Archive for September 2011
Personal Injury Cases: How Does A Lawyer Figure Out A Settlement Value?
A large part of our job is advising clients about settlement negotiations. What should we ask for? What is the value of the case? Is this a good offer? etc. During those discussions, many injured persons ask how we know the answers to those questions. It’s not a mathematical formula. It’s not a simple calculation. …
Read MorePersonal Injury Claims: How Do Juries Decide Cases?
I’m resigned to the fact that most people learn about the legal system, and the legal system does a lousy job of explaining how juries come up with decisions in civil cases. The confusion comes in two forms. First, in Texas, at least, juries don’t necessarily “decide” who should win or what amount should be…
Read MoreI have a new uninsured motorist-underinsured motorist article
I recently wrote another article on uninsured and underinsured motorist claims. This time, the article was published in the Journal of Texas Insurance Law, the official publication of State Bar of Texas Insurance Law Section (of which, I’m a member). A copy of the article is here: Texas Insurance Law Journal — article. On a…
Read MoreTraumatic Brain Injuries a Long-Term and Challenging Condition
Personal injury lawsuits involving traumatic brain injury typically have higher jury awards, as this kind of injury does not heal over time. Just recently, the state of Alaska conducted an analysis of the number of traumatic brain injuries in that state. It seems the state has a significant record of being the region with the…
Read MoreTraumatic Brain Injury Comes in Many Guises
Traumatic brain injury can come about as the result of a tornado. If the trauma is dealt with in the correct manner, the victim may have a chance at recovery. Recovery from traumatic brain injury is often a long and exceedingly slow process, if it can be accomplished at all. Time is of the essence…
Read MoreAustin Ben White Car Wreck Is Another Deadly Wrong Way Crash
Another wrong way wreck for Austin. Early this morning, Austin had its latest traffic fatality when a driver was driving the wrong way on Ben White Boulevard, resulting in a head-on collision with a Tombstone Pizza delivery truck. A passenger in the wrong way vehicle was ejected from the vehicle and immediately killed. The driver…
Read MoreCentral Texas Fire Losses: Avoiding Bad Builders And Contractors
I’ve represented a number of people in lawsuits against their builders. Several years ago, one of my clients and I half-joked that we were going to write a book together about avoiding bad contractors. We never got around to writing the book, but I do want to share some of the tips. Because while tragedies oftentimes bring…
Read MoreLesson From The Bastrop (Central Texas) Fires: Make Sure You Have Enough Insurance
Yesterday’s Austin American Statesman featured the tragic story of Carmen and Javier Chaparro, recent victims of the Bastrop County fires. The Chaparros seem like great people. Javier is a professional musician, and Carmen is a teacher who works with special-needs kids. But sadly, after the fire, the Chaparros discovered that they didn’t have enough insurance…
Read MoreCar Wrecks: Good Samaritan & Motorcyclist Killed On The Side Of The Road; Beware The Dangers Of The Side Of The Road
Tuesday morning, two drivers lost their lives in a tragic MoPac accident. A motorcyclist rear-ended an SUV on MoPac near 2222. The motorcycle stopped and the motorcyclist fell in the outside lane of traffic. A good Samaritan stopped on the shoulder and went to help the motorcyclist. Unfortunately, another vehicle came up and hit them,…
Read MoreCentral Texas Fires: Making Insurance Claims
I’ve handled a number of homeowner’s insurance claims. With the horriffic fires of the last two days, I wanted to at least make a post and provide a little information for those victims who are faced with making fire insurance claims. Fortunately, the potential claims you’re facing are not quite as complicated as most homeowners’…
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