Tips to Remember After an Accident

With spring on the horizon, we felt it would be an appropriate time to send a reminder of things to do should you or a loved one be involved in an auto accident. The actions that occur in the moments immediately following the accident could have a tremendous impact in the outcome of your accident claim.

Assess Injuries
First and foremost, the health and safety of yourself and others takes precedence. Take a moment to assess the injuries of those involved. Realize that some injuries may take days or weeks before they are noticeable.

Move Yourself and Others to Safety
Once you have assessed the situation, move everyone to safety out of traffic. If cars are drivable, they should be moved to the side of the road. If they are not mobile, mark them as disable as best as possible using flares or hazard lights and remove all people from the disabled vehicles. If there are serious injuries, do not move the injured persons unless you are trained to do so or if they are in danger. Moving an injured person could cause additional injury.

Contact Authorities
Local authorities should then be contacted about the accident, especially if there are injuries involved. If there are no injuries, depending upon the location of the accident, this step may be skipped due to local laws.

Exchange Information
Obtain the insurance information, driver’s license number, and license plate number for every vehicle involved from the other driver or drivers involved in the accident.

Take Photos of the Scene
 Nearly all cell phones have cameras on them, use it to help document the accident scene. Be sure to take pictures of the vehicles involved as well as things like sight lines, skid marks, wet pavement, debris field and even the drivers themselves. This will help paint the picture of how the accident may have occurred.

Seek Medical Attention
Many brain and spine injury symptom develop in the days and weeks after an accident. You should seek medical attention even if you do not believe you have been injured. 

Do Not Talk to Insurance Companies
It is possible a representative from an insurance company will arrive to help expedite the claims process. If an insurance rep shows up do not talk to them, even if they are form your insurance provider. The police will take statements from those involved and make it official record. Making multiple statements may create conflicting information that could be used against you.

Contact an Attorney
After you or a loved one is involved in an accident, consider hiring an attorney. This is especially if you have been injured or have been offered a settlement by and insurance company.

If you are in need of legal counsel due to an automobile accident, contact the team at Hopkins, Barvie and Hopkins, PLLC. Our team has the skills and experience to help you get the compensation you deserve!

Have you been involved in a Premises Liability injury?

Premises liability law covers claims that result where an injury was caused by some type of unsafe or defective condition on someone's property. They can take place at private residences, commercial property or commercial buildings. Some of the more common places where there are cases involving premises liability are in casinos and large retail stores including grocery, discount and malls due to the large volume of people that enter their places of business.

If you have sustained a personal injury due to the property owner’s negligence or recklessness, you may be able to get compensation for your injuries. This may include compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and loss of earning capacity. If a loved one has died due to premise liability you may be able to file a wrongful death claim.

Among the top reasons people file premises liability claims are:

• Falling Object
• Trip and falls
• Slip and fall either inside or outside of the building
• Fires
• Dog Bites
• Inadequate fencing of swimming pools
• Failed maintenance – loose guardrails, collapsed ceiling, hole in the floor, dangerous sidewalks or other hazardous conditions.
• Crime committed on the business owner’s property against the employee or customer 

The insurance company for the property where the accident occurred may try to quickly contact anyone injured as a result of the accident and attempt to settle any claims before the injured person has consulted an attorney. If you or a loved one are involved in a premises liability or other accident we strongly recommend that you do not talk to the insurance company for the property owner before you consult with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney.

Depend on Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C. to quickly and thoroughly investigate your claim and move your case toward a successful resolution, be it through a favorable settlement or verdict. Contact us online or call 228-864-2200 to schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced premises liability attorney today.

With more than 68 years of combined legal experience, our team at Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C. 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.

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.

Distracted Driving is Deadly Serious

This month our blog is on the subject of distracted driving. We have blogged on this subject several times as we cannot stress enough the importance of driving safely without distractions.
 

Simply put do not engage in other activities while driving. This can be talking to a passenger, grooming, texting, cell phone calls, eating or drinking, reading, watching videos or adjusting a radio. Any activity that diverts your attention away from driving is a distraction and can increase your chance of a motor vehicle accident.

There are three main groups of distractions, which are manual, visual or cognitive.

Manual distraction involved taking your hands off the wheel, visual distraction is taking your eyes off the road and cognitive distraction is when the driver’s mind wanders and is not on the act of driving.

