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Apr 26, 2020 | By Gayle Gerling Pettinga | Read Time: 3 minutes | Nursing Home Negligence

COVID-19 and Nursing Homes: What You Should Know

COVID-19, coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Whatever you call it, there is no doubt your newsfeed and daily life have been affected by this illness in some way. More susceptible to COVID-19 are those with weakened immune systems. For example, the elderly. In fact, nursing homes are one of the most at-risk places when it comes to contracting the coronavirus. Let’s look at some numbers. More than 25% of Virginia’s nursing home residents have already died due to COVID-19. Over 100 residents and employees in just one nursing home in Kansas have contracted the virus. Overall, it is estimated that over 7,000 deaths from the virus have been linked to nursing homes. In Florida, it is reported that 1 out of every 4 cases of the virus has been contracted in a nursing home. What this means for you and your loved ones If you have a loved one in a long-term care facility, it is important you are aware of what is going on. It might seem like below-standard care is a new issue. However, don’t be fooled into thinking this is a new problem. Studies show that some nursing homes that have reported cases of COVID-19 have also violated federal regulations in years before. Specifically, regulations regarding infectious diseases. So, what does this mean for you? First, you’ll want to make sure that the nursing home staff are keeping you updated. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask to speak to your loved one. Ask them simple, but important questions. How are they feeling? Have they told staff? Have the staff looked into complaints about not feeling well? Time is everything When it comes to coronavirus, or any infectious disease, time is everything. It is important your loved one receives proper care and treatment as soon as they start feeling badly. With lots of nursing homes being understaffed due to the virus, it is more possible than ever for something to be missed. If you or your loved one’s concerns are ignored and care is put off, there could be negative affects later on. What should you do? These troubling times have a lot of people considering whether or not they should pull their loved one from facilities. Before you make this decision, it is important to consider a few things. You might want to ask yourself, Do I have the ability to provide around-the-clock care? Is everyone in my house staying home, or are they still working, etc.? Trying to move your loved one during this time could possibly be more detrimental than you think. This is why we stress the importance of checking in with your nursing home to understand their policies and procedures regarding COVID-19. Peace of mind Also, do not hesitate to contact the nursing home your loved one is in. Ask them what they are doing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Feel free to ask any questions concerning your loved one as well. Especially since most nursing homes have limited or temporarily suspended visiting times. It is also your right to pull your loved one from the nursing home if you feel that they will be safer at home, which is what some in New Jersey have done. Thankfully, the Trump Administration recently announced some new regulations for nursing homes. Nursing homes and long-term care facilities will be required to report any COVID-19 cases. Any cases of the virus must be reported to residents and their family members as well. Hopefully these new regulations will help prevent the rapid spread of the virus. How we can help you If you or a loved one became ill or suffered a serious injury or wrongful death due to negligence in a long term care facility, including contracting COVID-19, give us a call today to discuss your options. Our team would be happy to answer any questions you have. Gerling Law is a leading personal injury law firm dedicated to providing aggressive legal representation to individuals and their families. With over 50 years of experience, Gerling Law has helped thousands of people in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in a wide variety of personal injury and consumer protection cases, including trucking accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence and social security disability. Gerling Law takes pride in the fact that we have never represented insurance companies, hospitals or large corporations and that we fight against powerful companies for our clients. If you need an experienced, dedicated personal injury lawyer, Gerling Law is here to help. You can always reach us at 888-GERLING (888-437-5464) or through our website at www.gerlinglaw.com.

Apr 22, 2020 | By Gayle Gerling Pettinga | Read Time: 2 minutes | Back and Neck Injuries

