The Baez Law Firm | San Antonio Lawyers and Attorneys

The Baez Law Firm | San Antonio Lawyers and Attorneys
San Antonio Lawyers and Attorneys
Showing posts with label Accident. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Accident. Show all posts

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Let us handle your injury case

We are San Antonio Lawyers that handle your injury case. Our lawyers have litigated injury cases in Texas with great results for our clients. Do not do your case alone, let our experienced lawyers handle your injury case. You do not pay us, unless we win your case, it's that simple.

Insurance companies do not want you to contact us because we obtain settlements for our clients far greater than what they want to pay. In fact, they will contact you before you can contact us, in order to minimize their exposure. That is a common practice in the insurance industry, and one that does not help you, the injured party.

Do not trust the insurance companies when they tell you: "you are in good hands, we are always there, been local counts..." and many more slogans created by them. The fact is simple, they are there to make money, not to take care of you.

If you are a victim of an accident that left you with broken bones, lacerations, bruises, cuts, bleeding, fractures, or any injury, please contact us first. We can protect your case and ensure that you are taken care of properly.

Come see us, and you will know the difference from the moment that you walk through our doors. Your consultation is free. You have nothing to loose, and everything to gain. Give us a call today!

Monday, March 23, 2009

What is going on with the SAPD driving training?

As I am watching the news, I decided to write this blog since apparently, there is a problem with police offices having multiple accidents in San Antonio.

Car accidents are causing thousands of dollars, not only by regular citizens, but also by the San Antonio Police Department. The Department says that 90% of the accidents occurred when officers were only doing regular patrols.

Some officers have more than others; however, many of the one that have accidents, are the same ones that are having many of them. Based on the Department's policy, they are not supposed to speed when on police patrol.

New training for the department is been implemented, but 75% of the time that an officer is involved in an accident, they only get written or verbal warning. Only in 15% of them time, they will get remedial training.

The department admits that car accidents kill more officers than felonies or any other crimes. What are the citizens of San Antonio to do, perhaps required that the officers follow the same laws that all of us have to.

If you have been injured by a police car, please contact us. We are The Baez Law Firm, P.C and we are here because we care about your legal needs. The Baez Law Firm handles car accidents, family law, business law, criminal law, appeals, bankruptcy and estate planning.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Insurance companies not paying?

If you are like me, that deals with insurance companies all the time, you will know that insurance companies are not paying on their liability like they used to. Why is that? Maybe the economy is affecting them just like any other area of the market.

Although policy holders ultimately are the ones that will pay the increase in premiums, insurance companies nevertheless are not paying on accidents as much and as fast as they used to. What used to take our law firm one month to settle it's taking over six months in today's economy.

Unfortunately, the people affected by the accidents are the ones who suffer, while the shareholders of the insurance companies are getting richer. That is our free enterprise system, the rich get richer and the injured gets caps on damages.

If you have been injured in an accident, please contact our law firm. We are trained on handling insurance companies to get you the maximum amount for your claim.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Have a personal injury claim?

Insurance companies are well known for trying to minimize your personal injury claims. As we see it,there are no auto, trucking or motorcycle accidents. There are wrecks and crashes resulting from bad judgments, careless mistakes and—in some case—intentional violations of the law. For every collision, there is a party who is at fault and a party who has been injured or killed.

On the other hand, a life-changing injury or a loved one's wrongful death can turn your world upside down in an instant. The insurance company is not concern that you and your family have a lot to deal with: pain, grief, confusion; and many details involving insurance, property damage and an uncertain future. That is why you should have a law firm able to handle them, so you can get back to your normal life.

The most common type of personal injury claims are road traffic accidents, accidents at work, tripping accidents, assault claims, accidents in the home, defective product accidents and holiday accidents. We can help you with all of them.

It can be tough to set a dollar amount on injuries you suffer in an accident. There are so many things to consider: doctor's bills, time lost from work, medical costs for ongoing injuries, pain and suffering, and so on. Insurance companies consider all of these factors when deciding how much to offer, and ultimately pay, for a personal injury claim.

The Baez Law Firm, P.C. is a general practice law firm that is ready to help you during difficult times. We handle accidents, criminal law, personal injury, family law, business law, consumer law, litigation, and appeals.

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Medical bills are higher than the policy limits

Recently, we were asked about instances where the medical bill surpasses the offer or even the policy limits that applied to the person responsible for the accident. There are ways that a plaintiff can get above policy limits but it involves litigation.

The term full coverage generally means that the insurance policy has both liability coverage and coverage for damage to your vehicle. The term full coverage does not mean that everything is covered no matter what happens.

You should carry as much liability coverage as you can comfortably afford because damage claims today are sometimes settled for millions.

