Dallas Accident Attorney

Getting Started with your Personal Injury Case

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:47:46 -0600

Once a client hires us, this is the procedure we follow: we immediately contact all of the insurance companies or other responsible parties that may be involved, and let them know that we are representing you. We handle all of the communications with the insurance companies for you, so that you don't have to worry about being called by the insurance company's adjusters and investigators.

We conduct our own investigation into your case, contacting witnesses and examining the accident scene and other evidence as necessary. We can help you with a referral to a doctor, if you need help with that. We can also help you with rental car arrangements and with the repair or replacement of your vehicle, if those are issues in your case.

We then monitor your medical treatment, and coordinate treatment with the doctors as necessary, until you have finished being treated. Once you have finished treatment, I do a formal analysis of liability in the accident and your damages, including all of the types of compensation that you're entitled to. I don't leave anything out. Using that analysis, I prepare a settlement demand for the insurance company. The settlement demand details your accident, injuries and treatment, and contains my liability and damage analysis, along with the specific dollar amount that we are demanding as compensation for your claim. All of your medical and billing records are attached to the report, and the entire package is then forwarded to the insurance company.

After the paperwork has been sent to the insurance company, I begin the negotiation process, drawing on my experience in the insurance industry, and my experience handling these kinds of cases. And chances are, you're going to need some help when you go up against a big insurance company. The insurance adjuster that will be assigned to your case has been trained in the art of negotiating. The adjuster is going to have insurance company lawyers behind him or her, expert witnesses to testify against you, and insurance research and statistics to use against you. You need someone to help level the playing field, and that's where I come in.

Dallas Attorney Profile

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:47:07 -0600

Stephen grew up in the Dallas area. In the 1970's, he left the state and moved up north. He graduated from the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, in 1984. After graduating, he decided he'd had enough of the ice and snow, and moved back to Texas, settling in Austin.
He attended the University Of Texas School Of Law in Austin, Texas, and graduated with a Doctor of Jurisprudence.
Stephen's legal career began in 1991. He worked as an attorney in law firms and also as an attorney for a major insurance company before starting his own practice.

Animal Bites or Attacks

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:46:47 -0600

Each year people are injured due to an aggressive animal, often a neighbor's pet. The majority of those injured are children attacked by dogs. If you are a family member are injured by an aggressive animal it is important to seek medical attention and the advise of an experienced attorney.

Permanent Injury Dallas Lawyer

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:46:22 -0600

Although all injuries are serious, permanent or catastrophic injuries can last much longer than other injuries sustained by the negligence of others. Permanent or catastrophic injuries require significant medical treatment and can have serious, long-term effects on the victim's life. Some catastrophic injuries can render the victim permanently disabled, in significant pain, and even shorten the lifespan of the victim.

Wrongful Death Cases in Dallas

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:45:50 -0600

Wrongful death involves negligence, reckless or misconduct that caused the death of another. Wrongful death claims include all kinds of accidental death and are filed by the surviving family members to be compensated for losses, both economic and non-economic, including:

loss of financial support
loss of love, care and comfort
loss of supervision and guidance
If you have lost a loved one, you need to speak to an experienced wrongful death attorney to protect your legal rights.

Pedestrian Accidents in Dallas, Texas

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:45:20 -0600

Pedestrians are often required to share the roadway with motor vehicles, for example, when crossing the street. Unlike automobile and truck drivers, however, pedestrians have little or no protection in the event of a collision. For this reason, auto-pedestrian accidents often result in very serious injuries and even death.

I recently represented a woman who was struck by a speeding pickup truck as she crossed the street on her way home from the grocery store. According to witnesses, she was thrown over 200 feet. Amazingly, she survived the accident, though she was critically injured.

18-Wheeler Trucks Accidents

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:44:48 -0600

On average, an 18-wheeler truck weighs 16 times more than a passenger car. Because of the tremendous difference in size and weight between 18-wheelers and cars, accidents involving 18-wheelers are often extremely serious. Additionally, despite the fact that federal trucking regulations state that truck drivers cannot be on the road if they are fatigued or sick, drivers are often on very tight schedules, allowing them an inadequate amount of sleep, and sleep deprivation can lead to a loss of attentiveness and accidents.
In my experience, some truck drivers have even claimed to be unaware of an accident in which they had hit someone. Whether true, or simply the result of the difference in size and weight between cars and 18-wheelers, it can make things particularly difficult for the accident victim. If you are hit by an 18-wheeler that does not pull over to the shoulder of the road and stop after the collision, call 911 from your cell phone and report the accident while still driving. That way, you can provide the police with the 18-wheeler's license plate and other identifying information. Of course, if you have been seriously injured in the accident, or there is any other reason that continuing to drive would be safe, stop your vehicle and call 911 immediately.

Dallas Texas Motorcycle Accidents

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:44:23 -0600

A motorcycle accident scene can be a chaotic scene. After a motorcycle crash it is important that you think and act rationally as well as decisively. Often when a motorcycle crash occurs it may have been caused by the negligence of others, improper road signs, improper road surfacing material or improper repairs or design of the motorcycle.

The most common accident involving a motorcycle is a car or truck making a turn into the motorcycle's path. Unfortunately, when an accident such as this occurs it is the motorcyclist who receives the most substantial injuries. If you have sustained an injury from a motorcycle accident, whether severe or relatively minor, we can help.

Slip and Fall Accidents in Texas

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:43:56 -0600

Accidents often happen when you least expect it. Even walking through a store, business, or residence, unseen hazards can sometimes result in an accident and injuries to yourself or loved ones. This area of the law is sometimes referred to as "premises liability." The bottom line is that although property owners have a legal obligation to exercise reasonable care in maintaining the safety of their premises and/or warning others of dangerous conditions, these obligations are unfortunately not always complied with.

Dallas Drunk Driving Accidents

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:43:24 -0600

Drunk driving accidents have caused an untold amount of suffering over the years. Thousands of accidents occur every year for one reason only - because the driver had been drinking.
The law recognizes the unnecessary tragedy caused by drunk driving - and so do the insurance companies. When an accident involves drunk driving, it is usually considered an aggravating factor by juries, and therefore also by the insurance companies. An aggravating factor is an aspect of the case that increases the value of the claim over and above what it would otherwise be, usually some form of outrageous behavior which contributed to the accident.

Dallas Automobile Accidents

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:42:42 -0600

There are hundreds of thousands of cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles on the roads in the Dallas / Fort Worth area every day. Even the most diligent drivers stand a good chance of being involved in an accident at some point in their lives.
In some cases, the injuries caused by these accidents are severe and life-threatening, or even fatal. In other cases, the accident victims are able to walk away with less severe injuries. If you've been injured in an accident, whether your injuries are severe or relatively minor, we can help.

All Injuries Caused by Negligence Deserve Compensation

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:33:31 -0600

There are hundreds of thousands of cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles on the roads in the Dallas/Fort Worth area every day. Even the most diligent drivers stand a good chance of being involved in an accident at some point in their lives.
In some cases, the injuries caused by these accidents are severe and life-threatening, or even fatal. In other cases, the accident victims are able to walk away with less severe injuries. If you've been injured in an accident, whether your injuries are severe or relatively minor, we can help.