Car Accident Lawyers Near Me

Car Accident Lawyers Near Me

 

Managing a car accident case can be incredibly stressful. When you are doing so to recover compensation for injuries from the accident, you need an experienced car accident lawyers near me law firm by your side in Merrillville, Indiana. 

At Theodoros & Rooth P.C., we know that each situation is different, requiring an individualized approach to secure the compensation you need to recover and get back to enjoying your life. So when you need a car accident lawyer near you, look no further than Theodoros & Rooth P.C.

Theodoros & Rooth P.C. Provides Exceptional Representation

When you look for a car accident lawyer in Merrillville, IN, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by your options. In addition, the team at Theodoros & Rooth P.C. is guided by our pledge to our clients:

  • We strive to provide high-quality, prompt, and professional legal services
  • We only take cases we truly believe in 
  • We take a group approach to all of our cases, meaning you have the benefit of all 110 years of combined experience our team offers
  • We know that our clients come to us in challenging times, and we want them to rest assured that we are addressing their case. We endeavor to return calls promptly and provide regular follow-ups

In addition to these values that guide our day-to-day practices, our firm made the U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Law Firms” list in 2017. We are invested in our community, and this is evident by our involvement with food banks, fundraisers, and supporting local youth sports teams. 

Car Accidents in Northwest Indiana 

Car accidents in Merrillville, Indiana, may include collisions with trucks, bicycles, or pedestrians in addition to other cars. According to County Profiles for the most recent reporting year, Lake County experienced 56 fatal accidents and 318 with incapacitating injuries. 

This data does not show the smaller accidents that may not have been reported or reported accidents that caused significant but not incapacitating injuries. When we consider this, we see that accidents are a daily occurrence for Merrillville and the surrounding areas. 

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Merrillville, Indiana

Most car accidents have similar causes, and most often, the cause is driver error. Some of the more common causes our car accident attorneys in Merrillville, IN, see in cases we work with include:

  • Distracted driving 
  • Fatigued Driving
  • Speeding
  • Failure to yield 
  • Ignoring traffic signals 
  • Poor visibility

While distracted driving is a problem regarding the risk of accidents, it is also illegal in Indiana. The Indiana Department of Transportation explains that the state issued a no texting and driving law back in 2011, which was difficult to enforce. However, new, more enforceable legislation was signed into law in 2020 that blocks any use of a telecommunication device while driving.  

Theodoros & Rooth P.C. Handles Many Types of Car Accident Cases

Every car accident is not the same, and some types of damages are more common in certain situations compared to others. While factors such as speed and vehicle weight can affect the outcome of the accident, the point of collision is often an important part of the overall case. 

Rear-Ending 

In a rear-ending car accident, the vehicle behind you fails to stop or fails to stops appropriately, hitting the back of your vehicle. While rear-end collisions are often minor, they may be more severe when the vehicle is traveling at higher speeds or when it pushes you into the car in front of you.

T-Bone

In a T-bone accident, one vehicle strikes the other at a perpendicular angle. This may happen if someone runs a stoplight or stop sign or fails to watch for traffic when pulling out of a parking lot. The severity of the accident is often dependent on where the other vehicles make contact. For example, hitting the vehicle at the front or back may cause you to spin into other lanes of traffic. Similarly, a direct hit to your door may result in more significant injuries than a hit to the opposite side. 

Side-Swipe

Side swipes happen exactly as the name suggests, which is when the side of another vehicle swipes yours. These accidents often happen when someone fails to yield or check their blind spot when they attempt to merge. These may cause significant damage to your vehicle due to the larger area of contact, but the risk of injury can vary dramatically depending on which side the collision happens. 

Theodoros & Rooth P.C. Will Help You Determine Who is Liable for Your Merrillville Car Accident

Determining the responsible party in a car accident is integral to receiving a payout. A car accident attorney near you will investigate the accident to determine who is responsible. Some accidents may only have one responsible party, while many people or entities contribute to others. 

In many cases, the police will write a citation when they identify traffic law violations. While this citation does not officially determine fault in a car accident, it goes a long way to show negligent actions, especially if you did not receive a citation.

Regardless of whether the other driver was cited, our team will investigate your situation to determine whether other parties may be responsible for failing to address safety concerns, such as poor road conditions that can increase traffic accident risks in cases of poor road conditions or visibility issues due to vegetation overgrowth or inadequate landscaping. The city, state, or property owners may be responsible in part or completely. 

What if I am Partially Responsible for the Accident That Caused My Injuries?

There are many situations in which you may be partially at fault for your accident. However, according to Indiana’s contributory fault statute, you may still be eligible to recover compensation for your injuries as long as you were less than 51% responsible for your injuries. When you speak with a car accident attorney near you, they may be able to advise you on the situation and help you determine the level of fault you may assume. 

