Personal Injury

 If you have been the victim of a serious accident it is important to get experienced legal and medical help as soon as possible. The person who injured you normally has experienced insurance adjusters investigating what happened right away, taking photographs of vehicles or the scene, but not of your broken body. They will attempt to record answers to their carefully worded questions in a way designed to minimize the amount of compensation you may claim. In some cases you only have 180 days to file a claim. Your own insurance contract may have deadlines buried within it. Preserve the evidence, seek the medical treatment you need, and contact us. While you concentrate on healing we will concentrate on seeing that you are properly compensated. Contact us now so we can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should you do when injured?

• Get names, addresses and phone numbers of all witnesses.
• Take photographs of your injuries and get treatment for them.
• Follow your doctor’s orders.
• Take photographs of the scene as close to the same time of day and as soon as possible after the incident with a real camera, not just a cell phone.
• Get the name, address, telephone number, license plate number and insurance company of the other person involved in the incident.
• Report the incident to your insurance company.
• Call the police to make an incident report.
• Take photographs of all property damage on your vehicle and the other driver’s vehicle.
• Other than finding out the name, address and telephone number, do not speak to the nsurance carrier of the other person involved, inform them your lawyer will be in touch very soon.
• Call Hall-Justice Law Firm for your free consultation.
  
  
  What should I do if I am bitten by a dog?

Immediately seek medical treatment. The mouth of a dog is full of really nasty bacteria that frequently lead to infection in the bitten person. Whenever possible, doctors will not stitch the wound shut to make is harder for infection to occur. Try to gather the names, addresses, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of any witnesses to what happened and people who have knowledge about the dog’s past behavior. Contact us and report what happened to animal control. Keep a close eye on your wound as it is likely to become infected and require further medical treatment.

How do I pay for my medical treatment?

It depends on your situation. If you are involved in a car crash you may have Med-pay insurance coverage on your own vehicle to pay for medical treatment and you may have your own health insurance policy, Veteran’s benefits, Medicare, or Medicaid. Both Med-pay and insurance should be used to pay for your medical treatment. Often your health insurance will require you to exhaust your Med-pay before you are allowed to use your health insurance. If you are an injured passenger and the driver was at fault you may be able to use the Med- pay of the driver’s insurance policy. Promptly seeking medical treatment and doing what your doctor or physical therapist asks of you is vital. Even though we request medical bills from your medical providers it is important to share with us what medical bills you receive and whether they are in collections since the medical providers do not normally tell us this. If you do not have any health insurance you may still be able to apply for Medicaid coverage if you act quickly. When your case is concluded we will have to repay the businesses that paid for your medical treatment according to Indiana law, which often means that we can negotiate a reduction in the amount you have to repay. Different Indiana law
applies in different situations and an experienced lawyer will be able to determine what law applies to put more money in your pocket.

If I have to miss work will the person responsible for injuring me have to pay for my lost wages or lost business?

Yes, as long as we prove that your income is related to the negligently inflicted injury, and there is sufficient insurance coverage under either the wrongdoer’s insurance policy or your own insurance policy (underinsured and uninsured) to cover your lost income.

What is underinsured and uninsured insurance coverage?

Underinsured coverage is what you hopefully have under your own insurance policy to cover you if you are hurt in a car crash and the person who negligently injured you only has $25,000.00 in coverage but your medical bill, lost income, permanent injury and pain and suffering are far more than $25,000.00. We will then look at your own insurance policy to get you fully compensated. Indiana courts have interpreted the coverage your insurance provides for $100,000.00 of coverage, if you are badly hurt and we prove it is the other person’s fault, we would get $25,000.00 from the wrongdoer’s insurance and $75,000.00 from you won insurance company, IF we follow the special procedures that Indiana law requires. Uninsured coverage is what you need if the person who hurts you has no insurance at all.

Helpful Links

Tippecanoe County Court View
Indiana Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA)
Indiana Supreme Court (cases)
American Association for Justice

Helpful Resources

Tippecanoe County Resources for Those Who Have Been Injured or for the Survivors of
Those Who Have Been Killed:

Mourning and Dancing

Address: 500 N. Sixth St., Lafayette, Indiana 47901
Phone: (765) 420-1739
Our mission: Is to provide support and counseling to anyone who is grieving and to reach out to
the community, families, schools, organizations and service agencies by providing programs in
the area of grief and loss.

Grief Support Group

Address: Greater Lafayette Health Services, St., Elizabeth Medical Center, 1501 Hartford St.
Lafayette, Indiana 47904
Phone: (765) 423-6732
Fax: (765)742-1707
Contact: Nancy Ebernarad, Bereavement Coordinator for Hospice
E-mail: Our Mission: An informal adult self-help group for anyone who has experienced the
death of a loved one.

Marriage, Family and Individual Counseling

Address: Family Services, 731 Main St., Lafayette, Indiana 47901
Phone: (765) 423-5361
Fax: (765)742-8272
Contact: Rebecca Sullivan, Clinical Supervisor
E-mail/Website: fsilafayette.org
Our Mission: Hablamos Espanol; Providing professional counseling services by an accredited,
non-profit United Way agency, on a sliding fee scale to all ages to address relationship problems,
depression, stress, parent-child conflicts, addictions, educational and career problems.

Mental Health Association of Tippecanoe County

Address: P.O. Box 1626, 914 South St., Lafayette, Indiana 47902-1626
Phone: (765)742-1800
Fax: (765) 742-2085
Contact: Jayme Zobrist
E-mail jzobrist@mhalafayette.org
Our Mission: A peer-based support group for persons with depression or an anxiety disorder.
Meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 6:00 to 7:30 P.M. Free, adults,
confidential. http://www.mhalafayette.org/

Fibromyalgia Support Group

Address: Kathryn Weil Center, 415 N 26th St., Lafayette, Indiana 47904
Phone: (765) 447-2923
Contact: Debbie Clevenger, Head Leader
Our Mission: We intend to educate, inform and improve the quality of life for people who have
fibromyalgia and their families. Meetings are 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. the second Thursday of the
month at Kathryn Weil Center at Room 406.

Individual And Family Therapy

Address: Anisa Group, 2512 Covington St, West Lafayette, IN 47906
Phone: (765) 497-3932
Mission: to provide a peaceful and inviting environment which supports the goals of individuals and families seeking to improve their lives. As a small private practice, we offer confidential services across the lifespan. We have therapists who specialize in working with parents and their newborn babies, through those facing end of life issues, and every stage of life in between.