What Makes an Injury “Catastrophic”?

Every fifteen seconds someone is injured in a car accident.

Every thirteen and a half minutes someone is killed in a car accident.

Those statistics seem pretty daunting, but keep in mind that if you don’t drive under the influence, mind the speed limit, and use your seatbelt, your risks go way down.

But there are always those factors outside of your control.  Even though there are many crashes that don’t result in injury, there are a number that result in what is known as catastrophic injury.  It’s a term that many of us don’t fully understand, so let’s hear what the Car Crash Captain has to say about catastrophic injuries.

What Defines Catastrophic Injuries?

There’s a rather simple definition for catastrophic injuries.  But as we know, simple can be cause for open interpretation.  When it comes down to it, you need a car wreck lawyer to help you navigate the waters so insurance companies don’t downplay the serious nature of these injuries.

A catastrophic injury is any injury that causes permanent disability, or disrupts a major bodily function.

As you can see that definition leaves things open to interpretation.  A broken toe can cause you to walk with a limp, but it likely doesn’t meet the criteria for a catastrophic injury.

Examples of Catastrophic Injuries

To clear things up a bit, let’s go through a handful of examples of what could happen after a car wreck.  These examples are generally considered to be catastrophic injuries, and cause a diminished quality of life for those who sustain them.

• Loss of one or more senses
• Limb amputation
• Severe burns
• Organ damage
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries

With any of these injuries it’s easy to see that the victim will have to dramatically change how he or she lives after the wreck.

What to do if You, or a Loved One, Sustain such an Injury

Immediately following any wreck that involves injury, seek medical attention.

If your loved one has sustained a catastrophic injury, they won’t want to refuse medical attention.  There will likely be surgeries, hospital stays, medical treatments, and specialty medical devices necessary.  While your loved one is undergoing treatment, your next step is to contact a personal injury lawyer.

Insurance companies will pay for the property damage, and likely they will pay for the bulk of the medical treatment.

But there’s going to be a lot more financial stress following an accident like this.  Your loved one might not ever work again.  Your home might need to be modified to accommodate diminished movement abilities, there will be ongoing treatment and therapy, and you may end up suffering emotionally as well.

It’s going to take far more than the insurance company is offering to ensure that you and your loved one can live a life of some normalcy.

Herbert Law Group is on Your Side After a Wreck

Personal injury lawyers are on your side after a wreck.  The goal is to make sure that you get the treatment you need, without the financial worry that comes with it.

Don’t try to take it all on yourself.  Let the experts at Herbert Law Group handle the insurance and legal aspects while you handle the intensive healing that comes after a major injury.

Call us at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site, and we’ll be in touch for your free initial consultation.

What Complications can Arise after a Wreck?

After being injured in a car wreck, many people believe that they can receive treatment, heal from their injuries, and then get right back to life as they knew it before the accident.

Sure, there are some who have permanent disabilities, like being paralyzed or losing a limb, but those are the outliers, right?  Most people heal and move on?  Not exactly; a study published in 2004 found over 1.2 million adults were living with a disability due to crash related injuries.

What sort of long-term complications might be expected from a car wreck?  What should we be aware of if tragedy hits?  Herbert Law Group, Dallas area personal injury lawyers, breaks it down for you.

Head Injuries are some of the Most Common

15% of fatal car crashes are due to traumatic brain injuries (TBI).  But TBI isn’t the only head injury that can cause long-term complications or even death.  The head is a delicate vessel; when you are in a car wreck, the brain can be damaged easily.

• Concussions: Hitting your head hard causes the brain to move.  When it “bounces” around inside the skull it can cause severe headaches and concussions.
• Fractures: When hit hard enough your skull can crack.
• Coup Injuries: A coup injury is one where there is any damage to the brain at the point of impact (a concussion is a type of coup injury).
• Diffuse Axonal Injuries: Severe trauma causes connecting fibers to tear; these injuries often lead to coma.

Hitting your head, even if it doesn’t seem like a big impact, is a serious injury.  These can take a long time to heal, and in many cases your body may never fully recover.

