Injury Attorney Lake County IN

Personal injury accidents can take many forms, but each one can cause significant losses and life changes for victims. These accidents are often caused by the actions or lack of action by others, and they can be held liable as a result. When an accident turns your life upside down, a Lake County injury lawyer can help cut through the chaos and help you find stability and support during a difficult time.

Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. is ready to stand up and advocate for you when you have been injured by another person or entity. With more than 100 years of combined experience, our team can skillfully handle a wide variety of complex cases. Our Injury Attorney Lake County IN law firm can protect your rights and secure the results you need. We are your guardians of justice and are ready to help you navigate the process ahead. 

Personal Injury Cases Defined

When another party acts in a negligent manner and hurts you or a loved one as a result, you have the right to file a personal injury claim. A personal injury case allows you to hold the other party responsible for the harm they caused you while pursuing compensation to recover your losses and get the resources you need to face the future. This type of legal action ensures you do not have to deal with injuries and financial expenses alone. 

Types of Cases Injury Lawyers in Lake County, IN Can Help You With

Personal injury is a broad area of the law that encompasses a wide range of accidents that are each caused by negligence. These accidents often have a profound impact on the lives they affect, and they can produce incredible financial strain. If you or a loved one have been the victim of any of the types of accidents listed below, Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. can represent you:

Accident Injuries Vary Widely

Personal injury accidents can result in a wide range of injuries. Some may be short-lived and heal quickly, while others can become a permanent part of a victim’s everyday life. Depending on the nature and severity of the injury, a victim may need extensive medical care to treat or manage their condition. Some common types of injuries that an individual could sustain include:

  • Whiplash
  • Lacerations and contusions
  • Broken bones
  • Muscle sprains and strains
  • Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
  • Neck injuries
  • Shoulder injuries
  • Back and spine injuries
  • Hip injuries
  • Nerve damage
  • Internal bleeding and damage
  • Disability, disfigurement, paralysis
  • PTSD, anxiety, depression, insomnia
  • Emotional and mental distress
  • Burn injuries
  • Catastrophic injuries
  • Death

While these injuries could occur in any number of accidents, certain types of injuries may be more closely associated with specific types of accidents. For example, hip injuries are more likely to occur in slip-and-fall accidents, while burn injuries may be linked more to construction accidents or defective products. Regardless of what specific injuries you are suffering from, though, it is important to seek out medical attention immediately and continue to monitor your condition as you heal. 

Steps to Streamline the Claim Process After a Personal Injury Accident

Regardless of what type of personal injury accident you may have suffered, there are a few steps that are important to take right after an accident. These give you the best chance at a favorable outcome and ensure your safety and physical recovery. Following these steps can reduce the overwhelm you may feel and help avoid delays in any claims you file:

 

  • Get medical care immediately: Check to ensure your immediate safety and call 911. Receive medical attention promptly when first responders arrive, and continue to get medical care until a doctor gives you the all-clear. 

 

  • File a police report: Police reports are official records that document the event and should be filed as soon as possible. You should request a copy of the report for your records and use it as evidence in an insurance or personal injury claim. 

 

  • Swap information with other parties involved: Exchange information with all parties involved, as it will be needed during the claim process. You should share contact and insurance company information with each party. In the event of a car-related accident, vehicle information should also be shared. 

 

  • Collect evidence for your claim: Take photos and videos of the scene of the accident to show the resulting damage, any environmental factors, and your injuries. You should also collect witness statements if possible. 

 

  • Hire a lawyer in Lake County, IN: Hire a lawyer to advocate and fight for you throughout the rest of the process. They will ensure you are treated fairly and help you recover maximum compensation.

 

  • Contact the insurance company: File a claim with the insurance company of the party who caused your injuries. You should also contact your own insurance company to make them aware of the situation. 

Let Your Lawyer Handle the Insurance Company

While insurance is likely to be your first course of action after an accident of any kind, it is essential to hire a lawyer immediately and avoid negotiating with an insurance company alone. Insurance companies do not have your best interests at heart when they are making you a settlement offer. Their first offer will likely be low, and they may try to pay you before your losses are fully known. 

However, your lawyer understands how to effectively communicate with insurance companies and can negotiate a fair offer that is better suited to your needs. They will take this task off of your shoulders and fight to ensure the insurance company does not try to deny your claim. If negotiations with the insurance company do not yield results, then you may be able to file a personal injury claim to get compensation. 

