How to Obtain the Best Possible Outcome for Your Indiana Personal Injury Lawsuit

Posted on July 13, 2021 by admin

The Seasoned Litigators With Craven, Hoover, Blazek P.C. Will Recover the Maximum Settlement for You

If you or your loved one was recently involved in an accident here in Indiana, and as a result, has suffered serious injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for your past, current, and future damages. In order to obtain the best possible outcome for your case, it is vital that you choose a skilled and qualified Indiana personal injury law firm to recover the maximum settlement or verdict for you.

Who can you trust to obtain a successful ending to your Indiana accident claim? Like thousands of accident survivors before you, trust none other than the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, Blazek P.C. in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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Our Indiana Accident Lawyers Don’t Back Down to Insurance Companies

Let the expert Indianapolis personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, Blazek P.C. represent your accident claim after being seriously injured in an accident that was not your fault. Our experienced and knowledgeable accident lawyers know how to negotiate with insurance companies. In fact, our Indiana personal injury firm has a solid reputation for standing up to insurance companies, as well as various other opposing counsels, in order to recover the compensation our clients justly deserve.

We make sure that responsible parties are held accountable for our negligence and honor our responsibilities to our clients. Our legal teams work around the clock to secure all relevant documentation and records, such as police reports, medical charts, medical records, witness statements, and all existing evidence. We also secure expert testimonies and evaluations to back our case up with facts and more evidence. We will use every resource in our power to prove that you are owed compensation for medical expenses, hospital bills, lost wages, and much more.

We Will Get You and Your Family the Compensation You Rightfully Deserve

As proud members of The Trial Lawyers of America, the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, and several other notable administrations, you can trust that you are in the hands of top-choice professionals with a passion for helping victims of negligent accidents. Since the start of our practice in 1995, we have earned a strong reputation for providing aggressive, comprehensive, and quality legal advocacy for our clients.

At our firm, our legal teams will work hard to build a strong case based on the facts that substantiate your injuries and damages so that you and your family receive the maximum compensation deserved. If a settlement is not agreed upon, we will take the case to court and present it to a jury and judge. We believe that fair compensation should reflect the full extent of a client’s economic and personal loss. We will ensure your case is successful.

Ready to learn your eligibility for pursing legal action to recover compensation? Contact us directly at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free initial consultation with a licensed Indianapolis Indiana personal injury lawyer, today. We represent injured victims all throughout the state of Indiana.

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How Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Decide to Take a Case?

Posted on March 30, 2021 by admin

There are several factors that accident attorneys consider when they decide to take on a new client or not. If you are a recent accident victim who was seriously injured as a result of another’s negligence, you should learn your eligibility for pursing legal action against the at-fault party.

Continue below to review some of the basic factors that accident lawyers may consider when making the decision to take on a personal injury case.

Personal Injury Lawyers Do Deny Cases

Personal injury lawyers do not take on all cases that come to them. There are many reasons why that is, and ways you can help document your accident claim. The most common reasons why cases are denied is lack of merit, or because the time limit for filing a claim has run out. This time limit is known as statutes of limitations, and for personal injury claims, it is an average of 2 years.

Additional factors that might influence an attorney’s decision to take on an accident case or to work with another attorney on your case include:

> Lawyer’s Specialties – Sometimes, a personal injury lawyer specializes in certain types of accident cases. If your case does not fall within their realm of expertise, they may refer you to a lawyer who is more well-versed or experienced in the particular kind of accident you were involved in or they may work in conjunction with another attorney.

> Out of State Cases – People are sometimes involved in automobile collisions or slip and falls that occur outside the state they live in. When this occurs, a law firm will sometimes hire a local law firm where the incident occurred since that is the law that would apply to the case and where any lawsuit would need to be filed, if necessary. The law firm in the state where the injured persons resides would usually handle obtaining all the medical bills and records since that is where any treatment would occur. In these situations, the law firms split any attorney fees on the case since they are splitting the work and in any event, the client is only charged one fee and is not charged any more because two law firms are necessary.

