Category Archives: Truck Accidents

HOW MUCH RENTAL COVERAGE YOU SHOULD HAVE?

FIVE REASONS YOU NEED TO HAVE RENTAL COVERAGE AND THE RIGHT COVERAGE

Even if the accident was not your fault, the other driver’s insurance company will investigate the accident before authorizing a rental car which could take days or weeks;

If you are at fault for the accident your insurance company will pay for a rental while car is being repaired;

The insurance company will usually put you in a midsize car which most of us would

consider a small car;

If you need a larger vehicle as a rental, you need to upgrade your rental coverage which is generally very inexpensive, and most people do not know about it;

Less Time and less stress. If your car is wrecked and you have rental coverage, your own insurance company will immediately put you in a rental car without waiting or paying out of pocket.

After a car accident, dealing with the stress of repairs injuries and continued life is the best reason to hire an attorney to relieve those stresses. At TheOneLawyer.com, we are experienced auto accident injury lawyers who can help you immediately. Unfortunately, one thing an attorney cannot always do immediately is put you into a rental car if you do not have rental car coverage on your policy. We can get you reimbursed later. Even if you are not at fault for the accident, the at fault driver ‘s insurance company will not authorize a rental car immediately. Although our experience will make sure you are reimbursed if the accident is your fault, this can create a headache you just do not need. The adverse insurance company will investigate the accident and determine who was at fault. This can often take several days or even up to 30 days. If you do not have rental car coverage on your policy, you could have to scramble to find a vehicle and pay this out of pocket until you are reimbursed. If the accident is determined to be not your fault the adverse insurance company will reimburse you for the expense.

However, they will likely argue the amount that you paid or not pay promptly. For this reason, we urge our readers to put rental car coverage on your own automobile insurance policy. If you add rental coverage on your policy, your insurance company will put you into a rental and authorize repairs on your vehicle immediately. That is because an auto insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance company. That means when you pay for your policy of insurance you buy certain coverages. When you purchase those coverages your own insurance company is obligated to comply with the contract and provide rental car coverage if you have rental and collision to repair your vehicle. As a note, you generally cannot get rental coverage if you do not have collision coverage. This means that your insurance company will put you into a rental car while your insurance company or the other driver’s insurance company is paying to repair the vehicle.

Most clients come to us with the misconception that everything will be handled immediately if it is not their fault, and everyone will also know immediately that is not their fault. Unfortunately, this is far from the case. Even rear end accidents where fault appears clear, there is usually delays with the other insurance company verifying the facts of the accident, obtaining a police report, speaking to their own insured, and verifying the facts before they will issue payments. That is why maintaining your own coverages to protect you and your family is critically important.

Rental reimbursement coverage usually referred to as “rental coverage, pays for various transportation expenses, including a rental car or public transportation fees, while your vehicle is being repaired after a covered insurance claim. Rental coverage does not apply if your vehicle needs maintenance work or if you need to rent a car on vacation.

Rental reimbursement coverage may be called “rental car coverage” or “transportation expense coverage.” It is almost always an optional coverage on an auto insurance policy which means you need to add it to your policy and pay an extra premium for the coverage. However, the average cost is usually less than the cost of one day of rental. Having worked with thousands of accident victims on the personal injury cases in Las Vegas and Henderson, most people need transportation immediately to prevent additional disruption of their daily lives. If you are reading this, I urge you to check your declarations page which is the first page of your policy and make sure you have rental coverage.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF RENTAL COVERAGE

This series of blogs has focused on different types of coverages and the amounts that you likely need. Rental car coverage is usually a rather inexpensive coverage to purchase. What most people do not know is that there’s often levels of rental car coverage which usually only very a few dollars in cost on your premium. Some people do not care what type of vehicle they are placed in while their vehicles are being repaired and if that is you, then obtain the lowest cost rental coverage. We have had clients who drive large vehicles and need them for their families, or their work and they are upset or even often extremely inconvenienced if they are placed in a small vehicle under their policy. If you are one of those people, it would be wise to purchase an upgraded rental policy that will allow rental coverage usually up to $50 a day instead of $30 a day. If you look on any of the travel sites, you will see that the difference of $30 a day and $50 a day in obtaining rental car is vastly different. It is amazing how far $20 a day will go a long way in determining what type of vehicle you would rent. For a few dollars a year, your family could be spared the great inconvenience of stuffing your four children or mother-in-law or carpool work friends into a compact vehicle.

