If you are involved in a car accident, there are certain things you can do to protect yourself and your interests. The following is a list of the things you should do if you are in an car accident:

Make Sure you are Okay: Health and safety always come first. It is important to determine if you’re able to move without causing further injury to yourself. If not, remain where you are until emergency units arrive to help you.

Call 911: Whether or not there are serious injuries, it is a good idea to call the police. You may need a police report to file a claim with your insurance company, even if the claim is just for vehicle damage. The vehicles involved in the accident should remain where they are, unless they interfere with traffic.

Get the Other Driver’s Information: Make sure you write down the names and contact information of the other party (including passengers) who were involved in the accident.

Do Not Admit Guilt or Apologize: To protect yourself, it’s important that you should never admit or accept fault during an accident or afterward. You should remain silent even if you think you caused the accident, because there may be other factors beyond your control that contributed to it.

Take Photos and Write Notes for Your Insurance Claim: Document as many details as you can with your phone or a notepad. Take plenty of photos and video at the scene to support your documentation and if you have visible injuries, take pictures of them as well.

Seek Medical Attention: Often, injuries caused by car accidents are not immediately apparent. It is still vital that you undergo a complete medical checkup even if you do not feel any pain.

Keep A File: Keep all your accident-related documents and information together, and if you have been injured, keep all medical reports to serve as evidence in future lawsuits.

Protect Your Rights: Perhaps the most important thing you should do after an accident is to consult an experienced accident lawyer. Your Lawyer can protect your rights and avoid destroying valuable evidence and will provide you with clear information about your rights and build a strong case for your recovery.

If you or a loved one have been involved in an accident, report your claim online or call us to schedule a FREE consultation with a Garland Car Accident Attorney at 214-321-4105.

The post Helpful Tips If You’re in a Car Accident first appeared on Accident Attorney Garland | Personal Injury Lawyer.

214-321-4105

If you have been involved in a car accident in Garland, Texas, it is very important to know that documentation will be critical in the event you need to take legal action.

Accidents that lead to injuries can result in lost wages, pain and suffering, medical costs that are not covered by insurance, inconvenience, missed time with family members and financial distress. For this reason, it may be necessary to be properly compensated for your injuries.

When involved in a car accident, if you are physically able, make sure you document as much as possible at the scene. This includes gathering statements from witnesses, their contact information, photos and video of all vehicles involved in the accident, and documentation of any medical care received at the scene or in a hospital or physician’s office.

For your convenience, we now provide an Auto Accident App for existing and/or potential clients. To download our FREE Accident App, click here. This helpful App will assist you in properly documenting your injuries and all things related to your accident. These items will be very important down the road.

Our law firm handles all aspects of traffic-related injuries, including simple guidance and consultation to negotiating fair settlements with insurance companies to preparing for jury trials.

Accident Attorney in Garland

If you have been injured in a car accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, contact one of our experienced accident attorneys to discuss your rights as an accident victim.

Our office is experienced in all aspects related to personal injuries claims and personal injury litigation.

The post Why Documentation Is Important In Garland Car Accidents first appeared on Accident Attorney Garland | Personal Injury Lawyer.

*****Download our new accident app for iphone and android phones. Search for Beltz Law Accident App.****** 

214-321-4105

Over the years, our firm has handled many auto accidents in Garland and throughout the Dallas metroplex. Each case is unique and presents obstacles that must be overcome in order to resolve the matter successfully. One hurdle we often face concerns the necessity of prolonged medical treatment. Wrongfully injured persons rarely can control or predict the extent of their injuries. Usually, the treating doctor formulates a plan to help resolve the client’s issues based on numerous factors. However, the course of treatment is not always static and can change at a moment’s notice. Therefore, the auto accident claim must be willing to adapt as necessary.

Sometimes, we are faced with the possibility that the necessary medical treatment will not be covered by the expected policy limits. In other words, the “pie” is not big enough to accommodate all medical treatments available. That can be a dilemma when a person is in pain or suffering and needs the proper medical care but the other party’s insurance coverage is not sufficient to cover all contingencies.

