Understanding the Legal Aspects of Slip and Fall Accidents in Indiana

Posted on October 5, 2023 by admin

Slip and fall accidents can lead to severe injuries, impacting victims both physically and mentally. Understanding the legal aspects surrounding these incidents in Indiana is crucial to protecting your rights and securing personal injury damages you are legally entitled to. This blog is here to shed light on the premises liability law in Indiana, detail the legal process involved in slip and fall cases, and guide victims on how to navigate the often complex terrain of personal injury cases. Join us as we delve into the intricacies of this critical aspect of law.

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What is Premises Liability in Indiana?

Premises liability is a legal doctrine that holds property owners responsible for injuries suffered on their premises. This entails the responsibility of the owner to maintain a safe environment and reasonably prevent hazards from occurring. In Indiana, both residential and commercial property owners must endeavor to help keep their visitors safe by taking appropriate measures. If they fail to do so, they can be held liable for any injuries that occur.

How Does Indiana Law Define a Slip and Fall Accident?

In general, a slip and fall accident is defined as an incident where someone trips or slips due to hazardous conditions on the property of another person. This could include anything from a slippery floor to debris left in a walkway. In Indiana, the courts use a “reasonableness standard” to assess whether someone is liable for a slip and fall accident. This means that if it can be reasonably assumed that the property owner did not take adequate steps to prevent an accident from occurring, they may be held responsible.

Additionally, there are two approaches adopted by Indiana Courts when dealing with slip, trip, and fall accidents. The “open and obvious” doctrine dictates that if the hazard is open and obvious to a reasonable person, then it could be assumed that the plaintiff should have taken more care in avoiding the accident. However, even if the hazard is open and obvious, a property owner can still be liable depending upon the specific facts of the case. On the other hand, the “reasonable discovery” rule states that as long as a hazard is not open or obvious, property owners still have an obligation to take reasonable steps in making sure their property is free of dangers.

What Should You Do if You Get Involved in a Slip and Fall Accident?

If you find yourself involved in a slip and fall accident, the most important thing to do is seek medical attention right away, even if your injuries seem minor. Additionally, it’s a good idea to take photos and videos of the scene and to obtain names and phone numbers of witnesses, as this can be used as evidence in court. It is vital that you request that the property owner or manager retain any and all video of the fall from at least two hours before the fall to two hours after the fall. It’s also important to note anything that could have caused the accident, such as a slippery floor or something blocking your path. Finally, it’s crucial for you to get legal advice from an experienced personal injury attorney who can guide you through the process of filing a lawsuit and securing damages.

What Kind of Damages Can You Recover in a Slip and Fall Lawsuit?

If you are successful in filing a lawsuit against the property owner or whoever was in charge of the property at the time, you could be eligible to receive compensation for any medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and other losses incurred due to your injuries. This includes physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost wages, and even punitive damages if the court or jury deems them appropriate. In addition to these damages, you may also be able to receive compensation for lost property or repair costs as well. This could include items such as clothing damaged during the accident, medical equipment or aids used to treat your injuries, and any other costs related to the incident.

Conclusion

Slip and fall accidents can lead to serious injuries and financial losses, which is why it’s important to understand the legal aspects of these cases in Indiana. If you have been involved in such an accident, contact a knowledgeable premises liability attorney who specializes in slip, trip, and fall cases can help guide you through the process of filing a lawsuit and ensure that you get full compensation for your losses. With the right guidance and proper documentation, you can secure justice and financial security for yourself and your loved ones.

If you have experienced a recent personal injury accident, make sure to take the time to understand your options before making any decisions. Contact Craven, Hoover & Blazek, P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free initial consultation with seasoned slip and fall lawyers in Indianapolis, Indiana. We represent victims all throughout the state, plus Indiana residents injured in other states.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Slip and Fall Injury Claim

Posted on February 1, 2023 by admin

Slip and fall accidents can result in serious damage, both physical and financial. If you’ve been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be able to receive compensation through a slip and fall injury claim. But how do you get the most out of your claim? It all starts with knowing what steps to take after an accident happens. In this blog post, we will discuss the process of filing a slip and fall lawsuit, how to find a qualified slip and fall lawyer, common mistakes people make during their claims process, tips for negotiating with insurance companies, and more.

