Is the Ability to Make an Injury Claim Limited to Spouses Only?

Posted on June 1, 2020 by admin

If your spouse was seriously injured in an accident caused by another’s negligence, you might have questions about collecting compensation for yourself, for the losses you have suffered as a result of their injuries. In your case, you may be able to make a personal injury claim for loss of consortium, services, society and companionship . But because such claims are very delicate and complex, it is vital to retain legal counsel from an experienced personal injury law firm.

Continue reading to learn more about loss of consortium claims, and what you need to know about making a claim for your losses and damages.

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Loss of Affection, Assistance, and Companionship

Loss of consortium claims are also known as “loss of affection” and “loss of companionship” claims. The universally-accepted definition of loss of consortium reads, “the legal right of one spouse to the company, affection, and assistance of and to sexual relations with the other.” On the other hand, loss of consortium claims can also be made by parents of seriously injured children, which means that the definition can be altered depending on the type of relationship and loss of company.

If your spouse’s injuries have caused your marriage to suffer, either due to a loss of companionship, partnership, or any other emotional or physical deficit, you may be entitled to make a loss of consortium claim. In another example, if a parent’s child is seriously injured (or killed) in a negligent accident, and as a result, the parent-child relationship is severely impacted from a loss of company, affection, or even assistance, they too may be able to make a claim.

However, the rules surrounding loss of consortium claims vary from state to state. For instance, currently under Indiana law, the only people permitted to make a loss of consortium claim are actual spouses. Furthermore, they must have been legally married at the time of the injured spouse’s accident. Moreover, laws change so it is important so talk with an attorney.

How to Make a Loss of Consortium Claim for Your Spouse’s Injuries

If you wish to learn more about your rights to compensation after losing companionship, affection, and similar emotional and physical needs as a result of your spouse’s or child’s injuries, your first step is to talk to a personal injury lawyer. They have the acumen, resources, and experience to educate you on your situation, and provide professional advice on the best course of action for your claim. Schedule an initial consultation to discuss your case, and learn what your next steps should be.

Get Advice From an Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for help with personal injury claims in Indianapolis, Indiana. We can help you recover the fair compensation you deserve after you and your spouse have suffered serious injuries as a result of a negligent accident. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you. But please schedule your consultation before time runs out on your claim! We are located in Indianapolis, Indiana and we represent injured persons throughout the State of Indiana.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700 — Schedule a Free Consultation!

Are Police Reports Important to an Auto Accident Claim?

Posted on May 26, 2020 by admin

Usually, no one walks away from a car accident and says it was no big deal. They are serious matters that have the potential to cause severe injuries and even death. For these reasons and more, auto accidents are scary, and tend to leave injured victims feeling confused.

If you are in a car collision, whether as a driver, passenger, cyclist, or pedestrian, one of the first steps you can take is also one of the most vital. After getting medical attention for yourself and others involved, be sure to contact law enforcement and make a report at the scene of the accident. In fact, it is required by law in most cases.

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Here in Indiana, the law requires individuals to immediately alert the local police department of a car accident in certain cases, including if:

It results in any form of bodily harm or death.
It causes over $1,000 in property damage.
City ordinance requires car accident reporting.
The insurance company requires car accident reporting.

Personal Injury Claims and Police Reports

Separate from your legal obligation to report a car accident to the nearest police station, it is in your best interest to do so for your own personal injury claim. You should always contact the police and have them come out and do a report as a general rule. There are some cases in which victims do not immediately feel or appear injured initially after an auto accident, but later on, sometimes hours, days, weeks and even months, develop serious symptoms and the injuries sustained during the collision begin manifesting themselves. This is known as an onset of symptoms, and is a common occurrence in car accidents. The amount of time an onset of injuries takes to appear varies from person to person.