Fortunately, there are options if the client is well insured. Most “full coverage” policies include uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage for situations just like the ones listed above. Additionally, many policies include Personal Injury Protection (PIP) which can help relieve some of the financial burden. These additional policy coverages are not always available; however, even if they are included, may present their own issues when trying to get the injured client the best medical care available. Future blogs will address some of these issues in more detail.

Although we have not encountered every possible scenario, we welcome the opportunity to discuss your case with you in detail at your convenience. Contact us to set your appointment.

To discuss your injuries for FREE with a licensed attorney, please refer to the following:

Accident Attorney in Garland

The post Medical Treatment v. Policy Limits: Another Hurdle in the Personal Injury Race first appeared on Accident Attorney Garland | Personal Injury Lawyer.

214-321-4105

In Texas, the law provides a way for hospitals to secure an interest in your personal injury case for payment of their services. This is known as a hospital lien and if perfected, it can make or break the recovery in a case. Liens can be frustrating and can delay the settlement process. Our firm understands the laws regarding hospital liens and will fight to help you settle those liens and help you move on with your life.

Chapter 55 of the Texas Property Code lays out the laws regarding liens and how it comes into existence and what must happen for it become valid. Basically, if you were admitted into a hospital within 72 hours of an accident for injuries related to the accident, then the hospital can file a lien against the claim for compensation. The lien must be filed with the county clerk’s office before any disbursement of funds for the accident injuries are made. The lien continues until paid in full and discharged under the law.

Our office has experience with hospital liens and how to make make your settlement work to get your liens paid. Not all liens have to be paid in full before a release of lien can be obtained. We can negotiate a reduction in those liens and understand the laws regarding the charges made part of the value of the lien. A hospital is required to place a lien for no more than fair value of those services. If you have liens, you need our help.
You do not have to endure the claims process alone. We work on a contingency fee basis with car accidents and can help you. There is no reason that you should be a victim twice when you are hit by a negligent driver. Our office can review your accident case and provide you with an honest and fair assessment of your claim. To arrange a free consultation, call our office today. Our office can be contacted as follows:

The Beltz Law Firm

*****Download our new accident app for iphone and android phones. Search for Beltz Law Accident App.****** 

1) By Phone – 214-321-4105

2) In Person – We are located at 8360 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, #260 and are available Mon – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

3) Via Live Chat

4) By Email – You can email our office by filling out the form on THIS PAGE

5) Download our new accident app for your iphone or android phone and submit your accident information from your smart phone

The post Understanding Texas Hospital Liens first appeared on Accident Attorney Garland | Personal Injury Lawyer.

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Garland Municipal Court

For many people injured in a car accident, they are unable to quantify a total value of their damages. Damages include bodily injury, property damage, medical expenses, lost income, mental and emotional pain and suffering, physical pain and suffering, and loss of value to a person’s quality of life. In fact, most people only want to be fairly compensated for their expenses related to their property loss and medical expenses. It is difficult to comprehend the value of a claim unless you understand what damages are worth in today’s judicial “market,” a.k.a., what juries are awarding at trial.

In the beginning, a car accident is difficult to value because there are too many variables that impose problems in calculating a potential recovery. As the case progresses, such as medical treatment is finalized, the injured person returns to work, and the injured person begins to feel better, then an understanding of the scope of damages can be assessed to determine a value. Of course, little differences in types of treatment and other losses can increase or decrease the value of an accident case.

Our office will gather all the available evidence in your case and establish a demand amount to submit to the insurance company. The demand amount is based on the total cost of economic damages which are tangible (i.e., medical bills, lost wages, out of pocket expenses) and multiply that amount by three for your pain and suffering. For example, if your economic damages totaled $10,000.00, we would send out a demand for $30,000.00 to settle your case. The reason we use three as multiplier is because in North Texas, that is the average amount of compensation awarded by a jury at trial. There is no guarantee that your case will settle for the amount of the demand made, however, we expect that somewhere in the middle of the two numbers is fair and reasonable. Of course, your situation may warrant a higher demand because the damages were more serious in nature than actual costs. There your pain and suffering may be worth more. Each case rests on its own merits.

