Category: Personal Injuries
Dangerous Driving Reports
October 7, 2013 | Jon P. EricksonTraffic accidents and fatalities are up after years of declining. A recent article in Consumer Reports entitled “Crash Course on Car Safety” indicates that accidents and fatalities are continuing to rise. The Consumer Report article reported that the number of death and injuries in motor vehicle accidents in 2012 saw a 5{a0c01d20c42349884e67ff80c137866b0a9fe47aaae8f8a86a605a369ae487c3} rise after over 5 years of declining numbers. It reported that in 2012 there were 12,872 deaths where the deceased was unbelted, 9,944 deaths where speed was the main factor in the accident, 9,878 deaths of occupants of motor vehicles where the driver’s were intoxicated, and 3,331 deaths identifying distracted driving as the major cause. There were suggestions as to what could be done to bring these numbers down. Most are just common sense, but it did suggest that advances in motor vehicle safety technology can go a long way in reducing the numbers i.e. speed sensors in motor vehicles, ignition interlocks, cars with easy to use and good control systems, and improved voice-command systems. There are of course some simple things we all can do such as slowing down, wear your seat belts, wear a helmet when on a motorcycle, don’t drink and drive and don’t use hand held phones while driving. The article also suggested five easy ways to…
Read MoreDo All Personal Injury Cases Go to Court?
October 3, 2013 | Adriel B. VillarrealGoing to a personal injury attorney does not always mean launching a lawsuit. Sometimes the presence of an experienced Minnesota attorney who knows what you’re entitled to is enough to convince insurance companies to offer a fair and reasonable settlement. However, “fair and reasonable” isn’t always a clear cut number. It’s important for you to give your attorney everything he asks for so he can investigate the facts of a case. Determining the Value of Your Personal Injury Case Personal injury compensation figures are not simply pulled from the air. Instead, they are based on the facts: the size of your medical bills, the amount of lost wages, and other factors. There may also be multiple responsible parties who need to issue checks under the law. This means obtaining all of the facts that led up to your injury, talking to witnesses, reading police reports, and more. It also means reviewing medical bills and evaluating lost wages. It can also mean counseling you to take the steps necessary to protect yourself in the event that you have injuries that are not immediately apparent after the accident, like whiplash. You never have to take a settlement if you’re not satisfied with it, and you can push for a trial if you wish. A trial…
Read MoreDealing With Collection Calls during a Personal Injury Case
September 30, 2013 | Adriel B. VillarrealIn an ideal world, a personal injury case would conclude quickly, and everyone would be paid before a single medical bill makes it to any collection agency. However, a case can take a lot longer than anyone might wish, which means the phone may start ringing soon. When collectors start calling it’s natural to want to avoid the calls. Collection agents are trained to make you feel guilty and they’re trained to give you the sensation of being “in trouble,” even if their words remain within the boundaries of the Fair Debt Collection Act. This feeling can be exacerbated by the helplessness you can feel knowing that your ability to do anything about these bills seems trapped somewhere in legal limbo. Unfortunately, ignoring the calls only makes things worse. The phone will keep ringing, and you’ll keep experiencing more stress at a time when you should be trying to recover from the injuries you have sustained. All this stress is actually unnecessary! There’s a reasonably easy way to get these bulldog agencies off your back. Just pick up the phone and explain that the debt in question is part of a personal injury case. Give them all of your attorney’s contact information. Then tell them to “cease communications” with you or anyone other…
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