> Hard-to-Win Cases – Some cases pose too many challenges, making them too hard to win. Examples include cases in which the victim is probably more than 50% at-fault, failed to get proper medical treatment and/or has demonstrated actions or circumstances that question their credibility.

> Case Size and Load – In some instances, some cases are really big and complicated and the law firm does not retain the adequate resources and capital to obtain a successful outcome. In these situations, the attorney can work in conjunction with another law firm that does have more resources and capital to obtain a full and fair settlement or judgment for a client.

Tips for Supporting the Strength of Your Accident Claim:

☑ Seek Medical Treatment and Follow All Doctors’ Orders as Much as Possible

☑ Keep All Possible Evidence (Documentation, Paperwork, Photos, Video, Witness Info, etc.)

☑ Meet With an Experienced Accident Lawyer

☑ Be 100% Honest With the Accident Lawyer

☑ Let Your Personal Injury Lawyer Take the Lead on Your Case

Are you ready to meet with a seasoned personal injury attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana? Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free case evaluation, today! We represent injured victims all throughout the state of Indiana. We also represent persons who live in Indiana but their injury occurred in another state.

You Should Also Read:

How Can I Tell Whether or Not I Have an Injury Case?
How a Personal Injury Evaluation Can Help You
How to Make a Personal Injury Claim in Indiana

How to Find a Good Personal Injury Attorney

Posted on March 26, 2021 by admin

Many believe a phone directory and a number is all they need when it comes to finding a reliable personal injury attorney. This is far from the truth; in fact, there are several credentials and amenities to look for in an accident lawyer. It is important to hire a lawyer that can assertively represent you and your case to recover the full and fair compensation for your damages.

Continue reading to learn what to look for when retaining a personal injury lawyer following a serious accident that caused you harm or damages.

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It is Vital to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Accident Claim

When searching for an accident lawyer, it is important to know what to look for in a law firm. Below are the most significant credentials and amenities that should be present in any personal injury law firm and within their legal teams.

Licenses and Certifications

A reputable law firm retains valid licensing, as well as the injury attorneys that work for the law firm. It is vital that you use an accident attorney that is actually licensed by the state and has passed the state bar exam. Some people claim to “practice law” because they have taken and passed the Bar but a lawyer cannot practice law unless they are specifically licensed to do so. You are consulting a reputable lawyer if they are properly and legally licensed to practice law. Be sure they are well-versed in personal injury cases as well. You do not want to retain a general civil lawyer to represent your accident claim; instead, you should hire an accident attorney that specializes in personal injury law.

Experience and Achievements

Be sure to look for an accident attorney that is extensively experienced in personal injury litigation and retains ample trial experience as well. Look for recent accomplishments, awards, diplomas, honors, and cases-won in order to grasp a better understanding of their commitment to their industry and the reputation of their law firm. A well-respected and highly accomplished law firm is a good start to obtaining proficient legal representation following a serious injury or accident.

Additional Amenities

Most personal injury law firms offer free initial consultations for clients that believe they were hurt negligently. This allows potential clients to have their case examined by a licensed personal injury lawyer without any obligation to pay legal fees. If a personal injury lawyer believes they do have a strong case, they will represent the client. Another common convenience for clients of personal injury law firms is not having to pay any upfront legal fees.

Most law firms will represent a client for free, and only collect attorney fees if they recover compensation. This puts clientele in a no-risk zone. They can pursue a lawsuit with competent legal representation, without any obligation to pay unless they win a monetary settlement. Obviously this is beneficial to the client as they have medical bills, property damages and lost wages they are trying to deal with right when they need legal representation the most.

If you are looking for a qualified personal injury lawyer who will not back down to stubborn insurance companies, you are in the right place. Contact the accident attorneys at Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. to schedule a free consultation with a seasoned accident attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana. Meetings can be conducted over the phone, via online video conference, or in person at our office. Just call 317-881-2700 to get started today. We represent injured persons throughout the State of Indiana.

You Should Also Read:

Your First Steps in an Accident Claim
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How Can I Tell Whether or Not I Have an Injury Case?