By contacting a lawyer immediately, you can receive the most money for your injury claim. At TheOneLawyer.com we will quickly obtain the report for you. Having worked in the insurance industry as an attorney for 9 years before opening our boutique law firm specializing in helping injured people, I reviewed thousands of insurance policies. With extensive experience in the insurance field, I can help you review your injury claim and maximize the money you receive in your pocket after your bills and fees are paid.

At TheOneLawyer.com, we are here to serve our community and provide legal services in the Henderson and Las Vegas area. We are a boutique law firm providing experienced and personal representation to injured clients. At the Law Offices of Laura Payne-Hunt, TheOneLawyer.com we provide professional and personal service to each and every one of our clients on various legal matters and have over 15 years of experience in reviewing insurance policies and in Nevada insurance law. If you have a question regarding any type of personal injury or paying your medical bills from an accident, please do not hesitate to call the offices of TheOneLawyer.com and speak directly to attorney Laura Marie Payne-Hunt, Esq. a Henderson Injury Attorney for over 15 years. Laura is recognized as one of Nevada’s Top 100 Lawyers. She has the experience and knowledge to obtain the maximum settlement you deserve. Please call our office if you or a loved one is injured. We can make sure that you receive the care you need and deserve and advise on how to preserve evidence.

At our office, we are experienced in helping injured victims get the compensation they are entitled to. Insurance companies never have the best interest of the injured person at the top of their priorities. They want to pay as little on every claim as possible. Having worked for an insurance company as an attorney for 9 years before opening my boutique law firm specializing in helping injured people, I have reviewed thousands of auto accident claims and policy provisions.

At the Henderson and Las Vegas Accident injury law offices of TheOneLaweyer.com, Laura Marie Payne-Hunt and her staff are here to help you and your family in the event that accidents and tragedies occur. For any of your legal needs, do not hesitate to contact our Henderson and Las Vegas Accident injury offices. TheOneLawyer.com is a boutique, family-owned law firm that specializes in helping injured people and the community of Las Vegas and Henderson Nevada with legal issues involving auto accidents, wrongful deaths, slip and falls, truck accidents, injuries to children, bicycle accidents, dog bites, product liability claims, and all types of injury claims. Please do not hesitate to call us anytime you have a legal question or you or a loved one has sustained an injury at 702-450-(HUNT) 4868 and text 24/7 at 702-600-0032.

Top 5 Things to Consider When Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney

Experience – LAURA PAYNE HUNT’S EXPERIENCE and insight is the key difference in knowing how to settle, when to settle and for how much. If you don’t know what to do next, call The Law Office of Laura Payne Hunt and let our personal injury attorney help you get the Medical Treatment and Legal Advice you need and deserve.

Accessibility – As a small practice with a consistent staff we are able to treat our clients like friends and family and be there to hear their concerns. My secretary, Peggy has been with me for many years and she is extraordinarily skilled and knowledgeable in the area of personal injury law. At the Costa Ivone, LLC offices of Laura Payne Hunt, we take great pride in providing a service that is fading in the world of big law firm‘s big advertising and nationwide organizations. If you are looking for a personal injury lawyer with experience, knowledge, personal service and compassionate representation, call our office today.

Knowledge of the Law — INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE NEVER ON YOUR SIDE! This personal injury lawyer knows this firsthand because he spent years working as defense counsel for one of the leading insurance companies in the nation. Laura knows what it takes to win. She uses the insight, knowledge and expertise she acquired while helping THEM save millions to now help YOU recover the maximum personal injury compensation you deserve. Remember this, the only way of getting compensation is by working with the best personal injury attorneys.

