Finding a Personal Injury Attorney in South Bend, Indiana

When you need a personal injury attorney in South Bend, you need Foley & Small. We like to say, “Working with us is like having an attorney in the family.” We care about your needs and those of your loved ones. We understand today you are hurting. And we want to help you get to better days ahead.

What is a personal injury lawyer?

A personal injury lawyer helps and represents people who have been injured in an incident, such as an auto accident, a fall or a work accident; or have been injured because of a defective product, such as a defective drug or medical implant or defective piece of equipment; and those who have suffered other personal loss or damage, such as a violation of the right to privacy or in a defamation action where false statements have been made about a person.

What does a personal injury lawyer do?

A personal injury lawyer will secure the necessary information to present and prove the client’s claim. That includes:

• Witness statements
• Photographs and measurements of incident scenes
• Retaining experts to show how the incident occurred
• Medical records and billings and otherwise acquiring necessary information and evidence

The lawyer will present the claim to the other party who caused the injury and typically interact with their insurance carrier to see if the case can be resolved. If necessary, the lawyer will file a complaint in state or federal court to move the claim forward in the court and, if necessary, on to trial.

What is the average cost of a personal injury attorney?

Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingent fee. The attorney only is paid if a recovery is obtained for the client from the other party causing the loss. The fee is paid from that recovery.

The “contingency” referred to in the contingent fee is actually securing a recovery on behalf of the client. If no recovery is made, the attorney is not paid. Many personal injury attorneys work on a one third contingent fee. In other words, the attorney is paid one third of the recovery obtained on the case. Some attorneys charge more. The attorney is also typically reimbursed from the recovery for the costs and expenses paid by the attorney in handling the case. Those costs include, for example, reimbursement for the court filing fee, for obtaining copies of records, to pay the court reporters, to pay for expert witness services and similar expenses.

Is it worth hiring a personal injury attorney?

If it is a minor accident with minor injuries, it is often best to try and settle the case on your own. At Foley & Small, typically will suggest to a potential client that suffered a minor, non-permanent injury with medical bills of less than $5000 that they try to resolve the case on their own. In cases with more severe injuries, it is recommended that you seek out the advice of a personal injury attorney. A competent personal injury attorney should obtain a better recovery for you, they will know what steps need to be taken to properly resolve the claim and can make the overall process of resolving such a claim easier.

How do I find a personal injury attorney?

There are various ways to do so. You can search the Internet, speak with people you know that work in the legal field, ask those that have experience hiring and working with lawyers their suggestions and you can check on various websites with ratings for attorneys, such as Martindale Hubbell, FindLaw, Super Lawyers, and The Top 100 Trial Lawyers in each state.

You should call the law firm to tell them about your possible case and asked them questions. In making such calls, you will typically speak first with an intake clerk that acquires information on your case. Before you invest the time for an in-person meeting, we suggest you ask to speak with the attorney who would likely handle your case and ask them questions. Those questions should include:

• How many years of experience do you have?
• What type of cases do you handle?
• How many cases do you take to trial?
• How much direct contact will I have with with you during my case?
• What is your philosopy about handling injury cases?

You will quickly be able to discern the knowledge and expertise of the attorney and get a feel about their level of compassion and concern and interest in helping you.

Experienced South Bend Personal Injury Lawyers

We understand every case is different. But we also understand our decades of experience serving the families of South Bend puts us in better position to help you today. That experience includes all of the case areas below. Check to see if your case matches any of these areas or just give us a call to learn more.

• Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney
• Truck Accident
• Motorcycle Accident
• Bicycle Accident
• Slip & Fall
• Construction Accident
• Wrongful Death
• Product Liability
• Dog Bite

South Bend Defective Medical Device Attorney

Unfortunately medical malpractice and defective medical devices or implants are all too common. When you find you or one of your loved ones suffering from medical related care or treatment and you’d like to talk to a medical malpractice attorney in South Bend contact Foley & Small. We have experience in all of the following areas:

• Metal Hip Replacement Attorney
• Hernia Mesh Implant Attorney
• Medical Malpractice
• Defective Medical Implant Device

South Bend Bad Drug Attorney

Many times people in our South Bend community suffer from ill affects, disease, and even death caused by bad drugs or defective medical devices. If you or a loved one has been prescribed any of the following medications or treatments, contact Foley & Small so we can help see if you are entitled to compensation:

• Taxotere Attorney
• Onglyza Attorney
• Invokana Attorney
• Defective Drug / Pharmaceuticals