Indiana Injury Lawyer Blog

Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence is a hot topic among lawmakers in Indiana's southern neighbor, Kentucky. One bill that's been discussed garnered much criticism. It seeks to allow the state board to give private, not public, reprimands to nursing home administrators.

House Bill 414 doesn't indicate exactly what type of nursing home infractions would warrant a private reprimand. The chairman of the board that made suggestions for the proposal said the private criticism wouldn't be used in cases of nursing home abuse or neglect and only in cases that aren't serious enough to necessitate action against an administrator's license.

Not surprisingly, plenty of people oppose this bill. The founder of Kentuckians for Nursing Home Reform says the proposal lacks transparency. He says it is not beneficial to nursing home residents.

And nursing home residents have made dozens of complaints to the Kentucky state board. According to the www.kentucky.com article, "Bill Allows Secret Reprimands to Nursing Home Heads", 29 complaints were mentioned in the board minutes in February of last year.

Nursing home residents in Indiana have also filed many complaints. And they are not alone. According to the National Association on Elder Abuse, in 2003, state Long Term Care Ombudsman programs throughout the United States looked into more than 20,000 complaints of abuse, neglect, and exploitation on behalf of nursing home and board and care patients. Among seven types of abuse categories, physical abuse was the most common type reported.

Continue reading " INDIANA'S SOUTHERN NEIGHBOR WORKING TO PREVENT NURSING HOME ABUSE " »

Indiana investigators were on the scene of a deadly auto accident Friday on Indianapolis's northwest side. Indianapolis police say the two vehicles were involved in a crash that killed a man and hurt two other people.

As reported by www.WTHR.com in the article, "Infant Ejected in Fatal Crash," a child was thrown from a Buick as a result of the accident. Indianapolis police say this all began when a vehicle traveling southbound lost control and was hit by another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. IMPD officers say a 22-year old Indianapolis man was driving that other vehicle, a Toyota, and did not suffer serious injuries. However, a young child was thrown from the car that was out of control. That infant was listed in stable condition at last check. The Indianapolis woman who was driving the Buick was listed in critical condition. Her brother was a passenger in the front seat. He was killed.

Vehicle crashes turn deadly all too often. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 693 people were killed in vehicle crashes in Indiana in 2009. While even one death is too many, it is interesting to note that Indiana had the lowest fatality rate each year from 2005-2009.

Continue reading " MULTI-AUTO CRASH KILLS ONE IN INDIANAPOLIS " »

When is high heel newsworthy in Indiana? Apparently, when it's alleged to have inflicted a personal injury. An Indianapolis man claims he was seriously hurt at a strip club in Indiana when he was hit in the mouth by a flying stiletto. 34-year old Jake Quagliaroli says the infamous high heel flew off a dancer's foot during a pole dance. This accident is said to have taken place while the victim was a patron at PT's Showclub in Lawrence.

The lawsuit alleges "battery and negligence." Quagliaroli's Indiana attorney claims the high heel hit his client in the face as he turned to the stage after getting up to go to an ATM. This impact apparently caused the 34-year old to bleed from the mouth and suffer serious injuries.

According to a report on www.theindychannel.com entitled, " Man's Jaw-Dropping Experience at Strip Club Ends in Lawsuit," Quagliaroli was hurt so much that he needs significant dental work. His lawyer says his client has veneers and might need a root canal among several future dental surgeries.

Continue reading " INDIANA STRIP CLUB FACING LAWSUIT FROM INJURED INDIANAPOLIS MAN " »

Indiana has complex laws governing medical malpractice. But did you know Indiana was at the forefront of medical malpractice reform? According to the Indiana State Medical Association, Indiana was the first state in the United States to enact comprehensive malpractice reforms. This happened in 1975, and other states soon followed suit. Indiana Compensation Act for Patients (INCAP) attempts to find an equilibrium between the needs of doctors for affordable liability insurance premiums and the needs of patients.

Continue reading " INDIANA MEDICAL MALPRACTICE REFORM LEADER " »

Indiana investigators were busy in Boone County after a man crashed his truck into a tree. This truck accident happened Wednesday along Indiana State Road 39.

Boone County Sheriff's Department officials say 52-year old John Downing died after medics took him to Witham Hospital. According to an article on www.theindychannel.com entitled, "Man Killed in Crash," Indiana investigators believe Downing may have suffered some sort of medical problem which caused him to crash. They say the victim's truck swerved off Indiana State Road 39 and traveled more than a thousand feet before crashing into a tree.

