Personal Injury Lawyer in Berne, Indiana

Have you been injured in an accident in Berne, Indiana? Did someone else’s carelessness, recklessness, or other wrongdoing cause the accident? If so, you may be entitled to compensation for the losses you’ve sustained as a result.

At Truitt Law Offices, our dedicated Berne personal injury lawyers have been helping injured people in Indiana secure fair compensation for more than 40 years. We know firsthand the legal issues and challenges you may be facing. We’re ready to leverage the full weight of our experience and resources to help you hold negligent parties accountable and pursue the money you need to recover.

We’ll listen to your story, provide you with free legal advice, and help you understand your options for moving forward in a free initial consultation. Contact us today to consult with a member of our trusted personal injury law firm.

What Are Common Types of Personal Injuries in Berne, Indiana?

The personal injury lawyers at Truitt Law Offices are prepared to handle legal issues involving any type of personal injury, including the following common examples:

• Motor vehicle accidents – Millions of people suffer serious harm in car accidents, truck wrecks, and motorcycle crashes every year. If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident, you could potentially recover compensation from an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
• Workplace injuries – If you suffered a work-related injury as an eligible employee in Berne, you could receive workers’ compensation benefits to cover your medical expenses and lost pay.
• Unsafe premises injuries – Dangerous conditions on other people’s property can lead to painful injuries from slip-and-fall accidents, fires, violent incidents, defective stairs or platforms, and more.
• Unsafe product injuries – You could be entitled to compensation if you sustain an injury or illness while using an unsafe product, such as a dangerous drug or defective equipment.
• Nursing home abuse and neglect – Thousands of older and disabled Americans are harmed every year due to nursing home abuse and neglect. A seasoned personal injury attorney can fight for justice and fair compensation on behalf of your loved one.
• Dog bites – Dogs and humans have a special relationship, but unfortunately, dogs are still animals that can inflict serious bite injuries in certain situations. An experienced lawyer can help you seek the money you need through a homeowners’ insurance claim.

How to Determine Negligence in a Berne Personal Injury Case?

The term “negligence” describes a failure to exercise the appropriate care toward others that a reasonably prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. To demand compensation in most personal injury claims, you typically need to prove that another party’s negligence contributed to your injuries.

One significant exception involves workers’ compensation claims. If you get hurt at work or develop an occupational illness and file an insurance claim with your employer’s workers’ comp insurance provider, you can recover benefits regardless of who was at fault. Similarly, you could obtain compensation from your own auto insurance provider after a motor vehicle accident if your policy includes optional no-fault benefits, such as MedPay coverage.

In personal injury cases where negligence does matter, however, you must be able to prove that the three following elements exist:

• The other party had a legal duty to avoid harming you. For example, other road users are legally responsible for driving safely and obeying traffic laws, animal owners are responsible for restraining their pets, and business owners are responsible for providing safe shopping environments for their customers.
• The other party failed to uphold their legal duty. This failure can involve either a specific action, a series of actions, or the failure to act. Examples include a driver who gets behind the wheel while drunk, a dog owner who fails to restrain their pet, or a business owner who fails to provide adequate security in their parking lot.
• The other party’s action or inaction harmed you. You’ll need to prove that the other party’s negligence was a direct contributing factor to the circumstances that caused your injuries.

What Is the Statute of Limitations in Indiana for Personal Injury Claims?

A statute of limitations is a special law that sets the amount of time you have to take certain types of legal action. In Indiana, the statute of limitations provides a two-year time limit for filing most personal injury lawsuits. This two-year period typically begins on the date when you initially got hurt. However, some exceptions could extend or limit this deadline.

If you are legally disabled, either mentally or physically, the statute of limitations may be suspended until your legal disability status is removed. For example, if an accidental injury left you in a coma, the clock on the statute of limitations period could be paused until you regained consciousness.

If you wish to file a wrongful death action as the personal representative of someone who was killed by another’s negligence, you have two years from the date of their death to file.

If a dangerously defective product harmed you, you have the standard two years from the date of the incident to file a product liability lawsuit. However, you must file your claim within 10 years of the date when you originally purchased or received the defective product. If you sustain an injury from the product at least eight years but less than 10 years after buying it, you have two full years to file a case.

If you don’t file your personal injury lawsuit within the deadline, you will likely lose your ability to pursue compensation for your losses. An injury lawyer can help you determine the time limits for your case and file in a prompt manner.

What Compensation Could I Be Eligible for in an Injury Claim?

Depending on the circumstances, you could be entitled to compensation for losses such as the following:

• Medical expenses for any present or future care you need to treat your accident-related conditions
• Lost wages from any missed time at work while you recover
• Lost long-term earning potential from any accident-related disabilities or conditions that prevent you from returning to your previous job or career path
• The subjective costs of the pain and suffering you endured due to your injuries
• The subjective costs of any losses in your quality of life caused by the aftereffects of the accident or your resulting injuries
• Punitive damages, which are awarded in exceptional circumstances involving at-fault parties who behaved with extreme negligence or intentional malice
• Repair or replacement costs for any personal property that was damaged in the incident that caused your injuries
• Out-of-pocket costs for incidental expenses related to your injuries, such as the costs of travel to and from medical appointments

Why Choose Us for Your Berne, Indiana, Personal Injury Case?

At Truitt Law Offices, we have decades of experience helping clients in Berne and throughout surrounding areas of Indiana from our offices in Fort Wayne. When you choose our law firm, you can rest assured that your case will be in the best possible hands. We’re ready to protect your rights and handle every aspect of your personal injury case while you focus on your health.

Contact us today for a free consultation with our personal injury lawyers to learn more about your legal options and how we can help make things right for you in a free initial case review.