Is it Affordable to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?

Posted on March 3, 2022 by admin

When a person is wrongfully injured in an accident, life can abruptly change for them and their loved ones. Being wrongfully and seriously hurt by another’s negligence is traumatic, overwhelming, painful, challenging, frustrating, and even depressing. When tragedies like this strike, victims need a reputable personal injury attorney on their side who will fight for their rights to a full and fair accident settlement check. Unfortunately, many people choose to not pursue a lawsuit or claim against negligent parties because they believe they cannot afford proper legal counsel. This is not the case.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about the costs associated with hiring a personal injury lawyer, plus where to find compassionate and great legal representation in Indiana.

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Personal Injury Legal Services are Affordable For Everyone

When someone is seriously hurt in an accident because of another person or entity’s negligence, they are entitled to compensation for their damages. When a victim has less fault in an accident they were injured in than the party who caused the accident and acted negligently, an Indianapolis personal injury l aw firm can prove in a court of law that the victim is owed fair remuneration for the damages. When it comes to paying for an attorney to represent you in a personal injury claim, you don’t have to worry about upfront fees or costs.

Accident Lawyer Fees are Contingent

Most personal injury firms do not collect attorney fees unless they recover a settlement or verdict for you in your case. So, their payment is contingent on whether they are successful with your case. Such lawyer fees are referred to as contingency fees. Firms that use this payment model generally offer free initial consultations, allowing them to discuss a victim’s case without obligating the potential client to pay out of pocket.

Upon consulting, a personal injury lawyer will assess a victim’s claim and determine if they are eligible to pursue legal action and recover compensation through a settlement or verdict. If they believe their client is entitled to recompense, they will take on their case and represent them for free until they can win them full and fair compensation for their damages.

Common Personal Injury Claim Damages

Damages to be recovered in a personal injury case can vary depending on the nature of the accident, type of injury, extent of injury, and many other factors. However, common personal injury damages awarded to victims and survivors of wrongfully killed victims include lost wages, medical expenses, hospital bills, pain, suffering, mental anguish, prolonged rehabilitation, loss of consortium, and much more. An Indiana personal injury attorney can make it simple for victims to pursue an accident claim or lawsuit, without the injured client risking thousands of their own dollars in pursuing and proving the case. We at Craven Blazek Law will pay for the investigation of the case, pay for medical records, photos, videos, doctor reports, depositions, etc… and then when the case is resolved, we simply get reimbursed for those expenses.

How to Get Started

If you have asked yourself if you can afford an Indianapolis IN accident lawyer, the answer is, “yes!” Anyone, no matter their level of income, cash availability, or savings, can afford a personal injury attorney if they have a valid claim and case. They can even have their claim examined by a licensed attorney for free, to determine if they have a valid claim. All you must do is find a trusted Indiana law firm concentrating on personal injury cases and contact them for a free case evaluation.

Are you looking for a skilled and qualified personal injury lawyer to represent you in your Indiana-based accident claim? Contact the legal office of Craven Blazek Law at 317-881-2700 to schedule your free case review with a licensed accident attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana. We represent clients throughout the State of Indiana. Our personal injury attorneys can hold consultations over phone or video, or in person at our office. We represent injured persons and the survivors of those wrongfully killed throughout the state of Indiana.

Local Indianapolis Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700 — Schedule a Free Consultation!

Can I Quit My Job if I Am on Workers’ Compensation?

Posted on February 25, 2022 by admin

Are you currently receiving workers’ compensation benefits from a recent workplace or work-related injury? If so, it might be in your best interest to maintain your employment for the time being. Wanting to quit your job after suffering injuries in a workplace accident is understandable, but when you are on workers’ comp, it is not always the wisest choice.

Continue reading to learn more about workers’ compensation benefits, and how quitting your job could cause issues.

Worker Disability Lawyer Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700

Employment and Workers’ Compensation

Whether you can quit a job you are receiving workers’ compensation benefits at depends on a wide range of factors, from the state you live in and the status of your recovery to the benefits you are eligible for, why you wish to leave your position, and much more. For this reason, and because the matter of maintaining employment while on workers’ compensation is not a cut-or-dry matter, it is strongly encouraged to seek advice from a licensed and qualified Indiana workplace injury lawyer.

