Ramji Law Group brings years of experience to the table when representing clients in the Houston, and San Antonio, TX areas. It is best to have someone who knows the law and who actually wants you to collect on your claim. Ramji Law Group will do everything in our power to see you are awarded what is due to you for your pain and suffering plus any time and wages that may have been lost due to the accident.
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What Does a Car Accident Attorney Do?
Some clients ask what does a car accident attorney do? Itâs a fair question. Many people have no idea what a personal injury lawyer does until they end up hurt in an automobile wreck and need to hire one quickly.
People donât usually hire a lawyer until they confront problems in their lives. In the case of a car accident lawyer, the issue is often their frustration over dealing with insurance companies and the need to protect their rights and receive fair compensation.
Our Houston injury team can answer your questions about what a car accident attorney does at a free and confidential consultation. Generally, a lawyer is your personal representative in your claim for compensation. Your lawyer is your advocate and champion. However, there are many facets to the car accident attorneyâs job, including the following:
1 Investigating your Accident Thoroughly
Car accident victims hire attorneys for their expertise. Your lawyer, usually supported by trained paralegals, will thoroughly investigate your case. This includes requesting medical records, police reports, eyewitness accounts, video footage, cellphone records, and any other evidence pertinent to your case. A good car accident lawyer will not take the evidence at face value. He or she will check the accuracy of police reports for inconsistencies and challenge statements made by the lawyers of the at-fault driver or the experts hired by the other sideâs lawyers.
2 Offers Legal Advice
People who suffer injuries in a car accident may receive advice from family members, friends, medical professionals, and insurance adjusters. The only legal advice you should trust is that of your attorney.
When you hire an attorney, you enter a contract. It is in the best interests of both parties for the legal professional to give accurate advice and be realistic about the strength of your case. An attorney cannot tell you exactly what your case is worth but he or she should know approximately how much cases like yours usually settle for. Itâs not in the interests of a lawyer to exaggerate or downplay your prospects. Your attorney can also provide advice about a reasonable amount to settle a case that will cover your expenses and future medical needs.
3 Assesses How Much You are Owed.
A car accident attorney can put a more realistic figure on your losses than the insurance adjuster. As well as adding up medical bills and lost wages, lawyers use tried-and-tested formulas to place a value on so-called non-pecuniary damages such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and permanent disability. The fact the attorney used well-respected formulas and experts to calculate a figure gives more credence to your case in the courtroom.
4 Uses Medical and Other Professionals
Attorneys typically have years of experience working on car accident claims. However, they may seek third-party input to strengthen your case. Insurance companies habitually try to downplay the seriousness of the victimâs condition or pin it on a pre-existing condition if you suffered a serious or catastrophic injury. A Texas car accident lawyer may hire medical experts such as brain injury specialists, spinal experts, pediatricians, or orthopedic doctors.
Attorneys may also use loss adjusters and accident scene reconstruction experts. In complicated cases, they may use medical illustrators to show images to a jury.
5 Takes over Negotiations With The Insurance Company
A car accident attorney takes over negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf. This saves the client from direct interactions with the insurance company that can harm his or her case. The lawyer keeps negotiations going between the parties, often making it easier to reach a mutually-beneficial settlement.
6 Files Lawsuits on Behalf of the Client.
The fact you hired an attorney does not mean a lawsuit will always be filed. However, if the lawyerâs negotiations with the insurance company break down, the lawyer will often file a lawsuit on your behalf. This means your personal injury attorney will be responsible for submitting form requests for evidence under a process called discovery and meeting all deadlines.
7 Representing You In Court
A car accident attorney will take your case in front of a judge and jury if necessary. Typically, this only happens in very complicated cases or instances where an insurance company is obstructive. Approximately, five percent of all personal injury cases end up in a trial in Texas.
8 Ensure you Meet Deadlines
Under Texas law, you have two years from the accident date to file a civil personal injury claim under the Texas Statute of Limitations. A car accident injury lawyer will ensure you donât lose the opportunity to file a claim. Your lawyer will also ensure you meet all case deadlines.
Talk to a Texas Car Accident Lawyer
An attorney can answer all of your questions about what a car accident lawyer does. At the Ramji Law Group, we offer free consultations to people who suffered injuries in car accidents in Texas as well as people whose vehicles were damaged. Read the reviews from our satisfied clients and contact us as soon as possible after an accident at (713) 597-6648.
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What Do Car Accident Lawyers Charge?
Some crash victims are wary about hiring a car accident lawyer because they fear paying thousands of dollars out of pocket. A car wreck with injuries often causes mounting medical bills and lost wages. Fortunately, personal injury lawyers seldom ask for money upfront. What car accident lawyers charge varies from firm to firm but clients typically pay nothing until their case is settled.
Most car accident lawyers charge their clients under a contingency fee system. This is advantageous for the client because it means the lawyerâs fee comes out of the eventual insurance settlement or the court judgment received by the client. If the client is unsuccessful in winning money, he or she will not have to pay the attorney.
The contingency fee system means a car accident victim has nothing to lose and plenty to gain from hiring a lawyer. Although a car accident victim will not have to pay a lawyer if dealing directly with the insurance company, there are many dangers in this approach including losing tens of thousands of dollars if the company lowballs you or the insurance company denies your claim altogether.
Always read the fine print when you hire an attorney. At Ramji Law Group, our Houston-based car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. We never ask our clients for money at the outset or out-of-pocket fees. Our consultations are free and we take a third of the eventual settlement. If there is no settlement or the case is dropped, the client owes nothing.
Why You Should Know What Car Accident Lawyers Charge
Few things are as stressful in life as a car accident. According to Anxiety & Depression Association of America many car accident victims suffer a host of psychological problems after a car accident. You donât need uncertainty about paying your lawyer to add to your problems.
Ask at the initial consultation how much you will end up paying your lawyer. Fortunately, the personal injury process is much less stressful than hiring a divorce lawyer or a criminal defense lawyer when you will often be asked to initially pay a retainer of thousands of dollars.
The percentage a lawyer takes from your final settlement ranges from 25% to 40%, according to Forbes. However, most personal injury lawyers charge 33%.
