Recent Blog Posts
February 17, 2022 / Catastrophic Injuries
Can You Sue for Chemical Burns?
Chemical burns can leave lasting injuries. Whether you got injured at work, at home, or in a place of business, you have the right to receive compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses as a result of a chemical burn caused by someone else's negligence. While insurance might cover part of what you're owed, it's often the case that you need to sue for chemical burns to receive all of the compensation you're entitled to. If You Want to Bring a Lawsuit, Can You Sue for Chemical Burns? You have the right to receive full compensation any time the negligence of another person or business causes you chemical burns or other injuries. Some people would even say you have a duty to sue to prevent that[...]
January 28, 2022 / Vehicle Accidents
How many fatalities on U.S. highways?
The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates total number of motor-vehicle deaths for the first six months of 2021 was 21,450, up 16% over the 18,480 deaths in 2020 and up 17% from the 18,384 fatalities in 2019. The estimated cost of motor-vehicle deaths, injuries, and property damage in the first half of 2021 was $241.9 billion. In the first half of 2020, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) had risen year-over-year, from a rate of 1.06 in 2019 to a rate of 1.25 in 2020. What highway has the most deaths? Highway data showing how many people are killed on U.S. highways around the country. According to a recent 2019 report, th[...]
December 29, 2021 / Vehicle Accidents
Can automatic emergency braking systems reduce accidents?
Car accidents can have a devastating impact on the lives of crash victims and their families. Not only do they experience fear and uncertainty, but there can also be huge medical bills, time off work, and ongoing pain and suffering. That’s why government agencies and advocacy groups are always on the lookout for ways to make vehicles safer, often employing technology and autonomous, smart-vehicle innovations to enhance manufacturing methods. Automatic Emergency Braking systems (AEB) are one such measure. The installation of AEB systems is part of a voluntary commitment by 20 automakers globally to equip virtually all new passenger vehicles with low-speed AEB that includes forward collision warning (FCW). The National Highway Traffi[...]
November 4, 2021 / Product Injury
Sunbeam Crock-Pot Recall
Burned by a Sunbeam Crock-Pot? – You May be Entitled to Compensation When you buy a product and use it as intended, you don’t expect it to injure you; too often, though, products we assume are safe fail and cause major injuries or even death. Victims may be left with high medical bills and physical and mental pain and suffering, and be unable to work. In cases like these, when someone has been harmed by using products that should have been safe, a product liability attorney can fight for compensation for the damages the defective product caused. An example of a defective product that has harmed consumers, is the Sunbeam Crock-Pot. On November 24, 2020, Sunbeam voluntarily recalled more than 900,000 Crock-Pot multi-cookers due to a[...]
November 3, 2021 / Personal Injury
How long do you have to sue for personal injury?
The statute of limitations on personal injury cases is two years in Indiana. This means an accident victim has just 24 months to file a lawsuit after being injured. The clock starts from the date of the accident or injury, with just a few exceptions. If you miss this window of opportunity, you risk having your case dismissed. Many people who have suffered an injury – whether slip & fall, car crash, or workplace – often ask the question, “how long do you have to sue for personal injury?” They are sometimes surprised by the answer. The time to file is relatively short. What this points out is the importance of contacting a personal injury lawyer right away if you’ve been injured in an accident. Don’t wait! The two-ye[...]
July 27, 2021 / Vehicle Accidents
Can you sue for lower back injuries in a car accident?
Car accidents can be frightening and horrific experiences, resulting in PTSD and significant physical injuries. One of the most common car accident injuries is lower back trauma. The spine is a delicate and essential collection of nerves and vertebrae. When you are thrust against a steering wheel, seat belt, windshield or other stationary object upon collision, the spine is jarred or bruised, resulting in extreme pain, numbness and sometimes paralysis. If you are wondering if you can sue for lower back injuries in a car accident, the answer is yes. You are entitled to take legal action. Lower back injuries often mean huge medical bills, time off work, rehabilitation and even disability. The costs of treatment can be astronomical. [...]
June 29, 2021 / Catastrophic Injuries
Types of brain injuries caused by medical malpractice
It is devastating when you take your loved one to the hospital to be treated or to a nursing home to be cared for only to have them be seriously injured or die due to medical malpractice. The very doctors, nurses and medical personnel charged with healing and protecting your loved one wind up harming them due to negligence or insufficient skills. The types of medical malpractice that can result in brain injuries include: Surgical mistakes Misdiagnosis or a missed diagnosis Anoxia (a lack of oxygen) Anesthesia errors Birth trauma that harms newborn babies Tissue or blood infections, including septicemia Hydrocephalus Medication errors, such as wrong medicine or dosage Cerebral palsy Abuse (a common cause of injury in nursing [...]
May 19, 2021 / Catastrophic Injuries
What is the average settlement for a spinal cord injury?
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Spinal cord injuries can be serious, and even catastrophic, which means significant medical bills, lost wages and other unanticipated expenses. You should not have to bear these costs alone, especially if you were injured in an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence. Because every case is different, there is not an “average” settlement for a spinal cord injury. Depending on the level of injury and/or disability, settlements can range from tens of thousands to millions of dollars. Each case is fact-dependent. In determining a settlement amount, several factors come into play. Some o[...]
March 4, 2021 / Truck Accidents
What to Do if a FedEx Truck Hits Your Car
With the increase in online shopping and home delivery, we see more and more of the orange and purple FedEx trucks on the road. Whether 18-wheelers or smaller delivery box trucks, they are out on the roads and highways loaded with letters and packages. But what happens when one of these FedEx trucks crashes into your vehicle? You can be seriously injured and there can be thousands of dollars in property damage. You may feel overwhelmed with hospital visits, mounting medical bills, and even calls from insurance representatives urging you to settle for small sums of compensation. If you’re wondering what to do if a FedEx truck hits your car, then let Stephenson Rife be your guide. Our skilled and experienced personal injury attorn[...]
February 3, 2021 / Catastrophic Injuries
How to Pay Medical Bills During a Brain Injury Lawsuit
If you’ve sustained a brain injury as a result of a car crash, serious fall or workplace accident, you likely have mounting medical bills. To add insult to injury, you may also be off work while receiving treatment, which means your wages have dwindled. It can be really scary to see all of that debt mount up while wondering how you will ever pay for it. Obviously, health insurance can pay for some of your medical care, though there can still be some hefty co-pays. And in some cases, the treatment you’re receiving may not be covered. If this is the case, it’s important that you talk to a personal injury lawyer right away to find out your legal rights and determine whether you may be entitled to damages. The sooner you initiate [...]