Instantly Connect For Your Personal Injury Consultation When Filling Out Form
Your Lafayette Personal Injury Attorney
The short answer. In Indiana most injury claims must be filed within two years (Ind. Code 34-11-2-4(a)). The trial court for Tippecanoe County sits in Lafayette, at 301 Main Street, Lafayette, IN 47901. To talk it through, send the form on this page and we will work to connect you with an attorney in our network.
Getting hurt rarely comes at a convenient time. You may be in pain, missing work and answering calls from an insurance company while trying to learn what you are owed. If your injury in Lafayette was someone else’s doing, start with the basics below and go at your own pace.
This page is general information, not legal advice. NeedAnAttorney.net matches people with attorneys and does not represent anyone. The legal points below come from Indiana’s statutes, and the form at the top of the page is how you reach an attorney.
Questions Worth Asking In Lafayette
Whoever you speak to, a few answers tell you a lot:
- The date. Ask for the specific last day to file in your case. The general rule is two years (Ind. Code 34-11-2-4(a)).
- Any ceiling. Ask whether any rule restricts the amount you could recover in Indiana.
- If you were partly to blame. Ask what happens to your award if a jury finds you share the blame (Ind. Code 34-51-2-6(a)).
- The people. Ask who will be in touch with you and how quickly they return calls.
- The money terms. Ask how fees are calculated and which costs come out of a recovery.
Injury Claims People Ask About
Vehicle crashes
Whether the collision was minor or serious, the same early steps help: get checked by a doctor, photograph the vehicles and the scene, exchange insurance information and keep any repair estimates.
Pedestrian and bicycle injuries
Walkers and cyclists hurt by a vehicle should write down the location, the time of day, the lighting and the signals as soon as they can. Witnesses who stopped are valuable, so ask for their contact details before they leave.
Falls and unsafe property
Falls on someone else’s property usually depend on what the owner knew or should have known about the hazard. Photograph the spot before it changes, report the fall in writing, and keep the shoes you were wearing.
Wrongful death
If a loved one died because of another person’s wrongful act or omission, a different set of rules applies. A wrongful death claim follows its own rules in Indiana; ask an attorney which date applies (Ind. Code 34-23-1-1). It is a heavy time to make decisions, and an attorney can explain the process at your pace.
Injured in Lafayette? Get matched with an attorney now.
How Fault Is Divided
A person who is fifty percent at fault or less can still recover in Indiana. Ind. Code 34-51-2-6(a) sets the rule.
You can recover if your share of the fault is 50 percent or less, and your award is reduced by your share; above 50 percent the claim is barred (Ind. Code 34-51-2-6(a)). Photographs, witness names and medical records help show where the fault lies.
Is There A Ceiling On The Award
What an injured person can recover in Indiana is shown by the records and the medical proof. Special rules can apply to particular kinds of claims, so ask about yours.
The facts of your claim drive the amount. Punitive damages are limited separately (Ind. Code 34-51-3-4).
Filing Deadlines For Injury Claims
Most injury claims in Indiana must be filed within two years (Ind. Code 34-11-2-4(a)). A child may have more time, and a few other limited situations extend the period too (Ind. Code 34-11-6-1).
A wrongful death claim follows its own rules, so ask which date applies (Ind. Code 34-23-1-1). If a government body may be responsible, the steps can differ (Ind. Code 34-13-3-8). Records fade and witnesses move, so an early start helps even well inside the limit.
Minimum Coverage And Your Claim
Under Ind. Code 9-25-4-5, an auto liability policy in Indiana must provide at least $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for injury to two or more people in one accident and $25,000 for property damage.
A crash with several injured people can use up those limits quickly. If your bills pass that limit, it helps to know early what other coverage may exist, including your own policy.
The Court and Hospitals Behind a Lafayette Claim
Tippecanoe County is the county the Census Bureau assigns to Lafayette. For Tippecanoe County, the Indiana court directory shows the circuit court in Lafayette, at 301 Main Street, Lafayette, IN 47901. In Lafayette, the state trauma list names Franciscan Health Lafayette East as a Level III trauma center. In Lafayette, the state trauma list names IU Health Arnett Hospital as a Level III trauma center.
Records matter later. Get the complete chart and an itemized bill from each place that treated you, and write down the date of every visit, including any transfer to another facility.
Your First Step After Getting Hurt In Lafayette
Start with the form at the top. It asks a few questions about the injury. NeedAnAttorney.net reviews your details and works to match you with an attorney in our network who may handle cases in Indiana. Using it is free, and it does not create an attorney client relationship.
Meanwhile, jot down the facts while they are fresh: date, time, place, who was there, what care you have had and what work you have missed. Save every bill and every message from an insurer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I say to an adjuster who calls?
You can decline a recorded statement until you have advice. A polite request to wait until you have talked to someone about your options is fine. Early offers can be low, so wait until treatment is clear.
Is a claim against a government entity different in Indiana?
It can be. Special claim or notice steps can apply (Ind. Code 34-13-3-8). The notice steps can differ from those for other claims. Write down the date and place of the injury.
Does location matter when choosing an attorney in Lafayette?
It helps. Local knowledge helps with scheduling, courts and medical providers. Ask about recent cases handled in your county.
How many years do I have to sue after an injury in Indiana?
Most injury claims must be filed within two years (Ind. Code 34-11-2-4(a)). Children and some other limited situations can have more time (Ind. Code 34-11-6-1). A claim against a government body has its own notice step (Ind. Code 34-13-3-8).
How does shared fault change what I can recover in Indiana?
Short answer: you can recover if your share of the fault is 50 percent or less, and your award is reduced by your share; above 50 percent the claim is barred (Ind. Code 34-51-2-6(a)). Photographs and witness names help show where the fault lies. Do not guess about fault when you talk to an insurer.
Is the amount of an injury award limited in Indiana?
It depends on the bills, the missed work and the lasting effects, and an attorney can tell you whether any rule limits the amount. The amount depends on the facts of your claim. Ask an attorney whether any rule reaches your claim.
How much liability coverage must a driver in Indiana carry?
The minimums are $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage (Ind. Code 9-25-4-5). A crash with several injured people can use up limits quickly. It helps to learn early what other coverage may exist.
What should I gather before I call an attorney?
Gather treatment records and itemized bills first. Include any police or incident report number. Also save the report number if there is one, proof of lost work and all insurer letters.
Serving Injured Clients Across Indiana
The same matching service covers more of Indiana. Pick the community closest to where it happened.
