The Yellow Dog Project

Have you seen someone walking a dog with a yellow ribbon lately? If so, they may be part of the Yellow Dog Project, which is a global movement for owners of dogs that need extra space. The yellow ribbon works as a signal to others to ask before coming near and to use caution when approaching these dogs.

These dogs are not necessarily aggressive dogs but often may be dogs that have issues of fear, have not had sufficient training, mastered obedience or are in training for work or service or other reasons.  The wearing of the yellow ribbon may be temporary but whatever the reason it is not an excuse. Keep in mind that if you have an aggressive dog you must seek proper training from a qualified professional.

By wearing the yellow ribbon you are identifying that your dog has space issues, that they may be in training for these issues and you are taking responsibility for your dog’s actions. As this is a relativity new project many people are not aware of it so you cannot assume you can let your guard down once you put a yellow ribbon on your dog.

The Yellow Dog Project may prevent injuries by reminding people to approach with caution it does not prevent owners from legal consequences if their dog bites or harms you. As a dog owner you are encouraged to find a local positive reinforcement trainer and to look for programs to help you with your dog.

Mississippi follows the “One Bite Rule,” which is a bit of a misnomer. It implies that every dog gets one "free" bite (free for its owner) and from then on the owner is on notice that the dog is dangerous. It is true that if a dog bites someone, its owner is on notice that the dog is dangerous. Less serious behavior, is also enough to put an owner on notice. For example, if a dog growls or snaps at people, the owner should know that the dog may injure someone and if the dog does hurt someone, the owner will be liable, even for the first bite.

If you have been a victim due to a dog bite or attack you should contact an experience personal injury attorney at Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C. and we will evaluate your case at no cost or obligation. With more than 66 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys offer clients throughout Mississippi the representation they need.

Contact us online or call 228-864-2200 to schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced lawyer.

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Liability Insurance for your Auto or Truck

We know that every driver is required to carry liability insurance for their auto or truck. We also know that like most companies insurance companies are concerned with the bottom line. From time to time there can be vehicle accidents that are not the fault of a driver, but rather are caused by something that no one in the accident could have controlled. An insurance company may try to avoid paying on legitimate claims, or try to settle for less than the cost to the consumer. 

For example, in an accident in which neither driver did anything wrong, each insurance company may claim that their customer was not responsible. And, therefore they have no liability to pay for the damage. If you have been involved in an auto accident and the insurance company is refusing to pay or paying too little on a legitimate claim, contact an attorney at Hopkins, Barvie & Hopkins to discuss your options. 

Remember that while the main reason you carry liability insurance is to prevent accidents from causing you financial hardship, if your insurance company either does not pay or pays less than you need, they make more profit. At Hopkins, Barvie & Hopkins, we have the experience you need to resolve insurance disputes fairly, so that you get the compensation you deserve. 

For more information and a FREE CONSULTATION, contact Hopkins, Barvie & Hopkins at 228-864-2200.

At Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C., we help you find the answers. With more than 65 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys offer clients throughout Mississippi the representation they need. Contact us online or call 228-864-2200 to schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced lawyer.

Or, email us, like us on facebook or follow us on Linkedin. Just click below.

Bad Faith and Insurance Disputes

Are you frustrated with you insurance company over a claim dispute? Have you filed a claim and now your relationship has become adversarial? If you have been treated unfairly you may be a victim of bad faith.

Bad Faith is generally used as a legal term regarding a cause of action against an insurance company that has denied the payment of a properly submitted insurance claim for no debatable reason. If you are insured by an insurance company they owe you a duty of fair dealing and good faith.

At Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, we have experience handling all types of bad faith insurance claims, which may include the following:

• Refusing to pay for property damage claiming your coverage expired or that the damage is not covered by your policy;
• For medical treatment including denying coverage for a pre-existing condition;
• For storm damage, including  fire and hurricane claims;
• Delaying investigation or payment of a claim;
• Paying only partial benefits for a claim;
• The insurance company denying a life insurance policy. 

We have working knowledge of the issues insured's face with the following:  

• Accidental Death Insurance
• Cancer Insurance
• Car Insurance Claims
• Disability Insurance Claims
• Health Insurance Claims
• Homeowner’s Insurance Claims
• Life Insurance Claims
• Worker’s Compensation Claims 

If you have been a victim of an insurance company contact us today for a free no-obligation legal consultation. Our team at Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C  handles all types of bad faith claims. With more than 68 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys offer clients throughout Mississippi the representation they need.

Contact us online or call 228-864-2200 to schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced auto accident lawyer. 

To best meet the needs of our diverse client base, we speak Spanish. Los Abogados Hablan Espanol.

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Where to Begin Looking for Answers After a Car Accident

It is a devastating experience to be in an auto accident that results in serious injuries. You may wonder how your medical bills or even your regular bills are going to be paid while you are out of work. If your insurance company does not give you the coverage you need, how will you pay for the property damage to your car?

What happens when you are injured in an auto accident and the insurance company refuses to negotiate or settle a claim? When an insurance company intentionally delays, inconveniently defends, and purposely denies paying claims? Insurance companies generally have no problem paying out a claim, but when the policy holder is under-insured, or the accident exceeds their comfort zone of spending coverage, they are likely to refuse to pay. You, as a victim, have no other recourse but to consult an attorney.