How Social Media Posts Can Reduce Your Accident Lawsuit Settlement

Posted on March 4, 2021 by admin

If you are an injured victim preparing to file a lawsuit for damages against the party who caused your accident or getting ready to file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company, beware what you post on social media. Whether you are tweeting, Facebooking, Instagramming, or posting on any other social media forum, what you post can and will affect the overall value of your claim, and ultimately, the settlement you are awarded by the jury.

Continue below to learn of an example of how social media posts can reduce accident lawsuit settlements, as well as how to ensure you recover the full and fair settlement for your damages and losses as a wrongfully injured victim in Indiana.

Don’t Make Social Media Mistakes After an Accident

Be Careful What You Post After Being Injured in an Accident

Defense attorneys and defense adjusters will review you social media accounts. They will use what you post on these accounts in an attempt to diminish your claim for damages, usually by arguing and stretching the truth as to what the posts or photos allegedly show. You are better off not posting anything so this does not occur.

The Fundamentals of a Personal Injury Lawsuit

In a car accident personal injury lawsuit, the injured party holds the burden of proof to a more likely than not standard. At trial, it is up to the plaintiff to prove the extent and severity of their damages and losses, while it is the job of the defense to prove that the plaintiff’s damages are not as bad as they claim them to be. This tug of war fueled by evidence is an important part of the trial because whoever has the strongest evidence will prevail.

Are you looking for a skilled personal injury law firm in Indianapolis, Indiana to represent your accident claim? Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free case evaluation, today! We represent injured persons and wrongful death claims throughout the state of Indiana.

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Tips for Your First Meeting With a Personal Injury Lawyer

Posted on February 26, 2021 by admin

As an injured victim, you have already been through enough stress and suffering. But when it comes to meeting with your personal injury lawyer for the first consultation, you should not feel any anxiety or confusion whatsoever. To help ease your nervousness, continue below for advice on how to prepare for and what to expect at your initial case evaluation with your personal injury attorney.

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Before You Meet With Your Lawyer

The initial meeting with your personal injury lawyer is a case evaluation. For this reason, most accident law firms do not charge for a consultation. Our law firm certainly does not. Your primary responsibility for preparing for your initial meeting is to gather all evidence you have access to regarding your accident, injuries, and losses. This includes pictures, video, witness statements, police reports, medical records, hospital bills, medical treatment bills, receipts, letters and contact data from the insurance companies involved, and similar documents that support your case. If you have these items you should bring them with you to your initial meeting. If you do not have these items, and you certainly will not have all your medical bills and medical records as you will still be treating for your injuries, just bring what you do have and your attorney will obtain all the necessary items for your case.

Write down any questions you have for your lawyer to help you remember important points you wish to address regarding your accident claim at the initial meeting.

Arriving For Your Meeting

Be sure to do your best to arrive on time. If you are scheduled for a video conference or over-the-phone meeting, be sure you are properly equipped and ready to begin the meeting at the scheduled time. Personal injury lawyers work very hard on their cases because they believe in obtaining justice for their wrongfully injured clients. Although they do not charge you hourly, it is important to respect their time for this reason. If you are running late or cannot make it to your meeting, please call the office to let them know. You can simply reschedule at a later date. Your attorney should also respect your time and if they have an emergency, running late or cannot make it to your meeting, they should contact you to keep you apprised of any emergencies and the need to reschedule. Mutual respect for one another is the key.

What Happens in the Meeting

During the meeting, the main focus will be to learn as much as possible about your accident and subsequent injuries. The lawyer will review any compensable damages and losses, and educate you on your options for pursuing legal action against the negligent party who caused your accident. During this meeting, you too will have a chance to get to know the lawyer, and ask them questions about their credentials, case history, experience with your particular kind of injury, and so on. The key here is to be honest with your lawyer no matter what you are discussing. Remember, you are protected by the attorney-client privilege, so there is nothing to worry about when disclosing facts about your accident and overall case. This attorney-client privilege even applies if for some reason the attorney decides not to take your case on so it vitally important to be 100% honest with everything.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers Who Will Fight For Your Accident Claim Settlement

Call the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our seasoned personal injury lawyers in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attorneys Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek have multiple decades of trial and litigation experience in various types of injury cases in Indiana, and if we take your case, you do not pay lawyer fees unless we recover compensation for you! Contact us soon, before evidence is lost and time runs out for you to make your claim. It is always best to call our firm as soon as you can after you get home from the hospital so we can start obtaining the necessary evidence to prove your case for you.

