812-213-4551Indianapolis Personal Injury Attorneys
Helping Injured Clients Make a Full Financial Recovery
Being injured due to another’s negligence can cause significant stress for you and your family. You are probably trying to heal from your injuries, keeping up with medical appointments, losing time from work, and possibly struggling financially.
When someone else is responsible for your injuries, you may have the legal right to pursue a compensation claim. To learn more, contact the Indianapolis personal injury attorneys at Gerling Law Injury Attorneys Office today.
Understandably, most injured victims aren’t familiar with how the claims process works. That’s why you need a legal advocate who will look out for you and protect your rights. Be wary of the other party’s insurance adjuster. Despite what they tell you, they are not on your side.
Their loyalty is to the insurer, and they are looking for ways to save money whenever possible. They may try to get you to give a recorded statement or settle for an amount far less than your claim is worth. Do not let them pressure you into signing anything without first speaking with one of the lawyers at Gerling Law Injury Attorneys Office.
Our Indianapolis personal injury law firm has over 50 years of experience, and we understand the nuances of personal injury claims and Indiana laws.
Contact us online or call 812-213-4551 today for a free consultation.
What Types of Indianapolis Personal Injury Cases Does Your Legal Team Handle?
Our personal injury lawyers in Indianapolis have the experience and skills you need for any injury claim.
Some of the most common types of cases we typically handle include:
- Car accidents: may involve another car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, bicycle, bus, train, and more
- Severe and catastrophic injuries: Brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and burn injuries can leave victims with permanent damage
- Animal bites: When a dog or other animal bites you, you could have a claim for damages
- Product liability: These are cases where a defective product caused your injuries, which could include medical equipment, household products, dangerous drugs, and more
- Construction site accidents: Injuries at construction sites can occur from explosions, dangerous equipment, hazards, electrocutions, fires, falling from heights, and so on
- Medical malpractice: This includes birth injuries such as cerebral palsy and other acts of negligence
- Premises liability: Slips and falls are among the most common types of premises liability cases, but negligent security, swimming pool accidents, and more all fall under this specialty area of personal injury law
- Nursing home abuse and neglect: Nursing home abuse and neglect are rampant problems all across the country, in some cases even in nursing homes that have an excellent record
- Wrongful death: When someone passes away from injuries caused by another person’s intentional actions, recklessness, or negligence, surviving family members may have a claim for wrongful death
If you don’t see your type of claim listed here, don’t despair. We handle other types of personal injury matters as well. Schedule a no-obligation consultation with our office to discuss your specific circumstances. Our experienced Indianapolis injury attorneys can then tell you what the best course of legal action is.
What Is Personal Injury Law?
Personal injury law provides a method of financial recovery for victims who are harmed by someone else’s actions. Sometimes the act was intentional; other times, it was careless or reckless. A wide variety of scenarios fall under personal injury law. So, if someone else caused your injuries, speak with one of our Indianapolis personal injury lawyers who can help you pursue a claim for damages. The term damages refers to your losses, such as medical expenses, time off work, your pain and suffering, etc.
If the injured victim dies, specific family members may be able to bring a wrongful death claim. Wrongful death claims are different from other personal injury claims. The damages that family members seek in a wrongful death claim are for their own losses.
Our Indianapolis personal injury lawyers are knowledgeable, professional, and easy to talk with. We understand the nuances of personal injury law due to our decades of combined experience. We promise to leverage our knowledge and skills to get you the best possible results in your case.
Whether you are suffering from an auto accident, medical malpractice, construction accident, slip and fall, or any other injury that occurred due to someone else’s negligence, we can help you get full and fair compensation. Call today to learn more.
Over $500 Million in Recoveries
Knowledgeable, professional, and easy to talk with. Gerling Law Injury Attorneys provide a truly exemplary example of a metropolitan law firm that still cares for the welfare of the little guy who needs great representation! – Tresa H.
How Can I Prove Liability in an Indianapolis Personal Injury Matter?
Before you can successfully recover compensation in a personal injury claim, you must prove liability against the responsible parties. Indiana is a modified comparative negligence state. That means you could be entitled to collect compensation provided you are not more than 50% at fault. This law is known as the 51% fault rule, meaning you must be less than 51% at fault to recover any compensation.
Your percentage of fault will reduce any compensation you are awarded. For example, if you are 20% at fault in an accident, you could recover 80% of your damages. If you are 60% at fault, you will receive nothing.
Insurance companies have an incentive to place additional blame on you in a personal injury case. It reduces their potential exposure and possible payout. That is why having a legal advocate on your side is so important. In Indianapolis, our personal injury attorneys are committed to guiding you through every stage of your claim. We ensure that the at-fault party’s insurance adjuster cannot unfairly diminish their financial obligation to provide you with full compensation.
Types of Recoverable Damages in an Indianapolis Personal Injury Claim
Damages available in a personal injury case will vary based on the type of case, the severity of your injuries, and the percentage of liability. In general, you have two main categories of damages. The first is economic, and the second is non-economic.
Economic damages are those that can be calculated, such as medical bills, missed time from work, property damage, and more. There is typically some financial proof that supports the loss.
With non-economic damages, the value is more subjective and therefore harder to calculate. These damages can include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more. Unfortunately, most insurance companies ignore non-economic damages when making a settlement offer. Personal injury lawyers like those at our law firm can help ensure you get the maximum amount of compensation for your non-economic losses.
Finally, in some personal injury cases, punitive damages may be awarded. Punitive damages are reserved for cases involving intentional actions or gross negligence, such as someone driving drunk.
