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Feb 3, 2021

Truck Tire Blowouts and When You Need a Lawyer

Truck tire blowouts cause more than an estimated 11,000 crashes on American roadways every year. In 2017, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 738 fatalities from tire-related motor vehicle crashes. These dangerous accidents affect more than just truck drivers. If you are unfortunate enough to be passing a truck that suffers a blown tire, your car could be impacted by debris or forced into a dangerous swerve. Possibly worse, if you are behind a truck tire blowout, the truck driver may lose control and cause a hazardous multi-car accident involving nearby vehicles. It is often people in passenger cars that suffer the worst injuries from truck tire blowout accidents. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCTumr1looc&feature=youtu.be What is a semi-truck tire blowout? You have likely seen pieces of tire lying on the side of the road, especially on highways. These fragments are typically the result of truck tire blowouts. A blowout occurs after a tire rapidly deflates, in turn causing an explosion. In a typical truck tire blowout, the truck driver can slowly pull to the side of the road. In certain circumstances, whether because of bad weather, heavy traffic, high speeds, or a distracted driver, a truck tire blowout results in a catastrophic traffic accident.  Truck tire blowouts don't "just happen." Often, a truck tire blowout could be prevented if the truck driver or the truck driver's company diligently maintained the truck.  Four of the most common reasons a truck tire blowout occurs are: Improper tire maintenance;Small leaks in the tire going unnoticed;An overloaded…

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Feb 3, 2021

The Ultimate Guide to Car Accident Settlements

If you've been injured in a car crash due to the negligence of another driver then you're entitled to compensation for your injuries through a car accident settlement. This settlement will be paid by either your insurance company or the other driver's insurer. Negotiating and securing fair compensation can be challenging and confusing.  And insurance companies are known for taking advantage of claimants without attorneys. As a personal injury law firm, we've helped our clients secure thousands of car accident settlements over the years. We've also obtained more than our fair share of knowledge about the process. So, we decided to create an ultimate guide to car accident settlements to help people dealing with insurance companies for the first time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=subYAvjsgk4&feature=youtu.be What is a car accident insurance settlement? A car accident insurance settlement is a payment an insurance company gives you to settle your claim after a car accident. When you file an insurance claim, a claims adjuster reviews the facts, the law, the medical records, and other circumstances surrounding the accident and offers you an initial settlement to close the case.  Here's an insider tip: the first settlement offer is always a lowball bid. Insurance adjusters often approach victims right after their accidents with a low offer, hoping the stress of the situation will make them accept. Sometimes they will even make an offer while you're still in the hospital.  Not only is the first offer always the lowest, it's impossible to immediately know the full extent of your…

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Feb 3, 2021

The Definitive Guide to MCS 90 Auto Endorsements

Unless you're a commercial truck driver, you've probably never heard of MCS 90 auto endorsements. And even if you have, you might not know what an MCS endorsement on a commercial truck driver's insurance means to you as a driver. As personal injury attorneys, we've had to learn all the nitty-gritty details about MCS 90 auto endorsements and how they can impact your ability to receive damages. If you've been injured in an accident involving a commercial motor vehicle, keep reading! We'll explain everything you need to know. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auB5NWcwyag&feature=youtu.be What is an MCS 90 endorsement for a motor carrier? To legally operate a commercial vehicle that crosses over state lines, trucking companies must register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Part of the registration process requires proving the company has the financial means to cover ANY damage caused by one of their drivers, even if their standard insurance policy doesn't cover the damage. They often provide evidence of financial responsibility by adding an MCS 90 endorsement to their insurance policy. The word "endorsement" is just insurance company lingo for an addition to a standard insurance policy. So, the MCS 90 is an insurance add-on that makes sure that if the commercial truck driver causes damages or injuries to another driver in an accident, a minimum amount of damages to any injured victim will be covered. An MCS 90 is NOT a type of insurance. The endorsement says nothing about who will ultimately pay for the damages; it merely…