Read on to learn more about getting the most out of your slip and fall injury claim!

Call 317-881-2700 to Speak With a Slip and Fall Attorney in Indianapolis.

The 101 on Slip Trip and Fall Accident Claims

Documentation

The first step in filing a slip and fall claim is to document everything you can remember about the accident. Take pictures of the scene and what caused you to fall, make sure an incident report is filled out by the business or property owner, if you have a receipt proving you were on the property at a specific time and place hold onto the receipt, ask the business or property owner to retain all video evidence from the day of your fall, collect witness names, addresses, phone numbers and statements if possible, and make sure to keep track of all medical bills associated with your injury.

Once you have gathered all of this information, it’s time to find a qualified personal injury slip and fall lawyer to represent you. If you don’t have all the information it is okay. Your attorney will help to obtain the information. Your personal injury attorney should be experienced in handling slip, trip, and fall cases, and they should be willing to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf or take the case to trial if a full and fair settlement cannot be reached.

Negotiations

When negotiating with the insurance company, it’s important to remember that they will likely try to minimize their payout as much as possible. This is why having a qualified slip and fall injury attorney is so important—they can help you understand the legal process and represent your interests throughout the negotiations. Your lawyer will also provide evidence supporting your claims so that you can have a strong case for receiving compensation.

Security

The first thing you should do is consult with an experienced Indiana slip and fall lawyer for your slip, trip, and fall injury claim as soon as you can. Evidence can be lost or not preserved if you do not move quickly. Secondly, it is important to have your own attorney representing your interests as the defendant’s insurance carrier will have an attorney representing their insured’s interests.

Conclusion

By following these tips, you can ensure that your slip and fall claim is handled properly and that you get the most out of it. Calling and speaking with an experienced slip and fall attorney is always a good idea.

Are you prepared to uncover more about your right to acquire reimbursement for the recent slipping, tripping, or falling accident that occurred in Indiana? For a free, no-obligation consultation with an Indianapolis slip and fall lawyer, call the Law Office of Craven, Hoover and Blazek, P.C today at 317-881-2700. Our knowledgeable legal team is ready to take on your case!

FAQS About Slip and Fall Personal Injury Claims

Posted on August 5, 2019 by admin

After receiving your initial medical treatment, it is important in a slip and fall injury claim to protect and preserve the evidence and hire an experienced accident attorney to represent you in your case. It is important to take these actions soon after a slip and fall accident takes place in order to be able to prove your case and ultimately win your settlement for compensation.

Continue reading to review some frequently asked questions about slip and fall accident claims, and get a better understanding of what to expect from the process.

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What are Some Common Causes of Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents?

Slip and fall accidents are normally caused by hazardous surface conditions, like wet floors, uneven walkways, and poorly maintained parking lots. Additional examples of common causes for slip and fall accidents include wet or slippery floors, cracked sidewalks, defective escalators or moving walkways, jagged walkways, uneven steps, broken tiles, torn carpets, pathway obstructions (debris, rubble, electrical cords, etc.), insufficient lighting, broken, loose or missing handrails, broken ramps, construction zones, grease or oil spills, failure to post warning signs for floors or steps, failure to remove hazards, failure to remove snow or ice, defective ladders, etc…

Who is At-Fault in a Slip and Fall Accident?

Laws surrounding slip and fall accidents and liability vary from state to state, so the circumstances for each case will differ. However, in all states, commercial, public, and residential property owners have a certain legal responsibility (duty of care) to ensure their premises are safe and hazard-free in order to protect any visitors from potential harm. See our blog, “Defining “Duty of Care” in a Personal Injury Lawsuit” to learn a little more about this legal principle.

What Does the Law Say About Slip and Fall Liability?

