Posted on December 28,2022 in Uncategorized

In theory, people hurt in motor vehicle collisions have basic legal protections in Texas. They can rely on the other driver having liability insurance that will pay to repair their vehicle. If the damage to the vehicle is severe and will compromise its overall safety, insurance funds can go toward the purchase of a replacement vehicle instead of repairs.

Severe injuries can cost many times what property damage will cost, even if the vehicle involved is brand new. Traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, for example, could easily lead to seven-figure price tags for someone’s lifetime medical treatment.

Those facing life-altering medical issues related to a car crash may need to look into all possible sources of compensation, including a third-party liability claim.

What is a third-party liability claim?

Most crashes involve two drivers and therefore two parties that could be responsible for the wreck. However, there are situations in which a third party not present in either vehicle is technically liable for the crash or at least partially responsible for what happened.

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 Posted on November 21,2022 in Uncategorized

Maybe you were on the highway during the afternoon rush hour in heavy traffic and an 18-wheeler merged directly into your left side, totally your vehicle and breaking your leg in three places. Perhaps a drunk driver hit you from behind on the surface street early one morning.

When you get hurt or suffer major property damages in a car crash, you turn to the insurance of the driver that hit you for compensation. Most drivers carry liability coverage in case they cause bodily injuries or property damage to other people. You naturally expect that their insurance will pay for your expenses, and you may even feel relieved when you get an offer for the settlement just a few days after the crash.

However, insurance companies often offer settlements because they want to save money. Accepting it quickly could leave you at a disadvantage later.

A settlement often means taking less than you should get

The risk in any insurance settlement scenario is that what you accept is not actually enough to cover all of your costs. A settlement agreement typically comes with the contractual release for the insurance company. They will no longer have any future liability regardless of what costs you have in the future.

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 Posted on October 24,2022 in Uncategorized

When two vehicles collide, the occupants of those vehicles and any bystanders nearby are at risk of severe injury. The higher the speed of the vehicles and the bigger the difference in size between the two vehicles involved, the greater the possibility of catastrophic injuries.

Amputations are some of the most debilitating, expensive and life-altering injuries that people can experience. Although the leading cause of amputation in the United States is medical issues, often related to diabetes, traumatic injury is another top cause of amputations.

Motor vehicle collisions are responsible for a significant portion of the amputations that occur not because of a health issue but because of an injury. What are the two scenarios in which a car crash causes someone to lose a limb or an extremity?

The crash can cause a traumatic amputation

Despite the best attempts of motor vehicle manufacturers to design vehicles as safe as possible, severe injuries can still occur when your vehicle suffers massive damage or you get thrown from your vehicle. If the violence of the collision severs a body part, an individual will suffer a traumatic amputation and require immediate emergency medical care.

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 Posted on September 22,2022 in Uncategorized

Every driver in Texas has to carry liability insurance coverage to provide both property damage and bodily injury protection if they cause a crash. Some vehicles will likely cause far more dramatic and dangerous collisions than others.

Big commercial trucks could cause life-altering injuries and completely demolish the smaller vehicle involved in a collision. When you are not to blame for a collision with a commercial truck and need to repair your vehicle or seek coverage for medical costs, you need to have an understanding of what kind of insurance may be available.

How much coverage do commercial trucks in Texas generally have?

Small, local trucks have the least coverage

Commercial vehicles that are below a minimum weight cutoff and that only operate in Texas may have the same amount of coverage as the average personal vehicle, which could mean just $30,000 of bodily injury coverage.

However, many commercial trucking companies operate on an international or interstate basis. The trucks in their fleets will need to have coverage that complies with the insurance requirements set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

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 Posted on August 23,2022 in Uncategorized

After a serious crash, you may have a number of fears that you want to get past. You may be worried about how you’re going to get back to work, how you’re going to cover your medical expenses, how your injuries will affect you or how you’re going to support your family. Fortunately, there are answers to these questions.

To help you get back on your feet and start moving forward, here are four tips to help you eliminate these concerns.

1. Getting back to work

To help with the stress and anxiety about work, one of the things you can do is start to build your personal injury claim. A personal injury claim lets you claim lost wages, so you can get compensated fairly for the time you’ve missed.

