FAQ’s for Memphis cyclists hit by cars

Memphis personal injury attorney Jami Ferrell was recently featured in “Memphis Health and Fitness” magazine where he discussed how injured cyclists can recover for their injuries and property damage.

Here is a list of some of the frequently asked questions that he was asked concerning cyclists who have been hit by automobiles and his answers to these questions.

Q: How many cyclists are injured each year?

A: According to the 2008 NHTSA report (the latest available), 52,000 bicyclists were injured and 716 bicyclists were killed on U.S. roads.

Q: Is there anything you can do to help you pay for damages if you were injured by a car while running or cycling?

A: Yes. If the vehicle stops you can get the driver’s insurance information and file an accident and injury claim to be reimbursed for any property damage, medical bills, missed work due to the accident and any other pain and suffering.

Q: Are you out of luck if the driver doesn’t stop?

A: Not necessarily. Even if the driver who hit you doesn’t stop or doesn’t have insurance you still may be able to be reimbursed for your injuries and loss if you have uninsured motorist coverage (UIM) on your own car.

Q: Will my insurance go up if I make a claim for someone else hitting me while running or cycling?

A: No. Tennessee insures are not allowed to rate your rates or cancel coverage for making a claim under their uninsured motorist coverage policy.

Q: What is an “injury” and how bad do you need to be hurt before you need to call a lawyer?

A: My philosophy is that if you are lucky enough to walk away and get back to your regular routine without a visit to the doctor, missing days of work or not being able to train because of pain then you should say your prayers and count your blessings. But if your bike has been wrecked, you have a lot of doctor’s bills, severe pain and discomfort then you need to give an attorney you trust a phone call.

My advice to all of you who are active and always moving is that you need to call your insurance provider today to see if you have UIM coverage. If you don’t have it then add it right away.

The cost is very minimal and it can mean all the difference in the world if you’ve been hit by someone while enjoying your favorite activity. With UIM coverage in place, personal injury attorneys like me will actually be able to help you get back on your feet and back outside.

If you’ve been hurt when a car negligently hit you while you were riding your bicycle then call me today at 901-754-1340. The call and your consultation are free, and if you become my client we are paid nothing unless we collect for you!

Memphis cyclist hit by car on Wolf River Boulevard

I live in Germantown very near Wolf River Boulevard. In fact I often run up and down that street when training and see and wave to many cyclists on this stretch of road. That’s why the following story really hits close to home for me.

The Commercial Appeal is reporting that a cyclist was hit by a car on Wolf River Boulevard near Houston High School in Germantown this past Sunday.

It seems that the bicyclist may have suffered severe injuries and damage from the accident. In fact he was in critical condition and had to be airlifted by helicopter to the Med emergency room for treatment.

My sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family. I’m sure he was enjoying a great day up until the point of the accident. No one ever expects and event as terrible as this to happen.

Please be careful when you’re riding your bike. It doesn’t matter if you’re alone, with your group of buddies or in a huge peloton, accidents and wrecks happen fast. Be on the lookout for cars that aren’t watching you, it’s your best and sometimes only defense.

To learn more about what to do if you have been hit while riding your bike here in Memphis read this bicycle accident post I recently made.

And if you were riding your bike and were hit by a car give me a call at 1-888-GET-JAMI today, or call me at 901-754-1340. I’d be happy to talk with you to see if there is anything I can do to help you.

Help for Memphis bicyclists hit by cars while riding

How many times have you been running or biking along the streets of Memphis when someone driving their car barely misses you? It may have been because they were talking or texting on the phone, or even worse, they may have simply not wanted to give you the proper right-of-way or passing space. If you’re lucky you came away with just a close call. And in a worst case scenario someone you know and love may have lost their life due to the carelessness of someone else.

If you’re the unlucky person whose been hit by a car you may think that there is nothing you can do, and that you’ll be stuck paying for the medical bills and property damage out of your own pocket. But did you know that you might not need to do this on your own dime?

Even if the driver who hit you doesn’t stop or doesn’t have insurance you still may be able to receive help paying your bills and restoring the property that was damaged. How can you get this? By looking to see if your own car insurance coverage can help.

Most people don’t have a clue that their own car insurance coverage can help them even when they are hurt nowhere near their car. But if you have uninsured motorist coverage (UIM) on for your vehicle then you most likely will be able to recover and be compensated for your injuries, pain and suffering and property damage.

If you’re someone who is active and always moving you need to call your insurance provider today to see if you have UIM coverage. If you don’t then add it right away. The cost is very minimal and it can mean all the difference in the world if you’ve been hit by someone while enjoying the great outdoors. With UIM coverage in place, injury attorneys like me will actually be able to help you get back on your feet and back outside.