Here in Indiana, victims of slip and fall accidents are protected under Indiana Premises Liability law. This means if you slip and fall on another person’s property and suffer serious injuries, you may be entitled to legal compensation for your damages. See our blog, “What is Premise Liability?” to learn more about these laws. It is vital that you discuss your accident and injuries with a seasoned Indianapolis slip and fall lawyer for help making a claim.

Do I Need a Slip and Fall Lawyer?

You absolutely should hire one. A personal injury lawyer who specializes in slip, trip, and fall accident claims will give you the best chance at recovering the full and fair compensation you deserve. Without the help of a lawyer, you will be subjected to managing all aspects of your claim without professional assistance or any sort of concrete legal knowledge. Such claims are highly complex. It is necessary to hire a lawyer to make a personal injury claim for a slip and fall accident if you want to have the best chance of collecting a reasonable and fair settlement.

Should I Provide a Statement to the Insurance Company?

Before talking to any insurance adjusters, it is crucial to hire a personal injury lawyer first. The process of speaking with personal or opposing insurance adjusters or their attorneys is delicate and complex. In fact, it is quite risky. Insurance adjusters and attorneys are trained to ask questions that can be later argued are to the benefit of their clients. It is crucial to have an experienced slip and fall lawyer on your side during the entire personal injury claim process the same way the defendant has an experienced insurance adjuster or attorney on their side from the beginning.

How Do I Make a Slip and Fall Claim in Indianapolis?

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

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

How to Make a Slip and Fall Injury Claim in Indiana

Posted on February 19, 2019 by admin

The primary priorities to making any personal injury claim is to seek medical attention, gather and protect your evidence, hire an experienced personal injury attorney, and take the correct legal actions, all from the moments your accident occurs. When it comes to slip, trip, and fall claims, these priorities are no different.

Continue reading to learn how you should manage and navigate a slip and fall injury and accident claim in Indiana.

Indianapolis Slip and Fall Lawyers 317-881-2700

Slip, Trip and Fall Accidents

The first few actions (or non-actions) made by a slip and fall victim can mean all the difference in terms of establishing fault and liability. It is important to take the right legal actions from the very moments a slip and fall accident takes place in order to protect your claim and ultimately win your settlement for compensation. Below, you will find some information and advice regarding what a slip and fall victim (or claimant representing a victim) should do to move forward with a personal injury claim.

► Immediately Report the Incident

The first step after slipping and falling on public or private property is to notify the owners or persons in charge. For commercial properties, such as retail stores or restaurants, ask for the highest ranking person on duty and report the accident. Just be brief by simply stating where you fell, which obstruction caused the fall (torn carpet, uneven floorboard, wire or cord, puddle, ice, poor lighting, etc.), and where you are hurting. For public grounds, like parks and city streets, notify the town or city the same day, both by phone call and written notification. If the injury is too severe, notify the city or town as soon as your health permits. This is especially important for accidents that take place without any witnesses.

IMPORTANT: If your slip and fall injuries are severe and require emergency medical attention, make this step the first priority. Once stable, you can move forward with the remainder of the accident claim process. You can also appoint a spouse, relative, or friend to help you report the incident and gather evidence.

► Ask for Witness Information

The next step in moving forward with a personal injury claim, which may need to be carried out by a trusted friend or family member depending on the severity of your injury, is to get all the contact information from anyone that may have witnessed the accident. Be sure to record their full names, phone numbers, and email addresses. If they are willing to give additional contact information, take that as well. Keep in mind that witness testimony plays a major role in winning a personal injury settlement.

► Gather Evidence

Your next step is to take and gather photos and video recordings. Again, this might have to be done by a friend or family member depending on the severity of your injuries. Photos and video (if possible) should be taken as soon as possible after the accident. All footage should be taken at multiple angles, and should capture the hazardous environment or obstruction, the condition of the victim, the victim’s injury and the condition of the injury in the days following the accident.

