Personal Injury Lawyer Michigan City, IN

Personal Injury Lawyer Michigan City IN

 

After a serious accident, you may be worried about paying your medical bills and whether or not you’ll be able to work again. In these kinds of situations, you need our skilled personal injury lawyer Michigan City IN law firm who can answer all of your questions and be a great advocate for your case. That’s where the team at Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. can help.

With more than 75 years of combined experience, our team is ready to fight for you and your family. To get a free case review with trusted personal injury lawyers near Michigan City, IN, contact our law firm today. You can also reach our office serving LaPorte County by calling (219) 883-2852.

Understanding Personal Injury Lawsuits

Personal injury law covers various situations in which someone suffers harm due to another party’s negligence or misconduct. For a personal injury lawsuit to be successful, our lawyers must demonstrate these key elements:

  • Duty of Care: The at-fault party had a legal duty to keep you safe.
  • Breach of Duty: The at-fault party failed, in some way, to uphold your safety.
  • Direct Causation: The at-fault party’s breach of duty was the cause of the accident and any subsequent injuries.
  • Damages: You sustained measurable losses because of the accident and the effects of your injuries.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Indiana?

Per Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4, you typically have two years from the date of an injury or accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Once that two-year statute of limitations has passed, you will no longer be able to seek legal action even if you have a legitimate claim.

Keep in mind that there are exceptions to the two-year deadline. For example, if your accident involved a government official or entity, you might have a shorter amount of time to seek legal action. If you’re badly hurt in Michigan City, it’s best to speak with personal injury lawyers nearby as soon as possible. Getting the litigation process started early means prompt preservation of evidence and potentially better legal outcomes.

Can I File a Lawsuit If I Was Partly at Fault in an Accident?

Yes. Many people avoid taking legal action because they were partially to blame for an accident, yet you can still seek damages if you share some fault. This is because Indiana is a comparative fault state.

Per Indiana Code § 34-51-2-5, you can still seek compensation after an accident or injury as long as you were 50% or less at fault. The percentage of your liability will be deducted from the amount of compensation you are awarded.

For example, say that you were in a major car accident in LaPorte County just off Highway 20. You are awarded $100,000 in damages by a jury, but you were also 15% responsible for what happened. Because of Indiana’s comparative fault laws, you would still receive $85,000.

Why Choose Theodoros & Rooth P.C. for Your Personal Injury Case

After a major accident in the Michigan City area, you can count on the personal injury lawyers at Theodoros & Rooth, P.C.

  • We’ve Represented the Injured Since 1988: Our law firm is an established name in the community, and we’re proud to serve clients all over Northwest Indiana.
  • More Than 75 Years of Combined Legal Experience: Our personal injury lawyers have decades of combined legal experience.
  • Professional Recognition for Excellence: We’ve received Best Law Firms recognition from Best Lawyers, and our attorneys have received high ratings and professional accolades through Martindale-Hubbell and Indiana Super Lawyers.
  • Free Consultations: Initial consultations are free of charge and completely confidential. Get professional legal guidance about your injuries without having to worry about a bill.
  • 24/7 Availability: Don’t hesitate to call us at any time of the day. A member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible to help address your concerns and provide peace of mind.

Act quickly. If you’ve been seriously hurt because of another person or party’s negligence, you can count on us for strong legal advocacy. For a free consultation with trusted attorneys who fight for the people of Northwest Indiana, contact Theodoros & Rooth P.C. today. You can also reach our personal injury attorneys serving Michigan City by phone at (219) 883-2852.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

At Theodoros & Rooth, P.C., we can handle all kinds of cases that involve motor vehicle collisions, catastrophic injuries, negligence by medical professionals, and fatal accidents. You can trust our lawyers near Michigan City for help with your personal injury litigation matters.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

When auto accidents happen around Michigan City, most people think of U.S. Highway 20. There’s a reason locals call it the Bloody 20, yet crashes can happen throughout the area. Even if you’re driving attentively on Highway 12 or Highway 421, there’s a risk of a major collision if another driver is not attentive. 

The personal injury attorneys at Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. can help you if you’ve been seriously hurt in a collision around LaPorte County.

  • Car Accidents: Car crashes can happen on local highways as well as surface streets as you’re going around town. If another driver is drunk, texting, or fails to check their rearview mirror, they could hit your car, pickup, or SUV and cause severe injuries.
  • Motorcycle Accidents: Motorcyclists are extremely vulnerable to harm whenever they’re on the road, even if they’re wearing a helmet and protective gear. Major crashes can cause broken bones, biker’s arm, and a host of major injuries.
  • Truck Accidents: Tractor-trailers are a common sight along I-90 and I-94. While many truck drivers are careful behind the wheel, long hours of driving and major blind spots around their 18-wheeler could contribute to devastating multi-lane accidents.
  • Uber & Lyft Accidents: Rideshare apps make getting around Michigan City a little easier. If you’re involved in an accident with an Uber or Lyft, our personal injury attorneys can help you navigate some potentially complicated insurance and liability laws.
  • Bicycle Accidents: Cycling around Michigan City can be fun, but a reckless or inattentive driver can cause severe injuries. Our attorneys are ready to hold motorists accountable when they harm bicyclists sharing the road.
  • Pedestrian Accidents: Pedestrians need to be careful whenever crossing the street, especially at night or in low-visibility conditions. If you get hit by a negligent driver while at an intersection or otherwise safely crossing the road, our attorneys can hold that driver accountable.
  • Boating Accidents: In addition to accidents involving automobiles, our law firm can also assist with boat accidents and crashes involving water vessels. We’re here to help people who were hurt while visiting Washington Park Beach, Long Beach, Duneland Beach, or other lakefronts along Lake Michigan.

