How to seek compensation

Right after an accident, there are essential steps to take to safeguard your rights and potential compensation. First, stay at the scene. Leaving could be considered a hit-and-run, leading to profound consequences. Ensure your safety by checking for injuries and moving out of traffic.

Contacting the authorities can also be helpful since they will provide an official accident report that can be useful later. While you wait for them to arrive, you can take photos of the accident scene, vehicle damages and any visible injuries. These images can help support potential claims and legal proceedings.

Lastly, even if you feel fine, visiting a doctor can be beneficial in the long run. A medical professional can identify hidden injuries and provide treatment. This way, you can seek compensation for these damages. Then, you can notify your insurance company about the accident and start your claim.

Filing a Claim

Depending on the circumstances, you can file a claim with either the at-fault driver’s insurance or your own. If the other driver is at fault, their insurance should cover your car repairs, medical bills, and other losses. Still, be prepared for potential disputes about fault or coverage limits.

When pursuing compensation, you can request both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include concrete losses like medical bills, car repairs, and lost income. Non-economic damages include compensation for experiences such as physical and emotional pain, mental anguish, and the loss of close personal relationships.

Texas imposes certain limitations on damages, particularly in cases involving public servants or community service programs. Additionally, there is a two-year statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit, so it is crucial to act promptly. If you have questions, contact a car accident attorney to guide you and defend your rights.

Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident can be complicated, especially regarding fault and compensation. Understanding Texas’ modified comparative negligence system is key to recovering damages. If you feel overwhelmed, consulting with a Texas car accident attorney can provide guidance tailored to your situation.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by gturnercontentcustoms | Feb 21, 2024 | Car Accident Injuries

A car crash can be a traumatic event – both physically and emotionally. However, the emotional effects of this turn of events may not manifest immediately if someone is focused on their physical injuries. When they do present, however, they can be life changing and continue long after a person’s body has largely healed.

How a crash affects someone’s mental health depends in part on how their brain is wired as well as whether they have history of or ongoing issue with anxiety disorder and/or phobias. It may have less to do with how serious the crash was. Some people who have been in car collisions suffer a phobic condition called amaxophobia that can disrupt their personal and work life.

What is amaxophobia?

This condition is a fear of riding in a vehicle, either as a driver, passenger or both. It’s not just anxiety or getting knots in your stomach. A person suffering from amaxophobia may begin shaking, have heart palpitations and feel like they can’t breathe when they even think about getting in a car. Not everyone experiences amaxophobia the same way. It’s more serious in some than others. Some people with this condition can ride in a car but are afraid to drive. Some can’t be a passenger, even if a trusted, experienced driver is behind wheel. Some people are unable to even use public transportation.

Treatment is necessary

A person who is suffering from amaxophobia or any anxiety disorder after a crash can be unable to live their life the way they need to. They may be unable to get to work, take their kids to and from school and much more. Mental health treatment can be every bit as necessary as the medical treatment they’ve undergone. The sooner the condition is diagnosed and the sooner treatment can start, the better the chances are of treating it.

If you have recently been involved in a crash and are suffering mental health effects, you may need to seek compensation from an at-fault driver. If so, you can and should include the cost of mental health treatment for serious issues caused or exacerbated by the crash. However, you’ll likely need a diagnosis by a mental health professional before you’ll be awarded damages.

Being able to afford the mental health care you need after a crash is just one reason not to agree to a settlement after a crash until you know the full extent of your economic and non-economic damages. With experienced legal guidance, you can better seek the compensation to which you’re entitled.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by gturnercontentcustoms | Dec 22, 2023 | Car Accident Injuries

Car crashes can cause severe injuries even when people properly use restraints and follow all traffic laws. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can occur because someone hits their head on part of the vehicle or because a vehicle spins or rolls over during the crash.

TBIs range from mild to severe. The most severe brain injuries are fatal or leave people dependent on life support indefinitely. Only a small percentage of those with new TBIs die immediately. Thousands of others have to adjust to life with new medical challenges. Frequently, those with TBIs discover that they have expenses well beyond what the available insurance can cover. What makes a crash-related TBI so expensive?

The medical support required

The first and most obvious expense for a brain injury is the treatment it necessitates. Some people may require surgical intervention, while many others need tens of thousands of dollars in emergency trauma care support. Even after someone leaves the hospital initially, they may require ongoing rehabilitative care, such as physical or occupational therapy. The lifetime medical care costs range from $85,000 to millions of dollars in some cases.

