What Are Common Catastrophic Injuries After Truck Accidents?

Semi-trucks are the largest and heaviest vehicles on the road. When semi-trucks crash into other vehicles, they may cause multiple fatalities. However, many people also survive truck accidents with catastrophic injuries. These are permanent injuries that make it impossible to maintain gainful employment. Catastrophic injuries after a truck accident may include:

• Traumatic brain injuries: Blunt force trauma from a collision can cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Survivors with TBIs may have multiple health problems that complicate their lives. For example, TBIs may cause aphasia, a condition that impairs a person’s ability to speak or understand language. TBIs can also cause problems with balance, cognition, memory, and behavior. In the most severe cases, TBIs may leave accident survivors in a vegetative state.

• Burn injuries: Truck accidents can also cause burns, which range in severity. Third-degree burns can destroy the deep layers of tissue and could cause disfigurement. The consequences of fourth-degree burns are even more severe.

• Amputations: Limbs may suffer severe trauma during a truck accident. In some cases, amputations may be medically necessary. Open wounds and severe burns could also become infected and require amputations.

• Spinal cord injuries: Blunt force trauma from a truck accident can damage the spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries may cause a partial or total loss of function below the injury site. Some individuals with these injuries may be unable to move one or more limbs. The severity and effects of spinal cord injuries vary.

The traumatic nature of surviving a truck accident may also lead to severe psychological issues. Truck accident survivors can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a debilitating mental health condition that may severely reduce the quality of life. PTSD symptoms include flashbacks, insomnia, panic attacks, and severe depression. Accident survivors with PTSD may become withdrawn and unable to provide for themselves or their families.

Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help Survivors with Catastrophic Injuries?

Catastrophic injuries are financially costly for truck accident survivors and their families. Some individuals with these injuries may require home modifications and rehabilitation services. They will lose their ability to provide income for themselves or their families. When injured motorists or their families file lawsuits after truck accidents, they may be able to secure damages from the responsible parties. Damages from a lawsuit could help pay for lost income, medical expenses, and other costs associated with a catastrophic injury. The Texas truck accident lawyers at Mike Love & Associates, LLC are experienced at litigating truck accident cases. We can discuss the details of your situation to help you determine whether you could bring a successful claim against a trucking company or other parties.

Beware of Dog: Not All Dogs are Man’s Best Friend

In 2014, KFC was accused of asking the family of a disfigured 3-year-old girl to leave the restaurant. Three months prior to this incident, the girl had been attacked by three Pit Bulls while visiting her grandfather. Although the girl survived the attack, she lost sight in one eye and can no longer move the right side of her face. Her parents described how she could no longer look at herself in the mirror and did not want to be seen in public. This story is an example of how dog attacks can leave victims physically and emotionally scarred.

Dog attacks are common in the US. According to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, 800,000 people in the US receive medical attention for dog bites each year. Statistics published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show that during 2015, more than 28,000 people in the US required reconstructive surgery after being attacked by dogs. Children are more likely to suffer severe injuries, such as disfigurement, after an attack. Even minor dog bites can cause severe health complications. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics published in 2015 show that there are an average of 4.5 million dog bites in the US each year. Roughly one in five of these bites becomes infected.

Although many of these bites result in minor infections, some bites transmit MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). MRSA infections are more challenging to treat because MRSA is resistant to antibiotics. Attacks can also be fatal. Some organizations, such as Dogbites.org, keep a running tally of the yearly deaths caused by dog attacks.

Are Owners Responsible for Dog Bites?

Dog owners may be liable for injuries or deaths caused by their pets. It would depend on the circumstances. In Texas, a dog owner may be liable for an attack if he or she knew the dog was dangerous and it attacked someone. For example, the owner may have been aware that the dog had a history of aggressive tendencies. The owner may also be liable if they do not properly restrain the dog and it attacks someone. In these cases, victims or their family members may be able to file lawsuits seeking damages. The breed of the dog is an important factor in determining damages in a dog bite lawsuit. Although there are certainly many Pit Bull fans in the US, these dogs are more physically capable of causing significant harm to a person than smaller dogs, such as a Pomeranian.If you or a loved one were attacked, then an attorney could help determine whether the owner is liable.

