Personal Injury Lawyers
Trust Our Experienced Team With Your Personal Injury Claim
We know you need help after an accident. Constant pressure from insurance agents can make a difficult and painful recovery even harder, especially if you’re struggling to make ends meet. If you or a loved one has suffered due to someone else’s negligence, the Evansville personal injury lawyers at Tuley Law Office have decades of combined experience and take injury cases on a contingency basis, meaning you don’t pay us anything until your case is won. Contact our team today to get started!
Why You Should Hire an Evansville, IN, Injury Lawyer
Personal injury cases are complex, and a lawyer can assist throughout every step of the process. First, hiring an experienced lawyer ensures that someone is looking out for your rights. Insurance companies and defense lawyers may give you information, but they have no obligation to tell you anything that benefits you. When you hire a lawyer, that lawyer works for you and only takes actions that are in your best interest.
In addition, fault in personal injury cases is not always straightforward. Unless the liable party is clearly to blame, there may be confusion surrounding who caused the accident. Your attorney can help gather evidence to strengthen the case and determine who is liable. This work will also help determine possible damages, such as medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
On top of proving fault in a personal injury case, having somebody on your side who understands the personal injury laws at play in your state can also be beneficial. The rules surrounding fault, compensation, and limitations differ throughout the country. Hiring an Indiana personal injury attorney ensures you do not make a mistake because you are unaware of a certain law or requirement.
Finally, lawyers are skilled at calculating the true value of a claim. They consider not only immediate expenses but also long-term costs, like ongoing medical treatment or lost earning potential. By accurately assessing the full scope of damages, they aim to secure the maximum settlement possible.
Types of Personal Injury Compensation
Under the legal doctrine of negligence, if you suffered an injury caused by someone else, you may be eligible for compensation. There are two types of damages awarded in personal injury lawsuits: compensatory and punitive.
Compensatory damages include, but are not limited to:
- Medical bills. Medical expenses are some of the easiest to determine and most common forms of compensation. Payments for surgeries, hospital stays, treatments, at-home care, transportation, etc., are all eligible for personal injury benefits. It’s important to keep track of any bills or expenses incurred over the course of your treatment.
- Future medical expenses. You may need accident-related medical care down the road, and these potential expenses should be included in your compensatory damages. This could include surgeries, pain management visits, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and more.
- Lost income or wages. This includes any money that you are unable to earn as a result of your injury. If you cannot go to work because you are in the hospital, you are likely still entitled to the same sum of money you would be making if you were at work.
- Loss of future earnings. Beyond any money lost as a result of an injury or treatment, if your injuries from an accident may affect your ability to work in the future, you may be able to receive this type of compensation.
- Physical pain and suffering. Any long-term discomfort, debilitation, or deformity suffered by the victim can be compensated to make up for its continuous negative impact.
- Emotional distress to the victim and/or relatives. Any lasting trauma or emotional turmoil caused by the accident can warrant additional compensation. These values can be difficult to determine because they are subjective and rarely come with a fixed price tag.
- Funeral expenses. If a personal injury victim dies in the accident or sometime after as a result of the accident, the responsible party will be held accountable for funeral expenses. This can include burial costs, cemetery arrangements, etc.
In some cases, punitive damages may be awarded. Punitive damages are awarded to the victim as a punishment to the defendant or responsible party. These are intended to discourage the liable party from repeating the same actions in the future.
However, some states limit the amount of damages a victim can receive from a personal injury case. Indiana puts limits on most injury cases and some, but not all, wrongful death cases.
Ultimately, Indiana damage caps on personal injury settlements are decided on a case-by-case basis. Hire an experienced Indiana injury lawyer to get a more accurate idea of what caps may be in place on your settlement.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Personal injury law covers any situation in which an individual is harmed by another party’s negligence. Types of cases our Evansville personal injury lawyers handle include, but are not limited to:
- Motor vehicle accidents. Car crashes, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, collisions with pedestrians, and other collisions happen frequently throughout Indiana. Our many twisting roadways and frequent road construction make these types of injury cases even more common in Evansville and the tri-state area.
- Brain injuries. These injuries can change a person’s behavior and ability to function forever. Receiving compensation for a brain injury may be one of the only ways to continue receiving a livable wage and to ensure future care is adequately covered.
- Spinal cord injuries. Damage to the spinal cord can result in permanent nerve damage that makes it difficult to move or function. These victims may no longer be able to work and receive an income, making them dependent on this compensation.
- Slip and fall accidents. These incidents can be as simple as falling on a wet floor in a supermarket or as dangerous as falling off a construction crane. The chaotic nature of slip and fall injuries can make it difficult to determine whether the injured party or another party was at fault.
- Dog attacks. Dog bites can cause a serious and lasting impact on the victim, including physical scars, disabilities, or emotional trauma. The owner can often be held liable.
