How to Make a Personal Injury Claim for Your Child

Children are prone to an overabundance of accidents and injuries, such as day care injuries, car accidents, playground accidents, swimming pool accidents, and more. Since the law recognizes that children lack the mature judgment that adults typically have, it provides a separate set of rules and requirements when it comes to making a personal injury claim for minors. This means that the claim process is not the same as it would be for an adult.

If your child was recently injured in an accident, be sure you are aware of your rights as a parent of an injured child, as well as, the rights your child has as an injured victim. This can help you pursue a claim for compensation. Continue reading to learn more about personal injury claims for children, including the primary differences in law and where to get started.

Child Injury Lawyers

Indiana Child Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Child Injuries and Accident Claims

Most states provide laws that give children essentially the same rights to compensation as they do adults for accidents that involve personal injury. Although these laws differ from state to state, children injured negligently in accidents can pursue compensation for pain, suffering, permanent disability, and more, and parents may be eligible to receive compensation for medical bills and any other related expenses on the child’s behalf. Under such laws, parents and legal guardians are permitted to negotiate or file on behalf of their children as well.

When it comes to making a personal injury claim for your child, the best course of action is to contact a licensed Indianapolis child injury attorney as soon as possible to learn everything you need to know about your potential case. As mentioned, there are some key differences in laws and procedures for child injury claims, which can make it challenging for you to understand without professional counsel.

For instance, the statutes of limitations for making a personal injury claim is much longer for child cases than it is for adult cases. Additionally, courts recognize that child injury lawsuits are delicate and complicated, so they oversee these types of cases more carefully than they would otherwise because they are looking out for the best interests of the child.

Furthermore, courts must approve all settlements in child injury cases. They know that rewarded compensation can potentially be misspent by parents or guardians. So they will sometimes order for the compensation to be put into a safe investment or account until the child reaches adulthood. Then once a minor turns 18, they are either given full access to the funds or structured payouts.

Key Questions to Ask Regarding Your Child’s Accident

Here are some important questions to ask yourself when making a personal injury claim for your child’s accident:

“Why Did My Child Get Hurt?”

✏ “How Did My Child’s Injury Happen?”

✏ “Who Was Responsible for My Child When He or She was Injured?”

✏ “Could the Accident Have Been Prevented?”

Indianapolis Child Injury Lawyers You Can Trust

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for help with child accident injury claims in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. Our child injury attorneys are well-versed in the tactics used by opposing parties to try and avoid liability in such accidents. We have prevailed for numerous child injury victims, and can do the same for you. Contact us to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your case.

What Causes the Most Slip and Fall Accidents?

There are many reasons why slip and fall accidents happen. However, when it comes to personal injury claims, the most serious slip and fall accidents seem to stem from the same types of negligence. Continue reading to learn some of the most common causes for slip, trip, and fall accidents, as well as, how to get started on your injury claim.

Indianapolis Slip and Fall Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Slip and Fall Lawyers 317-881-2700

Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are generally caused by hazardous surface conditions, such as wet floors, uneven walkways, and poorly maintained parking lots. Here are some examples of the most common causes for slip and fall accidents:

    ⚠ Wet or Slippery Floors

    ⚠ Cracked Sidewalks

    ⚠ Defective Escalators

    ⚠ Defective Moving Walkways

    ⚠ Jagged Walkways

    ⚠ Uneven Steps

    ⚠ Broken Tiles

    ⚠ Torn Carpets

    ⚠ Insufficient Lighting

    ⚠ Pathway Obstructions (debris, rubble, electrical cords, etc.)

    ⚠ Broken Ramps

    ⚠ Construction Zones

    ⚠ Grease or Oil Spills

    ⚠ Loose or Missing Handrails

    ⚠ Open Desk Drawers

    ⚠ Failure to Remove Hazards

    ⚠ Failure to Remove Snow or Ice

    ⚠ Defective Ladders

    ⚠ Building Code violations

    ⚠ Failure to Post Warning Signs for Floors or Steps

If You Were Hurt in a Slip and Fall Accident

Rights surrounding slip and fall victims vary from state to state, so the circumstances for recovering compensation will likely differ. But across the board, commercial, public, and residential property owners have a legal responsibility to ensure their premises are safe and hazard-free in order to protect any visitors from potential harm. Please see our blog, “A Store’s Obligation to Maintain Safe Premises” to learn more about store owner liability.

Here in Indiana, victims of slip and fall accidents are protected under Indiana Premises Liability law. This means if you slip and fall on another person’s property and suffer serious injuries, you may be entitled to legal compensation for your damages. It is vital that you discuss your accident and injuries with a seasoned Indianapolis slip and fall lawyer for help making a claim.