Lost earning potential

Every TBI manifests unique symptoms. Some people struggle with memory and cognition, while others develop fine motor function challenges. Many people have to leave their jobs after a TBI because they cannot perform the same work they used to. Even those who keep the same job may lose out on future earning potential because they are no longer as competitive as they once were in the workplace. Symptoms ranging from changes in personality to memory deficits can impact someone’s ability to perform their job well and their income.

The need for accommodations

Depending on what symptoms someone has, they may need nursing support in their home, life support machinery or an accessible living space. Those accommodations can be quite expensive for someone to obtain.

The combination of medical costs, necessary accommodations and lost earning potential can lead to financial devastation for those involved in major collisions. Those coping with a TBI or supporting a loved one who has one may benefit from seeking legal assistance while navigating an insurance claim or support when filing a personal injury lawsuit. Knowing how much a TBI can cost may help people more effectively seek financial compensation to better cover those expenses when the harm in question was caused by another’s actions or inactions.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by gturnercontentcustoms | Nov 19, 2023 | Car Accident Injuries

If you suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a car accident, you certainly hope that you’re going to experience healing in the days and weeks to come. You hope that as the injury improves, your symptoms will fade and life will “go back to normal.”

But this kind of transition doesn’t always happen. In many cases, a brain injury can actually get worse over time. This is why it’s so important to get prompt treatment and to consider the long-term costs that may be associated with an injury before accepting a legal settlement from an at-fault party if you have recently sustained TBI-related harm.

A secondary brain injury

Secondary injuries can sometimes occur after an initial injury. This can happen because of changes to blood vessels, changes to the chemical composition within the brain or the changes to the brain cells themselves.

Continuing symptoms

In some cases, you may see symptoms that make your overall condition worse. An example of this is inflammation, which puts pressure on the brain as it is squeezed against the inside of the skull. A similar issue can be a subdural hematoma, where bleeding continues within the brain tissues, and that bleeding leads to increased pressure.

Oxygenation issues

Without proper oxygen levels, there can be neuron damage that is irreversible, harming brain cells for life. Injuries can reduce the amount of oxygen that gets to certain parts of the brain, leading to eventual cognitive decline, and, in some cases, apoptosis – the death of brain cells.

What does this mean for you?

If you have been injured, the biggest takeaway is that there’s no guarantee that your symptoms are going to get better or that your body is naturally going to heal. Even if your condition doesn’t seem too serious immediately after a car accident, it remains important to speak with medical professionals. Procrastinating this care, or failing to go to the hospital entirely, can allow symptoms to continue to progress unchecked.

Of course, seeking out this type of emergency medical care can be quite expensive. If another driver caused the accident and was therefore responsible for your injuries – and the costs that go along with them – then you need to know what legal steps you can take to seek compensation. Seeking legal guidance is a good way to get started.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by punith.s@thomsonreuters.com | Sep 10, 2023 | Car Accident Injuries

When you compare teen drivers to other drivers in the United States, a few glaring facts stand out. One of them is that these drivers suffer a disproportionately high fatal accident rate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims that this rate is three times higher than the one they have determined is suffered by older drivers.

It’s clear that teens are causing fatal accidents more often than anyone else. But why is this? There are many different factors that play into this reality, even though every accident is unique. The following are a few common factors that lead to fatal accidents caused by teen motorists.

Brand new drivers

When it comes to driving, a lack of experience is very problematic. Statistics show that 16-year-olds have a crash rate that is one and a half times higher than 18-year-olds. Even a few months of experience can make someone a much safer driver. By the time that young motorists are in their 20s, the crash rate falls significantly because they have years of experience under their belts.

Driving with passengers

It is often best for teenagers to drive on their own. This allows them to focus on the road and helps to eliminate some distractions. It also helps to reduce peer pressure, as teens will sometimes do things – such as racing another vehicle on the interstate – to impress their friends. Teenagers who have other young adults or teens in the car with them crash more often than those who do not.

Distracted driving

It is not only teens who are distracted behind the wheel, but it is a reality that disproportionately impacts this age group. As noted above, some get distracted by passengers. But many of them also get distracted by smartphones in an era when connecting with their peers electronically is very important. Furthermore, teens may get distracted by things they have to do in the car, such as changing the radio station, adjusting the mirrors or using the GPS. Any level of distraction is problematic, especially for an inexperienced driver.

