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Negligence is the key issue in most personal injury cases
Negligence is one of the biggest factors in personal injury - otherwise known as tort - cases. The idea behind negligence is the belief that every member of society is supposed to act responsibly and avoid putting other people at risk – much like the golden rule. Every time someone is hurt doesn’t automatically mean negligence was involved, however. So it’s up to the plaintiff to show that a reasonably prudent person in the defendant’s position would have done things differently under those same circumstances, and that would have avoided the problem in the first place. To learn more about negligence and how it factors into personal injury claims, click here.
Studies show those who hire a lawyer recover 3.5 times more money on average than those who do not
If you've been injured in an accident, you might be wondering if it's worth it to hire an attorney. How do you know? The headline of this story alone will tell you that sometimes it makes sense to hire one. One of the reasons lawyers can get their clients so much more money for a claim is that insurance company negotiators often don't look at all the factors that your attorney will. Accounting for things like future wage loss and medical bills usually aren't volunteered by insurers, no matter how much of a "good neighbor" they might seem. Click the link for more tips and answers to frequently asked questions to help you decide to hire a personal injury attorney for your accident claim.
5 Tips for the first conversation with the insurance adjuster after a car accident
Many accident victims are nervous about their first contact with the insurance company’s adjuster, and justifiably so. Assuming anyone who was recently in a car wreck is dealing with injuries and emotional stress that come from a traumatizing event, it’s hard to think clearly through a claim negotiation. Here are some tips for that first contact with the insurance adjuster to help you advocate for yourself or a loved one and set the stage for financial recovery instead of further anxiety and financial stress.
Inattention blindness: what makes distracted driving so dangerous [VIDEO]
Everyone by now should know that driving while distracted is one of the most dangerous things you can do behind the wheel. But lots of people also think that multi-tasking is possible, and while other drivers might not be able to do two things at once, there are ways to juggle tasks safely. More and more research says this is not so. If you're trying to have a conversation on the phone, whether you are listening or speaking, your mind is engaged in cognitive tasks. Even if you aren't holding your phone - a manual task - your mind is focused on this primary task of your conversation. Which means that if you are trying to talk about your dinner plans while you're driving, your mind is focused on trying to choose between pizza and Chinese, not what's in front of your windshield.
Here is a great video that explains why distracted driving occurs.
A tragic story about the danger of jet skis
Personal injury attorneys are well-acquainted with the scenario: an ordinary, enjoyable experience suddenly turns deadly when negligence is involved. When a child dies as a result of it, the sadness and anger that comes is even more acute for the survivors and loved ones. Here is one story of a fun day at the lake that took a terrible turn, and highlights the dangerous of teenagers using jet skis unsupervised. Bellingham, Washington wrongful death lawyer Bill Coats represented the survivors of a teenager's premature death.
Thank you for taking some time to check out our feature series - Big Shot Breakdown - where we look at some of the things top ranking PI lawyers are doing well and opportunities for you to compete.
Episode 7: autoaccident.com (Sacramento, CA):
A head-on car crash can bring a lifetime of residual effects
When you're injured in an accident, it helps to know you're not alone. A head-on collision is one of the hardest events to go through, because the resulting injuries and losses can be catastrophic. As a personal injury attorney, I have helped clients find compensation for head-on car crashes so that they can focus on the best possible life afterwards. Here's a story I'd like to share with you about someone who was hit when another car crossed the median on a highway outside Bellingham, WA.