Auto Accident Settlement? Did You Get A Fair Shake

This Blog was brought to you by the San Antonio Car Accident Attorneys of the Carabin Shaw Law Firm in San Antonio

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Auto Accident Settlement?

I was involved in an auto accident in August, and it was determined that I was not at fault. The other party involved was driving a commercial van with an expired insurance policy. As a result, I filed a claim with my insurance company under my Uninsured Motorist Policy, which has a coverage limit of $50,000. My insurance company has already taken care of the damages to my vehicle and provided $2,500 under my Personal Injury Protection (PIP) for my medical expenses.

Unfortunately, I suffered a lumbar herniated disc and a “soft tissue injury” to my mid-back and neck. Excluding the PIP coverage, my medical costs totaled $10,500, including expenses for MRI scans and X-rays. Although I initially decided not to hire a lawyer, I reached out to my insurance company to discuss a settlement once I no longer required continuous treatment.

The initial settlement offer was $7,500, which was later raised to $10,000 during our conversation. However, these amounts still do not cover my past and future medical expenses. Recently, the insurance company offered $11,000 as their maximum offer, but I declined because it does not adequately compensate me for future treatments or the limitations I now experience. It’s worth noting that I underwent three months of treatment for my injuries, and I continue to experience significant pain when I move incorrectly or attempt to lift things. Furthermore, since the accident, I have incurred $1,000 in home repairs that I would have otherwise completed myself.

Now, my questions are as follows: Is the current offer fair? If not, what would be a fair counteroffer? Or should I consider hiring a lawyer? It’s important to note that I am not seeking to profit from this situation, as I understand that it was an accident. However, I do not wish to pay out-of-pocket for future treatments or bear the consequences of being unable to perform activities I previously could.

I am also curious about when the insurance company typically presents their final offer or reaches the maximum amount for a claim. I have medical insurance that has covered a portion of my expenses, but I will need reimbursement following the settlement.

Thank you for your assistance.

Best answer:

Thank you for providing detailed information about the accident. It’s not entirely clear whether the other party involved had insurance or not. However, it seems that your insurance company has taken care of all the necessary aspects and is now offering you a settlement.

In my opinion, your insurance company has done an excellent job by covering the damages to your car and your injuries. Considering that you have uninsured motorist coverage, you would have received nothing if you didn’t have this policy in place. Once you accept the settlement, your insurance company will pursue legal action against the other party to recover their expenses.

Based on the information you’ve provided, it seems that your insurance company has been more than fair in their offers. They will only pay you up to the limit specified in your policy. It’s possible that some details may be missing from your account, but if that’s not the case, I would recommend accepting the settlement. It sounds like you have a great insurance company, and I’m curious to know which one it is.

Please note that the above response is based on the information provided and should not be considered legal advice. Consulting with a personal injury lawyer can provide you with a more accurate assessment of your situation and help you determine the best course of action.

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How To Avoid Traffic Tickets

This Blog was brought to you by the San Antonio Traffic Ticket Attorney Gordon Slade

This article encompasses all the significant information that you need to know to avoid a traffic ticket. It is obvious that you will panic at the time you have been asked to pull over. But, it is always better to keep your senses intact to deal with it. You may have a number of things lingering in your mind at the time you have been caught, but the only workable solution is to keep your mind focused completely on the situation.

Things to Do When You Are Caught

Most of us make an insensible mistake of asking the cops the reason for the stop. Avoid making this silly mistake! You know you have violated traffic rules, so don’t pretend anything! It is also important to keep your tone soft and polite. This will itself speak for your being sorry, which can be really helpful! If you have been asked to show your driver’s license or anything that may be needed by the cops, don’t show reluctance. Fully cooperate with the cop! Also do not show that you are nervous or tense, be comfortable, or at least show that you are comfortable. To avoid any misunderstandings against your actions, on the part of the officer, let him know that you are digging your pocket for a driver’s license or anything that you have been asked to show. If you have to produce something from the glove compartment, make sure you let the police know. Don’t make any quick reaction.

