After the Car Accident

INJURIES:

Sometimes even serious injuries are not always immediately painful. In the wake of an accident your body will often release adrenaline and even natural pain killers your body produces. It is not at all unusual to only begin to feel the full effects of an accident until several hours later or even the next day. Obviously some injuries will be immediately apparent to you and/or emergency response personnel. However, some injuries, such as injuries to the soft tissue or disc in the spine will not show up on x-rays; only an MRI or CAT Scan can find these injuries. While not as obvious as a broken bone or other serious injuries, these can be very debilitating and in some instances cause lifetime problems. Only a qualified doctor and radiologist can confirm these injuries. Be assured: If you or a loved one suffer a serious injury we can help.

PROPERTY DAMAGE:

When your vehicle is damaged by the fault of another driver, it is the responsibility of their insurance company to make repairs. Since the minimum limits of $15,000 is usually enough to repair most vehicles, the issue that cost most drivers is when their vehicle is declared a total loss. This means that the insurance company has decided that the vehicle is so damaged that it is no longer safe to repair or it would lose so much value, even with repairs, that they will instead pay the actual cash value of the vehicle. There are several different methods to arrive at the actual cash value or "ACV" of a vehicle. In most instances, the insurance company looks for the resale value of a vehicle like yours in the area you live in and then averages those values to come up with the ACV.

WHAT IF I DISAGREE WITH THE REPAIR ESTIMATE OR ACTUAL CASH VALUE?

If it is your own insurance policy, you have the right to hire another adjuster, at your own expense, to do an estimate. This can then be compared with the estimate of an adjuster hired by your insurance company. In most instances, if you still cannot agree the policy calls for arbitration. If you disagree with the estimate or actual cash value quote from a third party insurance company (the other person's insurance) you have more rights, up to and including filing suit if the offers made are not fair and reasonable.

IF I AM SERIOUSLY INJURED, WHAT AM I ENTITELED TO?

If you are seriously injured, you have the right in Texas to recover for the following damages: Physical pain and mental anguish for past, present & future; loss of earning capacity in the past and future; disfigurement; physical impairment for past, present and future, and; medical care for past, present and future. Not every element will apply in every case; this is where you need the experience that comes from over 50 years of practice in the San Antonio area helping and protecting your friends and neighbors as only we can.

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