Spinal and Joint Injuries Cause Lasting Pain

One of the most common injuries in a car accident is whiplash.  When your head jerks back and forth suddenly, it can pull, strain, or even tear ligaments in the neck.

This type of spinal injury can be intensely painful, and the only recovery is to wait and allow the body to heal.

But it can be even worse.  Severe car accidents can lead to broken bones, including spinal fractures, some may cause paralysis.

Long-term complications can include being confined to a wheelchair, intense physical therapy, and re-learning to walk over time.

Dismemberment or Loss of Limb Injuries

How would your life change if you had to live without a limb?

Severe car accidents can cause dismemberment.  Anything from losing a finger, to an arm or a leg, will drastically change your life.  Long-term complications can go far beyond just learning how to live life without that limb; but also include complicated follow-up medical procedures.

And no matter how complicated the physical injury, there are always mental effects that can linger.

Lasting Psychological Effects Can’t be Ignored

Often we don’t associate physical injuries with psychological injuries.  But when you go through a traumatic experience, one that results in injury or death, there will be impacts on your mental health.

Therapy and counseling to deal with the PTSD that comes with a massive car wreck are not uncommon.  These effects can last months and even years, causing you to suffer a diminished quality of life.

Many people try to “suck it up” and ignore these problems.  But if you are the victim of a car wreck, you shouldn’t have to “suck it up.”  You deserve healing.

Come to Herbert Law Group after Your Wreck

After a wreck, the insurance company will try to make a settlement offer as quickly as possible.  Their goal is to pay you off before you understand the long-term complications that could come with your injuries.

Herbert Law Group has been through this with a lot of clients.  We know what to expect, and how the complications can continue to pop up later in life.  Complications that you shouldn’t have to worry about let alone worry about how to pay for them!

That’s why we want to talk to you after your car accident.  We want to help you receive compensation that fully covers your injuries.

Give us a call at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site, and we’ll be in touch for your free conversation.

When Sudden Braking Causes a Wreck

One of the classic demonstrations of road rage is the brake check.  You know the one, when a vehicle quickly brakes in front of another for no reason other than to cause frustration.

If you run into the back of someone, after they have brake checked you, who is at fault?

Unfortunately, without the proper evidence, fault isn’t as easy as it may sound.  Listen in as your Texas car accident lawyer explains what you need to know.

When Brake Checking isn’t Malicious

A brake check, by definition, is malicious.  If you were brake checked and it wasn’t malicious, then it’s what is called sudden braking.

These sudden brakes can happen for a number of reasons, which generally include:

• Animals running onto the roadway
• Vehicles pulling into the roadway
• Other obstacles seen at the last minute

If a vehicle brakes suddenly in front of you, so they can avoid a wreck, and you rear-end them.  You may likely be found at fault for failing to maintain a safe distance.

Why Someone May Brake Check You

If you were brake checked it’s probably the result of road rage.  You may have inadvertently (or perhaps intentionally) cut someone off in traffic.  They want revenge and are bent on making you suffer.  There are three primary reasons for brake checking.

1 – Insurance Fraud – There are some people out there that insist on making money through fraud.  By braking suddenly in front of you, they hope you rear-end them and they can file a claim where they profit.

2 – Road Rage – As mentioned earlier, you may be brake checked simply because someone is an angry driver.  You may not have even caused their anger, but you become the victim.

3 – Reckless Driving – Some drivers, are trying to have a bit of fun by riling up other drivers.  By brake checking they get a kick out of watching another driver panic.

Regardless of the reasons, the results are often the same: a situation that can end up deadly for other drivers on the road.

Determining Fault when Brake Checked

Without very solid evidence, it’s hard to determine fault in a brake check accident.

Did the other driver brake suddenly because there was an obstacle in the road, or because they were irritated with you and wanted revenge?  How will you prove that there was nothing in front of them?

This is one of the many reasons we recommend all drivers have a dash cam in their vehicle.  With solid video evidence, it’s much easier to disprove the lies of another motorist.

