The post The True Cost of a Car Accident: Why UM/UIM Coverage is Vital for Texas Drivers first appeared on Mingledorff Law.
]]>If an uninsured or underinsured driver causes an accident, the injured party may be left with significant financial burden and may struggle to pay for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses. UM/UIM coverage helps protect against these risks by providing additional insurance coverage beyond what the at-fault driver’s insurance may cover.
Additionally, UM/UIM coverage can also provide protection in hit-and-run accidents, where the at-fault driver cannot be identified or located. It can also cover damages caused by drivers who are driving without insurance or with inadequate coverage.
In Texas, UM/UIM coverage is not required by law, but it is strongly recommended. According to the Texas Department of Insurance, roughly 1 in 5 drivers in Texas are uninsured, which means that if you’re involved in an accident, there’s a higher chance that the other driver won’t have insurance.
Overall, UM/UIM coverage is important for Texas drivers to have because it offers peace of mind and financial protection in the event of an accident involving an uninsured or underinsured driver.UM/UIM insurance coverage stands for Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage. This type of insurance is designed to protect drivers in the event that they are in an accident with another driver who either doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the damages.
To learn more about Um/UIM benefits, or if you have been in a crash where a UM/UIM coverage is an issue, please pick up the phone and RING MING at 713-832-MING (713-832-6464)#RingMing
The post The True Cost of a Car Accident: Why UM/UIM Coverage is Vital for Texas Drivers first appeared on Mingledorff Law.
]]>The post Should you plead guilty to your first DWI charge in Texas? first appeared on Mingledorff Law.
]]>First, it is crucial to understand that the circumstances of your offense matter. Depending on the prevailing factors, you may be in for serious legal consequences, even if it is your first DWI offense. Here are other reasons why a guilty plea is not always the best way out, even for a first offender.
Just because you have been charged with a DWI does not necessarily mean you are guilty or the prosecution can prove it. Some possible defenses to your DWI charge, including faulty breathalyzer tests, illegal traffic stops or police misconduct, can help your case.
Pleading guilty means admitting that you broke the law. Such an admission comes with legal penalties, such as fines, probation, community service and even jail time. It can also result in a criminal record which may affect your employment, housing and other areas of your life.
When you admit guilt, you automatically waive some of your constitutional rights that can significantly affect the direction of your DWI case. Some rights you give up when you plead guilty include the right to a jury trial and the right against self-incrimination.
No criminal case is infallible, and you may get a desirable verdict for your DWI charge if you have proper legal representation. Pleading guilty forfeits the chance to defend yourself.
The bottom line is that you should not rush to plead guilty. Doing so denies you a fighting chance and sets you up for more severe penalties if you are ever charged with a similar offense.
The post Should you plead guilty to your first DWI charge in Texas? first appeared on Mingledorff Law.
]]>The post 3 things to know about traumatic brain injuries first appeared on Mingledorff Law.
]]>There are a few things that you should remember about TBIs. This information could come in handy if you’re dealing with one or if you’re ever at risk of one.
The symptoms of a TBI may not be evident right away. It can take days and sometimes weeks for symptoms to manifest. This is particularly common when there’s a slow bleed on the brain because effects occur only when there is accumulation of blood on the brain.
A headache is one of the most common symptoms of a TBI. Sensory changes, including vision and hearing changes, are possible. Some people experience mood swings and changes in their sleep habits, loss of consciousness, falling into a coma, etc.
There doesn’t have to be a direct hit to your head for you to suffer a TBI. The way your head flings back and forth or side to side at the time of impact can cause the brain to slam against the skull. This may cause a contrecoup injury, which means there’s damage to the exact opposite sides of the brain.
The effects of a TBI vary from one person to another. The way it affects a person depends on the location and severity of the injury. In some cases, the effects of a TBI are manageable because of time and the medical care a patient may receive.
Suffering a TBI in car crash is a life-changing event. When it’s the result of another person’s negligence, the victim can opt to seek compensation. This can help them to recover the cost of medical care and missed wages as well as other losses. Working with someone who’s familiar with personal injury matters can help victims to achieve this aim efficiently and effectively.
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]]>The post Why truck accident cases in Texas are unique first appeared on Mingledorff Law.
]]>This means that, in order to hold a trucking company accountable for causing harm, an injury victim will likely need to endure two trial phases. In the first phase, they’ll seek compensatory damages against any truck driver involved in the crash in question. In the second phase, they’ll seek exemplary damages from the trucking company if the first phase was successful.
There are several reasons why the new Texas law is unreasonably burdensome to truck accident injury victims. First, it assumes that there are no circumstances under which a trucking company could be liable for harm at the same time that a truck driver is not. This is simply not consistent with reality.
