The “Yes and No” Guide for Personal Injury Accidents

If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident that resulted in serious injuries, be sure to know the “do’s and don’ts” of your situation. A person that has been hurt in an accident can easily make fatal mistakes and risk forgoing any future claim with a simple and thoughtless mistake. Go over these rules and advice for personal injury cases so that you are prepared to fight for your rights in the most effective way.

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Say “YES” to…

Always carry, or have on you, a disposable camera. It is recommended to carry one in the glove compartment of your car, but often times, people have camera phones and digital cameras on them at all times. No matter what form of camera you may have, always be sure to have one in case of an accident. This way, you can document the scene of the accident, as well as, your injuries that you’ve sustained. Having this fresh footage will be a huge advantage for your cases in any future claims.

Collect as much information about the parties involved in the accident. Write down their name, address, email, phone number, secondary phone number, insurance details, and drivers’ license number. All of this information is necessary to have if you wish to pursue compensation for your damages.

Collect the same type of information from every single witness that is willing to testify. Get their names, numbers, addresses, email, and their permission to contact them, either you or a lawyer, to be a witness to the accident.

At the scene, discuss the accident in detail with police. Be sure to tell them of your injuries because they will be preparing written statements about the accident and the persons involved. By notifying police that you are injured, insurance companies will be able to see that being testified in the officer’s written reports, and will help your case. Be sure to seek medical attention immediately and make report of that as well.

Tell Yourself “NO” to…

Never speak or provide written or oral statements to any third party committees. Do not speak to insurance adjusters, reps, or anyone else except your lawyer and the police. Once you have been briefed by your personal injury lawyer, they will let you know how to prepare for those types of conversations.

Always stay in constant communication with your attorney during the case. If you are approached by anyone wanting formal information about the case or the accident, call your lawyer right away. This way, your attorney can speak with these third parties and give them the pertinent information they are seeking, without jeopardizing the case.

Do not sign anything! Do not write checks, sign documents, or even agree orally to sign or pay for something. This gesture can destroy any claim that you had pending. Trust your attorney and let him guide you in the right direction.

The legal system is complicated, tricky, and tedious. It is crucial to hire a professional in the industry to speak on your behalf and protect you from loss compensation. There are so many “do’s and don’ts” when it comes to personal injury cases, so be sure to at least speak with a lawyer as soon as you are involved in an accident that results in injury.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Law Firm

Personal Injury Lawyers Indiana

Personal Injury Lawyers Indiana 317-881-2700

Call the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free initial consultation with a licensed personal injury attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana. Seasoned lawyers, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek, are eager to help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after being seriously injured in an accident. Call 317-881-2700 for Indianapolis personal injury representation you can trust.

Suing the Government for Personal Injury Compensation

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

There are certain rules that must be followed if you wish to file a personal injury claim against a person, company, organization, or other entity. But as for suing a governmental institution or organization for a personal injury, there are a completely separate set of meticulous guidelines and agendas. It is vitally important to hire an experienced attorney for personal injury claims against a government-operated establishment or organization.

They are the only professionals capable of protecting your rights and securing your future. The procedures and legal obligations involved in such governmental injury cases are very complex and demanding. A licensed accident attorney that concentrates on the type of injury you suffered is your best option for recovering full and fair compensation for your damages and losses. Continue reading to learn more about pursuing a lawsuit against governmental entities for personal injury they are responsible for, and who you can trust for accurate and proficient legal advice regarding your claim.

Governmental Organizations and Establishments

An injury can occur at the fault of several types of government establishments, services, and entities. Examples include government-owned buildings, city buses and trains, city subways, government officialdom’s like the post office, park, or library, and much more. Injury claims can be filed against the state, city, county, public agencies, public divisions, and federal governments. To have a valid claim against any of these parties, one must prove that their injuries and subsequent damages we caused, or partially caused, by a government entity or employ while performing their official duties. To do this, a special approach is necessary.

Suing the Government

The government has a different set of rules that decrees who can sue them and what they can be sued for. This is just another reason why hiring a licensed Indianapolis personal injury lawyer is so vital to your case. Your state has a very specific and strict set of guidelines that must be stringently followed in order to present a claim against any government entity. For example, one must formally file a written claim against the specific government employ or entity with in 30 to 60 days (or more depending on your state) of the accident. If all forms and files are not implemented properly and on time, a victim can lose their opportunity to recover compensation for good.

