Our attorneys have represented hundreds of clients in a wide variety of personal injury cases. To date Mr. Bickham has been chosen in 2007, 2009 - 2017.
Firm founder Thomas Bickham has again been chosen as a "Texas Super Lawyer".
Operating as usual
If you have been involved in an accident and are contacted by attorneys (or their reps) that you did not ask to call you; keep in mind the attorney is breaking the law and is in violation of our Code of Ethics. Don’t hire any attorney willing to violate the law or you will get what you pay for.
The importance of checking the age of your tires cannot be underestimated. Your life is literally riding on the tires you have on your vehicle and like anything tires wear out even if they appear to have plenty of tread.
Driving on old tires is extremely dangerous - especially those that have been stored outside or for example under/on the back of your vehicle. Even if a tire may look fine it will degrade over time even if it has not been used. This can lead to tread separation and a resulting loss of control.
How do you tell how old your tires are?
The sidewall of a tire has the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number. The last few numbers are what you need to focus on. Tires made after 2000 have a four-digit numerical code at the end of the DOT number. The first two numbers represent the week in which the tire was made. The second two numbers represent the year. So for example: a tire with the last four numbers of 1208 was made in the 12th week of 2008.
Tires with a three-digit code were made prior to 2000. The first two digits still tell you the week, but the third digit tells you the year in the decade that it was made. It could be in the 1980's or 1990's. Since we are now in 2016 you should not under any circumstances drive on tires manufactured prior to the year 2000.
In fact, most tire experts agree you should not drive on tires that were manufactured more than 6-years ago. So if the last 2 numbers in the DOT number are 10 or less you should immediately replace the tire even if the tread looks fine. Tires will degrade and become dangerous after six years even though it may not be apparent.
Photos from Bickham Law's post
The new year is giving scammers an easy way to forge documents, but you can protect yourself simply by writing out the full date.
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Attorney David Swick at Bickham Law. Thank you so much for your support. .
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2nd trial victory this week: Firm associate Roshun Phipps had another trial victory this week. $19,000 final offer by the insurance company and the Harris County jury awarded our clients $43,000. Congratulations for a job well-done and with the excellent assistance and support of our legal assistant Esbeidy Milan in both trials.
Firm associate Roshun Phipps obtained a $48,000 verdict in a rear-end collision case on Monday, May 14th in Harris County. The only offer made by the insurance company was $10,000.
Receiving emails like this from a client remind me why I chose to be a lawyer:
Thank you for the kindness of your services and all your efforts on my family's behalf. The whole experience has certainly been stressful and draining. I was immediately relieved from the minute you offered your help in a truly awful moment in life. I am forever grateful of your compassionate, generous heart, and our friendship.
How far will your vehicle travel while you reach down to view a text or answer a phone call?
Most of us use our cell phones while we drive. Whether we realize it or not that one, two or even three seconds we look at the phone to answer or make a call - or read a text can be extremely dangerous. How far will your vehicle travel during that one, two or three seconds (or more) that you look away from the road?
At 35 miles per hour your vehicle travels 51 feet per second...
once you include braking deceleration/perception reaction time your vehicle will travel 136 feet before you are likely able to stop.
At 55 miles per hour your vehicle travels 80 feet per second...
once you include braking deceleration/perception reaction time your vehicle will travel 265 feet before you are likely able to stop.
At 70 miles per hour your vehicle travels 102 feet per second...once you include braking deceleration/perception reaction time your vehicle will travel 388 feet before you are likely able to stop.
Given the distance your vehicle will travel, we owe it to each other to do everything possible to minimize distractions while driving and PLEASE don't text and drive.
Do you need uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage?
The State of Texas only requires that motorists maintain liability insurance. However, liability insurance only covers the injuries and property damage of the other person if you are in an accident. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protect you if the someone hits you that does not have insurance (uninsured coverage) or does not have sufficient insurance for your loss (underinsured coverage). If you can afford this coverage it is wise to purchase this coverage. Also, this coverage typically costs only about half the cost of liability insurance while giving you and your family the same amount of protection as liability insurance for half the cost.
www.blawattorneys.com
Houston, TX Personal Injury Attorneys. Contact Bickham Law at 713-526-4969 for a free consultation.