5 Signs of Nursing Home Negligence

There may come a time in your life when you must make the difficult decision to admit a loved one into a nursing home. This decision is never easy. Finding a nursing home you can trust takes time. When that trust is abused, and negligence occurs, recognize the signs and take action. Here are five signs of nursing home negligence. Three involve actual abuse (physical/sexual, financial, and emotional). Two involve neglect and abandonment. Following are the signs of nursing home negligence: Physical and Sexual Abuse Unexplained wounds or injuries are signs of physical abuse. Sometimes the injuries are not obvious. If possible, talk with your loved one about how they feel. For example, ask if they are in pain. Signs of physical abuse range from bruises to broken bones. Also, if a doctor sees your loved one quite often, ask why the need for so many visits. Be aware, the nursing home could be hiding injuries from you. Abuse can occur as sexual abuse. Sexual abuse includes sexually transmitted diseases or infections or injury to genitalia or the anal area. Again, these injuries may not be obvious, so asking your loved one questions is important. Financial Abuse Financial abuse happens often because most nursing home patients can’t manage their own finances. Signs of financial abuse include missing property and unexplained charges on bills. To this end, make sure you regularly check finances and ask about anything you don’t understand on the bill. Emotional Abuse Signs of emotional abuse include anxiety, fear of medical staff and refusing care. Because there is no physical evidence, emotional abuse is hard to prove. Ask your loved one how they like the nursing staff. In addition, ask if they have a favorite nurse. These questions may help you find out if anything is wrong. Negligence Negligence in nursing homes is failing to meet the standard of care for a patient that results in serious illness or injury. For nursing home patients, neglect includes being underfed, dehydrated, bad hygiene, or bedsores. Also, if your loved one complains about not being seen by a doctor when requesting one, this can be negligence. Abandonment Abandonment occurs when a patient’s conditions are unsanitary or dirty. Therefore, if the your loved one’s room, bathroom, bed or person is always dirty, the nursing home has been negligent. Abandoning a person who cannot care for themselves is heartless and wrong. If you believe your loved one has experienced nursing home negligence, it is important to seek legal help. Gerling Law is here to answer your questions. Gerling Law is a leading personal injury law firm dedicated to providing aggressive legal representation to individuals and their families. With over 50 years of experience, Gerling Law has helped thousands of people in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in a wide variety of personal injury and consumer protection cases, including trucking accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence and social security disability. Gerling Law takes pride in the fact that we have never represented insurance companies, hospitals or large corporations and that we fight against powerful companies for our clients. If you need an experienced, dedicated personal injury lawyer, Gerling Law is here to help. You can always reach us at 888-GERLING (888-437-5464) or through our website at www.gerlinglaw.com.

Apr 15, 2020 | By Gayle Gerling Pettinga | Read Time: 3 minutes | medical malpractice

Are You the Victim of Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice happens when your doctor or other healthcare provider fails to meet the standard of care expected of them. This can be anything from a simple misdiagnosis to wrongful death. Here is an example of medical malpractice. A female patient has been struggling with pneumonia of the right lung. Eventually, her doctor says she will need a minor procedure done to remove part of her right lung to remove the pneumonia because she was not getting better. The doctor promises this is a routine operation and she will be in and out of the hospital same day. Fast forward to six hours post-op. Her family is told to come to the hospital immediately as they might not have much time left. So, what happened? How did this simple routine operation caused by pneumonia turn into an almost fatal situation? This could be medical malpractice. The patient ends up losing almost 9 pints of blood. Keep in mind, that is the average amount of blood in the human body is 9 to 12 pints. Imagine how traumatic this situation was for not only the patient, but her loved ones. She spends almost an entire month in the hospital intensive care unit with a respirator down her throat. Eventually, when things calm down and she is stable, it’s revealed that during the operation, the surgeon realized it was not the right lung that needed to be operated on, like the doctor had informed him. In the end, the surgeon had to remove her entire left lung, which was completely black due to untreated pneumonia of the left lung. The Startling Truth in Numbers See how a misdiagnosis can lead to so much more? This is why it is vital for doctors to listen to their patients concerns. According to MedicalNewsToday, 1 in 20 adult Americans will be victim of some type of misdiagnosis every year. To put that into perspective more, that is approximately 12 million Americans. These numbers are not the amount of malpractice cases, this is solely the number of misdiagnoses. Why are these numbers so high? Negligence. Are there genuine mistakes made in the medical field? Of course. However, when something goes wrong as the result of a mistake, doctors need to be held accountable for what they have done. A lot of times doctors will deny what happened or refuse to speak on the matter. They will not even apologize for what has happened because that would mean admitting to guilt. Medical malpractice should not be taken lightly and needs to be addressed. Many people don’t look into medical malpractice suits. This is because they like their doctor a lot or have been with them for years. But recognizing these mistakes and acting on them protects not only you, but future patients to come. Gerling Law is a leading personal injury law firm dedicated to providing aggressive legal representation to individuals and their families. With over 50 years of experience, Gerling Law has helped thousands of people in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in a wide variety of personal injury and consumer protection cases, including trucking accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence and social security disability. Gerling Law takes pride in the fact that we have never represented insurance companies, hospitals or large corporations and that we fight against powerful companies for our clients. If you need an experienced, dedicated personal injury lawyer, Gerling Law is here to help. You can always reach us at 888-GERLING (888-437-5464) or through our website at www.gerlinglaw.com.

