Long-term or Permanent Injuries

The amount of your damages compensation is factored mainly by the severity of your injury. Long-term or permanent injuries can include a lot of medical care and treatment, along with loss of wages, pain and suffering, and other compensatory damages. It is important to hire an experienced attorney to get the most out of your claim.

Medical malpractice injuries are especially complex as a result of both the medical and the legal questions and standards involved. If you have been injured due to carelessness, unprofessional, or incompetent treatment by a doctor, nurse, hospital, pharmacist or other healthcare provider, then you almost certainly need the guidance of a professional, experienced injury attorney.

When an Insurance Company Refuses to Pay

Regardless of the extent of your injury, the amount of your medical bills or lost income, an insurance company or government agency may refuse to compensate you or make a fair settlement offer. It is an invaluable resource to have a personal injury lawyer on your side. A personal injury attorney has the experience and knowledge of industry standards and legal avenues to make sure you are getting fair compensation.

Call The Bonneau Law Firm today at (972) 325-1100 for a consultation with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A concussion is the mildest form of traumatic brain injury. It occurs when the head is hit and the brain collides with the skull. The Centers for Disease Control notes that repeated concussions over an extended time may lead to “cumulative neurological and cognitive deficits.” Another concussion within a few weeks of the initial injury before the brain has fully healed can lead to brain swelling – a potentially life-threatening situation.

Concussion Symptoms

Concussion symptoms don’t necessarily appear immediately after the incident in which the head was hit. It may take several days before they become apparent, and the symptoms may last for weeks or more. Suspect concussion if you experience:

• Headache
• Brief loss of consciousness
• Changes in vision or in pupils
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Incoordination
• Light and noise sensitivity
• Memory loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• Ringing in the ears
• Sleep issues
• Slurred speech

Some effects of concussion are more subtle and more likely noticed by family, friends and colleagues than the victim. These include personality changes, anxiety and increased irritability.

Concussion Treatment

Rest is the most commonly prescribed treatment for concussion. During a prolonged rest period, you are not able to work or engage in other activities, such as taking care of your home and family. Some patients require therapy or medication.

Post-concussion Syndrome

Some people never fully recover from a concussion, or the recuperation takes a long time. They may suffer from post-concussion syndrome or PCS. This condition may affect the ability to work, resulting in unemployment or loss of income. If someone else caused your injury, they may be held liable.

Negligence

If your concussion resulted from another party’s negligence, you may have grounds for a lawsuit. For example, if the concussion resulted from a motor vehicle accident, the person at fault for the crash may be liable for damages. Such damages might consist of medical expenses related to your treatment and time you were unable to work. The person or entity held liable may also have to pay for any treatment you receive for the concussion.

Under Texas law, you must file such a lawsuit within two years of the incident causing the concussion.

Contact an Attorney

If your or a loved one has suffered a head injury and is experiencing complications, call the Bonneau Law Firm today at (972) 325-1100 or email us for a free consultation. Our firm is experienced in dealing with concussion cases. We’ll review your case and medical records and advise you of your options going forward

Luke 13:6-9

Then Jesus told this story: A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed.  Finally, he said to his gardener, I've waited three years and there hasn't been a single fig!  Cut it down. It's just taking up space in the garden.

The gardener answered, sir, give it one more chance, leave it another year, and I'll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer.  If we get figs next year, fine.  If not, then you can cut it down.

Key Points:

1. Being fruitful with our lives is expected by God

   1. (NLT) God is disappointed, when he finds no fruit

   2. (NIV) he comes "looking" for fruit

   3. (MSG) he comes expecting to find fruit

2. God is patient with us, and Jesus is our advocate and asks God to allow him time to do his work in our life, and will give us special attention and plenty of fertilizer

3.  There is an end to the waiting if we don't produce fruit.  

This was elaborated on in v1-5, (the 5 verses before the parable):

(NLT) "...unless you repent of your sins and turn to God...you will die

(AMP) "...unless you repent [change your old way of thinking], turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives]; you will all likewise perish..."

