Recent Blog Posts
November 30, 2020 / Catastrophic Injuries
How Much is a Second-Degree Burn Worth?
If you or a loved one has been burned, not only is there a lot of pain involved, but you also likely have mounting medical and hospital bills. Whether red, a pallid white or blistering, the skin is damaged and often scarred after being burned, which means there can be lasting damage. The pain and suffering of this experience is made even worse if the burn was caused by someone else’s negligence. Whether you were burned in a workplace accident, car crash, chemical spill, or household accident, you may be entitled to compensation. This is especially true if your burn was due to malfunctioning equipment or a careless driver. A skilled and experienced personal injury attorney can explain your legal options to you and represent you in f[...]
August 31, 2020 / Truck Accidents
How Much Does A Semi-Truck Weigh?
If you’re wondering how much does a semi weigh, then the answer depends on whether or not the truck is pulling a trailer and how much cargo is in it. A fully loaded tractor trailer typically weighs about 80,000 pounds. A semi pulling an empty trailer weighs roughly 35,000 pounds. Loaded tractor trailers can take 20% - 40% more distance to stop than cars do – about the length of two football fields. 4,136 people died in U.S. large truck accidents in 2018, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). When a car or motorcycle collides with a semi-truck, passengers in the smaller vehicle typically sustain the most catastrophic injuries. In fact, big truck accidents [...]
August 14, 2020 / Wrongful Death
Can You Sue a Hospital for Wrongful Death?
If you’ve put your trust in a hospital and agree to have your loved one receive medical care there, it’s a horrible shock when they die unexpectedly. You believed you were taking them to a safe, responsible environment only to discover that they died needlessly because of someone else’s negligence or carelessness. This could be a case of wrongful death, and your grieving family could be entitled to financial compensation. We know that no amount of money could ever replace your loved one, but a financial payout could help with medical bills, lost income that you relied on, and the opportunity to provide for family members in the future. Indiana’s General Wrongful Death Act is found at Ind. Code 34-23-1. The statute reads, in [...]
July 31, 2020 / Personal Injury
How Do You Prove a TBI?
As part of an insurance claim or lawsuit, how do you prove that a TBI (traumatic brain injury) happened? You have the burden of proving you have a TBI and the other party caused it if you want compensation for your injury. There are many ways the harm you suffered can be established through documents and testimony. If you’re a veteran seeking benefits for a service-related TBI, you would need to show its effects to the Veterans Administration (VA). A TBI is usually caused by a violent blow or jolt to the head or body. An object penetrating the skull, entering into the brain, can also create a TBI, according to the Mayo Clinic. A mild TBI may affect you temporarily. More severe injuries can result from bruising, torn tissues, bleeding a[...]
April 21, 2020 / Wrongful Death
Does Insurance Cover Wrongful Death?
If someone you love has been killed in an auto crash, medical malpractice event, at-home accident or other tragic circumstances, you not only have to endure the shock and grief of their death, but you might also have to pay medical bills, funeral costs and other expenses. If this is the case, you may be wondering, “does insurance cover wrongful death?” If the death occurred as a result of another person’s or company’s negligence, then there’s a good chance that their car insurance, home insurance and other kinds of insurance may provide a financial payout. There are many ways that a wrongful death can happen, and each case has its own unique set of facts. Whether it’s a car crash on an interstate, death during a hospita[...]
March 9, 2020 / Catastrophic Injuries
Concussion Settlement Amount
If you’ve been injured in a fall, workplace accident or car crash, you may be wondering what your concussion settlement amount might be. This can be a challenging question because a concussion settlement amount depends on a variety of factors, including the seriousness of an injury, the number of people injured, whether anyone died, whether the defendant was grossly negligent in causing the accident, and the skill level of your concussion injury lawyer. Generally, the more serious and life-threatening the injury, the higher the settlement amount. To learn more about what your concussion claim might be worth, call a concussion injury lawyer today to discuss the particulars of your case. The attorneys at Stephenson Rife have handled h[...]
February 5, 2020 / Catastrophic Injuries
What’s the Average Payout for a Head Injury?
WHETHER IT’S A CONCUSSION, MEMORY LOSS, LOSS OF SIGHT AND SPEECH, OR A CATASTROPHIC BRAIN INJURY THAT LEAVES A PERSON IN A WHEELCHAIR, COURTS CAN AWARD SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES FOR HEAD INJURIES. There’s nothing as frightening or devastating as a head injury caused by a car crash, work accident or other event that leaves a person unable to function in a career or even unable to walk. Because head injuries can be so severe and life altering, courts can be sympathetic toward personal injury cases brought by parties who have been damaged. Courts understand that not only has the plaintiff been incapacitated, but if they were the primary breadwinners, then their spouse and children are also faced with living in reduced circumstances. If[...]
January 2, 2020 / Wrongful Death
Who gets the money in a wrongful death settlement?
Many family members are grieving after the death of a loved one, and those feelings are heightened if the person was killed in a vehicle accident or other wrongful death event. After initial confusion and sadness subside, family members can begin to ask questions like “who gets the money in a wrongful death settlement?” The role of attorneys in the wrongful death settlement process is to help navigate the legal system to ensure that you receive the financial compensation you are entitled to. If you have been affected by the wrongful death of a loved one and want to learn more about your legal rights, contact the attorneys at Stephenson Rife in Indiana for a free consultation. We can answer your questions, explain the law and di[...]
July 12, 2019 / Truck Accidents
How Many Truck Accidents Happen Annually?
Big rigs are an essential component of the U.S. economy, transporting goods and parts that consumers need. The trucking industry is regulated by a government agency called the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA), whose job it is to prevent injuries and accidents through safety regulations, technological advancements, and other measures. Carriers and individual drivers are required by law to adhere to FMSCA regulations. When they fail to do so, they put everyone on the road in danger and may be held legally responsible. How many truck accidents happen annually — including non-fatal crashes? About 500,000. If you or a family member has been hurt in a collision involving a commercial truck, call the Indianapolis truck a[...]
July 8, 2019 / Wrongful Death
What Qualifies as a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
If you’ve lost a close family member unexpectedly, you may be in shock, overwhelmed with grief, and not thinking clearly. The last thing on your mind may be tracking down who is responsible and initiating a lawsuit. But when you are ready, it’s something you should consider. There is a whole slew of expenses that come along with a relative’s passing, and you should not — and may not even be able to — pay them if someone else is at fault. No payout is going to bring back the person you love or ease the sense of loss you feel. But it will reduce the financial burden of your loved one’s death and ensure the responsible parties pay, as they should. If you’ve decided to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit for additional compens[...]