Personal Injury FAQ
Answers you can trust from experienced lawyers in Fort Wayne & Indianapolis
Knowing what to do after a personal injury accident can be confusing. You probably have a lot of important legal questions. Who will pay for your accident? What can you be compensated for? What are your legal options?
Fortunately, you don’t have to tackle your accident on your own. We can help. Our dedicated team of trial lawyers at Glaser & Ebbs knows the answers to these questions. That’s because we have more than 100 years of combined legal experience.
Our experience has provided us with an in-depth knowledge of Indiana’s laws. We know how the legal system works in our state. That’s why injury victims and their families routinely rely on us to help them after a serious accident. We know exactly what to do, and we fight to win.
What is your personal injury question?
Below, you will find the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about personal injury accidents. If you don’t see your specific question, don’t worry. Simply contact our law firm. We offer a free consultation to everyone dealing with an injury sustained in an accident. We also encourage you to talk to a lawyer at our firm even if you see your question listed below. That’s because every injury accident is unique. No two are ever alike. That’s why we work hard with each client to create a strategy that suits their specific situation.
- What is a personal injury accident?
- What are common legal cases?
- Who determines who’s at fault?
- How much is my case worth?
- What expenses can I be compensated for?
- Should I accept a settlement offer?
- Should I file a personal injury lawsuit?
- How much time do I have to take legal action?
- Why should I hire a personal injury lawyer?
What is a personal injury accident?
A personal injury accident is a type of accident in which someone gets hurt due to another person’s reckless or negligent behavior. These types of accidents can cover a wide range, from a slip and fall accident to a dog bite. What matters is someone clearly caused the accident that resulted in another person’s injury.
Legal cases involving personal injury accidents can cover a wide range. In general, such cases often involve proving that someone else’s actions or neglect resulted in an accident. This might sound straightforward but proving that someone (or a particular business) was directly responsible for a personal injury accident can often be very challenging. That’s why it’s critical to talk to a lawyer familiar with these types of cases right away.
Who determines who’s at fault?
Many people are often involved in investigating personal injury accidents to determine who caused the incident. Sometimes, state or local inspectors are involved. At some point, the insurance company for the at-fault party (often, the property owner where the accident took place) gets involved in the investigation. That’s because Indiana has a fault-based insurance system. That means the at-fault party is responsible for financially compensating injury victims. As a result, insurance companies are often very concerned about who was at fault since it could cost them a lot of money if their client is blamed for causing the accident. So, it important for an injury victim’s attorney to be part of the process of determining who was at fault in an accident. Otherwise, the injury victim might not get the money they deserve for their accident-related expenses.
There’s no set dollar amount when it comes to personal injury accidents. Some cases might be worth a few thousand dollars. Others might be worth significantly more. That’s why it’s important to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible familiar with these types of cases. In particular, your attorney can help determine the estimated value of your claim.
What expenses can I be compensated for?
In general, you should be compensated for all accident-related expenses. What many people might not realize is compensation is not just for short-term expenses immediately after an accident. Even if you have bills or lost income years later due to your accident, you should be financially compensated for such expenses, which often include:
- Past, current and future medical bills, including all surgical procedures, chronic pain management, physical therapy and in-home medical care if necessary
- Replacement income if you cannot work during your recovery
- Lost future income if you cannot return to work due to a permanent disability
Should I accept a settlement offer?
You might be tempted to accept a settlement offer soon after your personal injury accident. In many cases, the insurance company for the at-fault party (often, the property owner where your injury occurred) will make a settlement offer to resolve your injury claim. While it might be tempting to accept this offer, it’s also important to keep in mind that many settlement offers only cover short-term costs, like emergency medical care and lost income shortly after your injury. Insurance companies rarely consider long-term, anticipated expenses, including follow-up surgical procedures, physical therapy and chronic pain management. That’s why it’s important to carefully consider any settlement offer. Once you agree to accept one, you often cannot ask for additional financial compensation in the future. An experienced lawyer can help you review any settlement offers and advise you on whether you should accept it.
Should I file a personal injury lawsuit?
In many cases, the best way to get the maximum financial compensation for all your injury-related expenses is to file a lawsuit. However, it’s important to understand that the legal process for many personal injury lawsuits can be very complicated. Often, you need to provide clear evidence (often known as the burden of proof in a personal injury lawsuit) that the at-fault party caused your injury through their actions or negligence. This might seem straightforward, but many personal injury lawsuits turn out to be far more complicated than many injury victims suspect. The main reason why is at-fault party might deny doing anything wrong or try to blame you. That’s why it’s important to talk to a lawyer right away if you think you might have grounds for filing a personal injury lawsuit.
How much time do I have to take legal action?
Indiana has strict deadlines when it comes to filing a personal injury lawsuit or taking other legal action. In most cases, you only have two years from the date of your accident to take legal action. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations. If you miss this deadline, you could miss out on your only opportunity to obtain all the financial compensation you deserve for your injury-related expenses.
Why should I hire a personal injury lawyer?
Many personal injury claims turn out to be contentious legal battles. This is often because the at-fault party (often, the property owner where the injury took place) denies doing anything wrong. Their insurance company and their attorneys then often do everything they can to discredit you and deny your injury claim. An experienced lawyer working for you can help level the playing field. Your attorney can take aggressive legal action after your accident. Whether it’s conducting an in-depth investigation on your behalf or demanding the maximum financial compensation you deserve, your lawyer can put your best interests first.