According to the insurance industry, State minimums don't come close to covering the cost of a serious accident. You should carry bodily-injury coverage of at least $100,000 per person, and $300,000 per accident, and property-damage coverage of $50,000, or a minimum of $300,000 on a single-limit policy.

If you have any questions, please contact us for a free initial consultation with one of our lawyers. Or visit our website.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

The ecomony and your personal injury claim

According to the experts, in the last 12 months, the face of the global economy has forever changed. Gone forever are investment banks, the secondary credit market, and an unregulated financial market.

In its place are government ownership of banks, while central banks around the world are propping up the banking system. In September, we came very close to total economic collapse, and we haven't recovered yet.

However, all data seem to point that the insurance companies are thriving during this difficult economic times. Nevertheless, to maximize their bottom line, which is to make money, insurance companies will play on the tough economic times to try to settle claims for pennies on the dollars, which would otherwise be worth something for the injured person.

You need a team of experts on your side, ready to face tough insurance companies that are ready to downgrade your claim. Do not let this economy affect the outcome of your case.

We are personal injury lawyers that handle auto accidents, personal injury, nursing home negligence,premises liability, slip and fall,car wreck,medical malpractice, wrongful death, and other areas of law.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Wrongful Death actions in Texas

A wrongful death has occurred when a person is killed due to the negligence or other liability of a person or entity. Surviving beneficiaries and dependents are entitled to monetary damages in instances of wrongful death.

The Texas Legislature in 1860 enacted the original Texas Wrongful Death Statute. The Wrongful Death Act has been amended, codified and recodified over the years and is now Chapter 71 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.

The Act provides the exclusive remedy for wrongful death in Texas, compensating the decedent's spouse, parents, and children for the losses they sustained as a result of the decedent's injury and death. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §71.004(a).

A wrongful death action is separate and distinct from a survival action, where the individual's cause of action for injury to his health, reputation or person survives in favor of his heirs, legal representative, and estate. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §71.021.

"A person is liable for damages arising from an injury that causes an individual's death if the injury was caused by the person's or agent's or servant's wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, unskillfulness or default." Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §71.002(b).

Suit may be brought under the Act "only if the individual injured would have been entitled to bring an action for the injury if he had lived." Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §71.003(a). Under Texas law, plaintiffs bringing a wrongful death action are in the procedural shoes of the victim, and the defenses to victim's personal injury action are defenses to plaintiff's wrongful death claim.

The wrongful death action is subject to all the conditions to which decedent's action would have been subject had he or she only been injured.

If a defendant to a wrongful death action dies while the suit is pending, or if an individual against whom an action could be instituted dies before the suit is filed, the individual's executor or administrator may be named as defendant in his place. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §71.008(a).

The surviving spouse, children and parents may bring the suit. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §71.004(b). If named beneficiaries do not bring an action within three (3) months of the death of the injured party, the executor or administrator of the estate shall bring the action on behalf of the beneficiaries unless instructed not to do so by all the beneficiaries. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §71.004(c).

A wrongful death cause of action accrues at death, if it exists at all, 2 years from death.

The two-year statute of limitations is absolute from the date of death. The so-called "discovery rule" does not apply in wrongful death and survival actions.

If you have a wrongful death action, please contact our attorneys. We can help you settle the case against the wrong doers. Visit our website www.thebaezlawfirm.com or www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com because "We care about your legal need."

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Auto accident and its injuries

Brain injuries are more common in side impact car accidents than in rear end auto accidents. Brain damage in a car accident is often related to the quick acceleration and deceleration of the brain, which causes injury to the point of impact and its opposite point or cont recoup. Diagnosis of a brain injury may be difficult. The Baez Law Firm, P.C. handle brain injury cases as a result of a car accident and all types of personal injury cases.

Concussions are associated with traumatic brain injury as are seizures, headaches, dizziness, lack of concentration, memory loss, depression or anxiety, spinal cord injury. CT scans and MRI scans are often used to diagnosis brain injury. Neck injuries vary from whiplash, one of the most common and annoying injuries caused by car accidents, to disk injuries. Our doctors will treat you promptly and efficiently with the most up to date technology.

Whiplash is an injury frequently associated with rear end impacts. Whiplash injures the soft tissues made up of nerves, ligaments and muscles. It causes neck pain and limitation of neck and head movement effecting rotation and peripheral vision. It may be temporary or permanent and can effect all aspects of life. If whiplash lasts for more than a few days after a car accident physicians will prescribe medications and often refer patients to physical therapists or chiropractors for rehabilitative therapy.

Our focused practice allows the firm to advocate in its clients’ best interests and attempt to win them the money they deserve through settlement or litigation. The Baez Law Firm, P.C. has obtained millions of dollars in results over the years. Now, prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and cost and disbursements remain the client’s responsibility. We are ready to help.

