Words that can hurt you after a car accident...more than your injuries

You are driving down the street and the next thing you know you are face in your airbag.  You've been hit by someone.  You don't know what happened.  What should you do?

Keep your mouth shut!!

"Insurance companies didn't get to be $15 billion and $20 billion (companies) because they give money away," says John Smith of Morgan Hubble Smith Insurance, based in Columbus, Ohio.

What happened? Is usually the first question asked by the first responders; police, fire department, paramedics, EMT's, witnesses to the accident, etc.  What you say can be twisted to whatever the insurance company wants, remember they didn't get to be a $15 billion dollar company because they want to take care of you!

No matter what the situation is.....keep your mouth shut.  When the adjuster comes out...keep your mouth shut.  They are looking for "key" words or phrases that can and will be used against you.  Don't discuss anything personal: "I just lost my job" or "I just broke up with....." NOTHING!!

"People talk too much. Your best advice is to make sure everyone is OK and then say nothing," says Smith, who's been in the insurance industry for 27 years.

Car accidents are a very stressful situation to be in.  It is natural to "talk" because you are nervous.  But....you don't want what you say to hurt your claim and, trust me, if they can manipulate what is said, to their advantage, they will.

Don't apologize...this can be construed as an admission of guilt.  I have been in two car accidents, neither of which was my fault, and I can tell you...the first thing out of my mouth on the first one was "I'm sorry" meaning just that...not that I was guilty but I was sorry the accident happened.  That was a hurdle that we should not have had to jump through....but it did teach me for the car accident that happened later.  

So, what can you do? 

• Get to a safe place
• Make sure everyone is okay
• Call the police and, if needed, an ambulance
• Have your driver's license, registration, and auto insurance (Everything they need to know about you is on these items)
• SAY NOTHING!!!
• Call an Attorney

Learn from other's mistakes!  

If you are injured in a Colorado car accident I highly recommend (from personal experience):

Zeisler & Associates, Attorneys at Law, PC on Facebook or visit their website for more information.

If you have a horror story about your car accident or if you have hired Zeisler & Associates, Attorneys at Law, PC please tell me about your experience.

Motorcycle crash facts

It's Sturgis week and motorcycles are everywhere.  Whether the rider is a recreational rider or one who rides 8-12 months a year...their safety is in YOUR hands.





The facts of motorcycle crashes:  Provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation:  (2010)

• 51% of all motorcycle fatalities collied with another type of motor vehicle.
• 1,999 of the two vehicle fatal crashes involved motorcycles and another type of motor vehicle.
• In 770 of these fatal crashes the other type of vehicle was turning left while the motorcycle was going straight, passing or overtaking another vehicle.
• In 446 of these crashes both the motorcycle and the other vehicle were going straight.

It's not just the young ones who are hurt in motorcycle crashes.  Inexperience plays a factor but some to not start riding until later in life. 


borrowed from http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/Motorcycles

• The average age of motorcycle rider fatalities is 42.
• The 40+ age group makes up 39% of motorcycle fatalities.

This age group are MOTHERS, FATHERS, SONS, DAUGHTERS, AUNTS, UNCLES!!!  This age group has MANY people in their lives that need them to come home safely and it is up to everyone to do their part in making this happen!

Yes there are other factors in motorcycle crashes and fatalities such as speeding, alcohol and, yes the rider was, not wearing a helmet.  These factors are out of YOUR control.  What is in YOUR control is always looking out for motorcycles when you are behind the wheel.  As drivers it is OUR responsibility to drive safe and protect ourselves and everyone else on the road.  We cannot control all factors but we do have the ability to control what WE do and how WE drive.

Please drive safe and watch for motorcycles.

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When you don't watch for motorcycles people can die

This week is being dedicated to motorcycle safety as we are currently in Sturgis week 2012. 






Let me explain to those of you who do not understand motorcycles.....just because they can go faster, maneuver easier does not mean they can avoid YOU if you don't see them.  They are trusting each and every person driving four plus wheels to be paying attention to what is around you.  Honestly, when you are driving you should always be doing this anyway...but those on bikes are trusting YOU with THEIR lives.

I have written about distracted drivers and how quickly it can go from bad to worse.  Take that text you send to tell your friend you are five minutes away.....going 55 miles per hour you will travel the length of a football field. 