Second, it allows potentially negligent or reckless trucking companies to dictate the “rules of the game.” While the company in question gears up for a legal fight, the injury victim must first mount a case against the truck driver and wait to present their case against the company at the request of that very company.
Finally, it places all of the potential liability for compensatory damages on the driver and only leaves the company in question potentially liable for exemplary damages, which are only awarded under extreme circumstances.
Understanding the challenges of the new bifurcated system will hopefully inspire more injury victims to seek legal assistance in the hopes of having a fighting chance against trucking companies that cause harm.
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]]>The post What to do I do after a T-Bone car accident in Houston, Texas? first appeared on Mingledorff Law.
]]>One of the most important things to do after a T-bone collision is to seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you do not think you have been injured.Always assume you are injured Some injuries, such as whiplash, may not present symptoms until hours or even days after the accident. By getting medical attention immediately, you can document your injuries and begin the process of getting the treatment you need.
It is also important to gather as much evidence as possible at the scene of the accident. This may include taking photographs of the damage to both vehicles, getting the contact information of any witnesses, and making note of any traffic signs or signals that may have been a factor in the accident. It is also important to contact the police and file a report, which can be used as evidence in your personal injury claim. Carefully guard your word when giving statement about liability. Do not ever admit fault or say “sorry,” and do not state you are “okay,” or not injured. These statements will hinder recovery. As mentioned previously, always assume you are injured and seek medical attention after a crash.
When you are dealing with an insurance company, be cautious about giving a recorded statement, as it may be used against you later. Instead, provide only basic information (name, policy number) and refer the insurance company to your attorney. Do not give a statement about liability or try to tell your side, and, again, do not ever admit fault or say “sorry,” and do not state you are “okay,” or not injured. It’s important to remember that insurance companies often try to settle quickly and for as little money as possible, so it’s important to Ring Ming at 713-832-MING, to consult with an experienced attorney at Mingledorff Law Firm, who can help you navigate the process and ensure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries.
Finally, it’s important to keep all documents related to the accident, such as medical bills, repair estimates, and lost wage statements, as they can be used as evidence in your personal injury claim.
In conclusion, T-bone collisions are a serious matter and often result in severe personal injuries. If you are involved in a T-bone collision in Texas, it is important to take steps to preserve evidence, seek medical attention, and Ring Ming at 713-832-MING, to consult with an experienced attorney at Mingledorff Law Firm to ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries. Remember, it is important to act quickly and not to hesitate in reaching out for help 713-832-MING.
The post What to do I do after a T-Bone car accident in Houston, Texas? first appeared on Mingledorff Law.
]]>The post What are “the fatal 5” for drivers? first appeared on Mingledorff Law.
]]>Researchers named them “the fatal 5.” Understanding them can help you ensure you avoid doing them yourself.
Speed limits exist for a good reason. Or rather, various reasons. The faster you travel, the harder it becomes to control the vehicle. So, you will sometimes find lower limits on tricky stretches of road, such as a sharp bend.
Speed also affects the potential for injury or death in a crash because the impact force is a factor of the speed times the mass of the vehicle. Increase the speed, and you increase the chance that someone dies or is severely injured.
Drivers must stay alert in order to make good decisions and react quickly. Alcohol and drugs both reduce the ability to do this, thus increasing someone’s crash risks.t
While this will not cause a crash, it reduces the chance of surviving one or escaping with only minor injuries. Far too many drivers skip their belts when they’re making short trips.
If you have ever watched a loved one crashing around the kitchen, struggling to make themselves breakfast after a sleepless night, you will understand how tiredness might inhibit their ability to drive safely.
There are many potential distractions inside and outside people’s vehicles. It’s up to drivers to ignore them and stay focused on the road.
Avoiding these actions yourself may not be enough to prevent a crash caused by a driver guilty of one or more of these errors. In that case, you will need legal help to claim compensation.
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]]>The post When injury victims are partially liable for harm in Texas first appeared on Mingledorff Law.
]]>It can be especially challenging to achieve a just legal and financial outcome in an injurious scenario if an injury victim was partially to blame for what happened to them. In Texas, the law protects the rights of injury victims to hold others accountable for causing harm unless the victims themselves are assigned more than 50 percent of the blame for their situation.
The legal standard that Texans are bound by in personal injury cases is known as “modified comparative negligence.” This standard is sometimes referred to as proportionate responsibility. This approach is distinct from the one that is upheld by contributory negligence states. In these states, victims can’t hold any other parties accountable for their harm if they were even one percent to blame for their circumstances.