When you recover damages from an accident for which you are partially at fault, your compensation is decreased proportionately. For example, if you were speeding, but someone else ran a red light, insurance or the courts may determine you to be 10% at fault for the accident. If you recover $100,000 worth of damages, this will be reduced by your 10% liability, resulting in $90,000 of recovery. 

What Should I Do After a Car Accident?

The moments following a car accident may leave you feeling disoriented and unsure of what to do next. While every situation is unique, there are a couple of things that are relatively standard. 

Safety 

Your safety is the priority. Immediately following an accident, try to assess yourself for any obvious injuries. Following that, you may want to assess the environment for immediate concerns like fires or heavy traffic and check the well-being of others who may be involved. 

Next, ensure your vehicle is clearly identifiable and in a safe location. According to Progressive Insurance, you should turn your hazard lights on. If your vehicle is drivable, move it to the side of the road, as far away from traffic as possible. The Indiana Driver’s Manual further explains that you should not move your vehicle if the accident involves the transportation of hazardous materials, injury, or a fatality.  

Call 911

After this initial assessment, it is often advised to call 911 to keep yourself safe. This can help you in several ways. First, it can help you ensure that police and emergency medical services arrive to give medical support for any injuries and police to document the accident and write a report. 

You are not always required to report accidents in Indiana. However, Indiana State Code 9-26-1 requires drivers to report the accident in the event of injury, death, or significant property damage. This should be done as soon as possible after the accident. 

Take Photos

Photos can provide essential documentation to support your claim. You may benefit from taking photos of the vehicles, damaged property, and the area surrounding the accident. These can help the investigating attorney determine what happened and may provide evidence that corroborates your claim.

Gather Information 

Many accidents have witnesses who can provide statements about the accident. When the police show up at the scene, they may often speak with these individuals and may include statements in the police report. However, it can be helpful to gather this information yourself. It is also important to collect the other driver’s insurance information. 

When to Call a Car Accident Attorney Near You

Truthfully, you should consider consulting a car accident attorney as soon as you know that you have been injured in an accident. While a Theodoros & Rooth attorney may provide support at any stage of your case, the sooner you call, the more opportunity they have to recover evidence, strengthen your case, and help you avoid liability.

Many people feel that calling a car accident lawyer right away is an extreme move, electing to handle insurance claims on their own. While Indiana does not have laws that require you to obtain representation, an attorney can often help you recover more than you would on your own. Insurance companies have a singular goal of minimizing payouts, and if you do not have experience navigating their strategies, it can hurt your compensation recovery.  

If you feel like the insurance company is not taking you seriously, lowballing your offers, or otherwise taking advantage of you, this may be accurate. If this is the case, it is time to contact an attorney to show them you are serious about your recovery. At Theodoros & Rooth P.C., we are not afraid to take cases to court if necessary to recover the compensation you deserve. 

Common Injuries After a Car Accident

Car accidents can cause injuries that range from whiplash to permanent brain injuries or death. Each case is different, but some of the injuries our team addresses with our Ross Township injury victims include the following:

  • Soft tissue damage
  • Broken bones 
  • Internal bleeding 
  • Traumatic brain injury 
  • Spinal cord injury 
  • Lacerations 
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Any car accident has the potential to cause severe injuries, and soft tissue injuries may go overlooked at first without medical evaluation. Regardless of the injuries you think you may or may not have, it is critical to get assessed by a medical provider. 

Compensation Available in Your Car Accident Case 

The purpose of most insurance claims and lawsuits is to recover the costs associated with your injuries by claiming compensation through damages. The type and value of what you claim are heavily dependent on your injuries and circumstances. Some damages are meant to cover actual expenses, while others cover more non-tangible values. However, some of the more common damages include:

  • Medical bills 
  • Lost wages
  • Vehicle repair costs 
  • Pain and Suffering 
  • Lowered quality of life 
  • Disfigurement 

If the judge determines the responsible party behaved with particular recklessness or malice, they may face punitive damages as an additional deterrent. According to 34.51.3, Indiana law allows the courts to award punitive damages with a maximum of three times the amount of other awarded damages or $50,000. However, because they are intended as a punishment for poor behavior and not as compensatory damages to the injury victim, the punitive damages statute requires a percentage of the payout to be allocated to the violent crime victims fund. 

Call Our Merrillville Car Accident Lawyers Near Me Law Firm for the Legal Support You Deserve in Merrillville, IN. 

Your road to recovery after a car accident can be fraught with pain, anxiety, and stress. Managing an insurance claim can take valuable emotional and financial resources that could be allocated to your recovery. You do not have to negotiate with an insurance company alone. In fact, we generally advise against it. 

Our car accident lawyers at Theodoros & Rooth P.C. are committed to providing transparent and effective legal services. We want our clients to have peace of mind knowing that their cases are in dedicated and capable hands. You can bet the insurance company has lawyers on its side, and you deserve the same advocacy.  

So contact us today to get the legal support you deserve.