Apr 1, 2020 | By Gayle Gerling Pettinga | Read Time: 3 minutes | auto

Safe Driving Tips You Need to Know

If you’ve got a license and are out on the road regularly you have probably broken some traffic laws subconsciously. Have you ever rolled through a stop sign because no one else was around? Or sped even five miles over the limit? Ever checked your phone or sent out a quick text while at the wheel? These are only a few of the many causes of car accidents in the U.S. Small road violations can lead to big accidents, even if you think no one else is around. Safe driving is important even when no one else is looking or the violation may seem small. Here are some eye-opening statistics regarding vehicle accidents in the United States: 40,000 accidents result in death each year 90 deaths per day Accidents resulting in permanent injuries reaches 2 million a year Fatal injury accidents happen more on the weekends 1,600 kids under the age of 15 die every year in some sort of vehicle accident These high numbers mean that you could be a part of these statistics. We share this information not to scare you, but to help protect you and your loved ones. Safe Driving Tips We’ll start with the obvious – wear your seat belt! The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that 15,000 lives were saved in 2017 because drivers and passengers made the smart decision to click their seat belt. Everyone should know that if you are using your phone behind the wheel, you’re not driving safely. In most states, it is illegal to even be on your phone while behind the wheel of a vehicle. Of all the accidents that occur each day, the National Safety Council reports that 1 in every 4 accidents is caused by a driver distracted by his or her cell phone. Another important safe driving tip – never get behind the wheel when you have been drinking or may be under the influence of any kind of drugs or alcohol. This is also important for those times when you may be on a new medicine. Age Can Be a Factor Another important thing to note is that people between the ages of 16 and 19 are at a much higher risk of being in an accident than those who are older. About 8,000 young people are killed in auto accidents between the ages of 16 and 20. One of the most terrifying moments in a parent’s life, but exciting for most teens, is the day they get their license and are finally able to hit the open road without a parent or guardian in the front seat next to them. This is why it is extremely important to go over road safety if you have a teen receiving their license. Tell your kids to wear their seat belt, put their phones down, and never, ever get behind the wheel if they have consumed any amount of alcohol or drugs, even if they think they are “okay to drive.” Hopefully, they will pass along the lessons they learn to their friends, too. Next time you get behind the wheel, remember these statistics and remind yourself that safe driving takes priority over speed and convenience. If you have been involved in an auto accident, Gerling is here to help. Gerling Law is a leading personal injury law firm dedicated to providing aggressive legal representation to individuals and their families. With over 50 years of experience, Gerling Law has helped thousands of people in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in a wide variety of personal injury and consumer protection cases, including trucking accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence and social security disability. Gerling Law takes pride in the fact that we have never represented insurance companies, hospitals or large corporations and that we fight against powerful companies for our clients. If you need an experienced, dedicated personal injury lawyer, Gerling Law is here to help. You can always reach us at 888-GERLING (888-437-5464) or through our website at www.gerlinglaw.com.

Mar 31, 2020 | By Gayle Gerling Pettinga | Read Time: 4 minutes | Dog Bite Accidents

Did a dog bite you?