Police are specially trained to investigate and evaluate the details of a car accident, and therefore, should accurately record a report that defines relevant details regarding the collision. A completed police report can protect your rights to recovering compensation in an insurance settlement or personal injury lawsuit for your losses by documenting evidence of the facts surrounding your case. Such reports usually provide a large amount of valuable information, such as:

Time, Date, and Location
Contact Information for All Parties Involved
Insurance Information for All Parties Involved
Statements from All Parties Involved
Witness Statements and Contact Information
Description of Injuries Reported at the Scene
The Officer’s Personal Account and Opinion of the Accident
A Diagram of the Accident Scene
Description of Road and Weather Conditions
Description of Vehicle and Property Damages
Pictures of Injuries, Damages, and Scene Surroundings
Description of Tickets Issued at the Scene By the Officer
And More

Because investigating police officers usually do not know the drivers involved, they are usually seen as unbiased witnesses to a car accident, and therefore, have no stake in the outcome of a personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim, their reports of an accident are highly valuable and persuasive forms of evidence in a case. Police can be, and are often, used as witnesses in car accident injury cases. Contact a licensed Central Indiana car accident lawyer for help navigating your claim on a course toward a full and fair financial recovery.

Who to Trust With Your Indiana Car Accident Claim

Contact the esteemed law office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for help making a car accident injury claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. Seasoned personal injury attorneys, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek, focus on car accident claims, and are well-versed in Indiana personal injury law. We offer free initial consultations, 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.

Can I Sue Someone and Collect from Their Insurance Carrier if They Injured Me in a Bike Accident?

Posted on May 22, 2020 by admin

There have been numerous bikers who have been successful in lawsuits against negligent drivers and collecting the judgment against the negligent driver’s insurance company. However, the specific details and circumstances surrounding your particular bike accident claim will determine whether or not you have grounds to sue and a valid claim.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about bike accidents, including your rights to compensation.

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Information for Bike Accident Victims

When a bike accident victim has a valid claim, they can hire a personal injury attorney to represent their best interests in recovering compensation for their damages. Such lawyers work on a contingency-fee basis, which means clients do not pay anything out of pocket for their services. In a contingency fee arrangement, a client only pays their lawyer for their services if they recover a settlement or judgment. See our blog, “What are Contingency Fees?” to learn more about this common accident law firm payment arrangement.

Your Rights as a Bike Rider

Just like pedestrians, cyclists also have rights on most roads. In the eyes of the law, so long as bikers are adhering to all local, state, and federal laws pertaining to road and traffic, their rights must be respected by all others, both drivers and pedestrians. In the case of your recent bike accident, if you were on a road that permits cycling and bicycle traffic, and a driver acted negligently, the law will most likely deem the driver at-fault for the accident. Accordingly, you would be on track for a successful bike accident claim if you were obeying all rules of the road leading up to your accident.

Common examples of driver negligence that can cause bike accidents include speeding, swerving, changing lanes without signaling or looking, drunk driving, drugged driving, texting, distracted or inattentive driving and fatigued driving. Other scenarios that strengthen a bike accident victim’s case would be if the driver were playing music too loud, using the phone, driving with multiple passengers and similar distracting actions. Also, having tinted or obstructed windows on a car can make a victim’s claim stronger.

As a biking accident victim, your best chance at recovering the full and fair compensation is to contact a seasoned personal injury attorney who is well-versed in bike accident claims. They have the knowledge, skills, and resources to obtain a settlement you deserve for your damages and losses.

How to Get Started on a Bike Accident Claim in Indiana

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

Difference Between Third Party Lawsuits and Worker’s Compensation Claims

Posted on May 19, 2020 by admin

Third-party lawsuits often involve workplace accidents and injury claims, but they are different from workers’ compensation claims. If an employee is injured on the job, but by a person or company outside of the workplace, this employee might pursue a claim against this “third party.” A quick example involves a truck driver being hit by a drunk driver while on the job. Not only can this truck driver collect workers’ compensation benefits, they can pursue a third-party lawsuit against the drunk driver that hit them. Third party claims help victims recover the full and fair compensation they rightfully deserve following a negligent accident that was no fault of their own.

Continue reading to learn more facts you need to know about workplace injury claims, third party lawsuits, and protecting your rights as an injured victim.

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Workplace Injuries and Accidents

Workplace injury claims are turned over to the Workers’ Compensation Board of Indiana, while third-party lawsuits are addressed in state civil courts. To establish an opposing party’s accountability, a personal injury lawyer should be hired to facilitate a full and comprehensive investigation to collect evidence of such negligence. It is important to hire a licensed personal injury lawyer for these kinds of claims and lawsuits. They retain the effective legal resources and knowledge to document a strong case against an opposing negligent party. Be sure to choose a personal injury attorney with extensive litigation and trial experience in the case that your claim cannot be settled out of court. If a third party lawsuit cannot be settled outside of court, it must be decided upon by a judge or jury.

