Injury Attorneys Northwest Indiana

Being injured in an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence is especially difficult. The physical, financial, and emotional toll it takes on you can make moving forward exceptionally challenging, but an experienced injury attorney in Northwest Indiana can help. 

Common Personal Injury Claims

Personal injury claims can take nearly limitless forms, but some of the most common include:

• Traffic accidents of every kind, including car, motorcycle, bike, pedestrian, and truck
• Slip and fall accidents and other forms of premises liability
• Accidents on the job, including construction accidents

Other kinds of negligence-based claims that are very similar to personal injury claims like those listed include medical malpractice, nursing home neglect and abuse, and wrongful death claims. 

The Necessary Elements

In order to have a viable personal injury claim, all the following elements must be present:

• The party whom you believe is at fault must have owed you a duty of care (or have had a responsibility regarding your safety – the way all motorists do for one another).
• The party whom you believe is at fault must have breached the duty of care owed to you. A prime example is a motorist who drives drunk.
• That breached duty of care must have caused (or significantly contributed to) the accident that left you injured. 
• You must have suffered physical, financial, and/or emotional losses that are addressed by personal injury law.

In the State of Indiana, even if you share responsibility for the accident that leaves you injured (called contributory fault), you can seek compensation for the percentage of responsibility that the other party bears (as long as he or she is found to be at least 50 percent responsible). This means that your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault you are determined to bear. 

Your Damages

The damages – or losses – you experience as a result of the other party’s negligence can be grouped into the following categories:

• Property damage (such as damage to your car in a car accident)
• Medical expenses, including necessary ongoing care
• Lost earnings, including any decrease in earning potential
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering

Ensuring that your personal injury claim addresses your damages in their entirety is elemental to your ability to obtain just compensation. 

Negotiating with the Insurance Company

Your personal injury claim will likely be covered by the at-fault party’s insurance provider, but the path toward an adequate settlement can be challenging. The insurance company is profit-driven, which means that it is invested in keeping your settlement as low as it can get away with. Leaving negotiations with the insurance company in the capable hands of your experienced injury attorney is well-advised.