All reputable lawyers will give you a written contract for their services when you sign on as a client. This should detail the lawyerâs fees so that you will not be hit with unexpected charges as the case progresses.
You should be aware that some lawyers bill clients for expert witness fees, court filing fees, and charge the cost of police reports and medical records. We do not charge clients additional fees.
Although most personal injury lawyers in Houston, San Antonio, and elsewhere use the contingency fee method, some car accident lawyers charge an hourly rate, a flat fee, or follow a hybrid arrangement whereby the lawyer collects a flat fee initially to begin your case and later takes a share of the damages.
These payment methods are somewhat antiquated given that most injury lawyers use the contingency fee method in the 21st century. You should be wary of attorneys who use any other method.
Although some clients worry about how much to pay car accident lawyers, thereâs considerable evidence that many clients end up with a bigger payout than if they deal alone with an insurance company. A survey by Martindale-Hubbell, an information company that works with law firms, found 74% of car accident victims who hired a lawyer received a payout from the at-fault driver, while just 54% of those without a lawyer made a recovery.
Victims who were represented by a car accident lawyer received an average of $44,600 per accident case compared with just $13,900 for claimants who dealt directly with an insurance company.
Talk to a Houston Car Accident Lawyer
Our Houston legal team will detail exactly what our car accident lawyers charge. We do not believe in unpleasant surprises. The Ramji Law Group offers free and confidential consultations to prospective clients. These meetings are not a âhard sell.â They are a chance for the lawyer to gain an understanding of your car accident, your rights, and how much you might be owed. They are an opportunity for clients to evaluate an attorney and to decide if he or she would be a good fit. We realize prospective clients habitually suffer financial hardship after a car accident. Rather than giving you an additional financial headache, your lawyer should offer a potential path to greater financial freedom in the future. Please contact us via our website or call us at (713) 766-0770.
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When should I Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
Nobody is prepared for a car accident and all the ways it can cause pain and suffering, financial loss, and inconvenience your life. Although there is no obligation to hire a car accident attorney, it makes sense if you suffer injuries or substantial property damage.
Whatever you decide, itâs wise to talk to a car accident attorney soon after your accident before you enter negotiations with the at-fault driverâs insurance company that may harm your case.
Although thereâs no hard and fast rule, it makes sense to hire a car accident lawyer in the following scenarios:
1 You sustained serious injuries.
Insurance companiesâ first obligations are to their shareholders. They are notorious for lowballing accident victims who suffer serious injuries. Insurers rarely offer fair compensation and often put up a fight to break the willpower of claimants. Itâs tough to fight an insurance company alone when you are trying to recover from injuries and facing financial meltdown.
Motorists who sustain serious injuries may have complications that last for months, years, or even for life. Victims who suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and catastrophic fractures may incur millions of dollars in medical bills. A car accident attorney will calculate a figure for your future medical costs and long-term needs. The lawyer will calculate a figure for pain and suffering.
2 You are struggling to pay medical bills
Attorneys are trained negotiators. They can often help significantly lower your medical bills. An attorney may be able to negotiate with health insurance companies to set up a payment plan or defer big bills.
3 The other driverâs insurance company wants a recorded statement
Always be wary of making recorded statements. Insurance adjusters often ask detailed questions to find inconsistencies in the statements of claimants. Any admission of blame for an accident can reduce your potential payout. Consider hiring a car accident lawyer before you enter discussions with the insurance company to avoid making mistakes. Attorneys are aware of all of the potential pitfalls and take over the negotiations on your behalf.
4 The insurance company denies all or part of your claim.
Insurance companies do all they can to deny or reduce claims, particularly when liability for an accident is not clear-cut. If you are making little headway with the insurance company, consider hiring a lawyer. Legal experts may find aspects of the case you are not aware of. Insurance companies typically take claims more seriously when lawyers are involved and are under strict deadlines to progress the case once litigation is filed in court.
5 Your accident included a complex web of liability
Some car accidents involve multiple vehicles and more than one driver is responsible. Attorneys will assess liability from all parties. You may lose money that is owed to you if you deal directly with the insurance company after a chain-reaction crash or an accident with multiple vehicles.
6 The accident involved a commercial vehicle
When a truck driver causes a wreck, many parties can potentially be held responsible. Trucking companies are often held liable for the actions of their drivers while loading companies, brokers, mechanics, and others can share the blame. This means payouts are typically larger in trucking accidents. You should hire a Houston car accident lawyer to maximize your payout.
7 The case involved a death
Always hire a car accident lawyer if a loved one died in a wreck. Relatives in a wrongful death case can claim for lost earning capacity, lost care, maintenance, advice the deceased would have offered to family members, and mental pain and anguish experienced by the survivors. This is a highly complicated set of claims that should be worked on by a car accident lawyer.
8 The police report contained inaccuracies
We expect police officers to compile a detailed report at the accident scene. In reality, police reports often contain inaccuracies. Patrol officers have busy and stressful jobs and your car accident may not be their top priority. If you realize an important fact that could help your case was omitted from the report, it could harm your eventual payout. A car accident lawyer will challenge inconsistencies in a police report.
9 Negotiations are dragging on
Insurance companies often stall on claims. This can be due to the sheer workload faced by big insurers such as Progressive and GEICO. Insurance companies may also drag out negotiations to break down a claimant. If an insurance company is not being cooperative, you should consider hiring a lawyer.
10 The other party hired a lawyer
If the other party hired a lawyer, you may be at a disadvantage if you fail to hire one, particularly in disputed cases where the other party will try to claim you caused the wreck.
11 Your car suffered serious damage.
Cars lose a lot of value when they are seriously damaged and repaired. A car accident lawyer can make a diminished value claim to compensate for what you lost.
Talk to a Houston Attorney About When to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
At Ramji Law Group, our lawyers offer free consultations to prospective clients. We will give you candid advice on whether you should hire a car accident lawyer. Important considerations include potential liability on your behalf and the extent of injuries and damage. Please contact us for a consultation at (713) 470-0112.
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How to Choose a Car Accident Lawyer
When it comes to choosing a car accident lawyer in Texas, potential clients can easily become overwhelmed by the many choices available.
