Car Accident Lawyer Michigan City IN

Even the safest drivers can experience car accidents. Unfortunately, not everyone treats driving as they should, forgetting or just ignoring the fact that a vehicle is capable of causing major damage if not operated with care. Our Car Accident Lawyer Michigan City IN law firm can help if you or someone you love has sustained injuries in a car accident caused by someone else.

Consider the team at Theodoros & Rooth your guardians of justice. We fight for injury victims’ rights and demand accountability from negligent drivers who turn other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or cyclists into injured victims. We have a reputation for caring for clients and a tradition of success. We look forward to making your case part of that tradition.

Indiana Car Accidents by the Numbers

According to the Indiana Crash Facts report, the State saw 206,936 motor-vehicle collisions over a recent year. Of this number:

  • 900 proved fatal, leading to 964 deaths and representing an 8% increase from the year prior
  • 29,218 were non-fatal, producing 11,449 incapacitating and 35,077 non-incapacitating injuries 
  • 176,818 caused property damage only

LaPorte County ranked 32nd out of Indiana’s 92 counties for the highest number of accidents and 33rd for fatalities. It ranked 5th for alcohol-related accidents and 10th for speed-related ones.

Causes of Car Accidents in Indiana 

The Indiana Crash Facts report shows the highest percentage of fatal and non-fatal accidents, 57% and 64%, respectively, resulted from a driver’s unsafe actions.  Other driver-related causes include loss of vehicle control, driving while distracted, a physical or cognitive impairment, such as fatigue, drunkenness, or illness, and other “miscellaneous” factors. Ultimately, driver-related causes contributed to 166,862 crashes.

Additional causes include environmental conditions and vehicle problems. A faulty braking or steering system, worn tires, or other defects or malfunctions are a danger to those in and around the affected vehicle.

Poor road conditions can also increase accident risk. Potholes or uneven surfaces can loosen tires, damage undercarriages, or cause a loss of control. Loose gravel can cause skidouts. Icy or slushy roads are slick, and cars can lose traction and slide out of control. Construction zones pose additional dangers. Workers may alter traffic patterns with cones or other signals, but sometimes, the path of that altered pattern is unclear.

Accident Locations

According to the Indiana Crash Facts report, 11.6% of all accidents and 13.4% of fatal accidents occurred on Interstates, including I-94 and I-90.  Highways 12, 20, 41, and other U.S. Routes served as the location for  9.4% of accidents overall and 15% of fatal accidents. All of these roads are heavily trafficked and often undergoing construction work, increasing the risk of accidents. 

No matter the location or cause of your accident, the car accident lawyers from Theodoros & Rooth can handle your case. We have over 110+ years of combined experience and are well equipped to manage whatever unique circumstances your case presents.

How to Respond After a Car Accident

There are steps you can take in the accident’s aftermath to set yourself up for a favorable case resolution. If you are too injured to take these steps without hurting yourself further, just stay still until emergency help arrives. If you can move, see if others need help. Even if no one has injuries demanding immediate care, call 911 to summon law enforcement to the scene. 

Then, start gathering information. Exchange insurance and contact details with other drivers, passengers, or pedestrians involved. Get contact information from witnesses as well. If they are willing, ask witnesses to email or text you a report of what they saw happen.

Gather photo evidence.  Pictures you should take include:

  • Road markings and conditions
  • Traffic signs and signals
  • Skid marks or other accident debris
  • The position of the vehicles involved
  • Vehicle damage
  • License plates and Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs)
  • Security or traffic cameras
  • Your injuries
  • Any other details–capture the entire accident location

Be mindful of what you say to other parties involved. Do not admit fault or say anything that could be interpreted as an admission of fault. Never minimize your injuries. If you comment on them at all, just say you will be seeing a doctor. It is best to keep your conversation with the other party limited to exchanging information.

Get Medical Attention

Do not assume you have not sustained an injury even if you feel “fine” or close to it after the accident. Accidents cause your body to release a rush of adrenaline, and that adrenaline can mask pain and other symptoms for a few hours or days. If you wait until symptoms appear, you may cause further damage in that interim, miss the chance to see a full recovery or put yourself in grave danger.  Very serious injuries, such as brain or internal organ damage, can take time to show, but failure to detect and treat them quickly can cause severe debilitation or death.

The at-fault party could seize on your decision to delay care and use it to their benefit. They may use it as grounds to claim you caused your worsened condition and say they should not have to compensate you for the damage you caused. They could also accuse you of inflating your injuries, arguing that since you did not see the need for immediate care, the damage cannot be as serious as you claim.

When to Connect With a Car Accident Lawyer in Michigan, IN

Connect with a car accident attorney from our team as soon as possible. A fast partnership gives us the time to investigate and determine fault for your car accident and file against the negligent party within Indiana’s two-year statute of limitations. If you miss the two-year deadline, you could lose the chance to secure justice. 

Even so, if you think too much time has passed, do not assume you have missed your window of opportunity without first speaking to a lawyer. Some cases provide grounds for an extension. Determining fault is the first critical step in your accident case. You can only collect damages if you prove the at-fault party’s negligence and can only achieve that goal by accurately identifying the at-fault party. 