The Baez Law Firm, P.C. is so committed to its Texas auto accident law practice that most all of its cases are accepted on a contingent fee basis, which means that there are no attorney’s fees unless you get a recovery! If you cannot come to one of the Baez Law Firm's case intake locations, we can come to you at your home or hospital!

The Baez Law Firm, P.C. focuses on car accidents and crashes, resulting in injuries, and wrongful death. The Baez Law Firm, P.C. handles Texas auto accident and car crashes that involve motorcycle accident, truck accident, bicycle accident, and pedestrian accident cases across the state of Texas. If you’ve been hurt in a car, call The Baez Law Firm, P.C.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Insurance law and terminology for the state of Texas

In the state of Texas, the law mandates minimum automobile liability insurance coverage for automobiles registered in the state. This includes property damages and personal injury coverage, which we will now discuss. Depending on the terms of the individual policy, liability insurance typically covers the cost of property damage, including the cost of repair or replacement for any property damaged as the result of an accident (property damage). Liability insurance also pays medical bills and lost wages as a result of bodily injuries incurred in an accident (personal injury).

Texas law requires that each car registered in the state have a minimum of $20,000 in insurance coverage for one person injured in an accident, and a minimum of $40,000 for all persons injured in an accident. These are considered (policy limits). In addition, Texas requires a minimum $15,000 in coverage for property damage.

Conversely, Texas law does not mandates coverage of policies, when you are involved in an accident with an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver. The rationale is that every car, according to the law, should have its own coverage, hence, why have it. Such coverage typically pays medical bills and lost wages for you and your passengers, in a case where you cannot collect these damages from the driver at fault for the accident, and we highly encourage each consumer to get it.

Insurance companies are allowed to offer Texas drivers a choice between purchasing auto insurance for the traditional fixed installment at an annual rate, and the more innovative cents-per-mile rate. On the other hand, under the traditional system a car owner purchases insurance at an annual rate irrespective of the frequency with which the owner uses the car, under the cent-per-mile system, an owner pays for coverage only for those miles driven. Consult with your insurance company to see what type they offer to you.

Texas designed this system to make compulsory insurance more affordable, thereby reducing the incidence of illegally uninsured motorist. A cents-per-mile rate works in this way: An insurance company assigns your car to one of its rate groups according to your zip code, car use and type, driver type, and other information about your household. Your car might be put into a group paying $500 a year.

When the insurance company determins that the average miles a year for cars in your group was 10,000, the alternative mile rate for your group would be 5.0 cents a mile. If you chose the mile rate instead of the annual rate, you might initially buy 2,500 miles for $100 (= 5.0¢/mi. x 2,500 mi.) plus a nominal expense fee. The insurer would add these miles to your car's current odometer reading to determine the mileage at which coverage would end. Before you drive all these miles, you would have to buy more miles to remain legally insured.

The insurer may wish to purchase additional insurance coverage beyond compulsory insurance. In many cases, the owner of an automobile, may be held personally liable for any damages in excess of the insurance coverage. Purchasing additional coverage could protect your personal assets in case of a suit.

The following are the basic terminology used by insurance companies used when dealing with aditional insurance coverage. Basic Reparations or Medical Payments Coverage, Collision Coverage, and Comprehensive Coverage. Basic Reparations Coverage covers bodily injury and medical expenses of an at-fault driver who does not have medical insurance. Collision coverage pays for damages incurred by the at-fault driver in accidents involving collision. Finally, Comprehensive Coverage pays for damage to a vehicle not caused by collision, including damages caused by theft, vandalism, flood, fire, and explosion.

If you have been injured as a result of an accident, please contact our firm so that we can explain to you your legal rights. We specialize in any type of accident, including but not limited to auto, truck, airplane, boat, motorcycle, car, bus, rollovers, roof crush injuries, death, brain injury, multiple trauma, broken bones, fatal injuries and more. Please call us (210) 979-9777 or visit our website http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com or http://www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com so that we can set you up a free initial consultation with our attorneys. We are The Baez Law Firm, and "we care about your legal needs!"

Saturday, October 25, 2008

What is a personal injury case, and how we handle them?

Normally, personal injury cases are legal disputes that arise when one person suffers harm from an accident or injury, and someone else might be legally responsible for that harm. However, in Texas, the term "comparative negligence" or shared responsibility can be an issue to be resolved during a case, that may determine whether you have a personal injury case. There are two ways that personal injury cases can become handled; first, through civil court proceedings (or lawsuits) that seek to find others legally at fault through a court judgment or; second, such disputes may be resolved through informal settlement (or negotiations) before any lawsuit is filled. In Texas, the latter is the most common way of handling a personal injury case.

