What Are Common Delayed Car Accident Symptoms?

It is important to seek medical attention after a car accident. Even though you may not be experiencing noticeable or immediate symptoms, you should seek medical clearance from a doctor. During and after an accident, your body could experience an adrenaline rush, which could keep you from feeling injury symptoms. Delayed car accident injuries could occur in the days or weeks after an accident.

Common delayed injury symptoms could include:

• Headaches. A headache could be a sign of a concussion or whiplash.
• Localized pain and stiffness. Localized pain, such as back pain or neck pain could be a symptom of a larger problem, such as whiplash or a herniated disc injury. You could have a soft tissue injury.
• Emotional injuries. It is possible to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a car accident. Changes in mood or behavior could be an effect of your car accident.

Do I Need to Seek Medical Attention After a Car Accident?

If you are experiencing any symptoms after an accident, you should see a medical professional.  You should continue to see a doctor until your symptoms stop. Depending on the circumstances, your symptoms could be a serious health concern.

In addition, when you try to file a claim with your insurance company, they will use your medical history to assess your injury claim. If you do not have medical history after your accident, the insurance company may try to claim that your car accident injuries were not severe enough to seek medical attention.

Contact a Lufkin Car Accident Attorney Today

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident caused by the negligence of another driver or entity, we recommend that you contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible to discuss your situation.
At Mike Love & Associates, LLC, our Lufkin attorneys advocate for the victims of car accidents throughout Texas. We could help you gather evidence, file your claim and defend you against the insurance companies. Call us today at (936) 632-2000 for a free, confidential consultation.

Ford Recalls 1.5 Million Pickup Trucks for Transmission Fault

Recently, Ford Motor Company recalled nearly 1.5 million F-150 pickup trucks in North America. According to reports, there is a risk that the transmission could downshift into first gear without user input. This error could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle and crash.

This recall affects F-150 models between 2011 and 2013. At least five vehicle accidents have been connected to the defective transmission.

Is My Vehicle Affected by a Recall?

If your vehicle is affected by a recall, your vehicle’s manufacturer will send you a notice with further instructions in the mail. They will use the mailing address on your vehicle registration, so it is important to keep it up-to-date.

You can easily check your vehicle for recalls or open investigations using your vehicle identification number (VIN). Your VIN will be 17 characters and can usually be found on the lower left of your vehicle’s windshield, your vehicle registration card or your vehicle insurance card.

After you have found your VIN, you can use it on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website to check for recalls. You may also be able to enter your VIN on your automaker’s website to check for recalls. If you own a Ford F-150 and think you may be affected by the recall, enter your VIN on their website.

You can also sign up for e-mail alerts from NHTSA. If a recall is issued for your vehicle, you will receive an alert.

Need a Texas Product Liability Attorney?

If you have been injured due to a defective product, contact our Lufkin product liability lawyers today to discuss your situation. At Mike Love & Associates, LLC, our attorneys have years of experience defending victims of defective products against large corporations. Please call us at (936) 632-2000 for a free consultation!For future updates on vehicle recalls, follow our Facebook page!

Can I Sue After an Accident Involving Uber?

Uber, Lyft and other ridesharing services are widely available across Texas and the United States. In fact, Uber first came to Angelina County in late 2017. While these services are useful for getting around after a night of drinking, or if you don’t have your own car, they can also be dangerous. Uber has attracted criticism for hiring dangerous or unqualified drivers.

There are reports of recent accidents involving Uber drivers. Accidents involving this company and other ridesharing companies have been widely documented by the press over the past several years.

If you or a loved one suffer harm as an Uber passenger, then your ability to recover compensation for your injuries will depend on the circumstances. Liability can be tricky with ridesharing companies because of the way they classify their drivers. Drivers are classified as independent contractors, not employees.

Uber has a primary insurance policy through James River Insurance Company, but it only applies during certain situations. For this policy to be active, the Uber driver has to be available and transporting passengers at the time of the accident. The policy is also active in cases where the accident involves an uninsured driver. Coverage may also extend to third parties, such as cyclists, pedestrians or other motorists in certain situations.