While others may “encourage” their clients to quickly file a lawsuit, we prefer to settle a case for a fair amount without the burden, expense, and time it takes to get a case in front of a jury. We do this because our focus is your recovery and your well being. A trial is hard on everyone involved and is not the first solution in a personal injury case. You were injured and you deserve compensation. There is no reason that you should be a victim twice when you are hit by a negligent driver. Our office can review your accident case and provide you with an honest and fair assessment of your claim. To arrange a free consultation, call our office today. Our office can be contacted as follows:

Garland Accident Attorney

*****Download our new accident app for iphone and android phones. Search for Beltz Law Accident App.****** 

1) By Phone – 214-321-4105

2) In Person – We are located at 8360 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, #260 and are available Mon – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

3) Via Live Chat

4) By Email – You can email our office by filling out the form on THIS PAGE

5) Download our new accident app for your iphone or android phone and submit your accident information from your smart phone

The post “How Much Is My Case Worth” first appeared on Accident Attorney Garland | Personal Injury Lawyer.

214-321-4105

Car Wreck in Garland

The death of a loved one is difficult event to endure. When the loved one is taken away from you due to the negligence of another, it can be unbearable to deal with. Nothing can replace the presence of your family member in your life. We understand your grief and work to ensure that your family is treated with respect and dignity during the insurance claims process. A wrongful death claim is about holding the liable party responsible for a preventable accident, not to put a price on the value of your loved one’s life. You are suffering and deserve financial help for your unnecessary loss.

Generally, a wrongful death claim is filed on behalf of the estate of the deceased. A spouse, children, or parent(s) have the right (standing) to bring a claim. Unlike a personal injury claim after a simple car accident, a wrongful death seeks compensation for damages such as emergency room / hospital bills, funeral expenses, loss of consortium, loss of companionship, loss of household contributions, loss of future earnings for the family, pain and suffering for the loss.

After a consultation with our office, we will assist you in resolving the insurance claim to help your grieving and pain. We focus on proving liability against the responsible party and get you fair compensation for economic loss and pain and suffering. We believe the family of a lost one is also a victim in a wrongful death claim and should be treated as such. You deserve respect and honor. Our office can review the facts about the fatal accident and provide you with an honest and fair assessment of your claim. To arrange a free consultation, call our office today. Our office can be contacted as follows:

The Beltz Law Firm

*****Download our new accident app for iphone and android phones. Search for Beltz Law Accident App.****** 

1) By Phone – 214-321-4105

2) In Person – We are located at 8360 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, #260 and are available Mon – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

3) Via Live Chat

4) By Email – You can email our office by filling out the form on THIS PAGE

5) Download our new accident app for your iphone or android phone and submit your accident information from your smart phone

The post Wrongful Death Accidents first appeared on Accident Attorney Garland | Personal Injury Lawyer.

214-321-4105

Car Crash in Garland

If you have been in an accident and believe you were wholly or partially at fault, you may hesitate to contact an attorney for help because you believe there is nothing that can be done for you. The truth is that liability is only part of the accident equation. Also, fault is not always assigned to one person. Sometimes, the victim may be partially responsible for the damages.

For example, a person who is speeding and then comes to a quick stop due to a traffic light may cause a motorist behind him to rear end his vehicle. Most people would argue that the person who hits another from behind is the responsible party for the accident. However, the laws of Texas are pretty clear in that every driver is responsible for ensuring that their driving does not cause another to collide with them or another person. Therefore, the first driver may be partially responsible for the injuries but for his speeding and reckless driving.

It has become commonplace for insurance companies to fight with you about responsibility. Even if liability is clear, they will try anything to justify paying you  nothing or next to nothing. An experienced attorney knows how to zealously advocate for you in such situations. Even if you were partially at fault, do not let that deter you from seeking justice for what has happened to you.