Lawsuits, in a personal injury case, typically start when a private individual (the plaintiff) files a civil complaint against another person, business, corporation, or government agency (the defendant), alleging that they acted carelessly or irresponsibly in connection with an accident or injury that caused harm. This action is commonly known as "the filing of a lawsuit."

Negotiations are usually among those personally involved in the accident, their insurers, and attorneys representing both sides. A settlement commonly takes the form of negotiation, followed by a written agreement in which both sides forgo any further action (such as a lawsuit), choosing instead to resolve the matter through payment of an agreeable amount of money and a release of liability.

Usually, personal injury cases involve some type of injury as well as property damage. Our law firm handles both aspect of your case. The personal injury aspect of it, may show in different forms. From neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, leg pain, spasms, contusions, pinch nerves, whiplash, and soft tissue injury, to broken bones, broken neck, amputations, lacerations, eye injury, multiple fractures, impaled objects, roof crush injuries, tire blowouts, car ejections, brain injury, severe trauma, and death.

If you have been a victim of an accident, and have a personal injury case, please contact The Baez Law Firm, P.C. so that an experienced attorney can handle your case . Visit our website http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com/ or http://www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com so that we can start helping you on your case. Our principal office is located in San Antonio Texas, but we can handle your case anywhere in Texas.

It is important to know that before you meet with our attorneys for the first time after you've been injured, collect any documents you have relating to your accident and injury and place them in a folder or large envelope. Here's a list of some of the documents and other pertinent information to take with you to our lawyers, if applicable to your case.

Name and address of any ambulance service you may have used;

Name and address of any emergency room where you were initially taken;

Dates you were admitted to the emergency room and the hospital;

Names and business address of all doctors who have examined you;

Names and addresses of any chiropractors you may have consulted;

Names of all people who were involved in the accident;

Names and addresses of witnesses to the accident;

Dates you missed work because of the accident;

Name and telephone number of each insurance adjuster you have talked to;

List of people you have talked to about the accident or your injuries.

The following documents will help our attorneys handle your case better:

Accident report, or case number as given to you by the police;

Copies of any written statements;

Your automobile insurance policy if you were injured in a car accident along with the declarations page or coverage certificate that sets forth what kinds of coverage you have purchased and what the policy limits are;

Your home owner's or renter's policy, along with the declarations page or coverage certificate;

Medical or disability insurance policy or coverage certificate;

Other policies, including medical, hospitalization, veterans insurance;

All correspondence you have received from any insurer about the accident or your injuries;

Medical bills.

Again, our law firm is willing and able to help your case come to an end, either through litigation (lawsuit) or by negotiations. Let a team of experts handle your case, so that you can focus on doing what you do best. Contact us, and you will see how we put our knowledge to work for your advantage. Call our main office
(210) 979-9777 or visit our website. You will see why we say, "we care about your legal needs!"

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Truck Accidents

Truck accident litigation involves claims against negligent truck drivers and the trucking companies who hire them. Under Federal law as well as Texas law, a driver of a large truck is considered to have an even greater standard of care than other drivers, because of the injuries that their large trucks can cause. Truck drivers break federal laws by driving while fatigued, in excess of the amount of hours they are allowed to drive, at an excessive speed, with overloaded or over sized trucks, and improperly maintained trucks.

Collisions caused by a truck’s failure, faulty inspection and maintenance, or a truck driver’s negligence, can lead to catastrophic injuries.When you put something that heavy on our roads at speeds topping 60 miles an hour, you get a potentially very dangerous situation, with a massive motor vehicle that can run over almost anything in its path. If you add the growing problem of driver fatigue and truck drivers’ being under constant pressure to move cargo – there can be deadly consequences.

Today, with the ever-changing advancements in technology, there is a lot we can learn from analyzing every detailed involved in an accident. Our attorneys and experts use the following information tools to properly help our client's case, truck maintenance records, driving records, driving log books, driver employee records, drug test results, on board computer (black box) data, Department of Transportation data.

Once our investigation of the trucking accident is complete, we head into settlement negotiations or to trial with evidence on our side. Our attorneys know how to prepare and win cases. Our truck accident lawyers work on a contingent fee basis, which means that there is never a fee that you have to pay unless we successfully resolve your truck accident case.

To recover the cost of medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma, truck accident victims should contact an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Our lawyers swiftly consult experts such as accident reconstruction experts to gather facts and begin a thorough and far-reaching investigation. Our truck accident attorneys speak with and take depositions from eye-witnesses and company employees.

