Archive for the ‘ Bus Accident’ Category

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Preparing a Personal Injury Claim for Trial

Monday, December 26th, 2011

Your Orange County personal injury attorney will make every effort make a recovery for you by trying to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company. However, there is a chance that negotiations will reach an impasse, and your attorney will advise you that the only way for you to recover a reasonable amount of damages is to file a lawsuit. If you decide to proceed with a lawsuit, here are some of the initial steps your attorney will take to prepare for trial.

First, your attorney will need to perform some preliminary preparation before any actual legal work is done. He will check the statute of limitations for your claim to see when the suit needs to be filed by. He will also verify the contact information for all parties in the trial, including the name and address of the defendant and his attorney. He will also need to verify which court has jurisdiction over your case.

Your attorney should have acquired all the necessary evidence for your case over the course of negotiating with the insurance company, but this is the time to make sure all the evidence is in order, be they witness statements photographs or what have you. This process may involve preparing witness summaries, so the attorney can know at a glance who is testifying for which side and about what. He may also contact expert witnesses who can testify about your injury or the accident.

Having an experienced Orange County personal injury attorney is vital as you proceed to litigation. Make sure you have one from the start. Call Samer Habbas today at  (888) 848-5084 for a free initial consultation.

Personal Factors That Make Insurance Adjusters Suspect Fraud in an Orange County Bus Accident Case

Friday, July 22nd, 2011

Here are some of the factors that may arise in a Orange County bus accident case that could lead the insurance company to suspect claimant fraud.

The claimant is unable to present correct identification or refuses to present identification.

The claimant does not have a fixed address. He or she uses a post office box or the address of a friend or family member. The claimant moves frequently and has no permanent address.

The claimant avoids sending documents through the U.S. mail. Knowledge of mail fraud laws may lead the claimant to deliver documents in person, wishing to avoid additional penalties if the fraud is uncovered.

The claimant was having financial difficulties before submitting the claim. In the mind of an adjuster, this presents a motive to exaggerate an injury sustained in an Orange County bus accident, or to fabricate a claim entirely.

Inconsistencies between the claimant’s lifestyle and the claimant’s reported income may lead adjusters to wonder whether the claimant has unreported sources of income, such as through illicit activities or insurance fraud. This might jeopardize a claimant’s allegation that he or she has a physical disability as a result of the Orange County bus accident.

A claimant’s attitude can also arouse adjuster suspicion. A claimant who is too pushy in demanding a quick settlement, commitment, or decision can suggest insurance fraud to a skeptical adjuster, as can a claimant who seems unusually familiar with claims-handling procedures (suggesting that he or she has settled with an insurance company many times before).

Obviously, some insurance claimants in Orange County bus accident cases will display some of the preceding traits, even if their claims are legitimate. Each raises a red flag, however, and too many red flags may cause an insurance company to refer a claim to their Special Investigation Unit.

If you have been injured in a bus accident and you want to be represented by an experienced Orange County bus accident lawyer, contact the Law Offices of Samer Habbas at (888) 848-5084 for a free case evaluation.

 

Insurance Company Settlement Formulas in Orange County Bus Accident Cases

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

Insurance Company Settlement Formulas in Orange County Bus Accident Cases

Insurance adjusters used to use a simple formula for calculating settlement offers in personal injury claims, such as Orange County bus accidents. They would add up all medical bills, multiply by three, and add in lost earnings to reach what they felt was a fair settlement offer. This formula was used most frequently in soft tissue injury cases, but was never a hard and fast rule—more a general rule of thumb.

Now insurance companies use computer programs like “Colossus” to evaluate Orange County bus accident claims. Insurance companies claim that these programs have no formula, but evaluate each claim as unique. This is not true, and in fact, the new system works to the claimant’s disadvantage.

The computer program will calculate your medical expenses, and insurance companies will likely reduce this amount by about a third. Their estimate is based on what the program says your expenses “should” be, not what they actually are. Insurers (though they will deny using any formula) will then multiply this number by two, and that will be their settlement offer. Under this new method of calculation, a case that may have settled for $10,000 under the old formula will get an offer of just $4,000.

These shrinking offers mean that more cases go to litigation that would have previously been settled. This makes it increasingly important that you hire an experienced Orange County bus accident lawyer who will fight to get you the full amount you are due. If you have been injured in a bus accident in Orange County, call The Law Offices of Samer Habbas at (888) 848-5084 for a free case evaluation by an Orange County personal injury lawyer.

O.C. Bus Officials Provide Safety Tips

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

When it comes to bus safety for Southern Californians, the Orange County Transportation Authority, or OCTA, is trying to educate everyone about the need for safe riding.

The OCTA is responsible for the administration of the operation of buses around Orange County including parts of the Los Angeles metro area. With millions of riders on the streets every day, it’s important for bus transit departments like the OCTA to help provide guidelines for general safety and for avoiding the kinds of tragic bus accidents that affect many people each year. The sheer size of buses makes them more likely to be involved in serious accidents that cause many injuries and deaths.

Among the OCTA’s rules for safe riding are the following:

·    Avoid running next to a moving bus
·    Wait for the vehicle to come to a stop before trying to get on
·    Use seats and handrails
·    Do not distract the driver during the movement and operation of the bus

Giving enough attention to transit safety can help us all reduce the number of accidents that occur every year on California streets and highways.

If you or someone in your family has been involved in a tragic bus accident, call our Southern California bus accident lawyer, Samer Habbas. With extensive experience in all types of personal injury claims, Mr. Habbas can give you and your case the attention you deserve, keeping you informed every step of the way. Contact The Law Offices of Samer Habbas today at 888-848-5084 to schedule a consultation to discuss your case.

Metro Bus and Truck Accident Kill L.A. Woman

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

In a tragic recent accident in South Los Angeles, a local woman was killed after being hit by first a truck and then a public Metro transit bus. The accident occurred in the early evening on December 18 according to new reports. Bystanders said that the driver of the truck disappeared.

In sad cases like this, liability has to be established among the various different vehicles involved. Police work will determine the exact facts of the case and the portion of injury caused by each vehicle. When public transit vehicles are involved, the municipality is often a party to any eventual settlement, and insurance companies often get involved as well.

Fatal traffic accidents almost always require extensive research after the fact to determine liability and help the grieving families of victims. Those experienced in traffic violations and accidents know that, unfortunately, what ends up in the police report isn’t always the whole story. Families often rely on skilled attorneys to help them address the issues of the case and bring a lawsuit against negligent parties.

If you or someone you love suffered injury in a bus related accident, call our California bus accident lawyer, Samer Habbas. Mr. Habbas has represented numerous clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases. The Law Offices of Samer Habbas will help you, keeping you informed every step of the way during your personal injury claim. Call 888-848-5084 today to schedule a consultation so that you can learn more about your rights under the law.

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