In 2011, at least 23% of auto collisions involved cell phones. That amounted to 1.3 million crashes. This number is now up to 1.6 million annually. Additionally, texting and driving is the number one killer of teens, amounting to 3,000 teens per year as reported by CBS. The National Highway Transportation Safety Admin actually said it is the same as driving after four beers. So what is it about texting that makes it so dangerous? The minimum amount of time your attention is taken away from the road while texting is only five seconds, however if you are driving at...[ Read More ]

Collecting physical evidence from the scene of a collision is critical in helping to determine what percentage each party is at fault. Why does this matter? The amount awarded to an injured victim is directly determined by how much each person contributed to the accident. An insurance adjuster can either deny or reduce a percentage of your claim if they can prove with physical evidence or by witness statements that you partially caused the collision. For example, if it is found that a person was texting while driving then they would be at fault for causing the collision. Not every...[ Read More ]

In the first stages of claim negotiations, the insurance adjuster calculates the total medical expenses related to the injury. These medical expenses are called "special damages". Once this figure is established the adjuster can determine how much to offer the injured person for pain, suffering, and other nonmonetary losses. The amount established for special damages is then multiplied by 1.5 or 2 if the injuries are minor. If, however the accident injuries have impacted the victims ability to function normally, then the adjuster will multiply the amount of "special damages" by a factor of 5, or as high as 10...[ Read More ]

In order for a victim to receive compensation there are three specific requirements that must be met by law: 1. Being able to prove that another person was at-fault (negligent) for causing an event that led to injuries. 2. The victim must be able to prove with “evidence” that they have actually suffered an injury as a direct result of someone else’s carelessness. 3. An accident victim must be able to prove the loss of quality of life as a result of the injury. This can be a complex issue to prove because everyone responds differently to pain. Personal injury...[ Read More ]

When an insurance company makes an offer it is natural for the injured victim or family members to want to know the value of their case.  Unfortunately, determining a firm financial figure can be difficult in the initial stages following the accident. In order to establish the case worth you need to know all of the damages you are entitled to. The following is a list of damages the insurance company for the at-fault party will compensate an injured victim for: •             Property damage •             Permanent disfigurement and physical disabilities •             Loss of income due to the accident •             Medical...[ Read More ]

The following eleven point check list has been designed to help you evaluate  the aptitude and ability of the personal injury lawyer you are thinking of hiring. If you are unsure who to hire meet with multiple lawyers and then compare notes.    Attorney/Firm Information Name of the Law Firm: ________________________________________ Name of attorney being reviewed: _______________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________ City: _____________________________________ Zip Code:  _________ Phone Number: ______________________________________________ E-mail address:  ______________________________________________   Eleven Point Check List: 1. Who Will Be Handling My Case? ___  You ___   An Associate ___   Paralegal ___   Someone I Have Never Met   2. Amount of Experience:...[ Read More ]

The more informed you are, the better off you will be when it comes to hiring a lawyer for your case. The following are some questions to ask yourself when meeting with a potential lawyer to help you evaluate the level of services they are providing you with. 1. Personal Attention:  Does your attorney provide personal "one-to-one" attention or do they pass the file off to a junior associate or paralegal? 2. Experience:  A developed high level of skill requires at least 10 years of experience. How many years of experience does your personal injury lawyer have? 3. Compassion:  A...[ Read More ]

About 14 years ago I  lost someone who I loved very much to the careless negligence of a few large corporations. That "someone" was my father. He died at age 62 from asbestosis (lung cancer from asbestos). What hurt the most was knowing that my two daughters would never meet their grandfather.  This event fueled my purpose to help injured victims and their families receive the justice they deserve. Having gone through this, I understand what an injured victim is feeling when they walk into my office because I have walked in their shoes. Every client that comes to me...[ Read More ]

Insurance adjusters know that if you are not represented by a lawyer, then there is no way for you to know just how much you are legally entitled to . The last thing they want you to do is get advice from an attorney so that you know your rights. It makes their job of minimizing losses, generating profits for shareholders, and protecting the interest of the insured party (the person who caused the collision) so much more difficult. Instead they need you to be vulnerable and trusting so that you are easy prey. Unfortunately, a long battle awaits if...[ Read More ]

Nothing is worse than breaking down on an icy pass with no cell phone reception. With all of the extra holiday travel you may be doing this season, get your vehicle ready before you hit the road. 1. Top off your antifreeze. 2. Install new wiper blades. 3. Fill your washer fluid. 4. Check your tires. Tire pressure should be checked monthly using a pressure gage. The correct tire pressure is located on your vehicles tire information label. 5. Check your battery. If it is more than three years old then have it tested by a technician. 6. Change your...[ Read More ]