by Staff Blogger | December 12th, 2018
Social media is great for staying connected with family and friends, but it can be damaging when it comes to pursuing compensation after an auto accident. At Ponce Law, our Nashville car accident lawyers know that insurance companies will use every resource at their disposal to reduce or deny claims, including victims’ social media accounts.
Adjusters are known to keep tabs on claimants by regularly checking in on their status updates, photo uploads, and tweets, and they often use the posts on those accounts against them. Two types of posts that could jeopardize your claim include:
- Posts directly concerning your crash or claim—The accident-related information that insurance adjusters get from police reports, medical records, attorneys, and victims themselves is considered “official” in their minds. If you post updates online that might be contrary to that information, the adjuster may hold those statements against you.
- Photos showing you engaging in “normal” activities—Another way that adjusters use social media against victims is by checking for photo uploads. If pictures are posted that show you out and about with family or friends, the adjuster may use them as evidence that your injuries aren’t as bad as you and your lawyer describe—and that means they aren’t worthy of compensation.
Of course, adjusters rarely ask victims to explain the things they find in their social media accounts. Instead, they quietly collect evidence to be used against them at a later date. Don’t give the insurance company any leeway—avoid social media as much as possible while your claim is ongoing and do your best to follow your attorney’s instructions until your case concludes.
Want to learn more about how we may be able to protect you from the insurance company? Call us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | December 5th, 2018
If you were recently injured in an auto accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation. But getting the insurance company to approve your claim can be difficult, especially if you go it alone.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville auto accident attorneys help victims like you by building strong claims that the insurance company can’t simply ignore. We do that by compiling evidence that leaves no doubt about who was at fault for the crash.
Three of the most important types of evidence we use in our auto accident claims include:
- The police report—All auto accidents in Tennessee that involve injuries or property damage must be reported to the police. When the police arrive at the scenes of those accidents, they fill out reports concerning what happened. That information can be used to help prove who caused the crashes.
- Victims’ medical records—Even when insurance companies know that victims weren’t at fault for crashes, they may still refuse to offer settlements, especially if they think victims’ injuries aren’t due to their accidents. But medical records can help conclusively link the origin of injuries with crashes.
- Witness and expert testimony—Insurance companies are notoriously stubborn, and they may refuse to play ball despite overwhelming evidence in victims’ favor. That’s when testimony from people who witnessed the crash or medical experts who are familiar with crash-related injuries can help sway insurers to finally give victims the money they deserve.
Let us use these types of evidence and more as we fight to get you maximum compensation. Call today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | November 28th, 2018
The consequences of truck accidents are often devastating for victims and their families. In addition to causing disabling injuries, they often leave victims in need of extensive and pricey medical treatments. Many victims require long-term care, including physical rehabilitation, during their paths to recovery.
Like auto accident victims, truck accident victims can file claims for compensation against any and all parties whose negligence contributed to their injuries. That includes truck drivers, truck companies, and truck owners associated with the truck involved in their accidents. But because the amount of compensation involved in truck accidents can be significant, victims often find it difficult to get fair settlements—if the insurance company agrees to pay anything in the first place.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville truck accident attorneys know how the trucking industry works, and we’re familiar with the tactics insurance companies use to reduce or deny payments to victims. Many insurers stand to lose big money when truck accident victims have valid claims against their policyholders, and that can result in tactics that aren’t always seen in other types of compensation claims.
Having a law firm on your side is a great defense against the hurdles and traps the insurance company will put up while you attempt to get damages for your medical bills and lost wages. We have many years of experience getting successful verdicts for victims like you, and we know what it takes to win. Call us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | November 21st, 2018
Although Tennessee is a right-to-work state, employees like you are still protected by many federal laws. Those laws include protection against discrimination for things like age, race, sex, disability status, religion, and more.
In addition, federal law also requires employers to pay workers overtime wages if they exceed 40 hours of work in a given week. Employers who attempt to circumvent this rule by changing workers’ employment statuses to salaried can face fines and other actions.
