Personal Injury Accidents That May Also Have Criminal Penalties

Posted on July 8, 2019 by admin

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

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

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

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Civil and Criminal Lawsuits

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

Additional Examples:

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

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

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

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

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

Indiana Personal Injury Attorneys

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

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

Posted on July 5, 2019 by admin

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

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

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Defective Product Accidents

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

Marketing flaws, or false advertising, describes a circumstance in which a manufacturer fails to properly inform consumers of safety hazards and other potential hazards; or fails to reveal product information that could have prevented an accident from happening in the first place. In addition to physical and mental repercussions, many product liability claims involve property damages as well.

Discuss Your Case With a Lawyer ASAP

Personal injury lawyers and legal teams evaluate the physical and mental damages sustained from a defective product, and use this information to document a case against the accountable manufacturer. In almost all cases, a dangerous or faulty product is the manufacturer’s responsibility. This falls under an area of law called “strict liability” and holds a seller or manufacturer of a product responsible for consumer injuries, although some types of product liability claims involve a negligence standard. If a victim injures themselves as a result of their own carelessness or negligence, or uses the product inappropriately, the manufacturer may not necessarily be responsible and the victim can be held accountable for their own damages, however, every case is very fact specific.

This is why personal injury law firms generally offer free initial consultations to people who believe they are victims of a negligent accident. They use this consultation to assess a victim’s case, and determine if they are potentially eligible for compensation. With this setup, a victim does not have to waste money in order to validate their case. If a personal injury firm identifies a manufacturer as negligent, and believes the victim has a solid claim, they will almost always represent their client for free, and only collect legal fees if they win their case and recover full and fair compensation.

Indiana Personal Injury Lawyers You Can Trust

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

Fractured Hip Injuries and Elderly Slip and Fall Accidents

Posted on June 28, 2019 by admin

Slip and fall accidents can range from minor to fatal, depending on the circumstances. Some of the most common slip and fall victims are elderly individuals, who tend to suffer higher levels of pain and suffering from the resulting injuries, including fractured hips and pelvises. Continue reading to learn more about fractured hip injuries in elderly victims, and what you should do as a loved one who is helping a senior citizen recover from a recent slip and fall accident that occurred through no fault of their own.

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Fractured Hip Slip and Fall Statistics

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), nearly 9 million slip and fall emergency room visits take place each year in the United States. Of these, the scope of injuries range from scrapes and bruises, to orthopedic injuries, brain injuries, spinal injuries, and more. Because of the potential severity of injuries that result from slip and fall accidents, it is common for victims to require extensive medical treatment and prolonged recovery.

Therefore, if the accident occurred as a result of another’s negligence, whether a company, manufacturer, a business or an individual person, it is vital to discuss your case with a seasoned Indianapolis personal injury attorney who concentrates on slip and fall accidents. The insurance company for the company, manufacturer, business or an individual person are immediately investigating the incident in an attempt to try to suggest the person falling was at fault and usually are not obtaining or retaining evidence which would be favorable to the person who fell. You may be entitled to certain compensation to cover hospital bills, medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and more.

Elderly Slip and Fall Accidents

When slip and fall accidents happen to the elderly, one of the most common and severe injuries that result are fractured hips. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 258,000 adults over the age of 65 are admitted to the emergency room each year for such injuries. The CDC goes on to report that slip and fall accidents are the number one cause of fractured hips among individuals of this age group.

For elderly persons over the age of 85, a fractured hip resulting from a slip and fall accident is exponentially higher, and can mean severe injuries and prolonged rehabilitation. Common recovery programs for elderly fractured hip patients include surgery, extended hospital stays, prolonged physical therapy, additional rehabilitation facility stays, and even temporary or permanent nursing home care.

In fact, it is reported that nearly 1/3 of all hip fracture victims who lived on their own before their accident are never able to return home, and instead, must live in assisted living. Sadly, because certain recovery complications are more common at an older age, such as surgery complications, infection, and lowered immune systems, it is reported that virtually 20% of hip fracture victims over 65 lose their life within a year of their injury.