Take away: 

God is patient, cultivates us, gives us special attention and gives us more than enough time.  And, expects us to live changed lives for him.

Brain Injuries

Accidents can result in different types of brain injuries. In some cases, these injuries can end up causing long-term health issues that affect your quality of life. Early detection of these injuries helps ensure that you get the medical treatment you need to lower your risk of developing more extensive damage or serious complications. Brain injuries that can occur when you are in an accident include concussions, diffuse axonal injuries, contusions, penetrating injuries and open head injuries. Concussions, which occur when your brain hits the sides of your skull, are the most common type of brain injury. They can also be the most difficult type to diagnose in the ER, since symptoms do not always show up right away.

Concussion symptoms can gradually begin to appear days or weeks after your accident. You might start experiencing chronic headaches or suffer cognitive problems, such as memory loss, difficulty communicating or trouble concentrating. Concussions can also affect your mood and lead to depression or irritability. These brain injuries are sometimes overlooked in the ER when patients do not lose consciousness or when the initial symptoms are not present at that time.

Neurological Exams

Seeing a neurologist for a follow-up appointment can help you find out what is causing your symptoms. A neurologist can perform an exam and take imaging tests in order to determine if you have a concussion or other brain injury and how severe it is. You can then discuss treatment options to manage your condition and lower your risk of complications.

Keep in mind that you should also consider seeking help from a concussion lawyer to ensure that you receive the medical care you need for concussions and other brain injuries. If someone else is responsible for your injury, you might be able to get help covering the cost of medical care, including your neurology appointments and tests. A concussion lawyer can help determine who was at fault and let you know what kind of compensation you are entitled to.

If you have been injured in an accident and have a brain injury as a result, please contact the Bonneau Law Firm at (972) 325-1100. We will provide you with a free consultation so you can discuss the details of your accident and resulting injuries.

There are three types of claims that categorize product liability cases: (1) defectively manufactured; (2) defective design; or (3) failure to provide adequate warning or instruction for proper use.

Defectively manufactured products are different from other ones on the shelf due to some error in the fabrication process—an error in making the product. For example, a tainted batch of milk containing a poisonous substance.

Defectively designed products may be made exactly to specifications, but the design of the product is inherently flawed. With a defective design, an entire line of products is inherently dangerous. For example, a line of electric blankets that, when on high setting, can electrocute the user.

Failure-to-warn claims typically involve a product that is dangerous in some way that is not obvious to the average user and requires special precautions or diligence when using it. For example, a cough syrup that does not include a warning about dangerous side effects.

Some cases involve all of the types of claims, and many product liability cases involve complex scientific data to prove the product caused an accident while being used reasonably. The Bonneau Law Firm can help you understand your claim and may even be able to represent your case. Call us today at (972) 325-1100 to speak with an experienced personal injury law firm.

As drivers, we all become aware of the rules of the road and liabilities we are potentially responsible for as drivers. However, that is clearly not a topic teenagers study on their own and a topic that many parents fail to mention during those first driving lessons. As a result, most teen drivers end up learning the legalities of driving the hard way. And in today’s digital age, those rules are even more complicated than they were for a previous generation.

Distracted Driving

A clearly common problem comes in the form of distracted driving with digital devices. Prior to cell phones, the main distraction most parents were afraid of was too many friends in the car and the teen doing dumb things with those peers. Today, the fear has morphed to the addiction of monitoring the phone while driving, literally missing what’s happening in front of the car. Legally this is a huge issue fraught with both civil and criminal risks. Drivers who are responsible for accidents while using a digital device can face felony charges in a number of states, in addition to civil liabilities for the damage caused. Further, one split-second texting or looking at a phone could mean the difference between nothing and a horrible accident where someone gets killed. Drivers found responsible for such accidents often face criminal charges for manslaughter among others felonies.