Without that video evidence, all is not lost.  You can still prove that you are the victim with witness statements, and sometimes the credibility of your word versus their word (do you have a history of poor driving habits?  Do they have a history of poor driving habits?  Are there other indicators that they might not be telling the truth?).

Get in Touch with Herbert Law Group Today

Because of the difficulty proving that you were the victim, and not the other driver, that is why you need a car accident attorney in Dallas after you have been brake checked.

Our lawyers know what to look for, how to spot the fraud, and how to argue that they were raging or manipulating you into a wreck.

Give us a call at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our website, and let’s get started with a simple conversation.  Let’s see if Herbert Law Group is a good fit, and let you pursue the justice that you deserve.

The Best Child Safety is Prevention; but Often that’s not Possible

Nobody is out there trying to get into a car wreck.  That’s especially true with parents who are transporting their children.

Our goal is to arrive safely, without any issues.  Because we care about our kids and their safety, we have a number of devices and best practices to ensure if an accident does happen the likelihood of them being injured is kept to a minimum.

Sometimes, however, life gets in the way and we forget how to ensure their safety.  So we’ve put together a refresher on how to keep children safe in a car accident.

Use the Proper Equipment for the Child

Safety equipment (that is car seats and booster seats) are designed to ensure a safe ride for young bodies.  This equipment doesn’t do as much good if it’s not the right one for the kid, or if it’s not used properly.

Car Seats – From infants to toddlers, a rear-facing car seat will provide maximum protection.  These seats cradle the child, and since most accidents are from the front, they provide the most support.

Booster Seats – Child safety doesn’t stop as they get bigger. As a child grows, they can’t sit in a rear facing seat anymore.  That car seat can be used facing forward, until they exceed the weight limit.  A booster seat will help lift the child up, so that a shoulder belt crosses in the right spot.

Old or Damaged Seats – Did you know that car seats have an expiration date?  All seats come with a sticker that show when they were manufactured.  If it was more than 7 years ago, it’s likely too old.  Along those same lines, any car seat that has gone through an accident already may have hidden damage and no longer be safe.

Your local fire department is trained on how to install a car seat.  If you’re struggling to get the seat into your vehicle just right, swing on by and ask if there is someone who can lend a hand.

Use the Proper Driving Technique for Safety

We could all benefit by driving safely no matter if there are kids in the back seat or not.  But when you’re hauling your precious cargo, it’s time to pay extra attention.

Keep an Eye on Them – As kids age, they get curious.  That curiosity can mean they’re intent on unbuckling themselves, opening windows, and opening doors.  Use the window lock and the child safety lock for the latter two; pull over if they come unbuckled.

Focus on the Road – Kids are distracting.  Just like using your phone while you drive, reading a book while you drive, or doing your makeup while you drive, distractions lead to accidents.  When you’re too distracted by the kids, pull over and get things under control before continuing.

Driving safely isn’t difficult.  Follow the laws of the road, and be extra diligent to pay attention to everything going on around you.

Use the Proper Checklist so Steps aren’t Missed

Parenting can be tiring.  And a tired parent can forget about their kids in the car.  Unfortunately it happens way too often.  A mental checklist whenever you get into the car, or exit the car ensures you don’t miss a step in your child’s safety.

A – Ask yourself if you’re alert enough to drive.

B – Buckle your child or ensure he or she has buckled up.

C – Check their seat belts, your seat belts, and the vehicle.

D – Distractions = eliminated.

E – Ensure you’re driving safely.

F – Follow the laws of the road.

G – Glance into the back seat.

Even if you’re driving without the kids in the car, check the backseat every time.  There are times when we get so into the zone, we forget what we’re doing.  Every time you enter or exit the vehicle, give a quick glance into the back seat to make sure you didn’t forget a kid!

Call Herbert Law Group if Your Child is Injured

Accidents happen.  If you’re being safe, driving with care, and making sure that your kids are safe, they can still happen when another inattentive motorist hits you.

Hopefully the accident will only cause property damage and no injuries.

But that’s not often the case.  If you, or your child, get injured in a car wreck, you need a car wreck lawyer to make sure everything is handled properly.  And that’s exactly what Herbert Law Group provides.

