Becoming a victim of a personal injury that resulted at no fault of your own is not an obstacle you planned on facing in life. However, now that you are on this journey, the most important factors are your health and well-being. Aside from medical treatment, it is important to also protect your legal rights, especially to compensation for your damages and losses. So as you turn the corner from medical care to legal action, be sure you are asking the right questions about your personal injury case.
Continue reading for some helpful tips, including who to call for professional legal advice regarding your potential claim.
Do I Have a Case?
The first and foremost question you should be asking yourself, and then a qualified lawyer, is the question of validity. Are there grounds for compensation? Did the at-fault party have a duty of care and breached it, resulting in your injuries? Consult with a licensed Indianapolis personal injury lawyer who offers free consultations, and use that time to discuss the strength of your case.
How Long Do I Have to Make a Claim?
There are set statute of limitations for every type of legal action. In tort law, personal injury claims are brought forth in civil court, which generally has shorter statute of limitations compared to criminal courts. For personal injuries, the amount of time depends on the type of injury, however, most claims retain an average statute of limitations of 2 years or less. Refer to Title 34, Article 11, Chapter 2 of the Indiana Code book for details regarding civil statute of limitations in our state.
How Long Will My Case Take?
There are countless factors that contribute to the amount of time it takes to settle a personal injury claim, which means it is virtually impossible to predict a timeline since they vary greatly from case to case. Sometimes cases are clear-cut, while others require ongoing litigation, and as a result, more time. Standard cases can take anywhere from 6 months to 1 year, while more complex cases can take double, or triple that amount of time. In some cases, no settlement is ever reached.
Will I Have to Go to Trial?
There are various factors that influence the outcome of a settlement. Whether a claim is settled out of court or goes to trial depends on many details of a particular case. For most plaintiffs, a personal injury lawyer assists with this part of the process. They are prepared to go to court for their clients, but do everything in their power to avoid it and settle out of court instead. In most cases, personal injury claims are settled out of court.
How Much is My Case Worth?
The amount of compensation you will likely collect largely depends on your total damages and losses, including lost wages, hospital bills, medical expenses, pain, suffering, and more. In order to truly know how much your case is worth, you must consult with a licensed and experienced personal injury attorney.
Indiana Personal Injury Lawyers
Call The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to speak with a licensed personal injury lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attorneys, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek can help you recover the compensation you deserve after being injured in an accident. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you! Call 317-881-2700 to schedule your consultation, today.