Parents Cleaning Up Their Own Act

Do as I say and not as I do is probably a major wake-up call for many parents teaching their teens how to drive. For years, their children have watched them make mistakes and fudge driving rules left and right. Now, teaching those same kids how to drive right, many parents find themselves having to back-pedal and explain their past behavior. Parents still need be clear to their kids what bad driving is and what to avoid. Avoiding that discussion because past personal behavior could mean a teen is going off and getting into a bad situation out of ignorance.

The Justice System Tends to be Unsympathetic

Teens also need to be taught that the court system has very little tolerance for driving mistakes, especially those that cause harm to people and property and could have been avoided by common sense. Granted, teens aren’t necessarily famous for retaining good thinking generally, but with driving it is critical they understand driving a car is not fun and games. A simple mistake can change a life permanently, very specifically their own.

And, despite all the training provided, parents need to be prepared that accidents can happen. Being brand new drivers, the probabilities are high in the first few years of a mistake when operating a car. In this regard, it’s always a good idea to have a good legal resource ready if needed, beyond just car insurance. Prevention is always the best choice, and that includes planning for contingencies as well.

An Attorney Knows the Law and Your Rights

Hiring a personal injury attorney to represent you after a car accident means you will have a professional working for you — one who is extremely knowledgeable about the relevant laws and procedural rules that may affect your case.

An attorney can advise you of any time limits (called statutes of limitations) that can operate to bar you from filing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. For instance, in many states, you must file your lawsuit within two years of your car accident or be forever prohibited from filing your lawsuit. An attorney will also be able to inform you about any special exceptions to the statute of limitations — for minors, for example.

Your attorney can file a lawsuit on your behalf and will know how best to handle any possible defenses raised by the other side. In addition, once your legal case gets under way, an attorney will be an invaluable guide in navigating the often confusing world of trial preparation — and even going to trial if your case doesn’t settle.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, having an attorney who is knowledgeable about the law evens the playing field, especially when you are going up against the experience and vast resources of a big insurance company.

An Attorney Can Do the Legwork For You

There is a lot of work that goes into negotiating an insurance settlement and trying a personal injury lawsuit. After you have been in an automobile accident, taking on this time-consuming work may be the last thing you want to do, assuming you’re able. An attorney can do it all for you.

Whereas this may be your first time dealing with the ins and outs of an accident claim, injury attorneys have dealt with all manner of claims and a variety of insurance companies. They have experience obtaining the necessary evidence to support your claim, including gathering police reports, witness statements, medical records and bills, and employment and lost wage information.

Your attorney will also be able to organize the evidence and prepare a settlement demand letter for the insurance company. If you are unable to settle your accident case, your attorney can take care of filing the necessary paperwork to start a court case and can deal with the attorneys for the other side on your behalf. Having someone knowledgeable handling the hard work of your case eases the burden on you, which is especially important if you have been seriously injured and are trying to recover from your injuries.

An Attorney Advocates for You

Perhaps the most important way an attorney can help you with your car accident case is by being your advocate. This means that your attorney acts on your behalf and for your benefit throughout the entire claims process (negotiating with the automobile insurance company) and even in court if a lawsuit becomes necessary. He or she will be your champion before the judge, jury, and other attorneys, making sure that your side of the story is heard and that you are compensated for all of your losses.

Having an experienced and articulate advocate working for you is essential in obtaining a reasonable and fair resolution in your car accident case. Contact the Bonneau Law Firm if you’ve been injured and need assistance through the process of filing a claim and receiving compensation for your injuries.

What You Should Know About TBI’s

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1.7 million people are treated for TBI’s every year. Most are treated in emergency rooms and released, but about 52,000 of them die, and 275,000 of them are hospitalized. Caution should be taken with any head injury because even a little headache might be a sign that you’ve suffered a TBI.

