Your Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers
Get paid. Get well. Get back to your life.
Law offices in Indianapolis, Indiana. Serving all of Indiana.
PERSONAL ATTENTION
TRUSTED EXPERIENCE
PEACE OF MIND
Attorney Chris Garrison tells you what to do if you are injured in an accident with Patty Spitler of GreatDay TV.
Knowing what to do after you’ve been injured in an accident can be overwhelming.
On top of trying to heal from your injuries, you’re dealing with
Inability to Work
Lost Wages
Uncertainty
Insurance Companies
Medical Bills
Confusion
You should be focused on healing, not your personal injury case.
We make the legal process simple, so you can focus on healing.
Our Indianapolis personal injury lawyers have 40+ years of experience. They will help you get the compensation you deserve and ease your burden.
Personal Attention
We limit the caseload for each of our attorneys so you always get the care and focus you deserve.
Clear Communication
Get regular updates on your case so you always know where you stand. You can always reach us with questions.
Results-Driven
Our injury legal team always works to secure the best result possible in every case for every client.
Let us help you get what you need to heal and get back to your life.
Getting started with our personal injury team is simple. Here’s how it works.
1. Call Now | 317-842-8283
Get a free personal injury consultation with one of our experienced injury attorneys.
2. Hire Our Team
We won’t charge a fee until we’ve collected the compensation your case deserves.
3. Focus On Healing
With our personal injury team on your side, you can relax, recover, and get back to your life!
Hear from past clients who have been through similar situations.
It’s time to get paid, get well, and get back to your life.
You need a skilled and experienced Indiana personal injury attorney to maximize your compensation. Unfortunately, there are too many options to make sense of, and you just want to focus on healing. It’s overwhelming.
Our Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers Help You Get Paid, Get Well, And Get Back To Your Life. Call Today For A Free Consultation.
Don’t get lost in the filing cabinets of a huge law firm. Our team can give you great legal help and personal attention because we are big enough but also small enough.
Call now for a free case review or fill out the contact form to receive a prompt call back.
Our team will walk you through every step of the legal process and set your mind at ease. Often, that means securing an injury settlement and avoiding a lawsuit altogether.
You don’t want to add insult to injury by getting lost in a large law firm. Hire our injury team and get personal attention and someone who will return your call promptly every time.
Get your free consultation today. Virtual consultation options are available.
The GLF Promise
When working with our personal injury team you can expect
Prompt responses and clear communication from our injury team.
A clear explanation of the legal process for your case.
Our injury team to be your advocate, listen to you, and be for you.
Someone who will always listen to you and work to reduce the burden of the situation in your life.
To have input and consent on decisions made in your case.
At Garrison Law Firm, we handle many types of personal injury cases across Indiana.
Our personal injury attorneys have represented clients in cases involving the following situations and more for over 40 years. Not sure if your case fits into any of these categories? Not a problem! Call us, and we can help you with whatever situation you find yourself in.
Dog Bites and Animal Attacks
Not all animal attack injuries are the result of a dog bite. Animal attack injuries can be the result of both domestic and wild animals. Indiana laws are different with regard to each. Call our Personal Injury Team today and we will guide you through what you need to know.
Car Accidents
- Collect contact information from all witnesses at the scene immediately, as they may leave before the police arrive.
- Call the police to make a police accident report. Police accident reports are not definitive evidence but can provide helpful information. For example, you can find the contact and insurance information of the other driver in these reports.
- Take photographs of everything (i.e., the scene, the vehicles, and your injuries).
- Seek Medical attention if necessary
- Contact our auto accident lawyers today!
Learn more about our car accident lawyers here.
Construction Accidents
Unfortunately, many construction accidents result in serious, life-changing, and sometimes life-ending injuries! These accidents can lead to medical expenses and lost time from work.
They can also cause job losses and careers and may impose hardship on the worker, spouse, and family.
Future medical expenses and lost opportunities for future employment can increase the value of the worker’s damages.
Learn More about Construction Accidents.
Electric Shock Injuries
Learn more about Electric Shock Injuries.
