If you were injured in Lake County, Indiana, and you weren’t at fault, you could be entitled to recover damages for any of your accident-related expenses. You could be putting your compensation at risk by filing a legal claim in Indiana on your own.
There are pitfalls that come with personal injury cases that might not be immediately apparent. The legal team at Yosha Law will protect your claim. Our personal injury attorneys are ready to review your case and advise you on your next steps.
How a Lawyer Can Help You After an Accident in Indiana
When you work with a personal injury lawyer in Lake County, you will have an advocate who will fight tirelessly to protect your rights. Insurance companies make money by denying and reducing compensation any way they can. They use many tricks to devalue your compensation so they can hold onto their profits. These are some of the other ways we can help if you or a loved one was injured:
- We will investigate your case.
- We will gather evidence to prove fault.
- We will calculate your damages.
- We will hire expert witnesses if it’s needed in your case.
- We will go to trial if it becomes necessary.
You deserve dedicated, compassionate legal representation. Yosha Law’s respected attorneys will work to get you the full and fair compensation you are entitled to if you were injured by another party’s negligence.
The Deadline to File an Injury Lawsuit in Indiana
There is a limited window of time to file a personal injury lawsuit in Lake County, Indiana. This is known as a statute of limitations. If you fail to pursue an injury lawsuit before this window closes, you may miss out on the chance to do so – forever.
The statute of limitations for Indiana personal injury lawsuits can be found at Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4. This two-year window begins to expire as soon as the injury occurs, giving you little time to secure legal counsel and move forward with your claim.
There are extremely limited exceptions that could extend the amount of time you have to file a legal claim. These include exceptions that are related to disability. In Indiana, it also includes injured parties who are under the age of 18. are generally related to legal disabilities, which include being under the age of 18. Personal injury attorneys in Lake County, IN, can tell you if any of these exceptions apply to your lawsuit.
Common Examples of Personal Injury Claims
There are many types of accidents that can result in a personal injury claim. Any time injuries are caused by another party’s negligence, there is the potential for a legal claim. These are some of the most common types of claims we represent:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Slip and falls
- Defective products
- Dog bites
- Assault
In some cases, multiple parties may be at fault for an injury. Our personal injury lawyers in Lake County, Indiana, will identify all liable parties to ensure that you get fair and adequate compensation.
How Fault Is Established in a Personal Injury Claim
If you were injured in a car accident or any other type of incident that was caused by another party’s negligence, the key to winning a legal claim is to successfully establish fault. Your Lake County lawyer will establish that the other party had a duty of care toward you and breached that duty of care, leading to your injuries.
For example, a driver who was distracted by their cell and caused an accident has a duty of care to keep their eyes on the road to protect other drivers. By reading a text message while behind the wheel, the driver put other people who were using the road at risk. When this type of behavior results in injury or death, the at-fault driver can be held accountable in civil court.
We establish fault by using evidence to prove that the other party’s negligence caused the accident. This could include police reports, photos, medical bills, and any other documentation of the circumstances surrounding your accident.
Indiana Is an “At-Fault” State
Fault laws are set at the state level. Indiana is an “at-fault” state, which means the driver who caused the accident is responsible for covering the damages. The at-fault driver would then compensate you and any other injured parties for accident-related costs like:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emergency transportation
- Funeral expenses
This differs from the laws in “no-fault” states, where each driver’s insurance company is responsible for covering their own damages. In Indiana, if you shared fault in the wreck, your compensation can be reduced based on your percentage of fault. However, if you were more than 50% responsible for the accident, you will not be able to recover damages.
Judicial Officials in Lake County, Indiana
In May 2021, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed a new mandate into legislation that allows for additional magistrates and courts in five Indiana counties, including Lake County. They will be appointed by the Judge of the Lake Circuit Court to serve the community.
This legislation has been controversial, but it is supported by the Judiciary and the Interim Study Committee on Courts to handle the demands that have been placed on the courts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lake County Resources
If you’ve been injured, you may need to be treated at the hospital, and you may also need to file a police report. Here are some resources you may find helpful after an accident in Lake County, Indiana:
Lake County Sheriff
2293 N Main Street
Building-C, Door J-2
Crown Point, IN 46307
Phone: (219) 755-3400
Regency Hospital – Northwest Indiana
4321 Fir St 4th Floor
East Chicago, IN 46312
Phone: (219) 392-7799
7904 Cabela Dr
Hammond, IN 46324
Phone: (219) 554-9911
Vibra Hospital of Northwestern Indiana
9509 Georgia St
Crown Point, IN 46307
Phone: (219) 472-2200
Reach Out to a Lake County Personal Injury Attorney
If you suffered an injury at the hands of another person, you have the right to pursue legal action against them. Holding negligent entities and individuals accountable is possible in Indiana, but the process is rarely easy.
A Lake County personal injury lawyer could reduce the stress and worry of an injury claim and ensure your case is filed on time. Reach out to the team at Yosha Law right away to get started. We are here to help.
