18-Wheeler Accidents Are Far More Dangerous

18-wheeler trucks are far more dangerous than smaller vehicles on the road. Drivers of commuter vehicles who are involved in an accident with heavy trucks are likely to suffer severe, debilitating injuries, including spinal cord, brain or death. The devastation that you can experience as a result of being involved in an 18-wheeler accident can be immense. It is important to be aware of the most common cause of 18-wheeler accident in order to have the best chance at avoiding becoming involved in a dangerous situation. 

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, some of the most common factors are:

•     Speeding
•     Distracted Driving
•     Drunk Driving
•     Traveling too fast for the road conditions
•     Unfamiliarity with roadway
•     Truck Driver Fatigue

Many of those factors are attributed to negligent and unsafe behavior on the part of the driver, the trucking company, the manufacturer of the trucks or their parts, and/or the party responsible for maintaining the truck.  Unfortunately there is little that you can to do to avoid a reckless or careless truck driver. 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) which governs interstate trucking operations.  The primary mission of the FMCSA is to prevent commercial motor vehicle related injuries and fatalities. For more information regarding the FMCSA please visit their website at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

The FMCSR has extensive regulations regarding the following areas; more are listed on their website:

• Driver fatigue
• Operation of trucks
• Equipment standards
• Maintenance standards
• Minimum insurance requirements for commercial motor vehicles

Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C. attorneys have a comprehensive understanding of the above regulations and are prepared to fight the insurance company’s well experienced and aggressive lawyers regarding 18-wheeler accidents. Contact us online or call 228-864-2200 to schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced 18-wheeler accident lawyer.

Our team at Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C  handles all types of motor vehicle accidents including motorcycle accidents, boating accident, truck accidents and auto accidents. With more than 68 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys offer clients throughout Mississippi the representation they need.

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

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.

Mississippi Social Security Disability Claims

At Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C., we represent people who suffer from mental or physical disability, or any combination of the two. We will assist you with all the necessary forms and petitions to receive the benefits you need.

If you have worked long enough and have a medical condition that prevents or is expected to prevent you from working for at least 12 months or result in death Social Security pays disability benefits to you and certain members of your family. The work requirement is waived for applicants who can prove that they became disabled at or before the age of 22. If you have been disabled and are age 22 or younger you may be eligible for what is considered a “child’s” benefit.

In the state of Mississippi there are more than 7 percent of nearly two million residents that receive monthly disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. Every year more people apply for Social Security Disability benefits and many of these applicants receive a denial of their initial disability application.

In order to obtain the benefits you may be rightfully entitled to, you must undergo a disability appeal process. Request for Reconsideration is the first stage of the appeal process. If you are denied your reconsideration request then you must obtain a disability hearing before an Administrative Law Judge to receive disability benefits. In order to obtain the benefits you may be rightfully entitled to, you must undergo a disability appeal process. We can assist you with this process.

Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C., focuses on representing individuals and their family members with their Mississippi Social Security Disability claims. We work with you in the preparation of your disability claim and help you gather the medical evidence necessary to support your claim for disability benefits. If your application for disability benefits is still denied, we help you navigate the complicated disability appeal process. We also ensure that the judge has and understands all the details he or she needs in order to make a fair and informed decision.

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

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

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