All these photos and videos must be done BEFORE any changes to the environment occur or any evidence is lost (i.e. melting snow or ice, missing lightbulb, puddle, spilled food, etc.). The more evidence you have, the stronger your chances are for obtaining a full and fair settlement to cover your damages. Ask whoever is in charge to retain any video surveillance of the fall and if you can do the request in writing, do so. Normally, you should request the person to retain any video surveillance for the entire day of your fall.

► Seek Medical Care

A person should seek medical treatment the same day, or as soon as they are experiencing pain or complications from the accident. Sometimes injuries are not present right away, and tend to show up days or weeks following the accident. This is common for neck and back injuries. Insurance companies will argue that a person wasn’t seriously injured enough to receive compensation if they didn’t require immediate professional medical care. Medical treatment is evidence that a slip and fall victim is injured and the doctor’s diagnosis and victim’s medical records are evidence for a case.

► Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer

Before talking to any insurance companies or adjusters, it is vital to hire a personal injury lawyer first. It is crucial to have an experienced slip and fall lawyer on your side during the entire personal injury claims process.

Indiana Slip and Fall Lawyers You Can Trust

Get started on your slip and fall claim by calling the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Although based out of Indy, our law firm represents victims throughout the state, as well as, out-of-state victims who are injured in Indiana. We offer free initial consultations to discuss your claim, and never require any upfront lawyer fees. Call 317-881-2700 to schedule your consultation, today.

Advice on Winter Floor Protection for Commercial Businesses

Posted on December 26, 2017 by admin

With winter comes snow, ice, excess precipitation, and needless-to-say, a lot of extra mess to clean up. It seems there is no feat to stopping pets, people, and shoes from dragging dirty wet snow and freezing ice into our homes and offices. Not only does this add a few extra hours of clean-up time each week, it can also greatly damage flooring. Wood floors, laminate flooring, tile floors, and carpeting can be destroyed in as little time as one winter season. These elements also cause hazardous conditions for people and employees.

Slip, trip, and fall accidents happen the most in the wintertime, and mostly due to the fact that floors are not cared for properly. Many worker’s compensation and liability lawsuits can be avoided with simple routine floor care, especially in the cold season. Fortunately, there are ways to combat the winter mess and protect our flooring from salt, snow, ice, and more. Continue reading to learn how to protect your business’s flooring and who to trust for worker’s compensation and slip, trip, and fall accidents lawsuits in Indianapolis.

Slip and Fall Lawyers 317-881-2700

Responsible Floor Care and Maintenance

One of the easiest and instant improvements a business owner can make to their office is floor mats. You would be surprised just how much moisture and water these mats can collect with a few steps or stomps. Entrance mats, door mats, kitchen and break room mats, and more can be placed all over the office areas in order to prevent excess moisture on the floor. Not only do these mats collect water and snow, they also reduce the amount of salt that is drawn in by foot traffic. Salt is very damaging to certain floor types, and can cause fading, peeling, deterioration, discoloration, and more. The most important advantage of entrance mats is they reduce conditions for slipping and falling. Floor mats are inexpensive and come in various different sizes, colors, and shapes, so it is easy to find the right mat for the surface you intend to protect.

Wet floor signs are another tool that is widely beneficial to a commercial property. Although people understand that a floor might be wet from winter precipitation, it is a safety precaution to advise customers, employees, and guests that certain areas are wet and slippery. This can also greatly reduce slip, trip, and fall accidents. On extra snowy days, place these signs in areas where traffic is at its highest, mostly by front doors and restrooms. This is where excess water tends to collect from foot traffic. By advising people of a wet floor, a business owner can evade a liability lawsuit for injuries and accidents too. These floor signs can be purchased at any home goods store or hardware store for a reasonable price. It is recommended to have at least two wet floor signs per 500 square feet of property.

The last, but equally if not most important, strategy for winter floor safety and protection is routine maintenance and cleaning. This includes daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning duties, as well as, increased vacuuming. Daily duties include dry mopping, sweeping, and vacuuming all flooring. Weekly duties include wet floor mopping with hot water and soap, dry mopping afterwards, and a thorough sweep. Monthly duties might include floor waxing and sealcoating for added protection and security.