Many people do not know where to begin looking for answers after a car accident. At Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C., we help you find the answers. With more than 65 years of combined personal injury experience, our Biloxi car crash attorneys offer clients throughout Mississippi the representation they need. Contact us online or call 228-864-2200 to schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced lawyer.

Or, email us, like us on facebook or follow us on Linkedin. Just click below.

Do I Need A Lawyer?

Were you seriously hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault?  Is the insurance company pressuring you to accept a settlement? Are you injured and worried about not being able to work and pay your bills? Is your employer threatening to stop your workers’ compensation benefits? Are you disabled and can’t work but were denied Social Security disability benefits?

If you answered yes to any of the above statements, you may wonder if you have a case. Another common question is: Do I need a lawyer?

Dealing with paperwork, insurance claims, the government and the legal system is best left to the experts. You could try to handle everything on your own but you’re likely to make mistakes and cheat yourself out of the money you deserve.

Hopkins Barvie Hopkins has helped many people with the following types of cases:

·          Injuries and Accidents

·          Workers’ Compensation

·          Social Security Disability

Insurance companies urge you to trust them and claim they will protect you. When you’re injured in an accident, they won’t be your friends. That’s yet another reason why you may need a lawyer.

In fact, a report from the blog of CNN’s Anderson Cooper uncovered a practice used by insurance companies called The Three Ds.

Insurance companies will:

·          Delay handling your injury claim

·          Deny you were hurt in the accident

·          Defend their decision in lengthy court battles

Put simply, that’s one of the ways that insurance companies save money - by offering you less than you deserve.

In order to protect yourself and your claim, follow these tips:

1. No matter what type of case you might have, don’t sign any papers until you talk to a law firm and learn your rights.
2. Never allow an insurance company to record you “for accuracy purposes.” They’ll use it against you later.
3. Contact us online or call 228-864-2200 for a free initial consultation with an experienced lawyer. Every person deserves to know his or her rights and there’s no obligation to use our services.

At Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C., we help you find the answers. With more than 65 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys offer clients throughout Mississippi the representation they need. 

Or, email us, like us on Facebook or follow us on LinkedIn. Just click below.

What to do when in a Car Accident

In Mississippi you are not required to report an auto accident to the Department of Public Safety as long as all the parties involved in the accident agree about the circumstances of the accident and the responsibilities for repairs. However, it is always a good idea to call 911 and report the accident.

If you and the other driver make a verbal agreement to let the insurance company handle things and not report the auto accident to law enforcement ask yourself these questions? Is their auto insurance up to date? Do they have auto insurance? Do they have any expired driver’s license? Do they need medical attention? Remember it never hurts to call the local law enforcement and report what happened. USA Today reported that as many as one in seven drivers have no car insurance and in Mississippi 28% of drivers are uninsured. Many drivers are skirting the system by carrying an expired or fake insurance card.

NEVER leave the accident scene as you could face criminal charges. Regardless of whether a wreck looks serious, you always have to stop, check on the other person involved and exchange insurance information. In Mississippi you must report it to the law enforcement if someone has been injured or there has been a death or the accident resulted in $500 or more in damages to the vehicles or property. If someone is injured call an ambulance as soon as possible.

If you have called the police once you have filed an accident report ask for a copy of it. If you do not get a police report documenting your accident, what proof do you have that it happened? And you insurance company will want a copy of it for your claim.

When dealing with the other driver you should always ask them as soon as possible, “Are you all right?”

Do not yell, do not lay blame on anyone and always be polite. Never admit liability or in any way say it is your fault. If you do, you are legally admitting liability, which could expose you to a law suit.

Take some deep breaths and stay as calm as possible as you need to assess the situation and document it. Be sure to collect the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses or others involved in the accident. If possible, take photographs to document skid marks, vehicle damage, road obstructions and injuries. Document what you were you doing just before the crash? Where were you going and what street were you on? When did you see the other driver enter into the picture? You'll need to have a consistent and accurate account of the accident to give to the law enforcement and your insurance provider.

Make sure that you get the other driver's name, address, and insurance company name and policy number. Then make notes of the make, model and color of vehicle they were driving and their license plate number. If there were any witnesses get their names and phone numbers too.

If there were severe injuries or a death has resulted from the accident you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible. All too often valuable evidence disappears, witnesses move, memories grow dim and the ability to prove your case may diminish.

An experienced Personal Injury attorney can provide you guidance if you are being treated by a physician, guidance with your our medical care and help you deal with unpaid bills. Legal advice can also be useful if you have questions about the settlement value of a claim, your insurance policy's terms, or suspect bad faith on the part of your insurance company. It is a good idea to consult with a personal injury attorney before providing any other information to the insurance company.

Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C., focuses on representing individuals and their family members in personal injury and wrongful death cases, such as those often involved in auto accidents. Contact us and we will evaluate your case at no cost or obligation. With more than 66 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys offer clients throughout Mississippi the representation they need.

Contact us online or call 228-864-2200 to schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced lawyer.

Or, email us, like us on Facebook or follow us on LinkedIn. Just click below.