What to do if you were involved in an Auto Accident?What to do if you were involved in an Auto Accident?

What to do if you were involved in an Auto Accident?

Immediately after being injured in an auto accident, you are thrown into an adversarial legal system that is complex and confusing. While you are still receiving initial treatment for your injuries in a hospital emergency room, the parties at fault have already notified their insurance company of the accident.

Every insurance company has in place, a team of adjusters, investigators, and attorneys whose sole responsibility is to limit the liability of the insurance company and minimize the amount of money they will be required to pay “innocent” auto accident victims. More on this website @ https://www.accident-lawyers-dallas.com/car-accident-attorneys

You need the assistance of a qualified Personal Injury attorney to guide you through the system to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation allowable by law for your injuries. There are many mistakes that can be made during the initial stages of a Personal Injury claim that cannot be undone by even the most experienced attorney. We believe that our firm can help “level the playing field” by providing auto accident victims with an accurate straightforward source of information regarding the legal and practical aspects surrounding the auto compensation system. Please also see this website

“RULES OF THE ROAD”
1.Stop your car, no matter how minor the accident.
2.Assist any injured persons. Call for an ambulance, if necessary.
3.Call and wait for the police.
4.Identify the other driver and get his/her address, telephone number, and insurance information.
5.Get the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all witnesses.
6.Do not move the vehicles until the police view the scene unless it is safe to do so.
7.If possible, take pictures of the accident scene, even if the vehicles have been moved. Pay particular attention to skid marks and damage to all vehicles involved.
8.Never admit to the police or anyone else on the scene that the accident was your fault. Anything you say can and will be used against you to defeat your claim for compensation.
9.You may not be aware of the extent of your injuries immediately after the accident. It is important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
10.Inform your doctor that you were in an auto accident. Tell him about all your complaints no matter how minor, including past injuries to the same body parts that are presently injured.
11.Notify your insurance company about the accident. Even though you are required to cooperate with your insurance company, do not give them a statement (written or taped) without first contacting your attorney.
12.Never submit any request for a statement by the other driver’s insurance company. You are not legally obligated to give a statement. Such a statement could later be used against you. Simply refer them to your attorney.
13.Remember: Insurance companies are big business. They do not have your best interests in mind. The adjuster’s sole objective is to settle your claim for as little as possible.
14.As soon as possible after the auto accident, you should photograph any visible injuries (i.e. cuts, bruises, broken bones, etc.) Before repairing your car, photograph the damage from all angles. Provide your attorneys with the prints (and negatives) of all photographs pertaining to your claim.
15.Consult with your attorney to determine who is responsible for the payment of your medical bills. Your medical bills could be processed through the other driver’s insurance company, your auto insurance policy, or through your group health insurance. Be aware that some insurance policies require reimbursement of any medical expenses upon settlement of your claim.
16.Keep accurate records of your lost time and wages from work as a result of your auto accident. This information will assist your attorney in determining the value of your claim.
17.Before you repair the damage to your car, contact your attorney. Generally, your insurance company will pay to have your car repaired or pay you the value of the vehicle if it is a total loss. If it is determined that you are not at fault for the accident, your insurance company will seek reimbursement for medical bills from the driver at fault. Your attorney will explain the best way to have your car replaced or your total loss adjusted.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries and Potential CompensationTypes of Spinal Cord Injuries and Potential Compensation

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries and Potential Compensation

Your spinal cord is one of the most important pieces of your body. The long, thin collection of nerves allows your body to communicate with your brain, and your brain to control and regulate your bodily functions. Any type of damage to this vital piece of anatomy can lead to serious repercussions, including paralysis, pain, and permanent disability.

Not all spinal cord injuries are the same. Most injuries happen after a person experiences a sudden, violent injury, either directly to the spine or to other parts of the body. Some of these injuries can be relatively minor, while others can be life-altering and leave a person with disabling injuries. In any situation where someone suffers a spinal cord injury as a result of someone else’s negligence or intentional harm, the injured person could be entitled to recover compensation.

So, let’s take a look at spinal cord injuries and the potential compensation involved.

Complete or Incomplete Injuries

The bones in your spine, called vertebrae, act like armor. Joined together, they protect the tissues and nerves of your spinal column and allow you to move freely without causing damage to these highly sensitive areas.

In the most serious spinal cord injuries, the vertebrae that protect the cord itself are damaged. This essentially destroys your body’s natural protection and leads to serious spinal cord damage. This kind of injury can cause a person to lose sensation or control over different parts of his or her body. For example, if your spinal cord is damaged in a certain area you could lose control over your legs or even all parts of your body below the neck or chest. These types of injuries are known as complete injuries because a person loses all sensation and motor control to at least one area of the body as a result of the damage to the spinal cord.

On the other hand, an incomplete spinal cord injury is not as serious as a complete injury. People with an incomplete spinal cord injury are still able to feel and move different parts of their body, but the injury limits their ability to some extent.

In other words, incomplete injuries limit a person’s ability to control or feel different parts of the body, while complete injuries make it impossible to do so.

Potential Compensation

Because the spinal cord is such a sensitive and complicated part of your anatomy, spinal cord injuries are notorious for their different effects. No two spinal cord injuries are identical, and while complete injuries are often more severe, incomplete injuries can still result in significant damage that leaves a person permanently disabled.

Though the specific amount and type of compensation involved in any spinal cord case will differ, judges and juries typically look at two main categories.

Economic. The person who suffers a spinal cord injury can be awarded compensation—known as damages—because that person had to pay medical bills or because he or she was unable to keep working. These are called economic damages because they have easily identifiable values associated with them.
Non-economic. Spinal cord injuries can also result in compensation for aspects of a person’s life that aren’t easy to put a dollar figure on. Often known as “pain-and-suffering damages,” non-economic damages include payments for the physical pain the injured person experiences, the loss of enjoyment he or she gets out of life because of the injury, or the emotional and psychological trauma the injury caused.