Medical Expenses and Hospital Bills are Covered Under Workers’ Comp Benefits

If you are injured on the job or while performing work-related duties, all of your medical expenses and hospital bills will be covered under your workers compensation benefits. Even if you quit your job, these benefits are still available to you. After all, your injuries from your work-related accident do not suddenly heal themselves if you decide to terminate your position at your place of employment.

COMMON MEDICAL EXPENSES:

▶ Medical Treatments
▶ Hospitalization
▶ Surgery
▶ Rehabilitation
▶ Physical Therapy
▶ Medications
▶ Mileage to Doctor’s Appointments
▶ Medical Devices (Wheelchairs, Crutches, Braces, Etc.)

Once the worker compensation judge that you have reached maximum medic a l improvement (MMI), which means your condition cannot be improved by further treatment, your workers’ compensation benefits for medical expenses and hospital bills will at least partially end. The judge makes his or her decision based upon the opinion of the doctor chosen by the worker compensation carrier, your own physician and sometimes a physician chosen by the judge. However, this does not mean that all workers compensation benefits have been extinguished. As a result of your workplace accident and injuries, you could require compensation for future medical care, medications, medical devices, and other future losses, such as partial or permanent disability and loss of inability to return to full employment.

Coverage for Lost Wages

When an injured worker is recovering from a workplace accident, they are unable to earn wages in the same way they were able to before the accident. Workers’ compensation benefits are designed to cover such losses, thus bridging the financial gap between leaving work and returning to work. However, the essential term here is worker. If a worker quits their job, there is no returning to their job, which can cause them to lose their worker’s compensation benefits.

Temporary and Permanent Disability

There are different types of categories an injured worker can be placed in depending on the degree of their impairment. These categories include Temporary Total Disability (TTD), Temporary Partial Disability (TPD), Permanent Partial Disability (PPD), and Permanent Total Disability (PTD). With temporary disability benefits, an injured worker generally receives 2/3rds of their average weekly pay. Injured workers who have suffered permanent disabilities will generally receive a lump-sum settlement, but in other cases may receive continued worker’s compensation payments.

ADDITIONAL FACTS TO CONSIDER:

☑ Quitting a job while on workers’ compensation may have a negative effect on your settlement.

☑ Never quit your job before making a workers’ compensation claim.

☑ If you are classified as TTD, but your employer does not have light duty work available, you can still receive workers’ comp benefits.

☑ If you quit while receiving workers’ compensation benefits, this can cause issues.

You have the right to quit your job on workers’ compensation, and no one will stop you, but understand that there is a risk when it comes to receiving the full and fair benefits you deserve. Talk to a workplace injury lawyer first, before making any decisions about your employment.

Are you having trouble understanding your workers compensation benefits in Indiana? Contact the legal office of Craven Blazek Law at 317-881-2700 to speak with a licensed and experienced workers’ compensation attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana. We offer free initial consultations, over the phone, via online video conference, or in person at our Indy office. Our accident lawyers represent injured persons all throughout the state of Indiana.

Most Common Auto Accident Injuries and What Causes Them

Posted on February 22, 2022 by admin

In 2019 alone, statistics revealed that there were an estimated 230 million licensed drivers in our country. With so many people driving a wide array of motor vehicles on the road, car crashes are bound to happen, and some of them are very serious and deadly.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a 2020 report suggests that the average motor vehicle weighs 4,156 pounds. Larger-than-average vehicles are even heavier, and when coupled with high speeds, are essentially the equivalent of a deadly weapon. As a result, car accidents tend to cause a lot of damage, both property damage and bodily injury, and in worst-case scenarios, fatalities.

Continue reading to learn the common kinds of auto accident injuries, what causes them, and how to verify your eligibility to pursue legal action against a wrongful driver or automaker.