Owning a dog is a great responsibility, but also a great joy. Many people are now choosing to adopt dogs in place of having children. We have coined phrases like “dog mom” or “fur baby” to describe a person who owns a dog. But with the joys of adopting a dog comes the responsibility of making sure the dog does not bite. Despite how well a dog might be trained, they still have animal instincts deep inside their DNA. All it takes is one bad moment for those instincts to be triggered and activated. Dog bites, no matter the level of severity, can be extremely dangerous. Any size of a dog bite can quickly become infected. Think about all the germs a dog can pick up in a day. From running around outside, being around other animals, etc. An infected bite can lead to so much more medically. Not only this, sometimes when a dog bites a human, it is deemed too aggressive and is put down. This can be devastating for the family who owned the dog. How often does this happen? The Centers for Disease Control reports an average 4.7 million dog bites annually in the United States. Of those 4.7 million, 17% of those bites result in medical attention needing to be sought. At first, that 17% may not seem like a large number. However, what if you were a part of that 17%? What if a dog bit your small child? That 17% then becomes a real statistic to you. Knowledge is the best way to avoid one of these harmful attacks, so let’s take a look at the reasons why dogs bite. Why do dogs bite? Most of the time, dogs will bite in response to stressful situations, or times when they feel threatened. Some dogs may bite in order to protect their puppies or owners. Even the most obedient dogs will growl if you come near them while eating, because dogs are wired to protect their food and what is theirs. Dogs can have bad days just like humans. Simply feeling unwell can give them a reason to bite. It is also common for dogs to bite playfully when roughhousing, therefore it is important to educate young children not to be rough with dogs. Dogs may not understand to be gentler with children. Being aware and knowledgeable about these situations will better protect you, your children and your dog, if you’re an owner. Take precautions. As an owner, you should ensure your dog is well-trained before heading out in public. Especially if it is a situation where small children may be present. Kids don’t always know that every dog is not a nice puppy. And unfortunately, parents aren’t watching their kids all the time. It would benefit you as an owner to train your dog well and keep them close by on a leash when out in public. A lot of times when a dog bites, it does not end well for the dog, even if it is the first time the dog has bitten. If you see someone approaching your dog, whether a child or adult, make sure you are watching your dog and observing their behavior. Any kind of unsettling environment could add an edge to your dog’s behavior, resulting in a dog bite. Prevention tips. Do not make loud noises Do not run away quickly in panic If attacked, try to get into the fetal position, protecting your neck and head Do not approach a dog with puppies Do not make direct eye contact with a dog you do not know Helpful Information While this may seem a bit overwhelming, there are plenty of great resources available for you and your family to better arm yourself with knowledge. One of these resources is FluentWoof, a website dedicated to giving dog moms and dads knowledge and guidance so they can better know their pups. This article written by Dr. Libby Guise has plenty of information regarding dog bites, including warning signs, what to do after a bite, infection risks, and much more. Having this abundance of information at hand could be beneficial to you and your family should the unfortunate accident of a dog bit ever happen. Following these tips as an owner or as a bystander can greatly increase your chance of safety and help you avoid dog bites. Gerling Law is a leading personal injury law firm dedicated to providing aggressive legal representation to individuals and their families. With over 50 years of experience, Gerling Law has helped thousands of people in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in a wide variety of personal injury and consumer protection cases, including trucking accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence and social security disability. Gerling Law takes pride in the fact that we have never represented insurance companies, hospitals or large corporations and that we fight against powerful companies for our clients. If you need an experienced, dedicated personal injury lawyer, Gerling Law is here to help. You can always reach us at 888-GERLING (888-437-5464) or through our website at www.gerlinglaw.com.

Mar 25, 2020 | By Gayle Gerling Pettinga | Read Time: 2 minutes | car accidents

Distracted Driving vs. You: Now what?

Distracted driving. Your mind might automatically jump to texting and driving, a big issue we face today. However, distracted driving can include anything that takes your attention off the road. Eating or putting on makeup. Looking for something in a bag or changing the radio station. Using a GPS. As a result of these actions, many people have lost theirs lives, or taken the lives of others. So, what do you do if you’ve been the victim of a distracted driver? Maybe you are walking across the street and a distracted driver doesn’t stop in time. You could be rear ended for the same reason. No matter what happens, it is important you take action right away. What to do after the accident Of course, the first thing you need to do is make sure you are okay. If you are able to, check on others as well. Then, immediately call 9-1-1. Even if it doesn’t seem like anyone is extremely hurt, it is important to get a police officer out to the scene. Insurance companies will want an official police report. If someone is hurt, do your best to assist them and keep them out of the way of more harm. It is also imperative you exchange information with anyone involved in the accident, such as another driver or victim. You will want their name and phone number, and a picture of their insurance cards. When you have done this, next take lots of pictures of the accident scene. This can be important no matter what. Having photos of the scene will better help police, attorneys, and insurers understand what happened and why. For example, if you are a pedestrian crossing the street because you have the right away and a car hits you, take a picture of the intersection. Make sure the photos are clear and you have lots of angles. Following this advice could be imperative to helping your attorney in your personal injury case. Gerling Law is a leading personal injury law firm dedicated to providing aggressive legal representation to individuals and their families. With over 50 years of experience, Gerling Law has helped thousands of people in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in a wide variety of personal injury and consumer protection cases, including trucking accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence and social security disability. Gerling Law takes pride in the fact that we have never represented insurance companies, hospitals or large corporations and that we fight against powerful companies for our clients. If you need an experienced, dedicated personal injury lawyer, Gerling Law is here to help. You can always reach us at 888-GERLING (888-437-5464) or through our website at www.gerlinglaw.com.