Teens aren’t likely to stop causing injurious or fatal crashes any time soon, unfortunately. Therefore, if you or a loved one is affected by a crash caused by an inexperienced driver, just remember that you have rights and that you can seek legal guidance for greater clarity at any time.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by gturnercontentcustoms | Aug 22, 2023 | Car Accident Injuries

Car crashes may only last a few seconds, but they can result in lasting consequences for the people involved. Those hurt in a collision often need to seek compensation. Every motorist in Texas is subject to legal requirements necessitating liability insurance. People may also incur personal financial responsibility if they cause a crash and do not have sufficient insurance to compensate the people affected by the wreck.

Those in Texas trying to handle the practical consequences of a recent collision may struggle to assert their rights, in part because they may not understand their options or how much the crash will cost them. Recognizing what expenses are recoverable after a crash can help people determine the right step to take after a collision in Texas.

What can people hope to recoup after a crash?

In general, Texas state statutes allow those impacted by the poor choices, illegal activity or negligence of others to take legal action. If there isn’t available insurance or if someone’s total losses exceed the available coverage, then a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit could be an option.

Property damage expenses are usually eligible for compensation after a crash. The cost to repair a vehicle or buy a new one can contribute tens of thousands of dollars to the overall financial impact of a crash. Additionally, if someone gets hurt, they may have medical expenses. Existing medical bills and estimated future treatment costs can contribute to the total value of a car crash claim.

Those with significant injuries may also have lost wages. They may be unable to work until they recover from their injuries. That might mean multiple weeks or even several months before they get back to work. People can claim the income they did not earn because of their injuries.

They can also claim any lost earning potential created by permanent injuries. If someone has a brain or spinal cord injury, they may never be able to work in the same profession again and will have to adjust to a far lower level of personal income. The difference between their prior wages and their current wages can also be a loss that they seek to recover from the party responsible for the collision. Finally, it is possible to seek non-economic damages, like compensation for pain and suffering.

Those who take the time to really evaluate how a collision will affect their finances and their lives will be able to put together a more comprehensive estimate. They will also, therefore, have an easier time asking for appropriate compensation and seeking it with the assistance of an experienced legal professional.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by gturnercontentcustoms | Aug 10, 2023 | Car Accident Injuries

The very first motor vehicle safety lesson that every child typically learns is to always wear a seat belt. Parents usually put children into special safety restraints, but once they move into normal seats, children still have to consistently wear a safety restraint whenever they are in a motor vehicle.

Ideally, young people who are raised understanding the importance of seat belts will consistently wear them as adults. A large number of the fatalities that occur in modern collisions involve people who don’t have this safety restraint in place at the time of a crash. There is a little question that seat belts save lives. However, they can potentially cause injuries as well. The three injuries listed below are among the most common injuries associated with seat belts.

Injuries to the neck and throat

Depending on where a seat belt falls on someone’s body and what position someone was in inside the vehicle, the seat belt could apply direct pressure to their throat during the abrupt stop that occurs during the crash. People may experience bruising caused by vascular injuries and, in rare cases, cervical spine fractures. Improperly-positioned seat belts could also damage the windpipe and impact someone’s breathing.

Injuries to the clavicle and chest

Oftentimes, the seat belt causes injury across the shoulders or chest as it restrains someone during a Collision. People may break their clavicle or collarbone. Not only is that a very painful fracture, but it can require a lengthy recovery when compared with other broken bones. Thankfully, researchers have found that injuries to the neck and chest have only minor association with significant medical concerns, even if the recovery is long and painful.

Abdominal injuries

The worst-case scenario for a seat belt injury involves the seat belt damaging the abdomen or lower torso. The pressure can cause damage to solid organs like the spleen or liver, as well as the visceral organs like the pancreas and kidneys. Injuries to the bowels are somewhat common and can cause life-threatening medical complications. People may also experience internal bleeding in the abdomen that could cause major secondary side effects.

Those with injuries caused by seat belts may overlook these issues at first and may eventually require emergency medical care because of their injuries. Understanding how people get hurt in car crashes may help people avoid mistakes when attempting to identify such injuries in themselves or the passengers in their vehicles.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by lainie.little@thomsonreuters.com | Jun 13, 2023 | Car Accident Injuries

In some personal injury scenarios, numerous people will have suffered essentially the same injury. Each individual’s harm may not be identical, but it has the same root cause. Each then wants to sue the person or a company that they believe is responsible for those injuries.