Our accident lawyers will help identify what damages you’ve suffered in your car accident, workplace accident, or other incident. Contact us today for help collecting monetary compensation for lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life, catastrophic injury, and more.
Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims in Indiana
When you are pursuing an Indianapolis personal injury claim, there is a legal deadline that the state of Indiana enforces, called the statute of limitations. Failure to file your lawsuit within the designated timeframe will almost certainly result in the dismissal of your claim by the court. In most cases, you have two years from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit.
The statute of limitations may be different depending on the type of case. That is one reason why retaining an Indianapolis personal injury attorney is crucial. Two years might seem like a long time, but it’s not. It’s easy to inadvertently miss the deadline, especially if you are in the middle of negotiations with the insurance company.
What’s more, the longer you wait to start the legal process, the harder it can be to find evidence that backs up your claim. You might risk losing compensation because you can no longer find eyewitnesses or surveillance footage of the incident.
Please don’t take any chances when it comes to recovering damages. Call now to schedule a free case evaluation with our experienced attorneys.
How Can I Maximize My Compensation from the Insurance Company?
Many accident victims in Indiana make the mistake of thinking they will get compensated in full when they file with their insurance company. Sadly, the insurance agent is usually not looking to give the victim the best deal possible, but is seeking to minimize their payout. Insurance adjusters often overlook future expenses and non-economic damages like emotional distress when offering an initial settlement.
When an insurance company makes you an offer, please consult with a personal injury lawyer before accepting it or making any statements. With legal representation, your attorney can assess your injuries to determine if the settlement amount aligns with your current and future needs, potentially leading to a more favorable outcome.
If the payout from the insurance company doesn’t meet your needs, having a personal injury lawyer on your side can also make it possible for you to pursue compensation in a legal suit. They’ll represent you aggressively before a judge or jury while providing legal counsel and emotional support throughout the entire process.
Call the accident lawyers at Gerling Law Injury Attorneys Office today to learn how we can help.
What Are the Most Common Personal Injury Accidents that Occur in Indiana?
Of the many personal injuries that occur in Indiana, the most common might be damages related to car accidents. With Indiana’s busy roadways, wrecks happen all too often. The sad part is that most of these incidents could be avoided if people drove safely and followed the law.
Some of the most dangerous car accidents involve large trucks. Truck accidents often lead to devastating injuries that impact victims for the rest of their lives. In the most tragic cases, truck accidents result in fatalities, leaving families to grieve and face financial hardship after losing a loved one. Our legal team has the expertise and skill to achieve positive outcomes for clients who have suffered injuries in commercial vehicle accidents.
Another type of car accident that is often deadly is when alcohol is involved. If you or a loved one was injured by a drunk driver, you may be eligible for additional compensation called punitive damages. Let our accident lawyers help you maximize compensation by hiring us to pursue compensation following a drunk driving accident.
What Should I Do if I’ve Experienced a Car Accident?
Being in a car wreck can be terrifying. Many victims are disoriented due to the accident and aren’t sure what to do next. The good news is that there are steps you can take to protect yourself physically and legally following a car crash.
Some steps you can take after a car accident to ensure you get the compensation you deserve include:
- Staying at the accident scene to avoid hit-and-run charges
- Calling law enforcement so you have a police report on file
- Seeking urgent medical attention, even if you think you aren’t injured
- Gathering photo, video, and eyewitness evidence while at the crash scene
- Talking to a car accident lawyer as soon as possible
If you take the simple steps of gathering evidence and reaching out to a lawyer soon after your crash, you increase your chances of walking away with the compensation you need for medical bills, lost income, emotional distress, wrongful death, and other damages.
Please act quickly to be seen by a medical professional, as this proves to the insurance company that your injuries are severe enough to merit compensation. In some cases, the victim doesn’t think they’re injured because of the adrenaline rush of the crash, while in reality, they have masked internal injuries or traumatic brain injuries.
Once you’re safe and recovering, contact our accident lawyers to learn the next step in your legal process.
Why Are Your Accident Lawyers the Team I Need to Handle My Personal Injury Claim?
When you are suffering from a personal injury due to medical malpractice, a car accident, or any other incident caused by someone else’s recklessness, you need personal injury lawyers on your side who you can trust to get you a favorable outcome.
At Gerling Law Injury Attorneys Office, we base every piece of advice on our decades of experience with personal injury law in Indiana. We understand the complexities of proving negligence and backing up each claim with evidence. We are also your staunch allies in negotiations with the at-fault party and the insurance companies.
You can trust our legal team to handle calls from insurance agents, requests for evidence, or courtroom appearances before a judge or jury. When you need a legal team that knows the law and is willing to fight for you, you need the personal injury lawyers at Gerling Law Injury Attorneys Office.
We offer free consultations so you can get answers and advice at no cost. What’s more, we charge on a contingency basis, so you won’t pay us anything unless we win. Call now to schedule your free case evaluation with our caring, capable legal team.
Contact the Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers at Gerling Law Today
Personal injury cases can be complex, especially those involving defective products, medical malpractice, and premises liability. You need an experienced Indianapolis personal injury law firm with the skills and financial resources to take your case to trial if necessary.
Don’t risk your potential settlement by leaving your case to chance. Get the guidance you need to successfully navigate the legal process and walk away with compensation for your injuries.
Let us fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact Gerling Law Injury Attorneys Office today to schedule a free consultation to learn more. With over 50 years of experience, we are not afraid to take on any case, no matter how complicated.
Send us an online message or call 812-213-4551 today for a free, no-obligation consultation.