NEW CAR WRECKS CALL 972-833-8000, AVAILABLE 24/7
NEW CAR WRECKS CALL 972-833-8000, AVAILABLE 24/7
We've all heard the horror stories about insurance companies raising insurance premiums for customers who were not at-fault for simply filing a claim. The reality is that this is less likely due to filing a claim and more likely to occur because the insurance company has now deemed the customer to be a higher risk.
Insurance companies charge higher premiums to drivers who pose a high risk of liability versus drivers they consider to be low risk. They take multiple factors into consideration, such as your driving record, your age, the type of vehicle you are insuring, and how you use the vehicle. Essentially, the less likely the insurance company thinks you are to be in an accident, the lower your insurance premiums will be. Be mindful that not all insurance companies play by the same rules.
If you were involved in a hit-and-run accident or by someone who didn't have insurance (or not enough insurance), you should absolutely file a claim on your own policy. Why? Because this is what you've paid your insurance premiums for. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you from this type of loss so that you don't suffer the financial burden alone.
Many insurance companies will not raise rates on their insured after a no-fault claim has been filed while some might. If you find that your insurance rates have gone up significantly, you can try to negotiate a better rate with your current carrier or begin looking for a new insurance carrier. If it is in their best interest to raise rates, it is in your best interest to find an insurance carrier that suits your needs, too.
Did you know that insurance companies in Texas are required to offer Uninsured Motorist coverage and Personal Injury Protection? If they fail to offer these coverages to you and obtain your signed, written rejection of these coverages, then this coverage may be applicable to you.
Beware of purchasing a "full coverage" insurance policy. This term is meaningless and causes confusion for many people thinking their injuries would also be covered just to find out they had a minimum liability policy with collision and comprehensive coverage for their vehicle only. Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage is not required per Texas statute but is highly recommended in case you are seriously injured in a car wreck.
If you've been in an accident and are unsure what to do, consult with our law office today by calling 972-833-8000. Stanley and Associates has over 20 years of combined experience in accident injury law. We fight to protect our clients' rights, help them seek medical treatment, and win compensation for their injuries.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is incredibly useful coverage when you've been involved in an accident whether you or someone else is at-fault. It is often called “no-fault” coverage because it pays out claims to the insured regardless of who is at fault in the accident.
Why should you include PIP on your insurance policy? Because it can help cover some of your lost wages and medical bills or expenses incurred whether you caused the accident or not. Liability coverage only pays for damages you cause to other people and Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage will only cover your medical expenses if you did not cause the accident.
Be wary of any insurance agent that tries to sell you a "full coverage" insurance policy. "Full coverage" is a meaningless term as far as insurance coverage goes.
In Texas, insurers are required to offer PIP when purchasing an insurance policy OR they must obtain an authorized signature from the policy holder rejecting the coverage. One caveat is that if there is no signed written rejection, you are covered. It is up to you to reject this coverage.
$2500 is the minimum amount of PIP coverage that auto insurance companies are required to provide. Depending on the company you choose, you can select up to $10,000 or more in PIP coverage if requested. We recommend that you obtain as much PIP coverage as your insurer will sell you due to the astronomical costs of medical care.
Unfortunately, many Texans often do not include this beneficial coverage on their policies because they are unaware that:
The attorneys at Stanley & Associates recommend that drivers include Personal Injury Protection in their auto insurance policy. Due to the rise in the cost of medical bills, we recommend that you carry $10,000 in coverage or more. Even the minimum $2500 can help with out-of-pocket expenses from your injuries.
You may be hesitant to hire an attorney after you have been injured in a car accident or other accident injury for many reasons. Undoubtedly, you will ask yourself, “aren’t attorneys expensive?” Or “the insurance company will take care of me, right?”
We aim to help assure any doubts you may have so you can be confident and informed when making your decision. Let’s go over the top 5 reasons why it’s worth hiring a personal injury attorney.
They are only interested in protecting their bottom line. They have teams of attorneys looking for ways to minimize the amount of money they pay-out to badly injured victims. You should have an attorney fighting for you and your rights.
Many injured victims don’t realize how severely they were hurt without proper medical treatment and professional diagnosis. Not to mention, insurance companies will actively discourage treatment so they don't have to pay. We help find doctors so you can be seen ASAP instead of waiting weeks through your regular healthcare network.
Our personal injury law firm has decades of experience handling scrupulous insurance companies and navigating the legal challenges an injury claim presents. You can count on our attorneys to fight for you while you recover and get back to your normal routine.