Attorneys often inundate the channels with expensive TV ads, have billboards by the roadside, and are great at using social media and YouTube to get their message across. In the aftermath of a car accident, injured drivers and passengers may feel panicked. They often dial the first number for a lawyer that they see on a billboard or a TV commercial without doing research.
Choosing the wrong car accident lawyer can have serious consequences. You need an attorney who will fight hard for your rights, one who has a long and successful track record of dealing with insurance companies as well as medical expertise.
At the Ramji Law Group, the attorneys at our fast-growing Houston-based personal injury law firm will answer all your questions about car accidents and can talk to you about your options during a free consultation.
Many people never think about hiring a lawyer until they suffer a sudden and unexpected injury in a car crash. They know little about attorneys other than what they think they know from TV shows and may be intimidated by the law. itâs important to ask the right questions to make sure you hire the best attorney for your car accident. You should ask many questions from the outset, including:
How Large is the Law Firm You are Considering Hiring?
Some clients sign up with the largest law firm in their area because they have seen TV ads. Unfortunately, a lavish marketing budget does not always equate to a big payout for the injured driver or passenger. Large law firms donât always get better results. You may receive more personalized service at a smaller firm where clients are more than a number on the balance sheet.
How Many Clients Does the Lawyer Have?
Ask your prospective attorney how many clients he or she has. A lawyer with a massive caseload may be overburdened and have little time for your file. This means the attorney might want to settle your case as soon as possible to reduce the workload rather than fighting for the best result for you.
What Do Previous Clients Say?
Although some people are wowed by glitzy TV ads, itâs important to make sure you are not hiring an attorney with lots of style but little substance. All the time the lawyer is spending behind the cameras is time he or she is not working on your case. Check the reviews of former clients on the car accident lawyerâs website and view testimonial videos. The clients will often describe the style of the lawyer and how supportive the paralegals and other staff at the firm were. Car crash victims go through an emotional rollercoaster. Itâs important to deal with attorneys who give you regular updates on your case and donât leave you feeling isolated.
Is the Firm Experienced in Handling Car Accident Cases?
Some law firms practice many areas of the law. If you suffered serious injuries in a car crash, itâs not advisable to hire a lawyer who usually works on family cases or immigration law or represents drunk drivers in criminal cases. The Ramji Law Group almost exclusively works on personal injury cases such as auto accidents and medical malpractice lawsuits.
What Results Has the Firm Achieved?
Most law firms publish past results on their websites. You should check these to get an idea of what your case might be worth. All cases are different and unique so this information should only serve as a guide. If you are wavering, some attorneys can put you in touch with former clients whose circumstances were similar to their own.
Has the Lawyer Argued Cases in Court?
Only a small minority of car accident cases go all the way to a court hearing. However, you should hire a lawyer who has court experience and is prepared to take your case all the way if the insurance company is obstructive. The Ramji Law Firm has two trial lawyers who have a wealth of experience in the courtroom.
Will a Lawyer Know About Medical Conditions?
Lawyers do not diagnose conditions like doctors but medical knowledge is invaluable in the legal field. Adam Ramji of the Ramji Law Group is a doctor and a lawyer. This gives him a substantial advantage over competitors in the Houston area. Many cases become a tussle between the client and the insurance company as to the seriousness of injuries. If we believe you have an undiagnosed traumatic brain injury or another condition, we can put you in touch with the best medical professionals.
Hiring an attorney with little medical knowledge can harm your case because the seriousness of your condition may not become apparent until it is too late.
How Much Will The Lawyer Cost You?
Donât be afraid to ask about costs upfront. Most personal injury lawyers operate on a contingency basis and the Ramji Law Group is no exception. We operate on a âno win, no fee basis.â Car accident cases are different from some cases such as divorce where the attorney will demand a retainer upfront. The payout in personal injury cases is taken from the settlement. Be sure to ask what percentage the law firm takes.
Is the Lawyer a Good Fit?
Itâs important for a client to have a good working relationship with an attorney. Avoid hiring a lawyer who you get a bad feeling about. You may have to work with your attorney for months. Itâs important that you operate as a team.
Has the Legal Team Won Awards?
Awards are conferred on attorneys with a great track record who are recognized by their peers. The attorneys at the Ramji Law Group have won many awards from organizations including the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the National Trial Lawyers. Also, check if an attorney is a member of bar associations and professional organizations.
Choose an Effective Houston Car Accident Lawyer
When you choose a car accident lawyer, always take the time to do the research and get a feel for the firm. Talk to a number of lawyers before you make your choice. The Ramji Law Group has served over 6,500 clients and the attorneys have over 125 years of combined experience. Although the firm has grown in recent years, it retains a friendly, small-firm feel. Call us for a free and confidential consultation after a car accident at (713) 322-6821 or schedule a meeting via our website as soon as possible.
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Do I Need a Car Accident Lawyer After a Car Accident?
When you commute to work on the highways of Houston or San Antonio you probably see at least one car accident, if not more, every week. Sadly, many of these crashes lead to significant injuries or even deaths. The roads of Texas and America are becoming more dangerous. Not all of the people who are standing by the roadside beside a crushed car or taken away from the scene in an ambulance will hire a car accident lawyer. However, many injured drivers and passengers do hire a car accident lawyer after a car accident to recover the compensation they deserve for their injuries.
Texas is a big state and it has a high accident rate. The 2021 road accident death toll in the state rose by 15% to 4,489 deaths, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. For every death, many more people suffer injuries. Almost 19,500 people suffered serious injuries in Texas in 2021. A car accident can be devastating. A car accident lawyer canât rebuild your life for you but he or she can help you win the compensation you need to help you start the process.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Texas
If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a car accident in Texas, you should always obtain as much information about the driver who hit you as possible. This includes insurance details and personal details such as addresses and phone numbers. Take pictures of the accident scene with your smartphone. Obtain witness statements and shoot videos. Always call 911 as soon as possible and wait at the scene for the cops to arrive. Never admit any blame to the police or the other party. You should restrict your statement to the facts as you recall them. If you suffered an injury, make sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
In the aftermath of a crash, many victims call the other partyâs insurance company immediately. You should report the incident but donât get into a detailed conversation with an adjuster immediately. Consider talking to a personal injury lawyer before you give an expanded statement to an insurance company that could affect your payout.