Establishing Negligence in an Injury Accident in Lake County, IN

Negligence is at the heart of all personal injury cases because it is often the cause of an accident. However, before you can recover any of your losses, you must establish the other party’s negligence to show that they were indeed at fault. Since the burden of proof is on you, your lawyer will help you gather the evidence you need and fulfill the standard of negligence requirement in your case, which has four parts:

  • Duty of care: Another party had a responsibility to reasonably avoid causing harm to others.

 

  • Breach of duty: The other party disregarded their responsibility to those around them.

 

  • Causation: Because of their failure to take proper precautionary steps, they caused an accident and the injuries you sustained.

 

  • Damages: The party who is at fault must pay you damages for the harm that they caused you. 

Establishing negligence is not always straightforward and can be very challenging at times. This is especially true when a clear cause may not be easily identifiable or there are multiple parties involved. This is why it is important to allow seasoned injury attorneys to handle your case; they know how to sort through the many layers of an accident and find the root cause.  

When more than one party is responsible for an accident, each party’s contribution to the accident will be closely examined. According to IC 34-51-2-5 and IC 34-51-2-6, each party may be eligible to recover compensation that is reduced in proportion to the amount of fault they were responsible for in the accident. However, a party who is responsible for more than 50% of the accident may be barred from recovering any compensation despite the losses they may have also sustained. 

Compensation Provides Significant Relief After a Personal Injury Accident in Lake County, IN

Damages are awarded after the legal requirements have been satisfied in a personal injury claim. You may be able to claim these damages through insurance claims as well. This compensation is designed to offset the cost of your losses and provide you with some monetary relief while you try to get back on your feet after an accident. While not all of your losses are financial, damages provide restitution in the face of injustice. You may be able to claim some or all of the following: 

 

  • Economic damages allow you to recover the financial losses you have suffered in the wake of an accident. This often includes a whole host of medical expenses, the cost to repair or replace property and personal belongings, lost income from being unable to work, and funeral and burial expenses in the event of death. 

 

  • Non-economic damages are financial provisions for your intangible losses that are likely to affect your day-to-day life. These often result from the trauma you have suffered. These losses often include pain and suffering, emotional and mental distress, loss of quality of life and enjoyment, and loss of companionship and/or consortium. 

 

  • Punitive damages allow you to recover extra compensation for extreme losses in instances where the offending party committed gross negligence or acted in malice when they caused the accident that injured you. Punitive damages also serve to punish the at-fault party and deter them from engaging in such behavior in the future. 

Every case is unique, and what you may be able to collect in a settlement is likely to be different from that of the next client. To truly understand the value of your settlement, it is essential to talk with an injury attorney in Lake County, IN who can accurately assess what your case is worth. Once they have identified all of your losses and thoroughly evaluated them, they can calculate them to determine what the financial need is in your situation. Your lawyer will then negotiate on your behalf to secure a settlement or verdict that meets your particular needs. 

Talk to Your Lawyer About Your Case Promptly

In general, Indiana provides injury victims two years from the time of an accident to file a claim to recover damages, according to IC 34-11-2-4. However, some types of personal injury accidents may follow other time limits. As such, it is vital to not delay in talking with your lawyer. Missing your window of time to file your claim could result in forfeiting all rights to recover the losses you have sustained. 

Receive Customized Representation from Experienced Lawyers

Trying to find a lawyer can feel like one more thing on your plate when you are dealing with so much after a personal injury accident. You may even question whether or not you need a personal injury attorney. Individuals who hire a lawyer, though, receive much higher settlements than they would if they were without the aid of representation. Highly skilled injury lawyers in Lake County, IN have the knowledge it takes to get the kind of results you need. They will also draft the appropriate documents and ensure they are filed correctly and in a timely manner so you do not have to worry about it. 

A lawyer will be your ally and advocate as they guide you through the legal process. To ensure you have a strong case and sufficient evidence for your claim, they will carefully review your situation and conduct in-depth investigations that will provide valuable insights into your case. This information will help direct their recommendations, course of action, strategies, and more as they tailor their approach to your specific needs. They will also provide additional support by recommending resources that will help you on your road to recovery.

Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. Fights On Your Behalf

Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. will provide you with the compassionate care, trusted counsel, and aggressive representation you deserve when you are dealing with the consequences of another person’s negligence. We understand how difficult this time is for you, and we will not let you suffer alone. Our team is ready to secure maximum results for you so you can reclaim your future. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and learn more about us and how we can get justice for you.