Always order your crash report from a .gov site

Many accident victims do not understand that the insurance adjusters are not appointed to help them — and are not even required to tell the truth. In our 70 plus years of experience dealing with liability insurers we have often seen detrimental strategies in action. When you have been in an accident, don’t forget that the adjuster’s role is to save the insurance company money and that the adjuster cannot be trusted to protect your interests. Here are some real examples of unfair insurance company tactics and how to avoid becoming a victim. Tactic 1: Letting the Statute of Limitations Expire An accident victim supplied medical bills and records to the adjuster as requested. The injuries were severe, and treatment took a long time. The adjuster advised that the medical bills would be paid, lulling the accident victim into a sense of security. At no time did the adjuster advise that the year two statute of limitations was approaching or that the claim would be denied after the statute ran. Once the two-year mark passed, the adjuster denied the claim. Lesson : The third-party liability adjuster has no duty to tell you the deadlines applicable to your case. Consult with an attorney about your deadlines so your claim will not be barred. Tactic 2: Concealing Payout Amounts An adjuster offered an individual injured in an auto accident $10,000 in settlement, which she accepted. The individual received a check for $1,000. When she asked why she only received $1,000 when she had settled for $10,000, the adjuster told her, for the first time, that $9,000 was paid to the hospital. Had the adjuster been upfront with the individual, she could have negotiated the hospital bill herself, saving thousands of dollars. Because she had already settled with the insurance company, she had no recourse. Lesson: Ask the adjuster specifically how much money YOU will be receiving, and how much money is being paid to the hospital and health insurance company. You have the right to negotiate with the hospital and health insurance company, but you have to ask. The adjuster will not tell you this. Tactic 3: Insurer-led Investigations A family tragically lost their son in a collision. The insurance adjuster contacted the son’s friends, misrepresented the details of the accident, and took recorded statements, recording only part of the interviews, creating a misleading record. This misleading record was then used against the family. Lesson: Contact an attorney right away if a family member has been killed or has suffered catastrophic injuries. The adjusters immediately begin to build their defense, using unfair tactics. You do not want to be put at a disadvantage. An attorney can contact friends and family to alert them to be on guard and combat these unfair tactics. Tactic 4: Adjuster Harassment of Victims’ Families After a family tragically lost their child, the adjuster began hounding the family and relatives—going so far as to send messages to family members on social media. The actions of the adjuster caused additional stress for the grieving family. Lesson: If you retain an attorney and advise the adjuster that you have done so, the adjuster must stop contacting you and your family members. Tactic 5: Concealing Liens A woman settled a personal injury case with the adjuster. After the settlement, the woman’s health insurance contacted her and told her she was required to pay all of the settlement funds to the health insurance company. The adjuster failed to disclose to the woman that she would have to repay her health insurance company from the settlement funds. Had the woman known this, she would not have accepted the settlement amount from the adjuster and would have attempted to negotiate a higher recovery. Lesson: Most health insurance companies have a lien on your personal injury settlement. Adjusters will not volunteer this information to you. If you negotiate a settlement yourself, you need to find out about all liens on your recovery, so you know the exact amount you will receive in settlement. Health insurance liens can be negotiated before the settlement is reached. Tactic 6: Swoop and Settle A gentleman was injured in an accident. The liability adjuster told him the insurance company would pay up to $20,000 in medical bills and $2,500 for pain and suffering. The gentleman accepted this offer. He received his $2,500 check and then submitted $15,000 in medical bills to the liability adjuster. The liability adjuster paid only $7,500 of the $15,000 in medical bills. When asked, the adjuster advised that she did not agree he needed 36 sessions of physical therapy nor that he needed an MRI, so she would not pay for those charges. The adjuster further pointed out that the settlement agreement obligated the liability insurance company to pay up to $20,000 in medical expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred due to the accident . The agreement left it up to the adjuster to decide which bills to pay. The gentleman was then on the hook to pay $7,500 in medical bills, with no recourse. Lesson: This tactic is called swoop and settle . The insurance company wants to trick you into settling before you know the extent of your damages. This leaves the insurance company with the discretion to decide which bills to pay, and you with no remedy for the wrongful denial of medical charges. DO NOT fall prey to this scheme. There is no requirement that you settle your case immediately . Adjusters often threaten that they will “close their file” and the like. This is a hollow threat. You can wait until you have completed treatment to attempt to settle the case. You have two years after the accident to file a lawsuit. Conclusion Liability insurance companies and their adjusters have a whole playbook of dirty tricks. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, you need experienced Texas personal injury attorneys who have seen it all and know how to win. Please contact Wham & Rogers for your free consultation, by phone, Zoom or in person.

