Tag Archives: filing a personal injury claim

What is MedPay?

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Every driver needs to have car insurance. But car insurance only covers damages to vehicles, not people. Fortunately, there is an additional type of coverage you can purchase to protect yourself and your passengers. It is called medical payments coverage, or MedPay insurance for short. It is a form of insurance coverage for “Medical Payments to Others”, rather than vehicles. In the case of an auto-related or motor vehicle accident, whether your fault or not, med pay insurance will cover the medical expenses of yourself and your passengers if injured as a result of the accident. Continue reading to learn more about MedPay, how it works, and where to obtain such insurance coverage.

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Medical Payments Insurance

Any medical costs that results from an auto-related or motor vehicle accident will be paid for by a medical payments insurance policy. It pays for and protects your passengers and yourself, but it does not cover medical expenses for the people in any other vehicles involved. That would require third-party insurance coverage. Medical payments coverage is usually set at a maximum limit of $25,000. All medical costs that exceed a MedPay policy’s limit has to be paid out of pocket, by health insurance, or third-party insurance.

There is a lot of confusion when it comes to understanding MedPay coverage. Many assume it is a type of health insurance, but it is only meant to cover injuries caused by auto-related accidents, and again, only has a $25,000 payout limit. Also, health insurance will only cover your injuries, not the injuries of your passengers. Instead, med pay is more like PIP, or Personal Injury Protection. Although both types of insurance are similar, MedPay differs from PIP because it only covers medical expenses, not lost wages or other damages, like PIP coverage does. We will further discuss PIP coverage in next week’s blog, so stayed tuned!

It is strongly encouraged to purchase MedPay insurance for anyone who regularly carpools as well as, for adolescent drivers. It is a lucrative expense that is well-worth it in the end. Also, medical payments insurance has to be purchased for every single vehicle owned, including motorcycles. So if you only have MedPay insurance for your Jeep, but an accident occurs while driving your Honda, you will not be covered by your MedPay policy. You need to insure all vehicles to be fully-covered. Start by calling your own car insurance provider to inquire about MedPay, but be sure to also shop around for the bet rates. For an affordable cost, you and your passenger’s medical expenses can be covered if ever seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident in your vehicle.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car accident, contact a licensed personal injury lawyer right away to learn your rights and recover the full and fair compensation you are owed.

Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C.

Personal Injury Lawyers Indianapolis, Indiana 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Lawyers Indianapolis, Indiana 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for information about personal injury car accident claims in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attorneys Keith Blazek, Ralph Hoover, and Daniel Craven have extensive trial and litigation experience in Indiana, and will work hard to recover the compensation you deserve after being seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we get you money! Call 317-881-2700 to find a reputable and experienced car accident attorney in Indianapolis, IN and its surrounding counties.

What is the Difference Between Criminal and Civil Penalties?

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There are two primary categories of law within our country’s legal system, civil law and criminal law. Within both categories, legal penalties can ensue for any guilty parties. To understand civil penalties and criminal penalties, it is best to first review what civil and criminal cases are defined as under law. Continue reading to learn about civil and criminal cases, their penalties, and their differences.

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Civil and Criminal Cases

Civil cases are cases in which a person, company, organization, or corporation files a legal complaint against another entity; that entity being any of the above mentioned as well. Civil cases generally deal with legal disputes between private parties, or negligent acts that resulted in injury or damages. The party filing the complaint in a civil court is called the plaintiff, while the party responding to the complaint is the defendant. This process is called litigation. In civil litigation, the plaintiffs ask the courts to “right” a wrong-doing by the defendant. This usually means paying some form of remuneration or compensation to the plaintiff party, or some other form of civil penalty.

Criminal cases deal with actual crimes committed by a defendant, rather than “civil wrong-doings.” These cases are filed by the government, often times the State, and are represented by a state prosecutor. Regular citizens cannot file a criminal lawsuit against a defendant; they instead, can only report the crime and leave the rest up to the ruling branch of government. A defendant will be found guilty or not guilty by the state, with a guilty ruling resulting in criminal penalties.