What to Do For Your Elderly Loved One

If your elderly loved one recently suffered a fractured hip or other serious injury as a result of a slip and fall accident, talk to an Indianapolis slip and fall lawyer to learn more about your rights to compensation. If the accident happened due to someone else’s negligence, you likely have a strong case. Schedule a consultation to discuss your case and the best strategies for obtaining compensation for your damages and losses. See our blog, “What to Bring to a Personal Injury Consultation” to get started.

Indianapolis Slip and Fall Attorneys

Call the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free initial consultation with a licensed hip injury attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana. We represent injured persons throughout the State of Indiana. Seasoned lawyers, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek, are motivated to help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after experiencing a slip and fall accident in Indiana. Call 317-881-2700 to get started today.

How a Personal Injury Evaluation Can Help You

Posted on June 21, 2019 by admin

Did another person’s negligence cause you injury? If so, you could be entitled to certain compensation for your damages and losses. Start the process of obtaining coverage for hospital bills, medical expenses, lost wages, property damages and much more with a personal injury claim.

The very first step to making a personal injury claim for your recent accident is already in the process, as you are reading this blog and learning what you need to know about getting started. The next step is to schedule your initial consultation with a seasoned and skilled personal injury attorney who is well-versed in the specific category of accident law that relates to your claim.

Continue below to learn the importance of this initial consultation, and where to find the most vigilant personal injury representation in Central Indiana and throughout Indiana.

Here are the reasons why your first personal injury evaluation will help you with your legal needs following an accident:

☑ They Confirm Merit

The primary reason why these evaluations are so vital in the beginning of the process is that they determine if your case is valid, or worthy of pursuing. Whether or not you actually have a merited case depends on a long list of factors; factors that only a seasoned personal injury lawyer will know. Such considerations include the state’s statute of limitations, prohibiting factors, total economic and non-economic losses, and much more. See our blog, “How Can I Tell Whether or Not I Have an Injury Case?” to learn more about assessing the strength of a personal injury claim. Once you have a legal professional on your side who knows you deserve to be compensated for your losses, you can feel confident knowing that someone will help you fight for your rights. Insurance companies have in-house attorneys on staff reviewing your claim and you should have your own attorney as well.

☑ They Educate You

You are probably not a lawyer yourself, which means that the law and related legalese can be quite confusing, if not entirely foreign to you. For this reason, it is important to have your case and the laws surrounding your case explained to you in a language you can clearly understand and comprehend. An initial personal injury consultation will provide this advantage. You can also refer to our blog, “A Review of Personal Injury Claim Terms and Definitions” to get a head start with some legal basics.

☑ They Offer Peace of Mind With No Obligation

If budget is holding you back from scheduling an initial evaluation with a personal injury attorney, you have no need to worry. Most personal injury law firms offer free initial consultations, which means there is no out-of-pocket obligation to you. So even if it is determined that you do not have a case, you will have peace of mind knowing that you learned the truth. Furthermore, if they take your case, there are usually no upfront lawyer fees since most firms work on a contingency-fee basis. See our blog, “How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Accident Lawyer?” to understand this pricing model better. The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. does not charge upfront lawyer fees.

Seasoned Indiana Personal Injury Lawyers

Call The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to discuss your recent accident with a seasoned Indianapolis personal injury lawyer, and learn the best course of action for your claim. We are ready, willing and able to help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve and we represent injured clients throughout the State of Indiana. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you.

How Do I Know I’m Getting Fair Compensation for Pain and Suffering?

Posted on June 10, 2019 by admin

When you receive a settlement proposal from an insurance company that includes compensation for pain and suffering, how can you know it is a fair offer? After sustaining serious injuries as a result of an accident that was no fault of your own, you should never have to settle low when it comes to collecting compensation for damages, especially for ones like pain and suffering.

