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Getting Medical Attention After A Car Crash 

The minutes and hours after a truck crash are a blur. Some folks are rushed off in an ambulance, but the majority of folks wait around for the police to arrive and to check out the damage to their cars. They want to deal with what’s in front of them and want to get home safely. If there is pain, that is something they will deal with later or tomorrow.

And for many of those folks, that pain will go away after a few days and life will go back to normal once the property damage is sorted out.

But for some, the pain will linger, get a little worse, and never really go away. 

So, let’s take a look at how to get medical attention after a truck crash.

–          For those who are taken to hospital, they are immediately under medical care. The ambulance records will usually record the initial complaints  and if the patient is conscious. The emergency room will usually do some x-rays and look for cuts and bruises. However, that is where most of the care ends unless there is an immediate problem that requires hospitalization. Most emergency rooms want you out of the hospital and to follow up with an outside doctor. 

–          For those who go home and experience a lot of pain, they often decide to go to the emergency room or to an urgent care. Again, this is usually only limited medical treatment where they do some x-rays and recommend that you follow up with an outside doctor.

–          Some people will wait and make an appointment to see their regular doctor if they have one. Usually, this will be limited treatment also because your regular doctor does not specialize in treating truck accident injuries such as spinal injuries. You can ask that doctor for a referral. 

–          Most truck crash victims end up seeing doctors, physical therapists and chiropractors who are used to handling car accident cases. This makes sense for a number of reasons. They have the network to refer you to different specialists. For example, a pain management doctor will get you to an MRI facility or orthopedist quickly if you have knee pain. Also, their offices are set up to handle payments from car and auto insurance companies which is different from the health insurance companies your regular doctor is used to. That will save you a lot of headaches. 

Dealing with these medical appointments can be frustrating and takes a lot of time and travel out of your life. Here are a few things to remember:

–          Getting medical treatment will help you. Even if the pain does not go away, it usually gets less painful and the medical providers will teach you exercises and ideas to help you ease the pain after the treatment ends.

–          If you have a standard automobile policy, you probably have good medical coverage that will cover most of the treatment and won’t leave you facing enormous medical bills. 

–          If your injuries do not get better and you end up filing a lawsuit, the medical treatment is a guide of how you were doing in the weeks and months after the crash. This can be very helpful in explaining your injuries to a judge and jury. 

 

 

How I Should Respond to a Bad Faith Insurer

Insurance Denial Lawyer

Policyholders who are interested in filing a lawsuit against their insurance company may wonder if they have a strong enough foundation to do so. If you are reading this, you may be deciding whether or not to actually go through with suing your insurer over an unlawful mishandling or denial of your claim. It is not uncommon for policyholders to also consider meeting with an attorney about this issue for a little extra advice along the way. In the article below, we have addressed a series of concerns policyholders may have about what to do next about a bad faith insurer.

What if My Insurer Denied Coverage?

If you filed a claim to your insurer but you were denied coverage, you don’t have to take that denial as a final answer, as an attorney, as an insurance denial lawyer can explain. You can examine your contract to confirm that what you are requesting was in fact included in your agreement. If it was included in your contract, then you can appeal the claim. Many people may not realize that you can take legal action if your insurance company breached your contract.

What are Examples of Deceptive Insurance Company Practices?

Policyholders may be distressed if they are experiencing resistance from their insurer after diligently making payments every month. It may seem as though insurance companies are happy to help you – at least up until you actually have to file a claim regarding an accident, fire, earthquake, or something else. Your insurer may commit the following deceptive practices when responding to your claim:

How Should I Respond?

Policyholders who are at their wits’ end from dealing with their insurance provider may consider hiring a legal professional for insight.

It can be very challenging for those recovering from an unexpected life event to also be in the midst of a claim battle with their insurance company. Unfair behavior on behalf of an insurer may not only be frustrating but also unethical. The majority of policyholders who invest their money in insurance companies reasonably assume they will receive support if the need ever arises. Having to jump through hoops and leave repeated voicemails without much luck is not only poor service but could be a tactic used by your insurer to help escape obligation.

If you have tried all you can and still have not found success with your insurer, it may be time to meet with an attorney. Insurers of bad faith may find any way to unlawfully deny, delay or minimize your claim.

 

Defining a Survival Action

It is painful to lose someone you love, and it is even more heartbreaking when such a loss places you in financial peril. However, while there are legal tools to help make yourself whole, such as wrongful death actions, how do you seek justice for the person who died?

A survival action is not a lawsuit for the survivors in a family. Instead, the case is brought on behalf of the deceased to help rebuild their estate. Unlike with a wrongful death lawsuit, the executor of the estate will typically file a survival action.