Mar 19, 2020 | By Gayle Gerling Pettinga | Read Time: 3 minutes | safety

Spring Safety: Did you know these facts?

Happy first day of spring! When springtime falls upon us, it brings with it many wonderful things; blossoming flowers, more sunshine, warmer weather, and the opportunity to spend time outdoors. However, did you know springtime also means an increase in accident rates? When the temperature rises, more people are likely to be outside walking, running, or doing other activities. As a result, this means more folks closer to the roads and quite possibly on them. To better protect yourself and your loved ones, we have put together some information about spring safety. Bike riding and pedestrian safety There are many activities that gain attention during the springtime weather. One of these is bike riding. This is an activity that can be done alone or as a family. Most likely, you have probably come across people riding their bikes on busy roads. Make sure if you are the one driving a vehicle to slow down around bike riders. If you need to move around them, double-check that the other lane is clear before going around. You can find more bicycle safety in related blogs here. Another activity that sees a rise in participants when it warms up is walking/running. As you drive down your neighborhood streets, keep an eye out for those who may be taking a family stroll or jogging by themselves. Just as it is for bicyclists, make sure you slow down if you near a pedestrian. That being said, if you are a bicyclist or pedestrian, you have responsibility, too. If you’re riding a bike, it is very important you signal. Signals can be made with just one hand in the direction you plan on turning. If you are unsure of what those signals are, that’s okay! The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a handy document explaining all the bike signals you’ll need to know. Even if you are not a bike rider, it is important to know these few signals in case you are on the road as a cyclist at the same time. Family safety Spring safety is especially important for those with little ones running around. If your family lives near a busy street, it might be worthwhile to invest in some form of fencing for your yard. This will allow any children and pets you have to roam freely within the boundaries of your yard. Further, ensure that they are always being supervised. Even small children can figure out how a gate works and could possibly slip out and into the street. To prevent any tragedies, it is important to keep an eye on the kiddos! Fun fact Did you know that the number of car accidents rise during the first few weeks of spring, following daylight savings? The ‘springing forward’ of the clocks has an effect on the human body. As a result, losing an hour of sleep means more tired drivers on the road. Fatigue is a very common form of distracted driving. Therefore, more accidents. Remember if you’re on the road, don’t drive if you’re exhausted. Keep an extra eye out for any unexpected road hazards during the darker times of the day. That being said, spring safety is a number one priority for us here at Gerling, and it should be for you, too. However, if the unfortunate happens and you do experience an accident or personal injury, you’ll need an attorney on your side. Gerling Law is a leading personal injury law firm dedicated to providing aggressive legal representation to individuals and their families. With over 50 years of experience, Gerling Law has helped thousands of people in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in a wide variety of personal injury and consumer protection cases, including trucking accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence and social security disability. Gerling Law takes pride in the fact that we have never represented insurance companies, hospitals or large corporations and that we fight against powerful companies for our clients. If you need an experienced, dedicated personal injury lawyer, Gerling Law is here to help. You can always reach us at 888-GERLING (888-437-5464) or through our website at www.gerlinglaw.com.

Mar 18, 2020 | By Gayle Gerling Pettinga | Read Time: 2 minutes | Fatal Accidents

Semi-Truck Safety – Avoiding a Huge Accident

When you’re on the road driving, safety should be your #1 concern. However, when you’re in a hurry and you get stuck behind a semi-truck, it can sometimes be inconvenient. Despite this inconvenience, it is important to follow semi-truck safety when behind the wheel. You might think that safety with semi-trucks is solely the responsibility of the truck driver. However, that is inaccurate. As a driver, it is your duty to practice safe driving when operating a vehicle. This includes being in control of possible road rage when near a semi on the road. In 2018, 67% of those who died in an accident involving a semi-truck were passengers of another vehicle. This is mostly because an 18-wheeler is obviously a lot larger than the average family vehicle. How can you practice semi-truck safety? There are many things you can do on the road to protect you and your loved ones. When it comes to pulling around semi-trucks, make sure you have plenty of space behind you before merging in front of a semi-truck. On average, it will take a semi-truck 40% longer to stop than it would a car. If weather conditions are bad, it can be up to a quarter mile. Also ensure you are putting plenty of distance in between you and the back of a semi. If the truck suddenly stops, you may not be prepared and could rear end it. Or, the person behind you could push you into the truck. The more space between you and the semi, the better. Following these tips can help protect you and the truck drivers as well. You can better your chances of avoiding a bad accident with a semi by simply being more aware of the distance and space between you and a semi-truck. Gerling Law is a leading personal injury law firm dedicated to providing aggressive legal representation to individuals and their families. With over 50 years of experience, Gerling Law has helped thousands of people in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in a wide variety of personal injury and consumer protection cases, including trucking accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence and social security disability. Gerling Law takes pride in the fact that we have never represented insurance companies, hospitals or large corporations and that we fight against powerful companies for our clients. If you need an experienced, dedicated personal injury lawyer, Gerling Law is here to help. You can always reach us at 888-GERLING (888-437-5464) or through our website at www.gerlinglaw.com.

