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Lake County Personal Injury Lawyers

While we can plan for many life events in advance, nobody plans to be in an accident. Even if we take all the proper precautions, events beyond our control can leave us injured and facing large expenses from medical bills. If you’ve been hurt due to someone else’s negligence, you may benefit from pursuing a personal injury claim.

Protecting Your Rights When You’ve Been Hurt In Lake County

Since the 1960s, the attorneys at Miller Sachs & Hess, PC, have represented over a thousand accident victims, helping people receive compensation for their injury claims. We have helped countless people across Lake County with:

  • Motor vehicle accidents. This can include car accidents and accidents involving motorcycles, trucks, watercraft or airplanes.
  • Product liability. Dangerous products can lead to serious injury or death.
  • Premises liability. You may have a case if you are hurt on someone else’s property because of the property owner’s negligence.

Following an accident, seek medical attention. Once you have been treated, let us pursue a settlement, handle the details of your legal claim and file a lawsuit while you concentrate on healing.

Do I Need Counsel In Every Personal Injury Case?

That is a personal choice you have to make. The law can be complex and confusing, especially to a nonlawyer. For instance, in the case of any claim against a governmental agency (city, state, county, school, etc.) there is a Tort Claim Notice requirement that must be served within a certain amount of time, the shortest of which is 180 days. Most nonlawyers are unaware of this requirement; if it is not met, your claim will fail. As a firm that has been handling this type of case for over 50 years, we believe we can present your case for compensation for your injuries better than individuals can for themselves. The quicker you hire an attorney, the quicker they can start working on your case.

How Do I Pay For My Legal Fees?

Most personal injury cases are handled on a contingent fee basis. Your lawyer gets paid a percentage of the recovery so there are no attorney fees unless there is a settlement or recovery at trial. Indiana requires that contingency fee agreements be in writing.

If I Am Involved In An Accident And Have Some Pain, Do I Need To Go To The Doctor Or Emergency Room Right Away, And If I Don’t, Does It Hurt My Case?

If your pain is strong enough that you believe medical attention is necessary, then you should absolutely go to the emergency room. Sometimes, especially with soft tissue injuries, the pain doesn’t develop until later. It is common for people to see their doctor later in the day or the next day when they start to feel the pain.

Should I Give A Statement To The Insurance Company?

You should always cooperate with your own insurance company; however, we would never suggest that anyone give a statement to the opposing insurance company without consulting with a lawyer. The reasons are the other person’s insurance company has their insured’s version of the accident as well as an accident report. In certain cases, we may allow insurance adjusters to take a recorded statement from our client, but only if we are present.

Is The Other Driver’s Insurance Company Responsible To Pay My Medical Bills?

No, not directly. The only thing that you, on your own, or a lawyer is going to obtain from the other driver’s insurance company is ultimately a lump sum of money by way of settlement, or a judgment after a trial of your case for all of your damages, including the injury; the medical bills incurred; the pain and suffering; lost time from work; lost wages; and potentially loss of consortium of a spouse. In this regard, we advise clients to utilize their own automobile insurance coverage for medical payments to the extent of its limits and whatever health insurance they have as a primary/secondary carrier to cover all medical bills. This ensures the bills are paid now as opposed to not being paid until the case is settled, which can result in credit problems.

What If The Other Person Involved In The Automobile Accident Does Not Have Insurance?

In the state of Indiana, if the other person does not have insurance, it is likely that you or the driver of the car you are in will have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to the same extent of their own liability coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage is provided to protect you in just that type of situation: when you are involved in an accident with someone else who does not have insurance. Your legal counsel will ultimately resolve the case for a lump sum of money with your insurance company. Your insurance company will pay the damages up to the extent of your coverage by settlement or trial.

What If The Police Officer Says It Was Partially My Fault, Or I Think It Was Partially My Fault? Does This Preclude Me From Recovering For My Injuries And Damages?

It is up to the judge or jury to decide, not the police officer, how much you are entitled. Indiana has a comparative fault law with regard to negligence accidents. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. In other words, if you were determined by the jury to be 15% at fault, then the amount of your damages is reduced by 15%. The only time you would not be able to recover is if the fault assessed to you is 51% or more.

How Long Do I Have To Hire An Attorney After An Accident?

In Indiana, the time limit for filing personal injury cases is generally two years from the date of the accident. There are certain exceptions that extend the time, but they are very limited. Obviously, depending on the complexity of how the injury happened, a lawyer needs sufficient time to investigate and determine who the proper parties are to sue. In short, as soon as you think you need an attorney for your injury case, you should hire one right away.

How Do I Know Which Attorney To Hire?

You can certainly talk to friends and acquaintances regarding the reputation of personal injury law firms in your area regarding certain types of cases. While the Yellow Pages are available to indicate, through advertising, what types of cases different firms handle, a better source is Martindale-Hubbell, which has a website that is accessible where lawyers are actually rated by their peers. An AV rating is the highest rating that they can have for their skill and knowledge of the law, and honesty and integrity. Certainly, many firms, as this one does, now have websites to provide additional information regarding the firm and the lawyers in it.

Immediate Help Is Available

Our office is conveniently located in Crown Point, on U.S. 41, just one mile south of U.S. 30, or we can meet with you where you are. Contact us online or call us at Miller Sachs & Hess, PC, locally at 219-227-4259 to schedule a consultation regarding your injury claim.