Indiana Personal Injury Lawyer
Guy Di Martino Law has years of experience helping people in Indiana navigate their car accident claims.
We have the skills and resources to make sure your settlement is fair. When you work with us, our legal team will:
- Investigate every aspect of your case to determine who was at fault.
- Collect evidence that supports your version of events and proves liability on the part of others involved.
- Negotiate a fair settlement for your injuries.
- Make sure all medical bills are paid by the person responsible for your injuries.
- Prepare documentation to prove your pain and suffering as a result of your injuries.
My team and I have been working hard for the last 23 years to help clients just like you get through difficult times. Whether it’s a car accident, truck crash, motorcycle wreck or pedestrian collision, we can handle any type of claim. Our firm offers free consultations so you can learn more about what we do before making the decision to hire us.
In addition to handling car accidents in Indiana, Guy DiMartino is a practicing Christian who upholds religious values to the best of his ability. As a client of ours, you’ll receive personal attention from an attorney who cares about your case. We know how overwhelming life can be when you’re trying to recover from serious injuries, which is why we’ll take care of all the details for you. If you’d like to speak with a lawyer who truly understands what you’re going through, contact our office today.
Many people decide to try to handle their own car accident cases. Sometimes, this decision is made because the victim thinks he or she does not have much to gain from hiring a lawyer. Maybe the victim feels that he or she already received enough in the form of an insurance settlement. These are all reasons why you should hire a car accident lawyer.
How Much Does an Indiana Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
A personal injury attorney only gets paid by winning money for their client through a claim or lawsuit. The money will come from either a jury award, in-suit mediation, or pre-suit settlement.
Injury lawyers do not charge their clients any upfront costs or attorney’s fees. Instead, most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency, which means if there is no recovery there is no fee. In other words, the lawyer only gets paid if they win your case and are able to recover compensation for you.
The types of damages awarded in a personal injury case can vary widely depending on the facts surrounding the incident and how much the law allows an injured party to receive. Some examples of damages that could be awarded include: past and future medical expenses; lost wages; pain and suffering; loss of consortium; property damage; emotional distress and more.
Personal Injury Attorneys Are Not All Equal
It’s important to know that just because someone has “personal injury” in their title does NOT make them qualified to handle all cases. Many times people think they are hiring an experienced personal injury attorney when instead, they hire someone who focuses on criminal, family, bankruptcy or some other area of law.
For example, people often call us when they’ve been hurt in an accident with a truck, tractor trailer, motorcycle, bicycle, car, ATV, etc., but what happens if you’re injured in an accident while riding a horse? An experienced personal injury lawyer should have experience representing the victims of all kinds of accidents including equestrian accidents. Of course, in a perfect world you would never need an attorney for anything, but as we all know things don’t always go according to plan.
Here are the top four reasons you should consider when hiring a lawyer:
- You will be able to focus on healing.
The aftermath of a car accident can be confusing and stressful. It is easy for your emotions to cloud your judgment when you are dealing with insurance adjusters and their attorneys. Hiring a lawyer takes the guesswork out of the situation.
- You will know that you are being taken care of.
After an accident, you may have a lot of questions. There are so many things that must be handled, such as getting medical treatment, filing paperwork and talking to insurance adjusters. A lawyer can help you handle all of these issues while you focus on taking care of yourself.
- Your lawyer can help you comply with statutes of limitations.
In cases involving personal injury claims, statutes of limitations set forth how long injured parties have from the date of the crash before they lose legal standing. Having a skilled attorney means you don’t need to worry about this deadline. Instead, your attorney will take charge of all necessary paperwork and negotiations and protect you from becoming overwhelmed.
- Your case doesn’t always need to go to trial.
If you feel your case is too small or simple to merit going through a jury trial, having an attorney helps keep the costs down. They’ll also advise you whether your best course of action would be to try your case alone or settle with the other driver’s insurance company directly without involving a lawsuit.
An experienced lawyer has seen many different types of car accident cases. He or she will tell you exactly what to expect and guide you through the entire process.
All too often, people think they can handle their own car accident cases. However, you might be surprised at how quickly your life can change after a crash. Make sure you protect your rights by hiring an experienced car accident lawyer.
Indiana Law
The state of Indiana is located in the Midwestern United States, between Michigan and Kentucky. It was founded as a new nation on March 1st 1816 by President James Monroe after the War of 1812 with Great Britain. The first settlers came from England’s northern provinces, who were fleeing unrest following the Glorious Revolution.
The IN economy has been based primarily around farming since its inception, but today it has diversified to become one of the major industrial powerhouses of the North American Union. Industries include steel production, food processing, electronics manufacturing, transportation equipment, chemical manufacture, and petroleum refining. This mix of economic activity makes Indiana more economically stable than many other states.