Here are additional examples of possible third-party lawsuit scenarios:

If a worker slips on wet floor and injures themselves, they can collect workers’ compensation. If the floor was wet because the cleaning company failed to properly dry it, the worker can also pursue a claim against the cleaning company. The settlement would be with their insurance company.

If a man injures his hand in factory machinery, he can collect workers’ comp. If the injury occurred because the machine’s design was flawed or defective in some way, he may also sue the machine’s manufacturer. The settlement would be with their insurance company.

If a dog gets loose from its owner’s grasp and attacks a housekeeper in a hotel, the housekeeper can collect workplace compensation, but can also pursue remuneration from the dog’s owner. The settlement would be with their insurance company.

If you were recently injured at work or anywhere else, contact a seasoned lawyer right away. Be sure to act fast, before the statute of limitations runs out on your claim and before evidence is lost, leaving you ineligible to pursue recompense for your damages.

Our Trusted Indiana Personal Injury Lawyers Are Here For You

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to learn more about recovering compensation through a personal injury claim, wrongful death claim, or medical malpractice claim in Indiana. You can schedule a free consultation with an experienced Indianapolis accident attorney who can determine the best strategies for your Indiana personal injury case. Not only does our law firm offer free consultations, we never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you! We represent injured persons throughout Indiana, as well as the surviving dependents in wrongful death and medical malpractice cases.

How to Find a Skilled Indiana Boating Accident Attorney

Posted on May 15, 2020 by admin

As Spring continues to get warmer, more and more people are putting their motorized boats in the water. Here in Indiana, there are various lakes, ponds, and rivers that are well-suited for boating, including large bodies of water like Geist Lake, Raccoon Lake, and Morse Lake. Although the lake life is truly wonderful, accidents are known to happen. Whether in a fishing boat, speed boat, or pontoon, no one is fully protected from sustaining injuries in a boating accident. In more serious accidents, fatalities can even occur. If someone sustains serious injuries, it is vital to find a skilled Indiana boating accident attorney to represent you in your injury claim and ensure you receive the full and fair settlement you deserve.

Trust the seasoned personal injury lawyers at Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. to fight for your rights as an Indiana maritime accident victim.

Indiana Boat Accident Lawyers 317-881-2700

The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. represents maritime accident victims all throughout the state of Indiana. We set ourselves apart from other law firms by remaining open and available to our clients. With one simple phone call or email, you can be scheduled in for an initial consultation that we will educate you on everything you need to know about being injured in a serious accident. See our blog, “How a Personal Injury Consultation Will Ease Your Mind After an Accident” to learn why your initial meeting with your maritime accident lawyer is so beneficial and important.

Our Indiana Maritime Accident Attorneys are Standing By

Our practice is firmly dedicated to helping accident victims defend their rights to full and fair compensation for their damages and losses. Our experienced Indiana personal injury lawyers have successfully represented boating accident victims, as we retain extensive knowledge of all Indiana maritime laws and boat accident laws, and stay current on all changes. Moreover, we will retain a boating expert witness to help with your case. The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. will work hard to recover the appropriate settlement for those negligently injured on the water.

Common Boating Accidents That Happen in Indiana:

🛥 Swimmer Collisions
🛥 Dock Accidents
🛥 Drunk Boating Accidents
🛥 Accidental Drownings
🛥 Watercraft Collisions (Jet skis, etc.)
🛥 Propeller Accidents
🛥 Flooded or Sunken Boat Accidents
🛥 Fires and Explosions
🛥 Tubing/Water Skiing Accidents
🛥 Marina Accidents
🛥 Kayak/Canoe Accidents

Boating Accident Damages and Losses

There are various types of damages and losses a victim can suffer as a result of a serious boating accident. Common damages awarded to personal injury victims include compensatory, nominal, and punitive damages such as hospital bills, medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of future earnings, physical disablement, lost ability to work, and more. See our blog, “What Will Personal Injury Compensation Cover?” to learn which types of damages you can recover in a personal injury boating accident claim.

