Car Accident Lawyer 46383 Valparaiso IN

Finding your way through the aftermath of a car accident is stressful in just about every way. Your injuries are painful, and your emotions are shot. You may be worried about your financial future after a serious car accident.

When you partner with Theodoros and Rooth, P.C., you can unload some of that stress. A car accident lawyer in 46383, Valparaiso, IN can manage your case and work to get you financial justice. That justice can ease your worry, calm your emotions, and give you continued access to the care you need to reach maximum physical recovery. We are ready to get to work and look forward to speaking with you during your free case review.

Why You Need an Attorney After a Car Accident in Valparaiso, IN

Securing representation quickly after a car accident is a way to protect yourself and put yourself in the best position to get the justice you deserve. When another party causes your accident, their insurance representatives may reach out with a settlement offer. You might think that offer is a good thing. The amount may seem substantial, and the relief of having the ordeal “over” certainly has appeal.

The problem is that the offer is likely far less than you deserve. Insurance companies are good at making low offers tempting. They may have smooth explanations for why the offer is generous and the most you could possibly expect to receive. In addition, they may use intimidation by telling you a refusal could put your ability to get any compensation at all at risk.

When you partner with a car accident lawyer in Valparaiso, you do not have to negotiate or communicate with insurance companies alone. Our team has extensive experience dealing with insurance representatives, and we are onto their strategies. Your attorney will know the value of your case and will not be taken in by fear tactics or coercive techniques.

Insurance companies also know how to use a victim’s own words against them. You may think you are just answering simple questions, but even statements offered in complete innocence can be used as admissions of fault. For example, just saying, “I’m sorry the whole thing happened,” can be twisted into a statement of culpability.

Your attorney will also remove the stress of managing the legalities of your car accident claim. You will not have to concern yourself with court filings or presenting evidence. Your attorney will handle every detail and fight to get you maximum compensation.

Indiana Car Accident Statistics

Car accidents are not uncommon on Indiana roads. According to Indiana Crash Facts, over a recent year, traffic collisions statewide produced 964 fatalities and 46,526 injuries. On the list of crashes by county, Porter County ranked 9th out of Indiana’s 92 counties with 4,889 total collisions. Of that total, 22 involved fatalities and 665 produced injuries, with 198 of those injuries categorized as “incapacitating.”

Across the state, driver-related behaviors were the primary factors in 81% of total collisions and 87% of fatal crashes. “The unsafe driver actions” cited more than half the time included:

Failing to yield the right of way
Following too closely
Traveling at unsafe speeds

What to Do After a Car Accident

If you are seriously injured in a crash, your only option is to wait for emergency care to arrive and transport you to a hospital. If you are able to move without causing further injury, there are actions you should take at the accident site.

Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver (or drivers) involved. Take photos of insurance and registration cards and driver’s licenses.
Get names and contact information from witnesses, and if they are willing, ask witnesses to send you a text or email of what they saw happen.
Take pictures after a car crash of the scene and environment overall. Get photos of the vehicles and any damage to them, license plates, road and traffic conditions, traffic signals, skid marks or debris left behind, and the locations of surveillance or traffic cameras mounted nearby.
Watch your words. Keep your conversations with other involved parties limited to sharing contact information. Do not apologize, discuss your injuries, or speculate on the cause of the accident.
Call law enforcement to the scene to make an official accident report.

Take Care of Yourself

You must get prompt medical attention even if you do not need emergency care. Some injury symptoms can take a few hours or a day to appear. Early treatment can prevent your condition from worsening and, in some cases, save your life. If you experienced a blow to the head, you may not feel the effects of a potentially fatal brain bleed until it is too late.

Immediate care can also stop the at-fault party from blaming you for your own injuries. They could argue that your choice to delay care exacerbated your injuries. They could also claim that your injuries could not be as debilitating as you say if they did not warrant seeking medical care right away.

After securing your medical well-being, reach out to Theodoros and Rooth, P.C. We will review your case for free. Once we enter a legal partnership, you can leave the details of your case with us and focus on recovering.

How Your Lawyer Will Build Your Case

Your car accident attorney in 46383 Valparaiso, IN will conduct an exhaustive investigation of your accident, working to determine fault and discover the specific cause of the accident. Though you might think the negligent party and cause of the accident are obvious, sometimes liability can be challenging.

Those possibly at fault may include the following:

Another driver: Violating traffic laws, driving while distracted or under the influence, driving while fatigued, driving too fast for conditions, and committing driving errors are all behaviors that could cause an accident.
Manufacturing companies: Vehicle and part manufacturers are responsible for designing and producing vehicles that are safe for travel. Brake and steering system failures, defective safety features, and other malfunctions can lead to crashes.
Government entities: Unsafe road conditions, inoperative traffic signals, and other elements of roadway safety fall under government oversight. When these offices fail to uphold their duties, they may be liable for resulting collisions.
An employer: If your accident involves a person driving a company car or for their job, their employer may bear culpability.

