, whether you miss work, and how permanent your injuries are all affect settlement value. My advice is never to accept a quick offer before your injuries and long-term needs are fully understood, because we’ve seen insurers come back with significantly higher offers once they realize we’re prepared to prove the full scope of damages.”

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim in Indiana?

Under Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4, victims generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit, although there are some exceptions depending on your case’s circumstances. It’s important to note that missing this deadline can permanently bar you from recovering compensation. 

Why Hire CFLB for a Bloomington Accident Case?

Our work in Bloomington goes beyond reading police reports. We know which intersections have high crash rates, how traffic flows around campus, and which cameras might have captured a driver checking their phone at the exact moment of impact. These details often make the difference between a denied claim and a life-changing recovery for our clients.

Insurance companies know who we are and that we don’t settle for low offers when a client deserves more. We prepare every case like it’s going to trial because we’ve seen that’s often when insurers finally pay attention and increase their offers.

If you’re dealing with medical bills, lost wages, or simply unanswered questions after a distracted driving crash, talk to us. It costs nothing upfront. You only pay us if we win. And you’ll get a team that’s ready to dig deeper than the surface facts and fight for the compensation you truly deserve.

Speak With a Bloomington Distracted Driving Attorney Today

If you’ve been hurt by a distracted driver, our Bloomington personal injury lawyers are ready to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.