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Is There Still Time to File My Indiana Personal Injury Claim?

Posted on January 26, 2021 by admin

When a person is injured in an accident, they don’t always know it right away. Evidence of injury can appear weeks and even months after an actual accident took place. Car accidents are a very common example of this onset of injury phenomenon, as victims often feel sore, or begin experiencing certain damages and losses due to their involvement in the accident later, rather than at the moment or right after the event.

If you were in an accident that was not your fault, and you are just now experiencing pain or any other types of damages as a result, it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible. Like many other personal injury victims in the past, you might be wondering whether or not there is still time left to pursue legal action against a wrongful party and recover compensation for your damages.

Continue reading for information about time limitations for personal injury accident claims in Indiana, and how to learn your current legal options at this point following your accident.

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General Time Limitations for Accident Claims

Every state has set time limits for filing tort lawsuits called statutes of limitations. The amount of time you have to legally file a claim against a negligent party depends on the statute of limitations in your state of residence. For instance, here in Indiana, the time limit for personal injury lawsuits is 2 years (Title 34, Art. 11, Ch. 2, Sec. 34-11-2-4) from the original date of the accident. If your accident took place within the last 2 years, you may still be eligible to potentially file a claim to obtain compensation for your damages and losses. You must speak with an Indiana personal injury lawyer to learn your case’s strength and viability to be sure.

Suing a Government Entity is Different

If you intend to sue a government agency, there are a completely separate set of limitations. In most cases, you cannot sue a government agency without first filing an administrative claim with the city in which your injuries occurred, and often times, a person has as little as 90 days to file this claim, and perhaps less depending on the state where the injury occured. It is common for these claims to be denied too, and when you receive your denial letter, it will usually have information in it describing how long you have to file a lawsuit in court. Here in Indiana, claimants have 180 days to file a claim against a city or county, and 270 days to file against a government agency.

Extending the Indiana Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

If your time runs out on your claim in Indiana, you forfeit your right to file a claim for compensation. There are exceptions in which accident victims can request to extend the statute of limitations filing deadline, but it is rare for a judge to permit such extensions unless the victim is a minor or mentally incapacitated, or if the defendant left the state after the accident. If you are hurt in an accident that was not your fault, whether you are aware of your injuries instantly, or long after the event, the best time to begin your personal injury claim is directly after receiving medical treatment. Contact an experienced team of accident attorneys in Indiana to learn your next steps in the personal injury claim process.

Call 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.

To protect your rights, trust our Indianapolis personal injury law office to navigate your personal injury claim and recover the maximum compensation you deserve. Our seasoned accident lawyers represent all types of personal injury cases in Indiana, from car and truck accidents to workplace accidents, brain injuries, child injuries, orthopedic injuries, and many more. Schedule a free initial case evaluation as soon as possible, before your deadline to file passes by in Indiana and to start obtaining the evidence for your case before it disappears. Best of all, the law office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. does not require any upfront lawyer fees, and only bill you if we obtain a settlement or verdict for you.

How to Recover Lost Wages After Suffering a Personal Injury in Indiana

Posted on January 12, 2021 by admin

Suffering a personal injury as a result of another’s negligence or recklessness is an egregious injustice, which is why the law provides economic, and non-economic, relief for those who have valid accident claims. If you are a recent personal injury victim, you will likely suffer certain financial losses, or economic damages, most certainly, lost wages from missing time at work. Often times, loss of a paycheck is one of the most impactful damages suffered by both accident victims and their immediate household families. Fortunately, there is way to ensure you recover damages for lost wages, and all other damages suffered, financially or otherwise, after being injured by a careless person, business, or manufacturer.

