Porter County, Indiana Personal Injury Attorneys

Personal injury accidents can happen anywhere at any time. When someone else’s negligence leaves you or a loved one injured, it can have significant impacts on your health, finances, and future. With the help of our Porter County, Indiana personal injury lawyer law firm, you can be confident that you will receive the support you need to reclaim your life.

Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. are the guardians you need when you have suffered the unjust consequences of another person’s actions. Our team aggressively fights for you to ensure that you get the results you need when you need them the most. When you work with our personal injury attorneys, you will receive compassionate, high-quality service that prioritizes your goals above all else.

Pursue Justice With a Personal Injury Case

Personal injury cases are a broad area of the law that encompasses accidents borne out of negligence. These events are often preventable and usually occur when one party disregards proper safety precautions. For example, if a driver hits another driver because they were speeding, then the driver who caused the accident is held liable for their actions because they should not have been going over the posted speed limit.

When negligence is the cause of an accident, victims have the right to pursue a personal injury claim against the offending party. This allows the victim to hold the liable party accountable for their actions and recover their losses in the form of compensation.

Personal injury attorneys guide claimants through the process and help with a variety of accidents. These types of accidents come in many forms and range from minor to severe. However, with a broad scope of legal knowledge and well-honed negotiation skills, your lawyer can represent you in these and other types of cases:

Because of the broad nature of personal injuries, your lawyer must possess a deep understanding of the many nuances and laws that apply to different cases. Some accidents are more complex than others, and your lawyer can effectively maneuver through the various legal requirements and strategies. They can also tailor their approach to your needs so the solution to your case is customized to your specific situation.

Accident Injuries Can Disrupt Your Life

In the most recent report by the National Safety Council, they estimated that one in five individuals went to the emergency room for a preventable injury. It was also estimated that preventable accidents led to 227,039 deaths. Of those fatalities, poison, vehicle accidents, and falls were among the top causes of preventable deaths in the U.S.

The types of accidents mentioned in the section above can result in a wide array of injuries and conditions that could range from minor to life-threatening. Regardless of what type of injuries you have suffered, though, the effects on your life can have significant repercussions that may affect you and your family physically, financially, and emotionally for a long time to come. Some of the injuries you could sustain and be impacted by include:

Lacerations and bruising
Sprains and strains
Fractured and broken bones
Whiplash
Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
Neck injuries
Spinal injuries
Back injuries
Hip and pelvis injuries
Internal damage and bleeding
Tissue and nerve damage
Disability or disfigurement
Paralysis
Burn injuries
Death

Because many of these injuries are severe or internal in nature, it is imperative you seek medical attention right away after an accident. They will run tests to identify and treat your injuries as quickly as possible. Failing to see a doctor after an accident can put your health in jeopardy and also hurt your claim when you seek compensation. Also, be sure to monitor your injuries and seek additional treatment if your condition changes for the worse.

Your Actions in the Present Affect Your Outcome in the Future

In the moments after a personal injury accident, you are likely to be in pain and enveloped in an overwhelming blur of activity and logistics. Even though it might be difficult to think clearly after an accident, a few important steps can make a big impact on what comes next in the days and weeks ahead. Below is a closer look at what you should do after an accident, if possible.

See a Doctor

Ensuring your safety is your number one priority after an accident. You should request immediate medical attention to assess and treat your injuries. Acting quickly can help prevent you from suffering additional damage from severe or internal injuries. Some injuries may be delayed, so it is important to monitor your condition and continue to communicate with your healthcare professional in the weeks ahead.

Police Report

Request that a police report be filed after an accident so there is an official record available. Law enforcement officials will include various types of evidence, notations, images, and diagrams to show the details of the accident from an objective viewpoint. After the police report has been completed, request a copy of the accident report from your local law enforcement agency.

Compile Evidence

In addition to the police report, it is also good to compile as much evidence as you can for your own records. This can be helpful when talking with insurance adjusters or lawyers. You should take photos and videos of the accident and your injuries and should get statements from anyone who witnessed the event if at all possible. It can also be beneficial to keep a journal to record your pain and suffering and document activities you may no longer be able to participate in.

Exchange of Information

Exchanging information after a personal injury accident is important so you can file a claim with the offending party’s insurance company to cover your losses. In the event of a car accident, Indiana code § 9-26-1-1.1 requires you to exchange contact, vehicle, and driver’s license information. You should also exchange insurance information to file a claim.