Give us a call at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site, and we’ll be in touch.  Let’s find out what happened, and see how we can help.

9 Tips to Reduce Your Fuel Costs while Staying Safe

Gas in the DFW area is heading toward $5/gallon.  And it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down soon.

If you’re budget minded, then it’s time to take some action to reduce your fuel costs.  Fortunately, these aren’t drastic changes (we’re not going to suggest you ride a bike for your 20+ mile commute… unless you really want to, in which case you’re awesome!).  Instead, these are practical methods anyone can quickly and easily employ.

Change the Way you Drive

We all have some bad driving habits.  Sometimes they’re just annoying (like constantly tapping fingers on the steering wheel), others are dangerous (like changing lanes suddenly without signaling causing a car wreck), others cost you money (like revving the engine).  Here are three ways changing the way you drive can reduce your costs.

Carpool – There’s a good chance someone nearby is going the same direction as you are; probably more than one person.  Finding a carpool buddy reduces your gas usage by half; finding 3 reduces it to a quarter.

Take Public Transit – The DFW area has an incredibly robust bus system.  You can hop on a bus (or two) from just about anywhere in the Metroplex, and get to where you need to go.

Optimize your Route – Planning out your trip can mean saving dozens of miles every day.  Does it take a little extra work?  Sometimes, but saving a hundred gallons of gas each year is probably worth it.

Change the Way you Maintain

Vehicle maintenance not only extends the life of your car, but it can also ensure that you’re not burning through more fuel than necessary.  Check out the three ways that you can ensure your engine is running optimally.

Tire Pressure – Underinflated tires pose a risk.  Not only do you get worse gas mileage, but you risk blowing one out and causing a wreck.

Oil Changes – When was the last time you had your oil changed?  As your oil breaks down, your engine has to work harder.  A harder working engine consumes more gas.

Windows – No, it’s not about keeping them clean (although that’s important for safe driving).  It’s about keeping them up; especially on the highway.  The added drag can drastically cut down on your fuel economy.

Change the Way you Spend

Even if you’re spending less, it still hurts to see those dollars tick up and up at the pump when you do get gas.  Changing up how you spend (and where you spend) can help lessen the sting.

Use an App – There are great apps out there to help you find the cheapest gas around, and there are some that pay you cash back for using them.  Find one that’s convenient, so you can fill up at a lower cost.

Get Store Perks – Many gas stations reward their loyal customers.  Usually it’s as easy as plugging in your phone number to get a little discount per gallon.

Get Credit Card Perks – If you have a rewards based credit card, and the discipline to pay off the balance each month, you can rack up points quickly if you have to fill up often.

Herbert Law Group Helps Car Wreck Victims

Want to know what’s going to cost you far more than spending five bucks a gallon at the pump?

It’s taking a settlement from an insurance company that is looking out for their profits, and not your well-being.  A low-ball settlement might look good at first, but it likely won’t meet all of your needs.

Instead, you focus on healing from your injuries, and don’t worry about the stress of the settlement.  That’s why Herbert Law Group is here.  We’ll take on that stress, so you receive compensation after a car wreck that adequately covers your needs.

To get started, we just need to have a conversation to determine if we’re a good fit.  Give us a call at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site and we’ll be in touch.  No obligation to become a client; let’s get to know each other first.

This is Why Your Car Wreck Results in a Total Loss

By its very nature a wreck is confusing, scary, and often causes physical injury or death.  But when you’re struggling with insurance after your wreck, and they have deemed your vehicle to be a “total loss,” what does that mean and what are you supposed to do?

As your Texas car accident lawyer, we’re here to help ensure that you’re not taken advantage of by the insurance companies.  Let’s start by understanding some of their lingo.

What is a Total Loss?

Total Loss is a term that insurance companies use when it’s determined that the cost to fix the vehicle exceeds the value of the vehicle itself.

For example, you have a car worth $10,000 and you’re hit by another motorist.  The body shop looks things over and determines that it would cost $10,001 (or more) to restore your vehicle.  Because it’s cheaper to replace it; the insurance company says it’s a total loss and cuts you a check for what they determine to be the replacement value.

