The Most Common Reasons Why Semi Truck Accidents Happen

Trucking companies are obligated by law to obey strict regulations and safety procedures to ensure the safety of their drivers and all other drivers on the road. Learn what happens after a trucking accident and who to turn to for help if injured by a truck driver on the road.

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Indiana Truck Accident Attorneys 317-881-2700

Causes and Effects of Semi-Truck Accidents

The most common causes for truck accidents involves driver-error. One of the most frequent mistakes trucking companies make is setting unrealistic or arduous deadlines, causing truck driver fatigue. This can lead to accidents on the road because a sleepy driver cannot possibly remain alert enough to operate a 5 ton truck safely. Another cause for truck driver accidents involves improper training.

When a trucking company fails to properly train their truck drivers through a professional trucking course, it can lead to dangerous driver errors on the road, and put other drivers in danger as well. More causes of trucking accidents include speeding, distracted driving (i.e. eating, phone calls, text messages, etc.), inadequate truck inspections, unbalanced cargo, overloaded cargo, and lack of safety maintenance.

Trucking Company Tactics After an Accidents

When an innocent driver or pedestrian is injured by a truck driver on the road, there are certain actions that will take place immediately. These pieces of information are important to know if ever involved in such an accident. First, the trucking company will immediately send their attorneys, investigators, and insurance adjusters to the scene of the accident if possible or to you as soon as they can. They do this to collect statements, persuade you to not hire a lawyer, and to minimize your claim. Afterwards, trucking companies, or their insurance adjusters, will try to delay the claim as long as possible in hopes that the claimant becomes frustrated and gives up.

This is why it is vital to hire an Indiana personal injury attorney if you are ever hurt in a motor vehicle accident. Your personal injury lawyers will investigate and collect evidence: such as pictures, black box information, and more. They use this collection of evidence and information to reconstruct the accident to show what took place. They will further investigate by obtaining maintenance records on the truck, truck driver driving history, and more. They remain aggressive against adjusters trying to minimize your claim!

Indiana Large Truck Accident Lawyers Who Will Fight for a Full Settlement

Call the experienced personal injury lawyers of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 if you or your loved one was recently injured in a large truck or semitruck accident in Indiana, call our licensed personal injury attorneys right away. There are statute of limitations in Indiana that regulate the amount of time a victim has to legally pursue compensation for a serious injury. When you need strong and successful legal representation following a serious car, large truck or semi accident, we are the trusted personal injury lawyers you need. Schedule a free initial consultation, today.

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What are Common Damages in a Personal Injury Claim?

Accidents can happen at any time, and on a wide scope of severity. At times, accidents happen because of a person’s negligence, which can lead to a personal injury claim. Common examples of personal injury cases include motor vehicle collisions, slip and falls, workplace injuries, dog bites, medical malpractice, product defects, and assault.

When someone is seriously injured in an accident due to another’s negligence, they may be entitled to certain compensation for their damages and losses incurred as a result of the accident and subsequent injuries. Damages and losses differ from case to case depending on several factors, such as the extent of injuries, the extent of negligence, and the unique circumstances of the accident.

Continue reading to learn more about common personal injury damages, and how to get started on your accident claim today.

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Common Types of Losses

Personal injury claims generally recognize and consider three types of losses, referred to as “compensatory damages.” These include economic losses, future economic losses, and non-economic losses. Types of economic losses may include medical expenses, hospital bills, over-the-counter medication costs, prescription costs, lost wages, time off work, childcare expenses, home adaption expenses, fuel costs (to and from doctors’ visits), and similar expenditures.

Types of future economic losses may include prolonged medical treatment, physical therapy, long-term care, future medical expenses, future prescription costs, future hospital costs, and more. Types of non-economic losses may include pain and suffering, permanent disability, permanent disfigurement, mental anguish, PSTD, loss of social life, loss of work abilities, loss of companionship, loss of education experience, and more.

Medical Expenses

After being seriously injured in an accident, a person will require medical attention; and unfortunately, medical care is not free. Medical bill coverage is a big part of the financial recovery in a personal injury case. Services like ambulance rides, surgeries, doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, medical treatments, medicine, MRI’s, x-rays, CT scans, follow up care, and more, all cost a lot of money, even with health coverage. The total cost of a victim’s medical expenses varies from case to case, and depend largely on the extent and needs of their injuries. For more serious injuries, medical expenses can be ongoing for the remainder of a victim’s life, so future medical costs must be considered in a personal injury claim as well.

