Manley Traeger Alabama Blogs

Ways to Determine the Worth of a Trucking Accident Case

When gigantic trucks are involved in a crash, they may lead to catastrophic damage. Massive wagons weigh between 10,000 to 80,000 pounds, so when they strike a car at high speed, they may lead to devastating injuries and loss. Usually, passenger vehicles and pedestrians are at immense risk during these collisions.

If you’ve sustained injuries in a trucking accident, you may have no idea to determine the worth of your case. Though as a victim you may get concerned about the impending medical bills and loss of wages. However, you may still be unsure of the ways to prove your case. To know the real worth of your claim, it’s better to seek the assistance of attorneys. Our truck injury attorneys in Montgomery, AL at the Law Offices of Manley Traeger have the skills and knowledge of tackling complicated trucking accident cases with proficiency. Here’s how we calculate the worth of your case:

1. Evaluate your pain, suffering, and emotional distress:

Lost time at work and medical expenses can be easily calculated. As a victim however, you’ve the right to seek compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium. Calculating compensation for these injuries is based on multiple factors such as:

Type of injury: Certain injuries are worse than others. For instance, soft tissue injuries are painful and unsightly but they are often considered as less serious than broken bones.
Severity of injury: Irrespective of the type of injury, what matters most is the severity of the harm. Medical documentation and expert testimonies are required to establish the intensity of the damage.
Whether injuries led to disability: Trucking accidents often lead to debilitating injuries such as brain damage, paralysis, and amputation. If the trucking accident has led to long term disability, you are eligible to seek a greater amount of compensation.

2. Evaluate your economic damage:

When determining the exact value of your compensation, our legal representatives start with calculating the monetary harms such as medical expenses and lost wages. If there are any future medical expenses, it’s crucial to speak to your physician. Calculating your lost wages is easy however, deciding future expenses is challenging. Our injury attorneys in Montgomery, AL have decades of experience in evaluating both economic and non-economic damages.

Why Seeking the Help of a Lawyer is Important?

An experienced trucking accident lawyer has an in-depth understanding of all the nuances of the law and this helps them to strategically calculate the sum that provides a starting point for all negotiations. Our truck accident lawyers in Montgomery AL can estimate both the minimum compensation you need and the maximum reparation you are entitled to.

If you’ve been injured in a trucking accident and wish to file a lawsuit, do not hesitate to get in touch with our Montgomery trucking accident attorneys. We are dexterous at tackling complicated trucking accident cases with efficiency.

5 Secret Motorcycle Maintenance Tips to Prevent Accidents

It’s a general tendency not to maintain bikes after a few months of their purchase. However, if you want your motorcycle to run smoothly for a prolonged period, you need to know the elements of motorcycle care. Without adequate upkeep, there could be deadly motorcycle accidents and injuries.

Tackling motorcycle accident cases is a challenging task. If there’s a collision, it’s a better decision to seek the assistance of seasoned attorneys. Our Montgomery motorcycle accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Manley Traeger have a successful track record of resolving complicated cases with ease. Preventive measures however, are always better. Let’s take a closer look at 5 sure-shot maintenance tips to keep your prized two-wheeler healthy and prevent accidents:

Check Tires at Regular Intervals

It’s important to check bike tires regularly. Make sure the air pressure is maintained as recommended by the bike manufacturer. Also, look for regular cuts and scrapes in the tires. Maintaining alignment and wheel balance is a significant aspect of bike maintenance.

Examine Engine and Oil

Engine is undoubtedly the heart of your motorbike. Regular servicing will reduce petrol consumption. Changing engine oil usually depends on how often you’ve used your motorcycle. It’s equally important to lubricate the bicycle chains. However, excessive lubrication may attract dirt.

Inspect Brakes

Before each ride, make sure you test the brakes. This also includes checking the level of the brake fluid, which should ideally be replaced if it turns cloudy grey. Also, if your brake pad shows signs of wear and tear, get it changed.

Scan Electrical Parts

Examine and ensure all the lights are working properly especially after wet riding. Check if the headlights, tail-lights, and indicators are functional. In fact, core electrical parts such as brake lights and indicators should be inspected before each ride.

Clean and Wash

Cleaning and washing your bike is one of the most trusted ways of maintaining it. You need to rinse your bike with warm water and washing liquids. Make sure you choose a liquid that is not corrosive.

Unfortunately, even after complete maintenance of your motorcycle, an accident may still happen. Unlike a car ride, you aren’t protected on motorcycles and hence, collisions involving them are often catastrophic.

If you or someone you love gets involved in a bike accident, get in touch with the Montgomery motorcycle injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Manley Traeger. The impact of a motorcycle accident can be physical, emotional, and financial. In fact, physical harm can range from strains, broken bones to traumatic brain injury. Our Montgomery motorcycle accident lawyers have more than two decades of experience in successfully handling motorcycle accident cases throughout Montgomery. Call us for further details.

