For the second time in a month, the Texas Supreme Court has surprised many of us by issuing a ruling that is beneficial to plaintiffs who bring uninsured/underinsured motorist cases. Last month, the Court issued a ruling that confirmed a path for plaintiffs to recover attorneys’ fees in uninsured/underinsured motorist claims. This time, the Court…

One of the most important types of insurance that you can buy to protect you and your family is uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage for your vehicle. This coverage protects you when you’re in a wreck and the at-fault driver either doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance. We handle a lot of these cases. In…

A three year old child was the victim of a pit bull attack on January 9th in the Spring, Texas restaurant, Loose Caboose. The poor girl needed multiple stitches on her face, and will likely need plastic surgery to address the wounds. The dog owner, reported to be, Jennifer Romano, fled the scene. Fortunately, relying…

I spent part of today on Zoom (of course) helping some University of Texas Law students tell their stories. Why, you may ask. Because stories are our currency. Stories are how we help convey what happened to harm our clients or how our clients are hurt. Stories help us convey the pain or the limitations…

When the pandemic started this year, one of the only good byproducts was reduced traffic. And there was a big reduction. But with the reduction in traffic, most people expected a reduction in car wrecks and traffic fatalities. In fact, early on, several auto insurance companies were giving their customers small refunds on premiums because…

When we settle a minor’s claims, parents are sometimes surprised to learn that the children don’t get the money right away. Instead, the money is typically either deposited with the court until the child turns 18 or used to buy a structured settlement. A structured settlement is an annuity that pays a child a set…

Car Wrecks: Swoop and Settle Goes High Tech

One thing I’ve written on several times over the years is the insurance company tactic that we call “swoop and settle”. Using this tactic, insurance companies contact you shortly after a wreck and attempt to settle your claim before you know how badly you’re hurt and before you understand your rights. They do this because…

Large and small businesses throughout the country have been wondering if any of their insurance policies will cover any of the losses they are sustaining because of the Covid-19/Coronavirus outbreak. It’s impossible to give a general statement because whether there is coverge depends entirely upon the wording of your policy. Insurance companies, of course, don’t…

We have received some inquiries from people wanting to know what rights they have under various contracts in light of the Covid-19/Coronavirus pandemic. This isn’t an easy answer. Many contracts have a force majeure clause that specifically govern when an event outside the party’s control prevents a party from performing its contractual obligations. However, in…

Covid-19 is affecting everything, including your Austin car wreck claims. Last week, the Austin Police Department announced a change in policy that they wouldn’t be personally showing up for most car wreck calls. That’s probably a good call for officers’ health, but it certainly hurts your ability to bring your claims. What can you do…