Motorcycle Accidents
Both the public and insurance companies have unfounded prejudices against bikers.
Often, bikers are viewed as risk-taking thrill-seekers. Some feel bikers are partly at fault for their injuries because of the increased risk of riding a motorcycle. There is also prejudice associated with head injuries to bikers not wearing helmets.
Many people and insurance companies believe that bikers speed and weave between cars. This belief makes it difficult for bikers to receive fair compensation for accidents.
Learn more about Motorcycle Accident Injuries.
Product Liability or Defective Product
There are many examples of defective products. Some of the more common examples include:
- a defective vehicle airbag that fails to deploy in an accident when it should;
- a defective tool, machine, or other product that breaks despite being used properly
- or a product that fails to provide an adequate warning or instruction label.
Product liability cases in Indiana are governed by the Indiana Product Liability Act (IPLA). They can be brought under several different legal theories, including, but not limited to, strict liability and negligence.
In Indiana, there are strict deadlines for product liability cases, known as statute of limitations and statute of repose.
It’s important to contact our law firm right away if you think a faulty product caused your injury
Learn More about Product Liability
Slip and Fall or Trip and Fall Accidents
Have you ever experienced a slip and fall or trip and fall? Were you injured on someone else’s property, such as a store or restaurant? We know that people frequent many places. It would be hard to imagine anyone being able to avoid these common incidents completely.
If you have avoided these incidents, consider yourself lucky completely!
We hope you were not injured if you have experienced a slip and fall or trip and fall. However, you might not have known the best way to handle the situation if you were. This is where Garrison Law Firm can help you.
Learn more about slip and fall accident cases.
Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury can impact the rest of your life. You deserve to be compensated accordingly. We’ve helped people with cases just like yours for over three decades. We can help you, too.
Learn more about Traumatic Brain Injuries.
Truck Accidents
Truck accidents involving commercial carriers such as semi-trucks are more complicated than auto accidents. Important steps must be taken immediately to preserve evidence at the scene. Secure the truck’s data recording device or “black box.”
Truck accidents can cause significant financial losses and serious injuries. Trucks may not have enough insurance to cover all the costs of accidents and injuries they cause.
It is important to determine the carrier’s liability limits under its policy.
Fortunately, many commercial carriers have million—or multi-million dollar policy limits. The carrier can often pay damages over these limits, but this is not always true.
Commercial carriers need at least $300,000 in insurance if their vehicle weighs under 10,000 lbs. You might find that surprising, given that the minimum is only $750,000 for vehicles weighing over 10,000 lbs.
Worker's Compensation
We don’t handle workers’ comp claims. We can recommend local attorneys who can help you with your case. These attorneys can provide you with reliable legal representation.
Wrongful Death
People grieve differently. Grief can affect some or all aspects of a person’s life. Loss of sleep, eating habits, and productivity can be affected. It can affect our emotional well-being through anger, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and fear, among others.
Many people immediately think about making a wrongful death claim. Others either fear or dread facing that process. Often, the sudden trauma of the loss, shock, and need to make funeral arrangements take the focus. This causes many not to realize how important it is to collect and protect crucial evidence.
The experienced lawyers at Garrison Law Firm can relieve much of that stress on loved ones’ shoulders. You need to get us involved early in the process. There are many types of personal injury cases, but none need immediate investigation, like a wrongful death case.
Learn More about Wrongful Death Cases.
Medical Malpractice
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Our injury attorneys field a lot of questions throughout the course of a case. Here are some of the most common questions our clients ask our team.
How long will my personal injury case take?
This is a typical question we address in our first meeting with a client. That first answer likely will not be a timeframe measured in days, weeks, or months. It will most likely be measured in stages of a case.
If you hire Garrison Law Firm while in the hospital, your recovery time may be longer.
That may include continuing medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. No personal injury attorney can accurately determine the value of your case without knowing the following.
- How much are your total medical bills?
- How
much lost income will you incur? - Will you have any permanent injuries and future ongoing treatment?
- How painful of a recovery period will you have?