Compassionate –according to a personal injury attorney some insurance companies are cold and corporatized and it is important to have someone who listens to you and understands the pain, inconvenience and emotional distress that you are going through. I take great pride in being available to my clients to listen to what they need and to find specific medical providers that are best for their location, as well as the injuries they have sustained. It is important that you receive the proper care and it is equally important that your property damage is addressed. Many law firms do not assist you with your property damage. However we care about our clients and we see the case through from start to finish. Every case we take will be ready for trial if necessary. Fortunately for clients, only about two percent of cases go to trial but we handle every case as if it is one of those two percent and insurance companies know that. If you’re living in New York, you can view more to find the best injury lawyers in the bronx.

Community Connections –As a lifelong resident of Nevada, professional connections I have built are of great benefit to the clients we represent. Having grown up in the state of Nevada and the city of Henderson primarily, I have made many friends and have valuable professional connections that help my clients to get the proper medical care that they need as well as to have their vehicle repaired properly with the proper warranties. It takes a village sometimes to handle these matters. Clients need medical care, vehicle repairs, and rental cars. Having practiced as a personal injury attorney in this city for my entire professional career and having worked for the insurance companies, I have maintain strong professional connections that are of great benefit to the clients we represent. I have been a long time sponsor of Paseo Verde Little League teams and I enjoy being active in our community.

ABOUT LAURA

I knew I wanted to be a personal injury lawyer from the time I was seven years old. I grew up in Las Vegas and attended Tomiyasu Elementary School and Valley High School. I went to junior high school at Cannon Junior High School and was a product of 6 Grade Center being bused to a different part of town. Henderson is my home and it has been since I was five years old. I take a great deal of pride in what I do and being part of the community.

I went to UNLV undergrad and obtained a degree in Communications with an emphasis is print Journalism. While attending UNLV I was a writer for the school paper for the entertainment section. I was also an active Disc Jockey at the school radio station KUNV, playing my alternative favorite alternative beats. To pick up extra cash, I was also a Disc Jockey at the AM radio station where we played a variety of cultural music. Fortunately, my amateur guitar playing skills and love of Diet Coke helped keep me awake during those overnight AM radio jobs.

I went to Oklahoma City University for law school. I graduated from law school Cum Laude. While in law school, I was a member of the legal honor Society a Phi Kappa Phi as well as a participant in the moot court team. Upon graduating from law school, I took the Nevada bar exam successfully followed by the California bar successfully. I am also admitted to practice law in the state of Texas.

I returned to Las Vegas to start my legal career and clerked for a respected District Court judge. I went on to work for a law firm that handled cases for the insurance companies for a couple of years before I became the managing attorney for a major insurance company’s in-house legal office.

During my time working as an attorney for the insurance company, I learned the ins and outs of this business first hand. I trained insurance adjusters on how to deal with attorneys and had daily interactions with claims adjusters and claims files. I observed the nature and approach of insurance companies to accident claims and the victims involved. This experience is invaluable in representing injured people.

I am very passionate about what I do and I take great pride in providing top legal representation for injured people. I never had a desire to be on every billboard in town and be an attorney that brings in 100 files a month. To do that you need a lot of lawyers churning these files out to pay the massive overhead of advertising and large buildings. Personal care and attention to clients’ needs can easily be lost in that type of environment. I prefer to focus on the people who are my clients. I know each of my client’s case personally and I meet with every client personally. When you call my office, I will know your first name, I will know what your case is about. I will know what is going on. That is not the case with many law firms that have a high turnover rate because of low pay and often inexperienced attorneys.

The benefit of retaining a small law firm to handle your case is that you will receive personal service and you will have a relationship with your personal injury attorney. I kind of analogize this to the difference between going to a large medical center where you see someone different every time who hasn’t looked at your file and doesn’t know your name, to going to your family doctor who knows who you are remembers your conditions. The person who is there for you to talk to about your needs. It is a choice that an injured person should make from the start of their search for a personal injury law firm. Whether a large firm or a small firm is the right choice for you will be very important for your mental well-being during your case. Dealing with a large firm with constant turn over can be frustrating. THE LAW OFFICE OF LAURA PAYNE HUNT is a boutique law firm providing you with personal and compassionate representation with one goal in mind, the best care and recovery for each of our clients.

