- Insurance Industry Tactics an Insurance Adjuster May Use in Your Claim (Part A)
- Insurance Industry Tactics the Insurance Adjuster May Use in Your Claim (Part B)
There are several types of school bus accidents that can occur in Texas. You could be a driver struck by a recklessly driven bus or your child could have been injured when a negligent bus driver failed to heed school bus safety rules. No matter who in your family was injured or how, the bottom line is that someone is liable for your injuries.
Depending on the nature of your accident there are many third parties that could be held liable in a school bus accident claim.
By bringing your case to a personal injury lawyer you can have a professional review of your situation to determine who is liable for paying a settlement for your damages.
While it may have been the bus driver’s negligent behavior that caused the accident they may be protected by their employer. In most cases, a public school bus will be owned by the local school district, which can mean you’ll be filing a claim against a government entity.
Other cases may have you filing your claim against a private bus company or the driver themselves – even the bus manufacturer may be liable for a mechanical defect!
With all of these potential parties to be named in your claim it’s in your best interest to have a personal injury lawyer to help you keep control of your settlement progress.
If you’re unsure about liability in your claim your first source of information is a lawyer experienced with pursuing school bus accident claims.
Injured in a school bus accident? A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
It’s not just children who can suffer injury in a school bus accident – when a bus collides with a passenger vehicle or pedestrian the consequences can be serious or even fatal. An injury claim against a school bus company is typically against the school district, which is a government matter.
Filing a claim against a government entity like a school district is much different from filing a normal injury claim on your own. You owe it to yourself and your family to have professional legal help to guide you through the process. At The Kahn Law Firm our husband & wife personal injury lawyer team is here to help advocate for your rights. Contact us today – 713-999-6549 or toll-free at 1-844-301-KAHN.
If you’re looking to file a defective product claim, you should be aware that there are numerous parties that may be held liable for your injuries. It’s important to get legal counsel for your Texas injury claim because defective product lawyers will be able to help you determine all the parties that may be legally responsible, and therefore, potential defendants in your Texas defective product case.
Determining the liable parties is a somewhat complex process. A key element in defective product claims is the chain of distribution, i.e., everyone who’s involved in the product, all the way from the manufacturer down to the consumer.
There are several different types of parties that you may be able to name as defendants on your Texas injury claim:
- Manufacturers – there are various parties involved in manufacturing a product, all of which potentially could be held liable for your injuries, including parts manufacturers, design engineers, marketers, technical experts and other contracted consultants.
- Middlemen – any party involved with the product from the time it leaves the manufacturer to the time it reaches the consumer may be a viable party as well. This could include suppliers, wholesalers and distributors.
- Retailers – you also may be able to include the retail store where you purchased the product on your Texas defective product claim, but you’ll need to speak with your attorney to go over the details of your case to be certain.
If you decide to enlist the help of an attorney for your case, you can start by searching for experienced defective product lawyers on the State Bar of Texas website.
Contacting Texas Defective Product Lawyers
When you have experienced legal representation on your side, you can rest assured that your attorney will fight for all compensation to which you may be entitled, including past, current and future medical expenses; pain and suffering; lost earnings or earning potential; or wrongful death benefits.
While you focus on your recovery and emotional wellbeing, you should have Texas defective product lawyers at The Kahn Law Firm advocating for your rights. Contact us today – 713-999-6549 or toll-free at 1-844-301-KAHN.
A dog bite injury can range from mild to severe, but any time skin is broken there’s the risk of infection, so a seemingly minor injury could become a serious problem. Aside from physical problems, dog bite injuries can also lead to emotional problems, such as fear of animals and post-traumatic stress disorder.
If you or a loved one is suffering after a dog attack, you may be entitled to compensation under the Texas dog bite law. One of your priorities should be to consult with a Houston personal injury lawyer.
A Close Look at Serious Dog Bite Injuries
After you fall victim to a dog bite injury, it’s important that you cleanse the wound in an attempt to ward off infection. If bleeding is profuse, pressure should be applied with a clean cloth. Depending on the circumstances of the attack, you may need to call 911 because a dog attack can cause life-threatening or fatal injuries. Some serious dog bite injuries include:
- avulsions – skin is torn away, exposing underlying muscles and tendons;
- lacerations – wounds are ragged and especially dangerous if they’re deep or over a joint;
- punctures – when the dog’s teeth pierce skin, bleeding may be minimal, but bacteria can easily be released into your system;
- crush injuries – a dog’s bite can yield up to 450 pounds of pressure per square inch, so a crush injury could lead to damaged nerves or mangled tissue that may need to removed by debridement; and
- fractured bones – broken bones can result from being knocked to the pavement by a large dog, being tripped by a smaller dog, or being bitten in the face.
