Category: Personal Injury

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Auto accident Personal Injury

What to Know About An Auto Accident Claim

What to Know About An Auto Accident Claim

An auto accident can bring life altering injuries and large medical bills. It can be a very traumatic time. The Law Office of Shannon G. Starr, LLC can help and has experience with auto accident cases.

Seek medical treatment as soon as you can after an accident. First and foremost, your health is most important. Also, if there is a gap in time between your accident and treatment of your injuries, the other side may try and say they are not related to the accident.

A personal injury claim has different types of damages. There are economic damages that are easy to calculate, including but not limited to hospital bills, physical therapy costs, and lost wages. However, there are also noneconomic damages that are harder to calculate, such as pain and suffering, permanent impairment, and loss of joy from doing a hobby. In addition, a variety of factors – including but not limited to circumstances of the accident, nature of the injuries, and state of the drivers, can influence the amount a case is worth.

Finally, Indiana is a fault state. That means the law takes into account who is at fault in determining what percentage of damages you should be financially responsible for. If you are less than 51 percent at fault for the accident, you can recover a portion (if not all) of your damages from the other side.

The Law Office of Shannon G. Starr, LLC handles auto accident cases. To learn more, or set up a consultation, contact Shannon at shannon@sgstarrlaw.com.

Disclaimer – The content of this article is intended to be general and informational in nature. It is advertising material and is not intended to be, nor is it, legal advice to or for any particular person, case or circumstance. Every situation is different and you should consult an attorney if you have any questions about your situation.

Categories
Personal Injury Premises liability

Understanding Indiana premises liability law

Common examples of premises liability cases include: slip and falls; dog bites or other animal attacks; exposure to toxic substances; falling objects from store shelves or construction scaffolds; fires; electrocution from exposed wiring; assaults due to negligent security; and failure to mark or identify hazardous conditions.

Under Indiana law, your ability to pursue a premises liability lawsuit will depend on your status as a visitor to the property, and the duty that the owner or occupier owed to you based on that status.

As a visitor, you may fall into 1 of 3 categories – invitee, licensee or trespasser. The property owner owes the highest duty to invitees. The duty owed to invitees is to fix any dangerous condition or warn the invitee about the danger, if not obvious. Property owners owe lesser duties to licensees and trespassers. However, property owners could be liable even for trespassers, for example, by intentionally placing hidden dangers or traps on the property.

Damages may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and punitive damages.

The Law Office of Shannon G. Starr, LLC handles premises liability cases. To learn more, contact Shannon at shannon@sgstarrlaw.com.

Disclaimer – The content of this article is intended to be general and informational in nature. It is advertising material and is not intended to be, nor is it, legal advice to or for any particular person, case or circumstance. Every situation is different and you should consult an attorney if you have any questions about your situation.

Categories
Auto accident Personal Injury

Five Things to Remember After an Auto Accident

If you are involved in a car accident, it is important to take immediate steps to protect your rights. While not an exhaustive list, here are some helpful things to remember to do in case a car accident occurs:

  1. Call the police. Having the police at the scene of the accident ensures you have an official record of the collision and protects key evidence.
  2. Call your insurance company. Tell the insurance company how the accident occurred and the extent of your injuries.
  3. Talk to witnesses and take photographs. Make sure you obtain the contact information of any potential witnesses. Take photographs of the cars, the accident scene, your injuries, the surrounding traffic, and the weather.
  4. Get medical treatment. Do not let anything get in the way of your medical care. Maybe you cannot get time off work, are worried about health insurance coverage, or do not think your injuries are serious. However, delaying, skipping, or only getting intermittent treatment could damage your health and your case. Keep track of medical professionals you seek treatment from and also your medical bills.
  5. Do not talk to the other driver’s insurance company. Do not talk to anyone about the accident other than your attorney, your insurance company, and the police. Do not talk to a representative of another insurance company without the knowledge of your attorney or your insurance company. If representatives from other insurance companies should call you, ask them to call your attorney or insurance company to arrange for any interview.

The Law Office of Shannon G. Starr, LLC handles car accident and personal injury cases. To learn more, or set up a consultation, contact Shannon at shannon@sgstarrlaw.com.

Disclaimer – The content of this article is intended to be general and informational in nature. It is advertising material and is not intended to be, nor is it, legal advice to or for any particular person, case or circumstance. Every situation is different and you should consult an attorney if you have any questions about your situation.

Categories
Personal Injury Wrongful death

What is a wrongful death claim?

“Wrongful death” is when someone dies due to the misconduct or negligence of another party.  When a loved one dies as a consequence or misconduct of another, it can be devastating. There is no way to truly compensate for the loss of a loved one.

There are different circumstances in which wrongful death can arise. These include car accidents, medical malpractice, premises liability, construction accidents, birth injuries, workplace accidents, and defective products.

Indiana has 3 types of statutes governing wrongful death suits. These include –

  • General Wrongful Death. This type of case involves the death of a person who has a spouse and/or dependents. It is brought by a close family member or other personal representative of the estate. You may seek compensation to cover medical and hospital bills, funeral and burial expenses and lost earnings. Only the victim’s spouse, dependent children or dependent next of kin may recover damages for lost earnings.
  • Adult Wrongful Death. This involves a deceased person with no spouse and/or children and is also initiated by a personal representative of the estate. The personal representative may seek compensation for medical, hospital and funeral expenses and loss of love and companionship. There is generally no recovery for lost earnings.
  • Child Wrongful Death. This type of lawsuit is initiated by the parent(s) or guardian(s).

You have 2 years to file a wrongful death claim, so it is important to speak with an attorney promptly because of the time required to investigate and gather evidence. The Law Office of Shannon G. Starr, LLC handles wrongful death cases. To learn more, or set up a consultation, contact Shannon at shannon@sgstarrlaw.com.

Disclaimer – The content of this article is intended to be general and informational in nature. It is advertising material and is not intended to be, nor is it, legal advice to or for any particular person, case or circumstance. Every situation is different and you should consult an attorney if you have any questions about your situation.