Continue reading to learn how to recover lost wages after suffering a personal injury, including who to choose for superior accident claim representation in Indiana.

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Choose the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. in Indiana

Here at the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C., our personal injury lawyers have extensive trial and litigation experience, and serve clients in Indianapolis, and all throughout the state of Indiana. Whether you were injured at work and require assistance with a workers’ compensation lawsuit, or you have recently been confined to a wheelchair after a T-bone car accident, the seasoned attorneys at Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. can recover the maximum settlement you deserve!

How to Get Started With an Indianapolis Accident Claim

The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. was founded on the creed that all personal injury victims deserve justice no matter their income or social class and no matter the size of the case. For this reason, we provide all first consultations and case evaluations for free, which means you pay nothing out of pocket to simply learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of your case and the best course of action for your claim. Even better, our legal teams work on contingency, so if we do not recover a settlement or verdict for you, you do not pay us any lawyer fees. With no upfront costs to you, there is no reason not speak with our skilled personal injury attorneys about your rights to financial recovery in Indianapolis, Indiana.

What You Need to Know as a Personal Injury Victim

As soon as you are in an accident or injured, it is vital to seek emergency medical treatment as soon as possible, and get all of your doctor’s visits, orders, and treatment documented and kept in a safe place. You will need all of this documentation for your accident claim. While you are receiving your medical treatment, it is important to contact one of our accident lawyers at the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free case evaluation, which can be done over the phone, via Skype or Facetime, through email, in-person at our Indianapolis office, or at the hospital where you are being treated. We make it simple for our clients to obtain the full and fair compensation they deserve after experiencing the pain, suffering, and financial impact of being a victim of another’s negligence.

We have successfully recovered a wide range of both economic and non-economic damages for personal injury clients over the past several decades of our practice. One of the most straightforward losses to recover through an accident claim are lost wages from time missed at work while recovering from your accident. In addition to lost wages, we can also fight for your right to compensation for hospital bills, medical expenses, fuel costs from traveling to and from treatment, pain, suffering, mental anguish, disability (temporary, total temporary, partial, and permanent total), and much more.

Start on Your Path Toward Financial Justice Today

Contact us at 317-881-2700 to schedule your free consultation to learn if your Indianapolis Indiana personal injury claim merits civil legal action. We serve clients all throughout Indiana, and do not collect attorney fees unless we prevail for you. Get started today, before the statute of limitations runs out on your claim!

The General Stages of a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Posted on December 23, 2020 by admin

Most personal injury claims do not end up in court. However, when a personal injury claim does turn into a lawsuit, the legal climate changes. Although not all personal injury lawsuits are alike, once the courts are involved, most tend to take on the same succession of steps. Whether you are preparing to enter into personal injury lawsuit, or you are a recent victim of a personal injury and wish to move forward with an accident claim, it would be wise for you to familiarize yourself with what might take place. Continue reading to learn the general stages of a personal injury lawsuit, and how to get started on your accident claim in Indiana.

When a Personal Injury Claim Goes to Trial

Even though personal injury lawsuits are all different, when they end up in trial, they usually have the same litigation milestones. These milestones lay the foundation of what you can expect the general succession of steps in a personal injury lawsuit to look like. If you have already decided to file a personal injury lawsuit, you have hopefully already hired professional legal representation from a law firm who specializes in personal injury law.

This is the first stage of the process.

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Stage 1

The first step to addressing any legal matter is to retain qualified legal representation. However, you do not want to hire just any attorney. It is vital that you seek legal assistance from a law firm that specializes in the type of claim you need to file. In this case, you would hire an Indiana personal injury lawyer. Most personal injury law firms provide free initial case evaluations for you to learn your legal rights to being compensated for your damages and losses.

Additionally, most personal injury attorneys work on contingency, meaning they do not collect any lawyer fees unless they recover settlement or verdict for you. If they are unsuccessful at obtaining a settlement for you, there is no obligation to pay them for their services. Be sure to also choose a law firm that has extensive trial and litigation experience.