2. Paying for medical expenses

A personal injury claim will also help you pay for your medical expenses. Keep track of all the medical expenses you have, so you can submit them to the insurance company for coverage.

3. Handling new injuries

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 Posted on July 28,2022 in Uncategorized

There are all kinds of reasons that large truck drivers get into collisions with other vehicles, but among them is a common cause: drowsiness. Working for long hours behind the wheel is enough to make anyone tired, but that exhaustion has the potential to lead to the driver nodding off and causing a serious collision.

In the 2018 data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and the Federal Highway Administration, it was shown that 5,005 people lost their lives in crashes involving buses and large trucks. The data went on to show that there were some states in which it was more likely to get into a large truck crash:

• Texas
• California
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• New York
• Florida
• North Carolina
• Georgia

Those states alone were where 51% of all fatal crashes involving large trucks and buses took place between 2015 and 2017.

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 Posted on June 13,2022 in Uncategorized

Why motorcycle crashes can be more dangerous

There are fewer motorcycles than cars on US roads. Yet, motorcycles accounted for 14% of all traffic fatalities in 2020. That means motorcyclists end up in fatal crashes more often than the numbers suggest they should. So, why can riding them be so dangerous? Here are a few reasons:

• Road hazards can be much riskier for motorcyclists: Potholes, uneven/wet roads, railroad tracks and traffic debris can put motorcyclists in greater danger than regular drivers. Since motorcyclists don’t have the density or enclosure of a typical sedan, SUV or hatchback, it can be easier to lose balance and crash. Plus, motorcyclists don’t have any barriers between them and these road hazards, so hitting a pothole, cone or coming off a bumpy railroad track could cause serious bodily damage.

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 Posted on May 20,2022 in Uncategorized

Due to their size and speed, any motor vehicle collision involving a large truck often results in severe damage to the smaller vehicles on the road. Whether it is against cars, SUVs, pickup trucks or motorcycles, an 18-wheeler will likely cause devastating property damage and catastrophic injuries. Whenever possible, however, it is crucial that vehicle occupants act quickly to preserve evidence as the trucking company will often move fast to close the case.

After a motor vehicle collision, the trucking company and their team of adjusters will often move quickly to investigate the crash and take steps to protect their driver and the organization as a whole. While this practice is not illegal, it is wise for the other involved individuals to take their own steps to preserve evidence and strengthen their own case. Collision evidence can include:

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 Posted on May 06,2022 in Uncategorized

Truck drivers must maintain their professional status through a specialized drivers license, ongoing training and thousands of safe hours on the road. Even with all that in place, however, various activities tempt them while they are behind the wheel. From making phone calls to eating snacks, any activity that pulls a driver’s focus from their surroundings can end up being a deadly distraction.

Whether they are staving off boredom or simply attempting to be productive behind the wheel, truck drivers often find themselves multitasking while navigating traffic. Unfortunately, without absolute control, these enormous vehicles can devastate smaller cars and trucks on the road. From crowded city streets to fast-moving highways, 18-wheelers, construction vehicles and commercial trucks represent the largest vehicles and the biggest hazards on the road.

What distractions are common?

Whether they are multitasking, communicating with loved ones at home or attempting to reduce boredom from the monotonous miles on the road, truckers often seek distractions to shorten the trip. This can mean numerous types of activities, including:

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 Posted on May 03,2022 in Uncategorized

Injuries to the neck and back are a common result of serious vehicle collisions and other accidents. Unfortunately, if those injuries impact the spinal cord itself, injured people may face lifelong challenges. What should you know about these injuries?

What impact can a spinal cord injury have?

Because the spinal cord links the brain to the rest of the body, an injury to this part of the body can permanently change a person’s physical abilities. The impact of a spinal injury can involve:

• Weakness in the areas below the injury
• Pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Issues with bowel or bladder function
• Changes in sensitivity, including numbness or difficulty sensing temperature
• Loss of movement or paralysis in the areas below the injury

These changes can alter a person’s ability to enjoy their life, pursue a career or have fulfilling relationships in the way that they did prior to their injury.

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