Premises Liability Claims

Premises liability claims cover all kinds of slip, trip, or fall accidents, whether they happen at an Al’s Supermarket or an ALDI. These kinds of cases also cover exposure to any toxic or otherwise harmful substances on a property, electrocutions due to exposed wiring, and even a lack of security that would have prevented entry by an intruder or other potential dangers.

Product Liability

Defective products take many forms. A new car may have major structural flaws that make accidents more likely, or problems with safety features may lead to more serious injuries. Consumer electronics may be prone to fires or electrocution. Children’s toys may pose a choking hazard or be made with harmful materials. We can hold companies accountable when their product hurts consumers here in Indiana.

Construction Accidents

As Northwest Indiana expands, it’s natural to see more construction projects. The team at Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. can help construction workers file third-party injury claims to help supplement workers’ compensation benefits. We can also help bystanders who were injured while in the vicinity of a construction site.

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Nursing homes should be providing great care for our seniors. Sadly, there are plenty of cases involving mistreatment at assisted-living facilities and senior communities throughout Northwest Indiana. Our attorneys can help you protect an elderly loved one if you suspect any abuse, neglect, or misconduct by the staff at a local nursing home.

Medical Malpractice

If you received substandard medical care at a hospital or clinic in Michigan City, our personal injury lawyers can help you hold individual doctors or the medical facility itself accountable.

  • Misdianosis and Failure to Diagnose: When doctors fail to properly diagnose a patient’s illness, it could lead to severe health complications or the inability to treat the condition. Our lawyers are ready to hold negligent GPs and specialists accountable.
  • Surgical Errors: Surgical mistakes can include operating on the wrong part of the body, performing an unnecessary surgical procedure, and errors involving anesthesia. When surgeons and anesthesiologists make mistakes, our law firm is here to hold them accountable.
  • Negligent Post-Op Care: Proper care after surgery is just as important as the surgical procedure itself. Poor follow-up visits, lack of post-op instructions, and failing to catch signs of post-surgery blood clots are all grounds for medical malpractice lawsuits.
  • Birth Injuries: We count on delivery room personnel to protect mothers, the unborn, and newborns. When these medical care providers fail to perform a C-section, check for signs of fetal distress, or injure a newborn baby, they can be held liable for causing birth injuries.
  • Medication Errors: Patients expect doctors to be diligent when prescribing drugs, checking for potential allergies as well as contraindications with other medications. We also count on pharmacists to keep us safe. When medication errors happen or pharmacies in Northwest Indiana make mistakes, our lawyers are here to help you.

Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries are severe injuries that have a long-term or permanent impact on a person’s life. These injuries often result in disabilities that affect a person’s life and livelihood. Our personal injury attorneys serving Michigan City can help you seek damages to help cover your past and current medical bills as well as future treatment expenses.

  • Spinal Cord Injury (SCI): Major injuries to the spine can cause partial paralysis, paraplegia, or quadriplegia. Accident survivors will require a wheelchair for mobility for the rest of their lives.
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Severe brain damage can cause serious difficulties with memory, mood, speech, motor skills, and cognition that affect daily life.
  • Loss of Limbs: If you lose a limb or multiple limbs in an accident, it will affect your career as well as routine parts of your everyday existence. Accident survivors often require prostheses and occupational therapy.
  • Loss of Vision or Hearing: Losing your hearing or eyesight in a major accident will change countless aspects of daily life. These sensory injuries are often associated with facial injuries and head trauma.
  • Injuries to Internal Organs: A major fall or hard impact can do serious damage to your internal organs, requiring emergency surgery, organ transplants, or lasting repercussions to your health.

Wrongful Death

If you lose a loved one in a fatal accident, the team at Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. can help you file a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent party. These kinds of legal actions can help address the many financial hardships and emotional difficulties associated with the loss of a loved one.

Like personal injury lawsuits, there is a two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death claims in Indiana.

Damages in a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Damages in personal injury lawsuits help address the losses or hardships someone has experienced after an accident. The money awarded helps make the accident victim whole. Our personal injury lawyers serving Michigan City can help you seek economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages in a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Economic losses are often tied to a bill, invoice, or a concrete amount of money. These are the financial losses associated with the accident. Examples include:

  • Medical bills
  • Physical rehabilitation and occupational therapy
  • Damage to property
  • Lost wages due to medical leave
  • Lost future earnings because of disability
  • Home modifications to accommodate disabilities

Non-Economic Damages in a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Non-economic losses are subjective and are often linked to changes in someone’s quality of life after an injury. Examples include:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Loss of enjoyment of past hobbies and activities
  • Diminished quality of life

The Potential for Punitive Damages

Economic and non-economic damages are compensatory, meaning that the defendant compensates the plaintiff. There is also the potential for punitive damages (also known as exemplary damages), which punish the defendant for their actions.

Punitive damages are rare, and they are only awarded when there is clear evidence that the defendant acted with malice or a reckless disregard for others. In Indiana, punitive damages are capped at three times compensatory damages or $50,000, whichever is greater.

Our personal injury attorneys can let you know if punitive damages may be available in your case.

Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyer Michigan City IN Law Firm

Don’t delay. If you were seriously hurt in LaPorte County, the team at Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. is ready to help you. To request a free consultation with our experienced personal injury lawyer Michigan City IN law firm, contact us today. You can also reach us by phone at (219) 883-2852.