Top Reasons to Hire a Local Injury Attorney in Dyer, IN

After an accident, insurance companies love to apply pressure to try to push you to settle your claim fast. They don't do this with your best interests in mind. A Merrillville, IN personal injury attorney is your best defense against an insurer's heavy-handed tactics. Responding to Their Calls and Demands When an adjuster contacts you, give them only the basic facts they already have from the police report. Tell them you will get back to them after you review your notes and talk to your lawyer. Ask to be sent every question in writing. Know that the adjusters may call you repeatedly to wear you down, but you can just tell them to call your lawyer once you have one and avoid this. Handling Requests for Recorded Statements You do not have to give a recorded statement right away, though many adjusters make it sound routine. Once they're recorded, though, your words become permanent evidence the other side can twist. Politely decline and say you will provide answers in writing instead. If they insist, ask them to send the questions by email first so you can prepare accurate responses. If you decide a statement is necessary later, and your lawyer agrees, then talk it through with your lawyer before giving it. Evaluating and Rejecting Low Settlement Offers The first offer almost always comes in low because insurers are counting on you needing money fast and being willing to sign just to get something. Do not accept the offer. Compare the amount against your total medical bills, lost wages, and ongoing costs; talk to your lawyer; and ask for a detailed breakdown showing exactly how they arrived at their number. Keep negotiating until the offer matches your losses. Keeping Every Interaction Documented Save copies of every email, letter, and voicemail you get. This paper trail will prove exactly what they said and prevent them from changing their story later. When you send documents, use certified mail or email with read receipts so you can prove the delivery. Complete records make it much harder for the insurer to delay or undervalue your claim. Building Strong Counter-Evidence Update your file with every new medical bill and doctor's note as your treatment continues. If you miss work, get a letter from your employer showing the exact amount of income you've lost. Submit these promptly to the adjuster with a short cover note explaining how they affect your total damages. If the insurer disputes your injuries, ask your doctor for a written report that connects them directly to the accident. Contacting a Merrillville, IN Personal Injury Attorney Once you have your attorney, they take over all communication so you stop dealing with the stress. They know the tactics insurers use and can negotiate from a strong position. Studies show that victims who have an attorney usually end up with higher settlements, even after attorney's fees are subtracted, than those who don't. Don't let insurer tactics decide your future. Contact Tanzillo Stassin & Babcock P.C. in Dyer, IN for help throughout Northwest Indiana.

After a car accident in Merrillville, you need to protect your recovery. A car accident lawyer in Merrillville, IN can help you understand your rights and how they apply to your specific situation. Your lawyer will also help you bring a strong claim for the full compensation you're owed for your losses. Your Basic Right: Compensation Indiana is a modified comparative negligence state, meaning you can recover damages if you're 50% or less at fault. Your final award is reduced by the same percentage as your fault, however, and if you're 51% or more at fault, you can't recover anything, even if the other driver also contributed to the accident. You can get compensation for your medical bills, any lost wages or salary (or compensation for sick days or vacation you had to use), your lost future earning capacity, pain and suffering, and property damage. Your Right to a Merrillville, IN Car Accident Lawyer While the other party in the accident may urge you to just settle things in cash on the spot or offer to pay for your medical bills and car repair personally, it's never wise to take them up on this. You don't know what the full amount of damages will be, and it's never a good idea to not report an accident to the authorities and insurance. It's also important to talk to a lawyer. An experienced lawyer has been down this road with many people and will be able to quickly and accurately value your claim, gather evidence, and bring a strong case on your behalf. Most people who have a lawyer on their side for personal injury cases come away with a bigger final award than those who don't, even after attorney's fees are accounted for. Your Right to Gather and Use Evidence You have the right to get evidence at the scene, and the other driver shouldn't try to stop you. This includes getting personal and vehicle information from the other driver, getting pictures and taking video, calling the police so you have a police report, and getting contact information from witnesses. You also have the right to notify the at-fault driver's insurance company (though your insurer will usually do this once you notify them) to make sure you've had your say. Just remember that insurance adjusters often ask questions that are designed to shift blame or minimize your injuries, as that's in their best interests. When you make the initial call to the insurance company, give only the basics, with no unnecessary information and no attempt to assign blame. Then let your lawyer handle all further communication to protect your rights. Call us today at Tanzillo Stassin & Babcock P.C. in Dyer, IN today for a free consultation. We're known throughout the region for our client communication and tailored strategies for northwest Indiana accident victims. We're committed to understanding what makes your case unique and delivering solutions that fit your situation.

Once your personal injury attorney files a lawsuit for you in the Dyer, IN courts, the case goes to a formal litigation phase and follows the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure. Every case is unique, since a lot depends on the precise details of your case, but the following is the general process. What Happens After Your Dyer, IN Personal Injury Attorney Files a Lawsuit The Defendant Is Served Once you file, the defendant you're suing must be notified formally of the complaint against them. They have 30 days to file a response to this and either admit or deny your allegations. In their response, they can also lay out their defense. If they never respond, you can seek a default judgment, where the court looks at your evidence and makes a decision without the input of the defendant. This is quite rare, however. The Discovery Phase This phase of your case is usually the longest. During this time of preparation, both sides exchange information and build their cases. Both sides have to exchange information in good faith, and the point is to make the trial itself as streamlined as possible. Your lawyer will use this time to discover the strengths and weaknesses of the defendant's case, and both sides will stipulate what facts they can agree to so those facts don't need to be proven in court. Settlement Negotiations Before going to court, your lawyer will have tried to settle your personal injury claim. If you're going to court, it means no settlement could be reached. But you can also continue to conduct negotiations throughout the trial period, and ultimately most personal injury cases do get settled before trial. As more information comes out in the discovery phase, this often helps with negotiations. Pretrial Motions and Hearings If there's no settlement, either party can file motions with the court before the trial starts. Your lawyer might file a motion to exclude certain evidence, for example, or to limit expert testimony. There may also be hearings to give instructions to the jury or to set certain parameters for the trial itself. Formal Trial If your case is one of the small percentage that goes to trial, it could be decided by a judge alone or by a jury trial. The trial begins when both sides present their opening statements. Then each side will present their evidence and witnesses and give closing arguments. Either the judge or a jury will determine who is liable and what damages, if any, should be awarded. Making Appeals If either side believes a legal error has been made, they can make an appeal. This usually needs to be done within 30 days. Appeals can add a couple of years to the timeline, but you cannot appeal a decision just to go over the facts again. You have to be able to point to an actual legal error for the courts to consider an appeal. Talk with a Dyer, IN Personal Injury Attorney If you are considering a lawsuit, talk to us today at Tanzillo Stassin & Babcock, P.C. in Dyer for strategic guidance, trusted counsel, and solid results.