How to Make a Slip and Fall Injury Claim in Indiana

The primary priorities to making any personal injury claim is to seek medical attention, gather and protect your evidence, hire an experienced personal injury attorney, and take the correct legal actions, all from the moments your accident occurs. When it comes to slip, trip, and fall claims, these priorities are no different.

Continue reading to learn how you should manage and navigate a slip and fall injury and accident claim in Indiana.

Indianapolis Slip and Fall Lawyers 317-881-2700
Indianapolis Slip and Fall Lawyers 317-881-2700

Slip, Trip and Fall Accidents

The first few actions (or non-actions) made by a slip and fall victim can mean all the difference in terms of establishing fault and liability. It is important to take the right legal actions from the very moments a slip and fall accident takes place in order to protect your claim and ultimately win your settlement for compensation. Below, you will find some information and advice regarding what a slip and fall victim (or claimant representing a victim) should do to move forward with a personal injury claim.

► Immediately Report the Incident

The first step after slipping and falling on public or private property is to notify the owners or persons in charge. For commercial properties, such as retail stores or restaurants, ask for the highest ranking person on duty and report the accident.  Just be brief by simply stating where you fell, which obstruction caused the fall (torn carpet, uneven floorboard, wire or cord, puddle, ice, poor lighting, etc.), and where you are hurting. For public grounds, like parks and city streets, notify the town or city the same day, both by phone call and written notification. If the injury is too severe, notify the city or town as soon as your health permits. This is especially important for accidents that take place without any witnesses.

IMPORTANT: If your slip and fall injuries are severe and require emergency medical attention, make this step the first priority. Once stable, you can move forward with the remainder of the accident claim process. You can also appoint a spouse, relative, or friend to help you report the incident and gather evidence.

► Ask for Witness Information

The next step in moving forward with a personal injury claim, which may need to be carried out by a trusted friend or family member depending on the severity of your injury, is to get all the contact information from anyone that may have witnessed the accident. Be sure to record their full names, phone numbers, and email addresses. If they are willing to give additional contact information, take that as well. Keep in mind that witness testimony plays a major role in winning a personal injury settlement.

► Gather Evidence

Your next step is to take and gather photos and video recordings. Again, this might have to be done by a friend or family member depending on the severity of your injuries. Photos and video (if possible) should be taken as soon as possible after the accident. All footage should be taken at multiple angles, and should capture the hazardous environment or obstruction, the condition of the victim, the victim’s injury and the condition of the injury in the days following the accident.

All these photos and videos must be done BEFORE any changes to the environment occur or any evidence is lost (i.e. melting snow or ice, missing lightbulb, puddle, spilled food, etc.). The more evidence you have, the stronger your chances are for obtaining a full and fair settlement to cover your damages.  Ask whoever is in charge to retain any video surveillance of the fall and if you can do the request in writing, do so.  Normally, you should request the person to retain any video surveillance for the entire day of your fall.

► Seek Medical Care

A person should seek medical treatment the same day, or as soon as they are experiencing pain or complications from the accident. Sometimes injuries are not present right away, and tend to show up days or weeks following the accident. This is common for neck and back injuries. Insurance companies will argue that a person wasn’t seriously injured enough to receive compensation if they didn’t require immediate professional medical care. Medical treatment is evidence that a slip and fall victim is injured and the doctor’s diagnosis and victim’s medical records are evidence for a case.

► Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer

Before talking to any insurance companies or adjusters, it is vital to hire a personal injury lawyer first. It is crucial to have an experienced slip and fall lawyer on your side during the entire personal injury claims process. 

Indiana Slip and Fall Lawyers You Can Trust

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700
Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Get started on your slip and fall claim by calling the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Although based out of Indy, our law firm represents victims throughout the state, as well as, out-of-state victims who are injured in Indiana. We offer free initial consultations to discuss your claim, and never require any upfront lawyer fees. Call 317-881-2700 to schedule your consultation, today.

Questions and Answers About Personal Injury Negotiations

If you are entering into a personal injury claim, it is wise to educate yourself on the developments and procedures that are to be expected. One important matter to better understand for your personal injury case is the process of negotiations and settlements. After all, this is the part that affects you the most in terms of financial recovery or restitution.

Continue below to review some common questions and answers regarding this topic, as well as, where to get started learning more about your personal injury claim.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Attorneys 317-881-2700
Indianapolis Personal Injury Attorneys 317-881-2700

What is the Purpose of Personal Injury Negotiations?

