Lafayette Personal Injury Lawyer

Accidents can happen anytime or anyplace, possibly resulting in serious injury. If you or a loved one have been the victim of an accident due to another person or entity’s negligence, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim. The experienced personal injury lawyers at Wilson Kehoe Winingham are here in Lafayette, Indiana and can help you get the compensation you deserve.

About the City of Lafayette, Indiana

Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, located in central Indiana between the cities of Indianapolis and Chicago, Illinois. West Lafayette sits on the opposite side of the Wabash River and is home to Purdue University, which contributes significantly to both communities.

The combined population of Lafayette and West Lafayette is nearly 200,000 and the residents enjoy a diverse community and high quality of life. The area is known for its quality public schools, desirable neighborhoods for families, and an extensive park and trail system. Due in part to being home to Purdue University, many internationally known high-tech corporations call the area home, providing good local jobs.

Injured in Lafayette, IN? Hire a Lafayette Personal Injury Attorney

Being injured because of another person or entity’s negligence can be traumatizing. You may feel overwhelmed and concerned about mounting medical bills. You might not be able to work due to the injury, adding more stress to the situation.

Personal injury claims result from a wide variety of accidents, including everything from car and boating accidents to dog bites or a slip and fall incident. And some accidents can result in life-altering injuries. But unfortunately, accidents do happen—even in your hometown community of Lafayette, Indiana.

When Can I File a Lafayette, IN Personal Injury Lawsuit?

If you’ve been injured, you should seek the counsel of a personal injury lawyer right away. They can start to counsel you on what to do—and not do—from the get-go. For example, you’ll want to get a medical evaluation on file as soon as possible. This is important when determining if your condition has worsened over time. A lawyer will also advise you on what NOT to share with friends, colleagues, and especially anyone from the insurance company. Also, in Indiana, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim, so the sooner you start building your case, the better.

What Can a Lafayette Personal Injury Attorney Do for Me?

If you have been injured in an accident and it was someone else’s fault, you may be able to file a personal injury claim. An experienced personal injury attorney from Wilson Kehoe Winingham can help you to receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other potential losses.

Run an Investigation

Your personal injury attorney’s first step will be to perform an investigation. This will include looking into the scene of the accident, studying any police reports, and interviewing witnesses. We will also determine whether or not there could be any video footage, when appropriate.

Help Handle Insurance Companies

This is likely the top area where an experienced personal injury attorney from WKW can have the most impact. While you are able to represent yourself in a personal injury suit—also known as “pro se” representation—you will likely end up walking away with just a percentage of what a lawyer may have been able to procure. Our attorneys have dealt with insurance companies for decades and are not intimidated by their tactics.

Determine Fault in an Accident

Even cases that appear to be straightforward may become more complicated once an investigation begins. For example, there could be negligence by a parts manufacturer that was nowhere near the scene of the accident. Having multiple liable parties is not unusual in personal injury cases.

Work With Other Professionals

Another advantage to working with the experienced lawyers at WKW is that we have experienced professionals we can tap for additional expertise in their respective fields. In the case of medical professionals, we turn to them for advice on what your injuries mean to you both now and in the long run. Will you require long-term physical therapy? Could your injuries prevent you from being able to perform a higher-paid job down the road? These kinds of questions will help determine the true cost of any injury you’ve sustained.

Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer to Represent Me?

Legally, there is nothing stopping you from representing yourself in the state of Indiana. This is known as “pro se” representation. However, most individuals who decide to go it alone end up frustrated and drained. Not to mention that they have likely settled for far less money than an experienced attorney would have secured.

Wilson Kehoe Winingham’s experienced Lafayette personal injury attorneys have helped clients for decades to secure favorable outcomes in the face of an unfortunate situation. Chances are, your injury would be the first time you’re encountering this process. Why go it alone when there’s an experienced and caring team right here to help you through this crisis?

What Are the Most Common Causes of Personal Injuries?

Accidents can happen anytime to anyone. In other words, nobody plans to be in an accident. Depending on the type of accident, resulting injuries can range from minimal to life-altering. As the accident victim, you may have medical bills piling up and find yourself unable to work. The stress can feel overwhelming.

The experienced Lafayette personal injury attorneys at Wilson Kehoe Winingham have handled all types of cases, from car and truck accidents to workplace injuries to toxic mold. Personal injury lawsuits have been the primary focus of our law firm for more than 30 years.

Car Accidents

Auto accidents are one of the most common reasons for a personal injury claim to be filed. When drivers behave negligently, severe injury can be inflicted upon the victim, potentially leaving them impacted for life. The personal injury attorneys at Wilson Kehoe Winingham can help you get compensation for medical costs, ongoing treatments, property damage, and pain and suffering.

