Fort Wayne Personal Injury Lawyers

When most people think of personal injury, they think of car accidents. However, a personal injury case may arise in any situation where someone is injured at little to no fault of their own. In other words, the underlying fact patterns of potential personal injury cases are virtually limitless. Our legal team has decades of experience handling many types of personal injury cases, including:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Uber accidents
• Workers’ compensation
• Construction site accidents
• Premises liability
• Defective drugs and medical devices
• Toxic torts
• Mesothelioma/asbestos
• Dog bites
• Birth injuries
• Nursing home abuse
• Wrongful death

Though the amount of compensation you may be entitled to will vary widely based on the extent and seriousness of your injuries, “severe” injuries are not a prerequisite for filing a personal injury claim. Though comparatively minor injuries may result in less compensation, there is little downside to having your case evaluated in a free consultation with one of our attorneys. Even seemingly “minor” injuries may result in significant compensation.

How much your case is worth depends on a variety of underlying factors, the most important being the extent and severity of your injuries. Depending on your case, you may be compensated for both the economic and non-economic impact your injuries and losses have on your life. Our injury attorneys can help you seek compensation for things like:

• Medical expenses you incur treating your injuries
• Out-of-pocket costs for expenses, like medical travel
• Reduced income due to time missed at work
• Projected losses in your future earning potential
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Lowered quality of life
• Loss of consortium
• Wrongful death
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Repair or replacement costs of damaged property

You cannot be compensated by an at-fault party for preexisting injuries they did not cause. That said, preexisting conditions will not bar you from filing a claim to recover for more recent injuries sustained in an accident at little to no fault of your own. However, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish older and newer injuries. Therefore, in cases where it is necessary to do so, it is best to have a skilled attorney in your corner.

In most cases, Indiana’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of your injury to file a claim against the at-fault party. If you wait until the two-year deadline has passed, your case will most likely be dismissed in court, thereby eliminating your bargaining power when negotiating an out-of-court settlement with the at-fault party and their insurers. Therefore, if you were injured in an accident you did not cause, it is best to speak to an injury attorney as soon as possible to get your case started.

Every personal injury case is different. A relatively straightforward case could settle in a few weeks. By contrast, a more complex case involving life-changing injuries could take months or even years. Though these time frames may feel discouraging, always remember that a speedy settlement is not always a good one. In many cases, accepting an early settlement means forfeiting a much higher one down the road. Call us today to discuss the potential value of your case in a free consultation.

This question requires two answers: one for your own insurer and one for the at-fault party’s.

Your own insurance policy most likely requires you to report accidents before a certain deadline to preserve coverage. Do not miss the deadline. However, when making your report, you do not have to reveal anything other than the basic facts. Once you make the brief report, let your attorney do the rest of the talking.

On the other hand, you are not legally obligated to speak with the at-fault party’s insurer at all. They may seem friendly when they call, but they are actually looking for as many reasons as possible to deny your claim.

The best way to respond is by simply declining to comment on the accident and referring them to your attorney.

If they call before you secure legal representation:

1. Do not admit fault,
2. Do not provide a recorded statement,
3. Do not sign a medical record release,
4. Do not accept an early settlement offer, as it likely significantly undervalues your claim.

The vast majority of personal injury cases result in an out-of-court settlement. This is normally in everyone’s best interest, since going to trial can be very time-consuming and expensive. However, when a reasonable settlement cannot be reached and there is a significant likelihood of securing a higher judgment in court, your case may end up going to trial.

When things come to this point, it is essential that you have a knowledgeable attorney skilled in arguing before a court. Ideally, this attorney will be the same one who handled settlement negotiations, as they are most familiar with the intricacies of your case.

Your attorney acts as your closest ally throughout the life of your case. As your legal counsel, they are professionally and legally obligated to protect and promote your best interest. In a personal injury case, they will do so by:

• Ensuring that you know your rights and options.
• Determining all possible sources of compensation for your claim.
• Conducting an independent investigation into the cause of your injuries.
• Communicating with insurance representatives and others on your behalf.
• Obtaining evidence and witness testimony to support your case.
• Managing case documents, filings, and deadlines.
• Negotiating aggressively and strategically to maximize your settlement.
• Taking your case to court and representing you at trial.

Many injury victims are reluctant to seek legal help due to common preconceptions about attorney fees. However, securing high-quality legal representation can be simple and affordable.

At Truitt Law Offices, we take cases on a contingency basis, meaning you need not make any up-front or out-of-pocket payments for us to begin working on your case. Ultimately, we only collect payment if and when we successfully secure compensation on your behalf. Our fee is calculated as a pre-negotiated percentage of your settlement, so there are no surprises on the front- or back-end of your case.