What seems obvious is not always what is actual. Our team knows how to carry out thorough post-accident investigations, and has the resources and expert connections to make a correct determination of fault. Possible at-fault parties include:

  • Another Driver: Errors or recklessness, violations of traffic laws, and any other risky driving behavior
  • Vehicle Manufacturers: Vehicle defects or malfunctions
  • Inspectors or Mechanics: Failure to recognize vehicle problems, shoddy repair work
  • Government Entities: Poorly maintained roads, inoperative traffic signals
  • An Employer: For accidents caused when a driver is on the job
  • A Construction Company: For accidents occurring in ill-prepared construction zones

Whether your claim is against an individual, a private company, a government entity, or a combination of parties, Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. can take it through the process and reach the most favorable resolution possible. 

Proving Negligence for Your Car Accident Claim

The post-accident investigation not only reveals the at-fault party but also provides evidence to prove their negligence. There are four elements of negligence, and your car accident lawyer will present arguments and evidence to prove each one.

Duty of Care

Another party can only be held responsible for damages if they owe you a duty of care–a legal obligation to support your safety. Drivers owe all others sharing the roads this duty. They must adhere to driving laws, avoid dangerous driving behaviors, and do whatever possible to avoid an accident.

Breach in Duty

You must show the other party failed to uphold their duty of care. This failure is called a “breach.” Drivers can breach their duty by texting while driving, drinking and driving, or driving too fast for conditions, among many other possibilities.

Causation

The other party’s breach of duty must be directly linked to your accident–you must prove it is the cause of the accident. A driver might T-bone you after running a red light. However, further investigation might show that the traffic light was defective and did not appear red to that driver. Or, they might have experienced a brake failure. In the first case, a government office could be culpable. In the second, the vehicle manufacturer may be.

Measurable Damages

You must show the accident caused by the negligent party’s breach of duty cost you quantifiable losses. Our team will conduct a painstaking analysis of the physical, financial, and emotional consequences of your accident and work to prove their value.

How Your Attorney Will Fight for Maximum Damages

Your car accident attorneys will explore every possible source of evidence when building your case. Count on us to:

  • Consult with accident reconstructionists, vehicle or other related experts
  • Access security, traffic, or dashcam footage
  • Get witness testimony
  • Analyze physical evidence from the accident scene
  • Consult with your medical team and other medical experts about the cause and effects of your injuries and your prognosis
  • Calculate lost wages and speak with your employer
  • Talk to you and your caregivers about how your life has changed since your accident
  • Review all your accident-related expenses

Once we have compiled evidence and compiled your losses, we will send a settlement demand to the at-fault party’s insurance company. Do not negotiate with an insurance company alone. Let us handle these discussions for you. 

An insurance company’s goal is to keep its payout as low as possible. Representatives may act fast to offer you a low settlement, claiming it is generous and the most you could possibly expect to collect. When you are in a vulnerable state, you might believe them–thinking you better take what you can get while you can. We know what your case is worth and will not fall for the insurance company’s strategies. We want to see you get the true financial justice you deserve.

Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. comprises skilled negotiators, but sometimes, the other side just refuses to cooperate. They may stall the process, fail to show up for scheduled meetings, or only make unacceptable offers. In this scenario, your car accident attorney will explain your options to you, laying out possible outcomes of settling or fighting in court. Should you opt to go to court, we will provide superior advocacy at every proceeding and continue the fight for justice. 

Damages Available to Car Accident Victims

Accident victims are typically eligible for economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover the financial costs incurred by the accident. These include medical bills and future care costs, lost income and projected lost wages and benefits for those unable to work again, the value of property damaged, and any other related expenses. 

Non-economic damages acknowledge victims’ physical debilitation and pain, disfigurement, emotional suffering, and reduced enjoyment of life. When the at-fault party’s negligence is especially abhorrent, you may have grounds to seek punitive damages. Punitive damages act as a punishment, demanding the at-fault party pay you an additional sum. 

Indiana’s negligence laws can affect the amount of compensation you collect. Indiana Code (IC) 34-51-2-6 gives victims less than 51% responsible for the accident clearance to fight for compensation. However, if the victims still bear a smaller percentage of fault, their compensation is reduced by that percentage.

Our team will work to protect you from unfair assignments of blame that could lower your compensation. And if your case merits punitive damages, we will fight for those as well. Our goal is to get you the highest settlement or trial verdict possible. 

We Are Committed to Your Fight for Justice

Many car accident victims do not know what to do after an accident. They are in pain, emotionally traumatized, and scared of what their future holds. They know they need compensation but are not sure how to get it. Start with contacting Theodoros & Rooth and our Car Accident Lawyer Michigan City IN law firm. 

You can call or send an electronic message to talk about your case for free. Once we enter a legal partnership, we take care of every legal aspect of your case and give you compassionate support along the way. Put your case in our hands, so you can keep your focus where it belongs–on recovering.