Most TBIs resolve within one to six weeks, but 15-20 percentage of “mild” cases can have long-term consequences.  Regardless of whether the brain injury is classified as mild, moderate or severe, the brain injury can be devastating. Those who suffer severe TBIs can require therapy for extended periods of time. Cognitive functions, movement of the extremities and speech can be significantly impaired, while at the same time, profound emotional issues might arise.

Most TBI recoveries take place within two years of the date of the injury. It was reported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke that traumatic brain injuries can lead to epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease along with other brain disorders that are ordinarily attributable to age. Even repeated mild TBIs occurring over a period of months or years can cause permanent neurological and cognitive issues. If those TBIs are scattered over a short period of time, their result can be permanently debilitating or even fatal.

How well a victim might recover from a TBI depends primarily on the nature and extent of the injury coupled with his or her general health. Age is a significant factor in both recoveries and fatalities.

Contact An Attorney

TBIs should be taken very seriously. They can adversely affect a victim for the rest of his or her life. If you or somebody close to you suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of the carelessness or negligence of somebody else, you should seek the advice and counsel of the Bonneau Law Firm right away. We provide thorough, aggressive and effective legal representation to victims of many different types of TBI claims. You don’t need to have a penny with you to hire us on any TBI case. That’s because we don’t get paid until we’ve obtained compensation for you. Contact us as soon as you can after any accident for a free consultation and case evaluation.

Closed and Open Head Injuries

Car accident victims may experience either closed or open head injuries or both. In a closed head injury (“mild”), the trauma did not cause the skull to open. However, the blow did cause the brain to jostle inside the skull, resulting in the alteration of brain function via bruising or nerve damage on the brain. Many times this injury goes undetected by the victim and emergency personnel.

An open head injury (“moderate-severe”), means the skull is exposed, and an item – such as a piece of bone -may have entered the brain. Skull fractures are examples of common open head injuries occurring in car accidents. Generally, this injury damages a specific part of the brain.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs in severe and minor car accidents; as well as in falls.  Mild TBI symptoms may not appear until hours or days after the accident, so it is crucial to go to the hospital or at least visit a doctor if you begin to feel the symptoms of a head injury.  A mild TBI is better known as a concussion. However, the term “mild” is misleading when defining brain injuries.  In fact, many “mild” traumatic brain injuries result in severe and permanent impairment:

• Visual issues
• Headache
• Confusion
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue
• Personality changes
• Sleep problems
• memory loss.
• Difficulty working
• Difficulty maintaining relationships
• Word finding difficulties
• Forgetfulness

As you can see, someone suffering from the symptoms listed above becomes a different person who struggles to function in everyday life.  The injury is a devastating blow to who they once were.

The term “Serious” TBI refers to trauma that is usually apparent at the scene of the accident. They include:

• Amnesia
• Unconsciousness
• Paralysis
• Inability to speak or understand words
• Vision and/or hearing loss
• Seizures.

Rehabilitation and Therapy

Treating a severe TBI involves initial stabilization in a hospital’s trauma care unit. Patients usually require surgery and round-the-clock attention. If the prognosis permits, the patient is later transferred to a rehabilitative center and learns to repair lost functioning. The level of recovery depends on the severity of the individual’s injury, along with other factors, including overall health. The very young and the very old generally have the worst prognosis for TBI recovery. Even patients who recover sufficiently to return home and resume many daily activities may no longer have the ability to perform the work they did prior to the accident.

Contact an Attorney

If you or a loved suffered head injuries in a motor vehicle accident, you need legal advice and the services of a good attorney. Call the Bonneau Law Firm at (972) 325-1100 or email Hunt directly at hunt@hbinjury.com. You’ll receive a free consultation and we’ll let you know your options going forward.

Hunt Bonneau reporting live alongside entertainer, Reese Bonneau, also my marketing guru. Today, we're answering your questions. This past week, we've gotten three new questions from viewers. Take a look.