Cases involving auto accidents and property and body injury or death can have complicated insurance issues.

Continue reading " INDIANA MAN KILLED IN HEAD-ON TRUCK ACCIDENT IN BOONE COUNTY " »

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is facing a lawsuit from an Indiana woman who claims she was hurt in a car crash. 58-year old Andrea Smith says she suffered injuries when a robbery suspect crashed into her car during a chase with Indianapolis police. Smith claims she subsequently lost her job after suffering from "severe permanent injuries."

This all happened on April 20, 2010 on Indianapolis's northside. The victim was driving her car westbound when she was hit head-on by a van police were chasing. The auto accident was deadly for one of the passengers in the van.

As reported in the IndyStar article, "Injured Motorist Sues Police Over Chase Crash," Smith's lawsuit charges three Indianapolis police officers and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's Chief with negligence.

Hopefully, Smith collected vital pieces of information following this accident which could potentially help her lawsuit. Those items include police reports, accident photos, witness statements, driving records and medical records. Auto accident victims could be entitled to various forms of compensation. And if a victim was driving while on the job, work comp issues could also be involved.

Continue reading " INDIANA CAR CRASH VICTIM SUING INDIANAPOLIS POLICE FOR HER INJURIES " »

Police throughout Indiana were involved in apprehending a Michigan City man after he fired gun shots, hitting a semi truck and eventually crashed his car. Indiana police say 25-year old Aaron Di Shon Windom of Laporte County is the driver of that car. He was taken to a Crawfordsville hospital suffering from hypothermia. No word if the tractor trailer driver suffered any work comp injuries.

According to an article about this car crash on www.theindychannel.com entitled, "Police: Road Rage Suspect Fires Shots During Chase," a Fountain County sheriff's deputy says he saw the suspect in a stolen car driving westbound on Interstate 74 in Montgomery County. Indiana State troopers say a chase began when the deputy and a Crawfordsville police officer began to follow the automobile. During the car chase, the driver fired gun shots, hitting a semi truck. Eventually, Indiana police caught Windom after he lost control of his car causing it to crash. Police say he got out of his car and tried, unsuccessfully, to run away.

The driver of this stolen car is wanted in Lake and Laporte countie.

While Windom has his hands full with legal concerns, the truck driver might need an attorney as well if he was hurt during this incident and suffered work comp injuries. "Work Comp" refers to laws focused on an injury that is sustained while one is on the job. And vehicle accidents can cause work comp injuries. According to the Indiana Department of Labor, in 2005, 26,900 work-related injuries and illnesses caused a worker to miss work, and 5.2% were caused by transportation accidents.

Continue reading " LAPORTE COUNTY MAN FACES CHARGES IN SEVERAL INDIANA COUNTIES AFTER CAR CRASH " »

Marion County's west side was the scene of a semi truck accident Monday night. Indianapolis police say the truck jack-knifed on US Interstate 465 near US Interstate 70. According to Indiana investigators, the truck driver says his truck slid after it was cut off by another vehicle. That caused the semi's tank to burst. Fortunately, Indianapolis firefighters say the tank was not full. The auto accident closed northbound lanes for several hours. Work comp issues could be forthcoming.

According to WTHR.com's article, "Boy Killed in Kokomo Crash; Dozens of Slide-offs Reported," this semi truck accident was one of several accidents Monday. In addition, one woman was killed in Anderson. Madison County investigators say the Indiana mother died after she lost control of her car and hit an oncoming SUV. Fortunately, Anderson police say her children were in car seats and were not badly hurt.

Car seats and child booster seats are vital in protecting children in vehicles. As reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, child restraints saved about 9,000 lives from 1975-2008. The NHTSA also finds that auto crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 3-14 years old.

Continue reading " SEMI TRUCK ACCIDENT IN INDIANAPOLIS AMONG MANY AUTO CRASHES DUE TO WEATHER " »

A 9-year old Indiana boy is dead after a car crash in Howard County, just outside Kokomo, Indiana. Two other Indiana people were also injured in the head-on collision Monday.

Howard County Sheriff's officials say slick, icy roads caused the accident. They say 9-year old Skyler Grant was pronounced dead at the scene. Indiana investigators say the driver of one car lost control and swerved into the lane of oncoming traffic, hitting a pickup truck. Both drivers were taken to hospitals with injuries. No word if any of those injuries were work comp related.

In the article on Wishtv.com entitled, "9-Year Old Dies in Howard County Crash," it was reported that icy conditions caused several other accidents and slide-offs.