Continue reading to learn more about reasonable compensation for pain and suffering, including how the law measures such damages and where to turn for dependable legal advice.

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Defining Pain and Suffering

The phrase, “pain and suffering” is a common legal term used in personal injury practices to describe economic and non-economic damages and losses a person may experience after sustaining a serious injury or being involved in a serious accident. The term is meant to describe both physical and nonphysical harm that resulted from such trauma. Physical injuries include everything from flesh wounds and muscle injuries, to spinal cord injuries, nerve injuries, brain injuries, and more. Non-physical injuries include emotional mental trauma such as fear, anxiety, grief, worry, insomnia, a loss of enjoyment for one’s life, and more.

Insurance Compensation Formulas for Pain and Suffering

Although there is no resolute rule for how an insurance company must calculate pain and suffering, they generally rely on one of two primary methods to do so in a personal injury case: the Multiplier Method and the Per Diem method. The multiplier method is an approach that multiplies a victim’s actual damages, or economic damages, such as hospital bills and medical expenses, by a chosen number that usually lies on a scale between 1 and 5; a number that depends on the extent or scope of the injury.

For example, a woman breaks her leg and incurs $5,000 in total economic damages. Her legal team multiplies this value by 3 in accordance to the severity of her injury, thus bringing them to a conclusion that her pain and suffering can be reasonably estimated at $15,000. The Per Diem (or “per day”) method is an approach that essentially assigns a particular dollar amount to the victim’s pain and suffering. Then, this amount of money is paid to the victim every day from the actual day of the accident, and until they are fully recovered.

Seeking Compensation

When suing for personal injury damages, a victim will generally seek compensation from the opposing party’s insurance company. The victim’s attorney will handle all communication directly with the opposing insurance company to come to an agreement on a full and fair settlement. If a settlement cannot be reached, then the case will go to trial. If this happens, the victim will need to prove that the opposing party is liable for their damages, and provide proof and evidence of those damages.

Talk to a Personal Injury Professional

It can be challenging providing evidence in order to prove non-physical injuries, it is necessary to have an experienced personal injury lawyer to navigate, negotiate, and settle your claim. They have the skills, experience, knowledge, and resources to ensure your rights to compensation, and to protect you from aggressive insurance adjusters and unfair settlements. Be sure to choose an Indianapolis personal injury attorney that has extensive trial and litigation experience.

Indiana Personal Injury Attorneys

Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to speak with a licensed accident lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attorneys Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek have extensive trial and litigation experience, and can recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after being injured in an accident. We represent injured persons throughout the State of Indiana. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation and have your case evaluated by a knowledgeable personal injury attorney you can trust.

3 Easy Steps to Find a Reputable Personal Injury Lawyer

Posted on June 7, 2019 by admin

When it comes to suffering a serious injury that you had no fault in, compensation should be at the top of your list of priorities, right beneath medical care. In order to recover full and fair compensation for your personal injury, you have to make a claim. There are thousands of lawyers to choose from in Indianapolis. First, you must start your search within the proper field of law; from there, you must implement the proper strategies to ensure you choose the right law firm to represent you in your case. Fortunately, the hunt for a good personal injury lawyer does not have to be a hassle.

Continue reading to learn how you can find a reputable and proficient personal injury representation in just 3 easy steps.

When searching for an accident lawyer, it is important to know what to look for in a law firm. Here are 3 simple steps to ensuring you hire the right legal team for your personal injury claim:

1. Interview Law Firms

Your first step to choosing a reputable personal injury lawyer to help you with your claim is to interview some potential candidates. See our blog, “Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring an Accident Lawyer” for help with this stage of the process. When looking, keep in mind that a reputable law firm, as well as the injury attorneys that work for the law firm, all retain valid licensing. It is vital that you use an accident attorney that is actually licensed by the state and has passed the state bar exam. Be sure they are well-versed in personal injury cases as well. You do not want to retain a civil lawyer to represent your accident claim who has very little actual injury case experience; instead, you want to hire an accident attorney who concentrates solely on personal injury law.

