WALKER & CRAWFORD, PC

(KTEN.com) Patients are recovering from Tuesday’s bus crash in Bokchito, Texas at home and at two Dallas hospitals.  The accident happened on Highway 70, just as a Rock Creek school bus was stopping to let students off. Just moments after it stopped, Oklahoma troopers say an 18-wheeler clipped the back of the bus, causing it to overturn. Seven people, including six students were hospitalized, while a number suffered bumps and bruises.

Three students were flown to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, while others were taken to MCSO in Durant. Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the driver of the semi, was simply not paying attention. He was not injured.

Here’s the latest on those patients conditions:

The driver of the school bus, Coach Brad McKnight, was treated Tuesday at MCSO and later released. Chase Thompson, 16, was flown to Parkland Hospital and is listed in serious condition Wednesday morning. Jennifer Russell, 16, is also listed in serious condition at Parkland.

Bryar Thompson, 6, was taken to MCSO, but later flown to Children’s Hospital as a precaution. He’s now in good condition.

Six-year-old Justin Fults and nine-year-old Roni Fults were both treated and released from MCSO Tuesday night.

While some parents rushed to the scene, others went to the hospital in Durant. The driver of the bus, Rock Creek basketball coach Brad McKnight, was actually filling in for the driver. According to school board members, the regular driver, Athletic Director and Baseball Coach, Alan Cartwright, was away at a baseball game.

“We have a baseball game today and I thought it was going to be all the kids on the baseball team, but then I found out it was my basketball coach,” said Kodi From, just hours after the crash. “I was worried wondering if he was going to be okay, [and] all the kids on the bus. I was worried about them.”

“We have some Boy Scouts in Bokchito and we heard about the accident so we came over here to offer some spiritual guidance and prayers,” said Andrew Burns, a local minister.
    
“Oh, it’s terrible. It’s awful,” said Wilma Cooper. ”We don’t know how it happened, probably one of those freak things, but without any seatbelts on busses, it’s sad for these little kids that bounce all over the place.”

Were one of your loved ones injured in the bus crash in Bokchito?  Our experienced team at Walker & Crawford, P.C. are some of the finest trial lawyers in the country whose goal is to pursue justice and maximize the recovery for your loss. Truck Accident cases (as are most personal injury claims in the United States) are handled on a contingent fee basis. The trucking accident attorney’s fee is deducted from the settlement at the conclusion of your case, so the client pays no fee unless the case is successful.

Cases involving 18 wheeler accidents should be handled by a truck accident lawyer familiar with the most serious injury cases. The injuries sustained by an ordinary motorist fortunate enough to survive a collision with a truck are usually severe and require significant medical testimony.

Call us today for a free evaluation of your case.  We are standing by to assure that your family stays on the road to recovery.

www.walkertexaslawyer.com

Houston 713-552-1117

Toll Free 800-732-2934

Fortunately most of us do not need the assistance of a personal injury lawyer on a regular basis.  Most of us are blessed with good health and good fortune.  However, life does throw us a curveball now and again.  An automobile accident with an under-insured motorist, a slip and fall incident in your local mall, a catastrophic accident resulting in loss of life or general health can unfortunately come our way.  In these cases, contacting the reputable and trustworthy attorneys at Walker & Crawford, P.C. should be your first move.  What should you expect?  Here are some answers to frequently asked questions regarding retaining the services of personal injury lawyers and a few tips to make the process more seamless and beneficial for all parties involved.

When I meet my personal injury lawyer for the first time, are there any particular documents I should bring with me?

Supply your attorney with as much information as possible.  When your attorney has more information, he is better able to properly advise you of your legal rights.  You need to bring in all documents pertaining to your case.  The accident report is a very important document that you should bring your attorney.  Also, if you have any eye witness statements or medical records or reports from your doctors, you should bring those to your lawyer.  Any photographs of the accident or of your injury will be valuable information for your meeting with your attorney. If you don’t have the documentation, the attorneys at Walker & Crawford, P.C. may collect the documents for you.

What type of information will my attorney request at the initial consultation concerning my personal injury or automobile accident case?

Your attorney will request general information related to your medical treatment.  The attorneys at Walker & Crawford, P.C. will begin to compile a list of the names and addresses of all treating physicians and medical providers. This will include physical therapists, chiropractors, visiting nurses and other medical providers.  Your attorney may also ask you for a list of prior medical providers.

What usually happens at the first consultation?

The experienced personal injury lawyers at Walker & Crawford, P.C. you have selected will determine whether you have a valid legal claim.  Once you retain them, they will request that you sign a retainer agreement.  The retainer agreement is an important legal document which a lawyer is required to obtain.  At the initial consultation, it is extremely difficult for your lawyer to tell you the value of your case.  The value of your case is dependent on many circumstances which include but are not limited to the amount of your medical bills and the nature and extent of any pain and suffering.  The value may be dependent on whether or not your injury is permanent, whether or not there were/are periods of partial or complete disability, whether or not there was any disfigurement, scarring or other physical injury and the amount of your lost wages, etc.