Stage 2

The next stage of a personal injury lawsuit mostly involves your hired legal team. To determine if you have a valid case, your personal injury lawyer will likely begin an exploratory investigation, starting with a liability investigation and confirming the adequacy of the opposing party’s insurance coverage. Sometimes, this step is done prior to making the client-attorney relationship official.

In the event that your accident lawyer believes your case is valid, they will move forward by filing a personal injury complaint against the defendant in the appropriate civil court. This personal injury complaint is the very first official document of an accident lawsuit. From this time, your personal injury lawyer will have to locate and serve the defendant a copy of the complaint.

Stage 3

After a defendant is served a lawsuit, the defendant will provide a copy of the lawsuit to their insurance carrier and the insurance carrier will hire a defense attorney for the defendant to answer the complaint and defend the case. Under any insurance policy a defendant has with their insurance company, the insurance company chooses the defense attorney and the insurance company pays the defense attorney.

Stage 4

At this stage of the personal injury lawsuit process, the lawyers hired to represent both parties will begin the pretrial process. This is known as discovery, and involves several steps in itself. During this time, both lawyers will exchange all evidence with one another, including witness information. They will also go before the proceeding judge to let them know how the case is proceeding. Also in the presence of the judge, they will decide on all deadlines for filings in the case, a mediation deadline, a final pre-trial conference date and a trial date.

As the discovery stage continues, both lawyers will also schedule depositions and other necessary interviews and statements. This stage of the personal injury lawsuit process can take several months and involve a few court appearances. The amount of time it takes to complete the pretrial stage will depends on various factors, such as the current traffic of the court, the amount of investigation required, court delays, rescheduled court dates, and so forth.

The Final Stage is Trial

The last stage of the personal injury lawsuit process is the actual trial, which can last for several days. The judge will be the ultimate decider, unless it is a jury trial, in which a jury will decide who is at fault for the accident and which damages the plaintiff is entitled to. Most personal injury cases are jury trials. After the trial, either side can choose to file an appeal. Once all appeals are extinguished, the defendant [ie. defendant’s insurance company] must pay the plaintiff their verdict if they received one.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers That Will Fight For Your Rights

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 if you need an experienced personal injury lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our seasoned personal injury lawyers are ready and able to recover the full and fair amount of compensation you deserve after being seriously injured by another’s negligence. You should recover for damages and losses, including medical expenses, hospital bills, pain, suffering, lost wages, and more if the damages were caused by another person’s negligence. We represent injured persons throughout the State of Indiana. Get started with a free consultation, today.

How to Interview a Personal Injury Lawyer

Posted on September 25, 2020 by admin

After being injured in an accident that was not your fault, you have a right to claim your damages through a personal injury claim. In order to get the maximum settlement or verdict for your case, it is vital to retain the services of a licensed accident attorney; but not just any accident attorney, as there are thousands to choose from just in Indiana alone. You must choose an experienced and qualified lawyer to represent you in your personal injury claim. How do you know you have found the right accident lawyer to work with? You will have to meet or speak with them, and decide for yourself if they are a good fit.

Continue below to learn what you should be asking personal injury lawyers when you are interviewing them as a potential legal representative your Indiana accident claim.

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Questions to Ask Your Accident Attorney

Have You Represented Cases in Civil Court?

All personal injury lawyers have seen the court room during their career, but you want to choose a lawyer who is familiar with the civil courthouses throughout the State you are filing your claim in. Our law firm has represented injured persons throughout the State of Indiana.

Have You Represented Cases Like Mine Before?

Choose a personal injury lawyer who is well-versed in the particular type of injury or accident you have suffered. For instance, if you were seriously injured in a car accident, you will want to find a personal injury lawyer who specializes in car accident claims and has represented such cases before with successful outcomes. Our law firm has represented thousands of injured persons successfully throughout the State of Indiana.

Do You Take a Lot of Cases to Court?

Most personal injury lawyers can settle the cases they work on out of court, without ever going to trial. However, they should always be ready and willing to take the case to a jury if the insurance company won’t deliver a fair settlement offer. Ask your potential accident attorney how often their cases go to court to gain an idea of their hands-on trial experience.

Do Other Lawyers Work on Your Cases Too?