Civil and Criminal Penalties

Crimes are acts that prohibited and punishable by the government, and fall into two main categories depending on their seriousness: felonies and misdemeanors. Felonies are the more serious types of crimes, rendering jail time of one year or more, and misdemeanors are less serious crimes, rendering sentences less than a year. Examples of criminal cases include murder, assault, battery, armed robbery, theft, arson, embezzlement, and similar crimes against society that affect public safety.

Criminal penalties are those that penalize defendants for committing such crimes. Criminal penalties mostly include capital punishment (death penalty), jail time, incarceration, probation, legal fees, revocation of certain licenses, loss of certain rights, loss of citizenship, retribution, rehabilitation, and more.

Civil “wrong-doings” are acts that cause another person or entity harm, damage, or trouble. Examples of civil cases include personal injury lawsuits, fraud, negligence, breach of contract, harassment, and other similar wrong-doings. In contrast to criminal penalties, civil penalties generally involve monetary payment, or a court order to do something or not do something (i.e. a corrective action or restraining order). Also in contrast to criminal penalties, civil penalties are handed down by a judge, or settled out of court by opposing insurance adjusters.

Consult a licensed personal injury attorney right away if you believe you or a loved one is a recent victim of a civil wrong-doing or negligent accident. You may be entitled to compensation for your damages. Damages include but are not limited to: lost wages, pain and suffering, medical expenses, hospital bills, prolonged rehabilitation, and much more.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal Injury Lawyers Indianapolis, Indiana 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Lawyers Indianapolis, Indiana 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for information about filing a personal injury claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attorneys, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek retain extensive experience practicing personal injury law. They are seasoned accident lawyers that can prevail for you and your family following a serious injury, accident, or loss. You may be owed compensation for such damages and more. We offer free initial consultations and never collect attorney fees unless we recover for you. Call 317-881-2700 to speak with Indianapolis personal injury lawyers that truly care.

Free Advice Regarding Slip and Fall Personal Injury Claims

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Indianapolis Slip and Fall Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Slip and Fall Lawyers 317-881-2700

Slip, trip, and fall claims are prevalent in the world of personal injury law. Accidents like this happen when a person slips, trips, or falls, and seriously injures themselves, as a result of a particular hazard on other person or company’s property. Several hazards can cause these kinds of accidents to occur on private or public property, such as puddles, spills, leaks, torn carpeting, poor lighting, and more.

If you or a loved one was recently injured in a slip and fall accident on another person’s property, it is vital to consult a reputable and experienced personal injury lawyer that concentrates on these types of accident cases. They retain the proper resources and knowledge, as well as, litigation and trial experience, to represent slip and fall victims in order to recover full and fair compensation for their damages.

Continue reading for more free advice regarding slip and fall injury accidents, claims, and lawsuits.

Slip and Fall Accident Claims

Anyone who is seriously injured from a slip and fall accident on a property other than their own could very well have a valid personal injury claim. Determining a claim’s validity and proving fault involves several variables and extensive investigation. A judge, jury, or insurance company must be convinced that the owner of the property was negligent in some way that caused the hazardous condition to exist, and that the victim used reasonable care and could not foresee the hazardous, thus preventing injury. Again, many variables goes into finding fault, proving fault, and more. This is why it is vital to hire a proficient personal injury law firm to facilitate a slip and fall case effectively.

Indianapolis Accident Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Slip and Fall Lawyers 317-881-2700

Property owners have a responsibility to keep their premises safe for visitors and guests. They can be at-fault for a slip and fall accident if they knew about, or should’ve known about, a hazardous condition and neglected to address it. However, there are circumstances to slip and fall accidents in which the victim is at-fault and does not have a valid legal claim against another property or company. An example of this situation would be if a woman wearing high-heels on a snowy day walks into a grocery store displaying “wet floor” signs everywhere happens to slip and fall in a puddle of melted ice.