How Do You Know If You Need a Car Accident Lawyer After a Car Accident?
There is no hard and fast rule as to whether you need a car accident lawyer, but you should consider talking to one in most cases. Ramji Law Group offers free, no-obligation case consultations. You have nothing to lose by talking to a lawyer. You have a lot to lose talking to an insurance adjuster about your case.
It is prudent to talk to a car accident lawyer in the following circumstances:
1 You Suffered an Injury due to the Fault of Another Driver.
Clients often tell us they canât understand why they are feeling so much pain after a minor accident. There is no such thing as a minor accident that leaves a victim in pain. All drivers and passengers are different and the human body is very fragile. If you suffered whiplash or a herniated disk, you can experience months of pain and high medical costs. Hiring a car accident lawyer gives you extra leverage against the insurance company and can get you the settlement you deserve.
If another driver hit you and hurt you, the at-fault driver should be held to account. A car accident lawyer can seek detailed evidence such as cell phone records and the medical records of another driver. If you deal directly with an insurance company, the insurer will seek to shield its client from as much liability as possible. You may never get to the bottom of the reason for the accident.
2 You Suffered a Serious Injury
It is advisable to hire a car accident lawyer after a car accident that causes serious and catastrophic injuries. Insurance companies are notorious for failing to give claimants enough money for serious injuries. These include fractures, internal injuries, spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.
A car accident lawyer can put a value on these injuries as well as the cost of future medical care. Sadly, motorists who sustain traumatic brain injuries or spinal injuries may have to pay for medical care for the rest of their lives. A car accident lawyer will use experts to calculate the cost of your future medical needs. Insurance companies routinely fail to give claimants enough to meet the cost of future medical treatment.
3 You Experienced Pain and Suffering
The damage caused by a car wreck can go beyond physical injuries or damage to your car. Many accident victims experience considerable pain and suffering. Research has found about 22% of traffic accident victims suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A lawyer calculates a figure for pain and suffering, emotional damage, disability, disfigurement and scarring, as well as economic damages such as loss of income and medical bills. An attorney can even make a claim for loss of consortium (physical affection from a partner) or loss of enjoyment of life. Insurance companies are notoriously bad at calculating non-economic damages of this nature.
4 You Were Hurt by a Drunk, a Reckless, or a Distracted Driver
Many car accidents involve mistakes and oversights. However, some accidents are caused by reckless, drunk or distracted driving or even road rage. You may be able to claim punitive damages if an accident was caused by a deliberate act or the driver who hit you committed a crime. Punitive damages are added to your award. Juries sometimes award punitive damages to punish a driver who behaved badly. Examples include crashes caused by extremely intoxicated or drugged drivers, drivers who were texting, or hit-and-run drivers. An attorney can advise you on whether your case can attract punitive damages.
5 Your Car Was Badly Damaged
You may not need a car accident lawyer for a fender bender with no injuries and minimal damage. However, cars sustain serious structural damage even in low-speed collisions. Many car owners suffer diminished value when a car or truck is rebuilt at a body shop. A Texas car accident lawyer can help you recover diminished value.
6 You Do Not Feel Up to Dealing With an Insurance Company
Many car accident victims suffer serious pain and mental stress. The last thing they want to do is enter complicated negotiations with an insurance company. Unfortunately, some claimants just want the whole ordeal behind them and are willing to waive their rights to the settlement they deserve. A car accident injury lawyer will take over your case so that you donât have to deal with the insurance company. This can allow victims to concentrate on getting better and getting their life back on track.
Contact an Experienced Texas Car Accident Lawyer
The attorneys at the Ramji Law Group can advise you on whether you need a car accident lawyer after a car accident. We handle hundreds of car accident cases every year and have medical expertise. Call us for a free consultation today at (713) 766-0770.
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Is Getting a Car Accident Lawyer Worth It?
Our Houston personal injury attorneys are often asked if getting a car accident lawyer is worth it. Car accident victims are understandably stressed out and want to get the whole claim ordeal over with as soon as possible. However, it can be a mistake to get straight on the phone with an insurance company and take the first offer the adjuster gives you. Many car accident victims find getting a car accident lawyer is worth it because they receive more money than they would if they negotiated directly with an insurance company.
Although hiring a lawyer can result in larger payouts, getting a car accident lawyer is not always worth it. If your auto accident left you with minor damage to your car and no injuries, it may make more sense to deal directly with an insurance company. If you were mostly to blame for the crash, it might not make sense to hire a lawyer. Accident lawyers do not take on all cases, but they will talk to any potential client. Schedule a free consultation with a Houston car accident lawyer if you are unsure.
Anyone who has suffered serious injuries due to the fault of another Texas driver or those whose cars are seriously damaged should consider hiring an attorney. Getting a car accident lawyer is likely to be worth it in these cases.
Does it Take Longer to Deal With an Accident Lawyer?
Some car accident victims need money fast. They believe dealing directly with an insurance company will speed up their payout while hiring a lawyer will slow everything down. This is not necessarily the case. Bear in mind insurance companies often make quick offers but these are typically to âbuy outâ claimants. In other words, they are lowball offers made by adjustors who realize the case is worth much more. Insurance companies are very good at dangling money in front of claimants and getting them to sign away their rights before they hire a lawyer who could win them twice or three times as much.
It may take longer to deal with an accident lawyer, but that time allows the lawyer to build up a stronger case and make a powerful argument for a better settlement. Hiring a lawyer can streamline things and avert the situation where the insurance company keeps you hanging on for months.
Will a Lawyer Help You Understand Your Case Better?
Knowledge is power in personal injury cases. A lawyer will help you understand the complicated laws of liability and traffic codes in Texas. The attorney can advise you of pitfalls and things not to say that will harm your case. A lawyer can give you a more realistic idea of the value of your case than the insurance company.
Will Hiring a Lawyer Mean You Go to Trial?