Indiana Law is based upon English Common Law, although modifications have been made for local custom and culture. The state guarantees that all citizens are innocent until proven guilty, and that no person may be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.
Learn more about Indiana Law at IN.Gov
https://iga.in.gov/
FAQ Personal Injury Law
What Are the Top Misconceptions That People Have About Personal Injury Cases?
Here are some of the most common misconceptions about personal injury cases.
Misconception 1: “I’ll be out of work for six weeks, so I can’t afford a lawyer.”
While it’s true that you might miss work if you were injured in an accident, this does not mean that your case is worth nothing to a personal injury attorney. In fact, even minor injuries can result in high medical bills and missed wages. A good attorney will help you get back what you’re owed—and you won’t have to pay him anything until he wins your case!
Misconception 2: “My insurance company will take care of everything.”
The truth is, insurance companies only want one thing when they deal with a claim: money. They don’t care about helping their customers; they just want to make sure that they have enough money left over after paying out claims. If you decide to handle your own claim with the insurance company, then you shouldn’t expect them to give you any more than a few thousand dollars for your pain and suffering, let alone compensation for your lost income or medical bills. However, a skilled attorney knows how to negotiate with the insurance company on behalf of his clients. He may be able to negotiate a settlement that offers you much more than just a few hundred dollars.
Misconception 3: “There’s no way my case is worth hiring an attorney.”
This is another myth that many people believe because they think that they’ll never win a lawsuit against a big corporation. The reality is that although it’s rare to see an individual prevail over a large corporation, it is possible to earn damages by filing a claim with an experienced attorney. You should always hire a personal injury lawyer first before negotiating with the insurance company yourself. Your attorney will know exactly how to calculate your damages, and he’ll be able to fight for you in court if necessary.
How Soon Should You Contact an Attorney After an Auto Accident?
The sooner you contact an attorney after a car accident, the better. The longer you wait, the more evidence could disappear. For example, cell phone records can become harder to track down as time goes on.
Should I Talk with Insurance Companies Directly After an Auto Accident?
Asking insurance companies for compensation is like playing Russian roulette. If you speak directly to them without legal representation, they may try to take advantage of you by offering less than what you deserve or flat-out denying your claim. And if there’s any question about who was at fault, insurance companies almost always side with whoever has the deeper pockets.
Should I Send a Letter to My Insurer After a Car Accident?
This is one of those questions that everyone asks, but few people understand the answer to. Yes, you should send a letter to your insurer after a car accident to let them know what happened. But don’t expect that they’ll respond within 24 hours. They will likely look over your information, then give you their response in the form of a letter. It could take anywhere from two weeks to several months before you hear back.
If I Was Partially At Fault After a Car Accident, Can I Still File a Claim?
Yes. Even if you were partially responsible for the accident, you can still file a claim against the other driver’s insurance company. However, your payout amount could be reduced as a result.
Should I Give a Recorded Statement to an Insurance Company After an Auto Accident?
No. Never give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company without first speaking with an attorney. If you do, they may use it against you later on.
Will I Need to Go to Court After an Auto Accident?
It depends. Sometimes, insurance companies will agree to settle outside of court. Other times, both parties will need to appear in front of a judge. This decision is made on a case-by-case basis.
How do I find the best personal injury attorney near me?
We recommend doing a Google search using the person’s name along with the word “review,” or perhaps searching for them on AVVO or Yelp. It’s also a good idea to check out their social media profiles and see what people are saying about them online.
Your best bet is to choose a local personal injury attorney rather than one who works remotely (or far away). You want someone who is familiar with the area and courts so they can quickly get to work on your claim.
What Is Negligence?
Negligence occurs when someone fails to use reasonable care when performing a duty. This failure can result in injuries and/or damage. When it comes to negligence, there are many different forms.
Some common negligent acts are:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Failing to yield at a stop sign or red light
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Not wearing a seatbelt
- Speeding
- Distracted driving (texting, talking on the phone, eating)
Accident lawyers usually charge a percentage of the money that is recovered for the client. If there is no recovery, there is no fee. For example, if their client recovers $150,000, then the attorney will take a percent of that amount. Depending on the type of case, the attorney’s fee may be a fixed rate, or a percentage of the total amount recovered.
Can I Handle My Personal Injury Claim On My Own?
You might be thinking that handling your own injury claim would save you money since lawyers typically charge an hourly rate. However, this isn’t true. If you try to handle your own case, you could end up facing significant fines and penalties.
Also, if you settle your case too soon before filing a lawsuit or taking it to trial, you could lose everything.