Tennessee law also protects workers. For example, Tennessee requires almost all employers to have workers’ compensation insurance. That insurance is designed to help workers recoup lost money if they get hurt or develop an illness on the job and can’t earn their paychecks for a prolonged period of time.
All workers in Tennessee are also required to receive at least one 30-minute break if they’re working for at least six consecutive hours. Employers may violate this requirement in an effort to maximize profits by understaffing and under-hiring.
If you or someone you love was taken advantage of by an employer, you don’t have to suffer in silence. Laws exist for a reason, and there should be consequences to violating them—even when it’s done by a big corporation. The Nashville employment law attorneys at Ponce Law are here to help. Call us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | November 14th, 2018
Nursing homes aren’t just expensive for the families of the people who live in them—they’re also in charge of looking after every aspect of their residents’ care and well-being. There are many nursing home facilities throughout Middle Tennessee, and they all do their best to appear as though their staff members provide the utmost attention to all residents.
Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Most nursing homes are private businesses that are built to generate profits, and increasing profits sometimes means cutting corners by understaffing or hiring underqualified employees. That combination often leads to residents getting less-than-ideal care, and in some cases, it can even lead to abuse and neglect.
If your loved one is living in a nursing home and you notice any of the following warning signs, it’s important to contact an experienced Nashville nursing home abuse lawyer right away:
- Unexplained weight loss—Some medical conditions can cause weight loss, but residents shouldn’t lose weight if those conditions are ruled out. Weight loss can indicate that your loved one isn’t receiving enough food or that meals are being withheld.
- Bruises, bedsores, or other abrasions—Residents who have mobility issues must be frequently turned to prevent the occurrence of bedsores. If you notice bedsores, bruises, or other signs of damage on your loved one’s body, it can be indicative of abuse or neglect.
Other signs to watch out for include poor personal hygiene, anxiety or depression, and even fear of nursing home staff members.
Ponce Law is here to help if you suspect your loved one is being mistreated in a nursing home. Call us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | November 12th, 2018
It’s an unfortunate reality for countless patients every year—they visit their doctors after suffering injuries or illnesses and are prescribed medications that are supposed to help them. But instead of making them feel better, the drugs cause new complications that can be disabling and even life-threatening.
Although both prescription and over-the-counter medications are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are required to undergo several rounds of testing before they’re approved, dangerous drugs can and often do slip through the cracks.
Those drugs can end up on pharmacy shelves and inside medicine cabinets for years before new information proves that they pose risks to the people who take them. And in many cases, the drug manufacturers were aware or should have been aware of the dangers, but instead chose profits over patient safety.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville drug injury lawyers believe that negligent pharmaceutical companies should be held liable for any health problems suffered by people who take their medications. We help drug injury victims like you by:
- Collecting evidence that proves the medication caused health problems—Drug companies and their insurers frequently deny that medications caused complications, but we can gather evidence that leaves no doubt.
- Negotiating to get maximum compensation—Even when drug companies agree to pay settlements, they frequently offer small checks to victims. We know what it takes to help you get the full amount that you deserve.
We’re not afraid to stand up to big drug companies and their insurers when it comes to protecting clients like you. Call today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | November 7th, 2018
The aftermath of an auto accident is often a confusing, painful, and disorienting time for victims. Auto accidents are traumatic, especially when they cause drivers and passengers to suffer debilitating injuries. The most important thing victims can do after crashes is protect the health of everyone involved and protect their rights to compensation.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville auto accident attorneys know that accomplishing those feats requires acting quickly and taking three important steps:
- Call 911. First, you must alert law enforcement of the crash. In addition to fulfilling your legal responsibility, you’ll also dispatch an ambulance. When paramedics arrive, they can administer aid to you, your loved ones, and other victims.
- Get further medical attention. Whether you get treated at the scene or not, it’s important to get checked out by a doctor. That’s because some injuries are internal and take time to show up. In addition, having a record of medical treatment can serve as valuable evidence for your claim.
- Contact an experienced law firm. The insurance company will begin building its claim against you as soon as it finds out about the crash. Having a lawyer on your side can help you level the playing field and maximize your chances of getting compensation.
