Posts Tagged ‘Insurance’

Find a Personal Injury Attorney When You Need One

February 7th, 2010



Many things can go wrong in the world, this however does not mean that for some of the things that do go wrong that someone is not liable. Yes, most of the time you can blame yourself for something going wrong in your life, but sometimes, there is someone else to blame, this is when you need to find personal injury attorney – so that you can protect yourself.

Feeling protected is one of the things that we all want in our lives, we want to feel safe when we are at home, and it is unacceptable to feel any other way. This is why if you feel that you are not safe in your home, you will do things to rectify the situation, like installing an alarm system, installing safety gates and burglar bars, and maybe even a security camera system.

You want to feel safe in your car, and most of the time you, but you have to account for the fact that there are worse drivers than you out there. So the only way you will really feel safe if you get auto insurance cover, and maybe medical cover just in case you are in an accident.

You want to feel safe at work, which is why there are so many rules and regulations going one and why if you are a construction worker you need to wear a hard hat and steel tipped boots. All working environments have rules and regulations that ensure that the employees are safe and that allow them to feel that way.

You also want to feel safe when you are walking in the mall, or in your favorite store. This however, is not always the case, as there is just no way that you can ensure that you are covered if anything was to happen to you in a public place – or is there?

This may be the time for you to find personal injury attorney. Now, you must know that thee is not reason for you to have a personal injury attorney on retainer, but it is always a good things to know that you can simple call on up if you need to.

If you were ever injured in a store, maybe you slipped on a wet floor where you could not see a wet floor sign, you will be liable for a personal injury payout, so that you will be able to cover any medical costs, and in some cases, get out a little more.

By: Terry Stanfield

How to Choose a Personal Injury Attorney

February 1st, 2010



If you’ve been injured through someone’s negligence, don’t rely on the insurance companies to compensate you. You need a personal injury lawyer who represents you.
The insurance companies have many lawyers, whose job is to make the insurance payout as low as possible.


· They may offer you a quick settlement check

· Don’t accept it

· Don’t sign anything they present to you, without first consulting a personal injury attorney who represents you
Don’t delay

Statutes of limitation vary in length. Personal injury cases can be complex and lengthy, requiring much discovery and much expert testimony on medical questions. So you want to get the process started as soon as possible, to avoid disqualification from an expired statute of limitation.
If you’re severely injured, ask a friend to get it started for you. A friend could collect a list of names and write up a list of questions that you devise together. A friend could even make initial calls and set up interviews for you.
First find some candidates

· Ask your friends if they know of any good personal injury attorneys. They may have stories to tell, either recommending a lawyer or warning you off.

· Look online; do a search for personal injury lawyers in your location, and examine their websites.
· Call the Texas Bar Association, or your city bar association.

· Look in the phone book if it’s important to find one very close by.
When you have a list of candidates, start calling them to set up interviews.

You can already start assessing these lawyers when their phones are answered. How does this person treat you? Their degree of courtesy and helpfulness will be important if you choose this lawyer, as you’ll be calling periodically to give information or request it. So you want to choose a lawyer whose staff is professional and helpful.
Ask lots of questions

Have your list of questions written down. As you talk with the lawyer and understand the answers he gives, check off each question. If you don’t understand the answer, ask more questions until you do.
Among your questions, include these:

· How many cases has the lawyer handled that involved the same type of injury as yours? You want to choose one who already has working relationships with the appropriate experts

· Has the lawyer taken any of these cases to trial, and if so, how many, and how many did he win?

· The more he’s won, the more likely it will be that he’ll win for you, because his reputation will be known by the insurance company lawyers.

· Insurance companies would usually rather settle out of court for more money than risk a court case that brings them negative press or an even bigger settlement amount

· Is the law firm offering a “no recovery, no fee or costs” deal? If not, move on. You want a lawyer who’ll cover the costs of investigation and negotiation, and possible costs of a trial, rather than charging you as things proceed. When you obtain a settlement, the lawyer can keep a specified percentage of it to reimburse himself for those costs. This is known as a contingency fee.
Choose an attorney who has time for you
As you interview each candidate, notice whether they seem to respect you. Are they listening to you? Are they willing to take this time with you, to understand your position and injuries? If you get the sense that the lawyer’s too busy for you, move on.
When you hire a lawyer, you’re paying him or her for a service. Why pay someone for shoddy service? You want a person who’ll:

· Establish a clear arrangement with you up front regarding fees and costs

· Return your phone calls promptly

· Keep you updated on the progress of your case

· Provide you with copies of all documents

By: Sara Goldstein


Personal Injury Attorney Reveals Secrets For Your Auto Accident Injury Claim

January 28th, 2010



In my experience representing thousands of injured victims, I believe that there is no such thing as a “perfect” case. Each one has its challenges to overcome and requires hard work no matter the size. Here are some secrets that insurance companies don’t want you to know because they are hoping that you will commit one or more of these mistakes.

• SECRET 1. Get enough information at the accident scene. Failing to get all important information at the accident scene can virtually ruin your case. If you don’t get names and addresses of the people involved, it puts you at a significant disadvantage in trying to determine fault and figure out what insurance might be available. If you fail to get the correct information about one of the cars involved while you are standing at the scene of the accident, you may never be able to get it again! Also, sometimes a surveillance camera will record the incident, or a 911 tape will be made. These tapes are often recorded over and the evidence forever lost within days. Therefore, the sooner someone investigates the accident, the better. The more time that goes by, the more evidence disappears, never to be found.

• SECRET 2. Do not wait to see a doctor. If you are hurt, you need to see a doctor. Period. As discussed earlier, all injuries caused by the accident must be proved with evidence. This requires a medical provider documenting your symptoms and recommended treatment. If you delay seeking treatment or help from a medical professional, it suggests that you weren’t hurt and raises a question to the insurance company of whether you were injured at all.

• SECRET 3. Do not exaggerate your symptoms. One of the most important factors in your case is how you present as a witness. Will the jury or arbitrator believe you and what you say? Your story has to be supported by the evidence in your case. Usually that means that your complaints are in line with the opinions of your treatment providers. Otherwise, the jury may decide that you are faking or exaggerating. A jury will be particularly harsh to a plaintiff whom they perceive to be a “whiner” or who is playing them for money.

• SECRET 4. Be totally honest with your attorney. Nearly every aspect of your life will be examined once you make a claim for bodily injury. This includes your work history, your medical history, your lifestyle, your background, and family life. Your attorney needs to know everything-the good, the bad, and the ugly. I can’t protect you from something unless I know about it. The time to find out about a blemish in your work history or a criminal conviction you had is not when you’re being deposed or at examined at trial. It is vitally important that you are upfront and honest with your attorney. A defense attorney will mine for details during discovery and the information will likely come out at some point. The insurance companies have endless resources to find out everything about you. Your attorney will be able to deal with that past firing or other challenge as long as he or she knows about it.

By: Jason G. Epstein