Crown Point Personal Injury Attorney

No one goes about their day expecting to suffer an accident. But one moment of negligence by another person can suddenly leave you injured and dealing with extensive losses. When these accidents disrupt your life, a Crown Point personal injury lawyer can help you pursue a personal injury claim and get results.

Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. walk beside you during a difficult time and provide you with the kind and exceptional service you deserve. We do not stop fighting for you and are dedicated to getting you fair compensation to ease the difficulties you are facing. With the aid of a seasoned Crown Point personal injury attorney, you can get justice for the wrong that was committed against you.

What is a Personal Injury Accident

Personal injury accidents are based upon the premise that one party suffered injuries because another party’s negligent actions caused an accident. These types of accidents would often be preventable with additional attention and safety precautions.

When an individual has been the victim of negligence, they may have the right to sue the individual responsible for causing them harm. A personal injury claim is used to hold the negligent party accountable and recover your own losses through compensation. There are several causes of negligence-based accidents, so it is important to have an experienced personal injury attorney to help you through the legal process and navigate on your behalf.

Personal Injury Accidents by the Numbers

Thousands of unintentional accidents happen every year that result in injury or death. The National Safety Council reported 227,039 preventable injury deaths during their most recent report. They also reported that there were 63,000,000 preventable injuries that individuals sought medical attention for during the same time frame. These numbers highlight the risks individuals face every day and the need for support when an accident occurs.

Types of Personal Injury Accidents

Personal injury lawyers possess extensive knowledge about the various laws, requirements, and nuances that come with different accidents. They are able to effectively adapt to different cases as needed and provide trusted, seasoned counsel for a wide range of needs and cases.

While negligence is still the underlying cause, there are several types of injuries and accidents that fall under personal injury law, each requiring its own special considerations. Some common personal injury accidents that Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. represent include:

The Impact of Injuries in an Accident

Injuries from an accident can have profound effects on those who have been injured. While some individuals may have minor injuries that heal up within a few weeks, others may have severe injuries that can affect mobility, faculties, and other important functions. These injuries can leave individuals struggling to engage in their normal, everyday activities or keep up with the cost of medical care. Injuries from an accident can be overwhelming and include some of the following conditions;

Whiplash
Lacerations, sprains, strains, and/or broken bones
Traumatic brain injuries
Neck, spine, and/or back injuries
Hip injuries
Internal bleeding and/or organ damage
Tissue and nerve damage
Disability, paralysis, and/or disfigurement
Burn injuries
PTSD
Death

With so many types of injuries a person could suffer, it is important to be looked at by a doctor after an accident. There are many variables that can affect injuries, and not all conditions may be outwardly noticeable. Discovering internal or head injuries may require tests in order to diagnose and treat the condition. It is also important to contact your doctor if you see new injuries appear or if your condition declines at any point after your initial treatment.

What to do After a Personal Injury Accident in Crown Point

Personal injury accidents are often disorienting and overwhelming. Not only are you caught off guard by the accident itself, but you may be dazed and in pain afterward and not sure what to do next. Knowing what you should do after an accident, though, can help you in the long run. The steps you take right after an accident can ensure your health, streamline your claim process, and result in a more favorable outcome. Below are a few actions you can take to protect your claim.

Receive Medical Treatment: Prompt medical treatment can save your life after an accident, and it is vital that you have a doctor examine you. You should also keep records and bills to use later as evidence.

Request a Police Report: A police report creates an official record of the accident and its details. Ensure that one is filed right after the accident, and request a copy of the completed report. Insurance companies and your lawyer will review the report.

Exchange Information With Other Parties Involved: You must exchange information with any other parties involved in the accident. This includes your contact, vehicle, and insurance information. This information will be needed when filing an insurance claim.

Collect Evidence: The more evidence you have, the stronger your claim and the better the outcome of your case. In addition to the police report, it is also recommended that you gather your own evidence. Take photos and videos of the scene of the accident, and get witness statements if possible.

Contact the Insurance Companies: File a claim with the offending party’s insurance company so they can compensate you for your injuries and losses. You should also notify your insurance company as well so they are aware of the accident.

Hire a Crown Point Personal Injury Attorney: A lawyer can help you deal with insurance companies to ensure fair treatment. They can also help you file a claim if necessary.

