by gturnercontentcustoms | Sep 23, 2024 | Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries

When you’ve been injured in an accident, and the at-fault party’s insurance company offers a large settlement, it can feel like a huge relief. You might be tempted to accept the offer and move on with your life. After all, isn’t that what you’re entitled to—quick and fair compensation?

While it might seem that way, there’s an important question to ask: is the settlement enough to cover all your current and future needs? In many cases, the answer is no. Insurance companies are in business to make profits, not to pay out the full value of claims. Therefore, seeking legal feedback before accepting a settlement offer could be one of your most important decisions. The right legal support can help ensure you don’t miss out on crucial financial compensation to support your long-term recovery.

Medical expenses

Depending on the acuteness of the injuries you sustain during a collision, you may incur out-of-pocket expenses for:

• Visiting the emergency room
• Your hospital stay
• Ongoing medical treatments
• Rehabilitation
• Therapy

Involving the right legal team can help you account for all medical expenses that your injuries may require.

Lost wages and future earnings

It’s not uncommon for accident survivors to miss work while they recover from the injuries sustained in the collision. Suppose this is your predicament; accepting the insurance company’s initial settlement offer might not be a good idea. Instead, you should consult a legal team that can help ensure you recover the lost wages you’re entitled to.

Pain and suffering

Did you know you’re entitled to compensation for the pain and suffering you experienced due to a car accident? These damages can vary widely depending on:

• The severity of your injuries
• How the accident affected your daily life
• The accident’s long-term impact on your well-being

With proper legal support, you can rest assured the insurance company will not undervalue your pain and suffering to keep the payout lower.

While a large settlement offer from an insurance company might seem generous, it’s crucial to take a step back and evaluate whether it truly meets your current and future needs. You’re entitled to a settlement that caters to more than just your immediate medical bills. Consulting with a dedicated legal team can help ensure that all of your expenses are considered.

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by jessica.freeburg@thomsonreuters.com | Jan 16, 2020 | Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries

Most people who enjoy riding a motorcycle have the most fun when they’re on the open road. And in many cases, this means taking to the highway.

While it’s enjoyable to ride a motorcycle on the highway, it’s also extremely dangerous if you don’t know exactly what you are doing.

Here are five safety tips you can follow to safely operate a motorcycle on a highway:

• Keep your speed in check: It’s easy to blow by the speed limit, especially if traffic is light and you see nothing but open road ahead. Rather than do this, know the speed limit and keep your bike below it at all times.
• Beware of your following distance: The faster you’re driving, the more time it takes to stop your motorcycle. Leave extra following distance between your bike and the vehicle in front of yours, as it buys you more time should you have to brake in a hurry.
• Keep an eye on the sky: Inclement weather, such as rain, can make the road slick, thus increasing the risk of losing control of your motorcycle. If the weather takes an unexpected turn for the worse, adjust your driving style appropriately.
• Avoid blind spots: Your motorcycle isn’t as big as other vehicles on the road, so it’s a challenge for other drivers to see you. This is particularly true of large commercial vehicles. It’s a must to avoid blind spots, such as the area directly next to a truck.
• Ride in the right lane: This is the safest place to ride, as traffic is slower and it’s not used regularly for passing. Do most your riding here and you’ll feel much better about your safety.

When you follow these tips, you improve your safety and better your chance of reaching your destination without incident.

If you’re injured in a motorcycle-car accident, you must call 911 for immediate help. Depending on your injuries, this may not be possible, so ask someone else to do so on your behalf (if they haven’t already).

After you receive treatment, understand your prognosis and review the details of the accident, you can request a copy of the police report and contact your insurance agent. These are all steps you must take if you want to seek compensation from the person who caused the accident.

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by jessica.freeburg@thomsonreuters.com | Sep 18, 2019 | Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries

Bus accidents can result in severe injuries. These accidents may involve dozens of victims, and they can be disastrous.

As someone who was on a bus when it crashed, you may be unsure of how to pursue compensation. Do you seek it from the bus driver? What about their employer? Is it the driver who was at fault in another automobile that you should turn to for aid?

Get to know who’s responsible for covering your losses after a bus crash

Bus crashes are unique in that they could have several at-fault parties and liable parties. Buses are known as common carriers, which means that it is their business to carry people or goods from one place to another in exchange for payment. Common carriers are expected to exercise a high degree of care and diligence to keep its passengers safe.

To determine who’s liable for the crash and whom you should file a claim against, you’ll need to discuss the case with your attorney. A police report may be made to indicate who was at fault for the crash, which will help you determine whom to sue or with whom to file an insurance claim. Here are a few examples of who might be liable in your case.

1. The driver made a mistake

If the driver makes a mistake, the likelihood is that the driver will be liable. If they are a contractor, then you may be able to file a claim against them directly. If they are employed through a company, then the employer may be liable for the crash.