You could end up giving evidence to a jury if you hire an attorney but itâs unlikely. According to statistics, only 5 percent of cases go to trial. Typically, your accident lawyer will enter a negotiation process with the insurance company that will end when a figure acceptable to both parties is reached. Many cases are resolved in mediation, a voluntary process in which the parties make their arguments to a neutral party who is usually a retired judge or a former trial attorney.
Will a Car Accident Lawyer Take Over the Difficult Negotiations?
People who sustain injuries in car accidents often struggle to get their lives back on track. Depending on its severity, a car crash can transform your life and leave you dependent on others for medical care. Even soft tissue injuries such as whiplash can be extremely painful and harm your career, your home life, and your social life. The last thing accident victims want to do is to haggle with insurance companies. A car accident lawyer takes over all of these difficult negotiations on your behalf. The attorney will request important documents like accident records, cell phone records, and medical documents under a legal process called discovery. The lawyer may hire medical experts or accident reconstruction experts. Hiring an accident lawyer can be worth it for your peace of mind alone because it frees you from fraught negotiations with insurance companies, allowing you to concentrate on getting better.
Will a Car Accident Lawyer Save a Client from Mistakes?
You have a limited amount of time to bring a car accident claim in Texas. Under the Statute of Limitations, Texans have just two years from the date of the accident to bring a personal injury action.
Personal injury claimants have strict deadlines to respond to requests and to deliver documents. A car accident lawyer takes over the running of the case and will ensure a client meets all deadlines. The car accident lawyer will also help the client avoid making mistakes such as downplaying the seriousness of injuries.
Will a Car Accident Lawyer Calculate Damages?
Attorneys are experts at putting a value on injuries. Your past medical bills after an accident may be obvious, but itâs more difficult to predict future medical bills. A lawyer will calculate a figure for the potential future loss of wages due to an injury.
It becomes more complicated when a lawyer calculates so-called non-pecuniary damages. Itâs almost impossible for accident victims to put a figure on pain and suffering, emotional anguish, or the loss of a limb. The insurance companies know this. However, lawyers use tried and tested formulas to give a value to these items.
A car accident lawyer can help you recover:
Lost wages
Past, present, and future medical expenses
Money for emotional distress
Loss of earning capacity
Money for a lost limb
Money for pain and suffering
The cost of post-injury treatment such as physical therapy.
Will a Lawyer Help With Hidden Injuries?
Lawyers are not usually doctors. Adam Ramji of the Ramji Law Group is an exception to this rule. Medical knowledge is essential when dealing with hidden injuries such as mild traumatic brain injuries which can seriously affect the victimâs life. Insurance companies typically downplay traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), arguing the victim has a temporary condition. Personal injury lawyers back up their cases with evidence from expert witnesses. We can put you in touch with brain injury specialists who diagnose hidden injuries.
Can a Lawyer Help Recover the Lost Value of My Car?
If your car, motorcycle, or truck is badly damaged in an accident and rebuilt, its value is typically lower than before a collision. A car accident lawyer can help you file a diminished value claim. Itâs certainly worth hiring a car accident lawyer after serious structural damage affects a carâs value although it may not be for a fender bender that caused minor damage.
Is Getting a Car Accident Lawyer Worth it for Soft Tissue Injuries?
You should always hire a lawyer for serious conditions such as spinal injuries. Our firm has recently secured settlements of $610,000 ad $475,000 in cases that involved spinal damage. Some clients are less convinced hiring a lawyer is worth it for soft tissue injuries. Although many people who sustain whiplash in a car crash deal directly with insurance companies, this is a risky strategy. The insurers usually discount these injuries while a lawyer will typically be able to secure four or five figures for a whiplash case.
Talk to a Texas Car Accident Lawyer
The attorneys at Ramji Law Group will be able to tell you whether itâs worth hiring a car accident lawyer. If you suffered an injury or your car was badly damaged, consider contacting us as soon as possible before you deal with the insurance company to avoid pitfalls that harm your case. We offer free consultations and clients are not billed until a case is resolved. Call (713) 766-0770.
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How Do Car Accident Lawyers Work?
Most people who are involved in a car accident in Texas deal with an insurance company to claim compensation for an injury or get their car repaired. However, working with insurance companies can be frustrating and fail to give you enough money to cover your medical needs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Car accident lawyers work by negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf and filing lawsuits in the courts if necessary.
Car accident lawyers represent a wide spectrum of clients from those who suffer property damage only to people whose lives are torn apart by catastrophic injuries. Car accident lawyers also represent the families of those who lose a loved one in a highway crash when they are called on to file wrongful death suits.
The Ramji Law Group has won millions of dollars for clients who suffered life-changing injuries in car wrecks in the Houston and San Antonio areas. Car accident lawyers work for accident victims. Itâs in the attorneyâs interest to win as much money as possible for a client whereas the insurance company seeks to reduce payouts. Car accident lawyers typically work on a no-win/no-fee basis. Clients do not pay for services upfront and the attorneys take a pre-arranged percentage cut of the eventual payout.
Who Do Car Accident Lawyers Work With?
Car accident lawyers may work on any type of accident case from a fender bender to a lethal crash. It usually makes the most sense to hire an attorney if your injuries are substantial or serious. Insurance companies often lowball these cases and you may not receive the money you need for high past and future medical bills if you deal directly with the insurance company.
Car accident lawyers work with people who have been hurt in the following types of accidents:
Car accidents;
Truck accidents;
Bus accidents;
Motorcycle crashes;
Scooter crashes;
Cycling accidents;
Pedestrian accidents;
ATV and golf cart accidents;
Injury accidents involving industrial vehicles.
What Types of Car Accidents Require a Lawyer?
The highways of Texas are dangerous places. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, a motorist died every 1 hour and 57 minutes on average on the highways of the Lone Star State in 2021. The 2021 death toll of 4,489 was a 15% rise above the previous year while almost 20,000 people a year sustain serious injuries on Texasâ roads.