Don’t take your opportunity to pursue compensation after a crash for granted, even if it wasn’t your fault. Getting money after an accident isn’t easy, especially if you don’t have a lawyer. But we’re here to help—call today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | October 31st, 2018
The U.S. military makes all personnel swear oaths to their service branch and to their country for the length of their contracts. In return, each branch of the armed forces promises certain benefits and perks to service members, including disability benefits if they suffer service-related injuries or develop service-related illnesses.
But every year, countless veterans are denied the benefits they desperately need when they’re no longer able to do their jobs or serve their countries due to health conditions. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) oversees administering disability benefits, and it is notoriously strict when reviewing evidence and determining when applications are valid and worthy.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville veterans disability benefits lawyers know that first-time disability benefits applicants are often denied. In 2016, the New York Times reported that there was a sharp increase in the number of veterans who were denied benefits when they needed them the most. Many veterans believe that they can get benefits on their own, but the reality is that most veterans need help from someone who understands the claim and appeals process and who knows how the VA reviews applications.
Because you need veterans disability benefits, you shouldn’t have to worry about jumping through hoops just to have a small chance of your application being approved. Instead, you should focus on your recovery and spending time with your family. Leave the paperwork and the back-and-forth with the VA up to us. Call today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | October 24th, 2018
People who own or manage properties are obligated to keep their premises free from hazards for guests and invitees. When they fail to do so, they can be held liable for any injuries that occur.
If you or someone you love were hurt on public or private property due to unaddressed safety hazards, it’s important to get in touch with an experienced Nashville premises liability lawyer right away. Slip and fall injuries can be devastating and disabling. Victims often suffer from complications due to broken bones, head and neck injuries, and even spinal cord damage.
Without a lawyer on your side, you’ll be on the hook for paying for your medical bills out of pocket—all without earning the paycheck you and your loved ones depend on. Proving liability and negligence in slip and fall claims can be difficult, but the legal team at Ponce Law is up to the challenge. In fact, we’ve helped many victims just like you who were hurt through no fault of their own in Nashville and throughout Middle Tennessee for many years.
When you choose us to handle your claim, we’ll provide two invaluable services to you and your family:
- We’ll prove the property owner failed to uphold his or her responsibilities—Whether your injury was caused by a wet floor, a broken step, or a poorly lit walkway, we’ll leave no doubt that the property owner didn’t take the necessary steps to provide you and other guests with a safe environment.
- We’ll negotiate to get you maximum compensation—Insurance companies are in business to make money, and that means they offer lowball settlements to most claimants. We’ll negotiate to maximize your chances of getting the damages you need for your medical bills and lost wages.
We’re ready to fight for your rights. Call us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | October 17th, 2018
If you recently lost a loved one due to another person’s or party’s negligence, the last thing you want to deal with is a prolonged back-and-forth with the insurance company. But losing a loved one isn’t just emotionally devastating—it can also put you and your family in a major financial bind.
That’s why filing a wrongful death claim is important for your family’s future. At Ponce Law, it’s our goal to make the process easy for you. In fact, our Nashville wrongful death lawyers will handle every aspect of your wrongful death claim while you grieve, spend time with loved ones, and begin building a new life for yourself.
Families who file wrongful death claims are often eligible to receive a wide range of benefits, including money for things like:
- Medical bills and funeral costs—Funerals are more expensive than ever, and the medical bills your loved one may have incurred after his or her injury or illness may be too much for your family to bear. A wrongful death claim can help you recoup some or all of those expenses.
- Lost wages—You relied on your loved one’s income to support your day-to-day living expenses and lifestyle. Now that they’re gone, you should be eligible to be compensated for that loss—especially if your loved one’s death was due to negligence.
- Pain and suffering—Losing a loved one is one of the most painful human experiences. It forever changes survivors and families, and the emotional impact and trauma are often even worse when the death was preventable. You deserve to be compensated for all the ways your loss has and will impact your family.
This is a difficult and sensitive time for your family, and we’re here to help. Call today for a free consultation.