Valid Personal Injury Cases

One clear cut example of a valid claim against a governmental organization would be a city bus accident. If a person is injured while riding on a city bus, for reasons of negligence on the government’s behalf (i.e. intoxicated bus driver, reckless driving, bus defects, etc.), they are likely to have a strong and valid case against the city or county.

Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C.

Personal Injury Attorney Indianapolis

Personal Injury Attorney Indianapolis 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to speak with a licensed personal injury lawyer about your recent accident in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attorneys Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek have extensive trial and litigation experience practicing personal injury law. We have the drive, determination, and skill necessary to recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after sustaining a wrongful injury. Call 317-881-2700 to schedule a free initial consultation and have your case evaluated by a knowledgeable accident attorney in Indianapolis, today.

Personal Injury Guide and References

Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

A personal injury can happen to anyone, children and adults alike. When someone is injured in an accident that was caused by another entity’s negligence (a person, company, organization, product, etc.), they are considered victims of tort. Tort is a civil wrong that can serve as grounds for a lawsuit in order to recover compensation for related damages. There are three different kinds of tort; intentional torts, negligent torts, and strict liability.

Examples of intentional torts can include cases of assault, harassment, trespassing, or emotional distress. Negligent torts can include cases like fraternity hazing gone bad, wrongful death, and motor vehicle accidents. Cases of strict liability can include slip and fall accidents, defective products, and more. There are several other areas of tort as well, not included in the above categories; such as defamation, harassment, nuisance tort, and more.

An example of a common tort would be if a drunk driver hits you and causes you serious injury. In this case, they have committed a negligent tort, and you have grounds to pursue lawsuit to obtain recompense for vehicular damages, personal injuries, trauma, lost wages, and much more. Assault is another example of tort that can lead to a personal injury lawsuit. Some forms of tort, mostly intentional ones, are not only grounds for a personal injury lawsuit, they are also punishable by imprisonment. Other forms of personal injury include wrongful death. Property damage, however, does not fall under personal injury law.

Personal Injury Terms

We have covered what tort is, and what a personal injury is, but there are other related terms that might be helpful to know before pursuing your own personal injury lawsuit. There are nine principle participants in a general personal injury claim. The first is the victim, or person filing for the victim. This is called the claimant. The rest are listed and defined below. Continue reading for more helpful legal terms related to personal injury lawsuits.

Claimant – This is the person that files the claim with an insurance company, or the person that actually suffered the personal injury. In the case of a wrongful death, the claimant would usually be a relative or spouse.

Party – A participant in a lawsuit.

Plaintiff – Also called the “claimant”, or the person that files the lawsuit.

Defendant – This is the opposing party (either a company or individual), or the party being sued.

Lawyer – This is the licensed legal party (usually one person, or sometimes a small team) that represents the claimant in a personal injury lawsuit.

Adjuster – This is the individual appointed by an insurance company to settle a claim. Their purpose is to coordinate a settlement that doesn’t require the insurance company to pay out, or pay-out as little as possible.

First Party Insurance – This is the insurance company of the victim, or person filing the claim.

Third Party Insurance – This is the opposing party’s insurance, or the party being sued.

You can speak with a licensed Indianapolis accident attorney about your personal injury questions and concerns by simply scheduling a free initial consultation. They can listen to your story and assess whether or not you were an actual victim of tort. If they find that you or your loved one was wrongfully injured or killed as a result of another entity’s negligence, they will represent your claim. Many law firms do not collect upfront lawyer fees, and only do so if they recover full and fair compensation for their clients.

Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C.

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to speak with a licensed Indianapolis personal injury attorney regarding a recent tort or accident. Seasoned lawyer, Daniel Craven, and the panel of personal injury attorneys alongside him, are eager and waiting to recover the full and fair compensation you rightfully deserve after being negligently injured in an accident. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we settle your claim. Call 317-881-2700 for more information about filing a personal injury lawsuit in Indianapolis, Indiana, today.

What Makes a Personal Injury Lawsuit Successful?

Indianapolis Accident Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Accident Lawyers 317-881-2700

When someone is injured in an accident that was no fault of their own, but the fault of someone or something else, they have the right to pursue compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. Being injured in a serious accident can dramatically change a person’s life; from personal relationships, educational opportunities, disabilities, lost wages at work, and much more. Because these are valuable assets in society, the law perceives a victim of a negligent accident entitled to remuneration for their damages.