Common Damages Filed in a Survival Claim

Many people are surprised to hear that pain and suffering are a part of a survival lawsuit. In fact, it may surprise many to see the similarities between damages brought in survival cases and those filed in personal injury claims.

The decedent’s representative can file for the recovery of medical expenses and property losses. However, the most significant damage set will focus on the loss of potential future gains through a job or other opportunities.

The Survival Action Clock

While the decision to file a lawsuit is complicated, representatives must understand that there is a statute of limitations in many states. Many jurisdictions will limit legal action to two years after death; although, some areas may make exceptions because of the complexity of survival suits.

The Right Attorney for the Job

Finding the right lawyer to take your survival action to trial or settlement negotiations is crucial to your success. An experienced and specialized attorney will face better odds during negotiations and will understand the law enough to make measured and rational arguments should a case go to trial.

Too many people hire a lawyer based solely on price, but if you do not review their trial experience and success rate, you risk the estate of the decedent. Instead of hiring the first lawyer you come across, make a list of the top ten or more, and consult with each. Ask for references and check reviews. Also, dig into the professional record of any favored attorneys by contacting the state bar association for record inquiries.

When filing a survival action, the case is about the deceased person and their estate; it is about rebuilding their estate for their beneficiaries. When researching attorneys, take your time and do not be afraid to contact several local estate lawyers to help narrow down your decision. If you need help with a wrongful death lawsuit, contact a wrongful death lawyer.

Reasons To Visit a Lawyer After a Car Accident

Auto Accident Lawyer

Every accident that unfolds on the roadway is unexpected. We never go about our day thinking that we will find ourselves in a serious accident, but it does happen. Most people have only a little first-hand experience about what to do after an accident, or they learned about what steps to take during their driver’s education class. But for many of us, this class was more than a handful of years ago, and we may have forgotten how to react at the scene of a collision.

One thing that is often missing from these driver’s educational courses, is the importance of protecting your best interests during this time. Unfortunately, even if you weren’t at-fault for the accident, other parties may make you feel like you are responsible or that you should accept less compensation than what you deserve.

If you are asking yourself in what circumstances it is best to hire a lawyer, then read on, as we have answered this below:

You Were Seriously Injured, Physically and/or Mentally

Not every car accident results in a trip to the hospital. But, this doesn’t mean that you didn’t sustain injuries, as symptoms may not have revealed themselves yet. In fact, it only takes around 15-20 miles per hour of force during a collision to have adverse effects on the human body. Most people don’t feel pain until the days, weeks, or months after the accident.

And disappointingly, by this time, the car accident claim has probably been closed and you can no longer seek further compensation. Car insurance companies want to close a claim as soon as possible so victims can waive their right to pursue repayment for losses and damages. By hiring a lawyer for serious physical and/or mental injuries, they can fight for a fair amount of restitution so that future medical expenses are covered.

Lastly, do not underestimate symptoms related to mental health after a car accident. A car collision is stressful, and can trigger conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more. Always put your health first, even if the other parties involved in your car accident claim are making you feel as if you shouldn’t.

An Insurance Adjuster is Pestering You With Questions

Sadly, as much as we want to trust that our car insurance company has our best interest in mind, it will come down to dollars and cents and how much your claim is costing them. You may receive phone calls from an insurance adjuster who wants to talk with you and ask questions about the accident. This person is not your friend, despite appearing pleasant and concerned, and will try to get you to say things that ruin your claim.

Anyone who has recently been in a car accident can take action to protect themselves by hiring a lawyer, such as an auto accident attorney in Indianapolis, IN from Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers.

What are common traffic ticket defense strategies?

Depending on the nature and gravity of the traffic ticket you have been charged with, a lawyer will recommend one or more defense strategies. As a traffic ticket lawyer from a firm like the Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt may tell you, the optimum scenario will result in a dismissal of the ticket or tickets. However, in more extreme cases, such as if someone was alleged to have been hurt because of your actions, a plea bargain to a lesser charge is more likely than a complete dismissal. With a seasoned traffic ticket lawyer by your side, the outcome will depend in large part on the severity and complexity of the charges and your alleged role in the incident.

Here are some of the most common legal defenses used by a defense lawyer in traffic ticket court:

If you were issued a ticket and would like to fight it, call an experienced traffic ticket lawyer today.

Limitations for Motorcycle Accidents

If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, you may have suffered serious injuries that you can’t afford to pay for. Instead of worrying about how you are going to pay and recover, you can file an accident claim to receive compensation from insurance. Sometimes life can get chaotic after an accident and your attention is focused elsewhere, but it’s important not to wait too long to file a claim. There are deadlines, known as a “statute of limitations,” that dictate how long you have after the accident to file. If you miss this, you’ll be out of luck. Here are some deadlines and timelines to know about.