An example could be if a chainsaw has a faulty guard that tends to slip out of place when the saw is pointed downward. People end up suffering serious cuts and lacerations when using the saw in what they believed was the proper manner. It appears to have a design defect leading to these injuries. Many people who have been hurt due to this defective guard wants to sue the company that makes the chainsaw to cover things like their medical bills and lost wages.

There are two different ways to do accomplish this aim, which are to file a class action lawsuit or to pursue a mass tort claim. Both approaches address harm-related requests for compensation on behalf of multiple individuals. However, there are also differences between these approaches.

More control with a mass tort

Essentially, you have a bit more control over how things play out if you use a mass tort approach. This is because each individual who is named in a mass tort is still going to be treated as an independent part of that case. It’s a bit different than a class action, where all the victims are put into a single pool and a decision is made that applies to all of them.

What this means is that mass torts often involve particularly serious injuries. Many class action lawsuits are filed because people have very minor injuries and it would not be worth the time or expense to litigate those cases on their own. But people work together so that the total value of the case is much higher than it would be otherwise and they can pool their resources to seek justice. In a mass tort scenario, people still retain their individual status and tend to have more serious injuries that warrant compensation determined on the unique value of each individual’s harm. But they can still work together because they are litigating cases against the same defendant(s) and that originated due to similar circumstances.

If you have been injured, you can see why it’s important to understand all the legal options you have at your disposal. Seeking legal guidance is a good way to start exploring how best to seek justice and compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by gturnercontentcustoms | Apr 1, 2023 | Car Accident Injuries

Collisions on the road are a leading cause of premature death and severe injury across the United States, including here in Texas. Every day, people get into crashes that wreck their vehicles and send them to the hospital.

Injuries ranging from broken bones to spinal cord injuries could leave someone out of work for weeks or possibly the rest of their life, in extreme cases. Resulting lost wages will only compound the medical expenses they have following the crash. A collision that someone didn’t cause could completely alter their personal financial circumstances for the rest of their life as a result.

Every driver in Texas should is legally bound to carry liability insurance coverage, including bodily injury protection. In theory, that means someone hurt in a crash can hold the person who caused the wreck responsible by filing an insurance claim to cover their losses. But, can someone unable to work after a car crash count on insurance to replace their wages, especially if their lost income potential is great?

Insurance may not be enough, in many cases

What someone can get from a policy depends on the applicable limit, which may be only a fraction of someone’s annual salary. Every driver gets to choose how much coverage they have, so long as they pay for the basic amount required by the state. When it comes to bodily injury coverage, the Texas requirement is $30,000 per person and $60,000 per crash.

The amount of coverage that someone carries determines how much someone can get from a claim. Those with minimal policies may not be able to replace much of someone’s lost income, especially after factoring in the cost of medical care.

What happens when insurance isn’t enough?

Those with lost wages and insufficient insurance coverage may have few choices other than going to civil court. Texas law allows those hurt by the misconduct or negligence of others to ask for financial compensation for their losses.

A successful personal injury claim could potentially more fully compensate someone for the cost of a crash, especially when someone’s insurance coverage is low and their typical hourly wage is significant. Learning more about all options that are available following a Texas motor vehicle collision can help people to better manage the financial losses they’ve suffered following a crash.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by gturnercontentcustoms | Mar 2, 2023 | Car Accident Injuries

For multiple years, improved safety features in vehicles and informed public policy helped drive down the rate of major motor vehicle collisions. The number of crashes that occurred each year and the number of people who died in traffic decreased slowly, creating a promising trend of improved road safety.

Unfortunately, the trend reversed several years ago, with crash rates and traffic fatalities both increasing. For several years now, crash rates and fatalities have risen. Drivers now have to worry more than they did just a few years ago about the possibility of a collision on their way to work or to the movie theater with friends.

What can people do to minimize their personal risk of a severe collision despite rising traffic crash rates overall?

1. Avoid obviously risky actions

Experts looking at the increase in crashes in the last few years have noticed a major trend. Specifically, a large number of the worst collisions in recent years have involved people doing things that are obviously unsafe at the wheel. In other words, the causes of these crashes are bad choices people already know they should not make.

The number of drivers getting behind the wheel after drinking or using drugs has seemingly increased. There are also a high number of crashes directly related to excessive speed. Distracted driving has also proven to be a significant and lasting safety concern. Drivers can help protect themselves by following traffic laws and avoiding known dangerous behaviors.