Because 18-wheelers and tractor trailers weigh significantly more than cars — some weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, while passenger cars usually weigh under 5,000 pounds — big trucks can do much more damage to your car than an accident with a personal vehicle. Due to their weight, it takes significantly longer for a big rig to stop. Because of this size differential, collisions with big trucks often result in serious or even fatal injuries. A tragic accident which occurred on December 6, 2024 in Liberty County illustrates just how much damage can be caused by a big truck. An 18-wheeler driver crashed into vehicles stopped due to road construction on Highway 321 east of Cleveland, TX. The truck driver reportedly hit the brakes within 100 feet of the stopped traffic but was unable to avoid a collision. The tanker slammed into two pickup trucks, crushing them between the tanker and another 18-wheeler. At 65 miles per hour it takes a fully loaded 18 wheeler about 525 feet to stop . In this case, the truck driver reportedly did not attempt to brake until 100 feet before impact. Because the driver was reportedly traveling highway speed before he began to brake, his speed at impact was significant, as is illustrated by the damage to the two pickup trucks. Why time is of the essence when you are involved in an 18-wheeler collision When an 18-wheeler is involved in a collision, the commercial trucking company immediately hires a team of adjusters, investigators, and attorneys to help clear it from liability and reduce your damages. The defense team will be on scene, sometimes as soon as 30 minutes after the collision, collecting evidence favorable to them and taking witness statements, often in a biased manner. Sometimes, unfortunately, efforts are made to conceal harmful evidence. How is an 18-wheeler collision investigated? When we are hired for a commercial collision case, we perform computerized mapping of the crash site, download the truck's electronic control module, hire experts to address the federal safety carrier regulations that are critical to handling 18-wheeler trucking collisions and interview witnesses who saw the accident or arrived shortly thereafter. If you are injured, or a loved one is killed, in an 18-wheeler truck accident, you need a Board Certified Personal Injury Lawyer on your side, so contact Wham & Rogers right away. Our team is prepared to take quick action and get a team on the ground quickly. Our lawyers have the knowledge and resources you need to protect your rights and build a strong case. When we handle a truck accident case, we utilize state-of-the-art resources and dedicate a tremendous amount of time and energy to prove your case. Because it is important to move quickly when an 18-wheeler truck accident occurs, we offer meetings by video conference, and will conduct hospital visits and home consultations by appointment.

If you are in an auto accident, you will likely begin to receive multiple phone calls from people wanting to “help you” with your accident claim. These people may claim to be from the State of Texas, f rom non-profit organizations, the police, or may simply say they were “assigned to help you”. You may even be told that the caller "can get you $50,000." Please know these free services do NOT exist. Instead, you are being contacted by unethical people who have purchased your information and will sell your case to unscrupulous lawyers. The State of Texas does not contact you to help you with an accident, and there are no non-profits whose function is to help you after an accident. No one is assigned to "facilitate" your health care or property damage claim. These callers are with solicitation companies. Their j ob is to trick you into retaining the law firm they are working for. This practice is unethical and illegal – it is the crime of barratry . Why shouldn't I hire a lawyer who calls me? If you sign up with one of these scammer companies, you will likely be referred to an unethical attorney whose business model is geared to make a quick profit from your misfortune with the quickest, cheapest settlement obtainable. Our firm has received phone calls from multiple victims of these scams who were never able to speak with the attorney supposedly “appointed” to represent them, others who were very unhappy with the settlement they received, and even others whose settlement checks bounced. How are these scammers obtaining my information? Scammers can acquire your contact information when you or someone else calls 911 after an accident. T ow truck driver, EMS workers, police insiders, medical workers and funeral homes have all been caught selling accident victims' information to scammers. There are many third-party sites accident report sites that will sell your information to scammers. Government sites will not sell your information. We recommend you order your crash report from a .gov site, not a .com or .org site. How can I avoid becoming a victim of a barratry scam? The only legitimate caller to expect after the accident is an insurance company. If the caller is really with the insurance company they will be able to provide you with a claim number and the name of an adjuster. We recommend you talk with an attorney before providing a statement to the insurance company. Do not hire a lawyer who calls you, because contacting potential clients unsolicited is an illegal and unethical practice. You do not want to be represented by an attorney who engages in illegal, unethical conduct. To avoid being contacted again, tell them you already have an attorney and block their calls. How do I report an instance of barratry? A person commits barratry if, with intent to obtain economic benefit, the person solicits legal employment, in person or by telephone. Texas law allows victims of barratry to collect a $10,000 penalty for each illegal solicitation . Victims are entitled to actual damages and attorney’s fees. Call the State Bar's toll-free Grievance Information Helpline ( 1-800-932-1900 ) to report the solicitations. If you decide to pursue a claim for barratry, gather as much information about these callers as you can, the callers, the lawyers, the doctors. Record the calls, take photos or screenshots of the Caller ID, and provide it to a lawyer who handles barratry claims. This is a public service announcement. Wham & Rogers, PLLC does not handle barratry cases.

