IT'S ABOUT JUSTICE

A statute of limitations is a law that gives a timeframe for how long a crime or accident can be reported and prosecuted. Indiana has a 2-year statute of limitations on all personal injury, medical malpractice, and product liability cases. An Indiana city or county being sued for negligence must be given written notice, called a tort claims notice, within 180 days of the incident. The State of Indiana must be given notice of any claims it has been negligent within 270 days of the incident.

Many people don’t realize that social media posts may negatively impact a personal injury suit. These cases can be complicated, especially when it comes to how much damages should be awarded to a plaintiff. When a big life event happens, it’s common to post about it on social media. But if a victim’s posts contradict or are out of line with arguments being made in court, that might mean trouble for a personal injury attorney. For example, if a person is unable to walk due to an injury in a car accident and seeks damages for medical bills and lost wages, but then has photos of themselves running a marathon or dancing, that could be used against them.
Though it is your personal social media account, these sites are public and are admissible into a court of law. By sharing a photograph, video, or written opinion, you are essentially entering the document into the public domain. Because these sites are free, companies like Facebook or Twitter actually own the content you post on your page. In fact, even if your page is set to private it can still be used as evidence in the court of law, just as long as it wasn’t accessed in a deceitful way, such as creating a fake profile in order to view the posts. In a nutshell, it’s best not to post about legal matters online.

This is a great question to ask an attorney, as it gives a lot of insight into several areas of their practice. By asking them to reflect on your claim, it demonstrates the attorney’s level of understanding into your specific case. No one wants to feel like an important legal matter is just another file folder piled up on a desk. Great attorneys provide more than legal expertise; it’s also the peace of mind that comes from being taken care of on a personal level. Secondly, asking about their previous work helps establish a sense of history and experience. Though personal injury cases are often different, the lawsuits should still follow some basic themes, particularly the focus on establishing negligence and damages. An attorney that’s able to produce several similar cases is much easier to trust.

Because personal injury lawsuits can take extensive time to resolve, it’s common for victims to worry about current medical bills. Though they may be entitled to compensation for their injuries, these are very real charges that need to be dealt with as quickly as possible. It’s not always reasonable to expect someone to run up a credit card or dip into their savings account.
Though your attorney can’t provide direct financial support, a sign of a seasoned injury lawyer is their ability to help provide solutions for your expenses and fees. Regarding immediate bills, they may be able to suggest trusted lenders for a short but reliable cash infusion. Additionally, their firm may also have ties or a working history with contingency-based medical billing vendors who can delay payment due dates. But most importantly, a good attorney should offer payment solutions and plans for their own fees, perhaps not accepting payment until your case has been won. Though there’s no set standard for managing your expenses, you can evaluate your attorney based on their willingness to work with you as a client.