Helpful Tips

IF YOU ARE HURT IN A CAR ACCIDENT, DON'T TRUST THE INSURANCE COMPANIES. CALL US FOR ADVICE. 

• Call 911
• Get witness names and phone numbers if you can
• Don't admit fault
• Take pictures of the crash scene and the damage to the cars involved in the crash
• If you are hurt, tell the police and ask for an ambulance
• If you are hurt but really don't think you need an ambulance, don't wait, go to the ER and make sure you report all of your injuries
• If your insurance company or the other driver's insurance company calls you, stop and call us for help
• Never give a recorded statement to anyone without a lawyer
• If you tell an insurance company that you are represented by an attorney, they cannot continue talking to you without talking to your attorney first

After a crash, the insurance companies will call you to try to get you to say things that will be used against you later on. Don't try to handle your injury claim on your own. Call us for help and a free consultation.

What to do if your car is damaged or totaled in a crash...

• Take pictures of the damage
• Let us talk to the insurance company first for you...it doesn't matter if its your insurance company or the insurance company for person who caused the crash
• After we talk to the insurance company we will give them the ok to talk to you directly about getting your vehicle repaired or replaced
• Don't talk to the insurance company about how the accident happened or about your injuries, we can do that for you
• Only talk to the insurance company about repairing the damage to your vehicle or paying you for the value of your totaled vehicle
• You may have a claim for the loss of the value of your vehicle
• It may be quicker to get your vehicle repaired or replaced through your own insurance company if you are willing to pay the deductible
• If you want the other insurance company to pay for the repairs or replacement of your car, it may take a little longer because they will want to investigate the accident by ordering the police report, talking to their insured driver or any witnesses
• If you paid a deductible and your insurance pays for the damage to your car but the crash is determined to be the other person's fault, your insurance company will get reimbursed by the other person's insurance company and you will get your deductible back.
• If your car is totaled, the insurance company will offer you what they think was the fair market value of the car right before the crash...you can check out edmunds.com or autotrader.com to figure out what your car was worth....Never Take the First Offer 
• If your car is totaled and you have a loan on your car, the insurance company will pay the loan off first and pay you the difference

If you need help because your car was damaged or totaled in a crash, call us for a free consultation

PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS IF YOU ARE HURT AT WORK

• Your employer is obligated to give you 3 basic benefits when you are hurt on the job:

1. Medical treatment (but you have to request it)
2. Pay while you are off of work (this is usually 66% of your average weekly wage)
3. Payment for a percentage of permanent disability to the body part that was injured (assessed after you are finished with medical care)

• If you are hurt at work, make sure you report the injury to your boss or supervisor
• Make sure your job files a report of injury
• Don't wait to request medical treatment...know that you have a right to medical care through your employer

Remember, if you are hurt at work, your employer has an insurance company and lawyers whose job is to pay you as little money as possible and close your case.

Don't go it alone...make sure you get all the benefits under the law and call us for free

IF YOU ARE HURT ON SOMEONE ELSE'S PROPERTY GET WITNESS NAMES AND TAKE PICTURES

• Property owners have a duty to make sure their property is safe from dangerous conditions
• If at a place of business like a store, report the injury to an employee, manager or supervisor and take pictures of the dangerous condition
• If at a residential property, take pictures of the dangerous condition, call the police and get the property owner's name
• If you can, get witness names and phone numbers
• Get medical care right way, request an ambulance if necessary
• When you get medical care, make sure you tell the doctors how you got hurt
• Don't sign anything
• Call us for legal advice
• Do not admit fault or accept blame
• After the emergency room, follow up with a doctor (we can help you find a doctor in the area that works best for you)
• If an insurance company calls you, never give them a recorded statement...remember, their job is to pay you as little money as possible so they can close your claim

If you are injured on someone else's property, don't try to fight the insurance companies alone. Call for help and a free consultation.