Personal injury negotiations are meant to provide injured victims with the opportunity to demand the full and fair compensation from their accident and subsequent injuries. The process is sadly sometimes similar to haggling over the price of a commodity at your local city market; the seller knows how much they are willing to sell it for, and the buyer knows how much they are willing to spend on it, but neither party knows the other party’s limits, so a bargaining process commences. In the case of a personal injury claim, the injured victim and the insurance adjuster will go back and forth until they agree on a fair settlement.  What one side believes is fair usually does not match what the other side believes is fair.

What is a Demand Letter?

An accident victim may need to take action in order to receive compensation for their damages by developing a letter of demand to the at-fault party’s insurance carrier. Basically, a demand letter is a formally written memo that becomes the catalyst for negotiating full and fair compensation for an accident. They can be highly complex, so retaining an experienced Indiana personal injury lawyer to write a demand letter is strongly advised. 

What are the General Steps to the Negotiation Process?

The process of personal injury negotiations between claimant/attorney and adjuster often begins with the claimant’s attorney sending in a demand letter with the requested amount of compensation. As a response, the insurance adjuster usually tries to find problems or gaps in the claim, and possibly even question liability or deny benefits altogether. From there, the claimant will respond to the adjuster’s arguments. Then the adjuster might offer a low-ball settlement to see how eager the claimant is to settle. The claimant may respond by slightly conceding from their original demand, but still demanding a fair settlement. From there, the adjuster might deliver another offer that is higher than their previous one. At this point, the claimant can either accept the offer or make a counter-demand.

Of course, this is just a generalized example of the negotiations process; there is much more to the strategy of dealing with insurance adjuster ploys to get claimants to settle fast and low. For these reasons and more, you must have a personal injury lawyer on your case, managing the negotiations process for you.

When Do Personal Injury Negotiations Begin?

Shortly after an insurance adjust receives a demand letter, the process of negotiations will begin. Claimants usually get a phone call within 7 to 14 days, but this can vary depending on the traffic of the office, the adjuster’s schedule, and how much investigation the adjuster chooses to do. The entire process from start to finish can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few years, depending on the circumstances of the case. Talk to a licensed personal injury attorney to learn how long your claim might take.

What is a Reservation of Rights Letter?

After a claimant sends in a demand letter, it is fairly common for them to receive a Reservations of Rights letter from the insurance company. This letter is meant to inform the claimant that the company has begun investigating the claim, but at the same time, reserving the right to not pay the claimant anything at all if the investigations reveal that the accident is not covered under the policy. See our blog, “What is a Reservations of Rights Letter?” to learn more.

How to Make a Personal Injury Claim in Indiana

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700
Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free initial consultation with a licensed personal injury attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana. Seasoned lawyers, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek, can help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after being seriously injured in an accident. Call 317-881-2700 to get started today.

The Basics of Personal Injury Fault and Negligence

After being involved in an accident, the first step to submitting a claim for compensation is determining the liable party or parties. The party that is deemed “at fault” for the accident is the party responsible for covering the subsequent damages and losses suffered by any victims. This can be a person, a group of people, a company, a manufacturer, or other entity. Establishing liability in a personal injury case will revolve around a common legal concept known as negligence. If negligence is proven, fault can be assigned.

Continue reading to learn the basics of fault and negligence in personal injury cases.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700
Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Fault

“Fault” is a personal injury term that means “legal liability”, which refers to the legal responsibility for one’s acts or omissions. If a victim in injured in an accident that was no fault of their own, they can bring about a claim for compensation against the party who was responsible for causing the accident and subsequent damages. If the victim’s claim is successful, the settlement is paid for by the at-fault party or their insurance carrier.  Even if a victim injured in an accident was partially at fault, they still can recover damages.

In order for a personal injury claim to be successful, the plaintiff party must prove that the at-fault party is in fact, at fault; and to determine who is at fault for an accident, negligence must be established. Whoever was negligent and caused the accident will be responsible for paying the settlement, whether through a personal injury lawsuit or insurance settlement. See our blog, “Can I Settle a Personal Injury Claim if I Cannot Prove Fault?” for further information about this topic.

Negligence

If an accident victim chooses to make a personal injury claim against another party, they hold the burden of proving that party’s negligence. There are four primary elements of negligence that must be demonstrated in order to establish liability. These four elements include duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. See our blog, “The 4 Elements of Negligence in a Personal Injury Case” to learn more about each. Additional legal theories of liability include establishing intentional conduct, strict liability, or negligence per se.