Traffic Accident Lawyer Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700

Typical Causes of Traffic Accidents and Fatalities

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in the year 2018, more than 2.7 million car crashes occurred, 36,000 of which resulted in a fatality. This devastating statistic shows how real the risks are when it comes to accidents involving motor vehicles. The most common causes of car accidents include reckless driving, distracted driving, intoxicated driving, and speeding.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is a serious cause of motor vehicle accidents and car crashes in the United States, and even all across the world. Common examples include texting, making phone calls, changing the GPS settings, applying makeup, looking through briefcases/purses, grabbing items from the backseat, and similar behaviors that take drivers’ eyes off the road for more than a second. Fatigued driving is another common type of distracted driving but may also be categorized as reckless driving depending on the circumstances.

Reckless Driving

Reckless driving is considered a more serious offense because it is typically a conscious choice. Those who drive recklessly are generally aware that their behavior is reckless or negligent. Common examples of reckless driving include speeding, running red lights, changing lanes abruptly without using signals, cutting off other drivers, driving with no hands on the steering wheel, driving at night without headlights on, tailing other cars, driving over sidewalks, ignoring traffic signs and signals, and similar careless behaviors.

Intoxicated Driving

Intoxicated driving is illegal and can lead to both criminal and civil penalties. Furthermore, intoxicated driving refers to driving under the influence of alcohol, illicit drugs, or controlled substances. Drunk drivers have a blood alcohol level (BAC) of 0.08 or higher. Driving under the influence of drugs like marijuana, methamphetamines, opiates, and hallucinogens is also considered intoxicated driving. Controlled substances are OTC and prescribed medications like prescription pain killers, sleeping pills, anxiety medications, and similar medicines that cause drowsiness and/or inebriation.

Speeding

Speeding can also be considered a form of reckless driving. It is a top cause of serious car accidents and fatalities. In fact, the National Safety Council reports that 26% of the total traffic fatalities occurring in 2018 involved speeding. Speed limits are set because they are the safest speed to operate a vehicle while remaining in full control. At higher speeds, driver control is significantly reduced, which can lead to serious auto collisions.

Common Auto Accident Injuries

Although every motor vehicle collision is different, most car crashes tend to result in the similar of injuries. The most common auto accident injuries include whiplash, as well as injuries to the head, chest, arms, and legs.

Whiplash is by far the most common resulting car accident injury. Collisions tend to cause the neck and head to whip forward and backward and side to side very quickly. The severity of whiplash can vary on a spectrum from minor injuries, like stiffness or soreness of the neck and headache, to more serious and concerning injuries, like significant neck pain, permanent neck pain, dizziness, tinnitus, migraines, loss of vision, back pain, and neck injuries.

Head injuries are unfortunately common when it comes to serious car accidents. Head injuries can range from minor to major. Minor head injuries caused by car accidents may include headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and light sensitivities, although these can be more serious depending on how long the symptoms last. More serious car accident head injuries include concussion, loss of consciousness, traumatic brain injuries, impaired thinking, loss of movement control, and loss of sensations.

Injuries to the chest, arms, and legs are another common result of auto accidents. Chests are often impacted by air bag deployment, which can lead to minor injuries like burns, bruises, or soreness, again, depending on how long the symptoms last. Chests of drivers and passengers can also be injured by blunt force trauma from an impact with another vehicle or structure. More serious chest injuries include broken ribs, lung punctures, organ ruptures, and other internal injuries or bleeding. Arms and legs can be severely burned, maimed, disfigured, or severed in serious car crashes. Orthopedic injuries, like shoulder and pelvic injuries, are also common in car accidents.

Are you a victim of a reckless or negligent car accident in Indiana? Contact the legal office of Craven Blazek Law at 317-881-2700 to schedule a no-risk, no-fee personal injury consultation with an experienced car accident attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana. We also represent injured persons throughout the state of Indiana and Indiana residents injured in other states.

When Can a Slip and Fall Accident Lead to a Lawsuit?