Once you finish treatment, we will collect and review your medical bills and records. Then, we collect lost income records and determine the value of your permanent injury before considering the total value. This evaluation process can take many weeks.
The speed of submitting records affects how quickly insurance claims are processed. The complexity of medical issues also plays a role in the processing time. This process is important for both medical providers and employers.
Once we determine the value of your case, we will demand a settlement from the insurance company. The company may respond quickly or sit on the claim for weeks or even months.
A lawyer who promises a quick settlement may care more about making money than fully resolving your case. They might rush through the process to close the deal. This could lead to important details being overlooked.
It’s important to choose a lawyer who prioritizes your best interests.
There may be considerable value in patience by the patient (client).
How long does it take to get a personal injury settlement?
Some lawyers for personal injury will vary in their response to this question. Generally, it takes 4 – 12 months. Each case is unique. Call for a free consultation, and we can give you a better idea of timing based on the details of your injury case.
After a personal injury settlement, how long does it take to get paid?
Typically, payment for a personal injury settlement can be received in 2 – 4 weeks.
How much will it cost me to hire a personal injury law firm?
Our accident lawyers handle all injury cases on a contingency fee. That means you only pay an attorney fee if we make a recovery for you. That fee is a percentage of the total recovery. Here’s how that breaks down…
- We charge one-third of the total recovery if your case is settled without filing a lawsuit.
- If necessary, we will file a lawsuit, and our percentage will increase to 40% once we file your lawsuit in court.
- Both rates are subject to rare exceptions.
Processing a claim is different than litigating a lawsuit. In personal injury law, the negotiation process often leads to a settlement without filing a lawsuit in court.
There are no court dates, meetings, or paperwork to deal with in this situation. You don’t have to go to court, prepare for meetings, or complete paperwork. There are no deadlines or appointments to worry about. Just relax and take a break.
Once the lawyer has to file a lawsuit, the case becomes much more labor-intensive, so the fee percentage goes up.
Are there additional costs of a personal injury case?
At Garrison Law Firm, we typically advance the claim preparation costs for medical records on behalf of the client. If we file a lawsuit, we typically advance all litigation expenses. This includes expert witness fees.
Once the case is resolved, those advanced expenses must be repaid by you. This typically is paid out of settlement proceeds or from the collection of a jury verdict.
Under Indiana law, contingent fee agreements must be in writing. So, we will give you a contract to sign that explains in more detail the agreement for your case.
How do you calculate pain and suffering?
There is no set formula. The duration of treatment, the medically noted level of pain during the treatment period, and whether the pain was temporary or permanent all play a role in the value of pain and suffering.
What is the statute of limitations on a personal injury case in Indiana?
Two years, but if the State of Indiana or any political subdivision has fault, you must file a tort claim notice with the proper authorities in as little as 180 days.
This is why it is important to hire an Indiana personal injury lawyer immediately following an accident.
What should I expect during my first meeting with my injury attorney?
Expect the lawyer to initially inquire about how your accident happened and what injuries you received, then the lawyer should explain the claim process and the potential litigation process if a settlement is not reached before suit is filed.
How do you prove my injury case?
We must prove that the other “person” was primarily at fault for causing the accident. We must prove that the injuries for which you wish to recover damages were actually caused by the accident. Important elements are witness statements, photos and videos, medical records and medical bills, permanent impairment ratings, expert opinions on fault and on medical prognosis, and lost income information.
When is a personal injury lawsuit necessary?
Although many clients believe they are immediately in a personal injury lawsuit once they have hired an attorney for their case, this is typically not true, nor is it usually advantageous for the client! However, there certainly are times when filing a lawsuit for accident victims is necessary.
How does insurance work?
Most people believe that if they are injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault they will be able to collect all their damages from the guilty party’s insurance carrier. Although there is truth in that statement, it is not completely true all the time.
Indiana law only requires passenger vehicle insurance limits of $25,000. Indiana law does not require YOU to have uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. Nor does it require you to have underinsured motorist coverage (UIM). Let’s break down those laws and what it means to you as an injured client.