Hire a Lawyer

Hiring Porter County, Indiana personal injury attorneys can improve the outcome of your claim. Victims often have better results with an experienced lawyer on their side. With strong negotiation skills, they can get insurance companies or opposing parties to pay you fairly. A lawyer will also ensure that you are taken seriously and your rights are protected.

File an Insurance Claim

Filing a claim with the other driver’s insurance company is essential for getting your medical expenses and losses covered. With the aid of a lawyer, you will need to submit your police report and medical records, as well as any other documents that show the expenses and losses you have suffered due to the accident. Additionally, you should also notify your insurance company about the accident and inform them that you have filed a claim with the other party’s insurance company.

Types of Losses You Can Recover in a Personal Injury Accident in Porter County, IN

Damages are a way to recover your losses after a personal injury accident. As your expenses add up, they can become overwhelming and unmanageable. As such, compensation seeks to monetarily help you to recover and get back to a state of wholeness as much as possible. While it will not be able to fix or undo what has happened to you, it can alleviate the financial burden you are under. Below is a closer look at the types of damages you may be able to recover.

Economic Damages

Economic damages seek to help you recover medical expenses, lost income, and damage you may have sustained to property or personal belongings. This financial compensation can help you pay for the expenses that have accumulated from the accident. To determine the value of your losses, a lawyer will add up each current and anticipated expense.

Non-economic Damages

Non-economic damages seek to help offset your pain and suffering by providing monetary damages. You likely experienced trauma during the accident and may have dealt with emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment, decreased quality of life, and loss of companionship. Non-economic damages multiply the value of your economic damages by a number between 1.5 and 5 to determine the value of your pain and suffering.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are reserved for instances where you have suffered the additional injustice of gross negligence or acts of malicious intent. In these instances, punitive damages are used to punish the person for their wrong while providing you with additional compensation for the depth of your losses.

Porter County, Indiana Personal Injury Attorneys Are Strong Advocates During a Difficult Time

Personal injury attorneys in Porter County, Indiana are your lifeline and protector when you are fighting to get compensation for your injuries. They will be aggressive and persistent as they advocate for you. Your lawyer will carefully listen to your situation to determine the best path forward in your case. They will also conduct thorough research as they investigate your case and ensure that you have ample evidence to support your claim. They will build a strong case that will get you results.

Your lawyer will also help you with your insurance settlement so you do not have to negotiate with an insurance company alone. While insurance companies may be a common source of compensation after an accident, they will often try to offer you a low settlement before you know how much your losses are worth. Your lawyer can ensure you are taken seriously and treated fairly so you can receive maximum compensation.

Negligence Must be Established in Personal Injury Cases

The bulk of your case will focus on establishing that the other party acted negligently. Your lawyer will use the evidence that has been gathered to satisfy the standard of negligence in your case by showing each of the following four elements:

Duty of care: The offending party had an obligation to keep you safe and not put you in harm’s way.

Breach of duty: The offending party failed to show caution or take the proper steps to actively prevent injury.

Causation: The offending party’s actions were the inciting event that caused the accident, which caused your injuries and other losses.

Damages: Once negligence is established, the party at fault is responsible for paying for your damages.

Through the establishment of negligence, fault is also demonstrated. However, Indiana’s modified comparative negligence laws take it a step further. According to Indiana Code § 34-51-2-5 and Indiana Code § 34-51-2-6, each party involved in an accident is evaluated for fault and assigned a percentage value ranging from zero to 100%. When multiple parties contribute to an accident, this percentage of fault is used to determine the amount of damages to be disbursed. Damages are reduced in proportion to a person’s level of fault, so their damages would be reduced by 15% if they were 15% responsible for the accident. However, any party who contributed more than 50% is not allowed to recover any damages for their losses.

Verify the Statute of Limitations With Your Lawyer

One of the first things your lawyer will do after you contact them is to verify whether or not you are still within the statute of limitations. Claimants generally have two years in which to file a personal injury lawsuit before they forfeit the right to take legal action, per Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4(a). Depending on your accident, some exceptions may apply, so it is important to talk with your lawyer as soon as possible.

Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. Aggressively Fight for You

Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. can help you resolve your specific situation as swiftly as possible so you can reclaim your life after an accident. Our team has the extensive knowledge needed to get you results, and we pledge to provide you with exceptional service every step of the way. To learn more about how we can fight for you, contact us online today at our Porter County Indiana personal injury attorneys law firm or call our offices at (219) 400-7638 to schedule your free consultation.