Blog Topic

Woman Struck By Hit & Run Driver
October 20, 2009

A woman who was trying to cross the street at Robert B Cullum Boulevard and Metropolitan Avenue near Fair Park was struck by a pickup truck. Witnesses told officers the driver of the truck had stopped and checked on the woman, but drove away from the scene. Officers followed the male driver, but he fled about 10 blocks before crashing. His truck knocked down an electrical pole, struck a parked van and overturned in a field. Officers took the man into custody. Police said he will likely be charged with evading arrest and failure to stop and render aid.

If you have been injured in an hit and run accident or by an uninsured motorist, you may still be able to get an insurance company to pay for your medical bills, lost wages and other damages if you have Uninsured Underinsured Motorist Coverage (sometimes referred to as UM/UIM coverage on your auto insurance policy). Contact Rachel Montes or Thomas Herald at (214) 522-9401 to get a free case evaluation today, and visit our website at www.MontesHerald.com to learn more about our firm.

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Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Claims: Life After Brainard
August 10, 2009

On December 26, 2006, the Texas Supreme Court handed down 3 decisions that have dramatically changed the way Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Claims are handled in Texas.    Those cases are:

1. Brainard v. Trinity Universal Insurance Company, 216 S.W.3d 809 (Tex. 2006);
2. State Farm Mut. Ins. Co. v. Norris, 216 S.W.3d 819 (Tex.2006); and
3. State Farm Mut. Ins. Co. v. Nickerson, 216 S.W.3d 823 (Tex. 2006).

The attached paper addresses how Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist claims should be handled in light of these landmark decisions.

Attachments:
UM-UIM-CLAIMS-TEXAS.pdf

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The Poor Economy is Causing a Rise in Uninsured Motorists
May 26, 2009

MSNBC reports that Insurance regulators and safety activists are alarmed at what they describe as a stunning rise in the number of drivers who are cutting back or even dropping their auto insurance to save money during the recession. The cited one insurance agent who noted that 20 percent of his clients had dropped their policies or missed payments in recent months. The roads are dangerous enough without the increased risk of being struck by an uninsured motorist. It more important now than ever that you check with your insurance agent and make sure that you carry not just the minimum amount of liability insurance, but to make sure that your auto insurance also has coverage for uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits as well as personal injury protection benefits. Many people do not understand their insurance policies and believe that they have full coverage if they are involved in an automobile accident. However, if you consider that probably greater than 1 out of every 4 vehicles on the road are uninsured, you can see that perhaps your greatest risk of being in an accident is being hit by someone who does not have insurance. When that occurs, it becomes clear very quick that carrying the minimum amount of insurance, and particularly "liability only" coverage can leave you in a situation where you cannot get your car repaired, you cannot get a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired, and you do not have any coverage or insufficient coverage to pay for your medical expenses and lost wages. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist benefits are the best investment you can make for yourself and your family. Make sure your insurance policy has these coverages, and we recommend you contact your insurance agent to verify that you have selected enough coverage to protect you in the event of a tragic accident.

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Loved Biker Killed In Hit and Run Collision
May 26, 2009

Biker Chuck King known as Lion King Chuck was killed Thursday night after a car Garland police allege was being driven by Tasha Hayes (18) of Richardson, hit him on LBJ Freeway in Garland. As a result of the collision, King was knocked to the ground and then run over by an 18-wheeler. King was among two dozen bikers and friends who call themselves Keller's Rat Pack. More than 100 motorcyclists participated in a memorial ride for Chuck King on Tuesday at Keller's Drive-In on Northwest Highway where the group frequently assembled. Police have not yet released the details of how they tracked down Tasha Hayes or if she has insurance. According to Car-Accidents.com, in the year 2005 alone, there were nearly 6,420,000 auto accidents in the United States with over 2.9 million people were injured in those accidents, and 42,636 people were killed. Approximately 115 people die every day in vehicle crashes in the United States - that is about one death every 13 minutes. Considering the high number of accidents that occur each year, and especially the number of accidents caused by uninsured drivers or drivers that hit and run or flee the scene, the only way you can protect yourself and your family from the high costs of medical bills and the loss of income is to make sure you are fully insured and that you have Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident, contact Montes Herald Law Group, L.L.P. to investigate the case and to find out your rights.

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