Posted on February 18, 2022 by admin

Whether you fell at your apartment complex due to landlord negligence or at a local retail store because of a slippery surface hazard that was not properly maintained by the store owner or tenant, a slip and fall accident can be quite serious and lead to severe, long-lasting injuries. In such cases, an accident lawsuit may ensue.

Continue below to learn some basic facts about slip and fall accident cases, including when a lawsuit might be necessary.

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Personal Injury Slip and Fall Accident Claims

A slip and fall accident in Indiana can turn into a personal injury case if in the situation, a hazard of some sort was on the property and was neglected by the property owner or tenant. As a result, this hazard caused harm to another person by causing them to slip and fall. A slip and fall situation can result in serious injuries, and sometimes, not right away. After a slip and fall accident, many people get right back up and go on with their day, only to notice days or weeks and sometimes even months later that they are having severe back pains or other injury related issues.

Slip and fall accidents are categorized under Tort Law, meaning the injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, or someone else can be held accountable for your injuries. If a property owner knows or should know through routine inspections about a potential danger lurking on their premises, or a hazard of some sort, they are obligated by law to take responsibility for the danger immediately. If the hazard is never tended to or never discovered due to a lack of inspections, and it subsequently causes another person harm or loss, then the owner can face legal damages which the owner’s insurance carrier would be responsible for paying.

Common Slip, Trip, and Fall Injuries

Slipping and falling can cause a number of injuries to a person, ranging from minor to major. Some minor personal injuries include sprained ankles, broken toes, lesions and bruising, scrapes, burns, and scratches. Some major injuries are broken backs, hips, or necks, shattered pelvis, knocked unconscious and brain injuries, and worse.

Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer After a Slip and Fall Accident

If you have been involved in a slip and fall accident, it is recommended you hire an Indiana personal injury attorney to represent your rights. A victim can recover damages for lost wages, medical bills, legal fees, pain and suffering, and more. The law is tricky and hard to understand unless you are trained in the industry. An experienced personal injury law firm in Indianapolis can help with most types of slip and fall cases. To further understand your rights as a victim of a wrongful accident or injury, you want to consult with a knowledgeable accident attorney that can speak to you in a language you can understand.

Don’t let a serious accident stop you from collecting what you are legally entitled to. Get compensation for pain, suffering, lost wages, and more with the help of a licensed accident lawyer. With many stores and other locations having surveillance cameras set up everywhere, it is vital to obtain legal representation immediately after a fall as negligent parties can and will destroy the video evidence of not only the fall itself but video of when the product got on the floor and when and by whom the last inspection was supposedly performed, even though they know a person fell and was injured on their property.

Not sure how to get started with a personal injury slip and fall accident claim in Indiana? Contact the legal office of Craven Blazek Law at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free personal injury case evaluation with a seasoned slip and fall accident attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana. We have also successfully represented premises liability cases for big box stores like Walmart, Lowes, and Menards. We can meet with you over the phone or computer, or in-person at our Indianapolis law office.

General Workers’ Compensation Benefits and How to Claim Them

Posted on February 15, 2022 by admin

An employer’s workers’ compensation coverage provides certain payments for those injured on the job. Continue reading to learn some of the most common workers’ compensation benefits, how to claim them after a workplace injury, and what you can do if they are not adequate to cover your damages and losses.

Worker Accident Claims Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700 — Legal Assistance With Worker Accident Claims – Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700

Workplace Injuries and Damages

It is common for people who are injured on the job to collect workers’ compensation benefits. The amount of compensation and degree of benefits received by injured workers largely depends on what state the employer is located in and the extent of the injuries or damages. Damages can include but are not limited to lost wages, medical expenses, hospital bills, permanent partial impairment rating (PPI ratings) and sometimes other damages.

Workers’ compensation should cover damages caused by a workplace accident or injury It is wise to hire an Indianapolis personal injury attorney who concentrates on workers’ compensation cases to recover the full and fair recompense deserved.