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation in 2010 1 in 5 traffic fatalities were motorcyclists.  I know there are arguements that these numbers are high because Colorado does not have mandatory helmet laws.  There are pros and cons about this law but that is not what I want to focus on....I want to focus on if you are watching for motorcycles and you are paying attention YOUR actions will not cause an accident.  Those of us who ride motorcycles take a higher risk of injury because we are on two wheels, we have less protection than you do in your vehicles and it is harder to see us IF YOU AREN'T paying attention and looking over your shoulder when you change lanes.  (This should be common practice no matter what.)


Yes, more often than not, motorcycle accidents happen to the "less experienced" riders than the one's who have been riding forever BUT we all started out as inexperienced drivers at one time or another no matter what we drove and no matter if they have only one year experience or 40 years experience riding a motorcyle their lives are precious to someone and no one should be hurt or lose their lives because of a distracted driver....no matter what they drive.
Watch this video on how quickly an accident can happen when you aren't watching for motorcycles.

If each person who gets behind the wheel of a car, truck, semi and, yes even a motorcycle pay attention to their surroundings we can all be safer.

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PTSD after car accidents

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is more than just returning soldiers.  According to PTSD Support Car Accidents are the Leadin Cause for PTSD in the General Population.

This News release also goes on to say that OVER three million people a year are involved in car accidents which cause serious bodily injury and psychological distress.  10-45 PERCENT of those injured later suffer from PTSD!!

It makes sense:  Car accidents cause TRAUMA which is the most frequent kind of trauma experienced by American men and the second most experienced by American women.

Let's go through the sequence of events when involved in a car accident:

• Parties involved check for injuries if able.
• 911 is called
• Police and Emergency Responders show up
• Go see a Doctor (whether it be by ambulance from the scene of the accident or later)
• Physical injuries are treated

Now let's go through what happens after the physical injuries are treated:

• Fear of driving or riding as a passenger
• As most accidents happen close to home driving by the scene of the accident is a constant reminder
• The simple task of daily driving is changed

If you do not have a person in your life that can recognize the signs and symptoms of PTSD or Depression it will progress into something that is harder to treat.

Doctors, Chiropractors, Attorney's and all care Physicians need to recognize the signs and symptoms to help before it gets too out of control.

Signs to look out for are

1. Depression.  Watch and listen for signs, "you wouldn't understand" start to think about the value of their life, possible abuse of drugs and/or alcohol.
2. Isolation:  If you find them not doing the "things they used to do" with their friends, family, etc. or they become distant from everyone.
3. Rage:  If they strike out for no reason, or little reason and it happens with increased frequency.
4. Avoidance of Feelings: Alienation of family friends.  Cannot appreciate the joys in life.

These are just a few but if you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR before you feel any of these symptoms so you are both prepared if it should happen.

Zeisler & Associates, Attorney At Law, PC only does Personal Injury and understands all the aspects of a car accident...not just the physical and legal ones.

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What really is a Distracted Driver?

This video is a MUST watch for anyone who drives!
Lets begin with the three types of distractions:

• Manual:  Taking your hands off the wheel
• Visual:  Taking your eyes off the road
• Cognitive:  Taking you mind off driving

18% of Fatalities were directly related to cell phone use.

You are 23 Times more likely to be involved in a crash if you are texting vs a non-distracted driver.

37% of brain activity is REDUCED while driving and using a cell phone.

The types of distractions are:

Texting

Using a cell phone or smartphone

Eating and drinking

Talking to passengers

Grooming

Reading, including maps

Using a navigation system

Watching a video

Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player

Now we need to re-visit the types of distraction and compare it with texting:

Manual:  you hand(s) are off the wheel to text.

Visual:  it doesn't matter how good you are at texting you will still have to take your eyes off the road to text.

Cognitive:  I have received texts and thought "was any thought put into this text" but lets face it...to write you must think and when doing this you are taking your mind off your driving.

Imagine sitting at a Bronco game...now imagine the length of the football field.  That is how far you drive in the average 4.6 seconds, going 55 miles per hour, it takes to send or receive a text.

Texting and driving is illegal in Colorado.  To find out what the laws in other states are visit Distracted.org.

Let's be honest, cell phones have made our lives easier: we can conduct business between meetings, we can find our children easier, we can schedule our appointments, we can facebook, we can let our family know we are running late...and it can kill us!  Something so simple, something that we NOW KNOW will save lives yet we just don't understand the dangers because "it will never happen to us."  It may not have happened to you...but to the 18% it did happen to it is REAL. 

In 2010 there were 3092 FATALITIES involving distracted drivers....there were 416,000 INJURED because of distracted drivers.  These numbers are REAL....and just because it hasn't happened to you I am sure if you look around you know someone who it has happened to. 

It is right there, the facts are REAL....and it is so simple to fix the problem.

