Tag Archives: file a personal injury claim in Indianapolis

How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Accident Lawyer?

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It is always best to hire a personal injury lawyer to represent you or your family in an accident case, however, many people are hesitant to do so out of fear that they charge too much for their services. If you want to know how much an accident lawyer charges for their services, continue reading and review the several types of pay rates and price tiers that are common among law firms and independent attorneys.

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Law Firm
317-881-2700

Understanding Lawyer Fees

Law firms collect their fees in a variety of ways. It can depend on the type of case, the lawyer’s experience and more. Common payment arrangements used by law firms and lawyers include hourly rates, flat rates, retainers, and contingent fees. Flat rate fees are generally arranged for basic and simple legal services, like divorces and wills. Hourly fees are the most common payment arrangement for lawyers, and vary in price depending on the lawyer’s experience. Hourly attorney rates can be anywhere from $50 to $1,000 per hour! However, these rates vary from firm to firm.

Contingent Fees and Retainers

Retainers are used for certain cases and charged upfront before services are rendered. As clients are billed, the amount is deducted from the retainer as the case proceeds. Contingent fees are only collected if a lawyer wins a settlement for their client. This means they work on a contingent fee basis. This is most common for personal injury lawyers and law firms like ours.

Most personal injury law firms, including ours, offer free initial consultations to discuss your accident and assess whether or not it’s a valid claim. If it is valid, they will accept the case and move forward with the legal process upon your request, without ever collecting lawyer fees unless they win your settlement. So most often, no upfront fees are necessary, but this is not the case for all firms.

Recovering a Settlement

Once a settlement is recovered, there are different methods and price tiers of payment collected by lawyers. How they choose to collect or charge their fees all depends on the firm or the lawyer themselves. A certain percentage is deducted from the settlement amount and paid to the personal injury attorney for their services. But if the client does not win their case, the lawyer collects nothing. Generally, accident lawyers collect one third of the settlement recovered; however, these percentages vary among firms.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free initial consultation with a licensed personal injury lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana. They never collect attorney fees unless we win your settlement. They specialize in various accident cases, including motor vehicle accidents, slip trip and fall accidents, dog bites, workers compensation, and much more. Call 317-881-2700 to file a personal injury claim, today.

How to Find a Reputable Personal Injury Lawyer in Indiana

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Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

After being injured in an accident caused by another person’s negligence, victims are sure to have questions and concerns. This is why a personal injury lawyer is a significant asset to anyone that’s suffered a recent serious injury or been involved in a serious accident. They are there to represent a victim’s best interest, as well as, the best interests of their family and future.

A professional personal injury attorney can bring your claim to trial, or settle out of court with opposing parties and insurance companies, to recover the full and fair compensation an injured victim deserves. When searching for a reputable accident attorney or law firm, it is important to hire someone with a certain level of credentials, including ample experience. Continue reading for tips on how to find a personal injury attorney you can trust is a reputable choice.

Accident Lawyers and Firm Credentials

Misconduct, negligence, malicious intent, and carelessness are all factors that play a huge role in causing a personal injury to occur. These factors and more are used as a basis to begin understanding and investigating an accident case. Once these grounds are determined, lawyers can assess whether or not a person is entitled to compensation for their damages. Of course, the process of assessing an injury case is not so cut and dry; there are several more variables, factors, research, interviewing, investigating, and more that a legal team must cover in order to put together a strong claim for their client’s.

So how do you know your attorney can provide comprehensive legal representation and recover the recompense you deserve? Here are some credentials, attributes, and more to look for when choosing a personal injury lawyer:

➀ Proper State Licensing

Every attorney should be legally licensed to practice their particular area of law in the state they work and live. Be sure they are true, licensed, practicing lawyers before paying a retainer or hiring them on the spot.

➁ Trial and Litigation Experience (at least 10 years)

Choose a lawyer that has several years of experience practicing law, litigating, and going to trial. Experience means more knowledge, better resources, and more power. An experienced lawyer is a confident and assertive lawyer that knows how to recover for clients.

➂ Client Amenities

Law firms should set themselves apart from the others by offering client conveniences and amenities. This lets the client know they are not out to just get paid, but they really care about the comfort and well-being of their clientele. Look for offerings like free initial consultations and no upfront lawyer fees. These client conveniences are a good sign.

➃ Lawyer Availability

An injury attorney should be easily available for their clients at most times. What’s the point of having an attorney if you cannot consult them or bring to them your questions and concerns when you need to? Although it is not possible to always meet or speak in person, but a lawyer should provide full-on open communication with clients through email and phone.