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Feb 3, 2021

How to Negotiate a Car Accident Settlement

If you've been in a crash and are trying to get the insurance company to offer you what you deserve, it can be challenging to negotiate a car accident settlement. Insurance companies are notorious for paying you less than what you need to compensate for your injuries and taking advantage of injured people who are not represented by lawyers.  As legal emergency personal injury lawyers, we deal with insurance companies every day.  While they are trying to minimize your damages, we fight to maximize your recovery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV0VC5-1CJ8&feature=youtu.be What is a car accident insurance settlement? A car accident insurance settlement is simply the amount of money you agree to accept from an insurance to pay you for your injuries. What normally happens is after you file an insurance claim a claims adjuster will offer you a settlement amount to pay your damages and close the case.  It is usually a very low amount, like $500.  Once you receive an initial offer, you will have to decide whether to accept it or attempt to negotiate a better settlement. While it's completely understandable why some people just want to take the initial offer, the first settlement the insurance company offers is always a lowball offer. They want you to agree to accept this little settlement as soon as possible to avoid you hiring an experienced legal emergency car accident lawyer and pursuing the real damages you may be owed for your injuries.   Insurance claims adjusters will often approach you with a lowball settlement…

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Feb 3, 2021

How Do Car Insurance Companies Calculate Pain and Suffering?

Car accident victims are not only entitled to reimbursement for their tangible monetary losses, such as medical bills and property damage, but they are also owed compensation for pain and suffering. But how do car insurance companies assign a dollar amount to something abstract like pain and suffering?  At Attorney911, we have years of experience helping people injured in car accidents get paid. So, we decided to create this guide on how car insurance companies calculate settlement offers for pain and suffering to help people even more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EE9AWT12Kg&feature=youtu.be What is pain and suffering? First things first, what does “pain and suffering” actually mean?  In addition to reimbursement for your medical expenses and damage to your vehicle, car accident victims are entitled to compensation for the physical and emotional agony the accident caused them. Money paid to compensate for the physical pain caused by your injuries is called "pain and suffering," and payment for mental, emotional, and psychological harm, like anxiety or depression, is called "mental anguish."  Almost any sort of physical, emotional, mental, or psychological harm caused by the crash can qualify as pain and suffering. Victims can be paid for both the pain and suffering they already endured and for estimated future pain and suffering. Examples of compensable pain and suffering include: Physical damage to the bodyPhysical distress, such as chronic pain or discomfortPain or discomfort caused by medical treatmentEmotional distress, mental anguish, or grief caused by the accidentTemporary or permanent limitations to activities Psychological trauma caused by the accident,…

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Feb 3, 2021

Can I Get a PTSD Payout After a Car Accident?

Most people already know that an insurance company will reimburse you for a physical injury after a motor vehicle accident. But you might not be aware that the law does allow for compensation for mental or psychological injuries. You are entitled to money damages for psychological injuries such as PTSD caused by the car crash.  The issue is documentation.  An insurance company, or a jury, is not going to pay you any money for PTSD if we can’t back it up with documentation from a doctor, psychologist, or licensed therapist.  They are not going to just take your word for it.  We have to prove it with documentation. As personal injury lawyers, we have devoted years to understanding the intricacies of car accident cases. Relying on our substantial experience, we've compiled some useful information on PTSD payouts that can help you understand your rights. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9803X_jnR4A&feature=youtu.be What is PTSD? PTSD (short for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) is a psychiatric disorder that affects people who have experienced, witnessed, or been exposed to an upsetting or traumatic event. Some common examples of traumatic incidents that trigger PTSD include: Being involved in a bad accidentSuffering severe injuries in an accidentLong-term physical pain and sufferingOr even witnessing a bad accident, witnessing serious injury, or witnessing a death. People who suffer from PTSD experience intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings about their traumatic experience long after it is over. These feelings often cause the victim to relive the event in dreams or flashbacks. They may also feel persistent…