Indianapolis Slip and Fall Lawyers You Can Trust

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Law Firm
317-881-2700

Call The Law Firm of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 if you would like to file a personal injury claim for a slip and fall accident in Indianapolis, Indiana or anywhere in Indiana. Our seasoned accident attorneys are eager to recover the full and fair compensation you deserve. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you.

Qualities to Look For When Choosing a Personal Injury Attorney

Personal Injury Law Firm  317-881-2700

Personal Injury Law Firm
317-881-2700

Now that you have decided to pursue a claim, your next step is to hire a reputable personal injury lawyer. There are dozens of law firms to choose from in virtually every town, so it can be overwhelming trying to make a distinction among them all. In order to narrow down the options, you must be on the lookout for certain professional merits in an attorney. Continue reading to learn which qualities separates the seasoned personal injury lawyers from the others.

Experience

The most important credential to look for in a potential personal injury attorney is experience. Do not rely on your cousin’s son-in law who just passed the state’s bar examination last year to manage your claim. There is a big difference between a junior associate just starting out at a law firm and a seasoned accident attorney with years of hands-on trial and litigation experience.

Practice Area

Personal injury law is made up of numerous practice areas, such as workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, premise liability, and more. Some personal injury lawyers may only concentrate on car accident claims, while others might provide estate planning legal services. Choose a personal injury lawyer who specializes in the type of accident claim you are pursuing. Keep in mind that it is common for lawyers to specialize in more than one practice area.

Lawyer Fees

Another influential factor in choosing a personal injury attorney is how much they charge. Most personal injury lawyers work on contingency, meaning they only get paid if they recover a settlement for their client. Most contingency fees are between 33% and 40%, but this can vary among professionals. Lawyer fees do not include other legal fees, such as court costs, filing fees, and other related legal expenses. These same law firms usually offer free initial consultations as well, so there is no out-of-pocket obligation when first meeting with a lawyer.

Partners

When you are choosing a personal injury lawyer to represent your claim, it is wise to select one that works with other partners. Although you do not need a huge law firm, it helps for your lawyer to have others around to assist them with investigations or case precedents if need be. Having various resources available is beneficial for the client and the lawyer.

Personality

The trickier part of choosing a personal injury lawyer is finding one with a personality that makes you feel comfortable. In order to have trust, you must feel like your personal injury lawyer is a good fit for your personal comfort level. Get to know them at your initial consultation to learn more about their practice style and overall disposition, and rely on your instincts when making a final decision.

The Law Firm of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C.

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Law Firm
317-881-2700

Call the Law Firm of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free consultation with a licensed Indianapolis personal injury attorney who can determine the best strategies for your case. Not only does our law firm offer free consultations, we never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you! Call 317-881-2700 to get started on your financial recovery, today.

Social Media Mistakes That Can Jeopardize an Injury Claim

If you are preparing to make a claim for injuries you or a loved one has suffered in a recent accident, your social media portals are not a “safe” place to discuss your feelings or thoughts regarding the incident. Providing details and making statements online about an accident or claim can be extremely risky, and potentially damaging, to your settlement, even if only your “friends” can see your posts.

Continue reading to learn some common social media mistakes accident victims make so that you can avoid jeopardizing your personal injury claim.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers
317-881-2700

Social Media Vulnerability

Social media can easily sabotage a personal injury lawsuit in quite a few ways. With the exponential rise of various social media portals and websites, such as Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and similar social media platforms, users are still learning how they affect other aspects of their personal and professional lives. It is important to understand that social media can be used as evidence against individuals, whether in a serious legal matter, or in a personal or private setting.

For example, if an employee calls in sick to work, and then later posts pictures of themselves at a beach party the same day, it is possible for the employer to find out and reprimand them. In another example, a man might tell his wife that he cannot make dinner with her parents because he has to work late, but then checks in on Facebook at the football stadium a few hours later. Well, the same idea can be applied to lawsuits and trial. Social media pictures and posts can sometimes be used as evidence in a court of law.

Here are three common mistakes personal injury claimants make on social media:

Posting Subjecting Video Footage or Photos

Videos, pictures, “check ins”, and even blogs can be imperiling in a personal injury case. For instance, if a person is pursuing a slip and fall lawsuit after suffering a broken pelvis, they would be seriously endangering their case if they did something like post a video of themselves walking their dog, or upload a picture of them jumping off a diving board. The opposing insurance company or counsel will surely use posts like these as evidence against an injury compensation claim.

