If you or someone you care about has been injured while on someone else’s property, Hankey Marks & Crider is here to help. Serious injuries can have disastrous consequences for the victim and their family. You may be unable to work because of your injuries and bills still need to be paid while you seek further medical treatments and rehabilitation after the accident. Situations like these can quickly develop into serious financial problems, and many families are forced into unrecoverable debt. You don’t have to let things get out of control, however, because you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries.
Hankey Marks & Crider has helped many families establish liability against negligent property owners who knew about hazardous conditions and did nothing about the safety concerns. Our team of premises liability lawyers has over 100 years of combined legal experience, and we have successfully recovered significant compensation for our clients. We understand how this unfortunate accident has caused pain and suffering for you and your family. The emotional agony, physical pain, and financial burden were all forced upon you by a careless property owner who did nothing to limit the risk in their building or on their grounds. You should not have to deal with the consequences alone, and we will fight aggressively on your behalf to hold the other party accountable for their negligence.
When avoidable injuries occur in an accident on another party’s property, the people of Indianapolis have turned to one team of dedicated premises liability attorneys to support their best interests. Hankey Marks & Crider is prepared to represent your claim, and we will work tirelessly provide you with as little stress as possible during the legal process. We want you to focus on the things that matter most right now. You need to recover and spend time with your loved ones while we take care of the rest. Bring Hankey Marks & Crider to your side today by calling (317) 634-8565 or contacting us through our website to schedule your free consultation.
Understanding Premises Liability
Being injured on someone else’s property can raise a number of legal questions. In many cases, it may seem like the injury could have been prevented if the victim had taken certain precautions. And yet, if a hazardous condition had not existed in the first place, there never would have been the potential for injury. Understandably, the law surrounding premises liability can be extremely complex.
If you were injured while on someone else’s property, the extent of liability is significantly impacted by your relationship to the property owner. If you are on the property for the sole sake of doing business, you are considered an invitee, and are owed a high duty of care. The logic is that you are there for a purpose that ultimately benefits the property owner.
On the other hand, if you are there for non-business purposes, such as a social event, you are a licensee and are owed only a mild duty of care. If you are a trespasser, in that you are on the property without the owner’s permission, then in most jurisdictions you are owed no duty of care.
Why You Need a Lawyer on Your Side
When dangerous conditions on a property go unaddressed, otherwise avoidable accidents occur. Property owners have a responsibility to correct these problems before people get injured. If you have been seriously injured by slippery surfaces, elevator malfunctions, or other perilous circumstances, you may be forced to seek medical help to recover. Hospitalizations, surgeries, and follow-up visits to the doctor are expensive, and you owe it to yourself and your family to find a way to be compensated for these costly treatments. The property owner’s insurance policy is supposed to cover these types of accidents, but insurance companies will work hard to protect themselves and avoid paying you a fair and reasonable amount for your continued suffering. The only way to secure a stable financial future is by filing a claim and proving to the court that the other party is responsible for failing to address the problem before your accident happened. The law is on your side; you just need to find the right law firm that can help.
Hankey Marks & Crider is Here For You
Accidents on properties that result in serious injuries can be overwhelming for you and your property, and you may not be sure what to do next. The right law firm can provide you with guidance and support through this difficult time, and Hankey Marks & Crider is here for you. We have the experience and knowledge you need to successfully file a lawsuit and protect your right to financial compensation. Other firms may not be so eager to take your case, but we believe in assisting Indianapolis families through the recovery process after reckless conditions were left unattended and inflicted pain and suffering upon you. We are familiar with the tactics insurance companies use to try and escape justice, and we will do our best to hold them responsible for compensation for your injuries. Hankey Marks & Crider has the resources to investigate every detail surrounding your accident, and we will work swiftly to bring the other party to justice. That is just one of the many reasons why the people of Indianapolis turn to Hankey Marks & Crider for help. Finding justice for our clients is what we do best. Call us today at (317) 634-8565 to speak with a member of our team, or chat with us live through our website.