There’s one big glaring problem here though.  A total loss, in the insurance’s eyes, is anything over 70% of the value of the vehicle.  So if your vehicle is worth $10,000 but will cost $7,000 to fix, it’s still a total loss.

What can You do about a Total Loss Car Wreck?

Let’s suppose you’re right there on the border.  And the insurance company has declared you to be at that 70% threshold, so they’re claiming the vehicle is totaled.

Now what?

You have a couple of options here.  You might still be able to have your vehicle fixed.

First Option: Have the value of the vehicle re-assessed.  Often insurance doesn’t account for everything on your rig.  So if you’ve updated wheels, added off-road lights, tinted the windows, or anything that increases the value of the vehicle, you can have it reassessed so that the repairs don’t go over that 70% mark.

Second Option:  Get a second opinion on repairs.  You can take your rig to any body shop that you want.  If another shop determines the repairs would cost less, you can show that repairs are below 70% of the assessed value.

Third Option:  When a car is totaled the insurance company buys it from you.  You can accept a lower offer for your vehicle, and maintain possession.  This usually isn’t a good deal; the offer usually drops by half, or more, and isn’t worth keeping a crumpled up vehicle.

When does an Attorney help with Your Car Wreck?

Generally speaking, if your wreck didn’t result in injuries, an attorney isn’t going to be able to help very much.  It comes down to the value of your property.

Property, like your vehicle, has a pretty hard and fast amount attached to it.  Even if we argue that the vehicle is worth more than it is on paper (due to sentimental attachment, value as a daily driver, and more), it’s not going to increase the amount you receive by enough to justify the time and effort put into your claim.

Your well-being is worth far more than a vehicle ever will be worth.  If you’re injured, the insurance company knows they can minimize the impact on your life, and throw out a settlement offer that’s not going to fully compensate you for loss.  But if you accept it, they wipe their hands and don’t owe you anything else.

Your car wreck attorney is going to show that you’ve suffered a major loss.  And the insurance company not only needs to pay for the property damage, but pain and suffering that you’re going through.

How to Work with Herbert Law Group

Herbert Law Group knows how to talk with insurance companies.  Your car accident lawyers can persuade and show that you’re suffering and you deserve to have the financial stress removed from your life.

Let’s get started.  Give us a call at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site.  We’ll get to know you, find out the details of your accident, and then just let us handle the rest.

Mental Health can Take a Hit after an Accident

We know the issues that can come up after an accident.  There is a high risk of TBI, or traumatic brain injury.  Broken bones, back problems, lacerations, and more are often results of major car wrecks.  These physical impairments are often easy to see (some hidden injuries do exist).

Some of the most ignored, overlooked, and neglected injuries, however, happen to our mind.  Our mental health can take a serious hit when we’ve experienced trauma.  In order to heal completely, we have to make sure to heal the mind as well as the body.

Mental Health Problems after a Car Wreck

After most accidents, you will experience some form of shock.  Don’t worry, it’s your body’s natural response to trauma.  In the event that medical personnel don’t arrive for some time, that shock will keep you calm until they do.

Shock, however, doesn’t always fade away quickly.  It can last for days, and sometimes even weeks.  Prolonged shock needs to be addressed.

In addition, that traumatic experience can come back in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Usually ascribed to soldiers after being in battle, PTSD isn’t limited to just war-time.  Long after your wreck, flashbacks or nightmares may be triggered by seemingly benign factors.

Other psychological issues can arise after a car accident too.  Anxiety and depression may set in.

Anxiety shows up when it comes time to drive again.  Despite the majority of our time on the road going smoothly and without incident, you may become anxious behind the wheel.  In a state of constant worry that another wreck will happen.

Depression can be a result of being unable to come to terms with these mental health issues.  Hopelessness around the situation and being able to heal can compound and continue to make things worse instead of letting you get better.

How to Heal from Mental Health Problems

There’s no one solution for everybody.  One person may not have any problems after the wreck, while another might suffer for weeks, months, or even years.