Thereâs no hard and fast rule about what types of accidents require a lawyer but it makes sense to schedule a free consultation with a Texas car accident lawyer if you suffer a personal injury or your car or truck is badly damaged. Attorneys take on a range of accidents including:
Collisions caused by speeding;
Distracted driving cases;
Drowsy driving wrecks;
Drunk or drugged driving accidents;
Uber and Lyft accidents;
Rear-end crashes;
T-bone and side-impact crashes;
Red light running wrecks;
Rollover crashes;
Ejection accidents;
Wrong-way driver accidents;
Crashes in work zones;
Wrecks in bad weather;
Railroad crossing accidents;
Head-on wrecks;
Hit-and-run crashes;
Left turn accidents;
Sideswipe accidents.
How Do Car Accident Lawyers Work on a Case?
Car accident lawyers initially meet with a potential client for a free and confidential consultation. Neither party is under any obligation to work with the other. If the lawyer and the client agree to proceed, the client will be signed up. The client is contractually bound to work with that law firm. The lawyer will handle the insurance claim and make sure all statutory deadlines are met. In some cases, the presence of a lawyer will persuade an insurance company to increase its offer. When an insurance company fails to make a satisfactory offer, the car accident lawyer typically files a lawsuit in a local civil court.
Car accident lawyers have the knowledge and background to be able to access important information that accidents victims may not easily obtain. A lawyer can demand information such as medical records of the driver who hit you, cellphone records, and other relevant information. The attorney will request the police report. In some cases, lawyers bring in independent medical experts and accident reconstruction experts. An attorney with a medical background can establish the full extent of the clientâs injuries. Typically, insurance companies will seek to downplay the existence of serious conditions such as traumatic brain injuries and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that were caused by the accident.
Determined car accident lawyers will take cases all the way to a jury trial if the insurance company is uncooperative. However, many cases are settled in negotiations between the parties or at formal mediation hearings.
Can Accident Lawyers Take on Cases of Shared Blame?
You may be able to recover compensation when partially to blame for a car accident. Texas is a modified comparative negligence state. You can sue for damages if you were partially at fault for an accident but your payout would be reduced. However, under the proportionate responsibility rule, drivers who are more than 50% responsible for a crash cannot recover damages.
For example, a driver who is hit by a red light runner may be partly to blame if he or she was traveling too fast through an intersection, but could likely still sue. The red light runner would not be able to sue the other driver because he caused the crash.
Car accident lawyers will not take on a case if they believe a driver was more than 50% responsible but being partially at fault should not stop you from talking to an attorney.
What Damages Can Car Accident Lawyers Fight For on Your Behalf?
Damages in Texas are split into economic and non-economic categories. In some cases, juries can award punitive damages. Economic damages include the following:
Past, present. and future medical expenses;
Lost wages;
Lost earning capacity;
Property damage.
Non-economic damages can be harder to quantify and often involves attorneys hiring loss experts to finalize the figures. They include:
Pain and suffering;
Mental anguish;
Amputation or loss of any body part;
Loss of companionship;
Loss of consortium for a significant other;
Disfigurement;
A loss of enjoyment in living.
Punitive damages are additional damages a court may add to a verdict to punish the at-fault driver who caused an injury. They are most likely to be used for drunk drivers, texting drivers, or in hit-and-run cases when the court wants to send out a powerful message.
Contact a Houston Car Accident Lawyer
Drivers are exposed to ads for car accident lawyers every day on billboards in Houston. Law firms also advertise heavly on TV and social media. It can be daunting to know which firm to call. The Ramji Law Firm has represented clients after they suffered injuries in car crashes for decades with a 99% success rate and won millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements. Call the firm for a free and confidential consultation at (713) 766-0770.
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How to Sue Local Governments Under the Texas Tort Claims Act
Every year, hundreds of people in Houston and elsewhere in Texas suffer injuries caused by garbage trucks, public buses, police cars, ambulances, and municipal construction vehicles. Before 1969, victims were unable to claim compensation from local governments. Today they can file a claim under the Texas Tort Claims Act in many circumstances.
The Texas Tort Claims Act (TTCA) is a series of statutes that determine when the state, a city, county, or other government entity can be held liable for personal injury, deaths, or property damage. The TTCA limits liability in certain circumstances. However, it gives victims more protection than before its enactment when sovereign immunity provided complete protection against lawsuits being filed against governments.
Sovereign immunity is an ancient and unfair doctrine derived from the British common law and the idea that the monarch was above the law so could not be sued. Sovereign immunity was imported into U.S. law and protects many states. Sovereign immunity protects state divisions including hospitals, universities, and state boards. Subdivisions of the state including cities such as Houston, counties, and school boards are protected from lawsuits and liability by government immunity. The Texas Tort Claims Act allows lawsuits against state bodies, cities, counties, and other entities. However, making a claim is complicated and time is of the essence given the tight deadlines. You should talk to an experienced Houston injury lawyer to avoid making mistakes that could jeopardize your claim.
When is a Government Liable Under the Texas Tort Claims Act?
The Texas Torts Claims Act partially waives the stateâs immunity to liability for wrongs committed by its âgovernmental unitsâ and their employees. Governmental units include police and fire departments, hospitals, parking facilities, schools, jails, construction departments, airports, health and sanitation services, parks and zoos, community and senior services centers, and public transportation.
The TTCA recognizes two types of injuries, specifically:
Injuries, deaths, and property damage from car accidents or âmotor-driven equipmentâ accidents, and;
Personal injury or death âso caused by a condition or use of tangible personal or real property,â which can include slip and fall injuries in public buildings. Property damage claims cannot be filed in premises liability cases against governments.
A government entity can only be held liable for injuries, deaths, or property damage caused by the wrongful act, omission, or negligence of workers acting within their âscope of employment.â The employee must have been liable as if they were a private person. This means there is no strict liability placed on government workers. If you end up injured on a Houston METRO bus, the city cannot be held liable if another driver caused the bus to crash.
Texas law defines âscope of employmentâ as âthe performance for a governmental unit of the duties of an employeeâs office or employment and includes being in or about the performance of a task lawfully assigned to an employee by competent authority.â
In other words, an employee must be working for a state or local government entity at the time of the accident for the Texas Tort Claims Act to apply. While a city may be held liable for injuries caused by a police car speeding to a crime scene, it will not be liable if a police officer assaults a concert-goer while he is performing weekend contract work for a private entity.
