Frequently Asked Questions

Get appropriate medical care immediately. Get the names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of everyone involved in the accident. Get names and contact information for all witnesses to the accident. Save the “control number” for the police report, and any letters you receive from any source regarding the accident (insurance adjusters, health insurance, medical bills). Take photographs of the scene of the accident before it changes. Photograph the vehicles involved. Take photographs of the injured person, especially if there is scarring, disfigurement, or casting. If you can’t make it to a medical appointment, call; “no shows” on your medical records might make it look like you’re not trying to get better. Tell your employer about the accident, and keep track of the wages and time you miss.

Not necessarily. Your main focus early on should be on treating the injuries, following doctors’ orders, and in the case of death, getting through the natural grieving period. However, if you wait too long to contact an attorney, important evidence may be lost forever. Memories fade, so it is often important to obtain recorded statements from key witnesses as early as possible. Also, most cases are subject to a “statute of limitations,” which means that your claim or lawsuit must be filed by a certain time limit or you will forever lose the ability to make a recovery. Many cases involving death or serious injury require extensive investigation and analysis of medical records, which can take months. If you wait too long, thorough attorneys may be reluctant to take your case.

Since personal injury is our only business, all Roby & Manges Law Firm cases are taken on a contingent fee basis. This means that we only receive a fee if we make a recovery of money for you from the parties at fault (usually their insurance company). Most of the time, the fee will be 1/3 (33 1/3 ) of any money we obtain for you. In some cases, like medical malpractice cases, the law puts a “cap” on the amount we can charge, which means that the fee may be less than 1/3. Roby & Manges Law Firm recognizes that most people don’t have the money it takes to properly investigate and pursue a claim, so the firm also typically agrees to advance case expenses. The firm is reimbursed for these out-of-pocket expenses at the end of the case.

While their marketing slogans may say they are “good neighbors,” or have “good hands,” when it comes to asking them to make a reasonable offer for your injuries, they usually change their tune. We believe that most insurance adjusters are honest and hard-working, but their companies often make it difficult for a person to get a fair deal without a lawyer. Early on, insurance people work to limit the amount the company must pay on a claim. They may take your recorded statement shortly after the accident, and use your own words later against you, arguing that the accident was all or partly your fault. They often ask for sweeping medical releases so that they can get all of your medical records–even ones that have nothing to do with the claim. They will often second-guess your own doctors, and demand that you be seen by a doctor of their choosing (paid by the insurance company). Roby & Manges Law Firm would deal with these insurance people completely, allowing you to focus on healing.

With the help of a good attorney, most cases can be settled without a jury trial, or even the filing of a lawsuit. The only people who truly “know” what your case is worth are on the actual jury who hears your case. Short of trial, attorneys and insurance adjusters try to make educated guesses about the reasonable range of money that your case is worth. While no two cases are exactly alike, this is done by comparing your case to many other similar cases that have gone before you. Roby & Manges Law Firm has a large database of past verdicts and settlements, as well as the ability to network with hundreds of other personal injury attorneys around Indiana to establish reasonable valuations of cases. In addition, Dan Roby is regularly named by other lawyers to be a mediator and arbitrator in their cases. This not only shows the respect others have for Dan, but it gives our firm additional data regarding settlement values.

How your medical bills are paid, and in what order, may make a huge difference in the net amount of money you are able to have at the end of a case. Most doctors and hospitals will look out for their own interests first by asking you to pay the bills directly, or to have the bills paid by the auto insurance carrier (which they believe will give them more money than your health insurer, Medicare, or Medicaid). Despite what others may tell you, Roby & Manges Law Firm usually recommends that all medical bills be turned into your health insurer, not the auto insurance companies. There are several reasons for this, which our attorneys can explain during a free consultation.

We like to say that “your body is the clock of the case.” No responsible attorney (or insurance company) should attempt to evaluate your case and try to settle it until you are done, or mostly done, with your active medical treatment. Only then can your doctors give important opinions about the nature and extent of your injuries, and perhaps most importantly, whether you will have any more problems in the future. Sometimes insurance companies deny liability completely, or make such low offers that the case cannot be settled without a lawsuit. Most courts require mediation settlement conferences to occur after a lawsuit is filed, and before trial. Cases can settle right up to the time of trial. Roby & Manges Law Firm will document your claim and make every effort to obtain a reasonable settlement for you without the delay, expense, and anxiety of a trial.

Indiana law requires most automobile liability insurance policies to have uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage in amounts equal to your liability limits. If you’re hurt due to an uninsured motorist, or someone who doesn’t have enough insurance, a claim can and should be made with your own carrier. This will not typically impact your own insurance rates, since the accident was not your fault. You paid extra premium money to have this coverage. You should use it in your time of need. These claims can be somewhat complicated, and Indiana statutes must be followed (especially on UIM claims) or you may lose your ability to make a claim. Roby & Manges Law Firm has the experience and knowledge to make these claims on your behalf.

These days people are mobile. Consequently, you may get injured in an accident far from home. However, since most of your medical treatment is happening at home, it may help to have a local attorney. Many claims can be settled without a lawsuit if properly documented. Different states (or countries) have different time limits for you to make a claim. If a lawsuit outside Indiana is necessary, Roby & Manges Law Firm can find qualified lawyers in that state to help with the case, usually at no extra fee to you. If you were injured in Indiana, but live elsewhere, you may benefit from having a qualified Indiana lawyer. Insurance companies often assign the claim to an adjuster near the scene of the accident. Our firm is familiar with many resident adjusters, especially in Northeast Indiana.