No matter what the length of the mental health issues happens to be, the way to heal is the same.

There are counselors, therapists, and psychologists that specialize in helping people after major car accidents.  If you’re in need of mental healthcare after your wreck, it’s important to reach out to them right away so that you can get rid of some of that stress in your life.

How Herbert Law Group Helps you Heal

Healing from psychological wounds takes a lot of focus and time.  When you’re struggling with insurance companies that are trying to minimize your claim, you lose focus and run out of time.

That’s what Herbert Law Group is here for.  We take that battle off your plate, so that you have one goal: to come to terms with what happened, and be able to get on with your life as normally as possible.

If you’re struggling after a wreck, let us help you get on the path to healing.

Fill out the contact form on our site, or give us a call at 214-414-3808.

If you need assistance immediately, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is open 24/7 to help you through hard times.  You can call them at 1-800-273-8255.

Personal Injury Lawyers May Turn You Away

Navigating the tricky legal waters after a wreck is not something the average person should have to go alone.

There are, however, times that a personal injury lawyer will refuse to take on your case.  It’s not that you aren’t worth it, or that you shouldn’t be helped, but usually it’s a matter of whether or not things will work out beneficially for all parties involved.

Here are a few of the times when a car crash case just simply isn’t a good fit.

Conflict of Interest Cases

One of the biggest reasons an attorney might choose not to accept your car crash case, is because there is a conflict of interest.

These reasons can be wide, and can sometimes fall under the catch-all category of “personal reasons.”

But generally it has something to do with the nature of the wreck.  Maybe you were injured by someone that the attorney knows or is related to.  Perhaps the surrounding circumstances would put another case in jeopardy.  Maybe you’re a known drug kingpin generally looked down upon by society and it wouldn’t be a good image to defend you in court.

Legal Fees would be too Expensive

What these cases come down to is finances.  The insurance company is clinging tightly to their money, while you’re requesting enough to cover your bills and compensate you for the trauma you have experienced.

The problem lies in how much it can cost to argue these cases.  And how much time and costs are required by the lawyer before compensation is recovered.  A simple example is that if it’s going to cost $10,000 in court and legal fees, but you’ll only be able to recover $5,000, then it doesn’t make sense to lose money on the case.

The Evidence is not on your Side

Sometimes you might be the victim, but the evidence just isn’t there to justify your car crash case.

Your personal injury lawyer has to have a strong belief that they will win your case.  Losing means that their track record goes down: and they can’t show just how powerful they are in court.  But it also means that they don’t have the resources to stay in business.

Many personal injury lawyers work on a contingent basis (where the lawyer doesn’t get paid until they win your case).  If the chances of winning are slim, it can mean that they spend a lot of money and time and ultimately don’t get paid.  This reduces their ability to fight for future clients.

Herbert Law Group is on Your Side

Should the idea that your case might not be a good fit stop you from reaching out?

Absolutely not!

Our goal is to ensure that anyone injured in a car wreck in Texas has the legal help that they need in order to receive compensation that will actually cover their losses.

The only way that we can make sure we are a good fit is to have a conversation with you.  We want to talk it over, get the details, and if we can help we absolutely will help.

So, let’s chat.  Give us a call at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site, and we will be in touch soon.

Not all Injuries are Visible

Immediately following a wreck, you may not feel as though any damage has been done to your body.  Adrenaline is pumping, there are dozens of things demanding your attention, and you’re wondering “what next?”

It’s not uncommon to walk away from a wreck, only to find out later that you’ve suffered from some severe hidden injuries that, if left untreated, could cause permanent damage, or even have fatal results.

What Hidden Injuries can occur?

One of the most common, and most severe, injuries from a car wreck is damage to the brain.  Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and severe concussions occur in a large number of accidents out there.  But those aren’t the only injuries that result from a severe accident.

The spleen, kidneys, and liver among the most commonly injured organs.  However, the heart and lungs can be injured quite often as well.

Here’s what happens.

When you are in the vehicle, you’re moving along with the speed of your rig.  We have all experienced what happens when we have to slam on the brakes; our bodies try to keep moving forward and are hopefully held in place by our seatbelts (you’re wearing your seatbelt, right?).

