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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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Jan 6, 2021

What to Do After a Dog Bite and When to Hire a Lawyer

It can be difficult to know what to do after a dog bite and when to hire a lawyer. Approximately 4.5 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs on an annual basis, and while most dog bites do not require medical attention, thousands of dog bite injuries are treated in emergency rooms and hospitals each year. In fact, about 1,000 U.S. citizens receive emergency care for serious dog bite injuries every day. Dog bites can result in severe injuries, especially when the victim is a child. Here's a guide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqAGrcavFZw&feature=youtu.be What is considered a dog bite? Any bite wound inflicted by a dog is considered a dog bite. Dogs’ jaws can create a tremendous amount of pressure when biting, which can cause substantial damage to bones, muscles, tendons, blood vessels, and nerves. The main medical issues caused by dog bites are: Skin damage.Injuries to body tissues under the skin.The significant potential for infection of the wound.Permanent impairment.Permanent disfigurement. While many states have specific statutes addressing dog bite liability.  Texas generally goes by the “one bite” rule, which means a dog owner may not be liable if this was the first time their dog has bitten someone.  However, there are exceptions to that rule.  A skilled and experienced dog bite injury lawyer can gather evidence to prove the dog had vicious propensities and was a dangerous dog prior to the dog bite, which some courts have allowed to show the dog owner’s may be liable for the first bite.…

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Jan 6, 2021

The Definitive Guide to Commercial Truck Accidents

Commercial truck accidents injured 151,000 people and killed another 4,951 in 2018, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In these fatal crashes, only 18 percent of the fatalities were the truck drivers themselves. That means over 4,000 other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists were killed in commercial trucking accidents, and many more were injured. Commercial trucks can be dangerous, and when accidents occur, it’s usually the drivers in passenger vehicles who get hurt. In this definitive guide, we’ve answered a handful of questions that people frequently ask us about commercial truck accidents and how to get  the compensation you deserve for your injuries. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEEeZf-k8Ao&feature=youtu.be What Is a Commercial Truck Accident? In the United States, a motor vehicle is designated as a commercial vehicle when it is titled or registered to a company.  Commercial truck classifications are determined according to weight, using what is called the “gross vehicle weight rating”, or GVWR. There are eight different classes of commercial trucks, ranging from Class 1 (0 to 6,000 pounds) to Class 8 (above 33,000 pounds). Some common examples of commercial trucks include: Tractor Trailers (also called Big Rigs or Eighteen Wheelers)Heavy HaulersFlatbed TrucksRefrigerator TrucksDump TrucksCement MixersGarbage TruckTankers The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) conducted a large truck crash causation study to uncover the primary causes of accidents involving commercial trucks and other large trucks. The study concluded that 87% of the truck accident cases reviewed were caused by driver error, either by the truck driver or another driver involved…

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Jan 6, 2021

The Ultimate Guide to Offshore Accidents

According to a study of offshore fatalities by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the chance of being killed while working in the oil and gas extraction industry is seven times higher than for all workers in the United States.  We’ve put together a quick guide to offshore accidents and what you should do if you are injured in one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vd_HVPtPf4&feature=youtu.be What Is an Offshore Accident? The term “offshore” generally means the injured worker was working on navigable water.  It is also a term generally used to refer to the extraction of oil and gas from reservoirs found beneath the seafloor by oil and gas companies. These operations require laborers to work offshore on various types of rigs, barges, and platforms.  The perils of being at sea, severe weather conditions, the nature of working with oil and gas, and the size of offshore drilling vessels contribute to the frequency of offshore incidents, making offshore work incredibly risky. The kind of physical work required of maritime workers also creates hazards that can result in injury or death. Common types of injuries involved in offshore accidents include: BurnsHead traumaTwisted jointsSprained jointsBack injuriesSpinal cord injuriesNeck injuriesBruised, broken, or fractured bones DrowningTraumatic brain injuries Offshore Drilling Accidents The number of offshore injuries was on a downward trajectory between 2015 and 2017. However, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, the number of injuries on offshore rigs grew by 21 percent in 2018 and 2019. This injury rate is calculated by using the…

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