3 Common Soft Tissue Injuries After a Car Accident

A soft tissue injury is any injury that affects your body’s soft tissues. Soft tissues include muscles, tendons and ligaments. Three common soft tissue injuries that could be sustained in a car accident include:Common Soft Tissue Injury #1: WhiplashWhiplash occurs when a sudden force, like a car collision, causes the head and neck to jerk backward or forward. It affects the neck and back, but it could also cause a head concussion. Effects could include pain and stiffness, nerve damage, headaches and cognitive issues.Common Soft Tissue Injury #2: ContusionsA contusion is a bruise that occurs from blunt force or impact. It affects underlying muscle and tissue. Contusions can cause inflammation, swelling and mobility issues. Depending on the severity of the accident and without medical attention, contusions could cause permanent damage to the body’s soft tissue.Common Soft Tissue Injury #3: Herniated Disc InjuriesSome accident survivors experience back pain. The back is full of soft tissue that is especially vulnerable in the event of a collision. Herniated disc injuries could occur when force is placed on the back and moves a spinal disc out of place. The spinal disc could put pressure on surrounding nerve tissue, causing sharp pain in the back and other limbs.

Should I Seek Medical Attention After a Car Accident?

Yes. First, soft tissue injuries are not visible injuries. Soft tissue injuries could have delayed symptoms for up to a few days, which could make it difficult to identify the source of your pain. Unlike a broken bone, soft tissue injuries cannot be seen using X-rays. Since soft-tissue injuries are not visible to the eye like other car accident injuries, speaking with a doctor is even more important when you want to file a claim with your insurance company or against another driver. Proof that you have received medical attention is important, because insurance companies use medical history to assess the validity of your injury. You should continue seeking medical attention if your injury symptoms persist.

Need a Lufkin Car Accident Attorney?

If you have been injured in a car accident due to the negligence of another driver or entity, contact the car accident attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC. We advocate for victims of car accidents in Lufkin and the surrounding East Texas areas. You could have a viable case to recover compensation for your injuries. Call us today at (936) 632-2000 to discuss your situation.

Five Auto Insurance Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs

Come armed with knowledge, and you will get the best deal on auto insurance for you and your vehicle. However, go into it with only the slightest grasp of what you should be looking for, and it could cost you. Therefore, you need to know what to look out for.

How to Avoid Making Five Common Auto Insurance Mistakes

Some of the most common mistakes that people make when it comes to auto insurance include:

• Not understanding the coverage you need or have already purchased.

As the owner of a vehicle, you should know what coverage you are looking for and what you could have. You should feel free to shop around for auto insurance. Just be cautious. Insurance companies do not have your best interests in mind. Remember, these companies are first and foremost concerned with making money.

• Mistakenly believing that you are covered for everything.

Not all auto insurance policies are the same. Despite what you might be paying in deductibles and premiums, different policies will cover different things. Make sure you know what is in your policy. For instance, do you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP)? Although it is required in Texas, you can be tricked into signing out of this common protection policy. The same is true of coverage for underinsured or uninsured motorists (UM/UIM coverage).

• Taking the minimum coverage that your state asks for.

The minimum coverage will not cover all the potential hazards out there on the roadways. A decent policy can help provide adequate coverage for medical bills, funeral costs and other expenses associated with a motor vehicle accident. For this reason, it is imperative that you avoid taking a policy with minimum coverage.

• Choosing Med Pay instead of PIP.

You should ensure that you have PIP coverage on your policy. PIP coverage can help pay for many expenses that occur after a motor vehicle accident involving injuries. On the other hand, Med Pay covers hospital bills, but not lost income. Med Pay is also subject to subrogation. This means that you will have to pay back Med Pay benefits if you obtain a settlement. PIP coverage is not subject to subrogation in Texas.

• Focusing only on price.

Do not just go for the lowest deductible. Find the policy that best suits you, even if you have to pay a little more. It will be worth it in the end if something happens.Contact Mike Love & Associates, LLC TodayThe Texas auto accident lawyers at Mike Love & Associates, LLC are dedicated to the community. If you have questions about your insurance policy, we may be able to help you find answers. You may also contact us for a free consultation if you or a loved one were harmed in a car accident.