2. Schedule an Initial Consultation

Once you have chosen a law firm to work with, it is necessary to get your first consultation on the books. During this consult, you will not likely be required to pay a fee; most personal injury lawyers, including Craven, Hoover & Blazek, P.C., offer initial consultations for free in order to discuss your case and determine the best strategies for your claim. See our blog, “What to Bring to a Personal Injury Consultation” to learn how to prepare for this meeting with your accident lawyer.

3. Understand Your Case

After you have chosen a lawyer and had your first consultation, the remainder of the work is up to your lawyer. However, there are still some responsibilities of your own to keep in mind. First, it is wise to learn as much as you can about your case and the laws surrounding the circumstances of the accident. This understanding can help you prepare for the future, as well as, what to expect from your case. Second, you must be sure you are protecting yourself. See our blog, “Frequent Mistakes Victims Make in Personal Injury Claims” to learn what you need to know about avoiding mistakes when in the middle of a personal injury lawsuit.

Where to Find Trusted Legal Advice

Call The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for trusted personal injury representation in Indianapolis, Indiana and throughout the State of Indiana. Our seasoned accident attorneys work hard 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!

What are Punitive Damages in a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Posted on June 3, 2019 by admin

When accidents happen as a result of negligence, the scope of possible injuries are vast. Accordingly, the scope of carelessness on behalf of the at-fault party will also vary greatly. In cases where the tortfeasor demonstrated outrageous or egregious misconduct that directly caused the victim’s injuries, a court or jury may decide to award additional monetary damages to the plaintiff party in a personal injury lawsuit. These are called punitive damages, or exemplary damages, and they are meant to punish and deter negligent parties.

Continue reading to learn more about punitive damages, as well as where to get started on your personal injury claim in Indianapolis.

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Personal injury law generally recognizes and considers three types of losses, referred to as compensatory damages. Depending on the types of losses experienced following a personal injury, one’s damages will be either economic (including future economic losses), non-economic, or both. Types of economic losses may include medical expenses, hospital bills, OTC medication costs, prescription costs, lost wages, child care expenses, fuel costs (to and from doctors’ visits), and similar payments.

Future economic losses are included as economic losses, such as prolonged medical treatment, physical therapy, long-term care, future medical expenses, future hospital costs, and more. Types of non-economic losses may include pain and suffering, permanent disability, permanent disfigurement, mental anguish, PSTD, loss of consortium, loss of work abilities, loss of education experience, and more.

Punitive Damages

Aside from the 3 common types of damages awarded in a personal injury lawsuit, there is another category that can also be awarded in addition to actual damages. These are called punitive damages. Punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages, are different from economic and non-economic damages because they are not intended to compensate a victim for the loss of their quality of life. Instead, they are meant to punish the tortfeasor, as well as, set a public example and double as a deterrent for the particular gross negligence involved in the case.

Punitive damages have even been branded “quasi-criminal” since they sit halfway between the criminal law and civil law. Furthermore, defendants are seen as acting deliberately, spitefully, grossly negligent or with disregard for the rights and welfares of the victim. In fact, the typical terminologies used to describe such conduct and justify the awarded damages in personal injury cases include wanton, fraud, malice, outrageous, violent, bad faith, oppression, reckless, grossly negligent and even wicked.

Where to Get Reliable Legal Advice Regarding Your Recent Accident

Call The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to learn the best course of action after being negligently injured in an accident in Indiana. Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek are seasoned accident attorneys that can fight to recover compensation for your losses. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we win a settlement. Call 317-881-2700 to schedule your free consultation with an Indianapolis personal injury lawyer, today.

What is Comparative Fault Analysis in a Personal Injury Case?