Why manage a case on your own when you can have a legal team do it for you? Insurance companies know that claimants are not trained negotiators. According to a report conducted by the Insurance Research Council, settlements were 40% higher when claimants were represented by a lawyer. Our attorneys know the tricks and strategies that will lead to the best resolution.
There is no cost to you up front - no legal fees of any kind. Seriously. You won't have to worry about "billable hours." Our attorneys will work your case on a contingency fee basis which means you pay nothing unless you win. There is no out-of-pocket cost to hire a personal injury attorney. Attorney fees are deducted from your settlement offer if a satisfactory outcome is achieved.
If you're unsure if you have a case, give us a call at 972-833-8000 for a free case review. There is no obligation to hire an attorney for your free consultation.
Our client was traveling through an intersection when a semi-truck ran a red light colliding with the driver's side of our client's vehicle. Injuries suffered by our client included a fractured rib, rotator cuff strain, multiple bruises and contusions to her body, post-traumatic headache, and sprains to the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. We filed a lawsuit and were able to prove the defendant driver had meth in his system. Settled for $500,000.
Our client was visiting his daughter and grandson when he stepped on a toy left carelessly on the floor. This caused our client to fall and he sustained severe injuries to his knee and a pinched nerve in his lower back. Our client suffered a serious loss of the normal enjoyment of life because of this injury that greatly restricted his movement and ability to conduct normal activities. Our client was awarded over $100,000 for his injuries.
Our client was rear-ended by a driver who was speeding and changing lanes when unsafe. She suffered a deep laceration to her head, multiple contusions to her body, cervical, thoracic, and lumbar pain. Our client sustained a mild traumatic brain injury including nausea, anxiety, dizziness, and headaches. With our guidance, our client was able to receive essential medical treatment for her injuries and was awarded $150,000.
Memorial Day, the most somber of all holidays and the first holiday of the summer, is actually the most dangerous holiday to drive according to the NHTSA. Drivers may become frustrated with a surge in traffic due to an increase in summer travel, road construction, the heat, and subsequently will drive more aggressively.
Memorial Day has 76 more fatal crashes than the average four-day period and 21% more than the average holiday.
Traffic spikes, partying, and drunk driving all contribute to the rise in fatalities during this holiday. Car crashes are 4x more likely on Memorial Day weekend. 37% of fatal crashes involve a drunk driver and 52% of traffic deaths occur when someone isn't wearing a seat belt. 12 red lights are run through every second during the weekend.
Here are some helpful tips if you have to be on the road this weekend:
If you find yourself in an accident with a drunk driver this weekend, call our office at 972-833-8000. We can get you into treatment by the next day or sooner.
Policy limits establish the total amount of recovery available to you based on what the policy holder has through their insurance company. This is great for insurance companies but not so great if you have been seriously injured.
In Texas, motorists are required to have liability insurance with minimum limits of 30/60/25. This translates to up to $30,000 for injuries per person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for property damage. Of course, some drivers may have higher limits and commercially insured vehicles usually have much higher limits.
Insurance companies are businesses and they want to limit payouts as much as possible. Car insurance companies are notorious for offering low-ball settlements regardless of your injury severity. You should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney if this happens to you.
There are many factors insurance companies consider in a car accident. The obvious one is how severe are the injuries?
A person who has significant trauma due to an accident, like a brain bleed or broken bones, may be awarded the full policy limits available to them. Whereas, a person who suffered minor, soft tissue injuries, like whiplash, may receive a minimal award.
Another factor is the potential for multiple claimants. Once there are more than two claimants involved, it is a race to settle first and the amount potentially available to you begins to diminish significantly. There is only so much of a pie to go around - it is possible for one person to take half before the other claimants get a piece.
We know what you're thinking - simply divide the total amount per accident by the number of claimants to determine how much each person gets - but that is not the rule.
Insurance claims in Texas operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Whichever claimant files and settles their claim first has the potential to receive the most money based on their injuries and medical bills.
One of the best things responsible drivers can do for themselves before they're in a car wreck is to ensure they have the right coverages on their own car insurance policy. Our attorneys recommend that you purchase as much insurance as you can, specifically, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Uninsured/Under Insured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM).
If you are hit by an at-fault driver, you should contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible. An experienced law firm will assess the situation, determine your best course of action, and begin building a winning legal strategy.
Stanley & Associates offers free consultations to all prospective clients. There's truly no cost and no obligation - we want you to know your rights and options. Schedule your free consultation today. Call 844-227-9739