2. Learn about defensive driving

Young adults sometimes learn defensive driving skills when initially getting their license. Others only know the basic concept and don’t worry much about risks until it is too late. Defense driving is a philosophy that demands someone treat everyone else in traffic like a source of collision risk.

Defensive driving involves learning how to better monitor surroundings and to adjust driving behaviors to reduce the risk caused by others. Drivers who learn about defensive driving or refresh themselves on what the process entails will have an easier time properly responding to the bad driving habits of others and potentially protecting themselves from a life-altering crash.

Refreshing driving skills and tracking collision statistics can help people reduce their personal risk of a major car wreck. In the event of a wreck, seeking legal guidance is generally the best course of action.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by gturnercontentcustoms | Jan 16, 2023 | Car Accident Injuries

Some of the largest-scale automotive recalls in recent years have involved defective airbags. These crucial safety systems can prevent potentially fatal or life-altering injuries. When people purchase newer vehicles, the safety systems, such as side-impact airbags, are often one of the most important considerations.

Unfortunately, airbags do not always operate the way that they should, putting people on the road at unnecessary risk. Defective airbags have been a major cause of large-scale recalls in recent years, but manufacturers and dealerships often can’t make repairs as quickly as they should given the risk involved.

There have been two particularly common types of airbag defects in recent years, both of which have been cause for concern.

1. Some airbags don’t deploy

When you think of a defective product, you likely imagine an item that simply doesn’t do what its manufacturer designed it to do. That is exactly what happens with many defective airbags.

After an impact that should clearly have triggered the airbag to prevent someone from hitting the windows or steering wheel of their vehicle, the airbags remain undeployed. Drivers and occupants may suffer injuries to the chest and torso or to the head because airbags did not deploy as they should. Some people may even die if they get into a crash and a defective airbag does not inflate the way it should.

2. Some airbags explode

The Takata airbag recalls involved issues with how the airbags deployed and the materials used to inflate them. In some cases, the airbags might explode, sending shrapnel through the cabin of the vehicle. A safety device that explodes in someone’s face is obviously not going to improve their medical outcome in a car crash.

Both those injured in crashes because of defective airbags and those grieving a family member’s death who likely would have survived the crash if the airbag had deployed properly may have grounds to bring a lawsuit or defective product insurance claim.

Manufacturers who do not alert consumers about a defect or handle their recalls in a timely manner can still have liability for any injuries people suffer when their products fail. Connecting your recent losses with a defective product can be the first step toward proper compensation for you and your family.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by | Dec 14, 2022 | Car Accident Injuries

For all of the convenience that motor vehicles create in modern society, they come with burdensome costs. The individual costs associated with vehicle ownership pale in comparison to the societal impact of motor vehicle collisions.

Crashes are a leading cause of fatalities and severe personal injuries in the United States. People can lose limbs, suffers spinal cord injuries or develop a traumatic brain injury because of what occurs during a car crash. Such injuries can require medical support that costs thousands of dollars a month.

If a member of your family recently suffered a catastrophic injury in a crash, you likely have questions about how to afford their long-term care. What options do you have?

Car insurance can help

Every driver should have insurance on their vehicle that will contribute toward the costs created in a motor vehicle collision. Liability coverage allows those harmed in a crash to bring a claim against the policy carried by the person at fault for the wreck.

However, such claims are subject to policy limits that may be a fraction of what catastrophic injuries cost. There is also the small but concerning possibility that the driver who causes your loved one’s injuries won’t have insurance at all.

Personal injury claims

When a driver doesn’t have insurance or has a bad policy and yet causes hundreds of thousands of dollars in estimated lifetime medical expenses, the people affected by their actions can hold them liable. A personal injury lawsuit allows those hurt in a crash to claim any costs not covered by the insurance provided by the person at fault for the wreck.

The more severe the injuries and the more egregious the misconduct or negligence of the party at fault for the crash, the better the chances of a successful lawsuit.

Workers’ compensation benefits

Quite a few people have to drive as part of their job. If your loved one who requires long-term care was on their way to a service call or picking up a co-worker from the airport while clocked in at work, they could receive workers’ compensation benefits.

The available benefits include disability pay while someone remains unable to work and medical coverage. Especially when someone requires long-term care, it often becomes necessary to look into every available option for compensation.