Jami Ferrell is an avid fitness enthusiast who can be found running the streets of Germantown and hanging with his family outside throughout the year. He is also an injury and accident lawyer who focuses on helping victims of serious and life-changing accidents, and is the author of the book “7 Deadly Mistakes That Can KILL Your Memphis Accident Case.” Jami can be reached at 901-754-1340 or by email at James@LawFerrell.com

Another bus crash in Memphis

My prayers go out to all of those who were involved in this accident, especially the 17 year old girl who was thrown from the SUV she was riding in when the driver of the bus hit her vehicle.

A lot of people will probably be wondering who is at fault in this wreck. And from the information I have been able to find it seems to be that the driver of the bus was the own who caused the wreck when he failed to yield to the other vehicle.

Because the bus driver was ticketed and is considered “at fault” for this accident then both he and the company he was working for may be considered liable for any and all damages that the victims of this accident suffer from. This includes hospital bills, pain, suffering and any loss of property.

Most likely the victims (or their families) of this accident will be receiving phone calls from the insurance adjusters representing the day care very soon. These adjusters will be trying to limit the liability and how much they will have to pay the victims of the accident. It’s very important that the victims act carefully during this time! I suggest that they inform themselves as much as they can BEFORE they talk ANYONE, by reading relevant materials such as the “Memphis Accident Book”.

Ferrell Law Firm
2255 S. Germantown Road, Germantown, TN 38138
901-754-1340 or 888-GET-JAMI

WREG – Channel 3 has more coverage on the accident in this video.
 

Crash in North Memphis Injuries Three

A car accident in north Memphis this morning caused the three passengers of a Ford Mustang to be taken to the Med in downtown Memphis today.

The car was heading south on Homer street when it apparently left the road and struck a tree.

Be careful Memphis! Any time you’re driving be sure to watch out for other vehicles that can easily run you off the road causing accidents and potentially life threatening injuries.

And if you’ve been in a bad car wreck and need the help of a personal injury lawyer you can call our office 24 hours a day at 901-754-1340.

Help, someone just hit me from behind!

That’s the call I got last week from my wife at 5:07 p.m. She was driving home here in Memphis on I-240 when someone who was driving crazy as “heck” rearended her.

What did she do?

She called the person she considers to be the best personal injury lawyer in Memphis (I’m her husband, she better have been thinking that) to help her, your’s truly.

And what did I do? 

First I made sure that neither her or my two children were needed immediate medical attention. Then I talked her through getting the other driver’s insurance information, getting the other driver to write down their admission of guilt, taking pictures and seeing if there were any witnesses.

The good news is that, although the impact from the car wreck was pretty hard, neither of my two children were injured. The bad news is that my wife has had a terrible headache for over a week and severe pain in her neck.

We took her to the Campbell Clinic in Collierville (Germantown had no availability for two weeks) to be seen by one of their neck specialists. Unfortunately we’re still not 100% sure on the final diagnosis. It may be a cervical strain, aka whiplash, or it may be even more severe and be a herniated or bulging disk. We’re definitely keeping our fingers crossed that it’s not a disk issue.

We’ve taken our car in to be fixed up and expect for it to be ready for pick-up tomorrow. Hopefully everything will be working great and in perfect shape for both the car and my wife’s neck.

If you’ve been hit from behind here in Memphis or involved in a bad car wreck anywhere in Tennessee or Mississippi give me a call at 901.754-1340. I want you to be my client. And just like my wife, I want you to also think I’m the best personal injury lawyer in Memphis after I help you.

Ferrell Law Firm, 2255 S. Germantown Road, Germantown, TN 38138

Memphis injury Lawyer Jami Ferrell featured in the Memphis Daily News!

I’m excited to say that in today’s Memphis Daily News there is a feature article on me and my book “The 7 Deadly Mistakes That Can Kill Your Memphis Accident Case”.

The content of the article is found below, But it can also be read in it’s entirety on the Memphis Daily News’ website Here.

Ferrell Discusses Pitfalls Of Badly Litigated Injury Cases in New Book

REBEKAH HEARN | The Daily News

James “Jami” Ferrell, the founder of The Ferrell Law Firm, recently published a book titled “Seven Deadly Mistakes That Can Kill Your Memphis Accident Case.” A personal injury attorney, Ferrell provides first-time clients with his book, a CD about accidents in Memphis and other special reports.

Formerly an investment adviser, Ferrell made the transition into law soon after marrying. He attended the University of Mississippi School of Law and graduated in 2006. Ferrell first opened his firm in Olive Branch, and upon becoming licensed in Tennessee, moved his practice to Germantown in 2009.

Ferrell represents only seriously injured victims of car wrecks, animal attacks, workers’ compensation claims, medical malpractice, catastrophic injuries and wrongful death claims.

Ferrell is a member of the American Association for Justice, Tennessee Association for Justice, and the Memphis, DeSoto County, Tennessee and Mississippi bar associations. Ferrell practices with one associate, Christopher Johnson.

Q: What do you believe is different about The Ferrell Law Firm compared to other personal injury firms in the Memphis area?

