Law and Justice Day at Leadership Tomorrow Event

Student participants at Law and Justice Day with Dakoda Fandry

Dakota Fandry of Mike Love & Associates shares his knowledge in the legal profession with Angelina County students.

Leadership Tomorrow was developed for high school juniors and is hosted by the Lufkin Angelina Chamber of Commerce. The program mirrors the Leadership Lufkin program. Students in the program have the opportunity to learn about Angelina County firsthand, explore potential career opportunities in the field of law and justice, and give back to the community through community volunteer service. Attorney Dakota Fandry of Mike Love & Associates, LLC, has been in charge of the Law and Justice Day for the last 2 years. He creates the schedule, coordinates the speakers, and then spends the day with the students serving as their tour guide. Mike Love and Associates, LLC, provides lunch for the students and their leader.

Mike Love provides High School Scholarships

Mike Love & Associates, LLC, encourages East Texas high school students to continue their education. In 2016, Mike Love established a scholarship for students in Angelina County.  Students apply along with a personal essay, and then five students are chosen to receive a $1,000 scholarship. The money is intended to help with the initial expenses of the students as they start college. Congratulations to this year’s recipients: Jasmine Ayala, Madison Saenz, Michelle Castillo, and Macy Downing. Good luck with all your future endeavours. We are proud of you! We look forward to awarding another round of scholarships next year.

Macy Downing receives her scholarship.

Student receives her scholarship.

Michelle Castillo receives her scholarship.

Madison Saenz receives her scholarship.

Jasmine Ayala receives her scholarship.

Mike Love & Associates Sponsors Central Lady Bulldogs

The 2020 Central High School Lady Dog Softball team sponsored by Mike Love & Associates, LLC

The Central High School Lady Dog Softball team boasts a long tradition of excellence, having won numerous district, regional, and state titles. Currently, in 2020, the Lady Dogs are the top-ranked team in the region and are ranked in the top 5 in Texas Class 3A softball. Mike Love & Associates LLC is proud to be the first Grand Slam sponsor of the 2020 season. We expect great work from this exceptional group of young women. Watch for them on the field and off as they continue their educations at Central High School! We are proud of you and proud to be a part of your team.

What Is The Correct Way To Report A Car Accident In Texas?

Nobody wants to be involved in a car accident. Unfortunately, car accidents in Texas are not uncommon. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were more than 249,000 traffic crash injuries and 3,639 traffic crash fatalities that occurred during the latest reporting year across the state. Anybody involved in a car accident must understand the correct way to report the incident in the state.

Am I required to report the incident to the police?

It is highly recommended that you report every accident that occurs to the police, regardless of its severity. Under Texas law, drivers are required to report a car accident to the police if:

• The incident resulted in property damage exceeding $1,000

• Anyone has been injured in the incident

• Anyone was killed in the incident

A failure to report a car accident that involves any of the above thresholds can result in a fine of up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment. If you have any doubt about whether or not a car accident you have been in is reportable under the law, call the police so there will be an official record of the incident. The easiest way to do this is to dial 911 and inform the dispatcher of the accident's location and whether anyone is injured.

How will reporting the incident help you?

It is not uncommon for anybody involved in an accident to be in shock initially after the incident happens. Drivers and passengers may not be thinking clearly. It may be the case that the at-fault driver offers to pay out-of-pocket for any damages they caused to get you to not report the accident to the police or the insurance company. It may be tempting to accept this offer, especially if there is minimal damage and no visible injuries. However, accepting an offer like this and not making a report could result in significant consequences for you. It is essential to understand that many car wreck injuries are masked by the rush of adrenaline a person experiences in the immediate aftermath of the crash. The signs and symptoms of some injuries do not occur for hours or even days after the accident. If you have left the scene without making a report, only to realize later you are injured, complications can arise. Filing a car accident report several days later, after injuries appear, will raise questions about why you did not make a report when the accident happened. This will make it more difficult to prove that the accident was the cause of your injuries. Another reason to report an even seemingly minor accident is that property damage to a vehicle can be deceiving. What may look like a small dent in a bumper may actually be several thousand dollars’ worth of damage, particularly if the body of the car, the chassis, or other internal parts have been damaged. Having a police report will be invaluable when it comes to securing a settlement for injury or property damage expenses. The police officer will decide as to which party was at fault, and this information can be used by your insurance carrier or in a personal injury lawsuit. Be sure to ask the police officer at the scene how to obtain an official police report. Typically, these reports will be available a few weeks after the accident occurs.

Injured in an Accident With a Hit-and-Run Driver?

Any car accident can be a terrifying and confusing experience, and this is most certainly the case when a hit-and-run accident occurs. Unfortunately, hit-and-run accidents are relatively common in the United States and across Texas. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, there were more than 737,000 hit-and-run collisions in the United States during the latest reporting year. Fleeing the scene of a car accident in Texas is illegal. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a hit-and-run driver, there are several steps you can take to ensure your own well-being and help secure the compensation you deserve.

Steps to take after a hit-and-run accident

Take these steps if someone hits your vehicle and flees the scene:

1. Get to safety and call the police. It can be tempting to want to chase after a person who flees the scene of an accident. Do not do this. Pull your car to a safe location if you can, and call the police. Give the dispatcher any details about the vehicle and driver that fled, such as the car make and model, license plate number (even if you only remember part of it), what the driver looked like, the direction they drove, etc.

2. Determine whether there are any witnesses. If anyone is standing around or if any other vehicles are stopped, ask if anyone witnessed the crash. Get the name and contact information of any eyewitnesses.

3. Take photographs of the scene. If you have a camera (most smartphones do) and it is safe to do so, take pictures of the accident scene. This includes any vehicles involved, damages, any injuries, traffic conditions, weather conditions, and any debris scattered around the accident scene.

4. Call an experienced attorney. Most reputable car accident attorneys offer free initial consultations for your case. It does not hurt to speak with an attorney to determine whether or not they will be able to help you secure maximum compensation.

5. Report the incident to your insurance carrier. Insurance carriers require that you report any accident fairly soon after it occurs. When you make your initial report, all you have to do is let the insurance carrier know that an accident occurred and give them the information of the other driver’s insurance carrier. Avoid taking any fault for the incident and do not go into detail about your injuries during this initial report.

Will insurance cover the expenses for a hit-and-run accident?

One of the main concerns of those involved in a hit-and-run accident is securing compensation for their medical bills and property damage. This can be complicated, especially if the police fail to catch the hit-and-run driver or if they are uninsured. You should check your policy to ensure that you have uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage and uninsured motorist property damage coverage. However, neither type of uninsured motorist coverage is required for drivers in Texas. If you do have uninsured motorist coverage, your medical bills and property damage will be covered up to your policy limits. You must speak to a qualified East Texas car accident attorney who can help you sort through all the routes available for you to pursue compensation.