Chances are good you leave your Indianapolis home every day with the expectation of returning in one piece. But then you get into an accident that results in injuries that come with medical bills and pressure from insurance companies to settle. That’s when you need legal support for injury claims and to get relief from the processes that come into play after an accident.
Sustaining injuries through no fault of your own can begin the process of seeking damages for your injuries through legal means. This is known as a personal injury lawsuit, a type of lawsuit that comes with multiple causes that require a distinct legal approach. Read on to learn more about the more common types of personal injury lawsuits that occur in Indianapolis, IN, and how a lawyer can help with each type.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents are the most common type of personal injury accident in Indianapolis. This is mainly due to the fact that there are thousands of cars in the road every day, increasing the odds that an auto accident is going to happen. The major cause of accidents in Indianapolis is due to drivers speeding and failing to exercise caution.
Other types of motor vehicle accidents include collisions with semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles, bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, and collisions with pedestrians. These three types of accidents tend to be more severe than automobile accidents due to physics and a lack of protection for people riding bicycles, motorcycles, or simply walking across a street.
Indiana is a comparative fault state which means a portion of the blame is assigned to all parties involved in the accident. A personal injury lawyer can help you make sure that you get just compensation for the injuries you received from a motor vehicle accident.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is another common type of personal injury lawsuit in Indianapolis. Proving medical malpractice isn’t as easy as it seems, but there is no shortage of medical professionals who fail to adhere to their training, don’t take appropriate action, or make a decision that is contrary to the accepted standards.
Doctors make mistakes, but a mistake made while following accepted standards and practices doesn’t always rise to the level of medical malpractice. It’s when a physician knowingly and willingly makes a decision to treat a patient in a non-standard way and harms the patient as a result.
Proving medical malpractice isn’t always easy, but a lawyer can be of assistance. Figuring out if a case can proceed requires having a case reviewed by a medical expert who can point out where things went wrong during a procedure. An injured party can proceed with a medical malpractice suit in the event that there is evidence of medical malpractice.
Wrongful Death
A wrongful death personal injury lawsuit is brought when someone is killed in an accident that wasn’t of their doing. That is, the family of someone who dies due to the negligence of someone else can bring a lawsuit on behalf of the person who died and seek compensation for lost wages and other financial losses.
When someone dies as a result of a preventable accident, the surviving family can sue the party or parties that are responsible. For example, if an individual dies as the result of a lack of safety measures being enforced on a job site, the family may be able to file a claim for compensation.
Proving that your loved one died as the result of the negligence of another party requires a thorough investigation and determining who’s at fault. A lawyer can put together the facts of the situation through an investigation and give you the space you need to deal with the loss of a loved one.
Product Liability
Product manufacturers are required to test their products for issues that can cause harm to the user. However, manufacturers aren’t always as thorough as they should be or rely on third parties to make sure their products are safe for use. Oftentimes a harmful element is overlooked or ignored, and the consumer winds up paying the price in the form of an injury or even death.
Someone who’s suffered as the result of a defective product has the right to sue the manufacturer for damages. This is due to the fact the consumer used the product as intended but still wound up with an injury. The manufacturer bears responsibility for the injuries due to its failure to properly test their product for safety.
Bringing a claim against the manufacturer can be a complex process, and you can’t rely on the manufacturer to take responsibility for their mistake. Consulting with a lawyer to discuss your case can help you determine the right course of action against a negligent manufacturer.
Slip and Fall AKA Premises Liability
Property owners and those who have control of a property are responsible for keeping their premises in good condition and free from conditions that can cause injury. That means the party responsible for the maintenance of a property has to make sure that hazardous conditions are flagged in an accepted manner to alert a customer that they need to exercise caution.
For example, the weather has been rainy, water has been pooling inside the doorway of a store, and no warning cones were put in place. You walk into the store only to slip and fall on the puddle and sustain injuries as a result. Because you had no expectation of becoming injured by simply walking into a store, you may have a premises liability claim.
If you’ve gone through this type of scenario, talk to a personal injury lawyer about your situation. A lawyer can help you determine if you have a case and seek damages on your behalf. You may be able to get your medical bills covered and compensation for your pain and suffering.
Defend Your Rights with the Help of an Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyer
In the event you’ve experienced any one of these types of incidents or have a loved one that’s been injured or killed through no fault of their own, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact us at Stephenson Rife LLP to talk to an Indianapolis personal injury lawyer today. We can help you learn more about the viability of your case and help you protect your rights.
