What You Need to Know About Burn Injury Claims

Burn injuries can be very serious and result in a large scope of consequences, physically, emotionally, and financially. They can also take a very long time to heal. So if you suffered severe burns in an accident that was caused by another person, it is important to understand and apply your rights to compensation.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about pursuing a burn injury claim, including how they work, what to expect, factors that may influence the value of your claim, and where to get started.

Indianapolis Burn Injury Lawyers
Indianapolis Burn Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Burn Injury Claims

When a person suffers a serious burn as a result of another’s negligence, it is right for them to pursue a personal injury claim. Typically, the process will commence with a phone call from the opposing party’s insurance company offering you a preliminary settlement.

Their goal is to push the claim through as fast as possible, pay you as little as possible, and avoid a lawsuit. But never accept a low settlement from the insurance company. Always consult with an Indianapolis personal injury lawyer who specializes in burn accidents before accepting any offer from an insurance company.

The Value of Your Claim

Burn injuries vary greatly in scope and severity, which makes all claims different in value. In cases that of malicious intent or egregious negligence, a court might award punitive damages in addition to full compensatory damages. See our blog, “A Brief Explanation of Compensatory, Nominal, and Punitive Damages” to understand types of personal injury compensation better.

Certain factors that influence the value of a burn injury claim include:

✤ Extent of Burn
✤ Location of Burn
✤ Level of Negligence
✤ Duty of Care
✤ Intentions of Opposing Party
✤ Extent of Pain and Suffering
✤ Total Losses and Damages
✤ And More

Where to Get Started on Your Burn Injury Claim

Because every burn injury claim is unique, it is vital that you discuss your case with a seasoned Indianapolis burn injury attorney who can help navigate you in the right direction. Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for burn injury representation in Indiana. Attorneys Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek are eager to help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after being injured in a serious burn accident. Best of all, we offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we recover a settlement for you!

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

Should I Settle My Auto Accident Claim Out of Court?

When a person is involved in an auto accident caused by an at-fault driver, they are entitled to make an insurance claim and receive a settlement. In many cases, an insurance settlement is often the most reasonable choice, unless the offer is too low. An attorney will try to settle out of court for a client, but if a fair agreement cannot be made with the defendant’s insurance company, then the case is usually taken to court and presented to a judge or jury for a judgment. There are several options for pursing a motor vehicle accident claim, and even more to know about them all.

Continue reading to learn the difference between settling an auto accident claim in and out of court, as well as, what do to as an injured victim of a recent  car accident in Indiana.

Car Accident Lawyers Personal Injury Indianapolis
Indianapolis Car Accident Attorneys 317-881-2700

Car Insurance Settlement Outcomes

Just like all other cases, insurance claim settlements vary in outcome. If you sustained only minor injuries, and only required a few doctor visits and check-ups, then obviously, you case would be valued by and resolved for less than if you sustained moderate or major damages. Damages include hospital bills, medical expenses, medications, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage and possibly other damages.

With regard to property damages, most insurance companies will pay to cover the repairs initially because the insurance company is attempting to keep you happy long enough so that you do not obtain an attorney.  If you do not obtain an attorney quickly however, evidence vital to the case can be lost forever so it is vital to contact an attorney immediately after you obtain your first medical care.  

The insurance company may even advise you that they are “accepting responsibility” for the their insured causing the collision. While the insurance company may say this to you, in practice, this is usually not the case.  In Indiana, the fact that a defendant driver has insurance is usually not admissible in court and anything an insurance company employee told you is also not admissible.  Some judges in Indiana routinely keep out even the mere mention of the fact that a driver who caused a collision has insurance.

Insurance companies in clear cut cases of liability usually want to settle as soon as possible, but quick settlements can be a mistake. This is because once a person signs and accepts the offer and releases the defendant from further liability, the case is immediately closed and cannot be brought back up ever again. If more injuries are discovered after settlement, which can occur and is called “delayed onset” or other damages appear after the settlement has closed, the defendant and their insurance company will no longer bear any responsibility. This is why it is important to hire a licensed Indiana car accident attorney to represent you.

Out-of-Court Settlements

In order to receive the compensation that will fully and fairly cover all related expenses, pain and suffering, medical and property damage, you should take your claim to a lawyer so they can obtain the necessary evidence and conduct a proper investigation to present your case to the at-fault driver’s insurance company or other opposing party.  

Contact a licensed personal injury lawyer who specializes in car accident injury claims if you were recently injured in a car accident that was not your fault. A seasoned car accident attorney has the proper knowledge, resources, and experience needed to recover a full and fair settlement you and your family deserves.