➄ Track Records

Look into an attorney’s track records for success. Find out how many cases were settled, won, lost, and so forth. A good success record means a lawyer knows what works and knows how to bring a claim against an opposing party, like insurance companies. Do not be afraid to ask a lawyer, straight up, about their track record and trial history.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal Injury Attorney Indianapolis

Personal Injury Attorneys 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 if you have been injured in an accident that was not your fault in Indianapolis, Indiana. Seasoned Indianapolis personal injury attorneys, Dan Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek have extensive trial and litigation experience. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless they settle or win your claim. Call 317-881-2700 to learn how to file a personal injury claim in Indianapolis, IN today.

Can I Settle My Own Personal Injury Claim?

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Indianapolis Accident Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Accident Lawyers 317-881-2700

Truthfully, more than 90% of personal injury claims never become a lawsuit because they are settled out of court. Negotiating a settlement out of court makes the legal process simpler and more efficient, and it costs much less than having a trial. For less complicated cases, it is the least-risky alternative for all parties involved. In order to make the process even less risky, it is strongly advised to seek out professional legal counsel. Personal injury lawyers retain the proper knowledge, resources, and experience to accurately manage an accident claim and negotiate a full and fair settlement.

Although it is strongly encouraged to hire an attorney, an injured victim could choose to represent themselves and attempt to settle their claim all on their own, but this is not recommended. Continue reading to learn why settling a personal injury claim without a licensed attorney can be detrimental to a victim’s case.

Personal Injury Settlements

If you are thinking about settling your personal injury claim yourself, there are a few things you should know. First, consider settling out of court for the aforementioned reasons. It will cost you much less if you can avoid a trial. You will then need to calculate all your damages, including economic losses, special damages, general damages, and past and future losses. And be sure to have proof of these numbers. Then you will need to adjust this value by mitigating certain damages and adding in certain factors of your case, including liability, the number of defendants, your age, your occupation, your medical history, and more. Then you can make your claim by writing a settlement demand letter to the insurance company (yours or theirs).

Keep in mind that you are not likely to have as good an outcome, in terms of recompense, without the professional assistance of a licensed attorney. A lawyer has the negotiating skills and experience to render a fuller and fairer settlement. There are several tricks and traps insurance companies will use against claimants in order to absorb the least amount of liability and pay out the least amount of compensation possible. Attorneys that practice injury law are familiar with these methods and know how to navigate through them so their client’s get what they fully deserve.

Without professional legal counsel, you are an easy target. The law is confusing and there are several aspects to a personal injury claim process. Aside from all the filing and paperwork, you would have the burden of proving the other party’s liability. This requires a comprehensive understanding of accident law, injury law, and more. It would be near impossible to adequately prepare yourself for what you need to know to easily and effectively settle your own claim.

Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C.

Personal Injury Law Firm Indiana

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to file a personal injury claim in Indianapolis. Seasoned attorneys, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek, have a focus on accident law and retain extensive trial and litigation experience. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you. Call 317-881-2700 to learn about filing a personal injury claim in Indianapolis, IN today.

Scene-of-the-Accident Tips for Minor to Moderate Personal Injuries

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Car Accident Lawyers 317-881-2700

Car Accident Lawyers 317-881-2700

If you or a loved one was recently hurt in a personal injury accident, it is vital to take the right steps directly after the incident to ensure and secure your rights down the line. For very serious accidents and injuries (brain injuries, concussions, spinal cord injuries, etc.), the most important step you can take is to receive immediate medical care. Once you are stable, the process can continue. Continue reading to learn what to do after being involved in a person injury accident, and how to get started recovering your expenses.

What to Do After a Personal Injury Accident

Be sure to always have a camera on you at all times. A disposable camera should always be kept in the glove compartment of your vehicle, and many people these days have cameras on their wireless phones. Capturing the injury on camera right after it occurs is a crucial step toward defending yourself in a personal injury case. Whether it’s a motor vehicle accident or a slip, trip, and fall, take as many pictures as you can of the environment, accident location, the injured area of the body (if applicable), and anything else that may have contributed to the incident. If you are unable to take pictures, ask the person with you to take them, or if alone, a friendly bystander. You will also want to ask about any surveillance cameras and videos so you can request a copy of your incident if it was recorded.

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

The next step is to gather as much information from witnesses and persons involved. Get the names, addresses, emails, and phone numbers of all the people that saw the accident occur, and of the people who were involved. This can include a store manager, bystanders, customers, passengers in a car, and any other witnesses. Having proof of your story through the statements of witnesses will strengthen a case. You will need even more information from every person involved in the accident. Be sure to collect standard contact information, as well as drivers’ license numbers and insurance information.

When all pertinent information is collected, it is time to contact the police. Communicate all the necessary information and timeline of the accident. Be sure to tell them of any pain or discomfort you are experiencing. They will assist you with getting medical attention.