Lafayette, Indiana has its fair share of auto accidents because of its proximity to so many state highways, the size of the city, and also due to driver error or negligence. Looking at car accidents in the state of Indiana as a whole, in 2019, Indiana drivers experienced 217,396 collisions, 739 of which resulted in fatalities.

Truck Accidents

Unfortunately, for the exact reasons stated above, Lafayette also sees its fair share of truck accidents, especially given its proximity to nearby highways. Due to the sheer size of 18 wheelers, the injuries from trucking accidents can be catastrophic, or even fatal. Trucking accidents have the added complexity of potentially having multiple liable parties. In addition to the possibility of driver error, the truck may have been loaded incorrectly or suffered a mechanical failure, such as brakes.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice suits happen when a doctor either failed to act or acted in a way that caused harm to a patient. It typically requires extensive investigation of what happened to prove that the doctor or medical facility is at fault. Cases may include prescription error, surgical negligence, medical device failure, or improper treatment.

Other Personal Injury Accidents

Personal injury cases have been a primary focus of Wilson Kehoe Winingham’s practice for more than 30 years. We have secured full and fair settlements for our clients and successfully taken cases to trial as needed. Other representative areas of personal injury cases we handle include:

• Motorcycle accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Boating accidents
• Transportation accidents
• Aviation accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Golf Cart accidents
• Construction accidents
• Farming accidents
• Premises liability
• Mesothelioma
• Dog bite lawyers
• Slip and fall accidents
• Fire and explosions
• Insurance claim denials
• Product liability
• Drug injuries
• Brain injuries
• Wrongful death
• Nursing home abuse
• Spinal cord injury
• Birth injuries
• Toxic mold exposure

What Can I Get for Winning a Personal Injury Case in Lafayette, IN

There’s no simple answer when our clients ask us what their case is worth, as each injury and set of circumstances is unique. Many factors determine the worth of a case, including how much blame is apportioned to each party, the severity of damages or injury, and the amount of insurance involved. Generally speaking, an attorney will need to do some research and learn more about your personal circumstances before giving even a ballpark number for a potential settlement amount.

Types of Compensation Recovered by Our Clients

Compensation that is awarded to victims in personal injury cases generally falls into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are easier to put a dollar amount on, as they generally correlate to an exact figure, such as:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Future earnings
• Property damage, including vehicle

Non-economic damages are more abstract in nature—but just as valid—and include:

• Pain and suffering
• Anguish and fear
• Loss of companionship
• Inability to regain previous quality of life

Injuries From Accidents in Lafayette, IN

Just as accidents can take all forms, so too can the resulting injuries. But no matter the severity of the injury, you may be entitled to compensation. Some of the more common injuries we see in Lafayette personal injury cases include:

• Whiplash: Most commonly resulting from a car or truck accident, whiplash occurs following a rapid back-to-forth forced movement of the head, resulting in neck tissue strain.
• Bone fractures: This includes damage to ribs, with severity depending on whether the break is a simple or compound fracture
• Sprains and tissue or ligament strain: Any joint may be affected by the sudden tug or pull from an accident.
• Brain injury: Depending on the severity of the blow to the head or the force of impact, these can range from a concussion to traumatic brain injury (TBI).
• Cuts, abrasions, and bruises: These may be serious in and of themselves, or could lead to an infection or other related difficulties down the road.
• Internal bleeding: This can result from a severe impact or a fractured bone.
• Disfigurement: These injuries may require surgery and/or have long-term or even lifelong implications.

Receiving Medical Help for Your Personal Injuries

Any injury is serious when it happens to you or a loved one. It is recommended that you seek medical care immediately following an accident. Your safety should always be your top priority. In addition, you’ll want to have a medical examination on file for your claim in case your injuries worsen over time.

Indiana Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Cases

Each state has its own set of laws dictating when you may file lawsuits in court. These deadlines are called statutes of limitation, and they are strictly enforced. According to Indiana Code section 34-11-2-4, Indiana’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases is set at two years, meaning you have two years from the day of your accident to file the initial court documentation.

Wilson Kehoe Winingham: What to Expect From an Experienced Lafayette Personal Injury Law Firm

The personal injury team of lawyers at Wilson Kehoe Winingham have decades of experience handling personal injury cases of all types. In fact, the core of our entire practice is working with our clients to restore their lives during challenging times. We limit the number of cases we take on so that every client gets the personal attention they deserve and need during this trying process. We are with our Lafayette clients every step of the way. And since we work on a contingency basis, there is no up-front cost to you, meaning no additional stress to you during this difficult time.

Reach Out to WKW for Personal Injury Assistance in Lafayette, IN

The Lafayette personal injury lawyers at Wilson Kehoe Winingham are here to help. We fight for all our clients to get you the compensation you deserve. Our firm offers a free, no-obligation consultation, so you can feel comfortable learning more about our services. Call our office today at (317) 669-9983.