Everyone knows accidents are sure to happen. To soften the blow, we think ahead and buy insurance, trusting insurance company promises that after an accident they will help pay our damages. But do insurance companies keep their promise? What really happens after an accident, and what accident victims can do about it, is something everyone should know. After a car or other accident, the victim usually makes a claim to an insurance company. Their goal is to get paid for medical bills, property … [Read more...]

When you’re shopping for a new or used car, safety is likely a top concern. No car is completely safe in an accident, but some cars are better than others in helping to avoid accidents and protecting occupants in case of them. Here are tips for finding the safest car for you and your family. Compare safety features There are two main types of safety features: those to help you avoid accidents and those to help protect you in the event of one. Important safety features that can help you avoid … [Read more...]

It’s easy to find examples of aggressive driving. Most of us see it daily — a person tailgating, driving at excessive speeds, weaving in and out of lanes, making hand or facial gestures, or running stop signs and lights. Though less common, road rage is a growing problem. These two are not the same. Aggressive driving, which the federal government defines as a combination of actions that endanger other people or property on the road, is a traffic offense. In contrast, road rage — an assault with … [Read more...]

Each year, over 5,000 people are killed in accidents with trucks and over 100,000 are severely injured. Large trucks can weigh over ten times as much as a passenger vehicle, so accidents between cars and trucks are far more serious to the car’s driver than the truck’s driver. According to published reports, over 90% of people killed in car-truck accidents are the occupants of the car. Because of the nature of truck accidents, including the heavy loads, long driving hours and drivers under … [Read more...]

We hear a lot in the media these days about “tort reform” and “legal reform.” These are efforts by big businesses and insurance companies to change our civil justice system. They want to make it harder for people hurt by unsafe products — and victims of other kinds of injuries — to recover compensation for their injuries and losses. They also want to limit the amount of damages injury victims can recover. In arguing for change, big businesses and insurance companies try to persuade people that … [Read more...]

Each year, millions of people are hurt in car, slip and fall and other accidents. Unfortunately, many accident victims don’t know their legal rights and end up paying their losses themselves or obtaining much less compensation than they are legally entitled to receive. Knowing your rights in case of an accident can keep this from happening to you. Here are some important rights you should know about if you are in an accident. Right to fair compensation If you are in an accident, you have the … [Read more...]

Many accident victims have questions about the amount of compensation they may be entitled to receive as a result of an accident. Here are answers to some of the most frequently-asked ones. Q. I was hurt in an accident. How much am I entitled to recover? A. The answer depends on several factors, including the type of injury you suffered, how long-lasting and severe your pain is, your past and future medical expenses, your past and future lost income, any scarring or disfigurement, and changes … [Read more...]

Many car accident victims don’t make a claim because they think the other driver has no insurance and can’t pay their damages. But after an auto accident there can be sources for paying damages in addition to the other driver. So don’t give up a valuable car accident claim just because you think the other driver is unable to pay your damages. Your lawyer can tell you if others are possibly liable to pay. These can include: • The other car’s owner. In many states, car owners are liable for the … [Read more...]

Next to car accidents, the most common type of injury mishap is a slip and fall. Many people who are in a slip and fall accident have questions about when property owners are liable, damages they may receive and other issues. Here are answers to some often-asked questions about slip and fall accidents. Q. I was hurt when I slipped and fell on a wet floor in a market. Is the owner of the store liable for my injuries? A. The answer depends on the specific facts of your case. In the case of … [Read more...]

Advances in medicine and growing knowledge about good health mean America’s population is living longer, and growing older than ever before. More and more people are “senior citizens” or “elders.” As people age, they often need help being cared for. More claims for neglect of elders are being allowed in court. One recent case involved Rose W., age 88, who broke her ankle. She went to a nursing home for care while her ankle healed. Sadly, within four months, Rose died. Rose’s daughter, Kay, … [Read more...]