Uber drivers may also have coverage options if they are carrying passengers at the time of the accident. The driver may receive some coverage if he or she has the Uber app set to accept passengers, but is not carrying passengers at the time of the accident.

Injured passengers and drivers may also be able to file a claim against the motorist responsible for causing the accident. In some cases, an at-fault driver may be working for an employer, meaning the employer could also be liable for damages.

Contact Our Texas Car Accident Attorneys for a Free Consultation

As you can see, car accident compensation is not always easy to understand. This is especially true in cases that involve ridesharing companies. We have a page on our website that discusses why car accident compensation can be difficult to determine. This is why most accident victims will run into problems trying to handle insurance companies on their own.

Fortunately, the Texas car accident attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC have extensive experience handling auto accident cases. We also have resources on our website that can help you avoid making mistakes with insurance companies after an accident. You can reach us for a free consultation by calling (936) 632-2000 or by using our online case review form.

Is It Time for Hyundai and Kia to Issue a Recall?

The Center for Auto Safety (CAS) is urging Kia and Hyundai to issue recalls for vehicles that allegedly have an increased risk of catching fire. CAS is the nonprofit group credited with pushing for a recall of Firestone tires almost 20 years ago. Now, the organization is calling on Hyundai and Kia to issue a recall before people are hurt, or worse, killed by an issue that could be affecting the engines in certain vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reportedly received more than 350 complaints involving the alleged defect. According to consumers affected by the issue, their vehicles caught fire without being involved in a collision.

Complaints involve the following Hyundai and Kia vehicles:

• 2011-2014 model-year Kia Optima
• 2011-2014 model-year Kia Sorento
• 2011-2014 Hyundai Sonata
• 2011-2014 Hyundai Santa Fe
• 2010-2015 Kia Soul

According to a lawsuit filed against the automakers, the issue may be caused by a defect that restricts the flow of oil to engine parts. The lawsuit claims that as a result of the blockage, the engines in these vehicles may eventually catch fire.

Understanding Product Liability Claims for Defective Auto Parts

Victims of defective auto parts may be able to file product liability claims against vehicle manufacturers. Claims may be filed for design or manufacturing defects. Compensation from an auto defect claim can be immeasurably helpful for accident victims and their family members. For instance, compensation from an injury or wrongful death claim can help survivors pay for expenses associated with an injury or loss (medical bills, lost wages, funeral expenses and more).

We have written about auto defects extensively on our blog. To learn more about auto defect cases and compensation for injuries caused by auto defects, we encourage you to continue reading our website. You can schedule a free consultation with one of our Texas auto defect lawyers by calling (936) 632-2000 or by using our online case review form.

With the Holidays Coming Up, Do You Know About Texas Drunk Driving Liability?

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. With major holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Eve coming up, work parties and celebrations with friends and family are prevalent. Unfortunately, drunk driving is also a prevalent safety concern around the holidays.

Who Is Responsible for a Texas Drunk Driving Accident?

A drunk driver could face criminal charges for impaired driving and causing injuries to someone else, but that would not recover compensation for the victim. The victim of the accident could have a viable claim to recover compensation if he or she can prove that their injuries and damages were caused by the drunk driver.Texas also has dram shop laws that hold businesses liable for accidents caused by intoxicated customers. For example, if a person who has been drinking at a restaurant for their work holiday party drives home and gets into an accident with another vehicle, then the restaurant who provided the alcohol could share responsibility for the car accident. Not only could the other driver potentially have a claim against the drunk driver, but they could also have a claim against the restaurant.A business could be held liable for a drunk driving accident caused by a customer if:

• The customer was a minor under the age of 18;
• The customer was visibly intoxicated enough to be a danger to himself or other people;
• The customer’s intoxication was an immediate cause of the accident.

Need a Lufkin Car Accident Lawyer?

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident caused by the negligence of another driver, contact the car accident attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC as soon as possible to discuss your legal options. An experienced car accident attorney could help you determine fault after a car crash by using tangible evidence and advise you about your best legal options. Call our office at (936) 632-2000 today to discuss your situation.