Varying Deadlines

It’s important to note that the average statute of limitations may not apply to you. Every state has its own limit, and these can sometimes cover a broad range. As soon as you know you’ll need to file a claim, check your state laws. You can find easy resources online that list every state’s limits. That way you’ll know exactly how much time you have.

Average Limitations

If you haven’t yet had time to look up your state’s laws, two years is a good estimate. This is the average time to file any car accident claim among the states. However, some states give you as little as one year to file. Others may allow up to six.

Settlement Timelines

Once you’ve begun the claims process, there is no one timeline to expect to reach a final settlement. A lot of individual variables can impact the length of the process. The more complicated your claim, the harder battle you will have with the insurance company to receive full compensation. Average timelines can extend from a month to six weeks, though it can take up to several years in some cases. It can take a few weeks to hear back from insurance for the first settlement offer. Once you receive it, you can choose to accept it or negotiate for a higher price.

When to Hire a Lawyer

You do not have to hire a lawyer, like a motorcycle accident lawyer immediately when you file a claim. Some people choose not to hire one at all and do fine negotiating a fair claim for themselves. Not everyone has a good grasp of the law, however, or they may get offered a heinously low compensation amount from the insurance company. If this applies to you, consider hiring a lawyer. You can hire one at any time throughout the entire process, but it can be helpful to hire one earlier on to get started on the right foot.

Types of Inhalants

Different types of drugs are grouped together based on factors such as what they do. A term like “inhalants” can be confusing because there are many different drugs that can be inhaled. Inhalants are specifically intoxicating or mind-altering agents that are abused primarily through inhalation.

Some illicit inhalants are specifically manufactured and produced for the purpose of getting high off the vapors. However, others are found in products with legitimate uses that are common in many households.

Inhalants are abused by “huffing,” which involves soaking rags in the substances and then inhaling the fumes it gives off, or “sniffing,” which involves inhaling fumes directly from open containers. The different types of inhalants are as follows.

Aerosols

Aerosols are products that come in spray cans. They contain solvents that vaporize at room temperature and propellants that help the materials travel out of the can in a forceful manner. The combination of the two chemicals, found in ordinary household products such as cooking grease, hair spray, deodorant, and spray paint, can be intoxicating if intentionally inhaled.

Gases

Many common products, both for household and commercial use, contain gases such as nitrous oxide. Examples include propane tanks, butane lighters, and whipped cream dispensers, all of which people have been known to huff or sniff to get high. There are also medical anesthetics administered in gas form. Nitrous oxide is also one of these, along with chloroform, halothane, and ether.

Nitrites

Nitrites are gases such as isoamyl nitrite or cyclohexyl nitrite. They relax the muscles by dilating the blood vessels and are abused for their mood altering effects and purported enhancement of sexual enjoyment. Nitrites also offer some medical benefits but, recognizing the danger that they pose, the Consumer Products Safety Commission now prohibits the use of nitrites. This, unfortunately, has not stopped the abuse of nitrites. Instead, they are packaged in small bottles called “poppers” bearing innocuous-sounding labels, such as “liquid aroma” and “leather cleaner.”

Volatile Solvents

Aerosols contain volatile solvents, but they are also found in common products that are not aerosols, such as felt-tip markers, glues, paint thinners, and gasoline. These liquids evaporate at room temperature and work on the central nervous system to produce the feeling of a high.

Charges of driving while intoxicated are not confined to alcohol or illegal drugs. If you are accused of abusing inhalants and then getting behind the wheel, you could face prosecution for DWI. Contact a criminal defense lawyer for a consultation.

4 Reasons to Create a Will

4 Reasons to Create a Will

Perhaps someone has spoken to you about creating a will and you think there’s not really a purpose. You don’t have a lot of assets and you think your family will work well together to figure things out when you pass on. Unfortunately, it’s not always that easy. The following are a few reasons you should get with an attorney to create a will.

When a child has only one parent and he or she dies, that child becomes the responsibility of the state. In many cases, the child ends up with a relative, but wouldn’t you rather decide which relative is going to raise your children? What if the state doesn’t see fit to place your child with a relative and he or she ends up in the care of a stranger? When you make a will, you get to decide who your children go to, who takes care of their finances, and other specifics regarding their wellbeing.

Without a will, your spouse may not inherit your entire estate. For example, if you have children with a previous spouse, your current spouse would receive half of your estate and your children’s other parent would receive the other half. If you don’t have any children, there’s a chance your spouse will split the estate with your parents and siblings.

A living will is something that goes into effect as soon as you sign it. This protects your assets if you have a positive net worth. This also makes it easier for assets to be distributed after your death and prevents your family from having to worry about who should be the distributor and receiver of the assets.