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Jan 7, 2021

Raccoon Eyes Brain Injuries and When to Hire a Lawyer

Raccoon eyes brain injuries can result from many different types of accidents, including motor vehicle accidents, severe falls, sports injuries, and accidents at work. After a severe brain injury, you may lose consciousness for minutes, hours, or sometimes even months. Even if you do not lose consciousness, you will likely feel confused, disoriented, overwhelmed, and terrified. On top of all that, brain injuries are incredibly expensive to treat and can take a long time to heal. In this guide to raccoon eyes brain injuries, we'll explain how the injury works, what reimbursement you can receive, and when you need to hire a lawyer. What is a raccoon eyes brain injury? A raccoon eyes brain injury is a type of traumatic brain injury. “Raccoon eyes”, or “periorbital ecchymosis” in medical terminology, are dark purple or blue bruises that develop under your eyes and resemble the dark circles under a raccoon's eyes. Raccoon eyes are a symptom of a specific traumatic brain injury called basilar skull fracture and are caused by blood from the fracture seeping into the soft tissue that surrounds the eyes.  Basilar skull fractures, also referred to as a skull base fracture, are typically caused by substantial blunt force trauma involving at least one of the bones in the base of the skull. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, these are the most serious type of skull fracture, and patients with basilar skull fractures usually require close observation in a hospital. Basilar skull fractures most commonly occur in the temporal…

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Jan 7, 2021

How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?

A car accident lawyer can help you fight with the insurance companies and receive compensation for your injuries after a car accident. If you've been injured in a car crash, you probably know that a car accident lawyer can help you, but you might be worried about how much it will cost you and if you can afford it. Here's a guide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfOP9juChCg&feature=youtu.be What is a car accident lawyer? A car accident lawyer, also known as a personal injury lawyer, represents car crash victims and pursues full compensation for their injuries. When the other driver is at fault, you are entitled to be financially reimbursed for your medical expenses, damage to your car, lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and more. A car accident attorney can help you obtain this compensation from the responsible driver and their insurance company. Car accidents are by far the most common type of personal injury case. In 2018 alone, over 2.7 million people were injured in car crashes in the United States. Auto insurance companies rarely offer to pay victims the compensation they truly deserve. Instead, they try to settle claims for the lowest amount you will accept. A car accident attorney's job is to keep the insurance companies from taking advantage of you during this difficult time. They will negotiate with insurance adjusters to make sure you receive the compensation you are owed for your injuries. If the insurance company refuses to offer a reasonable payout, then your lawyer will take them…

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Jan 6, 2021

What Does a Car Accident Lawyer Do?

After a car crash, the at-fault driver usually can be held financially responsible for injuries caused by the auto accident. Car accident attorneys help victims pursue reimbursement from the responsible driver for the damages caused by the accident. In this article, we've summarized some of the most important things you need to know about car accident lawyers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GmMPKsR590&feature=youtu.be What is a car accident lawyer? Car accident lawyers are also called personal injury lawyers. Personal injury attorneys provide legal services to people who have been injured by the actions of another person, a company, or any other legal entity. Car accidents are by far the most common type of personal injury claim handled by personal injury lawyers in the United States. A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics found that car accident trials accounted for 57% of all personal injury trials and 35% of all civil trials in 2005. What does a car accident lawyer do? When you first hire a car accident lawyer, they will let the insurance companies involved know that you are represented by a lawyer now and that all communication regarding the claim should be directed to them. Then they will start gathering evidence to build your case. Your attorney will handle negotiating with the insurance companies to ensure you receive adequate compensation for your injuries. If they cannot reach a reasonable settlement with the insurance companies, then your car accident lawyer can take them to court. They may be able…

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Jan 6, 2021

The Houston Guide to Construction Accidents

Houston construction accidents are more common than you might think. Construction is one of the largest industries in the United States, and, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is also one of the most dangerous. In 2011, 781 people were killed in the construction industry, which is a higher fatality rate than any other industry in the U.S. Because of the type of work done in the construction industry, the occupational hazards and risks are often much higher than those faced in other industries. Have you been injured in a construction accident in Houston? Here's a guide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqYeRjbR9PI&feature=youtu.be What is a construction accident? A construction accident occurs when an employee who has been hired to perform construction site duties, such as building, repairing, demolishing, improving, cleaning, or generally constructing a specific facility, is hurt on the job. In these situations, the injury can be severe or even fatal. The four most dangerous types of construction accidents, as reported by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, are: Falls — (33.5% of construction fatalities in 2018)Workers struck by objects — (11.1%)Electrocutions — (8.5%)“Caught-in/between” accidents — 55 (5.5% The "caught-in/between" category includes all accidents where a construction worker is killed when caught-in or compressed by equipment or objects; or when hit, caught, or crushed in a collapsing structure, equipment, or material. Who pays my hospital bills due to a construction accident? If you are a construction worker and are injured at work, your hospital bills may be covered by your employer's…

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