With over 18 years of experience helping injured people and working for the insurance companies I have a vast amount of knowledge and insight into exactly what insurance companies are looking at when reviewing your claim. Having been a member of this community for so many years, I know many good physicians and practices that provide top medical care for injured people. Connections in the community are vital in helping clients obtain the medical care they need for their specific injuries.

AS A SHORT TRIAL JUDGE and frequent Arbitrator, my skill is just as effective in the courtroom as it is in the conference room. I will passionately and aggressively defend your rights and recovery whether your case settles or goes to trial.

If you or a loved one is ever in any type of accident and have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our offices today. At my office, we are experienced in helping injured victims get the compensation they are entitled to. Insurance companies never have the best interest of the injured person at the top of their priorities. They want to pay as little on every claim as possible. Having worked for an insurance company as an attorney for 9 years before opening my boutique law firm specializing in helping injured people, I reviewed thousands of auto accident claims and policy provisions.

423HURT injury attorneys are here to help you and your family in the event that accidents and tragedies occur. For any of your legal needs, do not hesitate to contact our offices. The Law Offices of Laura Payne Hunt is a boutique, family owned law firm in Henderson that specializes in helping injured people and the community with legal issues involving auto accidents, wrongful deaths, slip and falls, truck accidents, injuries to children, bicycle accidents, dog bites, and all types of injury claims. Please do not hesitate to call us anytime you have a legal question or you or a loved one has sustained an injury at 702-450-(HUNT) 4868 and text 24/7 at 702-600-0032.

Is Saying I’m Sorry an Admission of Guilt?

Imagine this. You’re driving along on Eastern, trying to get to your favorite donut shop. The tunes are playing loudly on the radio and you’re not paying much attention to the road as you sing along. The light ahead of you turns red and the cars stop, but you miss it. You slam on the brakes, unexpectedly. Suddenly, your rear fender finds itself lodged in the front fender of the car behind you. Horrified, you call the police and your personal injury lawyer. Then, you get out of your car and apologize profusely. After all, your mom raised you to be polite and apologize for things. But did you just admit your guilt? And can it cause you legal difficulty if your case goes to court?

Outcomes of Apologies in Court Cases

There’s two possible outcomes when you apologize after an accident. In one case, a sincere apology can lessen a person’s anger, thus making it less likely that they will seek legal action. In the other case, it’s a question of “anything you say can be used against you in a court of law.” By apologizing, they may argue you indicate your liability in the matter and it gives the other party a compelling case against you.

Thirty-six states have recognized the detriment that an apology can cause to a potential defendant and have enacted “Apology Laws”. First applied to medical malpractice, the laws protect anyone who makes a statement of sympathy or benevolent gesture following an accident. As long as the person doesn’t actually admit guilt, such statements are not admissible as evidence. Unfortunately, Nevada is not one of those states, so legal protections for an apology are limited.

So, how do you apologize without admitting guilt?

First, think about if an apology really is important in the situation. It might be your gut reaction, even if you did nothing wrong, but is it necessary? In our example above, there was obviously a lapse in judgment by driving distractedly, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should apologize for being in an accident.

Second, if you decide that an apology is worthwhile, don’t admit any fault or place any blame. It’s important to not give any indication that you are liable. You shouldn’t express any opinions or hunches about what caused the accident or how it could have been avoided.

Third, consider finding something different to say, instead of “I’m sorry.” Simply saying “I’m sorry” is relatively ambiguous and can be applied to many different situations, including accidents, funerals, and arguments. Find specific language for the sentiment you are trying to express. In our above example, you might say, “I understand how frustrating this situation is” instead of “I’m sorry I stopped so abruptly.”

Dr. Ken Broda-Bahm, a Ph.D. in persuasive strategies, gave two suggestions on how to show you are sorry: one, acknowledge pain, death, loss, and inconvenience; two, don’t let acknowledgement get confused with responsibility. In short, there are many occasions when apologizing is meaningful, and can even be beneficial, but don’t let anyone mistake saying “I’m sorry” for saying “It’s my fault.”

