Why Indiana Accident Victims Really Hire Personal Injury Attorneys

This post was originally published in December 2022 and has been substantially updated and expanded in June 2026 to provide a more complete answer.

If you ask someone who has never been in an accident why people hire personal injury attorneys, the quick answer is usually some version of, “They want money.”

It is one of the most common misunderstandings about this line of work, and honestly, one of the more frustrating ones. In reality, the reasons people hire an Indiana personal injury attorney are varied, and while fair compensation is certainly part of the picture, it is rarely the whole story and almost never the first thing someone mentions.

Attorney Matt Boulton has spent more than 30 years listening to those reasons firsthand. He has helped thousands of Hoosiers and their families, each with a different story, but the reasons they ultimately decided to hire him tend to fall into a handful of recurring categories.

What Hoosier Accident Victims Actually Say

To understand why people reach out to Boulton Law Group, it helps to hear it in their own words. These are some of the most common answers attorney Boulton hears directly from accident victims and his clients.

“I simply don’t know where to start.”

Most people are not thinking about Indiana personal injury law until the moment they need it, and for many, it’s the first time they have ever been through anything like this, so the questions pile up fast:

• Who will pay my medical bills?
• Who is truly liable for the accident?
• What about my missed time at work?
• How long do I have to file a claim?
• Will I have to go to court?
• Should I sign documents sent to me by the insurance company? Give them a recorded statement?
• How do I get bill collectors to stop contacting me?
• What if I need a rental vehicle?

Depending on the type of accident and the victim’s personal situation, that list can run much longer.

For many Indiana accident victims, they initially contact an attorney to get clear answers, gather information about their legal rights, and gain a better understanding of what to expect in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

It has been attorney Boulton’s experience that accident victims with serious injuries initially simply want to be informed before choosing whether or not to retain an attorney.

“I don’t trust the insurance company.”

A large number of Indiana accident victims contact attorney Boulton because they don’t want to make a mistake when dealing with the insurance company or surrender any legal rights they didn’t know they had.

Despite their friendly, funny commercials, insurance companies are big business, and the goal is to pay out the least amount possible on personal injury claims. That’s why it’s important to remember that adjusters work for their employer, not the injured person.

It is also common for clients to mention a bad prior experience with an insurance company, things like a canceled policy, a sudden rate increase, or simply poor customer service, as part of why they decided they did not want to deal directly with one again.

Hiring an experienced Indiana personal injury attorney who is entirely on the client’s side helps level that imbalance. It means having someone exclusively on your side who makes sure you don’t sign away your rights, say something that gets used against you later, or settle for less than the case is actually worth.

“I want to focus on getting better, not paperwork and phone calls.”

Some people simply do not have the time, energy, or interest in answering the many phone calls, tracking down documentation, and jumping through the various hoops that come with an injury claim, especially while they are still recovering.

Depending on the severity of the accident and injuries, ongoing treatment from doctors and specialists already requires a person’s full attention. Hiring an attorney to manage everything outside of that care means a client can focus fully on healing, both physically and mentally, while someone else handles everything else on their behalf.

“I want to know what my case is actually worth.”

For some accident victims, knowing the value of their case will matter most, even if it’s not always the first question they ask. After all the medical bills, missed paychecks, and pain and suffering, there’s a very natural need to know if what the insurance company is offering is something that’s even close to fair.

Even a relatively minor accident can result in thousands of dollars in damages once you add up medical treatment, lost wages, and the other costs that come with recovering from an injury. Without legal counsel, most accident victims have no true way to evaluate whether a settlement offer reflects what they’re actually owed or whether it’s simply the lowest number an insurance adjuster thought they could get away with.

This is where having an Indiana personal injury attorney changes the equation. Attorney Boulton has spent his entire professional career reviewing a wide variety of accident claims throughout the state, and that experience means he can look at the specifics of an accident, the treatment involved, and the long-term impact, then tell a client whether he believes an offer is fair or falls short.

Clients who come to him wanting a clear answer on value usually walk away with much more than that. They get a real understanding of how that number was reached and the confidence that they aren’t leaving money on the table simply because they didn’t know what to ask for.

Anyone injured through no fault of their own deserves a straight answer about what their case is worth, not just a number handed down by the same insurance company trying to limit what they pay out.

“It happened to me, and it isn’t fair.”

This reason is less about logistics and more about perspective. Unless you have personally gone through a serious car accident or similar incident, it is difficult to understand what someone in that position is feeling.

Attorney Boulton has talked with many injured Hoosiers who have told him, almost apologetically, “I’ve never been the type to think about suing or hiring a lawyer, but this isn’t fair.”

That instinct does not need to be justified. Being wronged and wanting things made right following an accident is reason enough. No one else gets to decide whether your situation warrants professional legal help. That decision belongs solely to you, based on what you need and what you are comfortable with.

I was referred by someone who had a great experience with you.”

More than anything else, this is the reason that means the most to attorney Boulton personally. A large percentage of Boulton Law Group’s clients come from direct referrals, friends, or family members who heard about a positive outcome from someone Matt previously represented.

Boulton Law Group was built on referrals, and the firm’s current caseload still largely reflects people who came to us because someone they trust recommended attorney Boulton.

Boulton Law Group believes word travels fast when great legal work leads to great results, and attorney Boulton is genuinely humbled by how many injured Hoosiers and families have chosen to put their trust in this firm because someone else already had.

About Boulton Law Group

For 30+ years, attorney Matt Boulton has been helping injured Hoosiers and their families navigate insurance companies and Indiana’s legal system. His goal? To protect their legal rights, help ensure they receive maximum compensation, and provide exceptional client care.

Attorney Boulton handles every facet of his clients’ cases from start to finish. His personal approach, tailored legal strategies, and track record of success have led him to be sought after by accident victims throughout Indiana for a variety of cases, including:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Dog bite injuries
• Pedestrian accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Wrongful death lawsuit
• Slip and falls
• Negligent security
• Nursing home abuse

Additionally, Boulton Law Group offers every injured Hoosier a Zero Fee Guarantee. This means you will never be charged for a legal review, and you owe the firm absolutely nothing until your case is won.

If you would like for attorney Boulton to review your potential case, you can contact us using the firm’s confidential, free contact form.