One driver's insurance premiums increased by 21% in 2022, even though he had never caused an accident. LexisNexis Risk Solutions had compiled a 258-page report on the driver that listed each time he or his wife had driven their vehicle over the previous six months and the report was provided to his insurance company. Many drivers don’t realize that by activating the “safe driver” features the car manufacturer will share their information with data brokers – who then sell the information to insurers. Because the consent to sell this information is buried in fine print, many drivers have no idea they “consented” to the selling of their information. According to the Times, the profiles compiled by LexisNexis were found to contain detailed data on all trips made by the insured drivers, including start and end times, duration, distance, and all instances of hard acceleration and braking. This data was used to increase insurance premiums. If you drive faster and brake harder than your fellow drivers, you’ll pay more for your coverage, even if you don’t have any accidents. Data collected by car companies is not secure Researchers at the Mozilla Foundation deemed cars the worst product category they had ever reviewed in terms of data privacy and information security. 84% of the companies either sell or share data and half of the companies share private information with governmental officials upon request, no warrant required. Car companies do not keep the data they collect very secure, either. Seventeen of the 25 brands Mozilla looked at had a “bad track record” in the past three years for “leaks, hacks and breaches that threatened their drivers’ privacy.” Furthermore, the companies create inferences about customers based on the data collected, including characteristics based on the locations you visit, podcasts you listen to, your job and other shared information. How can you keep your data from being collected and sold? According to Cars.com and Mozilla, in order to protect your data, you should: Read the fine print at the dealership. Look for words like "sell" and "share" and pay attention to who your data is being sold to and shared with. If the salesperson is entering a lot of information into their computer system, ask to see it. Don’t let the salesperson walk you through the technology on your new car. Salespeople get commission for signing up customers for connected services and getting you to opt into extra data-sharing systems. Once you take delivery of the car, review the car settings and the settings on connected mobile apps to opt out of sharing your data. “Look for settings like " Data Privacy" or " Data Usage." Opt-out of sharing any data with third-parties. But be careful not to opt out of features you want. Watch for features such as “ Smart Driver " or “ Driving Score .” Check on the car’s infotainment menu and connected phone apps to see what is being collected and shared. The Mozilla Foundation suggests not using your car’s mobile app, or at least limiting the information it can access on your phone. You can also avoid connecting your phone to your car to stop sharing sensitive data like contacts or texts. Unfortunately, with new models, there aren’t a lot of ways to minimize data collection. Some models even require the use of an app. You can request a copy of your own Consumer Disclosure Report from LexisNexis for free , which lets you know what kind of data is being shared without your knowledge. Privacy4Cars built a useful tool to help consumers learn what kinds of data car companies collect , how that information is collected, and what policies the company has when it comes to privacy and data security. The tool offers advice on how to disable the features, apps and services that share more data than you prefer. It also has a form to request an opt-out from sharing personal data with third parties.