Some personal injury lawyers work as a team within a law firm. Not only is it quite common for more than one lawyer to handle a personal injury case, it is an advantage to have multiple astute minds working on a client’s financial recovery. Furthermore, it is easier to get in touch with a legal professional during the claim process when you have questions.

How Much Do You Charge in Lawyer Fees?

Most personal injury law firms work on contingency, which means clients do not owe any fees unless the lawyers obtain a settlement or verdict for them. There are no upfront lawyer fees, hourly billing, or retainers. So, you should ask your potential lawyer if they too work on contingency, and if so, how much they deduct from your settlement for attorney fees if they are successful with your case.

How Soon Can You Start on My Claim?

Personal injury lawyers know that claims are limited in time with the state’s statute of limitations. So, most often, they will get started on your case the same day, or at least very soon after you agree to hire them.

How to Get Started on Your Indianapolis Personal Injury Accident Claim

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to speak with an Indianapolis personal injury lawyer who can help you gain control of your life and who will take some of the stress off of you after suffering serious injuries or damages at the hands of another. We offer free initial consultations and never collect fees attorney fees unless we recover for you. We represent injured persons throughout the State of Indiana.

Will I Be Compensated for PTO and Sick Days in My Personal Injury Claim?

Posted on July 10, 2020 by admin

After being injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be forced to miss work as your recover. In fact, you may be forced to use your Personal Time Off (PTO) or accrued sick days to maintain your employment while also maintain a stream of income during your recovery. Is this fair, though? Many personal injury victims want to know if they can include their lost wages, as well as their PTO, as part of their claim.

Continue reading to learn the answer, as well as, some important information about collecting general damages in a personal injury lawsuit.

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Whether you are taking days of from work for rest, doctor’s appointments, or medical treatments and therapies, the law says you can include PTO and sick days into your personal injury claim. In fact, victims are likely to be compensated for such losses, including lost wages and income, PTO, sick days. To understand just how victims might be eligible for receiving compensation for their lost wages and personal time off, it helps to understand economic damages. You see, in a personal injury claim, the losses suffered by the claimant are referred to as “damages”, which can be either economic or non-economic.

Economic Damages

Economic damages, also known as special damages, are financial losses that can be calculated. Losses that can be defined by an actual dollar amount and redeemed through financial compensation include hospital bills (i.e. hospitalization, ambulance transport, anesthesia, emergency room services, surgeries, doctor care, x-rays, MRI’s, etc.), medical expenses (i.e. physical therapy, medical equipment, medication, etc.) lost wages from time off work, property damages, lost benefits from spouses death (i.e. insurance, veterans benefits, etc.), in-home nurse, and anything else that was a direct financial loss to the victim or their family.

In contrast, non-economic damages are more difficult to assign a dollar amount to because they are not tangible monetary losses. Examples of non-economic losses include pain and suffering, mental anguish or illness (i.e. depression, anxiety, etc.), loss of companionship (i.e., wrongful death, brain damage to a loved one, paralysis of a loved one that changes or limits the relationship, etc.), long-term medical care or medication dependencies, diminished quality of life, permanent disabilities, loss of ability to work, and more.

PTO Compensation

Since Personal Time Off is an exact number, it can be calculated, and therefore, categorized as an economic damage. This means that personal injury victims can include PTO, as well as all other types of lost wages, as part of their accident claim. If you had to use your personal time off to recover from a personal injury, you were forced to take a loss that you didn’t intend on taking, making you eligible for such compensation. Your only duty is to ensure that you can prove it through valid documentation, including doctor’s orders, statements from your employer, medical appointments, and more.

Talk to a Trusted Indiana Personal Injury Attorney for Advice Regarding Your Accident Claim

Call the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to make a personal injury or wrongful death claim in Indiana. Our seasoned Indianapolis personal injury attorneys maintain a concentrated focus on accident and injury law, and have extensive trial and litigation experience with a written track record of success. Not only do we offer free initial consultations, we never collect lawyer fees unless we recover a settlement or judgment for you. Get started by scheduling your consultation, today.