She would have a very weak case because she did not use reasonable care by wearing unfitting shoes in poor weather, as well as, ignoring wet floor signs that indicated a potentially hazardous condition. The grocery store did their part in this example by displaying wet floor signs to warn customers that the floor is slippery and to walk with caution. And there are certain elements in the law that protect property owners, under certain circumstances, from hazardous conditions caused by weather, or conditions they cannot reasonably prevent.

Filing a Slip and Fall Claim

If you or a loved one recently suffered serious injuries as a result of a slip and fall accident on another person’s property, you have the option of filing a slip and fall claim. During this filing process, evidence will be requested to prove that the owner of the property should have known, or did know, about the hazard that caused the accident to occur. To do this, hire a personal injury attorney that has experience in slip and fall lawsuits. They will provide comprehensive representation for all aspects of your slip and fall lawsuit. They can obtain compensation for damages related to your accident and injuries.

As for property owners, it is strongly encouraged to purchase insurance policies that protect you from paying out-of-pocket for slip and fall accident settlements. This is especially important for commercial properties, business owners, and offices. In addition to third-party insurance, simply implementing certain strategies and precautions can better protect visitors from harm, and safeguard property owners in the case of a slip and fall accident.

Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C.

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to file a slip and fall accident claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attorneys Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek, as well as their proficient legal teams, are extensively experienced in slip and fall injury cases. They are happy to assess your case and determine if you have a valid legal claim. They offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless they recover the full and fair compensation you and your family deserves. Call 317-881-2700 to schedule your free initial consultation today, and learn your rights following a slip and fall accident in Indianapolis, IN.

Types of Legal Guardianship

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Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

In the case that an adult cannot make decisions for themselves, whether mentally or medically incapacitated, the state provides laws that allows an appointed individual to make decisions for them. These individuals are referred as guardians or conservators, and the people they are making important decisions for are referred to as wards. A person can be determined “incapacitated” when they lack the capacity to make responsible decisions regarding their life.

There are actually seven basic forms of legal guardianship, all of which we will define and discuss in this blog. Continue reading to learn more about the seven types of legal guardianship, and who to talk to for more information pertaining this topic and more.

Guardians and Conservators

In many states, these two terms are used interchangeably; however, in other states, the terms are used to describe a separate set of agendas. For example, a guardian has the power to make decisions for the ward, while a conservator is in charge of a ward’s property, assets, and finances. These roles are also referred to as “guardian of estate” or “guardian of person.”

Some wards require complete guardianship over all aspects of their lives, while others need less. Some wards are capable of managing themselves, but need help managing finances and property. Other wards require several types of guardianship, and retain it through a set of individuals, each responsible for a certain aspect of the ward’s life. Here are the seven most common types of conservatorship:

Limited Guardianship

In the case that a ward can make some, but not all, decisions for his or her life, they will be appointed a conservator with limited guardianship. This guardian has restricted control of a ward’s life.

Plenary Guardianship

Quite the opposite of limited guardianship, plenary conservatorship gives a person complete control of a ward’s life, property, and finances.

Short-Term Guardianship

If a legal guardian needs a person to stand-in for a short amount of time, they can appoint a “short-term” guardian without legal consent from court or judge. For example, if a guardian has to serve jury duty or be hospitalized, they can appoint a replacement guardian for a temporary amount of time.

Temporary Guardianship

In contrast to short-term conservators, temporary guardianship is used for cases of extreme and immediate emergencies. A person appointed as temporary guardian usually only retains the role for no more than 8 weeks; however this varies from state to state.

Testamentary Guardianship

A legal guardian can name another person in his or her will that will be their successor as legal guardian to a particular ward. This does require court approval.

Successor Guardianship

In the case that a legal conservator resigns, dies, or becomes incapable of fulfilling their role as guardian, a successor guardian is appointed. This person is either named in the original guardian’s will, or is appointed afterwards.

Standby Guardianship

When a new guardian has to be appointed, a standby guardian steps in for immediate backup. Until the legal documents and court approvals are complete, the standby guardian fills-in so there is no gap between conservators.

Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C.