There are nuances to dog bite statutes in Texas, so it is important to discuss your situation with an experienced personal injury attorney. Damages from a dog bite lawsuit could help pay for medical bills, reconstructive surgery, or funeral expenses. Pain and suffering damages, also called non-economic damages, may be included in cases that involve disfigurement or psychological trauma. If a dog attacked you or a loved one, contact the Texas personal injury lawyers at Mike Love & Associates, LLC. We can investigate your eligibility for filing a lawsuit. Injured? Call us today.

What Are Six Common Auto Insurance Mistakes?

After a car accident, you may assume that your insurance company has your back and will provide the compensation that you or a loved one will need to recover. Unfortunately, this is often not the case because insurance companies are primarily concerned with making a profit. It is a common mistake to rely on insurance providers after a car crash blindly. However, other auto insurance mistakes include:

1. Lacking UM/UIM coverage: Uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage can help pay your medical bills and other crash-related expenses after being hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist. Without this coverage, you may not receive what you need to recover physically and financially from the crash.

2. Neglecting PIP coverage: Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage can help pay for medical and rehabilitation expenses after a crash. It can also help cover funeral costs and some lost income. In Texas, insurers are required to offer PIP coverage to policyholders. However, you can reject PIP coverage in writing. Insurance companies may promise you lower payments if you forgo this coverage. You should always ensure that your policy has PIP coverage.

3. Not knowing who is covered: You should know who is covered by your insurance policy. If you live in a family where multiple people use the same vehicle, you should see whether they are considered permissive drivers under your policy. This is just one example of why you should know who is covered.

4. Buying the bare minimum: In Texas, the minimum liability limit for an auto insurance policy is $30,000 for each injured person. You should never buy a policy with the bare minimum in coverage. Catastrophic injuries from car accidents, such as a spinal cord injury, could incur millions of dollars in expenses depending on the severity.

5. Using your vehicle for commercial purposes: Many insurance policies have a clause that prevents you from using your vehicle for commercial purposes. If you are using your vehicle for commercial purposes and get into a wreck, you may not be covered.

6. Choosing Med Pay over PIP Med Pay coverage has specific weaknesses that could cost you after an accident. If your policy has Med Pay coverage, then hospital bills would be covered after an accident. However, Med Pay does not cover lost income from your injuries or hospitalization. It is also subject to subrogation, meaning that whatever Med Pay covers could be taken out of your eventual settlement.

Can A Car Accident Attorney Help Me Avoid Auto Insurance Mistakes?

These are mistakes that you could be at risk of making with your own insurance provider. However, there are also mistakes that you could make after a car accident with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Talking with an insurance adjuster from the at-fault driver’s insurance provider could be a huge mistake. If an adjuster calls you after an accident, they will likely ask for your permission to record the call. Whatever you say to that adjuster could be used against you at a later date to reduce compensation from your settlement. You should hire an attorney after an accident to facilitate communication with insurance adjusters working for your and the at-fault driver’s providers. The attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC can also review the details of your insurance policy during a free consultation and could help protect your interests after a car accident. Call today to learn more about your policy.

Do I Need an Attorney After a Tractor-Trailer Accident?

Statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) show that more than 3,000 fatal truck accidents occur in the US each year. Even when these massive vehicles are driving at or below the posted speed limit, they can still cause widespread destruction in a crash. There are instances in which truck drivers or their employers may be held liable for a collision. In some cases, victims of these accidents or their family members may be unaware that they could file a claim against the responsible parties. If you are reading this blog because you or a loved one was recently harmed during a truck accident, then it is crucial to understand how an attorney can help your situation.