Reviewing the details of the car crash that left your loved one in need of constant medical support will help you plan how to pay for their care costs.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by steve.j.anderson@thomsonreuters.com | Jul 30, 2022 | Car Accident Injuries

COVID-19 both changed and divided the nation. Pro-vax and anti-vax camps clashed. Mask mandates only added to the rancor.

Yet, if there is one thing both sides can agree with is that the pandemic changed the world.

The rise in careless, reckless, and negligent driving

In the United States, the change took a decidedly deadly form. Driving habits became reckless, leading to a growth in fatalities. To date, far too many have yet to slow down when traveling. Shelter-at-home and telecommuting made once bustling freeways veritable ghost towns.

Yet, those who were driving saw the lack of congestion as an open invitation to operate their vehicles well above posted speed limits. That trend resulted in car accident deaths on empty roads rising seven percent in 2020. The soaring number of fatalities was the result of speeding, alcohol, and unbelted drivers and passengers.

Drivers involved in fatal crashes with all three factors increased by 20 percent. Those 18 to 20 who died with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08 and higher skyrocketed 40 percent.

Deaths continue to grow

Last year saw 43,000 deaths nationwide due to reckless, negligent, and impaired driving. Speeding-related deaths increased by five percent. Deaths due to lack of seatbelt use rose by three percent. Police-reported accidents as a result of alcohol use grew five percent.

Fast forward to today, the habit continues to be hard to break, with dangerous driving becoming the latest “new normal.”

Whether this dangerous and deadly trend is temporary or permanent, drivers need to take extra precautions while operating their vehicles. Sadly, it may not be enough to stem the tide of dangerous driving, resulting in preventable deaths.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by lainie.little@thomsonreuters.com | Jun 2, 2022 | Car Accident Injuries

Whether you use your bike for exercise, a hobby or transportation, summer is a great time to get your bicycle out for another adventure.

Safety is an essential part of going out on your bike. In addition to your helmet and other protective gear, you should also make sure you are easily visible to others on the road.

Here’s what you should keep in mind when getting ready for your next ride.

Lights and reflectors

Often, bicycles will come with a handful of reflectors on the front, back and sides that will serve as the base for safe bike rides. While these are important, they are only a starting point, especially if you plan to ride in the dark often.

When adding lights, keep in mind that your front light is both to see and be seen, so you will need a higher output (about 250 to 2,000 lumens). Your rear light is only for being seen, so it can have a lower output (about 50-100 lumens), but it should pulse so that it is easy to distinguish you from motor vehicle traffic.

Apparel matters

Lights are only one part of being visible on your bike. Whether you are biking during the day or at night, wearing clothing that is easy for motorists to see can be essential to keeping everyone safe.

When you choose apparel for your bike ride, you should look for light-colored items with reflective qualities, especially if you will be riding at night. If you are unsure how long your bike ride will last, you may want to bring a reflective vest that you can put over your outfit to ensure you stay visible.

Bicycle safety is an essential part of being a responsible rider. When you make extra efforts to ensure others can see you, it increases the chances that everyone can get home safely.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by sushmitha.p@thomsonreuters.com | Jan 4, 2022 | Car Accident Injuries

Sometimes, the severity of a car crash catches people off-guard. They are left with serious injuries and, sometimes, new, lifelong disabilities.

After you get injured, it is important to seek medical care and to get all types of help that you need. Something else to consider once you settle your case is to go back and adjust your estate plan.

Why update your estate plan after a crash?

One of the reasons to update your estate plan is because you’ve just been through a major, life-changing event. You may have a large sum of money that you want to protect from your personal injury settlement, and changing your estate plan may give you an avenue to do so.

Updating your estate plan will also allow you to change your decisions on things like medical care or who your power of attorney agents are. Stress tends to bring out either the best or worst in people, so after going through a major emergency, you may have a better idea of who you want handling your estate when you are incapacitated or pass away.

If you were temporarily incapacitated after your injury and didn’t have a health care proxy in place, now is a good time to address that. When you don’t have someone there to make health care decisions for you, it’s possible for the decisions that are made to be different than what you would have liked. Now is a good time to update your medical preferences and to make sure that you have someone you trust listed as your health care power of attorney.

Updating your estate plan will also allow you to start looking into long-term care planning, such as assisted-living options or in-home health care, while considering your new injuries or disabilities. This will make sure you get the right attention and care when you’re older or need help in the future.