Defense counsel will sometimes even argue that seemingly innocent photos show more than they do. Because posts are only a snapshot in time, they can only arguably show how a person was feeling or what they were doing at a certain time. Postings can create the illusion that a person is physically okay because people usually do not post photos of themselves injured or when they are hurting. It is best not to post anything at all to avoid these potential arguments by defense counsel altogether.

Divulging Confidential Conditions of Settlements

For lawsuits that settle out of court, it is a practice to sometimes require both parties to sign a non-disclosure agreement to prevent either party (or family and friends of each party) to say anything about the opposing party. Disclosing or revealing confidential terms of settlements and trial details can be a breach of contract under such an agreement. Many people do not think about their social media sites as a means of breaking such agreements, but they are. It is vital to refrain from posting anything about a lawsuit or settlement, online or anywhere else.

Making Aggressive or Threatening Statements

It is common for people to express their negative and angry feelings online; however, in a personal injury case, this is a big mistake that can cost a person their settlement. Although it is understandable that if a person is hurting and has been injured and/or is not making a paycheck because they cannot work due to someone else’s negligence that was avoidable that they would be angry, it is best to keep those thoughts and feelings to one’s self. Although online social media posting is legal, it can gravely hurt a victim’s chances of recovering remuneration for their damages in a personal injury accident. It will only guarantee a case going to trial, where such videos, photos, and postings can be used against them in a court of law.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Law Firm

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Law Firm
317-881-2700

Call The Law office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to make an accident and injury claim in Indiana. Our seasoned Indianapolis personal injury lawyers are ready and able to recover the full and fair compensation you deserve. Not only does our law firm offer free consultations, we never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you. Call 317-881-2700 to schedule an appointment, today.

What To Do If You are Injured at Work

Workers’ compensation laws vary from state to state, and can be quite complex for the average employee to understand. Some people even believe that they are not eligible for such benefits unless they have been employed for a certain amount of time. These common misunderstandings about workplace injuries often lead victims down the wrong path to financial recovery.

If you are ever injured at work, regardless of how long you have been employed, it is important that you act fast and take the proper steps towards making a claim. Continue reading to learn what you should (and should not) do to after being injured at work.

Workers' Compensation Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indiana Workers’ Compensation Lawyers 317-881-2700

What NOT To Do

Do not believe your employer if they say you are not eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. As mentioned before, this is simply not true. This same fact applies to an employer who insists that you must work a minimum period of time to receive workers’ comp benefits; this is simply not true either. As soon as you are officially employed, you are entitled to rights if injured on the job.

It is also very important that you do not let your employer put you back to work in a position that violates your work restrictions. Be sure to discuss what these restrictions are with your doctor so that you are entirely informed of your aftercare instructions and occupational restrictions.

If your employer assigns you a nurse case manager, you do not have to let them into the examination room with you when being seen by the doctor. This is your legal right, so do not allow your employer to manipulate you into believing otherwise.

Upon making a claim, do not let the insurance carrier postpone their decision on whether to approve or deny your workers’ compensation claim. In Indiana, the law mandates that insurance companies must provide their decision within 30 days from the day a workers’ compensation claim is filed.

What To Do

If you are injured at work, whether you think you might require treatment or not, you should immediately notify your supervisor and have them make a written report of the incident to have on record. Be sure to get a copy of the report too.

If your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier sets up appointments and medical examines for you, be sure to attend them all, regardless of the situation. Make all efforts to avoid rescheduling any such arrangements. In some jurisdictions, workers’ comp benefits can be negatively impacted if you miss or reschedule more than once.

Retain all documents (or copies of documents) that your doctors give you regarding any medical restrictions, off-work statements, and related reports. If you are not pleased with the medical treatment you are receiving, it is in your right to request a second opinion.

If you have to travel outside of your county of residence to see doctors or receive medical treatment, record the dates, miles traveled, and doctors’ names, and keep this log on hand. In Indiana, there is a certain rate that employees can be reimbursed per mile they have to travel.

As far as logs go, it also helps to keep record of the total amount of time you are off work as a result of your injuries. In Indiana, if you are off work for more than 7 days due to your workplace injury, you are entitled to collect TTD (Temporary Total Disability) benefits. See our blog A Brief Explanation of Temporary Total, Temporary Partial, and Permanent Total Disability Benefits to learn more about these benefits.

If your employer harasses or retaliates against you for making a workers’ comp claim, immediately report to the Indiana Department of Labor. It is against the law for an employer to make threats or retaliations.

If you are denied any benefits based on the suggestion of a pre-existing condition, or some other reason, be sure to contest the denial. Contact an Indianapolis workers’ compensation lawyer to recover the full and fair benefits you deserve after being injured at work.