Consult a seasoned personal injury lawyer for accurate information, advice, and instruction for filing a slip and fall injury claim in the case that you are injured at a commercial business for any of these above-mentioned reasons or more. A personal injury law firm retains the proper experience, knowledge, and resources to guide you through the legal process of filing a claim for all kinds of accident types. They can fight for your right to full and fair compensation for your damages and losses.

Indianapolis Slip and Fall Lawyers

Personal Injury Law Firm
317-881-2700

Call the law office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to file a slip and fall claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our seasoned personal injury lawyers are eager to help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after a serious slip and fall accident on public or private property. We offer free initial consultations and never collect attorney fees unless we prevail for you. Call 317-881-2700 to schedule your consultation, today.

Why Does the Location of a Slip and Fall Accident Matter?

Posted on July 10, 2017 by admin

WHERE your accident takes place is an important aspect of a personal injury claim. Continue reading to learn why.

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Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents

Whether your slip and fall accident has developed into an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit, the location of the incident is a critical part of the case. The most common places slip and fall accidents tend to occur include big box stores (Costco ®, Walmart®, etc.), grocery stores, restaurants, small businesses, private homes, hotels, resorts, rental homes, apartments, workplace, and public places. Owners and proprietors of these places have a duty of care to ensure their guests, clients, and employees are provided with a safe environment. If anyone in these types of locations fails to maintain a safe premises, or fails to remedy a hazard they knew or should have known about, they can be held liable for any damages and losses incurred by an injured individual.

However, each place also presents their own unique circumstances that can influence the outcome of an insurance claim or lawsuit. Determining who is at-fault for a slip and fall accident is not as easy as it may sound. In fact, it can be quite challenging to prove such fault in court, especially since the law protects business owners from being unfairly held to impossible standards of safety. This is why it is imperative to have an experienced personal injury lawyer manage your claim.

How a Court Identifies Liability in Slip and Fall Location:

🔎 Maintenance Standards – Could the party in question have prevented the accident from occurring had they taken preventative measures? Should they have taken preventative measures? Did they have a duty to do so? This expectation changes depending on the maintenance expectations of a location. For instance, a grocery store chain has a higher duty of care to immediately remedy a slip and fall hazard than a private homeowner in their own residence.

🔎 Level of Control – Did the party in question have any control over the hazard that caused the slip and fall accident? It is fair to hold the party responsible for such conditions they cannot possibly control? A hotel has employees that can cause dangerous conditions for others, making the hotel proprietor liable for slip and fall accidents that result from such negligence; but on the other hand, a landlord of an apartment building may not be responsible for unsafe conditions caused by another tenant to which they have no control over.

🔎 Parties Involved – In some cases, more than one party is to blame for the unsafe conditions that causes a slip and fall accident. Furthermore, the circumstances of an accident can change after the accident takes place depending on how the parties around react. In a store, the degree of involvement by employees or patrons plays a role in the overall liability for the accident.

🔎 Liable Party – Depending on where an accident takes place, the party you sue will vary. For instance, if you are injured in a slip and fall accident in a restaurant, you need to know which person is responsible. In most cases, it is the owner or proprietor. In contrast, if a slip and fall accident happens in a private home, the liable party is likely the homeowner or tenant.

Indianapolis Slip and Fall Lawyer

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 seasoned slip and fall lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana. We work around the clock to make sure we recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after sustaining serious slip and fall injuries. Call 317-881-2700 today for information about filing a personal injury claim in Indianapolis, IN.

Necessary Information About Slip and Fall Accident Claims

Posted on December 27, 2016 by admin

Slip and Fall Lawyers 317-881-2700

A slip and fall accident is any incident in which a person slips, trips, or falls due to a hazard or obstruction on another person’s property, and as a result, suffers serious injuries and subsequent losses. Losses can include economic damages like hospital bills, medical expenses, and lost wages; but it can also include non-economic damages like pain and suffering, depending on the circumstances of the case and the extent of injuries suffered by the victim.