The emotional stress of a car accident can be overwhelming. Once you are medically stable and have settled your case, it’s time to look at ways to protect yourself and your family in the future. Estate planning allows you to do that.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by sushmitha.p@thomsonreuters.com | Dec 8, 2021 | Car Accident Injuries

When you find out that your spouse was in a car crash, you may understand the gravity of the situation right away. Many people who get into car crashes break a bone or suffer from whiplash. While they need medical care and may require some weeks off of work, they will eventually recover.

Other people will suffer permanent injuries like traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries. Catastrophic injuries from a car crash can leave someone unable to work and possibly dependent on nursing support for their daily needs.

Needing to pay for medical treatments or have a family member leave their job to provide nursing care is a major concern, especially if the family member who got hurt was the primary wage earner for the family. How can your family pay the bills after your spouse gets hurt in a car crash?

Making an insurance claim will help

Every driver should have liability coverage on their vehicle. When someone causes a crash that permanently injures your spouse, their policy should help reimburse your family. Sadly, not all drivers will have enough coverage to fully protect you from the losses you will suffer when your spouse gets hurt.

If your loved one was the only person hurt in the crash, the maximum insurance coverage could be just $30,000. If other people got hurt in the wreck, they will have to share as little as $60,000 of coverage with your loved one.

Bodily injury liability coverage pays for both medical bills and lost wages, so a driver with minimal coverage won’t be able to fully compensate your family. You may need reimbursement for far more medical costs than that and also for years of lost wages.

Explore a civil lawsuit for compensation

You may be able to file a civil lawsuit against the person who caused the crash if they don’t have enough insurance. Sometimes, there may also be other parties with responsibility for the wreck. If a defective vehicle component caused the crash, for example, you could potentially make a claim against the manufacturer of that part.

Reviewing the specifics of your spouse’s car crash can help you determine what compensation is available to help you support the family.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by sushmitha.p@thomsonreuters.com | Oct 7, 2021 | Car Accident Injuries

You just needed to go to the grocery store or were on your way home after work. Unfortunately, you crossed paths with someone who had their phone in their hand while driving or who didn’t pay attention at an intersection.

The next thing you know, you’ve been T-boned and your vehicle is completely totaled. You may have also suffered an injury, like a broken bone or something more serious, like a spinal cord injury or head injury.

Suddenly, rather than running errands or seeing your family, your big concern is finding someone to tow your vehicle and getting medical treatment. You probably expect that you can rely on car insurance to protect you after a crash. Unfortunately, many Texas drivers learn the hard way that insurance doesn’t always protect them.

Drivers without robust coverage may leave you with unpaid bills

Everyone who registers a car in Texas or drives on public roads in the state has to have insurance on their vehicle. The state mandates a minimum level of coverage to help protect people from financial devastation when they cause a crash or after they get hurt in a collision caused by someone else.

Basic insurance coverage in Texas depends on liability. The driver who is at fault for the crash is the one whose policy reimburses the people hurt in the wreck. Your own policy will only cover you if you have additional coverage, like collision coverage or uninsured driver coverage. Otherwise, your compensation after a crash depends on the insurance that someone else carries.

Texas only requires $30,000 worth of bodily injury coverage. That minimum increases to $60,000 of coverage when two or more people get hurt in a crash. Drivers also have to carry $25,000 worth of property damage liability coverage. When someone totally destroys your vehicle in a crash, $25,000 may not be enough to replace your vehicle. $30,000 could also be far lower than the medical costs you have.

What are your options when insurance isn’t enough?

As previously mentioned, drivers who have uninsured and underinsured driver coverage can make a claim against their own policy after a crash with uncovered financial losses. Those hurt in a crash caused by an irresponsible driver may also have the option of filing a civil lawsuit against that driver for any lost income, medical bills and property damage expenses that insurance won’t cover.

Learning about the Texas insurance program can help you better protect yourself with good coverage and push for compensation after someone hurts you in a crash.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by sushmitha.p@thomsonreuters.com | Sep 14, 2021 | Car Accident Injuries

In the fall, schools open back up and you’ll start to see more children walking in and around their schools. Whether you or your child drive through this area, it’s very important to talk about school zones and what it means to be safe when driving through one.

Drivers are expected to drive more slowly through school zones. They are also expected to follow the rules that apply to school zones, such as obeying the school zone speed limit and putting away devices to make sure they are watching the road carefully.