Trusted Legal Advice for Your Indiana Car Accident Claim

Call The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for trusted car accident personal injury representation in Indianapolis, Indiana and throughout the State of Indiana. Our seasoned car accident attorneys work hard to ensure our clients’ rights to full and fair compensation. We offer free initial consultations to review your case with you; and we never collect attorney fees unless we prevail for you!

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

The Law Office of Craven, Hoover and Blazek Can Help Truck Accident Victims in Indiana

If you or someone you love is a recent victim of a trucking accident in Indiana, it is important to learn your rights to being properly compensated for your resulting damages and losses. Financial obligations like hospital bills, medical expenses, and similar bills are adding up, so be sure to reach out to one of our Indiana personal injury truck accident lawyers as soon as possible after the collision, before the Indiana statute of limitations runs out for your case.

Continue reading to learn what we can do for you, and how to get started.

Indianapolis Truck Accident Attorneys 317-881-2700
Indianapolis Truck Accident Attorneys 317-881-2700

Truck Accidents and Injuries

According to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI), a large truck is defined as any vehicle that is:

⚙ Single 2 Axle, 6 Tires
⚙ Single 3 or More Axles
⚙ Truck/Trailer that is Not a Semi
⚙ Tractor with Cab Only and No Trailer
⚙ Tractor/One Semi-Trailer
⚙ Tractor/Double Trailer
⚙ Tractor/Triple Trailer

Truck accidents tend to be more serious than other automotive accidents because they involve larger and heavier vehicles, and usually generate more momentum and forces involved. Furthermore, some large trucks carry dangerous or hazardous cargoes, such as flammable materials, chemicals, fuel, and more. Consequently, vehicles like semis, delivery trucks, tractors, trailers, buses, and other commercial vehicles are capable of doing more harm and damage than a passenger car.

According to the most recent Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) statistics, between 2014 and 2016, more than 12,000 victims lost their lives to large truck accidents in our country, and just over 2,000 of those victims were drivers or occupants of large trucks. Common injuries resulting from large truck accidents include orthopedic injuries, fractures, concussions, brain injuries, paralysis, quadriplegia, comas, spinal cord injuries, back and neck injuries, shoulder injuries, head injuries, wrongful death, and more.

What to Do for Your Truck Accident Claim

Here at the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C., our Indiana personal injury lawyers have handled numerous truck accident cases involving semis, dump trucks,  bus and large truck collisions throughout the entire state roads and highway system. We retain a comprehensive understanding of all state and federal trucking regulations, and strategically apply our expansive knowledge to prove our client’s truck accident case in court and recover the full and fair settlement our clients deserve.

How to Get Started

Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to file a personal injury truck accident claim in Indiana. Our seasoned personal injury lawyers are ready, willing and able to recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after being injured in a large truck accident in Indiana. We offer free initial consultations and never collect attorney fees unless we recover for you.

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

Helpful Legal Information for Knee Injury Victims in Indiana

Knee injuries are serious medical matters as is, but when they occur as a result of another’s negligence, they can also turn into serious legal matters. If you are a victim of a recent negligent knee injury, you may be entitled to compensation to cover your hospital bills, medical expenses, lost wages, pain suffering, and other damages and losses that resulted from your accident. Your first step is to have your case evaluated by a skilled Indiana personal injury lawyer who can help you understand your rights and determine the best course of action for your claim.

Continue reading to learn more about knee injury claims, including how to get started as soon as today.

Indianapolis Knee Injury Lawyer 317-881-2700
Indianapolis Knee Injury Lawyer 317-881-2700

Common Types of Knee Injuries

Knees are one of the most important parts of our body, and unfortunately, they are also quite vulnerable to injury. The severity of knees injuries rests on a vast scope, from minor strains and swelling, to ligament tears, orthopedic fractures, and much more. You will know the scope of your knee injury as a victim because of the amount of pain, money loss, medical attention, inconvenience, and decreased quality of life you experience as a result of your injuries.

Some of the most common types of serious knee injuries include the following:

❖ Arthritis
❖ Blunt Force Impacts
❖ Broken Knee
❖ Cartilage Injuries
❖ Dislocated Knees
❖ Fractured Patella
❖ Knee Fractures
❖ Meniscus Tears
❖ Muscle Tears
❖ Ripped Tendons
❖ PCL Tears (Posterior Cruciate Ligament)
❖ Severe Knee Trauma
❖ Synovitis (Inflammation)
❖ Tibial Plateau Fractures
❖ Torn Knee Ligaments

Recovering From a Knee Injury

Knee injuries are medically treated in a number of ways depending on the extent of damage. Some common treatments for knee injuries include surgery, bed rest, physical therapy, and more. The recovery time also differs among victims, however, most knee injuries typically require long-term rehabilitation. This period of time can greatly affect a victim’s life, especially when it comes to finances. Not only do knee injuries result in hospital bills and medical expenses, they also lead to time off work, which lowers the monthly expected income family’s rely on for mortgage, groceries, fuel, and more.