The most common hazards and obstructions that cause serious slip and fall accidents include water, snow, ice, spills, unleveled flooring, poor lighting, loose stair rails, and hidden hindrances like holes or gaps in flooring. But slip, trip, and fall accidents can occur from an infinite number of other possibilities.

What to Know

When a slip and fall accident does occur, victims and their families are full of questions. The most important step to take after being injured by slipping and falling is to seek medical attention. From there, you should immediately hire an experienced slip and fall lawyer for professional personal injury representation. They can help you recover compensation to pay for any losses and damages that resulted from your accident. In the meantime, continue reading to learn some of the most important aspects of slip and fall cases if you or someone you know was recently injured in such a way.

Slip and Fall Responsibility

As a property owner, you have a responsibility to maintain a safe and hazard-free premises. If a person slips and injures themselves on your property because you were negligent in upholding this duty of care, you could be held liable for their resulting damages. For this reason, it is helpful to prevent such liability by maintaining a safe premises and also obtaining the proper premise liability insurance from your primary carrier. This is especially important for business owners.

Slip and Fall Personal Injury Claims

Indiana Slip and Fall Claims 317-881-2700

If you or a loved one was recently injured as a result of a slip and fall accident on another person’s property, you might consider filing a slip and fall personal injury claim. TO do so successfully, you will need to present the proper evidence, establish a duty of care for the defendant, prove that they breached their duty of care, and then further prove with additional evidence that their breach caused your injuries and subsequent losses. For this, you will need an experienced slip and fall lawyer.

Slip and Fall Lawyers

As mentioned, retaining a personal injury law firm is an important step in protecting yourself after a slip and fall accident. They can help with exchanges between insurance adjusters, counselors, judges, and more. They have the skills, resources, and knowledge to recover the full and fair amount of compensation you deserve after suffering harm as a result of another’s negligence. Generally, personal injury lawyers who specialize in slip and fall claims work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning they never collect attorney fees unless they prevail for you.

Indianapolis Slip and Fall Lawyers

Craven Hoover Blazek Personal Injury Law 317-881-2700

Call the law office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to file a slip and fall claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. Seasoned personal injury lawyers, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek, are eager to help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after a serious slip and fall accident. We offer free initial consultations and never collect attorney fees unless we prevail for you! Call 317-881-2700 and schedule a consultation with our Indianapolis slip and fall lawyers, today.

What Physical Evidence Should I Keep for a Slip and Fall Claim?

Posted on August 23, 2016 by admin

Indianapolis Slip and Fall Lawyers 317-881-2700

According to the National Floor Safety Institute, over one million slip and fall victims are sent to the ER each year. With numbers like these, it is important to make floor and walking safety a priority. But regardless of how careful you are, there is always a possibility for accidents to happen, especially when another person or entity has been negligent in maintaining a certain duty of care.

In this case, you would need an experienced personal injury lawyer to navigate your case and recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after wrongfully suffering losses and damages as a result of a slip and fall accident. And although your attorney will conduct an in-depth and thorough investigation, it is important to collect certain important pieces of evidence yourself directly after an accident; evidence that your attorney would not have access to days after the incident occurred. These evidences will help prove your case to the courts and the opposing party.

Continue reading to learn what evidence to gather up after being injured in a slip, trip, and fall accident for a stronger chance at winning a fair settlement.

Scene of the Accident Footage

It is understandably difficult to collect footage at the scene of your accident when you are seriously hurt, but it is critical to your case to try. If you are too injured or incapacitated to gather this evidence yourself, you should ask a witness, bystander, friend, relative, or police officer to help you. Take as many pictures and video footage as you can of your injuries and the surroundings.

Include a picture of your entire body, your injuries, the area you slipped, tripped, or fell, as well as, the surface of the floor, nearby signs (or lack of signs), water puddles, snow, liquids, spills, frayed carpeting, unleveled surfaces, poor lighting, dangerous conditions, and more. Collect footage of anything that could have influenced the accident to happen. Video is best, but photos are effective too.