If you, or some one you know have been injured by a truck accident, please contact The Báez Law Firm, P.C at (210) 979-9777 or visit our websites: http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com http://www.baezlaw.com http://www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com or http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com/car_and_truck_accident_victims.html for a free initial consultation about your case. That is why we say "We care about your legal needs."

Friday, July 11, 2008

Insurance companies delaying tactics, who benefits?

Even before the Mckinsey documents were ever discovered by Plaintiff’s attorneys, insurance companies have been attempting to capitalize on the fact that–most personal injury lawyers–depend on the quick settlement of cases, in order to continue doing business. Moreover, client’s impatience sometimes may aggravate the situation. Insurance companies, knowing this facts, are notorious in stalling for time, in order to maximize their shareholder’s profit, and not necessarily their client’s (insured person) liability exposure.

This is particularly true for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Un-Insured Motorist claims (UM), or most commonly known as no fault claims. Because of the aforementioned practice by insurance companies, many major insurance companies in the United States could be violating the bath faith dealings with their clients. In essence, the same tactics encompassed on the Mckinsey documents.

The Mckinsey documents turned the insurance industry upside down. They're from a business consultant hired by Allstate to boost profits. The consultant suggested a new business model that critics say is now widely used to shortchange accident victims who file a claim. For instance, Allstate has changed their "good hands" to "boxing gloves" attitude. This is only in relation to paying on claims, not with their presentation to the public at large.

In the past, Insurance companies used to focus on making money by selling more policies. But McKinsey offered a way to boost the bottom line without selling more policies or raising premiums. Resent studies revealed that claims payments in general have been dropping industry-wide. Many insurers say they're not being dishonest, they're reducing fraud, which they say was once widespread. But experts say many insurance companies are feeling the competitive pressure to keep premiums down, and this is one way to do that and still make money. Like they need to make even more money!

In the end, who benefits by the tactics used by insurance companies? Insurance companies. Consumers like you and I are left sometimes to fend for ourselves because let’s face it, if the case is not worth fighting for, who is going to take on the Big Insurance Company?
Do you have a claim against an insurance company? If you do, and you are not represented by a lawyers, please contact The Baez Law Firm, P.C. We care about your legal needs, and we can guide you during this difficult time in your life. Please call us (210) 979-9777 or visit our website: http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com or http://www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Serious injuries required serious personal injury law firm

We have been telling our clients that insurance companies are obligated to produce financial gain for their stockholders. That means their bottom line—note you—are their priority. Many changes in the insurance industry have lead to minimal recovery from injuries caused by negligence. However, that is not how it should be.

At The Baez Law Firm, P.C. your case is our number one priority. The reason you need to choose The Baez Law Firm, is that we take the time to really listen to you. We’ve helped individuals and the injured, and we have a deep understanding of what you may be facing.

Remember that a team of experienced experts at The Baez Law Firm, P.C. is here to assist you. Using state of the art techniques in damage assessment and computer generated accident reconstruction, The Baez Law Firm is well-known for obtaining substantial rewards in personal injury cases.

Trucking accidents, multiple collisions, brain injury, wrongful death, motorcycle accidents are some of the many fatal injuries and catastrophes that we handle. Isn’t it nice to know that you have chosen to work with a firm that’s experienced in negotiating with insurance companies? The Baez Law Firm does have your best interest at heart, and we’re working for you only.

While we negotiate your case, your injuries will be handled by qualify physicians that will insure your prompt recovery and will work hard to bring you back where you were before your accident or injury.

So, if you have been injured by an accident, or some one's negligence, please contact The Baez Law Firm, P.C. You can call us at (210) 979-9777 or visit us at our websites:
http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com http://www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com http://www.baezlaw.com to set up a free initial consultation with our lawyers.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Seriously injured car and truck accident victims

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that "every 10 seconds someone in the United States is involved in a car or truck accident." Every year, millions of people are injured in motor vehicle accidents. Conversely, motor vehicle accidents, according to a study, are the leading cause of injury in the United States for people ages 1-34. A high percentage of traffic crashes and deaths involve trucks.

Both Federal and state regulations govern trucking industries. Because of their size, crashes involving trucks are more likely to result in serious injury and death than are car crashes. Unfortunately, some of those injured in a truck crash will die. On the other hand, trucks are more likely to be involved in multiple-vehicle crashes than are passenger cars, which may create questions on liability.

It is important to know that trucking companies are required to keep records of safety equipment and driver hours and it will be necessary to find and research such records. Poor equipment and driver fatigue can be causes of such crashes, and a careful study of the trucking company records may be needed to determine if negligence has occurred.