Mar 11, 2020 | By Gayle Gerling Pettinga | Read Time: 2 minutes | social security disability

The Benefits of Benefits

You may be aware of the struggle some folks face when it comes to obtaining social security disability benefits. If you have ever considered applying because you qualify, but have wondered if it is worth it, here is your sign: it is! Social Security disability benefits could be the only thing standing in the way of your and your loved ones living comfortably. Stability in Finances A serious concern for most people is household finances. The average American household spends over $1,500 a month on necessary items, such as bills or groceries. Unfortunately, if you are disabled, one of your main worries is how you are going to pay for these things. However, by applying for SSI or SSDI, you start the process of possibly overcoming that financial concern. On average, monthly payments can range from $700 to $1700. This payment replaces what would be income from a steady job. Insurance Coverage Maybe this is something you would consider with your finances. However, once you are approved for social security, you no longer need to worry about medical coverage. So, depending on the type of benefits you apply for, SSI or SSDI, your medical costs will be low or reduced. We understand that with a disability comes what seems like an endless amount of doctors appointments. As a result, it doesn’t take long for those bills to start adding up. So, if this is something you might be worried about, it would be beneficial for you to apply for social security disability. However, don’t expect to be approved right away. As mentioned above, sometimes the process can seem tedious. But, it is worth it in the end if you receive an approval. Gerling Law is a leading personal injury law firm dedicated to providing aggressive legal representation to individuals and their families. With over 50 years of experience, Gerling Law has helped thousands of people in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in a wide variety of personal injury and consumer protection cases, including trucking accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence and social security disability. Gerling Law takes pride in the fact that we have never represented insurance companies, hospitals or large corporations and that we fight against powerful companies for our clients. If you need an experienced, dedicated personal injury lawyer, Gerling Law is here to help. You can always reach us at 888-GERLING (888-437-5464) or through our website at www.gerlinglaw.com.

Mar 4, 2020 | By Gayle Gerling Pettinga | Read Time: 2 minutes | auto

A police report could be vital to your case

A fender bender. A side swipe in the parking lot. Even the smallest of vehicular accidents require a police report. Why? This could be a vital piece of evidence in your personal injury case. Even if you think you just have a small concussion from a fender bender, you need to call 9-1-1. Police reports are actually extremely important when it comes to a personal injury case. There are multiple reasons for this. First, an official police report will document exactly what happened for every party involved. This means that no one can report to their insurance company a false story. However, if the same report is submitted to everyone, no lies can be spread. Secondly, the report will give insurance companies a more realistic picture of the accident scene and what happened. This will help prove who is at fault for the accident. Police presence helps YOU Police are also well-trained in accident situations. As a result, they can do a lot for you if you are in an accident. The police will find and question any witnesses, which allows you to focus on your own injuries and seeking medical attention. The police will most likely be able to figure out who is at fault, too. And, if it is not you, this is good news. Police reports will help you avoid any kind of scam or losing more money than you already have. If you find yourself injured because of an accident, it is imperative you seek out the police to file a report. This will be extremely helpful for your attorney in your case. Gerling Law is a leading personal injury law firm dedicated to providing aggressive legal representation to individuals and their families. With over 50 years of experience, Gerling Law has helped thousands of people in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in a wide variety of personal injury and consumer protection cases, including trucking accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence and social security disability. Gerling Law takes pride in the fact that we have never represented insurance companies, hospitals or large corporations and that we fight against powerful companies for our clients. If you need an experienced, dedicated personal injury lawyer, Gerling Law is here to help. You can always reach us at 888-GERLING (888-437-5464) or through our website at www.gerlinglaw.com.