Lost Income and Additional Losses

When a person is seriously injured in an accident, they are unable to work, which means they lose out on the wages that generally pay for their cost of living. Rent, mortgages, car payments, electric bills, groceries, and more, are all common bills that must be paid to maintain the quality of life a victim had before the accident. If they are unable to work, they are losing money that usually pays these expenses and more. These types of losses may be recoverable in a personal injury case.

Additional monetary losses that may result from a serious injury include vehicle damages, funeral costs, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, loss of work abilities, long-term emotional trauma, PTSD, and more.

Where to Get Trusted Legal Advice Regarding Your Indianapolis Personal Injury Claim

Call the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to make a personal injury claim in Indianapolis. Licensed accident attorneys, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek are ready to pursue your case and obtain a full and fair settlement for your losses. We offer free initial consultations and represent injured persons throughout the State of Indiana.

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Halloween Liability and Safety Tips for Adults

Both children and adults look forward to this time of year; and why wouldn’t they? Between the Fall festivals, candy corn, warm apple cider, pumpkin carving, and of course, Halloween, there is so much to be excited about! Halloween is a fall holiday that is equally anticipated by children, teens, and adults alike. But the fun stops when someone gets hurt. In fact, it is common to focus on child safety during the Halloween season, but the truth is, there are several risks for adults who celebrate the holiday too. For this reason, it is important to review some Halloween liability and safety tips for your own protection.

Continue reading to catch up on some important safety tips for all Halloween activities.

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Indiana Accident Attorneys 317-881-2700

Safety Advice for Adults Who Celebrate Halloween

Whether trick-or-treating, handing out candy, attending a party, or hosting one yourself, there are several crucial reminders and safety tips to read through before all your awaited festivities begin. Preventative maintenance of your property and other precautions are the best strategies against sustaining injuries, or your insurance company being held legally responsible for someone else’s injuries.

Here are the top Halloween liability reminders you should know as an adult who is planning to celebrate this year:

† 🎃 Don’t Drink and Drive. The money you will spend on DUI fines, court fees, and additional related penalties will by far exceed the money you would spend on an Uber. Also, intoxicated driving is dangerous, and can put others in harm’s way. Don’t risk injuring or killing another as a result of a drunk driving accident. It’s NEVER worth it!

🎃 Hosting a Party Comes With Certain Liability. If someone is injured in your house, you can be held liable for their injuries and subsequent damages and your insurance carrier will have to pay any verdict or settlement on your behalf. Even if you are not hosting a party, if anyone is hurt on your property, you can be legally responsible and your insurance carrier will have to pay any verdict or settlement on your behalf.  Make sure you keep your home owner’s insurance up to date This includes over-serving your guests alcohol and/or letting them drive home.

† 🎃 Alcohol Increases Liability. If you are serving alcohol to guests, whether at an off-site venue or your own residence, you can be taking on legal liability. If anyone is harmed as a result of the alcohol you serve, such as alcohol poisoning or drunk driving accidents, you and your insurance company can possibly be held legally responsible for all the subsequent damages and losses suffering by all victims involved. There could also be criminal liability in such situations too, especially in the cases of minors being served alcohol.

† 🎃 Businesses Can Be Held Liable Too. Virtually all states in our country have Dram Shop laws in place that impose legal liability onto owners of bars, restaurants, liquor stores, and any other establishments that sell alcoholic beverages and products to minors or intoxicated customers. For instance, if a bar or restaurant over-serves a visibly-intoxicated patron, and then that patron suffers harm (or causes harm to another) as a result of over-drinking, the business can be held legally responsible for all damages, and possibly even have their liquor license revoked. The at-fault party’s insurance carrier would, in most circumstances, pay any verdict or settlement.

What to Do if You are Harmed in a Negligent Halloween Accident This Year

If you are seriously injured this Halloween season, whether as a result of a negligent party host, property owner, or candy manufacturer, contact our licensed Indianapolis personal injury law firm as soon as possible before the statute of limitations runs out on your claim. We can protect your rights and recover the maximum settlement or verdict for your damages and losses.

Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C.

An Indiana Personal Injury Law Firm That Wants the Best for You

Contact us today at 317-881-2700 to learn more about making an accident claim after being injured by a negligent party this holiday season. Attorneys, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek are accident lawyers with extensive trial and litigation experience in several practice areas of tort law. Not only do we offer free initial case evaluations, we never collect lawyer fees unless we obtain a settlement or judgment for you. We represent injured workers all throughout the State of Indiana, so get started with a free consultation, today.