One of the questions that got sent in is probably the most often question we get, and that's what's the value of our case? And many times that just comes in on a phone call and they don't give us any kind of information to evaluate. And I often say the price of life, the price of your injury is not like a jug of milk. It's more complex than that. Some of the factors you can think about are how has your mobility been changed by the injury? How has your independence, how has your life been altered by the injury? Those have a big factor on what the value of your case is.

But most importantly, you need to get in to an expert, somebody who has years of experience, who can start applying all of the different factors to evaluate what your case has been worth.

Thank you for watching our answers. And if you would like to send in a question, go down into the comments, write out your question, and in next week's video, me and entertainer Reece Bonneau will do that. So for Reece Bonneau and Hunt Bonneau with Bonneau Law Firm have a good day.

Today, we're investigating a car crash where there's a dispute in liability. The car sideswiped, and so both sides are saying it's the other's fault and there's no witnesses. What we know for sure is that our client was then run off the road, his leg was crushed, and it was later amputated at the hospital.

So today, we're here. Their expert's there. Our expert's there. The insurance company's there. Millions of lawyers are here and we're going to find out who caused the crash. Let's go.

One of the things you'll notice with big truck crashes is that sometimes the property damage to the big vehicle doesn't look all that bad. That makes it very, very important to get the accident reconstructionist out there and let him look at the little details, because in doing that, you find out exactly what happened.

One of the good things about accident reconstruction is the data doesn't lie. We're going to get to pull off all the data from there, including the property damage. We actually download what's called the black box. It's found in airplanes and also in trucks to help us know what was going on with the car right before the crash, and we'll have our conclusion soon.

Hunt Bonneau represents victims of 18 wheeler crashes, truck wrecks and car crashes, with a specialty in concussion and brain injuries.

The videos posted contain real client reviews related to legal cases which involve victims of personal injury and wrongful death. On a personal side Bonneau believes we all are the hands and feet of Jesus and posts videos of victims who have suffered concussions and brain injuries, and includes their insight into the legal struggles in obtaining fair compensation.

"It's victory day here at the Bonneau Law Firm, and victory day is when we get justice. And justice for us is when an insurance company says to a client, "You're just not hurt." And we're able to come in and show the symptoms of a concussion, how they manifest in a person's life and ultimately how they alter their life. Take a look at this five-star review from our client.

The hard part is the wait, the fight with the insurance company. The insurance company didn't want to pay the vehicle being fixed. Trouble focusing, forgetting things, constantly having to write down notes so you would remember from one minute to the other. You would be in the middle of doing something, and then you'd stop and forget what you were doing. So you have to stop and remember. Like at work, what was I doing? If somebody interrupts you, it's hard to get back on task.

Did you never have the opportunity to try to explain that to the insurance company before?

No, they didn't want to listen to any of that. They didn't care about anything that had to do with skeletal, or soft tissue or head injuries or anything that. They weren't concerned with that. I was only expecting to have my bills covered, and then not really having much leftover. But this exceeded my expectations, this I can put in the bank in case I have something come up down the road with the concussion or other injuries that I had."

Hey group. Yesterday, I got 3,000 views on a message that I felt like came straight from God. A little scared ain saying that. Probably get some comments on that. But I woke up this morning. I thought, "well, I'm going to roll with it." There was a song that was in my head the minute I woke up and I could remember the lyrics. I didn't know who sang the song or even about the song. And I didn't go listen to it. But I just, in my quiet time was reading about where God talks about being the only way to heaven and the only way to a rich and satisfying life.

In John 10, he just talks about how any other way into the sheep pen, if there's any other shepherd that tries to jump the fence or sneak in they're just robbers and thieves. But the way to a rich and satisfying life, the only way is through Jesus. He says, "My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. The thief's purpose is to steal." And that's what's going on right now. Our rich and satisfying life is being destroyed. There's another person getting in the middle of black and white and Latinos and all that.