- Wrongful death. If the victim of a personal injury accident dies as a result of their injuries, it becomes a wrongful death case. These cases often involve more significant benefits because the consequences are more severe on the victim’s family, especially if they were a primary source of income.
If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury related to any of the above accidents, contact our legal team today. If you don’t see your accident type in the list, check out this full list of our services or contact our office to see how we can help.
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit: Timeline and Steps
Timeframes for personal injury cases differ depending on individual circumstances; no two cases are the same. For the best time estimate, contact the personal injury attorneys at Tuley Law Office today for a no-cost case evaluation.
- See your doctor. Your health is the highest priority. Even if you don’t feel hurt or sense any injuries immediately following an accident, getting checked out by a doctor is important, as many injuries can take weeks or months to show. Your medical records will also be an important part of your case.
- Gather evidence. Once you are safe and healthy enough to proceed, you can begin to gather evidence related to your accident. Keep a file of letters from the insurance company, hospital bills, wage statements, and anything else that could prove fault or the extent of your losses.
- Legal consultation. As soon as you are able, make an appointment with Tuley Law Office. Our legal team will discuss the specifics of your case, including the accident itself, your injuries, and the medical treatment you have received. After speaking with a personal injury attorney, you will know where your case stands.
- Build your case. Once we represent you, we take over the legal duties on your behalf. This includes filling in any gaps in evidence, collecting your medical records and hospital bills, tracking down eyewitnesses, and speaking with expert witnesses who can testify to how much the accident has cost you.
- Negotiation. Based on the conversations between you and your attorney, we may consider beginning the negotiation process or filing a lawsuit. Most cases are settled without the need for trial. However, we still prepare our cases as if they will go to trial to anticipate defendants’ and insurers’ arguments and avoid delays.
- Settlement. Throughout negotiations, you and the defendant (or insurance company) have the option to agree to a settlement amount that will end the case. The insurance company wants this number to be as low as possible. We fight to ensure your rights are respected and you get full compensation for all you have suffered.
How Do We Help With Your Personal Injury Settlement Claims?
Personal injury cases are unique and depend heavily on the individual circumstances of the accident that occurred. That said, our lawyers are dedicated to serving our clients in a number of ways to make their lives easier after a severe accident.
The personal injury team at Tuley Law Office will:
- Handle communications. We communicate directly with insurance companies and the responsible party so you can continue with your life. This also protects you from any intimidation tactics or lowball settlement offers.
- Deal with insurance companies. Insurers are known for offering low settlements or even denying claims outright. A lawyer negotiates with the insurer on your behalf, ensuring that the offer you receive is fair and reflective of your actual damages. We understand the tactics insurers use to minimize payouts and will advocate for you.
- Maximize compensation. Lawyers are skilled at calculating the true value of a claim. We consider not only immediate expenses but also long-term costs, like ongoing medical treatment or lost earning potential. By assessing the full scope of damages, we aim to secure the maximum settlement possible.
- Handle legal procedures. Personal injury cases can involve complex legal procedures, including filing court documents, meeting deadlines, and representing you in negotiations or at trial. We ensure these steps are properly followed, protecting your interests.
- Litigate. If a fair settlement can’t be reached, we are prepared to take the case to court, where we will fight for the compensation you deserve.
Every case is different, so we cannot assume your case will follow one particular set of steps. Contact our legal team today for more information about your personal injury claim.
How Are Personal Injury Settlements Paid?
When receiving compensation for your personal injury settlement, compensation can be paid out as a single lump sum or as a series of payments in the form of a structured settlement. Contact the Evansville personal injury attorneys at Tuley Law Office today to discuss which type of settlement payout is best for you.
How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost in Indiana?
Personal injury case fees are often decided on a contingency basis. This means that the cost of a personal injury lawyer will be directly proportional to the settlement the victim (you) receives. A contingency-based fee structure has two main benefits:
- Your Tuley Law Office injury attorney will work hard for you because they do not get paid if you do not win. When you become one of our clients, you become a part of our team.
- If you lose the case, you will not be burdened with financial debt or the expectation of paying us. There is no risk in calling our team because we will not charge you if you do not make money.
Our Evansville personal injury attorneys are here to help you receive sufficient compensation for the true value of your sustained injuries. Insurance companies might offer you a sum that seems adequate but does not account for future costs.
Indiana Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Cases
In the state of Indiana, the deadline to file a lawsuit for a personal injury claim is generally two years from the date of the injury or accident.
If the victim dies, their family or friends will generally have two years from the date of that person’s death to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
We recommend that you do not wait to file a lawsuit and call us as soon as possible after the accident happens. A fresh memory can make all the difference when determining fault in an accident.
Reach Out to the Evansville Personal Injury Lawyers at Tuley Law Office
If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury due to another person’s negligence, contact the Indiana personal attorneys at Tuley Law Office.
Our legal team has decades of combined experience to guide you through the entire process of obtaining full and fair compensation for your personal injury. Contact us today for a no-cost case evaluation by calling (812) 434-1936.