After you have completed treatment or have reached a certain point in your medical treatment, Walker & Crawford, P.C. will provide a settlement demand with all relevant medical records and documentation to the insurance adjuster.  If the insurance company believes the claim has merit and the insurance adjuster and our attorneys can agree on a figure, then the case will be settled out of court.  Despite the fact that your attorneys will attempt to settle the case out of court, they will also be preparing the case for court in the event that the case does not settle.

What is necessary to have a valid personal injury case?

If you were injured as a result of another person, person’s or entity’s negligence or intentional act, then you have a potential personal injury cause of action.  However, it is not always required to have a physical injury to bring a personal injury lawsuit.  A personal injury lawsuit can be pursued by the attorneys at Walker & Crawford, P.C. based on the diminution of your reputation or an intentional infliction of emotional distress.

What exactly is a settlement in a personal injury case?

If you settle a personal injury car accident or slip and fall case, you are agreeing to accept a sum of money in exchange for either not pursuing a personal injury case against the person or entity or dismissing a personal injury case against a person or entity.  If the case settles out of court, you will need to sign a legal release form releasing any parties of any potential future liability.  In order to determine whether or not you should accept a personal injury settlement, the attorneys at Walker & Crawford, P.C. need to assess the amount of damages you have suffered, the likelihood of prevailing at trial, and any other factors that they deem appropriate.

A settlement can be reached at any time prior to the filing of the lawsuit or after the lawsuit is filed and any time up until the jury’s verdict.  The case can even be settled after the trial if the case is on appeal.

At Walker & Crawford, P.C., it is our philosophy that it is always the client’s decision whether or not to accept a personal injury settlement. Our role is to help you make that determination by providing all of the essential information and answering any relevant questions that you have. We often will give our recommendation as to whether or not a settlement is fair and we always purse THE most fair and equitable settlement available for our clients.  We always let our clients make the final decision whether or not to accept a personal injury or auto accident settlement.

Is it a good idea to wait a period of time before I hire an attorney?

You should contact the experienced team of personal injury attorneys at Walker & Crawford, P.C. immediately after the accident.  It is not a good idea for a person to be dealing with the insurance adjuster concerning their personal injury or car accident claim as they do not have all of the tools or knowledge needed to pursue a fair and equitable settlement.  The team at Walker & Crawford, P.C. are standing by to help walk you through this difficult time and get you back on your feet again.

Am I required to give a recorded statement to the insurance company upon their request?

There is no legal requirement that you give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster.  However, if the insurance company is your own insurance company, you may be contractually obligated to give a recorded statement.  You should not give any statement unless you have legal representation present and you should acquire a copy of the transcript.  Again, the team at Walker & Crawford, P.C. will be there to advise you in this regard.

What types of cases are typically handled on a contingent fee basis?

Car/auto accidents, slip & fall, trip & fall, premises liability, bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, boating accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, uninsured or underinsured, motorist claims, intentional infliction of emotional distress, dog bite claims, etc. are often handled on a contingent fee basis.

For more information regarding ANY type of personal injury claims, accidents or wrongful death suits, please contact the team at Walker & Crawford, P.C. for a free consultation.  We are standing by to help and to get you a fair settlement so that you can get back on your feet again!

www.walkertexaslawyer.com

Houston – 713-552-1117

Toll Free – 800-732-2934

Jackson, MS (Associated Press)–On August 13, 2008, 36 year-old Carlos Reed was shot and killed during a home invasion at his residence in the Cypress Point Apartment complex. Reed, the brother of a Jackson police officer, was killed when he was shot multiple times by an assault rifle during a robbery of his apartment in search of $3,000 according to the Clarion Ledger.

Reed’s father filed a wrongful death claim in Hinds County Circuit Court. The attorney for the slain man’s family alleges the owners and leasing agents of the apartment complex were negligent in their duties to provide a safe living environment for their tenants. Cypress Point Apartments is owned by Heritage Properties Inc., of Madison, and the family’s lawyer claims the apartment complex had a long history of crimes against tenants and their property. The apartment community has multiple entrances and no added safety measures.

Criminal proceedings against one of the murderers began in criminal court in December. Jackson Police Department detectives have testified in the capital murder case under oath. According to court testimony before the judge, the assailants found $600 and not $3,000 as expected during the robbery murder of Reed.

Has someone you love been involved in an incident such as the one where Oscar Grant occurred?  Wrongful death is when a person’s death is caused by the wrongful act or negligence of another.  The team at Walker & Crawford, P.C. has 30 years of experience in handling cases such as these.  We are sympathetic to all of the issues surrounding the untimely and painful death of a loved one and we are here to help you with the legal issues regarding your case as well as any compensation you and your family could be entitled to.  Please contact us for a free evaluation of your case.  We are standing by to help.

www.walkertexaslawyer.com

Houston – 713-552-1117

Toll Free – 800-732-2934