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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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Jan 4, 2021

The Victim’s Guide to 18-Wheeler Accident Injuries

18-wheeler accident victims are dealing with a legal emergency.  They need to file a lawsuit to recover the monetary damages they deserve.  They need the help of a legal emergency personal injury lawyer. We have witnessed first-hand the extent of pain and suffering caused by 18-wheeler or semi truck accidents. And to make matters worse, the truck driver and trucking company always try to deny fault and shift the blame onto the victim.  They will try to make the legal emergency victim settle for an inadequate settlement amount. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in an 18-wheeler, semi, or other trucking accident, you need to file a lawsuit to recover the monetary damages you deserve.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEHIxZTbK8&feature=youtu.be Do I need to sue a trucking company after an 18-wheeler accident? Yes, generally you need to sue the big rig trucking company. It’s important to realize that trucking companies and their insurance companies have whole teams of lawyers working night and day fighting to minimize claims.  Their job is to convince the jury that the injured victims were at fault in the accident.  And that the injured victim is not that hurt. They will make below case value settlement offers to try and get legal emergency 18-wheeler accident victims to settle their case. Don’t be intimidated. Hire experienced and aggressive legal emergency representation to help you level the playing field. And don’t go with just any personal injury lawyer. Go with a firm that has a proven track…

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Dec 2, 2020

Can an Insurance Company Refuse to Pay a Claim?

Yes, insurance companies do refuse to pay claims. So, what happens when an insurance company unfairly denies your claim, or offers far less than what you truly deserve? It’s time to contact a personal injury attorney. Whether your accident was with a standard vehicle or an 18-wheeler semi-truck, working with an attorney can spare you the headache of fighting the insurance company, so you can focus on healing and getting back to your life. Here’s a quick guide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wiMHLgvcDs&feature=youtu.be Do I file a claim with my own car insurance or the other driver’s? You should always file a claim with your own insurance company after an accident. But whether and how much your own insurer will have to pay will depend on your degree of fault in the accident, and whether you live in a “no fault” state or a “fault” state. In a “fault” state, like Texas, the driver judged to be less responsible for causing the accident will recover insurance money from the at-fault driver’s policy. This is why it is always vital to exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver after an accident.  Can I file an insurance claim after a car accident if I’m at fault? Yes, you should file a claim if you’re at fault. Why? Because your insurance can help cover your own potential liability in an accident and help protect you from exorbitant out-of-pocket costs. That said, never automatically assume you’re at fault for an accident, or take the blame at…

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