Anderson, IN Personal Injury Lawyer

An Advocate For Injured Clients In Indiana

If you have been injured in a serious accident, you need to seek legal help immediately. All too often, accident victims try to handle their personal injury claim independently, while others trust their case to an inexperienced lawyer. In reality, most injury victims are overwhelmed and in shock after an accident, which can be paralyzing. 

Most personal injury victims are not able to return to work and are forced to deal with lost wages, unexpected medical bills, and emotional distress. Still others who tragically lose a family member due to someone else’s negligence quickly face a financial crisis, especially if the victim was the family’s primary source of financial support. As a result, many accept the insurance company’s first settlement offer.

After a serious accident, you do not need to try to fight any legal battles on your own. Instead, all you need to do is pick up the phone to call our experienced Indianapolis personal injury attorney, who will act as your legal advocate with the insurance company.

Overview of Our Firm

Attorney Zaki Ali has an extensive legal background, which gives him greater insight into how to assist his clients. Attorney Ali has held several distinguished positions, including serving as a Deputy Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Department of the Indiana Attorney General’s Office in 2000 and later as a Madison County Deputy Prosecutor from 2001 to 2002. 

Our law firm is committed to providing clients with skilled legal representation when they need it most. Zaki Ali, Trial Lawyers, and our entire legal team will fight for you. Mr. Ali has more than 20 years of legal experience handling all types of personal injury claims in Muncie and throughout Indiana. 

We take a client-centered approach to personal injury claims, marked by compassion, commitment, and success. Our goal is to ensure that you are treated fairly by the insurance company and that the responsible party is held accountable for their negligent behavior. 

Common Types of Personal Injury Accidents

Personal injury accidents can occur when victims least expect them. Although accidents caused by another person’s negligent actions can take many forms, several are more commonly reported than others.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Car accidents and other auto accidents are the cornerstones of any successful personal injury practice. We fight for clients who have been injured in accidents involving motorcycles, trucks, bicycles, and pedestrians hit by vehicles.

One of the most common causes of auto accidents is driving under the influence. If a drunk driver has injured you, we will fight to make sure you get the full measure of compensation available.

Catastrophic Injuries

Although our law firm can handle simple fender benders, we are well-positioned to represent clients who need to file catastrophic injury claims. Our highly experienced personal injury lawyer represents clients and their families in cases involving:

• Paralysis
• Loss of limbs
• Serious burn injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Wrongful death

In these traumatic injury claims, our legal team will work to determine the full extent of our clients’ injuries and what these injuries will cost them for the rest of their lives. Many injuries involve ongoing medical care, medications, and adaptive technology. Our knowledgeable attorney will determine the full costs of your damage to maximize your compensation.

Premises Liability

Commonly called “slip-and-fall” cases, premises liability claims involve any type of injury suffered as a result of a dangerous condition on someone else’s property. These properties can include public spaces such as stores, restaurants, and parking lots. Accidents can range from slipping and falling on spilled liquids to elevator accidents.

Dog Bites

Many dog owners fail to adequately control their animals, which can lead to other victims suffering minor to severe injuries. Depending on the severity of the attack, some dog bite victims suffer broken bones, nerve damage, and permanent disfigurement. 

In other instances, those attacked by dogs may also require reconstructive surgery and physical therapy. Sadly, regardless of their age, many dog bite victims often suffer from PTSD after being attacked. 

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals have a legal duty of care when treating patients. However, when a medical professional, such as a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare worker, fails to act as others would in the same situation, injuries can occur. Commonly reported medical malpractice claims reported by injury victims include failing to treat or diagnose an illness, birth injuries, and surgical errors. 

Grounds for Filing an Indianapolis Personal Injury Claim

To establish an Indianapolis personal injury claim, you must prove four legal elements. Due to the legal complexities involved in Indiana personal injury law, it is in your best interests to hire an experienced attorney to represent you. 

