Hammond Personal
Injury Lawyer

In some situations, the insurance company may offer you a settlement check to cover medical bills and lost earnings if your injuries prevented you from working. Insurance companies are fast to offer compensation to settle claims quickly, hoping you haven’t had time to retain a lawyer. Insurers know that if you talk with an attorney, you will realize you may recover far more compensation for your damages.

However, once you accept the insurance company’s offer, you cannot ask for more money if your injuries require further treatment.

A Hammond personal injury attorney from Midwest Injury Lawyers can evaluate your case, determine the full extent of your injuries now and in the future, and give you a more accurate understanding of what your case is really worth.

Several factors can determine the value of your claim, such as:

• The level of your pain and suffering
• The severity of your injuries
• Present and future expenses associated with treating your injuries
• The types of treatment you require now and in the future
• If you sustained permanent, disabling, or disfiguring injuries
• If you can return to work in the same capacity as before the accident
• The strength of your evidence
• Your percentage of fault in the accident
• Whether you can hold other parties liable

Personal injury victims may recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages, including:

Economic Damages

These damages reimburse the injured party for their out-of-pocket expenses and monetary losses related to the accident.

Economic damages include:

• Medical expenses, such as the cost of medical treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, medication, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and other medical services
• Lost income if the injury causes you to miss work during recovery
• Loss of earning capacity if the injury permanently affects your ability to earn income at the same level as before the accident
• Property damage caused in an accident could result in compensation for the repair or replacement costs
• Other financial expenses, such as costs related to transportation for medical appointments, home modifications to accommodate disabilities, or any other reasonable and necessary expenses resulting from the injury

Non-Economic Damages

These damages compensate the injured party for subjective, intangible losses and address the emotional and physical impacts of the injury.

Non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering because of the injury, including chronic pain, mental anguish, anxiety, depression, or loss of enjoyment of life
• Emotional distress for the psychological impact of the injury, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep disturbances, or other emotional and psychological trauma
• Loss of consortium, if the injury hurts your relationship with your spouse or significant other, resulting in a loss of companionship, intimacy, or support.
• Disfigurement or disability, if the injury caused permanent scarring, disfigurement, or disability

Personal injury law allows injured parties to bring a claim against the party that injured them to recover compensation.

Each state has different laws that may limit how much an injured person can recover. One variation is a legal principle called comparative negligence, which recognizes that, in some cases, the injured party may bear partial fault for the accident that injured them. In these circumstances, the court determines the degree of responsibility for each party and reduces compensation for each party by their percentage of fault.

Indiana follows a modified comparative negligence standard with a 51 percent threshold, which means that an injured person may recover damages if they are less than 51 percent at fault for the accident. But, their percentage of fault will reduce their compensation. If the court finds the injured party 51 percent or more to blame, they cannot recover compensation.

The personal injury lawyers at Midwest Injury Lawyers take accidents seriously. During a free consultation, we assess your case and provide legal advice. If you hire us, we will promptly begin by:

Investigating your accident.

We thoroughly examine accident reports, medical records, eyewitness statements, and photos to build a strong case and prove your damages.

Identifying liable parties

Accidents and incidents that result in injuries often involve multiple parties. For instance, if a truck driver’s inexperience causes the accident that injured you, we may hold the trucking company liable for negligent hiring. Our lawyers will seek compensation from all responsible individuals or entities, maximizing your potential recovery.

Evaluating your claim

Insurance companies often try to settle claims quickly, underestimating the true extent of your damages. Before accepting any settlement offer, consult our lawyers. We will assess your claim, determine the full extent of your damages, and ensure you receive fair compensation.

Negotiating for full compensation

Our lawyers understand the tactics used by insurance companies to undervalue claims.

Our personal injury lawyers are skilled negotiators. We will counter their lowball offers and demand compensation that accurately reflects your losses. We persist until we achieve a fair settlement.

Representing you in court

If the insurance company does not offer fair compensation, we may recommend you file a personal injury lawsuit in Indiana civil court. Insurance companies prefer to avoid trials to save time and money. The mere threat of litigation often compels them to accept a fair offer.

Throughout the process, we will prepare your case for trial and, if your case goes to court, our lawyers will proudly represent and advocate for you.