car accident

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Can I Get a Pro Bono DUI or DWI Lawyer?

Have you been injured in a DUI, DWI, or OVI accident? Do you think you need a pro bono lawyer because you’re concerned about the costs? Don’t worry. Many personal injury attorneys will take your case on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless your case is won. Here’s a guide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCmSu_WX7MU&feature=youtu.be What if I can’t afford a personal injury lawyer after a DUI, DWI, or OVI car accident? Do I need a pro bono lawyer? Generally, DWI accident victims don’t need a pro bono lawyer, because attorneys may take their case on a contingency basis -- meaning the client pays nothing unless the case is won or a settlement is mediated. If you have been injured or lost a loved one to a drunk driver, many personal injury attorneys will take your case on what’s called a contingency fee. If you win your case at trial, or your lawyer negotiates a fair settlement for you, the attorney fees will simply be deducted from the damages awarded, your medical bills are paid, and you receive the rest.  If your lawyer has taken your case on a contingency basis and you lose in court you won’t have to pay your lawyer at…

What to Expect During a Car Accident Deposition

If you have been injured in a car accident and file a lawsuit, you will likely need to participate in a deposition. Many people are intimidated by the term “deposition” and have a lot of anxiety prior to being deposed, mostly because they don’t know what to expect. But a good personal injury lawyer will help you fully prepare. Here’s a guide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NTsXE4vU28&feature=youtu.be What is a deposition in a car accident lawsuit? A deposition is an out-of-court legal proceeding where a person gives sworn testimony under oath in the presence of a court reporter and attorneys. Basically, it’s a formal question-and-answer session that is recorded and legally official. Some depositions are recorded on video and all of them are transcribed onto paper for reference. Depositions are usually done at a law office, but sometimes they’re done at a person’s home.  In a car accident lawsuit, plaintiff drivers, defendant drivers, passengers, eyewitnesses, first responders, and/or medical professionals may all be deposed as part of the discovery phase. The purpose of a deposition is to help both sides clarify the facts of the case and assess the relative strength of their arguments prior to mediation and/or trial.   How should I prepare for…

The Victim’s Guide to Car Crash Compensation

Car crash victims are generally entitled to compensation. If you’ve been injured in a car accident -- or worse, a big rig or semi-truck accident -- you’re probably wondering how you will pay your medical bills, your injuries, missed work, and repairs. But, how much will the insurance policies pay out? What do you need to do to get the insurance company to pay? What if the other driver was drunk, high, or texting while driving? If you’re the victim in a car crash, the amount of total compensation you receive for your injuries and damages will depend on many different factors. Here’s a guide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLbNemS_YlM&feature=youtu.be What if the other driver says the car accident was my fault? Sometimes you have to prove the accident was not your fault.  You should always call the police to make a report, take photos of the vehicles and the other driver’s information, call your and the other driver’s insurance company, and contact a personal injury lawyer afterward to get immediate help with your legal emergency.  An experienced personal injury legal emergency lawyer can help you prove your case. Texas is a “fault” state with regard to car accidents. This means that the driver…