Most Common Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Not all workers’ compensation claims are for physical injuries. Although most involve some sort of bodily harm, mental anguish or trauma can be just as damaging. Sometimes, personal injury cases can involve assault/battery, contracting a work-related illness or disease, experiencing an armed robbery or other gun related attack, and more. Either way, the common coverages and benefits received from workers’ compensation claims are as follows:

☑ Paid Hospital Bills, Medical Expenses, Physical Therapy, Medical and Vocational Rehabilitation, Doctor Visits, Counseling, Prescriptions, Etc.

☑ Paid Weekly Earnings for Time Off Work Longer than One Week (2/3 of Average Weekly Pay-400 Week Maximum)

☑ Benefits for Dependents in the Case of a Wrongful Death at Work

☑ Travel Expenses (If Applicable)

A Workplace Injury Lawyer Can Help You Recover the Most Benefits

There are sometimes other types of benefits available to those injured on the job, however, they vary depending on the company’s policies, insurance coverage, the extent of injury, and much more. If you wish to recover the full and fair remuneration you and your family deserve after your workplace accident or injury, your best course of action is to hire a personal injury lawyer in Indianapolis who is well-versed and experienced in workers’ compensation cases.

A certified and skilled Indianapolis workers’ compensation lawyer can provide comprehensive case support from start to finish. They retain the proper resources, experience, and knowledge to navigate your workers’ compensation claim so that your focus can be placed solely on your recovery. Just be sure the Indiana personal injury law firm you select employs attorneys with extensive trial and litigation experience in workers’ compensation cases. This effort will further ensure you are choosing a lawyer that can successfully navigate your claim and have a better chance of recovering for your damages and losses.

Not sure which personal injury law firm to choose for your workplace injury case? Contact the legal office of Craven Blazek Law at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free personal injury case evaluation with a seasoned workers’ compensation lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana. We represent clients throughout the state of Indiana.

Reasons Why Some Personal Injury Claims Take Longer to Settle than Others

Posted on February 9, 2022 by admin

Every personal injury case is different, especially when it comes to timelines. The length of time an injury case takes to settle will depend on several factors, including the lawyer’s professional ability, congestion in the courts, the at-fault party’s insurance carrier’s reasonableness, the claimant’s reasonableness in deciding to accept or reject a fair offer, and much more. If you are currently involved in a personal injury case, you are likely eager to settle, but you should only settle your case if you are getting full and fair compensation, based upon all the facts of the case.

Continue reading to learn the top three reasons why personal injury claims take time to settle or go to trial, plus who to consult for more answers to your accident case questions.

Indianapolis IN Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Top 3 Causes of Accident Claim Delays

Do you feel as if your personal injury claim is taking longer than usual to reach a settlement? Well, before you place the blame on your lawyer or surrender too quickly to a low-ball offer, look at these 3 common reasons that contribute to accident claim delays:

1) Challenging Legal Matters and Disputes

The basis of virtually all personal injury claims comes down to two elements: first, establishing fault by proving negligence, and second, proving the full value of a victim’s damages and losses. If your personal injury case poses convoluted or challenging legal issues, such problems can make a case take longer to resolve. This is typically due to the argument of proving liability.

In a negligence lawsuit, the claimant, or plaintiff party, carries the burden of proving their case. In order to do so, they must provide evidence to establish that the opposing party had a duty of care, breached that duty of care, and as a result, caused an accident that led to serious losses and damages of the victim or to their surviving family.

2) High Settlement Case

If your personal-injury claim is one that involves a significant amount of money in terms of damages and demanded compensation, it can cause the case to drag out a bit longer. When such quantities of money are involved, more negotiations are likely to occur because insurance companies simply won’t payout more than they have to unless they have done their due diligence. An insurance company will investigate a big money case longer for a few reasons, but mostly if they don’t already have a good defense on the claim, or they believe that a claimant’s injuries and damages are not as severe as they have alleged them to be.

3) Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)

If you are still receiving medical treatment for the injuries you suffered as a result of your wrongful accident, you have not yet reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), the point in which your injuries can no longer be improved. It is important to have patience while receiving medical treatments for the injuries caused by your accident because you could be entitled to further damages, such as permanent disability, loss of consor t ium, loss of companionship, loss of ability to work, future pain and suffering and more. You never want to settle a personal injury claim until you have reached maximum medical improvement. This way, you can ensure that you are given a settlement that covers all your losses and damages, both past and future.