Next, we’ll focus on scars and infections that could arise from a dog bite injury. If someone else’s negligence has led to a vicious dog bite attack, you may benefit by contacting a Houston personal injury lawyer who can apply the Texas dog bite law to your case and explain your legal options.
The insurance adjuster assigned to your case will be your main point of contact for settlement for your injury claim – unless you hire an attorney first.
One of the main benefits of working with a personal injury attorney is that they’ll become your representative for dealing with the insurance company. This can help protect you from the common tactics they use to damage your claim, as a seasoned attorney will know what games they play.
What to Look for When Talking to Your Insurance Adjuster
Probably the most innocent-seeming tactic an insurance adjuster will use from the start is to befriend you during your initial contact. While gathering your personal information they’ll make small talk, trying to get you comfortable while talking to them.
It may appear that they’re just trying to ease your mind, but the truth is they’re trying to loosen your tongue. The more comfortable you are speaking to them, the more information you may divulge – information that could damage your claim.
Another pitfall to avoid during conversations with insurance adjusters is letting them dissuade you from hiring an attorney. They’ll try to scare you with stories of the high legal fees you’ll pay and assure you that they’ll get you taken care of without legal intervention.
Reputable personal injury attorneys will take cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning their services do not cost you a thing UNLESS they get you a settlement.
The benefit of working with an attorney for your personal injury claim is that he or she will have the resources to determine when a settlement from the insurance company is fair or not.
An attorney also can help prevent unfair claim denials and fight for the full compensation you are entitled to. This often leads to claims settling for much more than the average self-settled claim, protecting your family’s financial future.
Avoid Being Taken Advantage of by Insurance Industry Tactics!
The insurance adjuster assigned to your personal injury claim may seem sympathetic and eager to help you get compensated for your suffering, but remember that he or she is an employee of the insurance industry.
The tactics used while settling your claim can often result in low settlements or unfair denials – you deserve better!
While you focus on your recovery and emotional well being, you should have a personal injury attorney on your side to help handle all of the legal matters that can come with filing a personal injury claim. At The Kahn Law Firm, our husband-and-wife attorney team is here to help advocate for your rights. Contact us today – 713-999-6549 or toll-free at 1-844-301-KAHN.
Not sure if you need an injury attorney in Houston? We can help you to determine if your case would benefit from the help of a Texas injury attorney.
While not all personal injury cases necessitate a lawyer, some of them do. If your accident resulted in superficial scrapes or bruises and property damage, you should be able to handle your case without a lawyer. However, if you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries, such as brain damage, spinal cord trauma or multiple fractures, you may benefit by having an injury attorney in Houston handle your case.
When You Need a Texas Injury Attorney
In order for personal injury cases to be successful, negligence will need to be proven. Because Texas follows a modified comparative negligence 51% rule, you will need to be 50% or less at fault in an accident to recover damages. If you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you will not be entitled to compensation. For this reason, the other party involved in the accident will do everything to make you look as if you were more than 50% at fault.
Proving negligence can be very difficult without the guidance of an experienced Texas injury lawyer, and once negligence is proven, the next hurdle will be dealing with insurance companies.
The more severe your injuries, the more money insurance companies should pay out. If you try to go against an insurer without an injury attorney by your side, you’ll stand the risk of being taken advantage of. For example, you may not be aware of all damages that you may be entitled to, including:
- past, present and future medical expenses;
- lost earnings;
- lost earning potential;
- altered quality of life;
- physical and emotional pain and suffering;
- property damage; and
- any other expenses directly related to your accident.
It’s common for insurance companies to offer a quick settlement in hopes that you will accept it on the spot. However, a shrewd injury attorney in Houston will be quick to advise you to wait before accepting any settlement. If you accept a low settlement now and require more medical care in the future, you’ll end up short-changed.
Contact an Injury Attorney in Houston for Help
Remember, insurance company representatives work for the insurance company, not for you. When you hire an injury attorney after a serious accident, the attorney will work for you and keep your best interests in mind.
If you still have any doubts as to whether you need a lawyer, you can always contact a Texas injury attorney at The Kahn Law Firm for a free consultation to discuss your case. If it is determined that you have a personal injury case worth pursuing, we’ll allow you to focus on your recovery while we focus on advocating for the compensation you deserve. Call The Kahn Law Firm at 713-226-9900 or toll-free at 1-844-301-KAHN.