Starting Your Knee Injury Claim

Because of the potential physical, emotional, and financial impact a serious knee injury can have on a victim’s life, it is vital to retain professional legal representation to protect your rights to being compensated for your losses. The negligent party that caused your knee injury accident, whether a person, manufacturer, or business, may be liable for your damages and losses due to legal principles like premise liability, medical malpractice, negligence, comparative fault, and more. An experienced personal injury lawyer is the helping hand you need to get back you on your feet after a knee injury.

Indianapolis Knee Injury Lawyers Who Can Help

Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to speak with a licensed knee injury lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana. We understand the serious nature of knee injuries, which is why we work hard to recover the full and fair amount of compensation you truly deserve. Call our office today to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your knee injury case that occurred anywhere in Indiana.

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

When Will My Car Accident Claim Settle?

If you are waiting for a pending car accident injury claim to come to a settlement, the good news is you will not likely have to wait long. Most car accident claims settle without ever going to trial, however, there are infinite factors that can influence the total amount of time it takes to reach a full and fair settlement. Continue reading to learn some of the most common factors that might affect the timeline for your car accident claim.

Indianapolis Car Accident Attorneys 317-881-2700
Indianapolis Car Accident Attorneys 317-881-2700

Common Factors That Affect a Settlement

Although reaching a car accident settlement can be affected by many factors, the most common include whether or not you hire a lawyer, the severity or scope of your injuries, who was at-fault for the accident, the laws surrounding car accident liability in your state, and the court’s schedule.

Legal Representation – If you choose to represent yourself, you can expect the timeline for your car accident claim to take much longer. You simply do not retain the same knowledge, resources, and professional connections that lawyers have, all of which expedite several steps to the car accident claim process.

Extent of Damages – The severity of your injuries and how long you need to obtain treatments, along with the scope of your total damages and losses, will greatly affect the amount of time it takes to reach a settlement since such cases typically require more concentrated investigation and the discovery of facts essential to proving the case.

Liability – If it is clear and undisputed that the other driver is at-fault for the accident, you can expect the claim process to be much quicker since their insurance company should want to settle as soon as possible, depending again upon how badly you are injured, how long you need to obtain treatments and whether or not you are permanently injured. If you live in a state where you might be deemed partially at-fault, a principal known as “comparative negligence”, your percentage of fault will determine your eligibility for compensation.

Court Schedules – If your case does have to go to trial, the court’s hearing schedule can cause conflicts in your settlement timeline. Courts can get backed up, so they are prone to cancelling or postponing scheduled trials, or not having availability to schedule hearings for months.

Reaching a Car Accident Settlement

The process of car accident claims and settlements are quite straightforward here in Indiana. You can expect the process to start with you obtaining medical care and eventually and hopefully, physically and emotionally getting back to where you were before the collision or fall. 

Next a detailed demand letter is drafted and sent to the defendant’s insurance carrier along with all supporting documents, photographs, and more, which basically presents your case to the insurance company.

From the demand letter, negotiations will follow, and perhaps even mediation. See our blog, “Questions and Answers About Personal Injury Negotiations” to learn more about this part of the car accident claim process. After negotiations are complete, the remainder of the process generally involves drafting an agreement, and drawing a check and settlement papers.

Where to Get Trusted Car Accident Claim Advice

Call The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to learn the best course of action after being negligently injured in a car, trucking, malpractice or fall accident in Indiana. Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek are seasoned accident attorneys that can fight to recover compensation for your losses. We represent injured persons in Indiana regardless of how the injury occurred, so long as the person was injured as a result of the negligence or “failure to use reasonable care” of another person or entity. We also offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we win a settlement. Call 317-881-2700 to schedule your free consultation with an Indianapolis car accident lawyer, today.

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

Personal Injury Accidents That May Also Have Criminal Penalties

Criminal law involves crimes prosecuted by the state or federal government, rather than a private party or person. Criminal violations, like felonies and misdemeanors, are subjected to state and federal punishment; therefore, guilty individuals face jail time, probation, governmental fines, and in extreme cases, the capital punishment.