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What to Do if Your Child Was Injured by a Polaris Vehicle in Indiana

Polaris vehicles have been gaining popularity among children and teenagers over the past several years. With their off-roading, side-by-side designs, it is no wonder that minors have taken so quickly to these recreational all-terrain vehicles (ATV’s). Taking notice, Polaris exclusively marketed certain models, specifically a youth sport side-by-side, to children, describing a thrilling and fun experience for ages 10 and up.

But unfortunately, there have been some serious accidents involving Polaris off-road vehicles; accidents that have resulted in severe injuries and fatalities to kids in particular. You would think that these children’s accidents were caused by operator negligence in some way, but that is not necessarily so. Some of these accidents were caused by a manufacturer defect in Polaris vehicles. As a response, certain models of Polaris have been officially recalled.

If your child was injured as a result of a recalled Polaris vehicle, your next step is to retain professional counsel, and learn your rights to pursuing legal action against the manufacturer. Continue reading to learn which models of Polaris vehicles have been recalled, what types of accident they are causing, and how to contact a personal injury law firm to get started on your Polaris lawsuit in Indiana.

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Polaris Vehicle Recalls

Polaris has manufactured numerous models of ATV’s and recreational vehicles. But between the years of 2008 and 2018, the company had to recall hundreds of thousands of off-road recreational vehicles because they were defective. Not only were they discovered to have crash hazards, they were also major fire hazards.

The 2015 and 2017 Youth RZR 170 were two of the primary models of Polaris vehicles to have these fire and crash manufacturer defects. A faulty fuel pump ring on the 2015 model caused leakage issues, which resulted in many fires and explosions. The 2017 model also caused fatal fires and explosions due to a cracked fuel tank, faulty wiring that was prone to overheating or short-circuiting.  And these are not all. Many more youth-marketed models have been recalled for defects that caused serious collisions and crashes.

Not sure if your child has a recalled model? REVIEW THIS LIST OF POLARIS RECALLS

Polaris Accident Claims for Injured Children

Although Polaris equipped their youth vehicles with parental speed controls and safety kits, they were not comprehensive enough when it came to providing children full protection. For this reason, they could be found negligent, and any child who has suffered serious injuries as a result of a Polaris accident needs justice.

How to Make a Polaris Accident Claim in Indiana

If you or your child is a victim of a recalled Polaris accident in Indiana, contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 as soon as possible. Our seasoned personal injury attorneys handle both product liability and child injury lawsuits, and offer free case evaluations to hear your accident case. If you have a valid claim, we begin working on your case immediately without requiring any upfront lawyer fees. We have a zero pay guarantee, which means you pay us nothing until we recover a settlement or verdict for you. We serve clients in Indianapolis and throughout the state of Indiana.

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Statute of Limitations for Common Personal Injury Claims

When an accident happens as a result of another person or entity’s negligence, injured victims typically wish to pursue a claim against the negligent party in attempt to recover compensation for their damages. This is referred to as a personal injury lawsuit. One of the most important steps to pursuing an accident claim is taking immediate action and hiring a personal injury lawyer. Although there are many reasons why retaining professional legal counsel is so vital to the outcome of your case, one reason has to do with the amount of time Indiana allows personal injury victims to make claims against negligent parties.

Continue reading to learn the statute of limitations for some of the most common personal injury claims filed in Indiana, as well as, where to get professional personal injury representation you can trust.

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Indiana Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Legal Time Limits for Accident Claims

In all cases of filing a civil claim against another person or entity, there is a legal time limit to do so. The statute of limitations are the laws that set these time limits; either for a state to prosecute a person for a crime, or for a person to file a claim against another person or corporation. These time limits differ from state to state and from case to case.

The statute of limitations generally begins the day and time of an accident or crime, and once the time limit has expired, so have the chances of prosecuting or pursuing a claim. For example, if a person commits a crime as a young adult, the state cannot prosecute them for the crime of the statute of limitations has run out. The same applies for a personal injury claim.

Civil Statute of Limitations

In Indiana, you can find details regarding civil statute of limitations in Title 34, Article 11, Chapter 2 of the Indiana Code book. Below are some common injury and accident cases, as well as the legal time limits assigned to each.