In general, when you’ve been in an accident, the old adage probably still holds true: “It’s better to say nothing at all.” And if you have been in an accident, please call our office today at 702-450-4868 and we can explain your legal rights and remedies under the law.

Settling Truck Accident Lawsuits

All the factors that determine how truck accidents lawsuits are settled and how insurance limits determine how fast a truck accident lawsuit is settled. Continue reading →

Involved in a Truck Accident in Las Vegas? Fight Back

Surviving an accident with a large truck can leave you injured and unable to pay your bills. Before you give up hope, find out how long you have to file and how much you may receive when working with an attorney. For anyone who shares the road with heavy semi trucks or commercial vehicles, driver-facing cameras in the trucking industry will likely make the road safer.

Everything You Need to Know About Truck Accidents and Lawsuits

Truck accidents such as truck jackknife ones can happen to even the most prepared of drivers. Whether it was a larger or smaller truck, you might walk away from that accident with significant personal injuries and serious damage to your personal property. Working with a lawyer gives you the right to fight back and file a lawsuit against the responsible party, but you need to understand more about the law before you file.

How Long Do You Have to File a Lawsuit?

When searching for a truck accident attorney Las Vegas residents often don’t realize that they only have a limited window in which to file a lawsuit. Nevada has a two year statute of limitations, which begins on the day of the accident. If you do not file before this deadline passes, you cannot file a lawsuit against anyone involved in the crash, even if the driver was drunk or violated the law.

Is There a Damage Cap in Las Vegas?

Nevada differentiates between economic losses and emotional pain or suffering. Economic losses do not have a cap in place. You may file a lawsuit that asks the responsible party to pay for your lost wages, medical bills and any other money you can prove that you spent. Emotional pain and suffering refers to the money you might ask for regarding things you cannot show or prove. The state has a damage cap regarding emotional pain and suffering that caps the total amount you can get at $350,000.

Filing After Truck Accidents

You might be wondering, do you need a truck accident attorney? The answer is yes, even if you spend weeks recovering in the hospital or at home after a truck accident, it’s important that you find a truck accident lawyer and begin the process of filing a lawsuit as quickly as possible. Though you have up to two years to file, your attorney will need some time to gather evidence to help you in court.

Laws Governing Truck Accidents Are Complicated

Trucking accidents are very different than car accidents because they often involve multiple statutes. Your attorney should have specific experience in this area of law to ensure quality representation.

The Various Legal Issues That Truck Accidents Can Present

The trucking industry is regulated at state and federal levels. Truck drivers and trucking companies must follow all of these laws when operating a large commercial vehicle on the road. When accidents occur involving big rigs, injured victims should make sure that their accident attorney has the knowledge and experience to handle this type of case. A truck accident attorney Las Vegas can often be of assistance.

The Most Common Causes Of Truck Accidents

“One of the most common causes of trucking accidents is a driver who is sleep-deprived”, says personal injury attorney port charlotte who have solved many cases regarding thi. Drivers who have been operating these large vehicles in excess of the legally-permitted number of hours become a danger to themselves and all those around them. Your attorney should know what the legal driving limit is for commercial vehicles and be able to distinguish if the driver surpassed those limits and why. Drivers may choose to exceed these limits voluntarily, or they may be forced to by their trucking company employer. It is very important that your attorney can determine which one of these events occurred so that the right party is held responsible for this negligent action.

Injuries Occuring In Trucking Accidents Can Be Catastrophic

Injuries that occur during a trucking accident are almost always catastrophic in nature to the passengers of the smaller vehicle. The size and weight of the large vehicle can cause devastating damage. Your attorney must understand how severe the injuries are from this type of accident so that they can better represent your case.

Aggressive Legal Representation Is Necessary

When it comes to semi truck accidents, it is very important to find aggressive and knowledgeable legal representation. These cases can have many parties that are responsible for the accident. Victims can often be best represented by an attorney that specifically handles this type of case and is well-versed in Truck Accidents Law.

Truck Accident Injury

Vehicle accidents lead to some of the most horrific injuries known in the medical world. It’s important to enlist the services of a competent truck accident lawyer from a reputable law firm to ensure that you receive the compensation you need to recover.