While more Americans are choosing Electric Vehicles (EVs), many consumers still have concerns over reliability and safety. The powerful batteries that make EVs run are at the center of these fears, with car buyers wondering whether hybrid and electric vehicles pose an increased risk of fire and explosion. Several recent incidents in Texas have made some Houstonians worried. This July, one of Amazon’s new electric delivery vans caught fire. In March of 2023, a Houston homeowner’s garage went up in flames when the charger for his electric Audi malfunctioned . And just this month, firefighters responded too late to the burning wreckage of a Tesla Cybertruck in a Baytown , where the blaze was so intense that the license plate, VIN and victim could not be identified. But how common are electric vehicle fires, and are they really more dangerous than other cars? Read on to learn the facts. Electric Vehicles are Less likely to catch fire According to the most recent statistics, traditional vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE) are actually far more likely to catch fire than electric vehicles , but slightly less likely to spontaneously ignite than hybrids. “Data from the National Transportation Safety Board showed that EVs were involved in approximately 25 fires for every 100,000 sold. Comparatively, approximately 1,530 gasoline-powered vehicles and 3,475 hybrid vehicles were involved in fires for every 100,000 sold.” Common causes of fire in gasoline-powered vehicles include: Collisions and wrecks Excess temperatures in hot climates Parking on top of flammable materials, like dry grass or autumn leaves Degradation of fuel lines and gas tanks in older vehicles But Electric Vehicle fires can be more dangerous While EV’s are less likely to catch fire, the intensity and duration of electric vehicle fires requires special consideration. Gasoline has a higher energy density than electric vehicle batteries, but the fuel is burned up quickly. Electric batteries have individual cells that store chemical energy, and can continue adding energy to a fire over a longer period of time. In some instances, electric vehicle fires have continued for hours despite intervention from firefighters . In Korea, a Mercedes with an NMC battery spontaneously ignited inside a parking garage caused severe smoke inhalation symptoms for residents . It’s important to note that the NMC battery used by this vehicle is a different battery chemistry than other Lithium Ion batteries employed by newer Teslas, Toyotas, and Hyundais, and this likely played a role in the ignition. “The explosion, which occurred in an underground parking garage, caused a fire that burned for eight hours. This incident resulted in significant damage to the building and vehicles, and posed a severe risk to public safety..” In response, apartment complexes and governments are considering bans on garage parking for electric vehicles – potentially limiting ownership in a country where most people live in dense urban housing. Compounding the problem are poor regulations and uneven enforcement, with many facilities lacking the automatic sprinkler systems that would be required in the United States. “My apartment’s management office informed me in late May that electric vehicles were being banned from parking on the premises.” Combating Electric Battery Fires Because of the unique challenges battery fires pose, including re-ignition after a blaze appears contained, many fire departments are developing novel techniques. While water is still recommended to prevent the spread of fire beyond the site of ignition, the water can also conduct electricity depending upon the battery chemistry. In some locations, especially away from municipal water mains, there’s simply not enough water to get the job done. One Tesla continued burning for four hours after 30,000 gallons of water was used. Some first responders are instead utilizing specialized fire suppressing blankets . Electric Vehicle Fires in Houston On July 1st, one of Amazon’s electric delivery vans caught fire in a Houston parking lot after being subjected to hours of 98 degree heat . While Houstonians may regard anything under 100 degrees as a mild summer temperature, the pressure can cause battery cells to corrode – both in internal combustion vehicles and in EVs. Fortunately the fire occurred outside, and HFD firefighters were quick to respond. The delivery vans, manufactured by Rivian, were added to Amazon’s fleet in July of 2023. How can I protect my family from Electric Vehicle fires? Understandably, questions about infrastructure availability, longevity, safety and cost are slowing the adoption of electric vehicles. Nevertheless, Americans bought over 1.5 million electric vehicles in 2023, and ERCOT expects that there will be 1 million in Texas alone by 2028 . Fires remain extremely rare, and more common in gasoline vehicles than in electric vehicles. But, if you wish to protect yourself further, make sure you follow some common sense safety tips. Make sure you park on clear, clean ground with no flammable material underneath. Maintain your vehicle and take seriously any warnings about coolant or overheating. Do not leave your vehicle running inside closed spaces or poorly ventilated areas Check the health of your battery regularly. Even if you do not drive an electric vehicle or hybrid, you should still visually inspect your battery for signs of corrosion that might indicate a leak, or irregular swelling – especially in hot summer months. While fires are rare, Texans' fears of danger in high temperatures are not unfounded. Manufacturers should do more to increase fire safety of their vehicles, increase cell resilience and adopt battery technologies that can tolerate Texas summers.