In contrast to criminal law, civil law is the area of the American legal system that manages disputes or wrong-doings between private parties and prosecuted by private parties most usually. A common example of such cases involve personal injuries. If someone is wrongfully injured by another person demonstrating negligence or malicious intent, they can ask the court or jury to decide who is at-fault and if the negligent party should pay remuneration to the injured person.

When it comes to tort law, or personal injury law, some accidents can render both civil and criminal consequences for the at-fault party. Continue reading to learn some examples of when an individual may also face state or federal charges for carelessly causing an accident that results in someone’s injury or harm.

Personal Injury Attorney Law Firm
Personal Injury Attorney Law Firm 317-881-2700

Civil and Criminal Lawsuits

Although murder is a crime against a person, the crime itself goes against state and federal law, therefore making it a criminal case, in addition to a civil one. These cases usually go to a jury trial where defendants are prosecuted by the state. In criminal litigation, defendants are allowed to appoint their own attorney, or have one appointed to them by the state if they cannot afford to pay for one themselves.  In the case of murder or homicide, the family of the victim may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim in civil court, and collect compensation for their loss, whether a child, spouse, or relative.

Additional Examples:

Car Accidents – If a person is driving recklessly or illegally, such as underage or intoxicated, and they seriously injure or kill another person as a result, the victim or their family can seek compensation for their losses and damages in civil court. Furthermore, the state may choose to press charges against the driver for criminal offenses, including operate a vehicle under the influence and causing bodily injury.

Negligent Supervision – If someone is guilty of negligent supervision, they may face both civil and criminal penalties if their actions are deemed criminal, such as in the case of child abuse, child negligence, manslaughter, nursing home abuse, and more.

Sexual Harassment at Work – If a person is being sexually harassed at work, they may be able to pursue a claim if the situation was ignored or not properly addressed by management. Furthermore, the wrongful party could face criminal penalties if the sexual harassment was criminal in nature, such as rape, sexual misconduct, voyeurism, and more.

Medical Malpractice – If a doctor or clinic negligently causes injury or death to a patient, they could be sued in civil court by the victim or their family, as well as, be charged criminally if their offense was intentional, egregious, or falls under manslaughter.

The circumstances among each case of personal injury victims vary greatly, especially when it comes to penalizing an at-fault party criminally. Always discuss your questions and concerns with a seasoned Indiana personal injury lawyer you can trust. They will be able to provide the best advice on which course of action you and your family should take after suffering the consequences of a serious injury.

Indiana Personal Injury Attorneys

Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700, and located in Indianapolis, Indiana, if you or a loved one was recently hurt in a serious accident in Indiana. Our personal injury attorneys offer free initial consultations to sit down and assess your case. If we feel that you are entitled to compensation for your injuries, we begin working on your case immediately, without charging a dime. If we do not prevail for you, you will not owe our law firm any payment. We are the strong voice and immediate action you need for your personal injury lawsuit.

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

Who Do I Sue For a Defective Product That Injured Me?

There are several types of product liability lawsuits that arise every day; from children’s toys to exercise equipment, and more. Defective product litigation is an area of the law that involves victims that have been seriously injured or killed as a result of damaged, malfunctioning, recalled, or unreasonably dangerous products. For a short answer to the question, manufacturers of these types of hazardous products are generally the ones accountable for a victim’s injuries or wrongful death.

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

Indiana Personal Injury Attorneys 317-881-2700
Indiana Personal Injury Attorneys 317-881-2700

Defective Product Accidents

Many injuries and accidents happen from damaged or faulty products. Burns, head injuries, orthopedic injuries, disfigurement, blindness, and even death are all common and possible consequences of a dangerous or poorly manufactured item. Any type of product can be defective and cause injury; such as crayons, bicycles, toys, electronics, hair dryers, and even food. In most cases, lawsuits that are filed against manufacturers involve design flaws, improper safety devices, inadequate or failure to warn, manufacturing faults, recalled products, and also marketing flaws.

Marketing flaws, or false advertising, 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.  

Discuss Your Case With a Lawyer ASAP

Personal injury lawyers and legal teams evaluate the physical and mental damages sustained from a defective product, and use this information to document a case against the accountable manufacturer. 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, although some types of product liability claims involve a negligence standard. If a victim injures themselves as a result of their own carelessness or negligence, or uses the product inappropriately, the manufacturer may not necessarily be responsible and the victim can be held accountable for their own damages, however, every case is very fact specific.

This is why 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 potentially 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 manufacturer 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.

Indiana Personal Injury Lawyers You Can Trust

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 in Indiana. 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.

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