Slip and fall accidents are a common comedic tool in movies and television. However, in real life, a slip and fall accident is no laughing matter. These accidents often result in severe injuries, from which it can take months or even years to recover. If you suffered an injury because of a fall, a Lebanon slip and fall accident attorney can help you recover the compensation you need.
At the law offices of Vaughan & Vaughan, we have a long history of helping our clients collect fair compensation following an injury. We have been representing victims throughout Indiana for more than 100 years. Reach out to us today to schedule a free case review with one of our Lebanon personal injury lawyers.
What a Slip and Fall Accident Attorney in Lebanon, IN, Can Do to Help
When you hire a slip and fall accident attorney to help you recover compensation for an injury, they will take a variety of steps to help get you a favorable outcome. One of the first things your lawyer will do will be to conduct an independent investigation into your accident, focusing on proving liability and gathering evidence to support your claim.
Once they have completed their initial investigation, your attorney will assess the damages you have suffered and calculate the full value of your claim. They will then file a personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim and proceed to go through all of the necessary steps in the respective process.
As your lawyer continues to build your case in preparation for a potential trial, they will also be in negotiations with the opposing party, attempting to come to terms on a settlement deal. Your attorney will argue your case in court if a settlement cannot be reached.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
The Benefits of Settling Out of Court
While going to court does have the potential to result in a larger payout, it probably isn’t worth the risk. Taking a settlement deal means you won’t have to worry about the unpredictability of a jury trial. Additionally, taking a settlement deal means you will recover compensation far more quickly than if your case goes to trial.
A settlement deal also has many benefits for the defendant. Settling out of court means they will pay far less money in legal fees while avoiding any potential unwanted press coverage that can accompany a trial.
Since settlements tend to be in the best interest of both parties, the vast majority of slip and fall accidents are resolved in this manner. However, you need to understand that there is always the possibility that you won’t be able to come to terms on a settlement deal. That’s why it is crucial that you secure the services of a slip and fall accident lawyer with courtroom experience.
There is no fee
unless you win
Damages Most Commonly Recovered in Lebanon Slip and Fall Accident Cases
Following a slip and fall accident that results in a severe injury, you will likely be eligible to pursue a wide range of damages. It is critical that you identify all the damages that apply in order to recover the full value of your claim. Determining all of the applicable damages can be difficult on your own, but fortunately, an experienced attorney can help.
Every form of compensation you can recover after a slip and fall accident can be grouped into one of three categories.
Economic Damages
Any loss you sustain that directly impacts your financial situation is sorted into the category of economic damages. Determining how much your economic losses are worth is relatively straightforward since all of these losses are monetary in nature. The most commonly awarded economic damages in slip and fall accident cases include:
- Medical bills
- Future medical costs
- Lost wages
- Lessened earning ability
- Property damage
- Money spent on completing daily tasks you can no longer perform yourself
Non-Economic Damages
All other losses caused by your accident belong to the category of non-economic damages. Since these losses are personal rather than financial, evaluating their worth is far more complex. The most commonly awarded non-economic damages in slip and fall accident cases include:
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
- Permanent disability
- Lowered quality of life
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are vastly different from the economic and non-economic damages reviewed above. Punitive damages are not used to replace losses sustained by accident victims. Instead, these damages are assessed as a means of punishing the liable party for the role they played in causing the accident.
The court reserves punitive damages for extreme situations. For these damages to be awarded, the liable party must have been criminally negligent or acted with the purpose of causing harm.
Pay Attention to the Statute of Limitations When Filing a Lawsuit
When attempting to recover damages through a lawsuit after a slip and fall accident, you must pay attention to the personal injury statute of limitations in the state in which you are filing. In Indiana, this statute gives accident victims two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit against the liable party.
If you miss the filing deadline, you will likely be out of options for recovering compensation. However, it is critical to note that special conditions may apply to your case that permits you to file long after the standard cutoff date. Alternatively, you could find yourself in a position where you have far less than two years to file.
The best way to ensure you are not caught off guard by an unforeseen deadline is to speak with an experienced slip and fall accident lawyer in Lebanon soon after getting injured. Your attorney will identify all the deadlines that apply to your case and complete and file all the necessary paperwork long before the cutoff date.
Speak With an Experienced Slip and Fall Accident Attorney in Lebanon Today
Hiring an experienced attorney to help with your case will put you in the best position to recover the compensation you need and deserve after a slip and fall accident. At Vaughan & Vaughan, we have helped countless accident victims secure favorable outcomes. Our case results speak for themselves.
Contact us today by phone or through our website to schedule a free case review with one of your experienced slip and fall accident attorneys in Lebanon.
