Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers

Motor vehicle accidents can be a terrifying and traumatic experience. They have the potential to cause significant injury, profound lifestyle impacts, and excessive financial strain. When you or a loved one have been in an accident and are facing the hardships that can follow it, a motor vehicle accident lawyer can be your advocate and get you results.

At Theodoros and Rooth, we cover many types of motor vehicle accidents, including car, truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents. With more than 100 years of combined experience, our seasoned team implements the most effective strategies to get you maximum compensation. Our Northwest Indiana motor vehicle accident lawyers from our team advocates on your behalf to protect your voice and your rights.

Distressing Statistics Highlight Roadway Dangers

During the most recent crash report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), they reported that a person died every 12 minutes in a car accident, while five people suffered injuries every minute. In total, for the year, there were 5,930,496 traffic accidents, which resulted in 42,514 fatalities and 2,382,771 injuries.

In Indiana, vehicle fatalities have continued to steadily rise in recent years, according to the Indiana University Public Policy Institute crash facts report. In contrast, non-fatal injuries experienced a decrease but are on the rise again. The majority of accidents occurred in urban and suburban areas. Additionally, Lake County — where Merrillville is located — is ranked second for highest number of total collisions in the state.

These staggering numbers highlight the problems on our roadways each and every day, and how many lives are affected by car crashes every year. With the frequency at which accidents occur, it is important to hire a skilled lawyer for representation.

Contributing Factors in Vehicle Accidents

Everyday drivers face various conditions and hazards on the road. These can be environmental, mechanical, or human. Drivers must remain alert and drive defensively in order to prevent accidents from occurring.

Because there are a wide array of variables on the roadways, there can be many factors that can contribute to a motor vehicle accident. Some common causes of accidents include:

Drunk driving
Distracted driving
Drug use
Speeding
Phone usage
Weather conditions
Road conditions
Fatigue
Defective vehicle equipment
Failure to observe traffic signals, signs, and other rules

Many of these causes can be prevented with the proper care and attention to the road, other drivers, and pedestrians. When a driver or pedestrian fails to follow proper rules and behave in a reasonably cautious manner, they may hurt others because of their negligence and can be held liable as a result.

The Relationship Between Vehicle Size and Accidents

Car size can significantly impact the outcome of a vehicle accident. Some of the most dangerous car models in a car accident include sports cars, small cars, compact-sized pickup trucks, and subcompact-sized SUVs. Their size can make them more susceptible to severe injuries and rollovers. They can be particularly dangerous in accidents involving semi-trucks, especially if the smaller vehicle collides in the truck’s underride area. Small cars may also be less visible to some vehicles.

Types of Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries in Indiana

Injuries are a common occurrence in motor vehicle accidents. The impact of the collision and level of trauma can significantly impact the extent of injuries that a vehicle occupant or pedestrian may suffer. Some common accident injuries include:

Whiplash
Internal bleeding
Organ damage
Concussion
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Broken bones
Muscle strains and sprains
Neurological damage
Abdominal injuries
Tissue damage
Lacerations
Bruising
Disability
Paralysis
Wrongful death

While many injuries may show up immediately after an accident occurs, a number of injuries may also be delayed due to adrenaline and/or the depth of the injury. As such, it is important to seek medical attention right away after an accident to assess the true extent of your injuries. This is especially true for head and internal injuries, as they are not always readily apparent and can show up after the fact. It is also important to monitor your symptoms in the days and weeks following the accident and talk to your doctor if new injuries develop or if existing ones become worse.

Protect Yourself by Taking the Right Steps After an Accident

It is normal to feel shaken and uncertain about what to do following a motor vehicle accident. However, the steps you take at this moment can ensure your safety and your rights in the coming days, weeks, and months. When you have been in an accident, you should take the following steps:

Call 911: Contact first responders to receive quick medical attention and police presence.

Seek medical attention: Receive an examination by medical professionals to assess the extent of your injuries and receive treatment as needed.

File a police report and request a copy: File a police report to ensure there is an official record of the accident, which can also be used as evidence. Request a copy of the completed report to have for your records and provide it to your insurance company and attorney.

Gather evidence: Gather your own evidence, if possible, to supplement the evidence gathered by police officers. Take videos and pictures of the car crash to document vehicle damage, debris, skid marks, traffic signs, signals, and license plates. If you can, also gather statements from any witnesses in the area.

Exchange information: Exchange contact information, driver’s license and license plate information, and insurance policy information with the other driver.

Contact your insurance company: Report the accident to your insurance company and file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, as they are responsible for providing compensation for your losses.

Hire a motor vehicle accident law firm: Hire legal representation to ensure you receive fair treatment and have someone to negotiate on your behalf. They will also help navigate obstacles you may face with insurance companies.

How Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers Near Me Can Help

Lawyers for motor vehicle accidents in Merrillville, IN have extensive experience navigating the many nuances and complexities that arise during the process of seeking compensation for injuries and losses. They use their intimate knowledge of the legal process and system to develop solid cases that are designed to get maximum results for clients. They fight to protect client rights and aggressively negotiate fair treatment for them.

Motor vehicle accident law firms provide clients with dedicated services that are designed to help ease their burden and get them back on their feet. To accomplish this, lawyers will seek to thoroughly understand every detail of your case so they can provide effective representation. They will go over potential strategies to determine the ones that work best. They will also review evidence and gather additional evidence as needed to best support claims. Finally, while they seek swift and peaceable resolutions to such cases, they are equipped and ready to go to court to ensure sufficient compensation.

Insurance Companies and the Benefits of Legal Representation

While insurance companies are a necessary part of the recovery process after an accident, they will often avoid paying fair settlements when they can. Insurance adjusters may act in bad faith by delaying payment, putting the responsibility back on you, denying your claim on a technicality, and taking other actions to avoid paying you altogether. It is important, and in your best interest, that you do not negotiate with an insurance company alone.

An experienced motor vehicle accident attorney in Merrillville, IN can force insurance companies to take you seriously and pay you a settlement that is fair and sufficiently covers the extent of your losses. A lawyer understands the best ways to negotiate and communicate with insurance companies. They also understand that insurance companies may be eager to close your case before you know the full extent of your injuries, and they can ensure you do not settle too soon.

How Indiana Negligence and Fault Laws Can Impact Your Case

Negligence and fault are two key components in any motor vehicle accident case. Both must be established as part of the burden of proof required to determine liability and damages owed.

Since negligence is often at the root of such an accident, motor vehicle accident lawyers must establish the standard of negligence to support your claim for compensation. They must demonstrate the following:

Duty of Care: The driver was obligated to act in a reasonably safe manner to prevent harm and protect those in the vicinity.
Breach of Duty: The driver failed in their duty by acting in a way that was not reasonable, and their actions led to others being harmed.
Causation: The driver’s failure to prevent harm was the direct cause of your injuries, which would not have happened if more care was taken.

Damages: Once causation has been determined, the driver responsible for causing injury is held liable for your injuries and is required to compensate you for the losses they caused.

Additionally, determining fault in a car accident is important to discovering causation and determining the extent of damages that are needed in a motor vehicle accident case. According to Indiana Civil Law and Procedure 34-51-2-5 and 34-51-2-6, fault is determined by determining each party’s contribution to the accident and reducing their compensation in proportion to the amount of fault they own for the accident. While each party can receive damages, any party who is responsible for 51% or more of the accident is barred from receiving any compensation.

How Much Can You Recover for Your Losses

Settlements for motor vehicle accidents can vary widely since there are a myriad of factors at play. The cause of the accident, the level of injury, and the level of negligence can all impact how much compensation you may receive, and it can be hard to estimate an average settlement as a result. However, there are still a variety of losses that you can recoup through monetary compensation.

The goal of damages is to provide you with the means and financial resources to get you back to a state of wholeness as much as possible. While it cannot undo the harm that was caused and the losses you suffered, it can reduce your stress and give you peace of mind that your expenses will be covered. Common losses you can be compensated for after a motor vehicle accident include:

Economic damages: Compensation for the monetary losses you have suffered or incurred as a result of the accident. This can cover your costs for emergency care, lab and diagnostic tests, rehabilitation and therapy services, medications, future treatments, lost income, and damage to property.
Non-economic damages: Compensation for trauma and lifestyle changes you have suffered. This can include your emotional distress, pain and suffering, changes in your quality of life, lost enjoyment, lost companionship, lost consortium, PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Punitive damages: Compensation that is used in rare and specific cases where an egregious wrong was committed and profound or irreparable harm was caused. The additional compensation is designed to cover additional losses and expenses. It also punishes the offending party and aims to deter them from engaging in similar behavior in the future.

To determine the value of your losses, it is important to seek out the help of an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer. They can review your financial costs and the negative effects on your life to calculate a sum to cover these losses. They will also be able to provide counsel on what types of damages you may be entitled to receive when you file a claim.

Theodoros and Rooth, P.C. Prioritize Your Case

Theodoros and Rooth, P.C. are committed to providing client-focused representation to help you through the difficult aftermath of a motor vehicle accident. Our motor vehicle accident attorneys pledge to provide excellent and compassionate services while working tirelessly to resolve your case as swiftly as possible. When you contact us to schedule your free consultation, you will receive a team that listens to you and puts you first as you pursue justice and restitution for your losses.