1. An attorney can investigate what happened. First, an attorney could investigate the merits of your claim to inform you of eligibility for filing a lawsuit. During the discovery phase of a lawsuit, an attorney will seek evidence from multiple sources. They may request internal documents from the company that employed the driver who caused your crash. In addition, they could also request data from the truck’s electronic control module (also called the black box). An attorney could help determine all of the parties who may be liable for your accident.

2. Trucking companies will fight your claim. Large trucking companies or equipment manufacturers may have access to powerful financial and legal resources. Filing a claim against a commercial trucking company does not guarantee you will receive the resources you need to recover from a catastrophic injury or loss. An attorney with experience handling truck accident cases has experience fighting these business interests.

3. An attorney can help with insurance adjusters. Adjusters from your and the trucking company’s insurance provider are likely to contact you after the accident. These individuals may play on your ignorance of the law and your desperation to ensure you receive as little as possible for your claim. An attorney can negotiate with insurance adjusters to help you receive the maximum amount from your claim.

Personal injury attorney Mike Love operated a commercial trucking business before opening his Lufkin personal injury law firm. Our attorneys not only have firsthand experience working in the trucking industry, but we also have experience helping victims of tractor-trailer accidents. Injured? Call our law firm for a free initial consultation with an experienced East Texas truck accident attorney who may explain your rights and possible legal options.

When Can You File a Lawsuit Against a Trucking Company?

Commercial truck companies must follow strict guidelines set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). As personal injury attorneys handling truck accident cases, we can tell you that trucking companies do not always follow these regulations. In some cases, companies are more concerned with making profits than ensuring public safety. Trucking company negligence is a primary cause of truck accidents. Examples of negligence may include:

• Negligent hiring and retention. Truck companies must maintain driver qualification files (also called DQ files) for their drivers. DQ files contain detailed information on drivers. These files may contain moving violations, medical certifications, annual review records, and drug test results. However, companies may neglect to maintain these files or knowingly allow unqualified employees to continue driving. Companies also hire unqualified drivers.

• Hours-of-service violations: rules place limits on how long commercial truck drivers can drive. The purpose of these rules is to prevent drowsy driving accidents. Truck companies must ensure their drivers comply with hours-of-service rules. However, some companies may encourage their drivers to violate these regulations. In other cases, they may turn a blind eye to hours-of-service violations.

• Poor maintenance practices. Semi-trucks are subject to regular wear and tear. Truck companies must inspect and perform necessary maintenance on these vehicles so they are safe to drive.

• Negligent training. Truck companies must train new hires. New employees should understand how to record hours of service in compliance with the requirements. They must know how to drive a vehicle carrying heavy loads and how to signal nearby drivers properly. Commercial truck drivers should know how to load and secure cargo.

• Improper loading: Cargo on semi-trucks must be loaded properly and tied down, or it can shift while the vehicle is moving. This could cause the driver to lose control and may lead to a rollover accident. Truck companies may also try to overload vehicles to boost profits. An overloaded truck takes longer to stop and will hit other objects with greater impact force. In addition, an overloaded truck can suffer damage that makes it unsafe to drive.

Injured in an 18-Wheeler Accident? Let Our East Texas Truck Accident Lawyers Help

Our truck accident attorneys have seen every trick in the book. Some companies skirt federal rules to make more money. Unfortunately, it is our friends, family members, and neighbors who could end up paying the price for these selfish actions. Negligent trucking companies can also be held responsible for damages caused to other motorists. If you or loved ones were harmed in a truck accident, then it is vital to act quickly by hiring an attorney. Companies may try to eliminate evidence of their negligence, such as by tampering with a vehicle’s electronic control module. This device may record a semi-truck's speed, driving time, and other information. If you believe a trucking company is responsible for your injuries or loss, then please call Mike Love & Associates, LLC to discuss possible legal options.