Carmel Indiana Personal Injury Lawyer

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),1 an estimated 31 million people receive treatment in the emergency room for accidental injuries on an annual basis in the United States. Many accidental injuries result from pure accidents that could not have been avoided and for which no one was at fault. In other situations, however, unintentional injuries can happen because another person acts in a careless or negligent manner.

If you believe you have been injured because of someone else’s actions, Carmel personal injury attorney Merry Fountain can help you hold that party liable for your medical bills and other losses, so please call to discuss your case today.

Helping Traffic Accident Victims

Traffic accidents are a leading cause of unintentional injuries. The injuries that result from traffic accidents can be severe and many victims require immediate medical attention. For many injuries, treatment may need to be ongoing for an extended period of time and some victims require care for the rest of their lives due to permanent disabilities. No matter what type of injury you sustain in a traffic accident, your losses can be devastating for you and your family.

Traffic accidents can happen in a number of ways and can involve different parties. Some of the cases that Fountain Law Firm, P.C. handles include:

Car Accidents

Indiana uses a fault-based system to handle car accident cases. The party responsible for the accident is responsible for the financial damages they cause. In the event that both drivers are at fault, the accident victim can still recover compensation for the damages they sustained, provided they were not more than 50 percent at fault for the accident, per the state’s modified comparative negligence rule

Car accidents are commonly caused by negligent acts such as:

  • Speeding 
  • Following too closely
  • Texting while driving
  • Drinking and driving
  • Running red lights

An experienced car accident attorney can investigate your case to determine how the accident occurred. 

Trucking Accidents

Trucking accidents are a complex type of motor vehicle accident because they often involve significant damages, complex federal regulations, and multiple parties. Parties who may be responsible for truck accidents include: 

  • Truck drivers
  • Trucking companies
  • Cargo loading companies
  • Mechanics
  • Manufacturers 

A truck accident lawyer can investigate your case to determine who is at fault. 

Bicycle Accidents

Many motorists treat bicyclists as a nuisance and fail to follow the rules of the road. They may injure bicyclists when they:

  • Follow too closely
  • Pass unsafely
  • Drive in bike lanes
  • Open doors into the pathway of bicyclists
  • Failing to observe bicyclists’ turn signals 
  • Speed around them
  • Disobey traffic rules 

When a motorist breaks the law and harms a bicyclist, a caring personal injury lawyer can step in to demand justice. 

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents are some of the most deadly types of motor vehicle accidents because motorcyclists have limited protection against larger passenger vehicles. When these crashes are not fatal, they often result in catastrophic injuries, such as:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Amputations
  • Internal organ damage and bleeding
  • Fractured and dislocated bones
  • Road rash

These injuries can be severe and require expensive and intensive medical treatment. 

Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians are often fatally or catastrophically injured when they are hit by vehicles. This can happen even in accidents that occur at slower speeds. Pedestrian accidents are sometimes hit-and-run accidents, which occur when the responsible motorist leaves the scene. This can delay treatment and also make the pedestrian more vulnerable to secondary accidents. 

If you have been injured in any type of accident, Merry will evaluate your situation and help you pursue any recovery you deserve through insurance claims or a personal injury claim in court.

Handling a Wide Range of Personal Injury Cases

Outside of traffic accidents, personal injury cases can stem from a variety of accidents and injuries. The legal issues will be different from case to case depending on the type of incident that occurred and the severity of the injuries you sustained. We regularly handle cases involving the following and more:

Construction Site Accidents

Carmel is constantly expanding, so it is no stranger to construction sites. Unfortunately, it also experiences its fair share of construction site accidents. These incidents often occur because the owner or party responsible for the property does not keep the site safe. When this happens, a construction site accident lawyer can help investigate the case and hold the responsible parties accountable. 

Children’s Injuries

Children can be injured in various places because of the negligence of others, including:

  • Auto collisions
  • Schools and daycares
  • Parks and playgrounds
  • Other people’s homes
  • Businesses
  • Public locations

Pursuing a personal injury claim may help you recover the compensation you need to pay for your child’s medical expenses and future needs. 

Brain Injuries

Brain injuries can have a dramatic impact on victims’ lives. They can cause permanent disabilities, impede mobility, and change personalities. Some brain injuries require round-the-clock care. A personal injury claim is a way to seek compensation to provide for these future needs. 

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries include injuries that result in full or partial paralysis, ruptured vertebrae, dislocated vertebrae, and spinal fractures. They can be expensive to treat, but a personal injury claim may be able to secure the compensation you need. 

Wrongful Death

When a personal injury causes the death of the victim, the surviving family members may be able to receive compensation for their losses through a wrongful death claim. While no amount of money can ever bring your loved one back, this type of claim may help provide a sense of justice and accountability for the grieving family. 

No matter what type of case you have, you want a Carmel personal injury lawyer who fully understands any relevant Indiana laws in your case and who will always strive to obtain the best possible results for you in the most efficient way possible so that you can move on with your life.

What You Must Prove in an Indiana Personal Injury Case

If you are injured in a personal injury case, you must be able to prove the following legal elements to secure compensation for your case:

  • Legal duty – The legal duty is the obligation that the defendant had to keep you safe or prevent an accident, such as driving safely.
  • Breach of duty – A breach of duty occurs when the defendant acted or failed to act in a way that violated their legal duty, such as speeding.
  • Causation – You must be able to prove that the defendant’s breach of duty caused the accident, such as by showing that the driver’s speeding actually caused the accident.
  • Damages – Damages are the losses you suffered because of the accident, such as medical bills and lost wages.

An experienced Carmel personal injury lawyer can gather evidence to help establish these legal elements.

Compensation You Can Seek in a Personal Injury Claim

Indiana personal injury victims can seek compensation for the damages they suffered in a personal injury claim. Depending on the circumstances, this could include money for:

  • Past, current, and future medical expenses
  • Rehabilitation and therapy
  • Lost wages
  • Reduced earning capacity
  • Costs to repair or replace your damaged vehicle 
  • Pain and suffering
  • Permanent disabilities and impairments
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

A careful analysis of your claim is necessary to establish the damages for which you might be able to seek compensation through a personal injury claim.

Call a Carmel Personal Injury Lawyer for the Help you Need Today

Dealing with an injury can make it difficult to focus on anything else, such as pursuing a legal case, so the firm wants to make it as easy as possible for you to learn about your rights. Fountain Law Firm P.C. wants to help you. Our Indianapolis motor vehicle crash lawyer, Merry Fountain, will meet with you either in her office or in the comfort of your own home. She will travel to all surrounding cities around Carmel and Indianapolis, so please do not hesitate to call 317-917-7873 to set up a free appointment to discuss your case today.

See also: Carmel Car Accident Lawyer