Our law firm does not get paid until we obtain a settlement or verdict for you. That being the case, we strive to obtain a settlement or verdict as quickly as possible for our clients, but with the understanding that the settlement must be full and fair, based upon all the evidence for the case. Contact the legal office of Craven Blazek Law at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free initial case evaluation with a skilled civil litigator and discuss your pending personal injury lawsuit in Indianapolis, Indiana. We represent injured persons throughout the state of Indiana.

Important Information About Settling an Accident Case

Posted on February 7, 2022 by admin

Surviving victims injured in a wrongful accident caused by another person’s negligence can recover compensation for their damages and losses one of two ways: out of court mutual negotiations or trial. Although many personal injury settlements are negotiated and settled outside of court, it is critical to a victim’s financial future and overall quality of life to retain experienced personal injury representation for their claim.

A seasoned Indiana accident attorney will aim to settle without a trial if a reasonable settlement can be reached but will remain ready and prepared to take a client’s case to court if necessary. If you are a recent victim of a wrongful accident and suffered injuries as a result, the settlement process will impact the outcome of your claim.

Continue reading to learn what you can expect during the process of settling a personal injury claim, plus how to ensure you obtain the maximum compensation for your case.

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Personal Injury Settlements

A settlement takes place when a defendant’s insurance carrier and sometimes the defendant themself make an offer for compensation, and the victim or plaintiff accepts the offer. This often happens outside of court. In fact, some agreements are made before a lawsuit is even filed. If the victim has trouble receiving a fair offer, their lawyer may suggest taking the case to civil court.

Settlements can also be made after a case goes to trial, but before a final award or verdict is made. Other times, parties might become anxious during jury deliberations, and decide to settle before their verdict comes back. This is because some defendants would rather agree to a set settlement, rather than allowing a jury to decide the case.

Full Liability Releases

Once a settlement is agreed upon between both parties, the plaintiff must sign a full liability release form. This form lawfully relinquishes all potential claims against the defendant arising out of the accident or incident. This way, the plaintiff cannot file any further lawsuits for more compensation against the defendant later. For instance, in a slip and fall case, a store’s insurance company may offer a victim $25,000 to settle a case made against their insured, but to receive the payment, the victim must agree to not sue the store or to dismiss any lawsuit that has already been filed against the store.

Most Accident Cases Settle in the End

The reason why most personal injury cases settle is because both the plaintiff and the defendant want to mitigate and control their risks and avoid the significant legal costs that come with actually going to trial. Almost all personal injury cases involve insurance companies, who have the finances to pay out claims quickly.

If a claim goes to trial, the insurance company loses some control over how much they pay in recompense to a wrongfully injured victim, as well as court costs, attorney fees, and other legal expenses. Also, many insurance companies settle claims because they want to avoid the public eye for themselves and the defendant they insure. With so many social media platforms these days, it is easy for one incident to result in a company being publicly criticized for their negligence.

Are you a recent accident victim who was wrongly injured as a result of another person or company’s negligence? Contact the legal office of Craven Blazek Law at 317-881-2700 to learn your rights to pursuing a personal injury claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our seasoned accident attorneys offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you. We represent injured persons and the family survivors in wrongful death cases throughout the state of Indiana.

Were You Involved in an Accident While Driving Your Company Car?

Posted on February 4, 2022 by admin

When it comes to work, there are okay workdays, good workdays, and even great workdays, but then there are those occasional bad ones, like being involved in a company car accident. Below you will find a guide on what you need to do if you are ever in an accident while driving your company car.

Company Car Accident Lawyer Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700

Company Car Auto Accident Help

Driving from location to location for work poses the risk of being in an auto accident. If you are involved in a car accident in your company vehicle, there are some important steps you need to take. Before reviewing the guide to company car accidents, it is necessary to note that you should always have your updated car insurance documents in your vehicle at all times.