Personal Injury Lawyers Indianapolis, Indiana 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Lawyers Indianapolis, Indiana 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for personal injury claims in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attorneys, Daniel Craven, Keith Blazek, and Ralph Hoover retain extensive trial and litigation experience in accident law. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we win your case. Call 317-881-2700 to learn more about filing a personal injury claim in Indianapolis, IN today.

Personal Injury Guide and References

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Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

A personal injury can happen to anyone, children and adults alike. When someone is injured in an accident that was caused by another entity’s negligence (a person, company, organization, product, etc.), they are considered victims of tort. Tort is a civil wrong that can serve as grounds for a lawsuit in order to recover compensation for related damages. There are three different kinds of tort; intentional torts, negligent torts, and strict liability.

Examples of intentional torts can include cases of assault, harassment, trespassing, or emotional distress. Negligent torts can include cases like fraternity hazing gone bad, wrongful death, and motor vehicle accidents. Cases of strict liability can include slip and fall accidents, defective products, and more. There are several other areas of tort as well, not included in the above categories; such as defamation, harassment, nuisance tort, and more.

An example of a common tort would be if a drunk driver hits you and causes you serious injury. In this case, they have committed a negligent tort, and you have grounds to pursue lawsuit to obtain recompense for vehicular damages, personal injuries, trauma, lost wages, and much more. Assault is another example of tort that can lead to a personal injury lawsuit. Some forms of tort, mostly intentional ones, are not only grounds for a personal injury lawsuit, they are also punishable by imprisonment. Other forms of personal injury include wrongful death. Property damage, however, does not fall under personal injury law.

Personal Injury Terms

We have covered what tort is, and what a personal injury is, but there are other related terms that might be helpful to know before pursuing your own personal injury lawsuit. There are nine principle participants in a general personal injury claim. The first is the victim, or person filing for the victim. This is called the claimant. The rest are listed and defined below. Continue reading for more helpful legal terms related to personal injury lawsuits.

Claimant – This is the person that files the claim with an insurance company, or the person that actually suffered the personal injury. In the case of a wrongful death, the claimant would usually be a relative or spouse.

Party – A participant in a lawsuit.

Plaintiff – Also called the “claimant”, or the person that files the lawsuit.

Defendant – This is the opposing party (either a company or individual), or the party being sued.

Lawyer – This is the licensed legal party (usually one person, or sometimes a small team) that represents the claimant in a personal injury lawsuit.

Adjuster – This is the individual appointed by an insurance company to settle a claim. Their purpose is to coordinate a settlement that doesn’t require the insurance company to pay out, or pay-out as little as possible.

First Party Insurance – This is the insurance company of the victim, or person filing the claim.

Third Party Insurance – This is the opposing party’s insurance, or the party being sued.

You can speak with a licensed Indianapolis accident attorney about your personal injury questions and concerns by simply scheduling a free initial consultation. They can listen to your story and assess whether or not you were an actual victim of tort. If they find that you or your loved one was wrongfully injured or killed as a result of another entity’s negligence, they will represent your claim. Many law firms do not collect upfront lawyer fees, and only do so if they recover full and fair compensation for their clients.

Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C.

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to speak with a licensed Indianapolis personal injury attorney regarding a recent tort or accident. Seasoned lawyer, Daniel Craven, and the panel of personal injury attorneys alongside him, are eager and waiting to recover the full and fair compensation you rightfully deserve after being negligently injured in an accident. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we settle your claim. Call 317-881-2700 for more information about filing a personal injury lawsuit in Indianapolis, Indiana, today.

On What Grounds Can a Personal Injury Victim Recover Compensation?

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Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

When a person is injured in an accident, and suffers serious injury or mental trauma, it is important to decide who is at fault for the incident. This is called comparative fault analysis and is widely used as a guide in personal injury cases. It is the report given by the jury, to the judge at the closing of a personal injury trial. Basically, if a victim or plaintiff is 49% (or less) at-fault, then they are most likely entitled to basic remuneration. If they plaintiff is 50% at-fault, or greater, then there is no chance for recovery.