The four legal elements that must be proven include:

• Duty of care: The negligent party must have owed you a legal duty to take the same reasonable precautions that others would have taken in the same situation.
• Breach of duty of care: The negligent party failed to meet their legal duty of care.
• Causation: The negligent party’s breach of their duty of care directly caused your injuries.
• Damages: You suffered actual damages, which usually include medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

One of the most significant advantages of hiring a personal injury lawyer is that they will professionally assess your accident to determine if filing a compensation claim is appropriate. 

Types of Compensation in an Indiana Personal Injury Lawsuit

Indiana personal injury victims have the right to seek economic and non-economic damages after being injured. 

Economic Damages

Economic damages are awarded to compensate injury victims for out-of-pocket expenses they have incurred. Some of the most commonly awarded economic damages include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning potential
• Property damage

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are compensation for intangible losses that they have suffered due to their injuries and often include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress 
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent disfigurement and scarring

Punitive Damages

In some cases, accident victims may recover punitive damages if the defendant acted with malice, gross negligence, fraud, or otherwise reckless behavior. Even so, you must present clear and convincing evidence that the case merits punitive damages. 

A key benefit of working with a personal injury attorney is that they will interact with the insurance company on your behalf. Insurance providers are concerned about protecting their bottom line and look for ways to deny or pay less than claims are worth. An experienced personal injury attorney is familiar with insurance companies’ tactics and will work to help maximize your compensation. 

The Three Most Important Factors in Your Indiana Personal Injury Case

To win compensation for an Indiana personal injury claim, you need a personal injury lawyer who can help you prove negligence. Proving negligence means presenting evidence that the responsible party owed a duty of care and breached it through their actions or inaction.  Your legal representative must also be able to show a direct link (causation) that the defendant directly caused your injuries and that you suffered financial and intangible losses. 

One of the best ways you can protect your right to file a compensation claim is to document all damages thoroughly. Thorough documentation includes keeping records of all medical bills, lost income, and the impact your injuries have had on your daily life. You should also keep a log of all expenses related to traveling to seek medical treatment, as well as the cost of any prescription drugs. 

Most personal injury claims are settled out of court through negotiations between accident attorneys and insurance companies. Even so, it is still recommended that you hire a personal injury attorney who has considerable trial experience. It is worth emphasizing that Indiana accident victims have two years from the date of the accident to file a compensation claim. Failing to file a claim after the deadline has expired will most likely result in your case being dismissed. 

Role of a Personal Injury Attorney

Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they are paid only if their client receives compensation. Contingency fees motivate the attorney to work hard to help clients resolve their legal issues and do not require them to pay upfront costs that could be challenging to afford if they are unable to return to work. 

A well-seasoned attorney will also have access to legal resources and experts who can substantiate your case. For example, if the insurance company is trying to blame you for causing a car accident, your attorney can call upon an accident reconstructionist to prove liability. 

One of the most critical legal services a personal injury attorney provides is negotiating with insurance adjusters. Adjusters are trained to find ways to save their companies’ money. Studies show that accident victims who hire an attorney receive greater settlements than those who pursue compensation without legal representation. 

Most insurance providers are more willing to offer fair settlements when they know that a claimant has hired an attorney rather than risk a case going to jury trial. Insurers realize that an accident attorney can present a compelling case that could cause the jury to award more compensation than they were willing to pay. 

Contact Zaki Ali Trial Lawyers Today To Get The Compensation You Deserve

If you have been harmed or lost a loved one as a result of someone else’s negligence, you deserve to be compensated. Our legal team recognizes that dealing with a personal injury and feeling uncertain about your financial future can be one of the most challenging issues you ever face. 

Our law firm has a proven track record of being able to recover maximum compensation for personal injury accident victims and families who have lost loved ones due to wrongful death. If you have suffered injuries caused by another person’s negligence, you need a lawyer who is willing to fight for your legal rights. 

Call our Anderson personal injury law firm today at 765-252-1539 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation