Tips on How to Get a Car Wreck Settlement in San Antonio

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Car accidents occur by the thousands nationwide, every day. Almost every one of them comes with insurance claims and possible legal action. However, each location deals with insurance and legal claims differently, including San Antonio. Though many steps are similar, knowing these tips about how to get a car wreck settlement in San Antonio will boost your chances of success.

Tip One: Document Everything

 

Facts are your friends. After taking care of any emergency situation, make sure to gather the following information:

 

  • Contact and Insurance information of everyone involved. Get pictures if you can
  • Photos of the scene
  • License plate and vehicle identification numbers
  • Contact information of any and all witnesses
  • Recordings of what happened from witnesses if possible
  • The reporting police officer’s contact and badge information

 

Tip Two: Remember to be Timely

 

Time plays an important role when processing a car wreck settlement in San Antonio. Three important time frames to remember are 10 days, 15 days and 2 years.

 

10 days is how long you have to report an accident to report an accident to TxDot if a police officer was not present and serious injury, death or car damages cost over 1000 dollars. This normally occurs when accident participants did not originally anticipate high repair costs.

 

15 days is how long insurance companies have to approve or deny your claim. Some may try to push you to a decision prematurely to save money and others may attempt to drag your case out. Once your claim has been approved, insurance companies in San Antonio have 5 days to fulfill it.

 

2 years is your window from an accident to take legal action. Should you have on going medical expenses, lost wages or pain and suffering from your accident that have not been properly reimbursed, San Antonio will honor your claim for 2 years.

 

Tip Three: Know who to call for help

 

Securing a car wreck settlement in San Antonio is generally straight forward, but, if you are being pushed by insurance companies or have not been fairly treated, it is time to call for help. Choose a local accident attorney who knows San Antonio laws and how to get you what you deserve.

 

The attorneys at Pat Maloney specialize in car wreck settlements and have a record of getting clients the settlements they need. Give them a call. They know how to help.

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3 Ways to Avoid Pedestrian Accidents in San Antonio. Watch Out!

Hard statistics pertaining to pedestrian accidents in San Antonio can be hard to pin down, mainly because so many of them go unreported. We do know for sure that according to the Governors Highway Safety Association, the number of pedestrian/traffic fatalities leaped over 11 percent in 2016.

With pedestrian accidents in San Antonio also on the rise, let’s look at what we can do — behind the wheel and on foot — to avoid serious injury and death.

Stay Off Cell Phones When in Motion

Both drivers and walkers can decrease the chances of an accident by putting their phones away and keeping their eyes on their surroundings. Studies have shown drivers can cover the length of a football field or more when they think they’re glancing at their phones “for just a second.” In addition, pedestrians have been known to walk right into traffic, walls, or construction hazards on the sidewalk without looking.

Increase Your Visibility

Drivers can increase their chances of being seen by keeping their headlights on both day and night. Likewise, pedestrians need to be aware that as a smaller, slower-moving target, they aren’t as likely to be noticed at a distance as a larger object. Wearing brightly colored, reflective clothing at night helps, but in addition, consider wearing reflective trim that accentuates the body’s movement, which is more likely to catch the eye.

Obey Traffic Laws

Again, both drivers and walkers bear some responsibility for preventing pedestrian accidents in San Antonio. Drivers should not block crosswalks when waiting to make a turn, or step on the gas to avoid having to wait for a pedestrian to clear the crosswalk. Walkers should cross streets only at designated, clearly marked points and should do so only after having checked for approaching traffic, even when they have the right of way.

When pedestrian accidents in San Antonio occur, who’s at fault is too often a moot point. In the collision between a ton or two of steel and a human body, the human body is going to come out the loser. The attorneys at Pat Maloney understand this, so call us today.

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Qualities of the Best San Antonio Work Injury Lawyer

It can be tough to find the best San Antonio work injury lawyer. On the outside, they all look much the same: professionally dressed, framed certificates on their office walls, and well versed in what some may call “lawyerspeak.”

By the time you’re waiting fruitlessly for your fifth returned call and you figure out you’re little more than a number, it could be too late to switch to a more amenable attorney.

 

 

Dedication to Their Profession

College degrees and a passing score on the bar exam is only the first step in a career that should be devoted to professional development at every level. Don’t be afraid to examine those framed certificates and ask questions such as:

 

  • What did you major in for your undergraduate degree?
    Contrary to what you might assume, not all lawyers spring from the political science bachelor’s degree pipeline. The best San Antonio work injury lawyer may have received a bachelor’s degree in almost anything: English, pre-med, the sciences, the arts, or wherever their interest lies.
  • How many work injury cases have you handled?
    Say you need a knee replacement. Do you want a surgeon who’s only picked up a scalpel once before? Or one who has hundreds of procedures under their belt and before that, learned at the elbow of an experienced mentor?
  • What do you like to do outside of work?
    This isn’t a dumb question. You know the saying “all work and no play”? A burned-out lawyer is an ineffective lawyer. One who takes time to “refill the well” and return to work refreshed is the one you want on your team.

 

Multifaceted Knowledge

The best San Antonio work injury lawyer not only knows how to meet every deadline, cross every T, and dot every I, but they are also skilled negotiators and know the value of your case. In other words, they know how different factors will impact your settlement. These include:

 

  • How serious your injuries are and how severely you’re physically limited.
  • Your work and salary history.
  • The costs of your past, current, and probable future medical treatment.

 

Got a question to ask the best San Antonio work injury lawyer? Start with us.

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Want the Best Lawyers in San Antonio, Texas?

If you’ve been hurt in an automobile or trucking accident or suffered workplace injuries, you want the best lawyers in San Antonio, Texas, on your team to ensure you don’t suffer any more than you already have.

How do you go about finding not just a good lawyer, but the very best for your particular case? It’s not unlike shopping for any other vital addition to your life — make a checklist.

 

Chemistry Counts …

You never forget how someone makes you feel. When you step into the offices of the best lawyers in San Antonio, Texas, it doesn’t matter how many degrees hang on the wall or how many reviews you read online. Your gut will tell you if this is the right attorney for you. It’s not unlike looking for the right doctor: if you aren’t completely comfortable, keep looking.

 

… And So Does Experience

Having said the above, don’t check your logic at the door. The best lawyers in San Antonio, Texas, not only have years of experience, but their knowledge of applicable regulations and the latest technology is also deep and wide. They may even have received specialized training to handle a case like yours.

 

Their Ads Should Contain Information, Not Hyperbole

When you’re scanning the ads for an attorney, bigger and flashier isn’t always better. Look for no-nonsense verbiage that will tell you at a glance if this office has a qualified and experienced lawyer.

 

Ask for Referrals

Chances are, you know someone who’s been through a similar situation and can pass along the name of the attorney they worked with. This can be a good place to start, but the best lawyers in San Antonio, Texas, will be honest if they aren’t the right lawyer for your case, and will refer you to someone who is. And don’t forget about your local bar association as a source of information and referrals.

 

Looking for the best lawyers in San Antonio, Texas? Start right here.

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How Does a Medical Claim Settlement Work?

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When you file a medical claim settlement, knowledge is power. If you familiarize yourself with the basic steps of this type of negotiation, you’ll be more likely to get what you deserve, and avoid having to resort to litigation.

 

Step 1: The First Letter

 

You will start the medical claim settlement process by sending a letter to the at-fault party’s insurance company, detailing how their actions (or inactions) caused and contributed to the severity of your injury and that you will be seeking compensation.

 

Step 2: The Insurance Company’s Response

 

In response to your notification letter, you’ll get a letter in response from the insurance company. They will agree to review your claim and state their intent to meet with you to discuss it, but it will not contain any admission of guilt on their client’s part.

 

Step 3: Your Demands

 

After your treatment and therapy is complete, you will send a letter to the insurance adjuster, listing the details of your claim, the damages, your medical bills and related expenses, and lost work pay. You will also ask for an additional amount for pain and suffering.

 

Step 4: The Counteroffer

 

The insurance adjuster will respond to your demand with a counteroffer that is basically testing you to see how well you understand the medical claim settlement process. In short, they hope that you don’t, so they can get away with paying out far less than you deserve.

 

Step 5: Bartering Begins

 

In your response to the counteroffer, you’ll make it clear that you won’t be intimidated out of taking the case to litigation if necessary. You will politely restate your claim and that you might be willing to reduce the amount demanded — a little.

Now, the key is to be patient. Never call an adjuster to see what is taking so long. They want you to make that mistake.

Know the rock-bottom figure you’re willing to accept, and stick to it, knowing you may have to resort to litigation to get it.

 

Step 6: Get Representation

 

If you wind up taking the medical claim settlement to court, make sure you are properly represented by legal counsel. Contact the Law Offices of Pat Maloney: we are ready to help you complete your recovery.

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Fatigued Driving: 6 Signs You Might Be Too Tired to Drive

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It’s safe to say that the vast majority of drivers would never attempt to operate a vehicle after drinking alcohol or taking certain kinds of medication. These same drivers, however, think nothing of fatigued driving—getting behind the wheel (or hopping on their motorcycle) when they’re tired. In their minds, a yawn is not the same as a shot or a pint.

 

 

In reality, more than one-third of drivers have engaged in fatigued driving and fallen asleep at the wheel. Some of them are lucky enough to snap back awake in time to avoid a wreck. Some keep driving, seemingly functional while their conscious minds have checked out, only to blink and wonder how they missed their turn 20 miles ago. Too many cause an accident, hurting themselves and, often, someone else.

 

Don’t be a tragic statistic. The signs you shouldn’t be driving are often subtle.

 

Signs You Could Be Too Tired to Drive

 

1. You didn’t get enough sleep the night before. Combine a restless night with a long day at work, and it’s safe to say you shouldn’t embark on a long, monotonous trip, even if you think you’re stoked on caffeine.

 

2. You’re using the headrest. If you’re too weary to hold up your head, you’re not alert enough to drive any distance—short or long.

 

3. You can’t remember driving the past few miles. Muscle memory will only get you so far. If you’re well into your journey and it seems you just left, you’ve been snoozing, possibly even with your eyes open.

 

4. Your eyes are scratchy. Constantly needing to rub your eyes is a sign you’re too tired to keep going. Pull over at a rest stop and take a nap.

 

5. You keep hitting the rumble strips. This means you’re driving out of your lane, and you are fatigued driving. Get out from behind the wheel as soon as possible.

 

6. Your muscles feel twitchy. Lack of sleep can cause the release of stress hormones, which can make you achy, restless, and irritable. If you find you can’t keep from shifting in your seat, or you feel an uncontrollable need to shake out your arms and legs, you’re fatigued driving.

 

If you’ve been hurt in an accident and you suspect the other driver was fatigued driving, we can help. Call us today!

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A Quick Guide on Avoiding Construction Accidents

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Accidents happen, even if you think you’ve taken every precaution. Avoiding construction accidents should be everyone’s top priority, from the boss right on down to the newest member of the crew. This should also be a goal for people who don’t work the concrete ribbons or the big steel, but encounter a construction site while going about their everyday business.

 

 

What the Company Can Do

  • Provide effective training.
  • Provide adequate safety equipment and establish a no-exceptions rule to using it.
  • Perform regular inspections/reviews of the site, equipment, maintenance records, and employee procedures.
  • Equip all hazardous tools with appropriate safety guards.
  • Provide safe, dry, and secure areas for equipment storage and maintenance.
  • Adhere to local, state, and national safety regulations.

 

What the Crew Can Do

  • When pulled off a job to participate in a training exercise, don’t complain—give the new procedure or refresher your full attention.
  • Avoiding construction accidents means not using a piece of equipment on which you haven’t received training.
  • Crew members who are sick should stay home or perform only low-risk tasks if taking any medications that make them sleepy or dizzy.
  • If a work area needs guardrails, hand holds, non-slip surfaces to walk on, or barriers to reroute traffic, workers should inform supervisors of the situation.
  • Be aware of the hazards of working on or around dangerous areas such as raised scaffolding, open trenches, and machinery with exposed moving parts.
  • Watch not only your own back, but keep an eye out for your coworkers as well.

 

What the General Public Can Do

  • Speed limits are often lowered in road construction zones. Avoiding construction accidents means staying within the posted speed limit and keeping an eye out for workers who often must do their jobs a few feet or less from lanes of moving traffic.
  • Whether driving or walking, respect temporary barriers that have been set up to protect not only the construction workers, but you as well. Don’t be “that guy” who was too impatient to take an alternate route to your destination.

 

Avoiding construction accidents takes a combined effort. Call us if someone dropped the ball and you wound up hurt.

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When to Reach Out to a Work-Related Injury Attorney

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Question: Do you need to hire a work-related injury attorney as soon as you’ve had a mishap on the job? Answer: It depends.

 

 

In cases like the following, you don’t need an attorney to navigate through the workers’ comp system:

  • It’s indisputable that the mishap occurred on company property (or on a job site) while you were performing work-related tasks.
  • The injury was minor—a bruise, sprain, or cut that needed a couple of stitches.
  • You didn’t need to take time off to recover.
  • No pre-existing illness contributed to the accident.

