Portage Personal Injury Blog

Red-light runners: Aggressive drivers who put others at risk

On behalf of Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates P.C. on Thursday, February 14, 2019.

You're young, so you always take the time to double-check your actions when you're driving. You check the speed limit as often as you can and adjust your speed to be slower than it at every opportunity. You look both ways twice before turning. You use blinkers and lights to indicate to others when you're going to move from your position.

Despite doing your best to be a safe driver, you can't account for other people's actions. You were pulling into an intersection with a green light when another vehicle drove into it and into the side of your vehicle. They didn't stop at the red light, and now you're the one who has serious injuries as a result.

Why you shouldn't reject uninsured motorist coverage in Indiana

On behalf of Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates P.C. on Wednesday, November 14, 2018.

Liability insurance for your motor vehicle is one of those necessary expenses you pay to protect yourself. However, the fact that you rarely need to file a claim can leave you vulnerable to making mistakes when it comes to your coverage.

Many people choose to prioritize the overall cost of a policy over the level of protection that it offers. This is a critical mistake that you should avoid at all costs.

Texting behind the wheel: Don’t do it

On behalf of Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates P.C. on Friday, August 17, 2018.

Parents of teenagers often worry about mistakes their kids will make out on the road. Choosing to talk to friends or post on social media while at the wheel can result in tragedy. Other drivers tend to be especially wary of youthful drivers on the road, worried about the potential for distracted driving.

However, it isn't just teenagers who are at risk for distracted driving and resulting crashes. Anyone with a mobile phone can end up feeling like they need to check their messages at the wheel. It's important that you understand that adults incur just as much risk by driving and texting.

Older vehicles are a safety risk on the road

On behalf of Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates P.C. on Monday, May 21, 2018.

People will sometimes claim that older vehicles are safer than newer ones because vintage vehicles were heavier and seemed to be sturdier. This train of thought might lead to serious safety problems because it has been proven that people are safer in newer cars and trucks.

Safety improvements have been steady in vehicles since the 1960s, but they have improved considerably since the 1990s. The changes mean that even cars made at the end of last century don't compare to the ones made in recent years if you are looking at them from a safety standpoint.

3 ways to know your child's ready to learn to drive

On behalf of Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates P.C. posted in blog on Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

Deciding that your child is ready to drive is something only you can do as a parent. Until your child turns 18, it's up to you to make decisions for his or her welfare.

How do you know when you're child's mature enough to handle the stresses of driving? How can you know that your child won't make serious errors that put others at risk? Here are three things to consider.

Get ready for the real heart of winter -- and the roads

On behalf of Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates P.C. posted in blog on Friday, December 8, 2017.

Snowflakes have fallen in Northwest Indiana, but we haven't seen the worst of winter yet. Now is the best time to prepare for the real wintry roads that will slow down traffic and make driving dangerous. Doing so can increase your safety as you run errands and travel everywhere else you need to go by car.

You need to take the time to get your winter driving survival kit together and brush up on your winter driving skills.

What can an attorney do for me if I’m hurt in a car accident?

On behalf of Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates P.C. posted in blog on Wednesday, August 23, 2017.

Car accidents can happen at any time, and they're never a welcome interruption to your busy life. If you suffer an injury in a car accident, you have enough work on your hands recovering from the injury. Too many accident victims attempt to deal with the personal injury claim process on their own and end up missing out on valuable benefits.

While you don't legally need an attorney to deal with insurance companies, it is usually a wise choice in the event of an injury. Recovery takes time and energy, and oftentimes, insurance companies take advantage of a victim's unfamiliarity with the claims process to save themselves money.

What to do when your parents shouldn't be driving anymore

On behalf of Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates P.C. posted in blog on Tuesday, May 23, 2017.

You probably look back with fondness on your driver's education, and your parents were probably key to your learning. Driving represented freedom and independence to a younger version of you. It probably represents the same thing to your aging parents.

The problem is that we age. As we grow older, mobility and other physical functions can begin to decline. Eventually, this will impact your parents' ability to drive a car. Medical issues like stroke and vertigo could also make driving a vehicle difficult and dangerous.

You should always get proper care after an accident

On behalf of Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates P.C. posted in Injuries on Friday, February 24, 2017.

When a car accident occurs, you may think that you don't need to get medical care. This can be especially true if you do not have visible injuries, or if your injuries seem slight. Often, not seeking medical care is a recipe for greater harm in the long run and difficulty proving fault for your injuries.

Some injuries are obvious - a gash that is bleeding, or a broken arm, for instance. However, some of the most debilitating injuries are those that are less visible. One of the most commonly overlooked injuries after a car accident is a mild traumatic brain injury.

Involved in a crash? Here's what your body might not tell you

On behalf of Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates P.C. posted in Injuries on Monday, December 5, 2016.

After you're involved in a collision, there are probably a million things running through your head. You could be concerned about the cost of repairs for your vehicle or worried about the state of the other driver or his or her passengers. Maybe you're worried that you need to explain the crash to your insurance company, or you are thinking about being late for work. While each of these things is important, one thing that you have to remember is that your body has just experienced a traumatic event. Even if you don't feel any pain now, that doesn't mean you're not injured.