✢ Personal Injury Claim = 2 Years

✢ Medical Malpractice = 2 Years

✢ Product Liability = 2 Years

✢ Assault and Battery = 2 Years

✢ Wrongful Death = 2 Years

✢ Libel = 2 Years

✢ Defamation of Character = 2 Years

✢ Slander = 2 Years

Take note that criminal statutes of limitations are generally longer, as much as five years or more, depending on the crime and state. Most personal injury claims retain a statute of limitations equally out to two years or less, depending on the variables of the case. If you need information regarding Indiana statute of limitations, or wish to learn more about filing an accident claim for a recent personal injury, contact a licensed accident lawyer for effective legal counsel.

In addition, some states, like Indiana, require what is called a torts claim notice to be sent to the at-fault party if the at-fault party is a governmental entity as a prerequisite to bringing a claim against the governmental entity.  Depending on the governmental entity, some of these time limits are set at 150 days so obtaining an attorney as quickly as you can is vital for this and evidence gathering purposes. Also, time limitations can vary in cases involving minors and cases where the injuries were not discovered within two years from the date of the wrongdoing. 

Your Accomplished and Compassionate Indianapolis Personal Injury Law Firm

Call The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for trusted personal injury representation in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our seasoned accident attorneys work tirelessly to ensure our clients’ rights to compensation. We offer free initial consultations to access your case and determine your eligibility for remuneration; and we never collect attorney fees unless we prevail for you! Call 317-881-2700 to schedule your free initial consultation with an Indianapolis personal injury lawyer, today.

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Top 3 Things You Can Do to Maximize Your Accident Settlement

Personal injury cases range in value depending on the unique circumstances of each victim, including the seriousness of the accident and subsequent injuries, total economic losses, non-economic losses, and similar damages. Although accident claims tend to payout in the thousands, there are certain things you can do as a personal injury victim, or immediate kin of a wrongfully killed or incapacitated victim, to ensure you get the highest settlement or verdict possible for your claim.

Continue reading to learn the top three.

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Indiana Accident Attorneys 317-881-2700

Get Medical Treatment by a Licensed Physician

Aside from making a police report at the time of the accident, or soon after, your first step in the personal injury claim process is to get professional medical treatment as soon as possible. This includes ambulance transport from the scene of the accident to the hospital, allowing EMT’s to treat you at the scene, having someone drive you to the emergency room on the spot, seeing a doctor in the days or weeks after your accident, or a combination of these. If you fail to seek or receive any medical attention, it is difficult to argue that you are seriously injured. In the case that you experience delayed pain or injury symptoms, it is vital to see a doctor as soon as you can. There are also statutes of limitations regarding the legal amount of time a person can file a claim against a negligent party, so time is of the essence.

Document and Save Everything

Like with the police report, it is vital to officially document everything that happens from the time of your accident, and all the way until your claim is complete. Documentation includes police reports, medical assessments and diagnostics, medical treatments, photographs, witness statements, hospital bills, medical bills, lost wages from missing work, and any other paper trail that will prove your damages and losses as a personal injury victim. Save all of your paperwork, mail, bills, and more, and give them all to your trusted Indianapolis personal injury lawyer.

Hire the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. in Indianapolis

The true secret to ensuring you obtain the maximum settlement or verdict for your accident claim is to retain proper legal counsel. But don’t just choose any law firm; you need experienced attorneys who know how to get the most compensation for clients. Here at Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C., we are that Indiana personal injury law firm. Our licensed personal injury lawyers each have more than twenty-five years of trial and litigation experience.

We know the law, and do everything in our power to ensure you get paid the full and fair amount of compensation you are legally entitled to. We work around the clock, handling all elements of your case so you and your family can focus on a safe and full recovery. After a free initial case evaluation, our accident attorneys will determine if your case is worth pursuing, and if it is, we will begin working on it immediately.

We are the Indiana Personal Injury Lawyers You Can Trust

Contact us today at 317-881-2700 today if you or a loved one were recently hurt in a personal injury accident in Indiana. Our team fully understands and empathizes with the seriousness of personal injury accidents and is devoted to protecting victims’ rights. We are dedicated to using the full extent of the law in order to obtain the long-term recovery and compensation our clients deserve, whether through negotiation of a settlement, or accident litigation in a court room. Schedule your free initial consultation, today. We serve clients in Indianapolis and throughout the state of Indiana.