With an ever increasing number of vehicles on the road, motor vehicle accidents still occur with alarming frequency. Factors such as alcohol may aggravate the situation. However, many states have passed tougher drunk driving laws. As a result, many lives may have been spared.
Our law firm is dedicated to representing seriously injured car and truck accident victims in the San Antonio and Bexar County area, whether the accident was caused by some one’s negligence or a product defect such as defective manufacturing or factory defective design.

If you have been seriously injured by a car or truck accident, please contact The Baez Law Firm, P.C. We are San Antonio personal injury law firm that will handle your case with respect and dignity. Please contact us (210) 979-9777 or visit our website at: http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com or http://www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com

Friday, June 20, 2008

How the economy is affecting your ability to recover for your injuries

The gas crisis, the bad economy and other factors, are playing an important part of your injury settlement with the insurance companies. Years ago, when insurance companies offered their clients Personal Injury Protection (PIP) most of them would pay their clients if they ever got involved in an accident, if they had PIP coverage. That is no longer the case. Some insurance companies now have independent third party auditors that would, in most cases, challenge the validity of medical bills, and wage losses of the clients. Therefore minimizing the recovery of your claim.

This is particularly true for major insurance companies. As businesses, insurance companies, just like any others, must keep up with the reality of inflation, economy and "the bottom line." Gas prices must be one of the reasons why, insurance companies now must try to keep most of the profits for themselves, and not pay on no-fault insurance claims, such as PIP.

PIP coverage varies depending on the State and policy. In most cases, the PIP could range from $2,500 to $10,000, depending on the type of coverage. Once an insured is injured in an accident, if they have PIP coverage, it should cover most of the medical bills and the loss wages, assuming that the insurance company pays the full policy. This is independent on who is at fault. That is why is called, no-fault insurance.

Very few insurance companies are paying on their PIP policies the full price. They would question every aspect of a bill, in order to keep more profits. Good hands policy has now become boxing gloves policy, even for no-fault insurance claims. The key operative word is "reasonableness" of the medical bills.

One of the major insurance companies that is doing this drastic change in policy is USAA. They have opted to send every PIP claim to independent, or so they say, third party auditors that would evaluate every claim. The auditors would in tern, dictate the price of the medical services offered, price the reasonableness of the services provided, and advise the insurance on how much to pay on the claim. All of this again, in order to keep more profits. It must be that the economy is affecting them as well.

If you have been in a car accident, truck accident, fatal accident, major collision, roll over, SUV roll over, motorcycle accident, car wreck, serious injury, death from an accident, broken bones, or any other injury in San Antonio, please contact our law firm. We are San Antonio personal injury lawyers, law firm, and attorneys that specialize in all aspects of personal injury for our clients. We have experienced attorneys that would handle your case with respect and dignity. That is why our motto is "we care about your legal needs!"

Visit our website: http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com/ or http://www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com/

Thursday, March 20, 2008

What is Personal Injury Protection (PIP)?

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is an extension of car insurance available in Texas, which covers medical expenses and, in some cases, lost wages and other damages. PIP pays off regardless of who is at fault and is mandatory in some states, especially those with no-fault laws. PIP coverage may vary from state to state.

PIP can cover within the specified limits, the medical, hospital and funeral expenses of the insured, others in his vehicles and pedestrians struck by him. The basic coverage for the insured's own injuries on a first-party basis, without regard to fault. It is only available in certain states.

Personal injury protection insurance is an option that you can purchase when you buy automobile insurance. PIP pays for your medical expenses and your lost wages when you’re in a car accident or wreck. PIP has two important features. First, there is no subrogation interest; unlike health insurance, if you submit bills to your PIP carrier, you do not have to reimburse the PIP carrier for amounts paid when you receive a verdict or settlement that includes the same bills. And second, you can submit bills to your PIP carrier even if the bills have been paid by your health insurance.

If you have been injured in an accident, we can help. The Báez Law Firm, P.C. is here to protect your legal needs. Call us at (210) 979-9777 or visit our websited http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com or http://www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com for a free initial consultation. We care about your legal needs.


Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Roof Crush Injury

Roof crush injury risks are higher in vehicles with a greater propensity to roll over. Because they are taller and narrower, SUVs, or sports utility vehicles, are three times more likely to roll over in an accident than are other passenger cars. In 1973, the government passed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 216, creating a standard roof strength test to measure the integrity of roof structure in motor vehicles. This test was to apply to motor vehicles weighing six thousand pounds or less. Many SUVs weigh more than this, and are therefore exempt from compulsory safety standards that may be crucial to preventing roof crush injury. In light of SUV roof crush injury risks, consumer advocacy groups have urged the federal government to modify standards so that they include any vehicle weighing ten thousand pounds or less.