How to Start Your Boating Accident Claim in Indiana

Call our office today at 317-881-2700 and schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your Indiana boating accident claim. Our seasoned personal injury attorneys are ready to listen to your case and determine the best strategy for pursing a claim after being seriously injured in a boat accident. At your free initial consultation, you can have your case heard and evaluated without any payment obligations. Contact us to get started in your financial recovery, today.

Important Accident Claim Facts for Victims of a Head-On Collision

Posted on May 12, 2020 by admin

Most car wrecks are serious, but when it comes to head-on collisions, the consequences are generally more severe. Virtually all head-on collision car accidents result in some form of injury, whether physical, mental, emotional, or a combination of the three. Sadly, many also result in death. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that in 2018, 56% of vehicular fatalities were caused by head-on car accidents.

If you or someone you love was recently injured in a head-on car collision, it is vital that you consult with a licensed accident attorney as soon as possible to learn your rights to recovering compensation for your damages. Continue reading to learn some basic accident claim facts that will help you get started on the right path toward a full and fair settlement.

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Common Causes for Head-On Car Crashes

There are several things that can go wrong behind the wheel of a vehicle, making the list of possible causes for car accidents vast. However, head-on car collisions tend to be caused by the same types of negligence. Arguably, the top cause for such car accidents is distracted driving. Distracted driving can include a wide range of behaviors, from driving fatigued or under the influence, to texting, taking calls, addressing children or passengers, eating, reading, fidgeting with the stereo, searching through purses or bags, and similar actions.

Additional causes for head-on collisions include speeding, losing control of the vehicle, unsafe or illegal passing, and other types of driver errors. Our related blogs, “Most Common Injuries Caused By a Rear-End Car Accident” and “Top 5 Ways to Avoid a Serious Car Accident” can also give you insight on car accident claims and driving safety.

Accident Claims for Head-On Car Accidents

The law says that, as a driver, you have a duty of care when you drive on the road. If another driver breaches this duty of care, and as a result, collides head-on into a car and injures that driver and/or their passengers, the victims can seek damages in a court of law. In order to be awarded damages, victims must prove that the negligent party did breach their duty of care, which directly resulted in their injuries and subsequent losses. This is where a seasoned personal injury lawyer can help.

Personal injury lawyers have the knowledge and skills to help clients recover damages for current and future medical expenses and hospital bills, as well as, property damages, permanent damages, wrongful death damages, pain, suffering, and more. See our blog, “An Overview of Personal Injury Basics” will help you understand more about how the accident claim process works.

How to Get Started on Your Car Accident Claim in Indianapolis

Call The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to learn the best course of action after being negligently injured in a serious car collision in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding locations. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you. Schedule your consultation before the statutes of limitations runs out on your claim. We represent injured persons throughout the State of Indiana.

What You Need to Know About Using a Personal Injury Lawyer

Posted on May 8, 2020 by admin

When you are seriously hurt in an accident, it is natural to have questions and concerns. In fact, hiring a lawyer is usually the last thought on a victim’s mind after suffering serious injuries in an accident that was not their fault. But the harsh reality is that a personal injury lawyer is something that needs to be considered right from the start in order to protect your best interests in terms of financial security and quality of life.

When an accident occurs, the insurance company for the defendant immediately begins an investigation in an attempt to protect it’s financial interests in the outcome and they have attorneys and insurance adjusters working on you case from day one and so should you.

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When to Use an Accident Lawyer – Always

In almost all injury cases you need the knowledge and expertise of a professional personal injury lawyer to win your accident claim for a full and fair amount. It is advantageous to hire professional representation if:

In general, there can be many technical or legal complexities. Such complexities that can make managing, bringing and winning an injury claim challenging without legal assistance and mistakes can cause you to lose the case.

You are Severely Injured or Disabled. If your injuries are severe or permanently disabling, you have a complex case, which means you definitely need professional legal representation to manage your injury claim. This includes wrongful death claims.

You Do Not Feel Comfortable Representing Yourself. Many people are simply uncomfortable with the responsibility of handling their own injury claim. There are many technicalities, legalities, paperwork, and more that require legal knowledge and a lot of time.