2. A dangerous driver hit the bus

If a semitruck, passenger vehicle or other type of vehicle hits the bus as a result of its driver’s negligence, then that driver may be responsible for the collision. In this case, you may want to pursue a claim directly against the party who caused the crash.

3. The bus has a mechanical failure that leads to a crash

If a bus has a mechanical failure that later leads to a crash, then you may be able to sue or file a claim against the bus company or tour company with which you were riding for failing to maintain its vehicles. These organizations are expected to keep their buses in reasonably safe condition.

Your injuries may be serious, and you deserve to be compensated. Empower yourself with knowledge on how to seek compensation in Texas after a crash.

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by jessica.freeburg@thomsonreuters.com | Jun 21, 2019 | Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries

There is no question about it, riding a motorcycle is exhilarating. The wind in your face, the open road stretched out in front of you and the promise of adventure around the next bend are some of the reasons why riding a motorcycle is so thrilling for many people. However, part of the thrill that comes with riding a motorcycle is the danger that is also involved which is why safety should always be a priority.

One of the best ways to stay safe when you are riding your motorcycle in Texas is to know the most common causes of accidents. Being aware of the common causes of motorcycle accidents can help you identify a threat and avoid it.

Cars don’t see you

Unfortunately, many drivers are conditioned to see other cars and trucks. This means that they are often blind when it comes to motorcycles, pedestrians and cyclists. Due to this blindness, cars and trucks turning in front of motorcycles is a common occurrence. When this happens, many have no other choice than to drive into the other vehicle. One of the ways you can avoid this is to always assume that you are invisible to cars, trucks and even other riders and take your defensive riding game to the next level.

Slick streets

Oil slicks, rain, ice and other substances can also be extremely dangerous for riders. Even if you have good tires and you are going slowly, it could still be dangerous. For instance, water on the road can cover a pothole and if you hit it, you might lose control of the bike.

Blind corners

Coming around a blind corner can also cause problems for motorcycle riders. You mike come around a turn and suddenly find yourself facing a patch of gravel or some other road hazard. If your front tire suddenly connects with a hazard, it could cause you to launch from your bike. Slow down when you are approaching a corner so that you don’t get caught by surprise.

Doorings

A dooring occurs when a person in a parked car suddenly opens the door into your path. This can also cause you to launch from your bike and you could end up with a broken collar bone, head injury or worse. When possible, avoid riding in a lane that is next to parked cars or put as much space between yourself and them. Also, remember the first tip, that you are invisible. In other words, the people in the cars probably are not going to be looking for you before they open the door.

While the above tips can help you stay safe the next time you go for a ride, sometimes it is not always possible to avoid a motorcycle accident with a negligent or reckless driver. If this happens, you might be able to file a claim for your injuries and other damages.

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by jessica.freeburg@thomsonreuters.com | Jan 23, 2019 | Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries

As a pedestrian, regardless of your location, you’ll typically find yourself in close proximity to motor vehicles. As a driver of a motor vehicle, it’s also, obviously, common to see pedestrians on the sidewalk, crossing the street and in many other areas.

Pedestrian-vehicle accidents remain a major concern, especially in large cities like San Antonio where there are a lot of people walking, jogging, running and bicycling.

Fortunately, when both pedestrians and drivers take extra caution, these types of accidents are avoidable.

Driver’s duty of care

Drivers are responsible for exercising reasonable care when operating a motor vehicle in close proximity to pedestrians. Some of the many factors that often contribute to these types of accidents include:

• Disobeying traffic signals, such as speeding through a red light at a busy city intersection
• Distracted driving, which commonly includes texting or talking on a cellphone
• Speeding
• Failure to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks
• Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or prescription medication
• Disregarding traffic conditions, such as stop and go traffic during rush hour
• Disregarding weather conditions, such as strong winds and heavy rain

When a driver does one or more of these things, the risk of striking a pedestrian increases.

What can pedestrians do?

As a pedestrian, you hope that all drivers are willing to follow the rules of the road. However, you know deep down inside that this isn’t likely to hold true.

There are things you can do to improve your safety, such as:

• Looking both ways (two or three times) before crossing the road
• Using designated crosswalks to cross the road
• Following the direction of the “walk” and “don’t walk” signals at an intersection
• Making eye contact with drivers when crossing the road

What to do if a vehicle strikes you

Pedestrians don’t have any protection in an accident with a vehicle, so even a low speed crash can result in serious injury or death.

You should take these immediate steps after an accident:

• Call 911 or ask a witness to do so
• Wait for paramedics to arrive
• Administer first aid (often with the help of someone else)
• Receive treatment at a local hospital

Taking these steps as quickly as possible improve the likelihood of making a full recovery.

As time and your health allows, contact your insurance company and formulate a detailed strategy for seeking compensation from the negligent driver.

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