And so this song came. Hear the lyrics. This is a song that I don't really know. "Give me your heart, give me your song, sing it with all your might. Come to the fountain. You can be satisfied." Give me your heart. You know, black, white people, our heart, doesn't go to Washington, DC. Our heart doesn't go to the NAACP. Our heart doesn't go to the KKK. We're just not going to legislate morality. We're not going to legislate loving each other. But there was somebody, named Jesus, 2,000 years ago that said, "Give me your heart. My purpose is to give you a rich and satisfying life."

I mean, I wonder if it could be that easy. That black folks, that even in their oppression, even in this time of being horribly treated, testified about the good things God has done for them. Tell of the wonderful things he has done. And white people or Latinos or whoever, everybody just looking at their own self. I can only look at myself. That's what I did yesterday. Look at myself and saw where I was wrong and repent of that. But white people, tell of the wonderful things he's done. Tell of the way he's helped you change, changed your heart. We need to testify.

And then I looked at this song that was given to me this morning. Guess what the name of this band is? Need to Breathe. I think it's time to testify about the one whose purpose is to give us a rich and satisfying life because we all need to breathe. I guess I'm going to turn this off.

There Is No Cure for CTE

In some ways, CTE is similar to Alzheimer’s. The first symptoms may be memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and mood swings. It is different from Alzheimer’s, however, in that the symptoms in CTE usually appear at an earlier age — typically, when someone is in their 40s. Also, unlike Alzheimer’s, CTE can cause aggression and loss of impulse control. Tragically, there is no known cure at this time for either Alzheimer’s or CTE.

What This Could Mean for the NFL

CTE can only be definitively diagnosed after death. However, former NFL player Tracy Scroggins has sued the NFL for $5 million, alleging that he has received a preliminary diagnosis of CTE. An NFL spokesman said the League expects Scroggins’ lawsuit to be dismissed because Scroggins will benefit from the settlement in a previous class-action concussion case. Whether this particular lawsuit goes forward or not, though, the NFL has cause to be concerned.

Scroggins’ lawsuit claimed that for 30 years, starting in the 1970s, coaches told NFL players to use their helmets as weapons. The lawsuit claims that the NFL did not do enough to stop this practice, or they may have actually condoned it — even though, according to the lawsuit, the NFL knew at the time about the dangers of repeated head trauma.

NFL Slow to Admit Link Between Football and CTE

A New York Time article, referred to in Scroggins’ lawsuit, criticized the NFL’s research on concussions, saying that it wasn’t accurate because many of the teams underreported the number of their players who had head injuries.

It was only very recently that the NFL publicly admitted there was a connection between football and CTE.

The Problem Is Pervasive

Nearly 100 former NFL players, including several Hall of Famers, have been diagnosed after death with CTE. Frank Gifford may be the most famous of the players, but Junior Seau, who shot himself in the chest, may be the most tragic.

One prominent concussion expert believes that over 90 percent of professional football players have contracted CTE to some degree.

Attention Is Increasing to the Problem of CTE in Football

Scroggins’ lawsuit is likely to draw more attention to the problems of repeated head traumas and CTE among football players. This lawsuit follows on the heels of the earlier class-action lawsuit as well as the movie Concussion, which shined a light on the problem.

Brain Injury Attorney

While CTE develops over time, after repeated brain trauma, some brain injuries can occur instantly in an accident. If you or a loved one suffer from a brain injury, you need the help of an experienced attorney. Please contact us for a free consultation.

Hunt Bonneau reporting live. Today, we're going to talk about mediation. Mediation comes at the end of the case. Right before you go to trial and have the lawyer fight, you sit down and try to settle. I always think about the old Chuck Norris movies, Bruce Lee, right before the fight, there's essentially a mediation. And what happens? We all see the bad guy, and the bad guy comes up and tries to intimidate. They try to do the intimidation. And that's exactly what we're going to get here today. Insurance companies don't really want the fight, so they bring forth their intimidation. We're going to go Chuck Norris on them. We're going to bring today reasonable logical evidence. Give them the chance to settle the case, but show them how we're going to win the fight. We're going to bring you along. So, come on.

