A Highly Rated Personal Injury Attorney in Evansville
Personal injury law encompasses many different kinds of cases and circumstances. As a result, there are many highly qualified personal injury attorneys in the greater Evansville area who practice injury law. That can make the decision of which one to choose a daunting task, even before the specifics of your case are considered.
However, for many years, personal injury plaintiffs have consistently chosen the attorneys at Gerling Law to represent them for all kinds of personal injury cases. Led by Gayle Gerling Pettinga, the staff at Gerling Law takes a compassionate, highly knowledgeable and aggressive stance when it comes to protecting your legal rights. Gayle is not only a respected attorney, but she was also born and raised in Evansville, and has deep roots in the community, contributing time and resources to many local charities over the years.
She is a highly rated personal injury attorney who is Avvo rated at 10.0 and has been a member of the American Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers for more than a decade. Lastly, she has been designated by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys as one of the 10 Best Attorneys in Indiana for Exceptional and Outstanding Client Service.
What is Considered Personal Injury?
Personal injury cases are as diverse as the world is big. For legal purposes, a personal injury that can lead to legal action can take place any number of ways. This might include incidents such as a slip and fall on wet pavement, being injured in a car accident, suffering injuries while in a boat or on a bike, being bitten by a dog, as a result of medical malpractice, defective products, and so forth.
While each case is different, every personal injury suit revolves around proving negligence or recklessness on the defendant’s part. A personal injury attorney must be able to show there was a duty to act responsibly, that the defendant breached that duty, and that as a result, the plaintiff suffered injuries. When this happens, a plaintiff can seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related recovery for their losses.
Finding a Highly-Rated Medical Malpractice Attorney in Evansville
Medical malpractice law is a specialized subset of personal injury law. It requires an experienced medical malpractice attorney who understands the intricacies of the medical profession, as well as what it takes to prove that negligent or reckless actions took place on the part of a medical professional.
The attorneys at Gerling Law have engaged in many medical malpractice cases in Evansville and throughout the state of Indiana, working on behalf of patients to effectively prove that a standard of care fell short and caused harm to the patient. We aggressively review medical records, retain medical expert witnesses to build a strong case, and aggressively litigate on behalf of our clients, seeking to gain full compensation on their behalf. Many times, we will attempt to negotiate a settlement, saving time, money and stress, but we are also ready to go the distance, taking cases to trial when a situation warrants that kind of a response.
Do you have a medical malpractice case?
When you are ill, whether it is with something simple like the flu, or you have a more serious condition, such as broken bones, a disease, or you need to visit your local hospital for emergency treatment, you have the right and the expectation that you will receive a certain standard of care. There is an implied contract that medical professionals will do their best to render quality care to help you recover from your ailment.
Sometimes, that level of care falls short, and you can take a downturn due to a poor level of care. Medical staff can make a wrong diagnosis, administer the wrong drugs, or provide uninformed and substandard care that can either make your condition worse or in some cases, lead to death.
When this happens, a patient has the right to file a medical malpractice suit. By their very nature, medical malpractice suits are complicated, can take a long time to resolve, and you will be going up against a team of tough and experienced attorneys representing the other side. This is why it is critical to retain a seasoned and successful medical malpractice attorney to represent you.
Your Local Social Security Disability Attorney
Unfortunately, about 70% of all Social Security Disability Insurance cases are denied when they are first submitted. There are several possible reasons why this can happen, but in a vast majority of cases, applicants are not prepared for how thorough the process can be. This can lead to frustration and despair, especially if a person’s disability is serious and impairs their ability to make their best possible effort.
Through many years of experience, our Evansville social security disability attorneys at Gerling Law understand the complicated nature of submitting an SSDI claim. We have assisted many people in gathering appropriate forms and medical records, getting additional supporting medical evidence and expert opinions, and doing the demanding work required to satisfy the requirements necessary to gain approval of a claim. Even after an initial claim has been denied, we can provide valuable and insightful assistance to appeal a ruling. Many times, we are able to present a compelling case on behalf of our clients and gain approval, allowing them to begin receiving critical SSDI benefits.
What to do if your Social Security Disability case is denied?
Many people contact Gerling Law only after their initial claim for SSDI benefits has been denied. Fortunately, there are many levels of appeal that we can assistant applicants with, and in many cases, lead them to a successful outcome.
After an initial denial, applicants only have 65 days to file a Reconsideration Appeal. This may seem like a long time, but in reality, if more paperwork needs to be completed, or more medical files need to be produced to support a claim, the time can go quickly. We can cut through unnecessary steps and expedite the most critical parts of what an applicant will need to reverse a denial.
It is not uncommon for Reconsideration Appeals to be denied, and when that happens, we assist claimants in the next level of appeal which is a hearing in front of an administrative law judge. We are able to present a client’s case in front of an administrative law judge, using additional records and information we have gathered, using relevant facts to support a claim. Depending on the strength of an appeal, we are often successful at this level.
If your case is still denied, we can assist you with a final option, which is to file an appeal to an Appeals Council. We work with our clients to gain approval at this level, or at the very least, have the case sent back to an administrative law judge for additional review, always with the goal of being approved to receive benefits.
Choose An Attorney Who Will Go To Bat For You
Selecting a lawyer is one of the most important steps you will take after an accident or illness. Make sure you choose a lawyer who will fight for you and your rights.
At Gerling Law, we are known as one of the most accomplished and aggressive law firms in the tri-state region. We exist to pursue justice for you — no matter what. Our lawyers will work hard and make every effort to get you full and just compensation. This is as vital and important to us as it is to you.
"My approach is to be a hard-line against your opponents, yet I'll always take the high road with you, my client.
— Gayle Gerling Pettinga