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FAQS Regarding Personal Injury Settlements

After being injured in a serious accident that was no fault of their own, the law provides personal injury victims certain relief for their subsequent damages and losses. They can be awarded compensation to cover their hospital and medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages from missing work, and much more. But personal injury victims typically have a lot of questions about collecting compensation from a negligent party’s insurance company.

Continue below to review some of the most frequently asked questions personal injury lawyers get from their current and prospective clients about accident claim settlements, and perhaps get the answers you are looking for today, including where you can get more answers to your personal injury claim questions at the bottom of this blog.

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Indiana Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Will My Settlement Be Impacted if I am Partly to Blame for My Accident?

When an individual is seriously hurt in an accident, it is necessary to determine who was at fault for the incident. This process of determination is called comparative fault analysis, and it is widely used as a standard in tort cases. The jury gives this report to the judge at the closing of a personal injury trial. Comparative fault analysis simply describes the standard formula used to identify the negligent party involved in a serious accident, however, there are numerous details that go into making these distinctions. Fundamentally, if a victim or plaintiff is 50% (or less) at-fault in the case as compared to all fault against all defendants, then they are most likely entitled to basic compensation. In Indiana, a plaintiff cannot have 51% fault or greater and be awarded compensation.

Where Can I Find Answers to My Personal Injury Questions?

If you have questions about personal injury compensation, it is vital to discuss your claim with a team of licensed Indianapolis Indiana accident attorneys. They can give you personalized recommendations for your case, and document an impactful claim to recover the full and fair compensation you deserve. As soon as you receive medical attention for your injuries, your next step should be to contact a personal injury law firm for help with your accident claim.

How Much Does an Accident Lawyer Charge?

Contingency fees are the most common form of billing practice used by personal injury law firms and attorneys. This payment arrangement works by not charging clients any retainers or upfront lawyer fees, but collecting a percentage of whatever monetary settlement they recover for them. Personal injury claims are complex and vary from case to case, so the percentage collected upon judgment will vary among lawsuits.

How Does a Court Assess an Injured Victim’s Damages and Losses?

Under tort law, when a person is a victim of a civil wrong-doing, a court may award damages to compensate them for their injuries and losses. Assessing the amount of damages is often a difficult and complex process since so many variables influence the final determination. A court/jury must consider the losses or injuries of a victim’s person, property, and overall quality of life. Courts take this responsibility seriously since the law intends to help victims of personal injury get back to the condition and state of life they were in before their accident and if that is not possible, to compensate for the permanent injuries. It requires evidence on behalf of the victim to recover the full and fair amount of compensation for the total amount of damages and losses. Evidence includes medical records, police reports, expense records, witness statements, interviews, doctor depositions and much more.

What Does Personal Injury Compensation Cover?

Economic losses, non-economic losses, and future economic losses are the types of damages meant to be covered by personal injury compensation. Economic losses may include all or a combination of medical expenses, hospital bills, OTC medication costs, prescription costs, lost wages, childcare expenses, home adaption expenses, and fuel costs (to and from doctors’ visits). Future economic losses may include prolonged medical treatment, physical therapy, long-term care, future medical expenses, future lost wages, future prescription costs, and future hospital costs. Non-economic losses may include pain and suffering, permanent disability, permanent disfigurement, mental anguish, PTSD, loss of social life, loss of work abilities, loss of companionship, and loss of education experience.

How Long Does it Take to Get My Compensation?

From start to finish, a personal injury case can take anywhere from one year to five years or more, depending on the complexity of the case and how long the injured party needs medical care. You can expect it, in most cases, to take at least one year before a case is settled. There are countless variables that affect the time frame of a personal injury claim and receiving awarded compensation. Again, talk to your attorney to get a better idea of how long your particular case is predicted to take. In some cases, a settlement can and does occur within 1 year though.

Personal Injury Attorneys in Indianapolis, Indiana Who You Can Trust

Call the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for information about your rights to pursue legal action after being seriously injured in a wrongful personal injury accident in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attorneys Daniel Craven, Keith Blazek, and Ralph Hoover are highly experienced accident lawyers who will obtain the full and fair compensation you rightfully deserve for your damages and losses. Not only do we offer free initial consultations, in-person or over the phone, we also work in contingency, which means we never collect attorney fees unless we recover a settlement or verdict for you. Contact us today at 317-881-2700 to set up your free case evaluation with a seasoned Indianapolis accident attorney. We represent injured persons throughout the State of Indiana.