6 Ways to Protect Your Child From Car Accident Injuries

These days, parents depend hugely on cars to take their kids to school and for other activities. In fact, children in the United States spend a decent amount of time in cars every day. While parents may not bother much about this, this is actually one of the riskiest activities their little ones indulge in on a daily basis. This fact becomes more evident if we consider the number of auto accidents happening on US roads annually.

Car accidents can result in severe injuries and even casualties involving child passengers. Since children are still in the growing stage and are delicate, such bodily harms may impact them and their overall development more compared to adults. If your child gets hurt in a road accident, it is highly recommended you consult a car accident lawyer in Montgomery, AL to protect your legal rights. However, ensuring child safety is what parents should do in the first place to avoid such incidents.

Here are 6 ways to keep your child safe in cars:

1. Be Cautious of Who Else is Driving Around Your Child:

Check whether the car carrying your child has the right restraint system when they are driven around by your relatives or caregivers. Also, see if the one who your child is with is a qualified driver. You should never let your child travel in a car with an unqualified driver.

If your child got hurt in an accident due to the driver’s fault, you should speak with an experienced car accident attorney in Montgomery, AL to seek compensation from the wrongdoer.

2. Educate Child About Car Safety:

Try teaching your child basic passenger safety rules from an early age. This may include asking children not to lean out of their place, take their hands outs of the window in a moving car, and disturb the driver, or to avoid any activity that ups the risk of getting injured.

3. Keep Car Clean:

This is not directly associated with your child safety but you should take into account every stuff in your car that might cause injuries to your child. A laptop, heavy toys, and bags may hit your child with considerable force in the event of a collision and cause severe injuries to them.

4. Make Them Sit at the Back:

The rear space in a car has the maximum share of the crumple zone and can offer optimum protection to your child. Even if they have crossed the age of being made to sit in a baby/child seat, the back side will still be the safest zone for them if a collision occurs.

5. Make Use of Car’s Safety Features:

If your car has special safety features, do not avoid using them when you are driving with your child. Moreover, if you are planning to buy a new one, select the one with maximum safety rating and solid safety features. Be a role model to your child when it comes to being a responsible passenger. Always drive safely and soberly, especially when you are with kids.

At times, any defective part of your car may lead to an auto accident. In such a case, you should talk to your injury attorney in Montgomery, AL to file a claim against the guilty dealer or automobile manufacturer.

6. Make Older Kids Wear Seat belts:

Always ask your child to wear a seat belt whenever they are in the car. As children age, they become more capable of taking decisions. So, make them do this right from an early age so that they develop the habit of doing it every time they get inside a car.

Trial or Out-of-Court Settlement: Know Which is Better

If you have been involved in an auto accident, or sustained injuries by using a faulty product or slipping or falling at someone else’s property, you might have filed a personal injury claim against the errant party, whose negligence or carelessness caused your injuries. Such a claim helps you recover your medical expenses and be recompensed for the time missed at work, the reduced ability to work, and other damage that stemmed from the incident.

Needless to say, if you are seeking recompense, you have to knock the doors of the court. While the mere thought of visiting a court of law can be frightening to many of us, the good thing is that most claims get settled outside the court premises. However, every claim is unique in its own way. Hence, the answer to the question, “What should you expect in your injury case – settlement or trial?” relies heavily on the nature of your case.

As a matter of fact, several factors help decide whether it is good to have a matter settled outside court or take the legal recourse. It is, therefore, a great idea to discuss your case with an experienced personal injury attorney in Montgomery, AL, who can help you take an informed decision.

Factors Involved in Claim Settlement

Soon after you file a personal injury claim, your attorney as well as the defendant’s or insurer’s will review the case, considering all the probable factors related to the lawsuit. Once they determine the severity of your damage and know whether you were at fault – completely or partially – your lawyer will start the negotiation process. Both the insurer and defendant will try to settle the matter as soon as possible to prevent the case from making its way to the court for a pricey trial. The process itself will take many twists and turns. It is recommended that you hire a skilled personal injury lawyer in Montgomery to up your odds of receiving a fair compensation. Eventually, if you manage to obtain what you truly deserve, perhaps you will not go for a court-based trial.

However, if the defendant doesn’t think that they are responsible for your losses, you can file a claim against them in court and possibly obtain recompense for your losses. If you both don’t agree to settle on a specific amount as compensation, your case shall go to trial in all probability.

Merits and Demerits of Going to Trial

By and large, it would be your ultimate decision whether to accept what has been offered or go for a trial. The advantage of taking your case to court is that you may get more than what’s offered otherwise. Likewise, the downside of the same is the risk of receiving no compensation altogether if the ruling goes against you. The lengthy trial period and the associated stress are the other pain points.

In case you are taking the matter to court and looking for a competent personal injury lawyer in Montgomery, choose an attorney who follows the “no win-no fee” rule. This will save you a hefty lawyer’s fee even if you lose the case.

Signing Settlement Documents

There is no going back once you sign the settlement document with the defendant/insurer. Hence, you should double-check and be totally satisfied with the amount being offered as compensation. Taking legal assistance from a seasoned personal injury attorney in Montgomery, AL is all-important since they can decisively tell whether the settlement is fair or you may have to go to court for a bigger reward.

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