Local governments are typically only liable for accidents when performing core government functions that include police and fire protection, transportation, education, sanitation services, street and bridge construction, and other key areas.
Governments typically are not held liable for damage caused by potholes, damage and injuries from weather-related situations, non-mandatory functions in parks, and emergency situations. However, local governments may be held liable for drownings at poorly-supervised municipal swimming pools, attacks by police dogs during working hours, and the failure to clear snow or ice on major highways.
When Should a Notice be Filed Under the Texas Torts Claims Act?
If you believe you have a valid claim under the Texas Torts Claims Act, you have just six months to file it. The notice must describe the damage or injury claimed, the time and place of the incident, and the incident itself. Some cities require notification even sooner. The City of Houston requires written notice within 90 days of the incident.
This requirement means Texas Torts Claims Act cases carry a greater urgency than other personal injury lawsuits which must be filed within two years.
How Much Can You Recover Under the Texas Torts Claims Act?
The liability of the State of Texas under the Texas Torts Claims Act is limited by statute to $250,000 for each person and $500,000 for each incident involving a death or a bodily injury. Each incident causing property damage is limited to $100,000. The liability of a unit of local government, such as a sanitation department, a school board, or an emergency services organization, is limited to $100,000 per person, $300,000 per incident, and $100,000 for property damage.
The liability for a municipality such as a city is limited to $250,000 per person and $500,000 for an incident that causes injury or death. Property damage is limited to $100,000.
The complexity and time-sensitive nature of claims under the Texas Tort Claims Act highlight the importance of hiring an attorney who has handled many of these cases. Read the reviews of our satisfied former clients and contact our Houston-based personal injury team for a free consultation at (713) 888-8888.
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The Need to Know on How Car Insurance Companies Value Cars
Has you car been totaled after being in a accident? Well being paid the value of your car after its been involved in an accident can be a hellish nightmare to experience. Your insurance company is supposed to pay you for the value of the car that has been totaled, to be more accurate, the insurance company pays you what the insurance company claims the value to be.
But how do they come up with the value the insurance company is claiming the value to be?
Almost everyone that has been down this path can say that the most nerve wrecking parts is having to accept the auto insurance companyâs assessment of your carâs value. Itâs safe to say that the estimate will come in lower than what you expected, and the amount that you receive will not be enough to purchase a replacement that is up to par with your vehicle that has been totaled. A lot of times the amount they insurance companies offer isnât even enough to cover what is still owed on the car.
The general public is typically unfamiliar with the methodology that is used by the insurance companies to value cars. The methods used for valuation are primarily known by those who need to know (pretty much the people that work for the insurance companies). That information is based on relying on abstract data, the specifics of which they are pretty careful no to reveal. Which makes it difficult for the consumer to even challenge the low ball offer that the insurance company gives you.
Having basic knowledge on how the insurance companies determine the value of cars and the terminology they use can help bring you negotiate from a stronger position.
THE TAKEAWAYS
The car insurance payout is typically determined by the value of your car before the accident happened
A standard insurance policy will not pay you the cost of a new equivalent model
It also does not guarantee that youâll get a payment equal to the amount you still owe on your car (if you still owe)
Having replacement insurance and gap insurance can help you deal with the above mentioned hazards but are pricey additions
To Understand the Insurance Companies Claims Valuations
When reporting a car accident to your insurance company, the company then sends an adjuster��to look at the damage. Deciding if the vehicle is totaled or not is usually the first order of business.
Even if a car can be fixed the insurance companies may still consider the car totaled. Insurance companies decide to total a car if the cost to repair it is higher than a certain percentage of its value, which is usually somewhere from 51% to 80%. Â Some states may have different percentages: Alabama, for example, sets it at 75%.
Assuming that the vehicle is totaled, the adjuster will then conduct an appraisal and determines a value of the vehicle. When determining the value, the damage from the accident is not taken in to account when conducting the appraisal. The adjuster looks to estimate is what a reasonable cash offer for the vehicle would be if the accident never took place.
Then, the insurance company gets a third-party appraiser to do its own estimate on your car. Getting a third party appraiser is done to minimize any appearance of impropriety or underhandedness and to subject the vehicle to a different valuation methodology. Once this is done, the insurance company will considers its own appraisal and the third partyâs when making you an offer.
You can probably get your own third party appraiser if you choose to disagree with you insurance companyâs valuation, but you might need the permission of you insurer.
CASH VS. REPLACEMENT
The difference between the insurance companyâs value, and the amount it actually costs to purchase a new car can by huge. The insurance company will base its offer on actual cash value (ACV). This is the amount that the insurance company determines that another person someone wouldâve paid for the car if the accident never happened.
Actual cash value will take into consideration certain factors like depreciation, normal wear and tear, mechanical issues, any cosmetic problems, and the supply and demand in your area. A good example is, State Farm will reference its car value on: âWe base your vehicleâs value on its year, make, model, mileage, overall condition, and major optionsâminus your deductible and applicable state taxes and fees.â
The Problem With Depreciation
Even if you bought your car brand new and barely drove it for a year before the accident happened. The ACV will be a lot lower than what you paid. Just by driving your new car off the lot lowers the value by as much as 10%, and the value will continue to lower to 20% by the end of the first year.
Of course, the insurance company will ding you everything they can from the miles on the car to the stains that can be found on the upholstery during that year.
The ACV offer amount is for sure going to the be less that the cost of replacement. Which is the amount it would cost you to buy a new car that is similar to the one that was wrecked. That is unless you want to supplement the insurance companyâs payment with your own money, itâs likely that your next car will be a step down from your old car.
Replacement Cost
The answer to this issue is to buy car insurance that will pay for the replacement cost.
This policy will use the same method to total a car but, after itâs totaled, it will pay you the current market price for a new car that is the same as you wrecked.
Keep in mind that the monthly premiums for replacement cost insurance can be a lot higher that a normal car insurance policy.
Totaling your car soon after you buy it could leave you with negative equity in the car, and that depends on your financing deal. What that means is that the amount the insurance company pays you could be less that what you owe on the vehicle.