Personal Injury Accidents and Insurance Companies

When protecting the outcome of your claim, it is important that you do not negotiate with an insurance company alone. You should have a lawyer on your side to speak on your behalf so your rights and interests are safeguarded against their tactics.

Insurance companies do not have your best interests at heart when they are processing your claim. They often try to protect their bottom line by offering you as little as possible, and that is if they do not try to outright deny your claim in the first place. Insurance companies may also try to get you to take a settlement offer before you know the full extent of your accident costs, which can leave you with uncovered expenses.

Your lawyer understands the tactics insurance companies use and knows how to speak their language. They can communicate your needs in a way that makes insurance companies take you seriously. A lawyer has well-honed negotiation skills and is strategic in their efforts to get you a fair settlement.

Mitigate Your Losses With Compensation

Regardless of what kind of accident you have suffered, recovering your losses is important to soften the blow you have been dealt. Damages offset your financial losses, as well as your pain and suffering, so you do not have to worry about how to pay for your losses or how to get the care you need. Different types of damages cover different losses and can include the following:

Economic damages focuses on the losses you have suffered that have a financial value. They can include losses like medical expenses, damage to your property and personal belongings, and lost wages. This type of damages is often calculated by adding up each monetary loss to reach the total value of these losses.

Non-economic damages focuses on the intangible losses of your pain and suffering. These types of damages cover your emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment or quality of life, and loss of companionship or consortium. These losses are typically calculated by multiplying the value of your economic damages by a number between 1.5 and 5 to determine the amount of non-economic damages. The multiplier reflects the severity of the injuries you have suffered.

Punitive damages are used only in specific cases where excessive gross negligence or malice leads to extreme losses. A judge may use punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer for their actions by making them pay you additional compensation for the severity of your losses.

The value of a settlement can vary depending on a variety of factors. The severity of your injuries, the types of losses you suffered, the level of fault, and more can each impact the outcome of your case and what damages you can claim. To understand how much your settlement could be worth, it is important to talk with a lawyer. They will help you determine what losses you have and help you calculate them to estimate a fair settlement amount.

Statute of Limitations for Seeking Damages

When seeking damages for your case, you have a limited time to pursue compensation before you are barred from recovery. According to Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4(a), personal injury victims have two years to file their claim. Talking to your lawyer can help you understand how much time you have left before the statute of limitations expires, what your options are for your case, and the strength of your claim.

Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer Helps You Get Results

At times, it can be hard to know if you need a personal injury attorney. If your injuries are minor, or you are not sure if negligence was a factor in your accident, it may seem easier to handle your case yourself. However, insurance companies may not be helpful, and you may not get the best results.

With so many types of accidents and variables, it is important to hire a personal injury attorney in Crown Point who knows how to handle each type of situation. They can help you negotiate with the insurance companies and go a step beyond if you want to file a lawsuit against the party who hurt you.

When you hire a lawyer to represent you, you will begin by laying out your situation in detail so they can evaluate your case and advise on what steps to take. They will also investigate the case further to see what additional evidence can be collected to support your claim. With a thorough understanding of your case, they can develop a strong strategy to get you results.

Negligence and Modified Comparative Fault in Personal Injury Cases

When pursuing a personal injury claim, the burden of proof is on you to show that the other party acted negligently. As such, your lawyer will work with you to gather evidence that they can use to satisfy the standard of negligence needed to win your case. They will demonstrate that the offending party owed you a duty of care to protect you from harm and breached that duty when they did not show reasonable care in preventing your injuries. Your lawyer will go on to link their actions to your injuries and hold them liable for your damages.

When looking at the actions that led to the accident, each party’s role is examined, especially if more than one party is involved. Indiana has modified comparative negligence laws that are laid out in Indiana Code § 34-51-2-5 and Indiana Code § 34-51-2-6. These laws assign percentages from 0-100% to each party to represent their level of fault. As long as an individual is not more than 50% at fault for the accident, they can recover damages in proportion to their level of fault. That means if they were found to be 20% at fault, their maximum amount of damages may be reduced by 20%.

Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. Guard Your Legal Rights

Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. are committed to protecting your rights after a personal injury accident. We help you to get the justice you seek and the compensation you need to be able to heal and move forward. We fight for you every step of the way. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and learn more about our team and the results we can get for you.