How to Take Action Now

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Law Firm
317-881-2700

Call The Law office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to make a workers’ compensation claim in Indiana. Our seasoned Indianapolis workplace injury lawyers are ready and able to recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after suffering serious injuries at work. Not only does our law firm offer free consultations, we never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you! Call 317-881-2700 to get started, today!

Auto Insurance Terms You Need to Know as a Car Accident Victim

All drivers should have a basic understanding of their auto insurance policy. This is especially true for anyone injured in a car accident. This awareness can also help victims if you have to make a personal injury claim. A good place to start is by learning the common auto insurance terms used in the industry.

Continue reading to review some basic terminology surrounding automotive insurance claims and policies, as well as where to get started with your car accident claim.

Indianapolis Car Accident Attorneys 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Car Accident Attorneys 317-881-2700


The terms and definitions listed below are likely to vary from state to state. Be sure to check with your insurance provider to confirm the details of your state’s particular auto insurance laws and policy limitations. If you have questions about making an accident claim, it is vital that you speak with a seasoned Indianapolis personal injury lawyer for professional advice and assistance you can trust.

Here are some common auto insurance terms you may come across:

Accident Forgiveness – While most providers will increase a policy holder’s premium after causing an accident, policies with accident forgiveness will not add a surcharge after a car accident.

Adverse Carrier – The insurance carrier of the other party involved in a car accident.

Appraisal – The estimation of the property damage and the cost to have it repaired.

At-Fault – The party who is legally responsible for damages resulting from an accident.

Binder – A provisional insurance contract that provides proof of insurance coverage until a permanent policy can be allotted.

Bodily Injury – Injuries sustained by individuals involved in an accident.

Claim – The formal request to an insurance company for compensation following a car accident.

Comparative Negligence – Victims who are partially at-fault can collect a partial amount of compensation for their damages and losses based on the percentage of their contribution to negligence. See our article on The Difference Between Comparative and Contributory Negligence.

Coverage – The overall protection and benefits provided by an insurance policy contract.

Covered Person – Those who are insured under a car insurance policy.

Damage – Harm or loss to a person or property.

Deductible – The fee the insured party must pay in order for their insurance company to pay their claim.

Proof of Financial Responsibility – A law mandating that all drivers must retain the state’s minimum amount of liability insurance coverage to legally operate each vehicle they own (Indiana’s requirement is 25/50/25 minimum liability insurance).

Indemnification – Compensating an injured party for the purpose of restoring their estimated financial position and quality of life back to what it was before an accident.

Liability – A legal and imposable obligation for the losses and damages suffered by an accident victim.

Liability Insurance – Car insurance coverage that defends against claims that a driver’s negligence cause a victim bodily harm or property damage.

Limits – The maximum benefits an insurance company will pay for losses and damages covered in an insurance policy.

Loss – The amount of money assigned to a claim.

Negligence – Failure to possess or demonstrate a level of care, expected by all persons under law, which protects another person, reputation, or property from harm or foreseeable and unreasonable risks.

No-Fault Insurance – A policy that covers medical treatment, lost wages, and other accident-related expenses, regardless of who is at-fault for an accident.

Per Occurrence Limit – The maximum benefits paid by an insurance company for all claims stemming from a single incident.

Per Person Limit – The maximum benefits paid by an insurance company for a single person’s injuries arising from a single incident.

Personal Auto Policy (PAP) – A simple, rudimentary automotive insurance policy that provides coverage for liability, medical payments, uninsured and underinsured motorists, and physical damage protection.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – A type of medical payments coverage in which all or a portion of medical expenses and hospital bills (driver and passengers) are paid for, no matter who is to blame for an auto accident. See our blog on Discussing Personal Injury Protection (PIP).

Policyholder – The individual who owns the policy. It may also include anyone covered under the policy.

Premium – The amount paid for an automotive insurance policy.

Property Damage Liability Coverage – This covers any property damage done to another person’s property in the case that a driver is at-fault for their accident.

Replacement Cost – The total cost to replace damaged property, with the exclusion of depreciation reductions.

Split Limits – An imbursement strategy used by the insurance company to pay for individual components of a car accident.

Underinsured – A policyholder who does not retain enough insurance coverage to cover all related damages in a car accident.

Unsatisfied Judgment Fund – A state fund intended to compensate individuals for any losses sustained from an automobile accident caused by an uninsured/underinsured motorist, or person without money.

Get Started on Your Car Accident Claim Today

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free consultation with a licensed Indianapolis car accident attorney who can determine the best strategies for your case. Not only does our law firm offer free consultations, we never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you! Call 317-881-2700 to get started on your financial recovery, today.

Legal Disclaimer: Although every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice. Individual cases differ and should be discussed with a lawyer.