The final step to take after being wrongly injured is to contact a licensed accident attorney to file a personal injury claim in your city or county. A personal injury lawyer can recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after experiencing a traumatic injury or accident as a result of another person’s negligence.

File a Personal Injury Claim in Indianapolis

Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to file a personal injury claim in Indianapolis. Licensed accident attorneys, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek are eager to win 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.

What is a Reservations of Rights Letter?

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Once a personal injury victim files a claim with or against an insurance company, the first document they will send to the insurance adjuster is called a demand letter. The first document they might receive from the insurance provider is called a “reservations of rights” letter. This letter is sent by the insurance company before the negotiations process begins. Continue reading to learn what this letter is and how it is used in personal injury litigation.

Reservations of Rights

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

When victims receive a reservations of rights letter from the insurance company they are filing a claim with, they can feel a sense of anxiety due to misconception of its contents. Many believe that the insurance carrier is claiming they are not going to cover a victim’s damages, when in fact, this is not the case. A reservations of rights letter simply conveys to the claimant that the insurance provider “reserves the right” to not pay for anything if the accident is not covered under their policy. It also informs the claimant that they are still going to investigate the case to determine liability.

Insurance companies send these letters to claimants in order to protect themselves from future legal conflicts. This informs claimants that although they are starting an investigation, they are not acknowledging fault or promising coverage. They also express that remuneration is not guaranteed at all unless their investigation proves the accident is covered under their particular policy. Most often, this letter is meant to slightly intimidate claimants, in hopes that they decide to take a quicker and lower settlement and avoid going to trial.

Personal injury victims or claimants needn’t be nervous about a reservations of rights letter. They still have an obligation to investigate a claim and provide terms of settlement if the accident and injuries are covered under policy. Keep in mind that insurance companies fervently attempt to pay out the lowest possible compensation to victims, which is why it is important to hire a licensed personal injury attorney for aggressive and effective representation. They can recover the full and fair compensation a victim or their families deserve.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Law Firm

Personal Injury Lawyers Indianapolis, Indiana 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Lawyers Indianapolis, Indiana 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to file a personal injury claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attorneys, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek, are seasoned accident lawyers with extensive trial and litigation experience. They offer free initial consultations and never collect attorney fees unless they prevail for you. Call 317-881-2700 and schedule a consultation to discuss your accident with a licensed personal injury lawyer in Indianapolis, IN.

Explanation of Negligence Per Se Claims

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Indianapolis Accident Attorneys 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Accident Attorneys 317-881-2700

In a standard personal injury case, a plaintiff or their legal team is obligated to establish a defendant’s “duty of care”, prove that there was a “breach” of the duty, and then demonstrate how this negligence caused the plaintiff harm or damages. In a “negligence per se” case, there is no need to prove or establish any of these facets since negligence per se already suggests negligence was at play. Continue reading to learn what this means and examples of such cases.

Negligence Per Se

Negligence per se is a “cause of action” claim that suggests a person acted negligently, causing harm to another, by violating a law (criminal, not civil) that is set to protect people for that specific reason. Speed limits are a perfect example of laws set in place to protect the public. If a person were to ignore a speed limit, exceed it, and then cause an accident that harms another person, they can be held accountable under negligence per se laws.

The plaintiff party would have to first show that the defendant broke the law, which is fairly concrete. Then the case can move onto proving how violation of that law caused the victim harm. The negligent act had to have caused the type of harm the law was intended to prevent specifically, like in the case of reckless driving and motor vehicle accidents. And the victim has to be part of the “class” the law was set to protect; in this case, the public class.

To Prove Negligence Per Se, the Following Four Facts Must Be True:

1. A Safety Law was Violated

2. The Violated Law is Punishable By Criminal Penalty, Not Civil Penalty

3. The Violated Law is Set to Protect the Public from the Type of Injury Inflicted

4. The Injured Victim is a Member of the Class that the Violated Law Protects

Other examples of common negligence per se claims include buildings codes, city codes, health and safety codes, intoxicated driving, blatant medical malpractice (i.e. refusing emergency care, removing incorrect organ, practicing without a license, etc.), and more. States and jurisdictions vary in the use and application of negligence per se claims. Depending on your state or jurisdiction, the process can differ greatly. It is recommended to hire a licensed personal injury attorney that concentrates on the accident you or your loved one experienced so that your family’s rights are protected. A seasoned accident lawyer can help families recover the full and fair compensation they deserve after being injured as a result of another person or entity’s carelessness.

Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C.

Personal Injury Law Firm Indiana

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free initial consultation with a licensed Indianapolis personal injury lawyer you can trust. Partners, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek are seasoned personal injury attorneys that focus on several practice areas; including motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, workers’ compensation, and more. We never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you. Call 317-881-2700 to file a personal injury claim in Indianapolis, IN today.