Do Texas Drivers Rank Among the Worst for Aggressive Driving?

A new study claims that Texas drivers are among the angriest in the country. According to GasBuddy, which conducted a national survey on aggressive driving, Texas motorists are the 4^th most aggressive in the country.GasBuddy, a company that operates apps for finding fuel prices, conducted its research by compiling data from its Trips feature. The feature provides motorists with assessments of their driving habits. Trips allows users to assess their aggressive driving habits, such as hard braking, speeding and rapid acceleration. Hard braking was the most common aggressive driving habit reported by Trips users.The survey’s findings indicate that aggressive driving occurs most often in densely populated cities with lots of congestion. While this means you are more likely to encounter aggressive drivers in nearby Houston, it does not mean Angelina County is immune to road rage. There are steps that you can take to reduce your chances of being in an accident or other confrontation with an aggressive driver.

Warning Signs You Are Dealing with an Angry Driver

Angry drivers can put you and others at an increased risk of suffering harm in a car accident. You should never escalate the situation if you are confronted by an angry driver. In some cases, it may be necessary to drive to a safe (populated) area to contact the police. Some road rage incidents involve violence or firearms.Be aware of warning signs of aggressive driving that include but are not limited to:

• Speeding. Drivers who are angry are more likely to speed. Unfortunately, speeding is a major cause of car accidents in the US each year.
• Tailgating. If another driver is upset with you, then they may drive very close to the rear of your vehicle. Tailgating could lead to a rear-end accident.
• Unsafe lane changes. Angry drivers may conduct quick and aggressive lane changes. Some drivers may shift to the shoulder lane to pass other motorists.
• Failing to follow traffic signals or signs. Aggressive drivers who are short on patience may run red lights or stop signs.

Of course, there are other warnings signs of angry driving that most of you are familiar with. Angry drivers may use honking or hand gestures.The Texas car accident lawyers at Mike Love & Associates, LLC encourage safe driving. For future updates on our blog, continue to follow us on Facebook and Twitter. If you have questions about your rights after a car accident, call us at (936) 632-2000 or use our online contact form.

The Most Notorious Auto Defects in History Part 2: GM’s Ignition Switch

There have been many auto defect scandals over the past few decades. We published a prior blog on our website that discusses how the Ford Pinto severely damaged the reputation of one of the world’s largest automakers. The Ford Pinto is only the tip of the iceberg. Other automakers have also knowingly released dangerous products on to the market. General Motors (GM) released faulty ignition switches that are thought to be responsible for 124 deaths and 274 injuries.Ignition switches in these vehicles could be triggered into the accessory position, in many cases while people were driving. Several outcomes would be possible if you were driving a GM vehicle when this happened. Your vehicle’s engine and power steering would lose power. The airbags and anti-lock braking system would also be rendered useless. You would have little control over your vehicle if you were travelling at high speeds. The airbags in your vehicle would not deploy if you were involved in a collision. Many of the people injured or killed by GM’s ignition switch likely experienced similar scenarios.During the early morning hours of July 29, 2005, then 16-year-old Amber Marie Rose was headed home from a party when she lost control of her vehicle and slammed into a tree. Investigators initially determined that alcohol and speeding were factors in the crash. However, it was also discovered that the 2005 Chevy Cobalt’s airbags never deployed. A private investigator hired by Amber’s family discovered that the ignition switch had moved into the accessory position.

Why Do Automakers Conceal Dangerous Defects?

There are similarities between the Ford Pinto and GM ignition switch recalls. Ford and GM knew their products would pose a danger to consumers. In fact, GM first discovered problems with its ignition switch while it was testing the Saturn Ion in 2001. Additional ignition switch problems were noticed in 2003 and 2004. By 2005, GM declined to fix the problem due to concerns over costs. GM warned dealerships about the defect, but did not issue a recall until almost ten years later.Automakers feel compelled to cut costs and to protect the reputation of their products. Unfortunately, they pursue these goals at the cost of public safety.If you were injured by a defective automobile or auto product, then you should speak with one of the auto defect attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC. Automakers are not necessarily absolved of liability for issuing recalls. Our attorneys could help you determine legal options for seeking justice against the parties who have caused you harm.