Cases We Handle
Under Indianapolis premises liability law, all property owners are obligated to maintain their property and keep it free of safety hazards which could cause injury to visitors. If you have been injured by the dangerous conditions on someone else’s property, he or she may be legally liable. An Indianapolis personal injury lawyer from Hankey Marks & Crider can help you determine how the law applies to your case and whether or not you are entitled to financial compensation for your injuries.
Premises liability is a fairly broad area of personal injury law and covers a wide range of possible injuries. Hankey Marks & Crider handles all aspects of Indianapolis premises liability cases, including the following:
- Slip and Fall
- Elevator/Escalator Injuries
- Porch Collapses
- Stair Collapses
- Fire
- Mercury Poisoning
- No Security
This is not an exhaustive list of all possible premises liability suits. If you or a loved one were injured while visiting a private residence or place of business, it may be in your best interest to discuss the accident with a professional attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’ve been hurt at someone else’s home, at a place of business, or in a public place, you may not be aware of the legal action you are entitled to take to protect yourself. Serious injuries can have a lasting impact on your health, your life, and your finances, so be sure to consult an attorney to discuss your options for fair compensation. Contact an attorney today at (317) 634-8565 with specific questions about your situation, and read some of our frequently asked questions below.
Who is liable for my accident?
The liable party can vary depending on the individual circumstances surrounding your injury. In the event that a sidewalk was damaged, uneven, and hazardous, the local municipality may be liable for your injuries. Business owners with slippery floors and no warning signs are endangering their customers, who may slip and fall. Schools that knew about a student with violent tendencies, but did nothing to prevent them from hurting your child, may be liable for any injuries. If you were injured in an attack or assault on a property that lacked adequate security or lighting conditions, the court may award you damages. An experienced attorney will be able to review your accident and evaluate who should be held liable. That evaluation may require engineers, architects, and other experts who can contribute their professional opinions regarding what else could have been done to prevent your accident.
What if my injury occurred at another person’s house?
The owner of the house will likely have a homeowner’s insurance policy in place that protects them from personally paying for your injuries. If they live in an apartment or rent the house, they may have renter’s insurance, which will also include a policy for guests who are injured in their home. In cases where the renter does not have insurance, the landlord usually will, and you still may be able to recover damages caused by the unsafe environment. The important thing to remember is that in most cases, the insurance companies are responsible for paying the damages that are awarded to you, not the individual owner.
What should I do after the accident?
The first thing you should do is seek medical attention and receive all the necessary treatments to correct your injury, so you can begin the road to recovery. You should alert the owner of the property, the manager on duty, or report the incident to the city. It is critical that you promptly report your accident to the relevant party so that you can file a premises liability lawsuit. The credibility of your injury may be scrutinized if you do not report it within 24 hours of the accident. You should obtain copies of your medical records and document the medical expenses. If an insurance representative tries to contact you, do not speak with them until you have consulted your lawyer.
Is time a factor?
Yes, after you receive immediate medical attention, you need to seek legal counsel as soon as you are able. The owner of the premises may try to conceal or correct the hazardous condition that caused your accident, and it is important that you give your lawyer enough time to build a solid case on your behalf. Filing a late claim with the court may prevent you from moving forward with your lawsuit.
Understanding Your Premises Liability Situation
In order to hold a property owner responsible for the injuries you sustained from a safety hazard on their property, you must demonstrate that they knew or should have known about the safety hazard, yet failed to take reasonable action to repair or eliminate it.
Other factors may also affect the progress of your Indianapolis premises liability lawsuit. A jury may also consider how your actions influenced your own injuries. If you were trespassing on the property at the time of your injury, for example, you may not be entitled to compensation from the property owner. Only an experienced attorney can help you determine how your claim should proceed.
Contact Us Today
In order to build a strong premises liability case, it is important that you consult an Indianapolis premises liability lawyer from Hankey Marks & Crider as soon as possible. The more time that our professional staff has to evaluate the situation, collect evidence, and develop a legal strategy, the better your chances of a significant recovery. Call us today at (317) 634-8565 to learn more.