 

Even if you don’t wind up needing a work-related injury attorney, it won’t hurt to schedule a quick, often free consultation to ensure you’re not overlooking anything. Then, if you decide later you need representation, you already have a relationship established.

 

How do you know when you need to call in the troops? Here are a few red flags:

  • You’ve done everything you’re supposed to do (and hit all the deadlines), yet your claim is denied. Or your settlement is so slow to arrive, you wind up in collections due to unpaid medical bills.
  • Your claim successfully worked its way through the system, but the compensation doesn’t cover your bills or lost income.
  • You’re doing so poorly you can’t return to your previous work, and you’re also unable to work at any other job due to your injury.
  • You were fired because you got injured and filed a legitimate claim.
  • A third party contributed to the occurrence and/or severity of your injuries, such as faulty equipment or a worker from another company.
  • The government (through Social Security) grabs a big chunk of your settlement because it wasn’t worded properly.

 

When you’re hurt on the job, there’s no time to waste—call for a free consultation with a work-related injury attorney!

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Avoid Getting Disappointed by a San Antonio Personal Injury Attorney

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When you hire a San Antonio personal injury attorney, you have high hopes for a legal decision in your favor. Too often, though, you wind up on the losing end—a result that could have been avoided if you’d asked a few more questions before settling for less than the best.

 

 

A good San Antonio personal injury attorney needs more than a wall of framed, official-looking certificates. This person should possess qualities that sometimes aren’t easily discerned.

 

Tells It Like It Is

When you arrive for what is often your free, initial consultation, a good attorney will look over your case with a critical eye and tell you upfront whether you’ve got a solid chance at winning or if it will be a hard row to hoe.

 

A good San Antonio personal injury attorney will also be honest about the fee structure so there aren’t any surprises when the bill comes due.

 

Answers All Your Questions

There’s no such thing as a stupid question, so ask away. A good attorney will answer them all, and maybe some you hadn’t thought to ask, such as:

  • Whether they will be working your case solo or using assistants.
  • Whether their firm is insured.
  • If they specialize in your type of personal injury case and their record of winning such cases.
  • How long they expect the process to take before the case is resolved.
  • If they have a list of referrals.

 

Appreciates That You’re Picky

How do you put a smile on a San Antonio personal injury attorney’s face? Walk into the initial consultation prepared:

  • Show that you’ve done some research into this attorney’s and the firm’s background.
  • Have all your relevant paperwork in order—police reports, doctor’s notes, medical records and receipts, photographs of the scene and your injuries, etc.

 

You want only the best San Antonio personal injury attorney. We want the best outcome for you! Give us a call today.

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Tips to Find the Right Car Accident Lawyer in San Antonio

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Want to know the truth about finding the right car accident lawyer San Antonio residents? You’re in the driver’s seat.

Yes, presumably your lawyer has the expertise to shepherd your case through the legal system while you concentrate on recovering from your injuries. But that doesn’t mean you have to sit on the sidelines and hope for the best.

Here are a few things you should expect from your car accident lawyer San Antonio residents. And if you aren’t getting most of them, it might be time to seek a different attorney:

  • They speak your language. We aren’t just talking English, Spanish, or other second-language skill (though that’s a plus, if multi-language fluency is a skill you need). Your lawyer should be able to translate legalese so you can easily understand what’s taking place.
  • They don’t leave you hanging. From day one, your car accident lawyer in San Antonio should extend the common courtesy of responding to your phone calls and emails in a timely fashion. Yes, your attorney has a life outside of work, but if they promise to respond within one business day, they should stick to it.
  • They live up to your expectations. Just because a lawyer passed the bar exam doesn’t mean they’re automatically good at what they do. A good car accident lawyer in San Antonio is not only ethical, they are sticklers for getting things right the first time. No one wants a lawyer who misses filing deadlines, shows up to proceedings late or unprepared, or worse, fails to recognize a conflict of interest.
  • They’re upfront about their fee structure. When your lawyer answers an email or a quick question via phone call, do they charge for their time? How much? Will you be billed monthly, or did your lawyer take your case on contingency (they’re paid only if they win the case for you)? How are costs calculated? Get everything in writing.
  • They tell you what to expect. No good car accident lawyer in San Antonio will allow you to enter a court hearing unprepared for what could and will happen.

 

Expect the best from your lawyer? Good, because we expect the best of ourselves. Contact us if you need a car accident lawyer, San Antonio based. We look forward to meeting you.

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