Unfortunately, children are often the fatal victims in car crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2007 data, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for people of every age between 3 and 34. And even more troubling, in 2009, an average of 93 people died every day in motor vehicle accidents.

Continue reading " INDIANA BOY KILLED IN HEAD-ON AUTO COLLISION IN HOWARD COUNTY " »

A high-risk of injury and other work comp issues are factors Careercast.com examined to determine its list of the Worst Jobs in America in 2011. Most of these jobs can be found right here in Indiana. What's the #1 worst job (in terms of safety, stress, income, etc.)? You might be surprised to learn it's not Construction Worker. Many people do associate that job with serious accidents involving heavy machinery and vehicles, falling objects, and slip and fall accidents from roofs and scaffolding. But Indianapolis construction workers only have the tenth worst job. That's because accidents aren't the only criteria used to determine the worst jobs. The report ranked professions based on 5 elements: Work Environment, Physical Demands, Outlook, Income and Stress.

So Hoosiers, here's that list:

1. Roustabout
2. Ironworker
3. Lumberjack
4. Roofer
5. Taxi driver
6. Emergency Medical Technician
7. Welder
8. Painter
9. Meter Reader
10. Construction Worker

Roustabouts face high-risk of injury, long shifts, hostile environments, low pay and are away from their loved ones for weeks at a time. These factors combined to make Roustabouts the worst job of 2011.

Of course, even if your job isn't considered one of the worst or most injury-prone, you could still be hurt at work. Indianapolis-area work accident lawyers may offer help in the unfortunate case that this happens to you. Be sure to consult with an Indiana work comp attorney before filing a workers' compensation claim to ensure the best outcome.

Continue reading " DO INDIANA WORKERS HAVE ONE OF THE MOST INJURY-PRONE JOBS IN AMERICA? " »

Two Indiana teens are under arrest after a car accident Sunday night in Marion County involving a stolen car and Indianapolis police officers who were on the job. No word if any of the officers suffered any work comp injuries.

Indianapolis police say they were on the lookout for a stolen car when a chase began on Indianapolis's north side. They say an 18-year old man and a 14-year old boy carjacked the car in question after attacking a 24-year old woman in a Walmart parking lot. The Indianapolis police officers believed they spotted the stolen car around midnight when the suspects returned to that parking lot. However, when they attempted to pull the driver over, the suspect sped off. A chase ensued, and the driver subsequently crashed into an Indianapolis police squad car ending the chase. The suspects were then arrested.

While carjackings are scary and dangerous, fortunately, they are not the most common way cars are stolen. According to the Insurance Information Institute, carjackings account for only 3 percent of all motor vehicle thefts. They do, however, occur most frequently in urban areas.

Continue reading " INDIANAPOLIS POLICE INVOLVED IN CAR CRASH WHILE ON THE JOB IN MARION COUNTY " »

Indiana State Troopers and the Wayne Township Fire Department are investigating a car crash with injuries on Interstate 465 on Indianapolis's west side in Marion County. The accident happened Friday morning and caused major traffic delays. Workers had to close all the lanes while they cleaned up the wreckage.

Indiana officials say a Ford Explorer was one of the vehicles involved in the northbound lane crash. At least one person was hurt.

While this accident caused headaches for drivers on their way to work, fortunately, it was not fatal. According to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 800 people died from vehicle accidents in Indiana in 2008.

Continue reading " MARION COUNTY CRASH INJURES AT LEAST ONE INDIANA PERSON " »

An Indiana motorcyclist is dead after he collided with an Evansville school bus. The bus driver was on the job with about 30 students on board. The fatal accident happened Thursday afternoon on Evansville's westside. The motorcyclist was identified as 38-year old Jamie Jones of Evansville. No word if the school bus driver suffered any work comp injuries.

According to Vanderburgh County sheriff's officials, three vehicles were involved. They say Jones's motorcycle hit the back of a pickup truck and then swerved into the opposite lane and hit the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation bus head-on. None of the Indiana high school students were hurt. The truck driver suffered a shoulder injury.

Indiana investigators say Jones was wearing a helmet. However, deadly motorcycle accidents happen all too often. According to Webbikeworld.com, the NHTSA's statistics show there were more than 4000 fatal motorcycle accidents in 2004 -- a number that has risen every year since 1997.