Consider your body as the vehicle, and your organs as the passengers.  When your body comes to a sudden stop, your organs try to keep moving inside you in much the same manner as your body does inside the car.  The difference, however, is that your organs aren’t buckled in.

When your body is slammed against a surface, such as the inside of the vehicle or the ground, your organs continue to travel at the same speed until they’re smacked against the inside of your body.

How to know if you have Hidden Injuries

Since your adrenaline is pumping and keeping you alert and more or less numb to pain, how are you supposed to know if you’re suffering from internal injuries?

Your first clue is to look at how severe the wreck was.  Should you have been injured, but somehow you don’t feel as though you were?  There’s a good chance you have some hidden injuries.

The second way to know is because after a severe accident, you should always get checked out by a doctor right away.  The doctor will know what could have been injured in the wreck, and is able to look at some of the less noticeable symptoms that you might not even consider.  Symptoms like dilated pupils, chest pain, numbness, dizziness, and bruising.

Depending on the injury, immediate medical care could end up saving your life.

Let Herbert Law Group Help with your Recovery

There are two recoveries going on after an accident.

The first priority is recovering your health.  Letting one of the car wreck experts at Herbert Law Group handle the legal stuff clears a whole lot of stress off your plate.  Less stress means you can recover your health faster.

The second recovery is monetary.  After a major wreck you are faced with serious losses.  There was damage to your property, damage to your body, damage to your ability to work and function fully, damage to your emotions and psyche, and possibly damage to your relationships.

Will you be able to focus on recovering your health, while you are focusing on recovering your monetary losses as well?

After a car wreck, we need to talk.  Call us at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site and we’ll reach out regarding your free initial consultation.

Knowing your Rights in a Hit and Run Accident

Every year there are around 700,000 hit and run accidents across the US.  That’s almost 15% of all the car accidents on any given year.

That statistic is so high, that if you’re involved in a car wreck, it’s pretty likely that the other person is going to flee the scene.  This puts a lot of unnecessary pressure on you, the victim.  So let’s break this thing down on what you can do, and what you should reasonably expect.

What to Do Immediately Following an Accident

There are two types of crashes: severe and not as severe.  In the severe ones, there are likely injuries, and you may or may not be conscious.  In those situations the best you can do is remain calm and wait for help to arrive.

In the less severe crashes there may still be injuries.  But they aren’t quite as life threatening.  Immediately following the wreck, observe as much as you possibly can.  Make note of the make, model, and color of the vehicle that hit you.  Try to memorize at least a portion of the license plate.

Doing so will greatly increase the chances that the other driver will be found, and held accountable.

What to Expect after a Hit and Run

After the hit and run accident, things will progress similar to an accident where the offending party stuck around; just without the other party.

You’ll want to file a police report right away.  This helps to open the investigation and shows that you are taking this seriously.

Go to the hospital and get checked out right away.  If you’re carrying the proper coverage on your vehicle, medical bills should be covered under uninsured motorist coverage.

Enlist the help of a personal injury lawyer.

Why a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

Car crash lawyers are there to ensure that you aren’t walked all over by the insurance companies.  It’s not about ambulance chasing; it’s about making sure that your rights are upheld and you receive compensation that fully meets your needs.

In most hit and run cases, the offending party is never caught.  Even when they are caught, they likely aren’t carrying insurance.  Suing them may not even do any good because they have no assets to pay for the damage they inflicted.

How would you navigate that if you didn’t have an attorney on your side?  Would you know which avenues to pursue justice?

A personal injury lawyer is there to help you after an accident.

Let Herbert Law Group Help with your Hit and Run

That’s exactly what Herbert Law Group is all about.

We know the laws, what to do after a wreck, and how to talk to the insurance companies.  We know what to say and how to prove that your claim is worth more than what they are trying to offer.

Give us a call at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site to get your free conversation started.

Bonus: Look into carrying Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD).  Most policies only cover medical bills and not damage to your vehicle.  Talk it over with your insurance agent to see if it’s right for you.