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speeding fines dismissal

Don’t Be Afraid

For one, who has never interacted with a cop before, it may be frightening to stand before the police answering his queries. However, you should not let the feeling of fright take over you. Remember, he is a police officer and he has been trained to be that way. He may have a gun and authority but you have not been accused of murder so just relax! Remember the police are here to protect us. They are our friends. The officer may try to intimidate you through his serious face, screaming voice, authoritative attitude, and a bit of aggression. If this happens, this is unusual. Most police officers are very polite. They are professional. If he is screaming at you, it is because he thinks you have committed a crime that is much bigger than the actual law you broke. All you need to do is to take that lightly and not panic. Try to look at cop them while talking. This shows you haven’t lost your confidence. Be very friendly. more here

A Non-Stop Eye Contact Can Save You

Your physical actions and movements display your underlying feelings and fears. A person who is guilty of something will always avoid looking in the eyes of the person, to whom he is accountable. That is why the officers keep a close eye on the behavior of the person they have caught. If you are lying, you will avoid looking straight into his eyes. Even if you are not lying but you avoid eye contact with him, because you find his eyes scary enough, you are making him doubt your truthfulness. Maintain eye contact and talk to him confidently to show him that you are not making up any stories. It is very important to remember that eye contact shall be avoided at the time you dig your pocket or the dashboard for your driver’s license or anything else. Eye contact at this point in time can make the cop think that you might be heading for a weapon. Don’t forget to take off your sunshades when you have pulled over. This lets the officer judge your conduct through your eyes. In case, the officer is wearing sunshades, he has the advantage of looking in your eyes but not letting you look into his. Don’t worry about this.

Be Vigilant When Answering His Questions

The officers are known for being smart enough to extract from the mouth of the people what they want to hear. Thus, be careful when they are questioning you. What you say in reply to the questions of the officer determines whether you will be charged with a traffic ticket or not. The officer may ask you if you know the reason why you have been pulled over. Never answer in the affirmative. Politely ask the reason. If he asks you whether you know the speed with which you were driving or not. Just tell him politely that you don’t. The trickiest of all the questions is when he asks you the reason for being so fast. Just pretend that you never noticed you were that fast.

The More Unnoticeable the Better

Try not to create any special and specific impressions about yourself in the mind of the officer. The more unnoticeable and inconspicuous you are the better for you. This way he wouldn’t remember any specific details of his encounter with you, which can benefit you in the court.

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Your Speeding Ticket Affects Your Car Insurance

This Blog Post was brought to you by the Slade Law Firm – your San Antonio traffic ticket attorney

Auto Insurance Costs

Every automobile insurance provider has its own policies and maintains separate point systems from the Texas DPS. For accurate information about how a speeding ticket conviction or other traffic infraction may affect your particular policy, please consult your agent. Listed below are links to answers provided by major auto insurance companies to common questions about what affects the price of car insurance.

What Affects Car Insurance Price? (StateFarm)

Legal Fees & Court Expenses
If you will be hiring an attorney to represent you, legal fees are another element you must factor into the equation. There are thousands of traffic lawyers to choose from, each with varying degrees of expertise and experience and charging various fees for their services. In any case, a lawyer will likely be much more familiar with not only local traffic laws but understand the legal process of the courts and how to best pursue a course of action. Most offer free consultations by phone or in person. When speaking with them, be sure to share the details of your entire case including any complications like a suspended license, a motor vehicle accident involved, pending criminal charges, etc so that they may best assist you.

In the case that you decide to have a trial of your case, you may be advised or required to personally appear in court. Every court has its own schedule and days when traffic cases are heard, so you may have to schedule time off from work or school and make arrangements to attend. If you live far away from the court, you will also want to consider the price of gas, vehicle maintenance, and traveling time.

How Much Will My Speeding Ticket Really Cost?
Only after calculating the costs of fines, state surcharges, Driver Assessment fees, auto insurance policy increases, travel expenses, attorney fees, and precious time spent traveling and/or researching and preparing your case, only then can you get an accurate figure of how much money you will really spend on a traffic ticket. The final costs will also depend largely on your course of action. If you choose to hire an attorney, you may have more costs upfront, but pay less in penalties as well as secure yourself against future penalties. If you choose to represent yourself, you may save on legal fees but spend on travel fees and time off from work. Without experienced legal counsel, you may also end up paying far more in fines and other penalties. If you plead guilty to your original charges, you can avoid paying any legal fees but will likely pay higher fines and other penalties that will damage your driving history and make any future reduction of charges more difficult to secure.

Only you can decide what course of action is best for your particular situation. If you will be seeking legal counsel, however, please consider our office for your representation. We have been representing clients charged with traffic violations and misdemeanors in Texas for many years. We offer affordable fees in most courts and appear on your behalf in most cases without you having to attend. We offer free consultations by phone, email, and in-person at our office. For a free consultation of your case, please contact us with the details of your case.

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