An accident that causes a person serious injury or harm must be caused from another’s negligence or carelessness. This could be a person, company, or manufacturer. The most common negligent personal injury cases include drunk driving accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, assault, medical malpractice, product liability, motor vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, and sexual harassment. Continue reading to learn more about comparative fault analysis and additional stipulations that can make or break a victim’s personal injury lawsuit.

Personal Injury Lawsuits and Settlements

Comparative fault analysis simply describes the standard formula used to identify the negligent party involved in a personal injury accident. There are details that go into making these distinctions. For example, if a person was injured as a result of their own negligence, they will not be awarded compensation for their damages. This can happen if a person slips and falls in a grocery store, on a rainy day, even when there are “wet floor” signs placed throughout the premises. This person would not be considered a victim of a negligent accident. On the other hand, if it were a sunny day and no “Caution: Wet Floor” signs are posted even though there is a puddle or spill, the grocery store is accountable for that person’s damages if they are injured as a result of the wet spot.

Another example involves motor vehicle accidents. If a pedestrian, passenger, or driver is injured as a result of a drunk driver, they are considered victims using the comparative fault analysis formula; however, if a person was not obeying traffic signals or street signs, and is hit by another driver, they will most likely be held responsible for their own damages because they were the negligent party in the accident. All of these perspectives must be considered in order to properly determine which person is at-fault in a personal injury lawsuit. The same idea is applied for workplace accidents. If an employee is injured at work or while performing work-related duties, they are entitled to compensation for their damages; however, on the other hand if that employee was injured as a result of their own negligence (i.e. improper use of company equipment, not wearing proper safety gear, etc.), they are accountable for the incident.

Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call 317-881-2700 and speak with a knowledgeable and licensed personal injury attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana today. Attorneys Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, Keith Blazek, and their legal teams are highly accomplished accident lawyers with decades of personal injury litigation and trial experience. We offer free initial consultations to assess your case and determine if you are a victim of a negligent accident. Also, we never collect attorney fees unless we win your settlement and recover full and fair compensation for your damages. Call 317-881-2700 to learn more about personal
injury lawsuits in Indianapolis, IN.

Most Common Personal Injury Lawsuits

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Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Slip and Fall Lawyers 317-881-2700

Depending on the state and region in which you live, the most common types of personal injury cases will differ. Anytime a person is seriously injured by the negligence of another person or authority, they are most likely entitled to legal compensation for their damages. In this situation, one must consult and hire an attorney that concentrates on personal injury claims and lawsuits. When it comes to the Midwest, there are several personal injuries that are frequently experienced by the general public.

Continue reading to learn which personal injury cases are the most common in this part of the country, and who to call for accurate industry answers and assessments.

Personal Injuries and Accidents

We are familiar with certain accidents that happen quite often in our lives; from tripping and falling, to scraped knees, broken bones, twisted ankles, hurt backs, and more. But a true personal injury case stems from an injury that is serious. It is important to differentiate between a standard exemplary injured, like a minor burn or bump on the head, to a serious one. It is the severe and serious accidents that require legal follow-up and potential suit. Here are the most common personal injury cases seen today, in our part of the world:

• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Worker’s Compensation
• Wrongful Death
• Motor Vehicle Injuries
• Defective Products
• Pedestrian Injuries
• Head/Concussion Injuries
• Drunk Driving Accidents
• Dog Bites
• Assault and Battery
• Elder Abuse
• Sexual Crimes
• Orthopedic Injuries
• And More

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a serious accident recently, contact an Indianapolis Accident Lawyer as soon as possible. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and related damages. There is a statutes of limitations in most states that regulates and restricts the amount of time a victim, or the family of a victim, can legally pursue a lawsuit against a guilty or negligent party. This is why it is important to act fast, and retain proficient legal counsel right away.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Attorneys

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 and schedule a free initial consultation with licensed Indianapolis personal injury attorneys in Indiana today. Daniel Craven, and the team of licensed accident lawyers, are highly accomplished and proficient in personal injury law. We provide free initial consultations to assess your case and determine your eligibility for compensation with no obligation to you. And we never collect fees unless we prevail for you! Call 317-881-2700 for accurate and reliable guidance to filing a personal injury claim, today.