In order to bring a successful resolution to your case, you must make the first step and contact our office for a free consultation. Remember, there is no reason that you should be a victim twice when you are hit by a negligent driver. Our office can review your accident case and provide you with an honest and fair assessment of your claim. To arrange a free consultation, call our office today. Our office can be contacted as follows:

Accident Attorney in Garland

*****Download our new accident app for iphone and android phones. Search for Beltz Law Accident App.****** 

1) By Phone – 214-321-4105

2) In Person – We are located at 8360 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, #260 and are available Mon – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

3) Via Live Chat

4) By Email – You can email our office by filling out the form on THIS PAGE

5) Download our new accident app for your iphone or android phone and submit your accident information from your smart phone

The post Partial Liability Accident Claims first appeared on Accident Attorney Garland | Personal Injury Lawyer.

214-321-4105

Accident in Garland

Cars today are filled with enough gadgets and gizmos that some put the space shuttle to shame. All that technology may contribute to a host of new problems we see that cause accidents. Distracted driving is fast becoming the new “drunk driving.” Not literally, but studies have shown that texting and driving can be more dangerous than driving while intoxicated. That does not mean you should go out and drive drunk of course. Rather, we want to highlight the ways people can lose their attention while driving causing an accident to occur. Here are some of the latest distractions causing accidents across the country:

• Texting while driving
• Talking on the cell while driving
• Ipod or MP3 use while driving
• Navigation use while driving
• Ipad or tablet use while driving

These tasks have become more prevalent in accidents due to their high interface value. High interface value is the amount of human interface and concentration it takes to operate the device or perform the task which leads to a distraction from the road. Before the age of cell phones and navigation, the radio caused the most distraction for drivers. Eating, drinking, and putting on makeup were common causes of distraction. All these “old” distractions still exist today but are just in addition to the new distractions listed above.

The billboards do not lie. We are being told over and over again that we are driving more distracted everyday. Here are some alarming statistics about texting and driving:

• In 2011, over 1.3 million accidents involved cell phone use
• The minimum time it takes to text while driving is 5 seconds. If you are traveling at 55 mph, you will have traveled the length of a football field without watching the road
• Among activities that take your eyes off the road, texting increases the chances that you will be involved in a car accident by 23 times. For reference, talking on the phone increases your chances by 1.3 times, reaching for a device increases your chances by 1.8 times, and dialing increases your chances by 2.8 times
• Drivers, 18-20 years of age, make up the group most likely to drive and text
• An alarming majority of adults, as well as teenagers, admit to texting and driving

If you are hit by a distracted driver, you must know how to fight for your rights. Many times, distracted drivers lie about what they were doing at the time of the accident. No one wants to admit they were wrong. You need an attorney on your side who will fight to help you get what you deserve. Remember, there is no reason that you should be a victim twice when you are hit by a negligent driver. Our office can review your accident case and provide you with an honest and fair assessment of your claim. To arrange a free consultation, call our office today. Our office can be contacted as follows:

Accident Attorney in Garland

*****Download our new accident app for iphone and android phones. Search for Beltz Law Accident App.****** 

1) By Phone – 214-321-4105

2) In Person – We are located at 8360 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, #260 and are available Mon – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

3) Via Live Chat

4) By Email – You can email our office by filling out the form on THIS PAGE

5) Download our new accident app for your iphone or android phone and submit your accident information from your smart phone

The post Distracted Driving Car Accidents first appeared on Accident Attorney Garland | Personal Injury Lawyer.