Posted on May 31, 2019 by admin

Under tort law, when a person is a victim of a civil wrong-doing, a court or jury 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 must consider the losses or injuries of a victim’s person, property, and overall quality of life. With all that’s at stake for injured victims and plaintiffs in such cases, courts take this responsibility seriously; after all, the purpose of tort law is to help victims of personal injury get back to the condition and state of life they were in before their accident, if possible, and to fully and fairly compensate them for what they have gone through and will go through.

This legal process requires substantial evidence on behalf of the victim to recover the full and fair amount of compensation for the total amount of damages and losses, such as medical records, police reports, expense records, witness statements, interviews, and much more. But before any compensation can be awarded to a personal injury plaintiff, someone has to be found liable for the accident. To determine fault in a personal injury case, the same amount of consideration is taken, but on a more guided scale known as comparative fault analysis, or comparative negligence.

Continue reading to learn more about comparative fault analysis, including who to talk to about your potential personal injury claim.

Brief Explanation of Comparative Fault Analysis

According to USLEGAL.com, Comparative Fault Analysis is defined as, “…a doctrine of tort law which permits plaintiff and defendant to compare their liability for the accident. It allows proportionate recovery if both the plaintiff and defendant were negligent and thereby contributed to the cause of an injury.”

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. Comparative negligence divides the amount of fault among each person involved in an accident. This concept is used in a situation where multiple parties were negligent. 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 49% (or less) at-fault, then they are most likely entitled to compensation. If the plaintiff is 51% at-fault, or greater, then there is no chance at being awarded compensation. Overall, an accident that causes a person serious injury or harm must be caused by another’s negligence or carelessness. At the closing of a personal injury trial, the jury gives the comparative fault analysis report to the judge.

Here is a Possible Example:

For instance, if a person is walking down a road and ignores pedestrian traffic signals, and as a result is struck by a driver who is intoxicated, both would be at-fault for the accident. In this example, the pedestrian was negligent for not properly obeying traffic signals, while the driver was simultaneously negligent for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and furthermore, driving recklessly (i.e. speeding, swerving, etc.).

Although the driver had a green light, they are still responsible to use reasonable care and keep their eye out for pedestrians and other drivers. A court or deciding factor uses a specific method to calculate each person’s fault. In this case, a court may rule that the drunk driver is 80 percent responsible and the pedestrian only 20 percent responsible. So if the total damages for each party is 100,000 dollars, the pedestrian would be awarded 80 percent of that total number. But this all varies state to state, and depends on specific and individual circumstance of a case.

What You Need To Do For Your Claim

If you have questions about personal injury compensation, it is vital to discuss your claim with a licensed accident attorney. 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.

Contact Our Personal Injury Law Office Today

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for information about personal injury lawsuits in Indianapolis, Indiana. Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek are seasoned accident attorneys that can fight to recover compensation for your losses. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we win a settlement. We represent clients throughout the State of Indiana. Call 317-881-2700 to schedule your free consultation with an Indianapolis personal injury lawyer, today.

The First Questions You Should Ask About Your Personal Injury

Posted on May 28, 2019 by admin

Becoming a victim of a personal injury that resulted at no fault of your own is not an obstacle you planned on facing in life. However, now that you are on this journey, the most important factors are your health and well-being. Aside from medical treatment, it is important to also protect your legal rights, especially to compensation for your damages and losses. So as you turn the corner from medical care to legal action, be sure you are asking the right questions about your personal injury case.

Continue reading for some helpful tips, including who to call for professional legal advice regarding your potential claim.

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Do I Have a Case?

The first and foremost question you should be asking yourself, and then a qualified lawyer, is the question of validity. Are there grounds for compensation? Did the at-fault party have a duty of care and breached it, resulting in your injuries? Consult with a licensed Indianapolis personal injury lawyer who offers free consultations, and use that time to discuss the strength of your case.

How Long Do I Have to Make a Claim?