It is also distinct from pure comparative negligence states, which permit victims to pursue compensation from other responsible parties no matter how blame has been portioned. In Texas, this opportunity is only available to victims who are less than 51 percent at fault for their injuries.
When victims are assigned a portion of the blame for their circumstances, their potential compensation award is reduced accordingly. For example, if a victim’s harm is valued at $100,000 and they are assigned 10 percent of the blame, they can only pursue $90,000 from others responsible for their harm.
Understanding your rights under Texas law will help you to make informed decisions about your legal situation. If you’ve been injured and you are partially to blame for your harm, you may still be entitled to compensation.
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]]>The post How pay rates can contribute to truck accidents first appeared on Mingledorff Law.
]]>This is especially problematic with drivers. Many American drivers always seem to be in a rush as they try to stick to strict schedules, hurry into the office, rush to a doctor’s appointment or something else of this nature. This is one of the reasons for aggressive driving. Someone who is in a rush is going to feel frustrated and angry whenever anything slows them down.
What does all of this have to do with truck drivers and their pay rates? These rates can create a sense of pressure that causes drivers to rush, and that can contribute to serious accidents that harm other individuals.
The issue is that, at least in most cases, a truck driver doesn’t have an hourly rate or a salary. Instead, they have a rate by which they are paid for every mile that they drive. If a driver was paid $.50 a mile, for instance, and he or she drove 200 miles in a day, they would earn $100.
What this means is that drivers are incentivized to cover distance, which is certainly what trucking companies want because it makes them more productive. But it also means that a driver is going to reap financial gains if they break the speed limit and cover more miles. Plus, drivers who have been delayed by things like road work or traffic jams may feel that they are actively losing money while they wait in traffic, leading to aggressive driving and rushing behaviors afterwards.
Semi-trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. A passenger car will probably only weigh a few thousand pounds. This makes them extremely dangerous and people in passenger cars are often injured in these accidents. If you or a family member has been injured, be sure you know how to seek financial compensation.
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]]>The post How dog bite law works in Texas first appeared on Mingledorff Law.
]]>Depending on where you live, where you’ve been hurt and where you may be able to file legal action, the strength of your case may be stronger or weaker due simply to how various laws are phrased and interpreted within a given state.
For example, every state has a law that protects the rights of dog bite injury victims, but some do a better job of safeguarding victims’ rights than others. Unfortunately, the rights of dog bite injury victims who file a legal action in Texas aren’t as expansive as they are in many other states.
In states that embrace a strict liability approach to dog bite scenarios, a victim isn’t required to prove that the attacking dog was known to be vicious. They can pursue damages from the dog’s owner even if that animal had never bitten anyone previously. By contrast, “one bite” states generally require victims to prove that an attacking animal was already regarded as vicious before they can collect compensation for the harm they’ve suffered.
Although Texas doesn’t specifically have a civil statute in place that addresses the rights of dog victims – it only addresses dogs that have attacked people in the state’s Health and Safety Code – it is considered to be a one-bite state in practice. Therefore, if you or a loved one has recently been bitten by a dog in Texas and you’re thinking about filing legal action, you’ll need to keep this potential procedural hurdle in mind.
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]]>The post 4 tips to help you avoid crashes with 18-wheelers first appeared on Mingledorff Law.
]]>It is vital to know how to drive safely around these heavy-duty trucks. This is because 18-wheeler accidents are more deadly than other car accidents. Follow these tips to avoid accidents with 18-wheelers.
Commercial trucks are big and need enough space to turn and brake. Besides, tire blowouts are frequent, so driving too closely to these trucks can be dangerous. Therefore, when driving near an 18-wheeler, make sure you give the truck ample space to react if it experiences a tire blowout or needs to stop.
When compared to other cars, 18-wheelers have a large blind spot. Therefore, staying out of the blind spot while passing is vital. In addition, avoid the passenger side because it has a larger blind spot than the driver’s side. Also, don’t stay directly next to the truck because you can quickly move into its blind spot without knowing it.
18-wheelers have a longer stopping distance, meaning they cannot stop as quickly as other vehicles. Therefore, if you need to pass them, do so quickly. When passing or switching lanes, always pass on the driver’s side, don’t overtake when going downhill and leave enough room when moving into the truck’s lane.
18-wheelers are big trucks and usually make wide turns. This means your car can easily get smashed when the truck turns in front of you. So, be careful and give the truck enough space to turn.
Regardless of how careful you are, you can still get into an accident with an 18-wheeler. Most of these accidents result from human error, and you could be entitled to compensation if the 18-wheeler driver was responsible for the accident.
The post 4 tips to help you avoid crashes with 18-wheelers first appeared on Mingledorff Law.
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