Roof pillars appear strong to the average consumer, but most of them consist of just sheet metal that is hollow on the inside at the cross sections. When an accident occurs involving roof structures with a filled inner space, the outcome has been shown to be safer due to a lesser amount of roof crush. Pillars filled with high-density foam can reduce the severity of a roof crush significantly, saving lives and reducing serious injuries. Overall, federal safety standards fail to provide roof strength requirements that adequately protect people from suffering roof crush injury in a rollover automobile accident. Despite federal standards, many vehicle roofs will easily crush a foot or more during a rollover accident. More stringent testing standards and minimum industry safety standards must be employed if the government hopes to adequately protect people from sustaining serious roof crush injury in automobile accidents.

The sport utility vehicle (SUV) has the highest rate of death in rollover accidents. According to government tests, SUV rollovers are almost three times more likely to occur than in the average passenger car, and the most stable SUV is still more unstable than the most unstable car. In 2002, nearly 11,000 people died in rollover accidents, 61 percent of which occurred in SUVs. With the number of people killed in SUV rollovers increasing by 14 percent per year, consumers should be aware of the risks SUVs pose to their families. Even more alarming than the rising rollover statistics is the withholding of rollover information by the government and auto manufacturers.

Though the number of SUV rollover fatalities continues to escalate, but SUVs are not being manufactured to better resist rollover crashes. Not a single SUV earned the federal agency's highest safety rating, according to an NHTSA report in the past. However, SUV consumption has increased: SUV popularity created a large increase in sales in the 1990s, and because of high consumer demand for these cars, car makers continue to manufacture SUVs. Because the vehicle has changed from simply being an off-road vehicle to a replacement for the family station wagon, manufacturers removed the roll bar that protects drivers and passengers in a rollover situation from SUVs. Many SUV rollover accidents occur because of the unusual propensity the large car has to roll over when steered hard in foreseeable accident avoidance maneuvers. Also, the size and height of an SUV may increase the danger of rollovers. SUV defects, like weak roofs and safety restraint system failures, are some of the heightened risks involved in an SUV rollover situation.

Roof crush injury is most often the result of rollover automobile accidents. Roof crush injuries kill 10,000 people every year. Vehicle design is supposed to depend on a structural support system that creates a "survival space" that protects car occupants in a crash from injury due to roof crush. When a vehicle does not have the proper roof pillar strength, it will cause the roof to cave into the passenger compartment during an accident. A weak roof makes a vehicle defective, and roof crushes can cause serious and fatal injuries, including disabling brain and spinal injuries.

Safe roof structure designs have been documented from as early as the 1930s. Vehicles with the safety features mentioned above would reduce the number of roof crush accidents. Despite the availability of safer designs and structures, manufacturers claim it is the force of the impact that leads to injuries and death, notwithstanding the fact that the relationship between rollover crashes and injuries from roof crush was observed and noted as early as 1932. Safe roofs are equipped with strong roof pillars and full-length closed sections, windshield headers and side sections, internal baffle plates, strong tubular cross-members, and reinforcing gussets at the connections. Some use rigid foam within the tubular cross-members to help strengthen the structure. These different safety precautions can significantly minimize the fatal results of roof crush.

Though rollover accidents are regarded as highly survivable events, the integrity of a vehicle's roof structure during impact is crucial. Windshield reinforcement is a critical component of vehicle design: when a windshield is destroyed in the course of an accident, the strength of the roof is instantly reduced by 33 percent. As a result, roof crush injuries are often extremely serious. Common roof crush injuries include neck fractures and other spinal injuries. Sometimes a brain injury may result from the roof crushing in on the vehicle occupant. These head and neck injuries can also cause paraplegia, quadriplegia, or other life-altering conditions.

If you have suffered injury due to a roof crush car crash, you may be eligible for monetary compensation due to faulty automobile design. The Baez Law Firm, P.C. is here to help. Contact us at (210) 979-9777 or visit our websites: http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com or http://www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com for a free confidential consultation with an experienced attorney. We care about your legal needs!

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Slip and Fall cases

In our opinion, the slip and fall era of multiple filed cases is getting extinct. Insurance companies and their attorneys have gotten good at arguing the main issue: " notice of a dangerous condition that existed."

When do I have a claim for my Injuries if it happened at some one else property? The old mith that if you get injured on someone's property then you are entitle to a recovery is not longer true. Unless the property owner, negligently failed to keep its invitees safe by not removing or correcting the dangerous condition, you must likely are barred from recovery in Texas. The fact that a dangerous condition existed may not be the only factor on your case. The owner of the property must have had "notice" of the dangerous condition and failed to correct it.

The era of sliping and falling on a spill of water (or any liquid for that matter) is almost gone. Many big companies in Texas has opted to take cases to trial rather than settling the case because they know that the standard is very hard to meet. When customers at the grocery store spill a liquid, unless the owner of the property had notice of the spill, and failed to correct the spill in a reasonable time and manner, the owner may not be at fault for the customer's spill.

On the other hand, if the owner of the property created the "dangerous" condition, then notice is not an issue. If you have been injured at a store by a dangerous condition on the store, give us a call (210) 979-9777 or visit our website http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com/ for a free consultation. We care about your legal needs!

Saturday, January 5, 2008

U.S. Transportation Secretary Announces New Effort

(AP) Washington, DC - To combat the alarming trend of rising motorcycle injuries and fatalities, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters recently announced a comprehensive new federal initiative to improve motorcycle safety with more rider education and training, tougher standards for helmet certification labeling, law enforcement training, and road designs that consider motorcycle dynamics.

Secretary Peters – an avid motorcyclist – also released a television public service announcement where she credits her riding gear for saving her life during a 2005 motorcycle crash. “Take it from a motorcycle enthusiast who also happens to be the U.S. Secretary of Transportation,” Secretary Peters says in the PSA. “Check your bike before each ride, wear all your safety equipment and ride with others so you’re more visible. If I hadn’t taken those safety precautions, I wouldn’t be standing here today.”

Peters said the motorcycle safety initiative will create new national safety and training standards for novice riders, curb counterfeit helmet labeling so that consumers can be certain they are buying DOT-certified helmets, place new focus on motorcycle-specific road improvements, and provide training to law enforcement officers on how to spot unsafe motorcyclists. In addition, Peters said, the plan includes a broad public awareness campaign – including the PSA - on safe riding techniques.

Have you been injured in a motorcycle accident, please call us at (210) 979-9777 or visit our website at http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com for more information. We care about your legal needs!

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Why SUVs roll over so easily?

One of the main reasons for the instability of those vehicles is the high center of gravity.Most rollovers occur when the driver is forced to an emergency evasive action. The rapid change of steering into the opposite direction, like typical avoiding maneuvers, often throws the vehicle off center and forces it to roll over.

From an engineer’s point of view, the stability of a vehicle is measured by the formula: T divided by 2h. T is the 'track width' (center of the right front tire to the center of the left front tire) and h is the vehicle's center of gravity. When this number is 1.2 or greater, the vehicle is unlikely to roll. However, the further the ratio dips below 1.2, the greater the likelihood of roll over.

While police officers often blame the driver for careless driving, fault should be attributed to the manufacturer for negligent vehicle design.Another leading cause for the fatality of SUV rollovers is the likelihood of roof crushes and ejection. During the rollover, the roof pillars, side roof rails and the front roof header often collapse, invading the occupant safety zone. As a result, neck fractures lead to brain damages and other fatal injuries.

What to do after a SUV rollover

-Vehicle and accident site inspection as soon after the accident as possible
-Preservation of the vehicle in its condition after the accident
-Having an experienced accident investigator to take accurate and complete statements of all occupants, law enforcers, EMS personal and witnesses
-Having an accident reconstruction engineer to determine how the accident occurred
-Having biomedical or biomechanical experts to determine what part of the accident or vehicle caused the plaintiffs injuries
-Interview the plaintiffs' treating medical physicians
-In catastrophic injuries, the resulting in paraplegia quadriplegia, or serious head injuries, hiring a life care plan consultant to evaluate the cost of medical care to the seriously injured plaintiff and estimate ALL medical and life care needs over this persons lifetime


SUV Rollover Crash Facts listed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
10,657 vehicles were involved in fatal rollovers. Crashes in which a vehicle rolled over accounted for more than 50 percent of all single-vehicle crash deaths. Rollover crashes are especially serious due to occurring head injuries.


Serious injuries in rollover crashes are 36 percent higher than non-rollover crashes
Ejections account for 63 percent of all fatalities in rollover crashes and often result in head injuries. More than 90 percent of passenger vehicle rollover crashes are single vehicle crashes
56 percent of those single vehicle crashes resulted in death, compared to only 11 percent in all multi-vehicle crashes.

If you or someone you know has has a roll over, contact The Báez Law Firm, P.C. we can help you recover what you deserve. Visit us at http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com or call us at (210) 979-9777. WE CARE ABOUT YOUR LEGAL NEEDS!

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San Antonio, Texas, United States
Find Personal Injury Trial Lawyers that will treat you with dignity and respect. The Baez Law Firm, P.C. is dedicated to help those less fortunate. Our San Antonio Lawyers also handle family law, criminal defense, business law, immigration, social security disability, patent law, trade marks and much more. We are professionals that care about your legal needs. Our motto is simple: “Minimizing Legal Worries!”℠ Visit us at http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com or call us (210) 979-9777. Have a blessed day!

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