Common Truck Accident Injuries and the Truck Accident Attorney

Truck accidents are among the most horrifying of all vehicle accidents in the world. The sheer size of the tractor trailer as it hurtles down the highway makes it a particularly lethal force when it comes in contact with a smaller vehicle.

Unlike vehicle collisions with regular vehicles, an accident involving a tractor trailer is much more likely to result in serious injuries and fatalities. The victim of a truck accident can sometimes walk away without a scratch, but most victims sustain relatively serious injuries. Among these are traumatic brain injuries and amputations.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury can be caused by either a closed head injury or a penetrating head injury. Closed head injuries occur when the skull and the dura matter covering the brain remain intact, but the brain is damaged. Closed head injuries include concussion, internal bleeding within the skull and cerebral bruising. Penetrating head injuries, on the other hand, involve the penetration of the skull and the dura mater, the outermost covering of the brain. Due to their severity, penetrating head injuries can result in permanent disability or death. When this happens, the victim can contact a personal injury lawyer for help with claims.

Amputations

A crushed limb may require amputation upon arrival at the hospital. If a limb becomes infected after the accident, amputation may be necessary to prevent the spread of the infection. An amputation can also take place during the accident itself if the limb is torn from the body rather than severed. Such an injury is called an avulsion.

Get Help to Regain Your Life

All of the above injuries can have life-altering consequences that will only become fully realized as you attempt to get back to a normal routine. The cost of recovery from such injuries can be exorbitant, especially if extensive rehabilitation is required. A competent truck accident attorney in Las Vegas can help ensure that you and your loved ones recover the highest possible amount from the truck accident.

2012 Data for Injuries and Deaths in Large Truck Accidents

Tractor-trailer truck accidents have a higher risk of causing serious injury and death, and this shows with an increase in both numbers in 2012 compared to 2011.

There are many things a trucking company can do to prevent such accidents. Intensive training must be taken by the drivers. They made sure to have the necessary certificates such as Oversize permits to legally travel along state-maintained roads. There are even random drug tests administered by some trucking companies. Whether your company has a fleet of new or used heavy duty trucks, it is imperative that they are regularly serviced and inspected to avoid mechanical failure on the road.

Injury and Fatality Data Regarding Large Truck Accidents in 2012

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 104,000 people were injured and 3,921 people were killed in large truck crashes in 2012. Total, there were 333,000 tractor-trailer trucks involved in traffic accidents across the United States. In Nevada, 42 semi-trucks were involved in crashes, accounting for 0.5 percent of the U.S. total. Many of these people might have turned to a truck accident attorney Las Vegas for help seeking compensation.

People Injured

The 104,000 people who were injured in large truck accidents in 2012 grew 18 percent from the 88,000 reported by Kelly White Donofrio LLP in 2011. Among the injuries, 3 percent weren’t in a vehicle, 24 percent were in the trucks and 73 percent were in other vehicles. Compared to the prior year, the percentages of people not in a vehicle and in other vehicles increased by one point each, while the percentage of people in the trucks declined by two points.

People Killed

The 3,921 deaths involved in large truck collisions in 2012 increased 4 percent from the 3,781 reported the year prior, according to the NHTSA. Among these fatalities, 10 percent were not in a vehicle, 18 percent were in the trucks and 73 percent were in other vehicles. Compared to information provided by Law Office of Glenn C. McGovern in 2011, the number of non-occupant deaths declined by 11 percent, while the number of people killed in the trucks increased by 9 percent.

DUI Prevalence and Priors

One cause for some of these semi-truck accident injuries and fatalities was drivers under the influence of alcohol. Of the large truck drivers involved in fatal accidents, 2 percent had blood alcohol concentrations of .08 percent or higher. Among other drivers involved in fatal collisions with the same BAC levels, 22 percent were light truck drivers, 23 percent were passenger car drivers and 27 percent were motorcyclists. Additionally, 0.5 percent of truck drivers involved in fatal crashes had prior DUI convictions, while 8.2 percent had prior license suspensions or revocations and 17.7 percent had prior speeding violations.