Perhaps you’re so well off you’ll have the assets needed to support a charity after your death. You may want to leave your entire estate to that charity. Whether your surviving family members are well off as well, or you simply don’t trust them to manage your estate, this is a good way to leave a lasting mark on the world.

Contact a Lawyer to Get Started on Your Will 

You never know when nature will take its course and your life will end. While you can’t always predict it, you can prepare for it. Contact an estate planning lawyer today to get your estate in order and to make a will for the benefit of those you love.

 

Who Can Bring an Action for Wrongful Death in Florida? 

Who Can Bring an Action for Wrongful Death in Florida? 

 

Wrongful death refers to a civil action where a party sues for a death that has been caused by someone else’s negligence. Every state has different laws regarding how these cases are handled. In Florida, along with many other states, beneficiaries are able to sue the wrongful party on behalf of the deceased. This statute allows family members to receive compensation for the death of a loved one as well as holds the person or company accountable for their actions. Wrongful death includes negligence of any wrongful act that results in the death of a person. Wrongful death lawsuits can arise from many different circumstances, including auto or trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, criminal actions, construction site defects, hazards in the workplace, and defective products. Punitive damages may also be recovered by the family members if it can be proved that the behavior that caused the death was intentional, reckless, and malicious.

 

Wrongful Death Claims

Wrongful death lawsuits must be filed by the personal representative of the deceased. The personal representative is declared by the will of the deceased. If there is no will, the court will decide who the personal representative will be. Most often the personal representative is a spouse or other family member. The personal representative is able to file the wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the surviving family members and estate.

 

Those who are entitled to compensation for the death of their family member include spouses, children, parents, and relatives who are dependent on the deceased. Most often, the claim is filed by an immediate family member. In most cases, parents are only able to recover damages for minors and the damages are usually related to mental and emotional trauma resulting from the death of the child. Parents of adult children who have passed away are generally not able to recover damages, but there are some exceptions to this.

 

The statute of limitations is a law that puts a timeline on when a claim must be filed. In Florida, the wrongful death statute of limitations is two years. This means that a lawsuit must be filed within two years of the wrongful death. If this deadline is missed, the claim will be forever barred. There are very specific and rare circumstances where this time limit does not apply. It is important to contact an experienced attorney in order to maximize the damages recovered and abide by the statutes and laws in Florida.

 

Wrongful Death Damages

Florida’s “Wrongful Death Statute” includes specific damages that can be recovered. In Florida, the surviving family members and the estate can both receive compensation for the wrongful death of a person. Recoverable damages include:

 

 

As you can see, the wrongful death laws can be quite complicated. It is important that you contact an experienced lawyer, like a wrongful death lawyer in Tampa, FL from Jeff Murphy Law, in a timely manner so that you can maximize the compensation received as a result of damages incurred due to the loss of a loved one.

4 Reasons to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer

Pursuing compensation on your own is almost never the best idea. If you are in a truck accident, you need someone with experience dealing with similar situations to fight for your rights. You will personally be dealing with the physical and emotional repercussions from the crash, so you’ll want to have a legal professional worry about that side of things. The following are some other reasons to hire a truck accident lawyer.

  1. To Find All Responsible Parties

Semi-trucks have a lot of moving parts and can end up in an accident for a lot of different reasons. It’s possible you could seek compensation from multiple parties because of how the accident occurred. For example, if a minivan cuts off the big truck and an accident results, you could sue the driver of the minivan. If the truck’s brakes went out when the driver tried to avoid the collision, you might also be able to sue the truck manufacturer or the party responsible for truck maintenance.

  1. To Negotiate

Without a legal background, the typical citizen doesn’t know how to negotiate a claim with the other party. Truck accident lawyers are well-versed in negotiating and will know what to use to achieve the most favorable outcome. If you have to negotiate with multiple parties, the situation will get more difficult, but a lawyer will know how to handle it.

  1. To Create an Appropriate Strategy

The goal in filing a claim after a truck accident is typically to achieve a settlement without going to court. Your lawyer can help you come up with a strategy to achieve that. Mediation and arbitration are often some other routes to take, but if that doesn’t work, you may end up in court anyway. Your lawyer can also help you come up with a way to win in court if that’s your only option at a certain point.

  1. To Understand Trucking Laws

The trucking industry has a strict set of standards and regulations. A truck accident lawyer will know and understand what those are so you can receive everything you are entitled to. Without a lawyer, there may be a lot of things that are overlooked, resulting in a lower amount of compensation.

Hiring a Lawyer Today

As you can see, there are a lot of good reasons to hire a lawyer, like a truck accident lawyer in Indianapolis, IN from Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers, if you get in an accident involving a big truck. To get started with the hiring process, contact a lawyer today.