Get to know your local school zones

It’s a good idea to get to know the local school zones and the speed limit in that area. Most school zones ask that drivers go no faster than 25 mph when school is in session or during specific times.

Drivers also should not:

• Pass a school bus from behind, especially if that bus is carrying children, unloading or loading
• Speed through a school zone, since children may be entering the roadway
• Block crosswalks, since this prevents children from crossing safely

School zones always have a lot of traffic, but you have an opportunity to help prevent collisions by lowering your speed and following the traffic rules in that area.

What should you do if you’re hit in a school zone?

If you are hit in a school zone, the hope is that the collision won’t be as significant as in other areas due to the reduced speed limit. Unfortunately, some people still speed and cause serious collisions that impact those around them. If you’re hit by a bus, dangerous driver, new driver or other person, they may be liable for any damage they caused and any injuries you suffered.

If you’re hit by a driver, know that you can make a legal claim

It’s okay to look into making a personal injury claim and filing it against an at-fault driver, even if they are a teen or young adult in a school zone. All drivers are expected to follow the rules, so those who are not being safe should be held accountable.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by sushmitha.p@thomsonreuters.com | Aug 11, 2021 | Car Accident Injuries

Texas uses a graduated licensing program, which is designed to help keep younger drivers safer by implementing specific requirements that they must meet to keep their licenses.

One thing that parents should discuss with their children, especially prior to summer break and the start of the school year, is the limit on passengers. With a provisional license, drivers under the age of 18 are unable to carry more than a single passenger who is under the age of 21. This rule is in place to help prevent too many teens from riding together and driving recklessly as a result of peer influences.

This rule applies to anyone under 18, but it does have limitations. For example, if a 17-year-old child is asked to pick up two younger siblings who are 15 and 10, they are able to do so. The rule only applies to passengers who are not immediate family members.

Restrictions on provisional licenses may help save lives

The restrictions placed on provision licenses are important because they can help reduce the likelihood of a collision. With passenger restrictions, laws focus on making it easier for the driver to concentrate on the road.

Other restrictions are also in place in the state. Some of those include:

• Not allowing cell phone use when a person has a learner’s permit or provisional license
• Requiring drivers to stop driving with a curfew when they’re under 18. Those under 18 may not drive between midnight and 5:00 a.m. without supervision

These license restrictions may seem strict, but implementing them is for the better good. Once a teen reaches 18 or meets other requirements set by law, they are able to have the restrictions removed. At that point, it’s expected that they’ve been trained to drive well enough that they need no further restrictions on their license.

Talk about safety before your teen drives

Take the time to talk to your teen about their driving restrictions, so they know what is or is not legal. Going over safety precautions and restrictions now can help prevent crashes and make sure that your child gets home safe.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

by sushmitha.p@thomsonreuters.com | Jun 8, 2021 | Car Accident Injuries

The summer is here, and since many teenagers and young drivers will be on the road, now is a good time to talk about car brakes and signs of brake defects. Your vehicle’s brakes are some of the most important parts of the car, so making sure that they are working perfectly is essential.

Brake defects could lead to unexpected crashes, like rear-end collisions, so it’s important to recognize when the brakes don’t sound right or are not working as well as they should.

Why are defective brakes so dangerous?

It’s impossible to steer out of every dangerous situation on the roads, so you have to use your brakes. During a single drive, you will press a brake pedal hundreds of times. If that brake doesn’t respond when you need it to, then a collision could happen, you could go off the road or another kind of accident may occur.

What are some common brake defects?

Some common brake defects include:

• Faulty designs that lead to premature brake pad or rotor damage
• Anti-lock brake failure, which can lead to a loss of control
• Unresponsive or “squishy” pedals, which make a vehicle harder to stop

Each of these three defects is extremely dangerous. While some older drivers may know techniques to avoid danger, such as being familiar with their emergency brakes or knowing how to steer out of a skid or spin, younger drivers may not yet have that experience and be at a higher risk of a crash.

What should you do if your brakes become defective while you’re driving?

If your brakes suddenly fail to work properly and you have time to move over onto the shoulder, you should steer onto the shoulder and allow the vehicle to slow down on its own over time. If you have an emergency brake, you can also use that brake to slow down your vehicle.

Warn others by turning on your hazard lights or honking. Continue to pump the brake, since this sometimes provides enough force to stop your vehicle. Then, once you’re safe, look into your legal options. If there is a manufacturer’s defect or defect caused by repairs made to your vehicle, you may have a claim.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn