Top 5 Reasons You Need a Lawyer

2. The Criminal Court Cannot Order the Business Where You Were Injured to Pay Anything

The criminal court and Judge only has jurisdiction over the criminal case and the alleged criminal. If you hire a lawyer, you would be hiring them to get monetary damages from the business landowner who had foreseeable knowledge that a threat of imminent harm was going to occur, but did not take reasonable steps to prevent it.

The criminal court cannot adequately compensate you or order you to be compensated like a civil court can. That’s where we help.

If you hire us to sue the business landowner, you are seeking monetary damages from the business landowner (and probably its insurance company) for allowing the foreseeable crime to occur – not against the criminal.

3. Your Case Against the Business Landowner Will Likely Be Thrown Out by the Judge By Written Motion Unless You Get a Lawyer to Fight Its Request for Dismissal

All premises liability cases for criminal activities rests upon the basic requirement of “foreseeability” and this is especially true in the State of Indiana and according to the Indiana Supreme Court.

The problem with this legal approach, however, is that almost every crime is “foreseeable” to some extent. After all, we buy locks on the doors to our cars and homes for a reason – because we know that crime is possible at all times and in all places.

Ironically, this knowledge then that crime can occur anywhere and at any time has resulted in courts -- like the Indiana Supreme Court -- to twist the legal definition of “foreseeability” like a pretzel into meanings that prevent injured persons from ever proving the landowner or business should have known about the imminent threat of harm absent a confession or admission of same.

If not foreseeable, then the business had no duty to the injured person and cannot be held responsible and the case must be dismissed immediately after a filing of a Motion for Summary Judgment by the defense lawyers for the business landowner. (A summary judgment motion is a written request for a dismissal of a case filed before a trial alleging that even if all facts are true according to the plaintiff, the law is in favor of the defendant).

4. Lawyers Help You Get Assistance Outside Court

In addition to handling claims and lawsuits for victims of crime, a lawyer can provide assistance with the things that no court can accomplish – directing you to effective counseling, support groups and a friendly shoulder to lean upon “24/7” -- before, during and after your case.

We can help you fill out the correct forms for compensation from the Indiana Crime Victims Fund and/or the criminal court where the alleged criminal is being tried and possibly sentenced. We can put you in touch with the County’s Victim’s Assistance Office and case manager where the criminal case is pending.

When it comes to counseling services, we can make some recommendations of esteemed and professional counselors from which you can choose – sometimes within your health insurance networks. We can review your health plan and see if the counseling services are covered or not. Additionally, confidentiality is very important to you and to us. We keep all unnecessary identification from public view, when possible. We have staff members designed to protect your confidences. We take this part of our services very seriously.