Indianapolis Neck Injury Lawyer

Many people take their physical health for granted until they suffer an injury. A serious neck injury is never a good thing, but it’s especially devastating if it was caused by another person who was behaving recklessly, negligently, or maliciously. People whose actions bring harm to others should be held accountable, and accountability often comes in the form of financial responsibility. The lawyers at Stephenson Rife have dedicated their careers to helping Indiana citizens take their lives back, and we might be able to help you, too.

How Neck Injuries Happen

Your neck is a strong, complex structure, but the sheer force involved in many kinds of accidents can cause severe — and sometimes permanent — damage to the bones, muscles, tendons, nerves, ligaments, and more. While neck injuries can be caused by any major force, many of our clients come to us with neck injuries sustained in incidents like these:

• Car accidents
• Sports injuries
• Slip and fall accidents
• Repetitive heavy lifting or other activities that cause neck strain
• Falls from significant heights
• Truck accidents

Even if you think your injury was not caused by another person’s negligence, it’s still a good idea to talk to a neck injury attorney. Legal liability is much more complex than it seems from the outside, and it’s possible that another person contributed to your injury in a significant way.

What if You Were Partially Responsible?

Sometimes, accidents are simple — one party is completely at fault, while the other is blameless. However, in many cases — especially with car accidents — the injured person contributed in some way. Fortunately, Indiana still allows you to collect damages if you were partially to blame, but you are barred from seeking compensation if you were 51% or more at fault for the accident. Because Indiana has a modified comparative fault system, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.

Here’s an example. Imagine you are speeding through an intersection when another driver runs a red light and hits you. In this situation, the driver who ran the red light is clearly more at fault, but the other side could reasonably argue that if you hadn’t been speeding at the time of the accident, you may have been able to avoid it. The other driver is assigned 90% of the fault and you are found to be 10% at fault. You sustain a severe neck injury in the accident and seek $100,000 in damages. Ordinarily, you would be awarded that amount, but because you were 10% at fault, it’s reduced by 10%. As a result, you are awarded $90,000 instead of $100,000.

What Kind of Compensation Can You Recover?

Understanding Damages Serious neck injuries cause you to suffer physical, emotional, and financial losses. When you work with an experienced neck injury attorney, your lawyer can help you recover compensation for those losses. In a court of law, the compensation you collect is known as “damages.” Damages can be divided into two broad categories:

• Economic Damages: Quantifiable losses like medical bills and lost income
• Non-Economic Damages: Non-quantifiable losses like loss of quality of life

Every case is different, but many of our injured clients are able to collect damages for losses like these.

Medical Expenses

Medical costs can be high even for minor injuries. If you suffer serious injuries, your medical expenses can easily reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. You may be able to recover compensation for immediate medical care and any ongoing care you might need.

Lost Income

In many cases, a serious neck injury will stop you from working for a period of time. Missing a few days of work might not make much of a dent in your finances, but if you have to miss weeks or months of work, you may have trouble covering routine living expenses. Our team may be able to help you recover compensation for the earnings you lost because of your injury.

Loss of Earning Capacity

If your neck injury heals completely, you might be able to return to the same job with no issues. However, some serious neck injuries can cause permanent disabilities. If your injury makes it so you cannot work the job you had before, you might be able to receive compensation to make up for lost future earnings.

For example, if you have a well-paid job as a construction worker and suffer a severe neck injury in an accident caused by a drunk driver that prevents you from performing heavy physical labor any longer, you may be assigned a job that comes with a significant pay cut. In this case, the responsible party may be ordered to pay the difference between what you made before and what you make now for the foreseeable future.

Pain and Suffering

You can’t put a dollar sign on physical and emotional pain, but both can have a life-altering effect. In some cases, we might be able to recover compensation for the pain and suffering you have endured.

Neck injuries can involve many legal complexities, and you need an attorney who can advocate for you from the start of the legal process to the end. Call Stephenson Rife at (317) 680-2501 to book your free consultation and case review.

How an Indianapolis Neck Injury Lawyer Can Help

The Indianapolis neck injury attorneys at Stephenson Rife can support and guide you through the process. Here’s how we may be able to help.

Determining What Your Case Is Worth

We handle personal injury cases like yours every day, so we can evaluate your case and tell you what it might be worth.

Thoroughly Investigating Your Injury

If we take you on as a client, we will look closely at every facet of your case. Our investigation is focused on proving two things — the other party’s negligence and the severity of your injury.

Consulting With Medical Experts

We might obtain statements from medical experts who can explain your injuries in a way insurers and the court can understand.

Negotiating With Insurance Companies

Most neck injury cases settle out of court. We can attempt to negotiate a fair settlement that both you and the insurer can agree on.

Taking Your Case to Court

If your case doesn’t settle, we are fully prepared to advocate for you in the courtroom.

FAQ

At Stephenson Rife, we’re committed to our clients — and that commitment starts with answering your questions. Here are some of the most common questions we hear.

Will you take my case?

We are unable to take on every case that comes our way. However, at your free consultation, we will evaluate your case and tell you whether you have a good chance of recovering financial compensation. If you do, we will likely be able to take your case on.

What should I bring to my case consultation?

We advise you to bring any documentation you can. That might include police reports of the accident that led to your injury, hospital records, medical bills, records of missed work, and anything else related to your case. If you don’t have these things, don’t worry — we will be able to help you obtain them.

How much does it cost to work with you?

You pay nothing up front. If we can recover compensation for you, you agree to pay us a portion of what you receive. If we are unable to recover compensation, you owe us nothing.

How much is my case worth?

Every neck injury case is different. Without knowing the specifics of your case, we cannot give you an accurate estimate of your case’s value. At your free consultation, we will be able to take a close look at your case and give you an estimation of what it may be worth.

Can I still receive compensation if I was partially at fault for my injury?

Maybe. In Indiana, you can recover compensation as long as you were not found to be 51% or more at fault for the accident.

We understand that you likely have many more questions during this difficult time. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have.

Why Choose Us?

Experience That Works for You

If you’ve suffered a serious neck injury, friends and family are probably telling you the same thing — get a lawyer! It’s good advice, but we’d like to add to it:  Get a lawyer whose experience gives you the best possible chance at receiving the settlement you deserve. At Stephenson Rife, we have been focused on seeking justice for Indiana citizens since 1976, and our track record speaks for itself.

If you have suffered a neck injury because another person was negligent, that person should be held accountable — and we might be able to help. Call Stephenson Rife today at (317) 680-2501 to book your free consultation.