According to The Texas Strategic Highway Safety Plan the following factors cause intersection collisions: • Failure to yield right of way causes 33% of intersection collisions • Speed causes 23% of intersection collisions • Disregarding signals or lights causes 22% of the collisions • Distraction causes 16% of these crashes • Impaired driving causes 14% of intersection collisions Intersection crashes are the second most common type of crash in Texas. 70% of intersection collisions are in urban areas and 33% of the collisions are at signalized intersections. Of the intersection collisions, • 11% are rear-end collisions • 35% are angle crashes • 28% of the crashes are left turn crashes • 25% are other types of crashes How can you and your family stay safe at intersections? Hanover Insurance has these suggestions to help you avoid intersection collisions: 1. Match speed with visibility at intersections. Always be able to stop your vehicle short of the intersection. 2. Don't assume the other driver will yield to you. Approach all intersections prepared to yield the right of way. 3. Decide what evasive action you will take in the event it becomes necessary. Have your vehicle under control so you can make any necessary maneuvers. 4. Avoid distractions. Look in all directions, then look again. 5. Don't assume that the other vehicle will stop. A traffic control device doesn't physically stop a vehicle—the driver has to apply the brakes. Go Swerve Driving School has these additional tips on avoiding intersection collisions: 1. Notice your surroundings. Visibility might be impaired by buildings, trees and other cars. 2. Don’t speed through. You can’t always anticipate the other driver’s actions, so go slow enough that you can make an adjustment if it becomes necessary. 3. Don’t follow the vehicle ahead of you too closely through the intersection. This extra space gives you time to react in the event someone pulls out in front of you. 4. Use your turn signals in time to let the other drivers plan for your change, but not so early that it confuses them. 5. Carefully enter intersections. The most dangerous time to enter an intersection is when the light is yellow or has just turned green. Always scan the intersection and traffic from the opposite direction before pulling into the intersection. If you have been injured in an intersection collision, the attorneys at Wham & Rogers can help. Call 832-592-1108 or text 832-413-1428‬ for a free case evaluation.

Most vehicles manufactured after 2012 have downloadable mini computers called Electronic Control Modules (ECMs or “black boxes”). In the event of an accident, they can record some or all of the following information, much of which can be very relevant in a personal injury lawsuit. How fast the vehicle was traveling prior to impact. Whether the driver was actively accelerating or decelerating at the time of the collision. How hard the driver braked, if at all. Whether the driver tried to steer away from the other vehicle(s). Seat belt usage. Severity of impact (forces of acceleration). Airbag deployment times. Near misses (when the vehicles safety system is activated, but no collision occurs). If the vehicle was moving or stopped before impact. The order of impact, or who hit whom first. Newer vehicles might even capture images from onboard backup cameras record GPS coordinates. All of this data can be downloaded with specialized equipment and can be used as evidence in a car crash case. Infotainment and Telematics Systems Many newer cars have prominent "infotainment" consoles built into the dash. This can also be a key source of crash information, such as: Call logs, text messages, social media, and email, if the system is paired to your smartphone Vehicle events: when doors are opened or closed, lights turned on or off, and when the vehicle is connected to Wi-Fi Location information: recent destinations, and navigation history Hard-braking and hard acceleration events This data can be useful in determining what happened, where it happened, and who was involved. Infotainment systems can record months of data, while event data recorders (black boxes) may only store data for a short period of time before a collision. Driver Facing Cameras Some newer vehicles from brands including Tesla, BMW, Jeep and Mini have driver facing cameras. These cameras analyze the driver's head position and interactions with objects, such as phones and passengers. If the driver's behavior is outside of the normal range for too long, the camera may issue a warning. Footage and images from the driver facing cameras may also be downloadable and used as evidence in car crash litigation. It is important to retain an attorney as soon as possible following a collision, so that data can be downloaded and preserved. The attorneys at Wham & Rogers can help make sure you are protected following a collision. If you have been in a collision, call 832-592-1108 or text ‪(832) 413-1428‬ for a free consultation.‬

‪ Recently there have been incidents of "road rage" against bicyclists, including a driver throwing roofing nails in the bicyclists' lane of travel, resulting in serious injuries. This has led to discussion on social media about whether groups of bicyclists can legally ride together on a roadway. The answer under Texas law is yes. Persons operating bicycles on a roadway may ride two abreast in a single lane. • However, persons riding two abreast may not impede the normal flow of traffic, and • Persons may not ride more than two abreast on a roadway. (Tex. Transportation code Sect. 551.103) What are the laws governing where bike riders should ride on the roadways? Texas law requires that a bike rider on a roadway should ride as near as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway, unless: • Passing another vehicle • Preparing for a left turn • Avoiding a hazard • Traveling on a road that is too narrow to share side-by-side with a car What laws do bicyclists have to follow while on the roadways? Bicyclists have the rights and duties of other vehicle operators. This means they must: • Yield to pedestrians • Stop for stop signs • Signal turns • Travel with the flow of traffic. Share the road and follow the law to keep everyone safe. If you have been injured in a bike collision, Wham & Rogers can help. Call 832-592-1108 or text ‪(832) 413-1428‬ for a free consultation.