There are set statute of limitations for every type of legal action. In tort law, personal injury claims are brought forth in civil court, which generally has shorter statute of limitations compared to criminal courts. For personal injuries, the amount of time depends on the type of injury, however, most claims retain an average statute of limitations of 2 years or less. Refer to Title 34, Article 11, Chapter 2 of the Indiana Code book for details regarding civil statute of limitations in our state.

How Long Will My Case Take?

There are countless factors that contribute to the amount of time it takes to settle a personal injury claim, which means it is virtually impossible to predict a timeline since they vary greatly from case to case. Sometimes cases are clear-cut, while others require ongoing litigation, and as a result, more time. Standard cases can take anywhere from 6 months to 1 year, while more complex cases can take double, or triple that amount of time. In some cases, no settlement is ever reached.

Will I Have to Go to Trial?

There are various factors that influence the outcome of a settlement. Whether a claim is settled out of court or goes to trial depends on many details of a particular case. For most plaintiffs, a personal injury lawyer assists with this part of the process. They are prepared to go to court for their clients, but do everything in their power to avoid it and settle out of court instead. In most cases, personal injury claims are settled out of court.

How Much is My Case Worth?

The amount of compensation you will likely collect largely depends on your total damages and losses, including lost wages, hospital bills, medical expenses, pain, suffering, and more. In order to truly know how much your case is worth, you must consult with a licensed and experienced personal injury attorney.

Indiana Personal Injury Lawyers

Call The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to speak with a licensed personal injury lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attorneys, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek can help you recover the compensation you deserve after being injured in an accident. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you! Call 317-881-2700 to schedule your consultation, today.

Interesting Facts About the History of Tort Law

Posted on May 24, 2019 by admin

Torts are civil wrong-doings, or immoral behaviors and actions against people. The law identifies a tort as immoral, and approves it as grounds for a lawsuit. Most often, torts come with severe consequences, like serious injuries and death; consequences that can establish a victim’s right to make a personal injury claim against the at-fault party.

Tort law is one to appreciate since it protects us and our loved ones from wrongful offenses. Take a look below to learn some of the most interesting facts about the history of tort law in our country to gain a deeper appreciation for our national judicial system.

Tort Law

Tort law was established to serve 4 particular objectives: 1) to compensate victims for the injuries they’ve suffered as a result of another’s actions or inactions; 2) to transfer the cost of related damages and losses to the culpable party, such as hospital bills, medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more; 3) to set an example and prevent harmful, reckless, and negligent behaviors in the future; and 4) to justify the legal rights and welfares of the victim that were compromised, diminished, or made powerless.

History Facts

The term, “tort” is derived from the Latin word, “torquere”, which translates to “twisted” or “wrong.” Centuries ago, the British legal system did not recognize torts as a means of separate legal action. Instead, English Common Law provided victims of tort with two primary methods of recompense, which were trespass for direct injuries, and actions “on the case” for indirect injuries. In fact, tort law originated with the action of trespass.

Eventually, over the course of several years, the British legal system acquired other types of civil actions, including defamation actions like slander and libel. See our blog, “The Legal Concepts Surrounding Libel, Slander, and Defamation of Character” to understand the difference between these two types of civil actions. By the 18th century, most American colonies began to adopt England’s common law system. And at the start of the 19th century, the first U.S. legal treatises were published. Within these treatises, a portion of the British common law were created under the heading of torts.

Tort Law Today

Tort law has monumentally progressed over the last two centuries, recognizing virtually all civil wrong-doings under law. In today’s judicial system, tort law protects people, businesses, employees, the environment, and much more. Common categories of tort law today include both intentional and non-intentional torts, such as defamation of character, workers’ compensation, wrongful death, premise liability, product defects, medical malpractice, and general personal injuries. If you were recently injured in an accident or suffered harm to your reputation, all at not fault of your own, you may be eligible to collect compensation for your subsequent losses and damages.

Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm Today

If you believe you or your loved one is a victim of a personal injury in Indiana, contact the Law office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free initial consultation. Our seasoned Indianapolis personal injury lawyers can help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you. Schedule your free meeting, today.