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Your Legal Rights After Being Seriously Burned With Hot Wax at a Salon

When you visit your local beauty salon, whether for a luxury manicure and pedicure, or for a routine hair removal appointment, you trust your cosmeticians to protect you from harm when using hot wax. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, as hundreds of beauty salon clients have suffered serious second and third degree burns due to salon or beautician negligence. If you are one such victim, it is important to consult with a skilled personal injury lawyer to learn your eligibility for taking legal action against your negligent salon. You could be entitled to compensation for your pain, suffering, and any other related damages that resulted from your salon accident.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know after suffering serious hot wax burns at a salon in Indiana.

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Burn Injury Attorneys in Indianapolis, Indiana 317-881-2700

Beauty Salon Liability

Beauty salons, like all other businesses, have a lawful duty of care to protect their guests from foreseeable harm by maintaining a safe and hazard-free environment. When a beauty salon does not take the proper precautions to ensure their hot wax products and equipment are up to standards and their staff knows how to properly use them, they are not upholding their duty of care. If a client is seriously injured after being burned with hot wax, the salon owner can be held legally liable for their client’s damages and losses.

Common Hot Wax Burn Injuries:

✦ Hair Loss
✦ Permanent Scarring
✦ Permanent Disfigurement
✦ Loss of Motor Skill Function
✦ Nerve Damage
✦ Infections
✦ Loss of Sight, Smell, Hearing, or Touch

Common Damages Collected By Beauty Salon Burn Victims

Common damages and losses suffered by victims of hot wax burn injuries vary greatly depending on the location of the hot wax contact, and the severity of the injuries. Many hot wax burn victims in the past have collect compensation for damages such as medical expenses, hospital bills, lost wages from time missed at work, prolonged physical therapy, reduced quality of life, loss of ability to work, and pain and suffering. Pain, suffering, mental anguish, permanent scarring, disfigurement, and similar tolls that serious injuries take on burn victims are known as non-economic damages. These are damages that are not directly calculable, but rather, up to interpretation in terms of their gravity. Learn more about Types of Damages Awarded for Victims of Injury for a better understanding of the possible damages a burn victim might collect in a personal injury lawsuit.

How to Make an Injury Claim Against a Negligent Salon in Indiana

Contact the esteemed law office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to make a personal injury claim in Indianapolis, Indiana against a salon that has caused you serious harm and subsequent losses. Personal injury attorneys, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek are well-versed in Indiana personal injury law. Not only do we offer free case evaluations to discuss whether or not your matter is worth pursing for you, we represent clients all over the State of Indiana and never charge lawyer fees unless we win your case. Schedule an appointment, and get started as soon as today.

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Facts About Liability and Public Transportation Accidents

Public transportation is a reliable and necessary part of society. But if you are hurt on a bus, train, or other form of transient category, you should seek professional legal advice. If someone is injured while using public transportation, who is at-fault for their damages? There can be several outcomes when determining who is liable for accidents such as these.

Continue reading to understand all the possible parties that might be liable, under law, for injuries sustained to public transportation customers.

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Indiana Public Transportation Accident Attorneys 317-881-2700

Public Transportation Traffic Accidents

Public transportation is a wonderful asset for thousands of Americans all across the country. Buses, trains, subways, limousines, metros, taxi cabs, and more are just a few examples of the various common carriers we have to choose from when it comes to public transport. As customers and clients, we generally trust that these choices are safe and reliable, but sometimes unexpected common carrier accidents happen.

Commercial Bus Accidents

When it comes to public transportation, buses are one of the most popular. Tickets are inexpensive, and some buses are complementary to individuals in the community. School buses are also widely used for public school transportation. With the rising popularity of public buses, more and more are on the roads every day. As a result, the number of bus accidents continue to increase each year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 300 bus accidents happen every year, some of which resulting in injuries to the passengers.

Bus crashes, and other public transport cases, are complicated to litigate. Determining the at-fault party is a bus crash can be tricky because it may be more than one person. Fortunately, Indiana bus accident laws do protect innocent victims. It is extremely beneficial to have an attorney with the professional litigation skills and trial experience of highly qualified Indianapolis accident attorneys to effectively pursue a bus accident injury lawsuit or claim. If you or someone you loved has recently been injured in a public transient accident, like buses or taxis, contact a local personal injury lawyer to learn your rights.