As we go through the mediation today, I'm actually going to show you the different strategies that we use to try to add value to our client's case.

What they didn't know is if they choose to fight us, we're going to bring photographs from the scene where the police, themselves, went out, tested the faculties of that driver, and learned that she couldn't even stand up.

This is a DWI [crosstalk 00:01:21].

This is a DWI. We've got somebody that's a danger to everybody on Sunday morning.

Did your client speak to her at the scene?

Briefly.

Briefly. And they recognized-

I retreated back to the truck.

Yeah. He had about $35,000 in property damage.

So there's a biblical policy that when your adversary's taking you to court, take every opportunity that you can to sell the case. That's exactly what we had here today. There was an opportunity for the insurance company to settle the case.

By showing them the evidence that we had, i.e. the weapons that we were going to take to the fight. We were able to convince them, through a really good mediator, that this was one that they wanted to settle.

Mediations are successful when you come prepared. You have your law and order, but you also have facts that you can show the other side, letting them know that all their intimidations aren't going to work. And when the real lawyer fight starts, we are going to be the ones prepared to win. And that's exactly what we did here today.

For the Bonneau Law Firm, I'm Hunt Bonneau, you guys have a great day.

Hey, everybody has done their video. I wanted to do mine. Prior to this particular event, I was one of those that when people said black lives matter, I would have said, well, all lives matter. I was captain obvious because all lives do matter. But I think this time I'm okay putting hashtag black lives matter.

Jesus was very specific when he was talking about race when he told the story of the good Samaritan. We all know that he, specifically with regards to race, gave an example of what we're supposed to do. And he mentioned, he singled out the Samaritans. Samaritans and Jews didn't get along, probably worse than it is here. But he singled out in trying to explain how you're supposed to love your neighbor, which of course he says is most important thing we're to do to is love our neighbor, is this man went and took the Samaritan to the hospital. He bandaged him up. He paid for his medical bills. He left some money behind in case he needed any more money. He loved him. We're supposed to love them, and it's okay to single out that at this sensitive time, during this sensitive time, black lives matter because they're doubting that. And it's our job to do that, even though all lives matter, even though white lives matter, we get that.

But the point is, and the hashtag point is, that it's probably a time that we need to take on that parable that Jesus taught us about loving our neighbor and going and taking care of these folks. And so that's why I'm saying, black lives matter.

After you have presented the insurance company with a demand letter stating the reasons for settlement and the amount that you have calculated as reasonable compensation, the negotiations will start next.  During the first call with the insurance adjuster, we will each make points about the strengths and weaknesses of your claim. The adjuster will then make a settlement offer lower than the amount you requested in your demand letter. We usually do not jump at the first offer, but rather have a minimum settlement figure we know is fair to accept in mind during negotiations. This figure is so that we can keep your bottom line in mind, but it is not something we reveal to the adjuster.

Insurance adjusters will usually use an offer so low that it is obviously just a negotiation tactic. You may notice that we ask the adjuster to give us specific reasons as to why the offer is so low and make note of what he or she tells us. We use these notes to write a brief letter of response before the next negotiation call.

Finally, we make sure to emphasize emotional points. During negotiations, we may need to reiterate the strongest points  of your case (not all—that's what the demand letter is for) about your injury, medical costs, or long-term effects. But we could mention if your injury interfered with your ability to care for you child or the injury strained your relationship with your spouse. While there is no way to put a dollar value on emotional issues, they can be powerful during negotiations.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident and the insurance company refuses fair compensation, call The Bonneau Law Firm today at (972) 325-1100 to speak with an experienced and aggressive personal injury attorney.