The guilty driver that injured you may only have insurance coverage for your injuries for $25,000. If you had to have surgery and/or a lengthy stay in the hospital, all that money would go to pay your medical bills, even if you have medical insurance for those medical bills.
Why is that?
Your health insurance carrier, in almost all cases, will have “subrogation” rights. This means that if it pays your medical bills for injuries that were the fault of someone else, the health insurance company will “stand in your shoes” and be entitled to take part of your recovery for your injuries. “That part” meaning the amount it paid for your medical treatment.
The guilty party may not be insured at all. If the guilty party is not insured, then your only recovery could come from the guilty party’s personal assets. Generally, people who do not have insurance also don’t have assets. This, of course, makes it hard or impossible for them to pay a judgment for serious personal injuries.
Uninsured Motorists Coverage vs. UNDERinsured Motorists Coverage
This brings us to YOUR insurance coverage if you have uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.
Then, your policy’s UM and UIM coverage must pay the difference between the guilty party’s insurance coverage limit and your UM or UIM limits. Your UM and UIM limits are not generally in addition to the guilty party’s limits.
They only make up the difference between the two. Your maximum insurance recovery is determined by the greater limits of the guilty party’s liability limits and your UM/UIM limits. Thus, you must cover yourself and your motorcycle passengers with higher UM and UIM limits.
To buy higher UM and UIM coverage limits, you must also, under Indiana law, purchase at least as much liability coverage for others as you provide for yourself under UM and UIM limits.
By “for others,” we mean if you caused an accident and someone else was injured, they would be entitled to at least as much as the limits you provided yourself under your UM/UIM.
Some clients ask, “Why should my insurance company have to pay anything if the accident was not my fault?” The answer is that you hired them to pay UM or UIM coverage if the guilty party did not have sufficient covered limits. You have a contract with them to protect you and your passengers, and you paid your insurance carrier money for that coverage.
We also get the question, “Well, won’t my insurance company want to take care of me because I’m their customer?” The answer is NO!
You will become their adversary when you make such a UM or UIM claim. Your insurance company will view you no differently (if as well) as the uninsured or underinsured guilty party. Is it wrong for your insurance company to treat you that way?
It’s just business to them, and it is just the way it is.
Will you help me get paid for my damaged property?
The answer is no.
Why? Generally, an Indianapolis personal injury law firm cannot get you enough money for your property as it would cost to represent you to do so.
Economically, hiring a lawyer for the property damage does not make sense. Our law office can make a huge difference in your personal injury claim value but not your property damage claim.
The property is worth what it is worth in a value book. We want you to be happy with the total result.
That means you are processing your property damage claim on your own. We can give you some helpful advice from our accident lawyers.
How long can a lawyer hold your personal injury settlement check?
We are required to hold for at least five business days in the trust account.
What if I think I am at fault for my accident?
Indiana has a comparative fault statute so sometimes you can still recover if you have some of the fault for causing the accident. If you are more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover. Learn more about how comparative fault works in Indiana.
What should I bring with me to my first meeting with an injury lawyer?
Bring as much information about how the accident happened and what the injuries were to your first meeting. However, don’t sweat over information that is not presently available – there is usually time to hunt down information later. Here is a simple checklist if it helps you to prepare.
What is my personal injury case worth?
Your case cannot be properly valued until you have completed all treatment for your injuries. Any Indianapolis personal injury attorney telling you what your case is worth before treatment is completed is just giving you a sales pitch.
Should I hire a personal injury attorney?
We estimate that our clients recover more than they would have gotten on their own over 95% of the time. Dealing with insurance companies can be complicated.
Meet Your Indianapolis Personal Injury Team
Chris Garrison
Founder | Injury Attorney
Gabriel Berry
Owner | Injury Attorney
Cody Cogswell
Owner | Injury Attorney
Joshua Martin
Owner | Injury Attorney
Stephen Thompson
Owner | Injury Attorney
Our Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers Help You Get Paid, Get Well, And Get Back To Your Life. Call Today For A Free Consultation.
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