214-321-4105

Accident in Garland

The complexity of a car accident claim is made more difficult when you are involved in a multiple car accident. The main issue in these accidents is liability. Who is at fault? Indeed, there may be one person who was the catalyst but others who contributed to the severity of the accident. For example, Car #1 is the first car stopped at a red light. Car #2 stops behind Car #1 less than a car length from Car #1’s rear bumper. Car #3 fails to stop his vehicle in time and collides with the rear bumper of Car #2. Car #2 subsequently is pushed into the rear of Car #1. Who has liability for the damages? Clearly, Car #3 is responsible for initiating the accident. However, Car #2 can be partially to blame for the damages to Car #1 because Car #2 failed to maintain a safe distance from Car #1 when he came to a stop. If Car #2 had stopped 2 car lengths back, the accident may not have caused him to collide with Car #1. Then again, maybe any distance would not have mattered if Car #3’s impact with Car #2 was too great. The point is that multiple car accidents usually involve multiple causes of action and apportionments of liability. An experienced personal injury attorney can sort out the confusion and advocate for his client’s best interest.

As with any case involving multiple drivers, there lies the possibility that there will be multiple insurance companies. Insurance companies treat each other no different than you or me. They will do anything in their power to not pay their fair portion of an accident. Therefore, you need an attorney who knows how to “convince” an uncooperative insurance company to play ball. Nothing unethical of course; rather, the ability to bring a resistant insurance company to their senses and actively participate in the settlement process before resolving the case gets out of control.

Remember, there is no reason that you should be a victim twice when you are hit by a negligent driver. Our office can review your accident case and provide you with an honest and fair assessment of your claim. To arrange a free consultation, call our office today. Our office can be contacted as follows:

Garland Accident Attorney

*****Download our new accident app for iphone and android phones. Search for Beltz Law Accident App.****** 

1) By Phone – 214-321-4105

2) In Person – We are located at 8360 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, #260 and are available Mon – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

3) Via Live Chat

4) By Email – You can email our office by filling out the form on THIS PAGE

5) Download our new accident app for your iphone or android phone and submit your accident information from your smart phone

The post Multiple Vehicle Car Accidents first appeared on Accident Attorney Garland | Personal Injury Lawyer.

214-321-4105A car versus a pedestrian does not seem like a fair match. It isn’t because the pedestrian always loses. In auto-pedestrian accidents, the injuries can be severe and traumatizing for an injured person. Imagine, you are not in any way protected from the impact during the accident like in a car. There are not air bags on the street to cushion your blow. Even the slightest nudge can cause serious injuries.

Auto-pedestrian accidents can be highly litigated because the drivers often contest their liability. They claim the pedestrian was not using a cross walk or just jumped out from behind a parked car and the driver could not see them before the collision. The important key is to properly investigate the accident to determine who was really at fault. For example, a driver may claim he could not see a pedestrian because they were in between two vehicles. Rather than take their word, we will recreate the accident to determine if it would have been possible for the pedestrian to be seen before the collision. Never just take their word. Investigation is the key.

We represented an elderly lady who was run over by an 18-wheeler leaving a delivery at a local restaurant. Our client was walking on the sidewalk when the driver of the 18-wheeler decided to leave the adjoining parking lot and turned his trailer right over her foot. She was attempting to back away from the vehicle. The driver claimed he could not see her because she was too small and his mirrors were not in a position to show her location in relation to the truck. Our investigation into his statements proved that he was lying and he could see her in his mirrors but he was apparently not paying attention to pedestrians on the sidewalk as he drove across it. Because he showed his true colors, we were able to secure a fair and reasonable jury verdict against the driver.

Remember, there is no reason that you should be a victim twice when you are hit by a negligent driver. Our office can review your accident case and provide you with an honest and fair assessment of your claim. To arrange a free consultation, call our office today. Our office can be contacted as follows:

The Beltz Law Firm

*****Download our new accident app for iphone and android phones. Search for Beltz Law Accident App.****** 

1) By Phone – 214-321-4105

2) In Person – We are located at 8360 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, #260 and are available Mon – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

3) Via Live Chat

4) By Email – You can email our office by filling out the form on THIS PAGE

5) Download our new accident app for your iphone or android phone and submit your accident information from your smart phone

The post Auto-Pedestrian Accidents first appeared on Accident Attorney Garland | Personal Injury Lawyer.