The Cost of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

Typical attorney fee arrangements include retainers, hourly rates, and flat fees, but for personal injury lawyers, the most common payment model used are contingency fees. Lawyers who work on a contingency fee basis do not collect any type of payment upfront from a client. Instead, clients only pay their lawyers if they recover a settlement or judgment for them. Payments are conditional, or contingent, under this type of fee arrangement. So, if a lawyer does not win a settlement or monies for their client, the client pays nothing to the lawyer for their services.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Attorneys Who Will Fight For Your Rights

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Indianapolis personal injury attorney who can determine the best strategies for your case. Not only does our law firm offer free consultations, we never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you! Call 317-881-2700 to get started on your financial recovery, today. We represent injured persons throughout Indiana.

When Will the Settlement Negotiations Begin for My Accident Claim?

Posted on May 5, 2020 by admin

When you are injured in an accident that was not your fault, it is important to hire a personal injury lawyer to represent you in your claim because they have the knowledge and resources to ensure you recover a full settlement from the insurance company. One of the most crucial stages of the personal injury claim process is settlement negotiations. During this time, your legal team will go back and forth with the insurance company until they have reached a fair settlement. If no settlement is reached, then a jury will decide the case. What many personal injury claimants are eager to know, however, is when their settlement negotiations will begin. As an accident victim, you might be wondering this, too.

Continue reading to find out what to expect surrounding your potential accident claim negotiations.

The Start of Settlement Negotiations

Normally, a demand letter is not sent to the defense until the injured person has completed their treatment or until the person has reached maximum medical improvement, meaning no further care will make the injured person better. Of course, part of a demand includes providing all relevant medical records, medical bills and lost wage documentation, as well as possibly obtaining expert witness and physician reports in some cases.

Once the opposing party’s insurance adjuster receives the demand letter, written by your personal injury lawyer, the settlement negotiations can begin. Such negotiations will take place among you, the insurance adjuster, and your legal team, however, your lawyers will speak on your behalf. Although an insurance adjuster will usually call you within one to two weeks of receiving the demand letter, the first document you will likely receive after sending it is a Reservations of Rights letter.

Demand Letters and Reservations of Rights Letters

A Reservations of Rights letter is an official document sent by the insurance company to let you know they have received your demand letter and have decided to begin investigating the claim, but they reserve the right to not pay you anything if it turns out that the accident is not covered under the particular policy. See our blog, “The Difference Between a Reservations of Rights Letter and a Demand Letter” to learn more about these two important documents.

When Adjusters Do Not Respond

In some cases, insurance adjusters can take some time to get back to claimants. This is usually a result of being busy with other cases, or needing time to study the claim and review all the medical records. If they do not get back to you within 4 weeks of sending your demand letter, your lawyers to take action by contacting the claims department. If a specific date still cannot be set for the adjuster to respond to the demand letter, your lawyers might decide to go above their head and contact their supervisors.

How to Get Help With Your Indiana Accident Claim

Call the Law office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to discuss your potential personal injury claim with licensed Indianapolis accident attorneys you can trust. Our law firm offers free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we recover a settlement or judgment for you. We represent clients throughout the State of Indiana. Be sure to get started on learning more about your claim soon, before the Indiana statute of limitations runs out! The sooner you retain us, the sooner we can start collecting the evidence necessary to prove your case and before that evidence is lost.

Can I Make a Workers’ Compensation Claim if I Get Food Poisoning at Work?

Posted on April 30, 2020 by admin

Employees can face several risks and dangers at work. From inclement weather and repetitive lifting, to chemicals, crime, heavy machinery, and more, the list of possible dangers is quite broad, and can happen among a wide range of industries. Although the risks for many professions are quite obvious, any place or position of employment can pose certain dangers. One such danger can be food.

One might not generally think that the food they eat at work can put them at risk of getting sick, but the truth is, food poisoning is a very common illness that can cause severe symptoms and high levels of pain for several days or worse; and it can be easily contracted in a workplace setting given certain circumstances.

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Were You Performing Work-Related Duties?

Sure, there’s is always a risk of getting hurt or being involved in an accident when you step out into the world. But when it happens while you are at work, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses and damages, so long as the injury occurred while you were performing work-related duties. In the case of food poisoning, the contaminated food or drink must have been consumed while you were doing something for work. Because if you were not performing work-related duties while consuming the contaminated food that caused you to develop food poisoning, then you would not have a valid workers’ compensation claim; or, it would be extremely difficult proving that you do.