Where to Get Trusted Personal Injury Advice

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700
Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for professional assistance with your personal injury claim in Indiana. Our esteemed and seasoned Indianapolis accident attorneys are ready, willing and able to help injured victims recover the full and fair compensation they deserve. We offer free initial consultations and never collect attorney fees unless we obtain a settlement for you. Contact us to get started in your financial recovery, today.

Who is Responsible for a Defective Product that Causes Injury to a Consumer?

Defective product litigation is an area of the law that represents victims that have been seriously injured or killed as a result of damaged, malfunctioning, recalled and unreasonably dangerous products. There are several types of product liability lawsuits that arise every day, from children’s toys and playground sets, to exercise equipment, electronic devices, apparel, and more. When it comes to asking the question of liability, manufacturing companies are generally the ones accountable for a dangerous product injuries or wrongful death, so long as all the factors and evidence are in place to prove the case.

Continue reading to learn more about defective product liability and litigation, and who to call if you or a loved one was recently injured by a hazardous product.

Indianapolis Product Liability Lawyers 317-881-2700
Indianapolis Product Liability Lawyers 317-881-2700

Defective Product Cases

Accidents that happen as a result of a defective product are often caused by faulty operation or dangerous parts. This means that any product can be defective and potentially dangerous, such as crayons, bicycles, toys, electronics, hair dryers, and even food. Burns, head injuries, eye injuries, impalement, orthopedic injuries, disfigurement, scarring, blindness, and even death, are common injuries associated with cases of dangerous or poorly manufactured products.

In most cases, lawsuits that are filed against manufacturers involve failure to warn, design flaws, improper safety devices, manufacturing faults, recalled products, and also marketing flaws. Failure to warn describes a circumstance in which a manufacturer fails to properly inform consumers of safety hazards and other potential hazards, or fails to reveal product information that could have prevented an accident from happening in the first place. In addition to physical and mental repercussions, many product liability claims involve property damages as well.  

Manufacturer Strict Liability

In almost all cases, a dangerous or faulty product is the manufacturer’s responsibility. This falls under an area of law called “strict liability” and holds a seller or manufacturer of a product responsible for consumer injuries. If a victim injuries themselves as a result of their own carelessness or negligence, or uses the product inappropriately, the manufacturer may not be responsible and the victim may be held accountable for their own damages. If you are unsure whether or not the manufacturer of the defective product that caused you or a loved one harm is responsible, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your accident.

Making a Defective Product Claim

Personal injury law firms generally offer free initial consultations to people who believe they are victims of a negligent accident. They use this consultation to assess a victim’s case, and determine if they are eligible for compensation. With this setup, a victim does not have to waste money in order to validate their case.

If a personal injury firm identifies a case as negligent, and believes the victim has a solid claim, they will almost always represent their client for free, and only collect legal fees if they win their case and recover full and fair compensation. Once retained, your personal injury legal team will evaluate the physical and mental damages sustained from a defective product, and use this information to document a case against the accountable manufacturer.

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

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700
Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to discuss your defective product injuries and learn the best course of action for your claim. Our seasoned Indianapolis product liability lawyers can obtain the full and fair compensation you deserve for your resulting damages and losses, including hospital bills, medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more. Additionally, we offer free initial consultations and never collect attorney fees unless we prevail for you.

What are Dignitary Torts?

When it comes to your quality of life, a root of happiness and success stems from self-esteem and self-respect.  Needless to say, your self-dignity is highly valuable, and arguably, priceless. So what does this have to do with dignitary torts? Then answer is, your reputation.

Continue reading to learn more about dignitary torts, including where to find trusted advice for your tort case.

Indiana Defamation Attorneys 317-881-2700
Indiana Defamation Attorneys 317-881-2700

Intentional Torts

Under tort law, when a person intentionally behaves in a way that causes another person harm, it is categorized as an intentional tort. Intentional torts can have both criminal and civil repercussions for the at-fault party. A dignitary tort is a type of intentional tort in which an action causes another person’s reputation or “honor” harm, or subjects them to certain indignities (humiliations and shame). Although valid, very few states have courts that actually use this legal term.