The Valuation Falling Short
Not only have you just been in a wreck, but with the car being new, the amount the insurance company may offer for your totaled car may not be enough to cover what you on your now totaled car.
This typically happens if you get into a wreck after you buy a new car. The new car takes its biggest hit as far as value the moment you even drive it off the car lot. So if you get in an accident usually within the first year of owning a car, itâs likely that the payoff will be less than what you owe on your car.
This is more likely to happen if you took advantage of any special financing offers that minimize or take away any down payments. Even though these programs are designed to keep you from having to pay a large chunk of cash up front when you buy a new car, it almost guarantees that you are driving off with negative equity.
When the check that you get for you car from the insurance company canât pay off your car loan fully, the remaining amount is called Deficiency balance. This is known as unsecured debt, the collateral that secured it is now destroyed, which means that the lender can be aggressive when it comes to collecting the owed debt. Which could include a civil judgement against you to pay what you owe.
Gap Insurance
Just like the replacement cost issue, this problem also an answer to it. What you can do is add what they call gap insurance to your insurance policy to make sure that you never have to deal with a remaining balance that you owe on a totaled car.
The additional coverage pays the cash value of your that is determined by the insurance company and it also pays for any balance deficiency that is left over after you pay your loan.
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Travis Scott Astroworld Festival
With a Houston staff of 50+ and satellite offices throughout Texas, Ramji Law Group continues to grow and serve the community.
Ramji Law Group, P.C. combined bring years of experience to the table when representing clients in the Houston and the rest of the state of Texas.
Adam Ramji achieved his chiropractic degree in 1999 and soon after his law degree in 2004 from South Texas College of Law. After graduating he immediately opened his own law firm. Ramji uses his medical insight to help educate other chiropractors, and hosts seminars across the nation to help chiropractors better understand the world of personal injury. His personal injury seminars cover all aspects of personal injury and is approved by the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners for 16 hours of credit, which does include the required ethics, risk management and record keeping.
Ramji Law Group has over 8 attorneys and has a pre litigation and in house litigation department. Ramji Law Group specializes in 18-wheeler accident, plant and refinery explosions, car accidents, slip and falls, birth injury cases, medical malpractices, child sex abuse cases, catastrophic accidents, wrongful death cases, offshore injuries, railroad injuries, motorcycle injuries, and traumatic brain injuriesâŚ
With that being said Ramji Law Group was no stranger when in came to the horrific incident at the Astroworld festival that was hosted by Travis Scott in Houston TX. The festival resulted in 10 deaths between the ages of 9 and 27. The youngest being a 9yr. old and left 100âs injured. Ramji Law Group now represents over 20 clients that were injured at this tragedy of an event that occurred on November 5th. The event was tightly packed with 50,000 in attendance as rapper Travis Scott took the stage encouraging violence, and chaos which resulted in the crowd surge⌠Travis Scott has previously been charged with crowd mayhem. His history of crowd violence can be traced back to 2017 where he encouraged a fan to jump from a second story balcony. Luckily that fan was not injured, but another fan was then pushed from the same balcony at the same concert which left this fan paralyzed.
The festival had poor security, and this wasnât the 1st time either. In 2019 at the same festival resulted in similar crowd surges with gates being breeched, fences being barricaded, and concert goers being injured. Even with this lack of security no one stopped the festival. The end result was fatalities and injuries!
The event organizers, the performers, and the venues itself are ultimately responsible. They cut corners and did not care about the welfare or the wellbeing of the concert goers. Ramji Law Group specializes in going after those responsible for this tragic event. Adam Ramji will not stop, and will not leave any stone unturned until he brings justice to those responsible!
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Allstate Driving Up Litigation Costs?
Could you imagine an insurance company actually doing the right thing after youâve been involved in an accident with one of their insured? Well if you answered no to this question itâs because at some point and time in your life you have had to deal with an insurance company and know firsthand how difficult it can be to get not only the compensation, but the treatment and customer service that you deserve. Well it turns out that these big bad insurance companies have a formidable foe, known as Personal Injury Lawyers which is usually the best weapon in your...
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A Look Inside Ramji Law Group
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What Is PIP?
Whatâs the meaning of PIP? PIP stand for Personal Injury Protection. It is a 1st party claim. Which means, it is a coverage that protects the driver and passengers in your car. It does NOT go to anyone else. Again, it is ONLY for the driver and passengers in your car. So if someone hits you, and the accident is NOT your fault, you can claim your PIP. If YOU hit someone, and the accident IS your faultâŚ.you can STILL claim PIP. Because it is âno faultâ coverage. It doesnât matter who is at fault. NowâŚthatâs not all. How much...
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Pedestrian Safety in 2020
Here is a helpful video on how to be a little more safe as a pedestrian in 2020. When youâre walking through traffic, follow these same steps and help save lives. Drivers and pedestrians share the responsibility of keeping themselves and others safe. Your eyes and ears are your best safety tools. Avoid using electronic devices that distract your attention. Stay on sidewalks. If there is no footpath, walk on the edge of the road facing oncoming traffic. At a road crossing, stop, look both ways, listen, and then cross. We all have a role in road safety. Follow the...
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Driving Safely in 2020
Here is a quick informative video on how to drive a little more safely in 2020. When youâre in your car, follow these safe steps and help save lives drivers and pedestrians share the responsibility of keeping themselves and others say your eyes and yours are your best safety tools. Avoid using electronic devices that distract your attention. Stay on sidewalks, if there is no footpath walk on the edge of the road, facing oncoming traffic as a road crossing stop looked both ways. Listen, and then cross. We all have a role in road safety. Follow the same steps...
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2 dead in Houston gas explosion that destroyed building, caused âsignificantâ damage to homes
Building explosion damages homes in Houston A building explosion at a manufacturing plant sent shock waves across northwest Houston early Friday morning. Two people were killed in a building explosion at a manufacturing warehouse that sent shock waves across northwest Houston early Friday morning, authorities said. Multiple homes and a strip mall nearby also sustained âsignificant damage,â Samuel Pena, of the Houston Fire Department, said at a press conference. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said his agency is conducting a full arson investigation, but noted that there is no reason to believe it was terrorist related or an intentional act....
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Uber Accident Educational Video
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