It can be confusing to understand what constitutes “at work” or “performing work-related duties”, so it is important to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to determine if your workers’ compensation claim is a valid one or not. They have the resources, knowledge, and experience to assess your case for validity and implement the best strategies for financial recovery. There are 3 helpful examples in which food poisoning would be a valid workers’ compensation claim, and a few more in which it would not.

Examples of Valid Workers’ Comp Claims for Food Poisoning

The contaminated food or beverage must have been consumed while an employee is either performing or participating in work-related activities. Here are some examples below for a better understanding of when food poisoning may be work-related:

Your employer benefited from you eating the food. If your job is to taste food, and your employer benefited from you tasting and eating the food you ate, then you could have a valid workers’ compensation claim. This could apply to food critics, food bloggers, restaurant cooks, servers, bartenders, and other vocations in which food tasting would be common part of the job.

Your employer provided the food. If your employer supplies the food that caused you to develop a food-borne illness, you could easily have a valid claim. For instance, if you were attending a mandatory paid work meeting that the employer had catered, and the food gave you food poisoning, it could be a valid workers’ comp claim. In contrast, if you get sick from your own food you brought from home and ate at your desk, you would not.

You developed food poisoning from a workplace cafeteria that is for employees only. Some workplaces have cafeterias that are strictly for employees to eat in, while others may have one that is open to the general public and employees. If you develop a food-borne illness in a cafeteria setting that is provided by the employer strictly for employees, you could have a valid claim. If the café is public, you would not.

Get a Free Consultation With an Indianapolis Workers’ Comp Lawyer Today

Call the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for help with a workplace injury claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our seasoned workers’ compensation lawyers can help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after suffering a serious injury while performing work-related duties. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you. Schedule your consultation before the statutes of limitations runs out on your claim. We represent injured persons throughout the State of Indiana.

Am I at Risk of Any Consequences if I File a Personal Injury Claim?

Posted on April 27, 2020 by admin

Making any sort of claim is a serious process that requires a certain degree of responsibility. When it comes to making a personal injury claim, it is common for people to have an even higher level of concern since the outcome is so vital to their overall recovery and future quality of life. One such concern that seems repetitive among claimants is the question of risk in terms of moving forward with a personal injury claim. People wonder, “Are there long-term consequences?”, “Will I have to make sacrifices?”, and “Is the process worth it?”

The truth is, claimants do not take on any risk, nor face potential consequences, in a personal injury case. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Continue reading to learn why.

Personal Injury Contingent Fees

One of the most common concerns among personal injury claimants is finances. They often wonder how much it costs to hire a personal injury lawyer to represent them in their case, as well as, how much money they will have to pay out of pocket through the entire process.

The good news here is that most personal injury lawyers, including Craven, Hoover & Blazek, P.C., work on a contingency-fee basis, which means they do not collect any fees upfront, and only do so if they recover a settlement or judgment for their client. So, if your lawyer is unsuccessful at obtaining a settlement or judgment for your claim, you do not have to pay them.

You do, however, have to pay for non-lawyer related costs, such as filing fees, court costs, investigator costs, costs for obtaining medical records, deposition costs, legal research costs, and more. But most often, these expenses are paid after your case is complete. See our blog, “The Costs of a Personal Injury Lawsuit” to learn which additional fees you might be expected to pay in a personal injury lawsuit.

Financial Impacts

Another common concern regarding personal injury claims and settlements is taxes. Many wonder whether or not they have to pay taxes on their settlements, as well as, whether or not the claim itself will have an impact on their credit. See our blog, “Do I Have to Pay Taxes on My Personal Injury Settlement?” to learn about taxation on claim settlements. As for credit, filing any sort of claim or lawsuit will have no negative nor long-term effect on your credit score and borrowing abilities.

Get Advice From an Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Call the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for help with personal injury claims in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our seasoned personal injury lawyers can help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after suffering a serious injury in an accident. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you. Schedule your consultation before the statutes of limitations runs out on your claim. We represent injured persons throughout the State of Indiana.