Personal Injury Attorney Near Me

Life does not stand still for injury victims. There are still places to go and jobs to perform all day, every day. Many victims expend considerable injury just getting from Point A to Point B. That is why, if you were injured in an accident, you need a personal injury attorney near you. Going across town to see the lawyer is another errand that you do not need to add to your schedule.

At Holland & Holland, our main office is conveniently located near the I-465/I-69 interchange. It is easy to approach from almost anywhere in Marion County. But we are not just a neighborhood law firm. Our professional staff has access to nationwide resources. Furthermore, we are dedicated to you.

What to Look for in a Personal Injury Attorney Near Me

There are many fine attorneys in Marion County, and many of these personal injury attorneys are near you. With all the available choices, it can be hard to select an attorney. But since so much is at stake, it is important to make the right choice. Here are a few things to look for in your search:

• Experience: There really is no substitute for experience. Yet years of practice, and even years of personal injury practice, only tell part of the story. Civil litigation is much different from bankruptcy, wills, estate planning, and other areas of law. These lawyers may not be well-versed in injury law and may not know all the procedural rules. Furthermore, many personal injury lawyers practice for years and never go to trial. Your claim will probably settle out of court, but your attorney still needs trial experience.
• Availability: If you go to a new restaurant and there are no cars in the parking lot, that may be a bad sign. Likewise, if a lawyer always has time to see you, even if you do not have an appointment, that may be a bad sign. The opposite is also true. If the lawyer is incredibly busy, the lawyer may assign your file to an untested associate, or even a non-attorney paralegal.
• Cost: This factor is not as important for personal injury attorneys near you as it is for other types of legal representation. Most attorneys do not charge upfront legal fees in negligence claims. However, some demand deposits and others take an unreasonably large chunk of any verdict or settlement.

Whatever decision you make, make it quickly. Especially in car crash cases, physical evidence often disappears and witnesses’ memories fade. The sooner your lawyer begins working, the better your chances are for maximum compensation.

What to Expect in an Injury Claim

As mentioned, most injury claims settle out of court. That settlement could occur very quickly or, more than likely, that settlement could take several months.

Once medical treatment is at least substantially complete, attorneys usually send demand letters to insurance companies. These letters demand a sum of money in exchange for a claims waiver. If liability is relatively clear, insurance companies have a legal duty to settle the matter in a few weeks. However, there is almost always at least some dispute as to liability, so many cases advance to the next stage.

If the case does not settle straight away, a personal injury attorney near you must file legal paperwork to preserve your rights. Insurance companies often file procedural motions to get the claim thrown out of court. But if your lawyer has any evidence at all, judges almost always overrule these motions.

Finally, the case may go to formal mediation. A neutral third party, who is usually an unaffiliated Indianapolis personal injury attorney, tries to facilitate a settlement between the two sides. If both parties negotiate in good faith, mediation is usually successful.

Only a handful of cases go to trial. But if your attorney is not ready to go all the way, the insurance company will not offer maximum compensation.

Reach Out to Assertive Lawyers

Accident victims may be entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney near you, contact Holland & Holland. Home and hospital visits are available.