Continue reading " INDIANA MAN KILLED IN CRASH WITH EVANSVILLE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER ON THE JOB " »

An Indianapolis airport worker is out of a job and a work comp lawsuit could be in the making after an alleged beating of a co-worker. Indianapolis Airport police say 59-year old Michael Merriman was arrested Tuesday after the attack. The airport screener from Mooresville has since been released from the Marion County jail but is charged with battery causing injury.

The victim, 39-year old Brian Hale from Indianapolis, is an employee of a gift shop inside the Indianapolis International Airport. He claims he parked his car on the 4th floor of the garage when Merriman parked his pick-up truck behind him. Hale told Indianapolis police Merriman then exited his truck and told Hale, " You'll never do that to me again." Indianapolis Airport police report Merriman then put the victim in a headlock and punched him several times.

Following this apparent on the job attack, TSA officials fired the Mooresville man.

Continue reading " INDIANAPOLIS AIRPORT WORKER ALLEGEDLY BEATEN ON THE JOB BY FELLOW INDIANA AIRPORT EMPLOYEE " »

Indiana officials charged with investigating worker safety and work comp issues are looking into the death of an Indiana man. South Bend's Michael Gorzkiewicz was crushed to death Monday by a forklift while working at Steel Warehouse's plant in South Bend. The St. Joseph County deputy coroner says the 47-year old died of blunt force trauma to the chest.

Indiana's Occupational Health and Safety Administration is expected to spent several weeks investigating this fatal employee accident. The forklift has been impounded, according to South Bend police. So far, reports indicate the forklift was parked on an inclined ramp at the plant and began to roll backward. Gorzkiewicz is said to have been between the lift and a truck and was thus, crushed when the lift gave way.

The South Bend victim leaves behind his wife, three children and two stepchildren.

Unfortunately, work-related fatalities happen all too often. According to the Indiana Department of Labor's 2007 work injury and work comp statistics, 92 work-related deaths were reported. And the number of injuries is staggering -- 62,326 Hoosiers filed reports claiming missing at least one or more days of work.

Continue reading " INDIANA WORKER CRUSHED TO DEATH BY FORKLIFT WHILE ON THE JOB IN SOUTH BEND " »

Two Purdue University students are seriously hurt after a World War II plane crash in Tippecanoe County. The aviation accident happened Tuesday afternoon near Americus, Indiana. The Tippicanoe County Sheriff's Office says the students involved are 22-year old Anthony Cole and 22-year old Thomas Williams, both from West Lafayette.

Cole is the most serious injured and was the pilot. He underwent surgery this morning at Methodist Hospital in Marion County. Medics airlifted him there after they got him out of the Taylorcraft plane. He arrived at the hospital in critical condition. Williams, the passenger, is listed in serious condition at Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Lafayette.

The FAA and NTSB are planning to investigate this accident. Rescue workers found the single engine aircraft in a wooded area on a farm with its nose in the ground and tail in the air. So far, crews are pointing to engine failure as the cause of the accident.

Investigators believe the plane's tail number is that of a privately-owned 1944 Taylorcraft out of Ohio. According to Taylorcraft.org, the Taylorcraft Corporation boomed in Alliance, Ohio between the years 1935 and 1946. However, following the end of World War II, the company saw its demise.

Continue reading " TWO PURDUE STUDENTS HURT IN VINTAGE PLANE CRASH IN INDIANA " »

The Howard County Sheriff's Department in Central Indiana is reporting that a deputy is recovering after his cruiser was struck head-on by a pickup truck on U. S. 31. The accident reportedly occurred south of United States Road 35 when James Smith of Dixon, Kentucky, hit a patch of black ice and lost control of his truck and moved across lanes into the path of Deputy Keith Chesshir's squad car, striking it on the driver's side door.

EMTs transferred both individuals to Saint Joseph Hospital in Central Indiana.

Continue reading " INDIANA SHERIFF INJURED IN HEAD ON AUTO ACCIDENT " »

Two employees of a Noblesville company escape serious injury following the collapse of the roof at their Circle City Auto Parts store. The weight of ice and snow cause the collapse and sent emergency crews to the building, located on Herriman Boulevard just after 10:00 am on Friday morning.

Two employees of the company were said to be inside when the roof gave way; however, no injuries were reported as a result of the structural failure.

The City of Noblesville Planning and Engineering Department was being called in to inspect the structure once firefighters secured the property.

Continue reading " FIREFIGHTERS ARE CALLED TO SECURE A NOBLESVILLE INDIANA BUILDING WHEN ROOF COLLAPSES " »