Ambulance chasing, also referred to as case running, has long been a major problem for victims of Texas car accidents, despite the fact that it is illegal. A case runner is someone who seeks out personal injury cases and then farms the client out to various lawyers for a fee. The runner solicits the potential client while he or she is still reeling from the accident or grieving the loss of their loved one. These individuals have been known to show up at homes, hospitals, and funerals.
In addition to the blatant law breaking of the case runners themselves, the lawyers involved are often violating ethical rules of the state bar through their involvement. By passing this new law, the state hopes to protect upstanding Texas personal injury attorneys and their clients. The following is a list of five interesting facts about the law:
- The law forbids doctors, chiropractors, or lawyers from contacting accident victims or their family members in any way for thirty days following the date of the accident.
- Attorneys who reach out to accident victims either by phone, in person, or by using a representative are subject to a civil fine of $10,000 per contact.
- If the client initiated the contact with the attorney pertaining to representation, the lawyer is not in violation of the law.
- An accident victim solicited by an attorney, doctor, or chiropractor in violation of the law can sue under a civil cause of action for the $10,000 fine, plus attorney’s fees and damages.
- An accident victim who actually signed a contract for representation by the attorney can sue to void the contract, as well as for damages and attorney’s fees.
Victims of Texas car accidents are entitled to make a personal choice with regard to the medical and legal professionals they wish to work with. In addition to the obvious ethical questions raised by individuals who blatantly violate these solicitation laws, victims should be leery of attorneys who proactively contact them. If you are the victim of a car, truck, motorcycle or other accident, contact an experienced Texas personal injury lawyer on your own terms. To schedule a free, no obligation consultation, call our office at 713-226-9900 or toll-free at 1-844-301-KAHN.
Debilitating injuries can result from a Houston auto accident, and a personal injury claim may be necessary to recover your losses. Rather than spend your time haggling with insurance companies, you may benefit from having a Houston lawyer handle your car accident claim. An experienced attorney is familiar with various collisions and the accompanying negligence factors and may be able to help you take steps toward financial recovery after a car accident.
Of course, your priority after a car accident should be to seek medical treatment, even if you think your injuries are minor. After all, the bulk of a car accident claim will be based on your injuries and medical expenses. Once you are stable, your next priority should be to speak with a Houston auto accident personal injury law firm. A Houston lawyer will explain your options and ensure that your legal rights are protected.
Common Causes of Collisions Leading to a Texas Car Accident Claim
The kind of accident that you were involved in will offer clues as to why and how it happened. This is why it’s important that you call the police and later request a copy of the police report after a car accident. Your Houston lawyer can use this crucial piece of evidence to boost your claim.
Some common causes of accidents include:
- excessive speeding;
- drunk driving;
- driver fatigue;
- driving in the wrong direction;
- following too closely;
- swerving into another lane;
- failing to stop at red lights and stop signs;
- cell phone distractions;
- changing lanes without properly signaling; and
- improperly pulling a vehicle over on the shoulder.
Whether someone was following too closely and hit you from behind or was driving in the wrong lane and caused a head-on collision, you may be entitled to damages. Contact a Houston auto accident and personal injury law firm at 713-999-6549 or toll-free at 1-844-301-KAHN.
Distracted Driving Is More Dangerous Than DWI
There is no single cause of a vehicular accident. Generally, there three causes of road accident – drowsiness, distraction, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These causes of road crash often occur together. A driver that is distracted is more dangerous than a driver that is intoxicated.
Many fatal crashes involve distracted driving including texting, talking on cell phones, and using in-dash electronics. The increasing popularity of social media applications such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, SnapChat and recently, Pokemon Go, have emerged as major problems in their own right. a majority of teenagers have reported in studies that they use various forms of social media while driving. The danger is growing for everyone including our own children.
Distraction: What it Really Means
The focus of distraction has to do with the use of cellphones or texting while driving. Other distraction include:
- Talking with passengers
- Eating, drinking, or smoking
- Adjusting dashboard controls
- Daydreaming
- Looking for something inside the vehicle
- Looking at a navigation system.
Distracted driving is not an excuse it is a problem
Some mistakes you just can not take back…sometimes sorry is just not good enough. Distracted driving is that mistake. People get die and people get hurt and it is completely avoidable. Just put the cell phone away when you are driving.
If a distracted driver cared more about their social media than they did your safety and caused an accident that injured you, contact The Kahn Law Firm for a free consultation to see how we can help you today. 713-999-6549