In order to be successful at a personal injury lawsuit, one must choose the right attorney, and never cut corners when it comes to their case. Continue reading to learn the most important factors of an accident claim, and how to do everything possible to win your personal injury case.

Accident Lawsuits

There are three critical steps a victim, or the family of a victim, should take in order to have the strongest lawsuit possible. If even one step is neglected or missed, it can mean the difference between winning and losing a personal injury lawsuit. Here are the three vital actions that all accident victims, or their families, must do for a successful lawsuit:

Receive Professional Medical Care Immediately Following an Accident

Anyone injured in an accident that was caused by the negligence or carelessness of another, should immediately seek medical attention. This means taking an ambulance from the scene of the crime to the hospital, or having someone drive you to the emergency room on the spot. If you wait to receive medical attention, it is difficult to argue that you are in fact seriously injured. On the other hand, in rare cases a person may not experience immediate trauma or pain, but later on, begin to feel excruciating pain. These are arguable cases as well. In this situation, it is vital that a person goes to the doctor as soon as they begin to experience any pain or trauma from a recent accident. There is also a state-mandated statutes of limitations that decrees the legal amount of time a person can file a claim against a negligent party. This is why time is of the essence.

File a Police Report On the Spot

Once an accident occurs, the police needs to be alerted right away. If the victim is too injured to contact police themselves, an onlooker or anyone else not injured can call for them. If the police cannot be contacted at the scene of the crime, they can be called into the hospital to file the report there. A police report is a legal statement documenting the details of an accident. These reports are later used as evidence against an opposing party in court.

Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer

Without the service of a licensed Indianapolis personal injury attorney, victims will have very little chance of winning their claim. It requires a significant amount of money upfront and in-depth understanding of the law for a victim to lead their own case. When you hire a lawyer, they do not collect attorney fees unless they win your case and obtain compensation for your damages. This means personal injury victims do not need cash upfront to being pursuing a lawsuit. In fact, most personal injury firms offer free initial consultations to assess a victim’s case with no obligation.

Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 and speak to a licensed personal injury attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana today. Attorney Daniel Craven, and his fellow accident lawyers, are highly proficient and well-versed in personal injury law. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we are successful at recovering compensation for your injuries and damages. Call us today at 317-881-2700 if you or a loved one were recently injured in a personal injury accident in Indianapolis, IN or its nearby counties.

What Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Do for You?

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Personal injury lawyers are legal counselors, licensed to represent accident victims in lawsuits against negligent parties. They generally take on legal cases pertaining to negligence and tort law. This means they represent victims that have been injured in a serious accident caused by another person or entity’s carelessness, or the families of a wrongful death victim.

Examples of negligent torts, injury lawsuits, and accident cases include the following and more:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Medical Malpractice
• Wrongful Death
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Dog Bite Injuries
• Drunk Driving Accidents
• Head Injuries
• Child Day Care Accidents
• Workers Compensation
• Burn Injuries
• Assault and Battery
• Product Liability Injuries
• And Much More

Personal Injury Attorneys

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

All personal injury attorneys retain a similar goal within their practice; and that goal is to recover full and fair compensation for damages sustained and suffered by their injured clients. They handle all negotiations with opposing insurance companies and counsels, in order to settle out of court. If they cannot come to a settlement outside of court, they will take their case to trial and let a jury decide on remuneration.

Accident attorneys obtain compensation for negligently injured victims and the families of wrongful deaths, so that they may cover all exemplary expenses and live a normal life once again. Such damages include pain and suffering, mental trauma, prolonged rehabilitation, medical and hospital bills, lost wages, loss of consortium, subsequent losses, much more.

In most cases, an Indianapolis Personal Injury Law firm does not collect attorney fees unless they win your case and recover remuneration for their clients. Once they recover compensation for injured victims, they are paid from the earnings. Also, personal injury firms are likely to offer free initial consultations so that a victims can assess their case without any monetary obligations. During these consultations, the injury lawyer will determine a person’s eligibility for compensation and discuss their legal options.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Law Firm

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for more information about personal injury lawsuits in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can schedule a free initial consultation with one of our highly accomplished and licensed personal injury lawyers, like attorney Daniel Craven, as soon as today! We offer free initial consultations, and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you! Call 317-881-2700 to discuss your recent personal injury accident in Indianapolis, IN and its surrounding counties.