What to Do After a Company Vehicle Accident:

First, ensure that yourself and all other parties involved in the accident are not injured or still in harm’s way. Even if no one seems injured, contact 911 and request law enforcement to the scene. Try to get to a safer location, out of the way of traffic.

While waiting to police and medical technicians to arrive, use your cell phone to take pictures of the scene of the accident, including all property damages, intersections, road signs, and injuries. If you are too injured to do this, you can ask an officer, paramedic, or bystander to help.

When authorities arrive, accept medical examination and treatment from the paramedics, if necessary, then make a police report. Ask for a copy of the police report.

If you are capable, begin asking the other parties involved for their insurance and contact information. Take a photo of their insurance card to ensure accuracy. Do not talk about the accident to the other drivers or involved parties as everyone is not having a good day after a collision so tempers may exist. It is better just to talk to the investigating officer and tell them what happened.

Next, notify your employer of the accident. Do this as soon as possible. Because your company likely has their own procedures, insurance, and legal teams for these matters, you will need to communicate with them at the scene and see what they want you to do. If the car can be driven, they may have you return it right away. If it is not drivable, your employer will probably arrange a tow truck to collect the company car.

Your employer may require you to hand over all related documents and evidence, like photos, videos, police reports, witness statements, and more. Cooperate with these requests but try to keep copies for yourself.

Were You Injured and the Accident Was Not Your Fault?

If you were injured in a company car accident, seek medical treatment right away. See a licensed medical practitioner for your injuries and retain all documents supporting your medical diagnoses and treatment.

Your company may offer workers’ compensation be n efits. If they do, explore these benefits. If they take too long to complete your claim, reduce the value of your claim, refuse to cover additional medical treatments ordered by your doctor, you have suffered permanent disabilities, or deny you benefits altogether, it is important to hire a licensed workplace injury lawyer in Indiana. They can ensure that your rights to being fully compensated for your damages and losses are preserved. You are entitled to reimbursement for medical bills, hospital bills, lost wages, and more.

Are you ready to protect your rights to being fully compensated after being injured in a company vehicle accident in Indiana? Contact the legal office of Craven Blazek Law at 317-881-2700 to speak with a seasoned workplace injury attorney in Indianapolis. We represent a wide range of cases for clients all across the state.

What Accident Victims Must Prove to Win a Slip and Fall Case

Posted on February 1, 2022 by admin

In many cases, a personal injury slip and fall accident occurs as a result of property owner, property occupant and/or property manager’s negligence. From spills and puddles to lax grounds maintenance, building code violations, deteriorating pavement, and more, slip and fall accidents can be a permanent condition or something temporary. Either way, if you are injured in a slip, trip, or fall accident, it is important to educate yourself on your rights as a victim of a personal injury. This applies to both visitors and staff of commercial businesses, as well as guests, tenants and occupants in residential settings.

Continue reading to learn what a slip and fall accident victim must prove in a personal injury lawsuit in order to win their case.

Slip and Fall Lawyers Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700

A Property Owner’s Duty of Care

Property owners have a legal liability referred to as duty of care, which requires them to maintain a safe and secure premises, free of any foreseeable hazards or dangers. The law will hold property owners responsible for a victim’s damages if said victim is seriously injured or suffers permanent consequences after slipping and falling on their premises as a result of violating this duty of care.

However, in order for an accident victim to win their slip and fall lawsuit, they must prove certain facts of their claim. This claimant obligation is known as burden of proof, and it is a central element in every personal injury case.

Burden of Proof in a Slip and Fall Accident

A slip and fall accident victim and their legal team of personal injury attorneys are responsible for proving their case. They must factually demonstrate that the negligent party’s carelessness caused unsafe conditions that led to the victim’s accident, and that the accident caused serious injuries that required hospitalization or medical treatment.

As a wrongfully injured victim of a slip and fall accident, it is important to ask yourself:

What caused me to slip and/or fall?

Should someone have known about the thing that caused my fall?

Was the cause of my accident foreseeable and preventable if proper precautions and inspections were performed?