Zeisler & Associates, Attorneys At Law, PC wants everyone to be safe.  Please don't allow distraction to decide your future.

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Information provided by Distracted.gov

Finding an Attorney

It's all about Feeling the Rain

Attorney, Lawyer No matter what you look up in the phone book there are a "million" out there! 

As Bob Marley hinted to:  FEEL the rain...

 don't just get wet!!!

Finding the right Attorney for you is "Feeling the Rain".  Others will just allow you to get wet!



I'm off to pick the perfect Apple off the tree.  The bottom branches have dropped some pretty bruised Apples.  The low hanging branches have some "okay" looking Apples.....but I extend my search and find some great Apples a little higher up.

Same thing goes for finding the "right" Attorney for you.  There are the one's on the ground....not saying they aren't a good Attorney but are they a good Attorney for YOU!!

Do some research!  Ask questions!  Ask people you trust!  If you take the time to search for that GREAT APPLE it will be worth the time spent finding it!!!

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Spinal Cord Injuries

What is Spinal Cord Injury?   Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that results in a loss of function such as mobility or feeling. Frequent causes of damage are trauma (car accident, gunshot,  falls, etc.) or disease (polio, spina bifida, Friedreich's Ataxia, etc.). The spinal cord does not have to be severed in order for a loss of functioning to occur. In fact, in most people with SCI, the spinal cord is intact, but the damage to it results in loss of functioning. SCI is very different from back injuries such as ruptured disks, spinal stenosis or pinched nerves.
   A person can "break their back or neck" yet not sustain a spinal cord injury if only the bones around the spinal cord (the vertebrae) are damaged, but the spinal cord is not affected. In these situations, the individual may not experience paralysis after the bones are stabilized.
   What is the spinal cord and the vertebra?   The spinal cord is about 18 inches long and extends from the base of the brain, down the middle of the back, to about the waist. The nerves that lie within the spinal cord are upper motor neurons (UMNs) and their function is to carry the messages back and forth from the brain to the spinal nerves along the spinal tract. The spinal nerves that branch out from the spinal cord to the other parts of the body are called lower motor neurons (LMNs). These spinal nerves exit and enter at each vertebral level and communicate with specific areas of the body. The sensory portions of the LMN carry messages about sensation from the skin and other body parts and organs to the brain. The motor portions of the LMN send messages from the brain to the various body parts to initiate actions such as muscle movement.
(http://www.spinalinjury.net/html/_spinal_cord_101.html) 
    
Car Accidents can cause numerous problems to the body.  Spinal cord injuries can affect your hands, arms, legs and feet and will usually take a MRI to discover.  Depending where the injury will determine what other parts of your body will be affected.  A neck injury can affect your arm while a back injury can affect your legs. When you are involved in a car accident and you don't "feel" any injuries call an Attorney anyway.  It may take several weeks before any injuries will be discovered.  


At Zeisler & Associates you will get the attention YOU deserve and need.  Zeisler & Associates ONLY practice personal injury.  Make your first call the them and they can refer you to the best doctors for your situation.


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What to do after a car accident

What to do after a car accident

Car accidents are scary and difficult to be involved in but, unfortunately, they are an every day occurrence. If you haven't been involved in a car accident chances are you know someone who has.  Accidents range from minor to deadly.

Car accidents do not discriminate.

There are all types of accidents. They can involve other vehicles or a pedestrian.  You will hear many descriptions of accidents; fender benders, an MVA, an MVC, a collision, an incident, a crash or a wreck. No matter how they are described it often results in one thing: injuries. Some injuries cannot be detected right away.  Victims of Car Accidents will often walk away saying they feel fine only to find themselves, weeks later, unable to function normally.

When you are involved in a car accident what do you do? 

Never admit fault.
Call the police.
Gather as much information about the other party involved in the accident.
Seek medical attention even if you do not have obvious injuries.

Call Today Toll Free 800-961-2430

Call Zeisler & Associates. 

A Law Firm that focuses, exclusively, on Personal Injury!!

At Zeisler & Associates you will always have your consultation WITH AN ATTORNEY!!  Beware of the firms that have you meet with a non-Attorney to assess you case.

At Zeisler & Associates you will have direct contact WITH AN ATTORNEY!!

At Zeisler & Associates you will always be informed of the status of your case.

Conveniently located in two locations:

Click on the city to get directions

Pueblo                                                                     Colorado Springs
123 W. 12th Street                                                        422 E Vermijo, Ste 412
Pueblo, CO  81003                                                       Colorado Springs, CO 80903
719-358-2571                                                               719-694-3971


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