Distracted driving is deadly serious! Our younger drivers are at the greatest risk for accidents causes by distracted driving. The following are some statistics taken from distraction.gov:

·    10% of drivers of all ages under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.

·    Drivers in their 20s make up 27 percent of the distracted drivers in fatal crashes. (NHTSA)

·    A quarter of teens respond to a text message once or more every time they drive. 20 percent of teens and 10 percent of parents admit that they have extended multi-message text conversations while driving.(UMTRI)

 

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Facts and Statistics each day in the United States, more than 9 people are killed and more than 1,153 people are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver.

We urge you to drive safely and to avoid distractions. If you have to make a phone call, stop in a parking lot or other protected area.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a distracted driver you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney at Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C and we will evaluate your case at no cost or obligation. Contact us online or call 228-864-2200 to schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced lawyer.

At Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C., we defend your interests and protect your legal rights. With more than 67 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys offer our 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.

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.

 

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

Automobile Accidents

As Gulfport accident attorneys we hear daily about automobile accidents along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The worst scenarios are those involving the loss of a human live or injuries that result in lengthy hospitalization and rehabilitation.

The statistics involving automobile accidents are alarming. Findings from the Insurance Research Council's (IRC) Auto Injury Insurance Claims Study show that medical expenses that were reported by auto injury claimants continue to increase faster than the rate of inflation, in spite of the fact that the severity of the injuries themselves remain on a downward trend. 

Many automobile accident results from errors that can produce life chancing consequences not only for those involved but also their families and dependents. The cause of automobile accidents varies depending on the person, weather conditions and time of the accident. There are many causes of automobile accidents and we have listed several below:

• Alcohol Related
• Speeding
• Red Light Running
• Fatigue
• Tailgating
• Distracted Driving

In some cases an automobile accident can be caused by multiple issues such as speeding and alcohol related.

In addition to being traumatized by an automobile accident, many people are frustrated by the delays and denials by insurance companies. Whether it is keeping your claim moving through the insurance maze or assisting you to get the compensation you deserve Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C  has the necessary resources and experience to effectively assist you with your automobile accident. We will discuss your situation in detail and go over the various options that are available to you. We will work with insurance companies and other parties involved to make sure that all your needs are handled quickly and appropriately.

If you or a loved one has suffered a vehicle injury you need to hire an experienced automobile accident attorney who can help make sure you receive the compensation you deserve. 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 automobile accidents. With more than 68 years of combined legal experience, we are dedicated to helping victims throughout that state of Mississippi with the representation they need.

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

Contact us online or call 228-864-2200 to schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced auto accident lawyer. Or, email us, like us on Facebook or follow us on LinkedIn. Just click below. 

 

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

We have all read or heard the recent stories regarding distracted drivers. A couple examples are:

School Bus Driver was distracted prior to Wethersfield CT crash on April 2, 2015 when she rear ended a jeep. This crash sent nine (9) people to the hospital.

Hartford CT police hand out close to 100 tickets during the first leg of a month long, state wide effort to prevent distracted driving. The campaign is entitled, “U DRIVE. U TEST. U PAY.”

Keep in mind that ANY activity that can divert your attention away from the task of driving is considered distracted driving. This includes but is not limited to anything that involves using your cell phone; Eating or drinking; Engaging with passengers, children or pets; Applying make-up or shaving; or reading a map. If you need to do any of these pull your vehicle over and handle them safely.

If you are one of the eighty percent of American drivers that believe hands free devices are safer than using a handheld phone the National Safety Council (NSC) states that is not the case. More than 30 studies have shown hands free devices are no safer because the brain remains distracted by conversation. The NSC stated that when talking on a cell phone, drivers can miss seeing up to half of what’s around them, such as stop signs, traffic lights and pedestrians.

So put down your cell phone, do not text and drive, stop eating that sandwich when driving and keep your hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road. Take the pledge to drive cell free.

We urge you to educate yourself on the dangers of distracted driving. To practice safe driving habits and to speak out if the driver in your vehicle is distracted. And remember that Mississippi House Bill 389 becomes effective July 1, 2015 which prohibits drivers from typing, sending or reading text messages, emails or social media messages.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a distracted driver you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney at Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C and we will evaluate your case at no cost or obligation. Contact us online or call 228-864-2200 to schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced lawyer.

At Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C., we defend your interests and protect your legal rights. With more than 67 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys offer our 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.