When you have been injured in an accident, you want to concentrate on recovering and healing, not wasting time dealing with an insurance company. If you suffered a personal injury, or a loved one died because of an accidental injury — we can help.
At Fletcher Van Gilder, one of our chief focus areas is plaintiff’s personal injury claims and litigation. If you were injured, our personal injury attorneys would like to talk to you about your situation as soon as possible. It is a mistake to “wait and see” if the insurance company honors the claim, or if your injury gets better. If you delay, you can actually hurt your claim.
For your information, we have provided a general list of personal injury terms that you may find helpful.
Why choose us? Because we can help, and because we care
Our clients tell us they feel comfortable dealing with us and it is easy to talk to us. We appreciate these sentiments, and we are equally proud of the fact that we achieve results and good settlements or verdicts on behalf of our clients in personal injury claims. We treat our personal injury clients the way we would like to be treated. As your personal injury attorneys we vow to:
- Treat you fairly and behave with integrity at all times
- Listen to your concerns, analyze your case and give you our best realistic recommendation
- Mediate and negotiate whenever possible to spare you the time and expense of a risky courtroom trial
- Be prepared to litigate when necessary and strive to win the compensation you deserve
The types of personal injury cases we have experience with and will accept are:
- Brain injuries, broken bones, spinal injuries and other serious trauma caused by car crashes, truck accidents, SUV rollovers or other roadway accidents
- On-the-job injuries that do not qualify for workers’ compensation, such as an injury due to defective machinery or third-party negligence
- Serious injuries that occur on someone else’s property, such as a slip and fall accident, a dog bite on the dog owner’s property or other premises liability injury
- Injuries caused by an unsafe product, defectively manufactured products, by insufficient product warning labels and other product liability issues
- Wrongful death for all accidents that result in a fatality
All personal injury clients are accepted on a contingency basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless and until you receive a settlement.
Vehicle accidents and injuries
If you have been in a car, truck or motorcycle accident, your first thought may be to talk to the insurance company so you can obtain compensation and move forward. However, this can result in receiving far less than what your case is worth. Working with a personal injury lawyer can help ensure your interests are protected and that you recover fair compensation for your injuries.
At Fletcher Van Gilder, we represent motor vehicle accident victims throughout northern Indiana. David Van Gilder has 27 years of litigation experience that gives us the ability to negotiate settlements, as well as fight for your compensation if a trial is necessary. To learn more about the services we provide, contact us to schedule a one-on-one consultation.
Our law firm has extensive experience handling these types of motor vehicle-related accidents:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Semi-truck and commercial vehicle accidents
- Rollover car accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
Victims of motor vehicle accidents and their families are often faced with mounting medical bills after an accident. Wages may be lost, and additional expenses may occur as you heal. The mental pain and suffering you experience is also a cost of the accident. We understand that your life is temporarily changed and that you are in a new world.
If you choose Fletcher Van Gilder to represent you, you are choosing legal representation that will aggressively fight on behalf of you and your loved ones. It is difficult to deal with the other party’s insurance company when you have not done so before. We have the necessary experience and dedication to obtain full and fair compensation for you.
If you or a loved one are injured at the hands of a negligent individual, it is important to seek legal representation right away. We will take a professional yet compassionate approach as we work to obtain the damages you need and deserve. Call 260-425-9777 to schedule an appointment with one of our Fort Wayne motor vehicle accident attorneys. You may also contact us online.
Being injured in an auto accident is a tragic event. Serious injury, such as spinal cord and traumatic brain injury, changes your life and your family members’ lives forever. Even whiplash and other soft-tissue damage can have significant, long-lasting effects.
We understand your concerns and fears. We approach each case with a commitment to make our clients feel comfortable. From the relaxing atmosphere at our office to our personable, easy-to-talk-to staff and lawyers, we seek to ease our clients’ emotions as we guide them through the process of filing a personal injury claim.
While we are calm and supportive with our clients, we are aggressive in seeking full and fair compensation from insurance companies. As skilled Indiana auto collision injury lawyers, we will:
- Conduct a thorough investigation of the auto accident, including hiring an accident reconstructionist and other experts to weigh in on the facts
- Complete a comprehensive review of medical records to gain a full understanding of the vehicle collision injuries and their long-term effects
- Put together a claim that takes into consideration all current and future medical bills, wage loss, rehabilitative therapy costs, and emotional suffering caused by the accident injury
- Be prepared to take your car accident claim to trial in case the insurance company does not offer a fair settlement
Premises Liability
If you or someone close to you has suffered a slip-and-fall injury, your first order of business must be to obtain proper medical attention for the injured person. If, however, you believe the injury was caused by the negligent actions of another individual or entity, your next step should be to seek legal representation.
At Fletcher Van Gilder, we have more than 50 years of experience representing injured parties. If we determine you can take action against the establishment where the injury occurred, we will work aggressively to seek payment for your injuries, your lost wages, and the pain and suffering you may have endured. Contact us to schedule a meeting to discuss your case.
Proving Negligence After an Accident
In cases involving slip-and-fall injuries, the biggest obstacle for the injured person is often proving that the “accident” occurred due to an act of negligence by the other party. This can be easier said than done.
Most commercial properties have large insurance companies and attorneys on staff. This can be a disadvantage unless you have your own attorney working on your behalf. In our many years of experience, we have handled numerous slip-and-fall cases. We know when an injury was due to an act of negligence (for which you will receive compensation) as opposed to accidental (for which you may not receive compensation). We will seek out accident reports, witnesses and medical records as we work to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your accident.
Slip and Fall Injuries
The law is relatively simple: If the establishment (grocery store, hotel, shopping mall, etc.) where you were injured knew of a dangerous condition but did nothing to remedy the situation, it can be responsible for your losses. Contact us so we can adequately assess your case and address your questions and concerns. Allow us to work through the legal issues so you can focus on recovering your health. Together we will work to obtain the settlement you need to move forward.
Call 260-425-9777 to schedule an appointment with one of our professional slip-and-fall attorneys or contact us online.
Dog Attack Injuries
If you or your child has been injured by a dog, you may be able to take action against the dog owner to obtain compensation for your injuries. In the state of Indiana, dogs are presumed to be harmless regardless of their breed or size. In order to prove negligence on behalf of a dog’s owner, two conditions must be met:
- Someone had control over the property where the dog bite/attack occurred and
- Someone in control had actual knowledge that the dog had a dangerous propensity
Proving ownership can be relatively easy. Proving actual knowledge can be a bit more difficult. That is why it is extremely important to have a lawyer who truly understands the law surrounding this issue to represent you.
At Fletcher Van Gilder we understand the physical and emotional injuries that can occur after a dog attack, and we have the skills and experience to help. Our main focus is protecting the rights of injured parties and helping them obtain financial compensation for the injuries and losses they have suffered. Let us help you get the support you need.
Dog bite injuries can range from a puncture wound or laceration to broken bones or nerve damage. If you or your child is suffering after a dog attack, call our office at 260-425-9777 to set up an appointment to discuss your case. You may also contact us online.