A: My firm is different in many ways. I’m extremely selective in what type of cases I will handle. I have people call my office all the time and want to hire us for what I feel may be questionable injuries. I refuse to take these cases and tell them that they can call someone else and that they should be thankful to God that they are not more seriously injured. Secondly, I often tell people with minor injuries not to hire me and that they are sometimes capable of settling their case on their own. Sometimes, victims can end up with more money in their pocket when they settle on their own and don’t have to split the money with an attorney. But don’t get me wrong, anytime someone has more than a couple thousand dollars worth of damages, they are usually much better off in hiring an attorney to help them.

Q: Does The Ferrell Law Firm spend much money on advertising, or do you rely on obtaining clients through word of mouth or other means more?

A: I can say that I don’t spend anywhere close to what a lot of other lawyers here in Memphis spend on advertising. But in order to get our message out and to help as many people as possible, I do have a small advertising budget to work with. … Now we are at the point where word of mouth – about what we do and how we help people – has really begun to spread quickly here in the Memphis community.

Q: How does your book help new clients understand their personal injury case?

A: In the book, I give injury victims good, accurate information on how the claims process works and how to navigate among the real sharks out there – insurance adjusters. This book isn’t (just) for new clients. It’s for everyone, especially those who don’t have a lawyer and don’t know how miserable this whole process can be. I walk them through the entire claims process and show them the pitfalls to avoid, as well as give them information on how to find and choose a lawyer for their case if they feel they need to hire one.

Q: You practice with just one associate. Do you have plans to expand your firm in the future?

A: We will probably expand with another lawyer at some point in the not-too-distant future. But we also have a great relationship with another firm here in Memphis that we often work with on cases. This allows us the benefit of having additional attorneys to help us with some of our clients. I’ve found the key is to surround yourself with great people, and that’s what we do.

Q: On your Web site, you say that several other personal injury lawyers have never been in court, instead settling their cases out of court. Is this common?

A: It’s not necessarily a bad thing to settle cases out of court. In fact, the vast majority of cases are settled before going to trial. However, in order to keep insurance companies honest and to make sure you are getting the most for your client, you must be able and willing to go to trial if you can’t get a fair settlement for your client. … Insurance companies are smart. They keep a record of every attorney and law firm that they have worked with. And they know which ones are willing to go to trial and which ones simply want to settle as quickly as possible. If you are interviewing potential attorneys for your case, make sure that you find one that is willing to take your case all the way.

Huge verdict awarded for man crushed by a dumpster!

Last week a Tennessee jury awarded a Giles County man and his wife $3.5 million as a result of a horrible accident in which he was injured in July of 2000.

While at work, the man suffered a crushed pelvis, urethra tear, nerve damage, and a back injury when a two ton metal container fell off a hoist truck onto him. These severe injuries caused him to become bed-ridden and miss 11 months of work.

Congratulations to Ben Boston, Ryan Durham and Chris Sockwell for their fantastic work representing him in his personal injury claim on this case, as well as Greg Groth, who represented the victim in the underlying worker’s compensation action. Great job guys!

Tupelo car wreck victim blessed “that the doctors and nurses were able to preserve my life”

My friends and family know that I’m not just a some crazy personal injury lawyer on a mission to help my clients. I’m also a really big Mississippi State University fan. And recently one of my favorite beat writers, Brad Locke, who cover the Bulldogs was involved in an extremely bad accident in Tupelo.

As Brad writes on his blog, his injuries were pretty severe and life threatening. But what I found inspiring was how he viewed this accident and how he actually felt that it was a “blessing”. His posts, which can be read in their entirety here and here, offered insight into his feelings and how he and his family dealt with this terrible accident.

I found his posts both heart warming and genuine. I wish Brad all the best in his recovery and hope that he is enjoying his time back with his family and friends after his stint in the hospital. And I hope that those of you who have been injured may find a little glimmer of hope in what Brad has written.

Going through a car wreck and suffering a major injury is difficult. But when you work with people who are similar to Brad it makes all the difference. And it reaffirms my feelings on why I don’t take small cases from people just looking to make a quick buck when they should be counting their blessings that they weren’t seriously injured. I’d much rather work with someone who truly needs my help and who understands a life that is “blessed”.

If you have been hurt in any type of accident anywhere in Mississippi or Tennessee call me at 901-754-1340. Or get your free copy of my book by clicking here. I guarantee it will be worth your time.

Major Accident on I-55 in Memphis today

If you’ve even thought about driving in Memphis today you probably already know about the major accident that’s blocking I-55 in south Memphis near Stateline Road.

According to the Commercial Appeal a tanker truck carrying highly flammable material was caught up in a wreck with a Chevy Illumina and Jeep Liberty a little past midnight last night.

Unfortunately there were injuries with this car wreck. Both a man and a woman who have yet to be identified were taken to the Med in critical condition. Let’s all pray that their injuries were minor and they will fully recover.

As always if you have any questions about an accident or car wreck that you have been involved in please call our law office here in Memphis. My team of lawyers and I will be happy to help you in any way that we can. Just call us at 901-754-1340.

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