Clothing and Apparel

Another important piece of physical evidence that can help your case is the clothing you were wearing the moment of the accident. This includes your outfit and your shoes, as well as, any outerwear. If you are trying to prove that the floor you injured yourself on was dangerous, you may need to also prove that you were dressed reasonably and that your apparel did not contribute to your accident. Physical photos and clothing can help confirm this. For instance, if a woman was wearing high heeled shoes on a snowy day, this evidence would be used against her in a slip and fall injury case. But if you fell on a dry day wearing sneakers, the evidence helps prove your footwear was not a cause for your fall.

Physical evidence can also include witness statements, video footage, medical records, hospital bills, and more, but it is only a tiny fraction of a victorious slip and fall personal injury case. Fore this reason, it is an important to retain a seasoned accident attorney to recover the full and fair compensation you deserve. They have the knowledge and hands-on experience to obtain the settlement you need to cover all your related losses and damages.

Indianapolis Slip and Fall Attorneys

Craven Hoover Blazek Personal Injury Law 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to discuss a slip and fall accident in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our seasoned slip and fall accident lawyers, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek are eager to recover what’s rightfully owed to you after suffering injuries from a slip, trip, or fall accident. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you. Call 317-881-2700 to schedule an appointment with an Indianapolis personal injury lawyer, today.

Common Slip and Fall Injury Questions

Posted on September 3, 2015 by admin

Slip and Fall Lawyers 317-881-2700

When you or a loved one is injured in a slip, trip, or fall accident, it is natural to have questions regarding insurance, legal affairs, and more. When an accident like this happens as a result of another person or entity’s negligence, you may be owed compensation for your damages and losses. Always be sure to first seek immediate medical attention if you injury yourself after slipping and falling. Even if you feel like you are not injured, it is wise to have yourself check out by a medical professional to be sure.

Some injuries are dormant for days or weeks before showing signs, like concussions, neck injuries, fractures, and more. It is common to not feel injured immediately after an accident. Once you receive medical care, you are ready to call a slip and fall lawyer. Continue reading to learn some facts about slip and fall injuries and accidents, as well as, some common questions regarding such cases.

Do I Have a Slip and Fall Case?

To entirely understand your case top to bottom, you will need the professional assistance of a personal injury lawyer. They have the knowledge, experience, and resources to investigate your incident and determine if you have a valid case. Lawyers must consider all the unique and individual details of each client’s case in order to assess whether or not they are entitled to compensation for their losses. Such aspects include: extent of injuries and subsequent damages (losses), the at-fault party(s), the amount of evidence, and more.

What is the Time Limit for Filing a Slip and Fall Claim?

The time limit to file a lawsuit is called the Statute of Limitations. This time limit varies from state to state, and offense to offense. In Indiana, injury lawsuits have a statute of limitations of two years. This means you have two years from the date of your accident to file a claim against a negligent party. If you fail to do so in the allotted time, you lose your chance and can never file again.

How Much Does a Slip and Fall Lawyer Cost?

Reputable and established personal injury law firms generally work on a contingency basis. This means they do not collect any upfront legal fees or costs, and only collect payment if they win their client’s case. With this type of payment model, anyone can afford a slip and fall lawyer no matter what. Other law firms that do not operate this way may offer financing, payment plans, and more. Discuss payment arrangements with your personal injury lawyer before signing any documents.

Should I Pay My Medical Bills Myself?

Depending on the type of insurance policy you have, the insurance policy of the at-fault party, and the state you live in, this can vary. In some cases, victims have to pay their own medical bills and expenses, and then get reimbursed after the settlement. Other times, the opposing party’s insurance company pays these bills. If the claim is not successful, victims might be left to pay for their expenses themselves. It all depends on the circumstances of the case and the insurance companies. This is another reason why you need the services of a licensed accident attorney.

How Long Will It Take to Settle My Slip and Fall Claim?

The time it takes, from the moment you contact a law firm to the moment you cash the recompense check, greatly varies from case to case. Personal injury attorneys work hard to win a client’s case as quickly as possible to get them back to their normal lives. This is their whole purpose: to help victims get the full and fair compensation they deserve so they can concentrate on getting back to normal after a serious injury or accident.

Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C.

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to file a slip and fall claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. Personal injury attorneys, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek, have extensive trial and litigation experience in accident law. Our law firm offers free initial consultations and NEVER collects lawyer fees unless we win your case! Call 317-881-2700 to schedule your consultation with one of our passionate slip and fall lawyers in Indianapolis, IN today.

Free Advice Regarding Slip and Fall Personal Injury Claims

Posted on May 6, 2015 by admin

Indianapolis Slip and Fall Lawyers 317-881-2700

Slip, trip, and fall claims are prevalent in the world of personal injury law. Accidents like this happen when a person slips, trips, or falls, and seriously injures themselves, as a result of a particular hazard on other person or company’s property. Several hazards can cause these kinds of accidents to occur on private or public property, such as puddles, spills, leaks, torn carpeting, poor lighting, and more.

If you or a loved one was recently injured in a slip and fall accident on another person’s property, it is vital to consult a reputable and experienced personal injury lawyer that concentrates on these types of accident cases. They retain the proper resources and knowledge, as well as, litigation and trial experience, to represent slip and fall victims in order to recover full and fair compensation for their damages.

Continue reading for more free advice regarding slip and fall injury accidents, claims, and lawsuits.

Slip and Fall Accident Claims

Anyone who is seriously injured from a slip and fall accident on a property other than their own could very well have a valid personal injury claim. Determining a claim’s validity and proving fault involves several variables and extensive investigation. A judge, jury, or insurance company must be convinced that the owner of the property was negligent in some way that caused the hazardous condition to exist, and that the victim used reasonable care and could not foresee the hazardous, thus preventing injury. Again, many variables goes into finding fault, proving fault, and more. This is why it is vital to hire a proficient personal injury law firm to facilitate a slip and fall case effectively.

Indianapolis Accident Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Slip and Fall Lawyers 317-881-2700

Property owners have a responsibility to keep their premises safe for visitors and guests. They can be at-fault for a slip and fall accident if they knew about, or should’ve known about, a hazardous condition and neglected to address it. However, there are circumstances to slip and fall accidents in which the victim is at-fault and does not have a valid legal claim against another property or company. An example of this situation would be if a woman wearing high-heels on a snowy day walks into a grocery store displaying “wet floor” signs everywhere happens to slip and fall in a puddle of melted ice.

She would have a very weak case because she did not use reasonable care by wearing unfitting shoes in poor weather, as well as, ignoring wet floor signs that indicated a potentially hazardous condition. The grocery store did their part in this example by displaying wet floor signs to warn customers that the floor is slippery and to walk with caution. And there are certain elements in the law that protect property owners, under certain circumstances, from hazardous conditions caused by weather, or conditions they cannot reasonably prevent.

Filing a Slip and Fall Claim

If you or a loved one recently suffered serious injuries as a result of a slip and fall accident on another person’s property, you have the option of filing a slip and fall claim. During this filing process, evidence will be requested to prove that the owner of the property should have known, or did know, about the hazard that caused the accident to occur. To do this, hire a personal injury attorney that has experience in slip and fall lawsuits. They will provide comprehensive representation for all aspects of your slip and fall lawsuit. They can obtain compensation for damages related to your accident and injuries.

As for property owners, it is strongly encouraged to purchase insurance policies that protect you from paying out-of-pocket for slip and fall accident settlements. This is especially important for commercial properties, business owners, and offices. In addition to third-party insurance, simply implementing certain strategies and precautions can better protect visitors from harm, and safeguard property owners in the case of a slip and fall accident.

Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C.

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to file a slip and fall accident claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attorneys Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek, as well as their proficient legal teams, are extensively experienced in slip and fall injury cases. They are happy to assess your case and determine if you have a valid legal claim. They offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless they recover the full and fair compensation you and your family deserves. Call 317-881-2700 to schedule your free initial consultation today, and learn your rights following a slip and fall accident in Indianapolis, IN.