If you are injured in a rideshare accident, figuring out who is responsible can seem like untangling a complicated knot. Rideshare drivers work as independent contractors. The timing of the accident–whether the driver had the rideshare app activated if they were traveling to a fare or transporting a client–determines whether the driver’s private insurance policy or company insurance covers the accident.

Accidents with commercial trucks can also present complications. Truck drivers, companies, and others involved in the truck’s safe operation could be liable, depending on why and how the accident occurs. Your car accident lawyer will know how to investigate the accident and look to expose any violations of trucking industry regulations.

Making an Accurate Determination Is Critical to Your Case Outcome

You can only collect compensation by proving the at-fault party’s negligence led to your accident and injury with convincing evidence, so pointing the finger in the wrong direction could cost you a favorable case outcome. Trust an attorney to make the proper identification.

Our team knows the kinds of evidence needed to prove negligence and support your claim, and we have the resources to gather as much information as possible. Though every case is different, typical sources of evidence include:

Witness accounts
Physical evidence from the accident scene
Reports from your medical team about the cause and extent of your injuries and future care needs
Crash details from accident reconstructionists
Input from other relevant experts
Testimony from caregivers

Filing Your Claim

Another reason to connect with a car accident lawyer in 46383 Valparaiso, IN as soon as possible after your accident is so you file your claim within Indiana’s two-year statute of limitations, as codified in IC 34-11-2-4. Though some car accident claims settle without going to trial, other times, you have to fight for justice in court. By filing within that deadline, you preserve your right to go to trial.

If you think you may have missed the filing deadline, you should still reach out for a free case consultation from our team. Sometimes, circumstances warrant an extension of the statute of limitations, and if such circumstances apply to your case, we will fight for that extension.

Valuing Your Losses

Theodoros and Rooth, P.C. is a firm dedicated to protecting the rights of injury victims. Our goal is to hold the negligent party accountable for what they have cost you and secure maximum damages. Insurance companies will look to minimize your losses so they can keep their payout low. Our experienced Valparaiso car accident attorneys will assess the fallout from the accident and calculate a compensation amount to cover every loss.

Victims do not always realize just how much an accident costs them. They may not fully understand the extent of their ongoing medical needs or income loss. It is also challenging to put a dollar value on pain and emotional suffering. Your car accident lawyer will handle these calculations for you and demand full compensation.

The Fight for Maximum Damages

Part of the Theodoros and Rooth, P.C. pledge to clients is to “work diligently to secure a satisfactory result in a favorable time frame.” Since cases usually resolve more quickly through settlement negotiations, we will put our full effort into reaching a fair agreement with the other side at the negotiating table. We will come to every discussion armed with evidence, knowledge of Indiana’s negligence laws, and sharp negotiating skills.

Indiana Code (IC) 34-51-2-6 establishes that only victims less than 51% responsible for an accident can pursue a claim for damages. If they meet this eligibility standard, they can still see their compensation reduced in proportion to their percentage of blame. Our team will challenge unfair accusations of blame leveled by the at-fault party in an effort to protect your compensation from unjust reduction.

If the other side stonewalls negotiations or only offers lowball settlements, you may decide to take your case to court. Your car accident attorney in 46383, Valparaiso, IN will explain your options, letting you know the possible outcomes of settling versus fighting at trial. Should you choose to go to court, our team will provide exceptional, aggressive representation at every proceeding.

Losses Covered in a Settlement or Trial Award

Every car accident case is unique. The specific factors affect the amount of damages available. This means there is no average or “typical” compensation amount. Though we cannot tell you what your case is worth without knowing your case details, we can tell you that we fight for the highest amount possible and will seek recovery of or recognition for:

Lost income for time missed at work while recovering
Future lost income and job benefits if you cannot go back to work
Medical bills and continuing care expenses
Property damaged in the accident
Any other accident-incurred costs
Physical pain and disfigurement
Emotional suffering
Decreased enjoyment of life

Punitive Damages

For cases where there is “clear and convincing evidence” that the at-fault party acted with intent, was fraudulent, or demonstrated gross negligence, victims may be entitled to collect punitive damages. This court issues this additional monetary penalty to the at-fault party to punish them for their horrific behavior.

You Can Trust Us to Put You First

Our entire team, from our support staff to our attorneys, will work to get you the damages and justice you deserve. Throughout the process, we will communicate consistently, answer your calls, listen to your concerns, and update you on your case’s progress.

Theodoros and Rooth, P.C. make cultivating strong attorney-client relationships a priority. Entering a legal partnership with you is not just business to us-it is personal. We see you as a person, not just a case number, and will show you respect and compassion as we fight to deliver justice. Get in touch today so that we can get to work.