These three questions will help you gain a basic understanding of your chance of success in pursing a slip and fall claim against a property owner or other negligent party.

If you are injured in a Slip and Fall:

If you are hurt in a commercial or business setting, even at work or school, or injured anywhere else, it is important to take pictures and video of the area of your accident, what caused your fall and retrieve all witness contact information. These two initiatives can help you prove your slip and fall case faster to the insurance carrier for the defendant.

You should always make a written report if possible as well. Following medical treatment, contact an Indianapolis personal injury lawyer as soon as possible before evidence is lost to support your claim or time runs out on the statute of limitations for your claim.

Not sure which personal injury law firm can help you recover the maximum settlement for your slip and fall case in Indiana? Contact the legal office of Craven Blazek Law at 317-881-2700 to speak with us about scheduling a free consultation with a licensed and experienced slip and fall injury lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana. We have also successfully represented premises liability cases for big box stores like Walmart, Lowes, and Menards.

Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim if I Am Hurt in an Accident?

Posted on January 28, 2022 by admin

Merriam-Webster Legal Dictionary defines a personal injury as, “harm to one’s body, mind, or emotions broadly.” A personal injury typically results in a wide range of damages and losses, like medical bills, hospital bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more. Although it is not required by state or federal law to file a personal injury claim after being injured physically, mentally, or emotionally, there are many cases in which a victim should do so.

Continue below to learn under which circumstances an accident victim might want to make a personal injury claim, and how to get started on your own in Indiana.

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Personal Injury Claims are Not for Property Damages

Merriam-Webster Legal Dictionary further defines a personal injury as, “an injury that is not to one’s property.” This is important to note. Personal injury claims do not include property damages, such as automotive repair or damaged personal belongings after a car accident. Personal injury claims are solely meant to recover compensation for physical, mental, or emotional damages. However, a person who suffers a personal injury may also make a claim for property damages if need be.

Additionally, personal injury claims are reserved for those who are wrongly injured or killed by another liable party, either as a result of a negligent action or inaction, or an intentional act. Those who lost a family member due to the negligence of another may recover damages in a personal injury wrongful death claim. In such cases, a personal injury claim would be beneficial to a victim’s quality of life, now and in the future.

The most common types of personal injury cases are auto accidents, drunk driving accidents, motorcycle accidents, large truck accidents, slip and fall accidents, medical malpractice, construction accidents, workplace accidents, child injuries, defective products, and wrongful deaths.

When to Pursue a Personal Injury Claim

Why is it a good idea to file a personal injury claim after being injured in a wrongful accident? Personal injury survivors experience a wide range of stressors after their accident, including an influx of insurance claims, financial obligations, pain-and-suffering, and much more. This level of stress is heightened even more so for personal injury victims who are the primary wage earners or sole caretakers of their family. During this time, one’s sole focus as an injured victim should be to heal; not deal with these pressures and concerns.

Under these common circumstances, it would be considerably advantageous to file a personal injury claim. You can focus solely on your recovery, plus obtain compensation for your damages and losses caused by another person’s failure to use reasonable care. The first step in the legal process is to contact a trusted and experienced Indiana personal injury law firm. They have the knowledge, skills, resources, and drive to obtain the best possible outcome for your case.

Hiring an Attorney for Your Personal Injury Case

Many accident victims wonder if they need to hire an attorney to represent their case or if they can just represent themselves. Hiring a personal injury lawyer to represent your accident case is vital. You never want to represent yourself because insurance companies and large corporations will use every resource in their power to diminish the value of an accident claim. Such parties are extensively outfitted, and therefore, successful at doing so against those representing themselves.

A seasoned Indiana personal injury attorney will know how to combat all of the questionable strategies used by insurance adjusters and corporations, and ultimately ensure that you recover the maximum settlement or verdict for your claim.

Were you or your loved one wrongfully injured in an accident in Indiana? Contact the legal office of Craven Blazek Law at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free case evaluation with a seasoned Indianapolis Indiana accident attorney you can trust to recover the settlement you deserve. We represent victims all throughout the state of Indiana and Indiana residents injured in other states.