Types of Dignitary Torts

By definition, there are several kinds of dignitary torts that a person can commit. Common torts include defamation, such as slander and libel. Additional examples include intentional infliction of emotional distress, battery, assault, abduction, false imprisonment, false light, invasion of privacy, and alienation of affections. Many jurisdictions primarily appoint non-physical acts and threats as dignitary torts. Historically, dignitary torts were mostly reserved for battery, assault, false imprisonment, and similar physical actions.

Non-Intentional Torts

There is also a type of non-intentional dignitary tort that can be committed, and it is referred to as negligent infliction of emotional distress. In this case, a victim is subjected to emotional distress and/or mental anguish as a result of another person’s non-intentional act. For example, a man could take nude photos of his girlfriend, show his friends as a joke, and as a result, cause her severe emotional stress and harm to her dignity. However, most jurisdictions simply categorize negligent infliction of emotional distress as just another form of basic negligence.

Where to Get Trusted Legal Advice

If you believe you or someone you love is a victim of defamation, negligent infliction of emotional distress or another intentional tort, contact a seasoned Indianapolis personal injury attorney to learn more about your case. You may be entitled to compensation for your damages and losses that result from the harm they have caused.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700
Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for information about making a personal injury claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. Experienced personal injury attorneys Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek are here to help you obtain the rightful compensation you deserve after suffering harm at the actions of another. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we recover for you.

Are Dog Bite Claims Covered Under Homeowners’ Insurance?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that more than 4.5 million dog bite accidents occur in the United States every year. They also report that an average of 800,000 of those incidents require medical attention, most of which are children between the ages of 5 and 9 years old. When a dog attacks or bites a person, the question of liability is bound to come up, especially when medical care is needed.

That is because there are several economic and non-economic damages that dog bite victims might incur, including hospital bills, medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, permanent scarring, PTSD, and more. As a result, victims generally make a personal injury claim for compensation against the dog owner. This leads many dog bite owners to wonder, “Will my insurance cover this? Or do I have to pay for this out-of-pocket?”

Continue reading to learn the key facts regarding dog bite liability laws, including whether or not homeowners’ insurance policies cover the damages and losses that result from a dog bite accident.

Indianapolis Dog Bite Lawyers 317-881-2700
Indianapolis Dog Bite Lawyers 317-881-2700

Dog Bite Statutes

The laws surrounding dog bites and animal attacks vary from state to state, but primarily, there are two kinds of statutes that govern such cases: strict liability and standard rule of negligence. Under the principle of standard rule of negligence, if a dog owner was aware of their pet’s potential for aggression or danger, then they are liable for any damages and losses caused by a dog bite. This is often referred to as the “one bite rule” and is applied in cases in which there was never reason to believe a dog was a danger to anyone.  However, case law on this topic is very fact specific.

Other states operate on strict liability, which holds a dog owner fully responsible for all damage and losses caused by their dog biting someone, even if the dog has never acted aggressively or attacked before. Under strict liability, circumstances like trespassing and provocation do not usually influence or relieve a dog owner’s liability. There are some states that do not apply any laws to dog bite attacks, and leave all burden of proof on the plaintiff party.  To learn your states’ dog bite liability laws, consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer who specializes in such cases.

Indiana Dog Bite Liability

Here in Indiana, we use “strict liability” in dog bite and attack cases in certain cases and a negligence standard in other cases.

Homeowners’ Insurance Coverage

Whether or not a dog bite owner is covered in the case of a dog bite or attack depends on various factors, including the type of insurance they have and their dog’s breed. Homeowners’ insurance policies, as well as renters’ insurance policies, typically cover dog bite liability legal expenses, but only up to a certain amount. In the average policy, the legal liability limit can range from $100,000 to $300,000. But if the claim expenses exceed a dog owner’s liability limit on their insurance policy, they have to pay the remainder themselves.

In contrast, some insurance policies will not insure homeowners who have a breed of dogs that is innately prone to aggression or danger, such as German Shepherds, Doberman Pincers, Dalmatians, Great Danes, Rottweilers, Pitt Bulls, and similarly categorized species. For those who are insured, they can expect their premiums may increase after their dog attacks someone.

How to Make a Dog Bite Claim in Indiana

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700
Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

If you or someone you love is a recent victim of a dog bite or attack, contact an Indiana dog bite attorney as soon as possible to learn your rights. You may be entitled to compensation for your damages and losses. Act fast before your state’s statutes of limitations runs outs. Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your workplace accident with an experienced Indiana dog bite lawyer you can trust. Not only does our law firm offer free consultations, we never collect lawyer fees unless we recover a settlement for you.