Possible At-Fault Parties in a Common Carrier Accident:

⇢ The Driver of the Bus or Taxi
⇢ Management Companies
⇢ Other Negligent Drivers
⇢ Government Entities (If Public)
⇢ Equipment Manufacturers
⇢ City Traffic Management (If Defective Light or Sign)

Common Causes of Public Transient Accidents:

⇢ Drunk Driving
⇢ Driving Under the Influence of Drugs
⇢ Defective Stop Light or Traffic Sign
⇢ Driver Inattention
⇢ Reckless or Careless Driving
⇢ Poor Equipment Maintenance
⇢ Defective Equipment

Addressing Other Negligent Vehicles on the Road

Traffic accidents, public or not, happen very quickly, and usually result in serious injuries and damages to innocent bystanders and drivers. If a person is injured using public transient systems as a result of another’s carelessness or negligence, they are entitled to legal compensation for their pain, suffering, lost wages, medical bills, and more.

Start Your Indianapolis Personal Injury Claim Today

Call the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to get your Indiana personal injury claim started on the right path. Licensed accident attorneys, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek are ready to pursue your case and obtain a full and fair settlement for your losses. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we win compensation for you. Call 317-881-2700 to schedule your complimentary consultation with a seasoned personal injury attorney in Indianapolis, IN today.  We represent injured persons throughout the State of Indiana.

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Is it Better to Settle an Accident Claim Out of Court in Indiana?

There is a reason why most personal injury lawsuits are settled before ever having to go to trial. In fact, there is more than one reason why. Not only are trials very expensive, they can be extremely stressful and even more unpredictable in terms of liability and damages. Also, trials are not private, and they can sometimes last for years. In most cases, especially for minor accidents and injuries, settling out of court is quicker, cheaper, and less risky.

However, this does not mean that all injury claims are better settled out of court. Sometimes, depending on the circumstances, a trial is the better, or necessary, route to take. It is important to discuss the recommended strategy for your personal injury claim with an experienced accident lawyer who can provide experience based knowledge for what’s best for your case.

Continue reading to learn more about the advantages to settling an accident claim out of court, as well as, how to get started on your personal injury claim.

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

Going to Court is Never the Cheaper Course of Action

Trials are expensive. And although your personal injury lawyer probably works on a contingency-fee basis, it is still something that can still hold back your final settlement after you receive your compensation. In most contingency-fee arrangements, the attorney receives 33% of any pre-trial settlement and then 40% of any compensation awarded once the trial begins. The client then receives the remainder after any expenses and subrogation or lien claims are paid. Not all contingency arrangements are done this way although the vast majority are; it differs among law firms.  By avoiding court, the plaintiff can avoid paying high expenses in having to pay expert witnesses when going to court.

As for defendants, there is no contingency-fee basis. In almost all cases, the defendant’s insurance company must hire a lawyer who gets paid by the hour or the defendant’s attorney is an employee of the insurance company.

Trials Can Be Stressful and Cumbersome

Not just the trial itself, but the weeks leading up to the trial can also be very stressful for a person and their loved ones. Both the plaintiff and the defendant can be subjected to invasive examinations and cross-examinations, and in a public arena.

Trial Outcomes Cannot Always Be Well Predicted 

Although today’s legal system is set up in a way that takes surprises out of the trial process, they can still pose a long list of potential unexpected occurrences that influence the final outcome of a settlement. For instance, key evidence may be excluded from trial by the judge, new testimony can come out on the witness stand, key witnesses may sound unreliable or not show up at trial, and more.

Aside from all these potential unpredictable possibilities, the amount of compensation recovered is up to the jury. This means a plaintiff can be awarded much more or much less than the parties expected. Out of court, the plaintiff party and the defendant party have control over the negotiation of recompense.

What to Do as an Accident Victim in Indiana

If you or someone you loved has been hurt in a serious accident as a result of negligence by a company, person, or entity, you may be entitled to legal compensation. Get started on a path to justice and full and fair compensation, right now. Call an experienced Indianapolis personal injury law firm to speak to a legal representative about your recent injury or accident.

Indianapolis Indiana Personal Injury Attorneys Who Won’t Back Down to the Insurance Companies

Call the law office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to file a personal injury claim in Indiana. We are seasoned personal injury attorneys who want nothing more than to recover the full and fair compensation for accident victims across Indiana. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you. Call 317-881-2700 and get started as soon as today.

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