How to tell the age of your car’s tires.
Driving on old tires is extremely dangerous - especially those that have been stored outside or for example under/on the back of your vehicle. Even if a tire may look fine it will degrade over time even if it has not been used. This can lead to tread separation and a resulting loss of control.
How do you tell how old your tires are?
The sidewall of a tire has the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number. The last few numbers are what you need to focus on. Tires made after 2000 have a four-digit numerical code at the end of the DOT number. The first two numbers represent the week in which the tire was made. The second two numbers represent the year. So for example: a tire with the last four numbers of 1208 was made in the 12th week of 2008.
Tires with a three-digit code were made prior to 2000. The first two digits still tell you the week, but the third digit tells you the year in the decade that it was made. It could be in the 1980's or 1990's. Since we are now in 2016 you should not under any circumstances drive on tires manufactured prior to the year 2000.
In fact, most tire experts agree you should not drive on tires that were manufactured more than 6-years ago. So if the last 2 numbers in the DOT number are 10 or less you should immediately replace the tire even if the tread looks fine. Tires will degrade and become dangerous after six years even though it may not be apparent.
Bickham Law associate Roshun Phipps was informed today that he has been chosen as a Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star!
The automotive world and beyond is buzzing about the massive airbag recall covering many millions of vehicles in the U.S. from nearly two dozen brands. Here’s what you need to know about the problem; which vehicles may have the defective, shrapnel-shooting inflator parts from Japanese supplier Takat...
Bickham Law updated their information in their About section.
Just when I thought I had seen it all...I recently represented a young woman who was struck by a dump truck at 7:30 in the morning on a school day. The police conducted a field sobriety test of the dump truck driver and determined that he was intoxicated. The drunk driver was arrested and convicted of Driving While Intoxicated. The drunk truck driver was 500-yards away from a school zone and if he had not struck my client it could have been a horrible tragedy for the children at that school. In his deposition, the dump truck driver testified that he was still intoxicated from the night before as he had consumed large quantities of alcohol while watching a football game. The case was resolved prior to trial.
Attached is an animation of a rear-end collision for a case recently resolved by Bickham Law. As a result of the collision the client had multiple spinal surgeries.
For several years I have had to turn away meritorious medical malpractice cases - some with egregious acts of negligence - because years ago the insurance industry convinced Texans we needed caps on damages in medical malpractice cases. As a result, the vast majority of legitimate medical negligence cases are not cost-effective to pursue because of the caps on damages as compared to the amount that must be spent to pursue the cases.
Well this time they are making the changes without your vote because the deck is stacked and consumers will be the ones that suffer.
https://www.texastribune.org/2017/03/01/businesses-line-against-dan-patricks-pet-insurance-bill/
Legislation that would make it harder for people to recover damages after an insurance claim has hit a wall of opposition from business interests.
Today a delivery vehicle double-parked in front of my house. My neighbor backed out of his driveway and struck the double-parked delivery vehicle. So who is responsible for the damages to the two vehicles?
The delivery vehicle was illegally parked because it was parked more than 18-inches from the curb. Accordingly, the delivery vehicle will likely be responsible for the damage (however the respective insurance companies may argue otherwise)...
Driving on old tires is extremely dangerous - especially those that have been stored outside or for example under/on the back of your vehicle. Even if a tire may look fine it will degrade over time even if it has not been used. This can lead to tread separation and a resulting loss of control.
How do you tell how old your tires are?
The sidewall of a tire has the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number. The last few numbers are what you need to focus on. Tires made after 2000 have a four-digit numerical code at the end of the DOT number. The first two numbers represent the week in which the tire was made. The second two numbers represent the year. So for example: a tire with the last four numbers of 1208 was made in the 12th week of 2008.
Tires with a three-digit code were made prior to 2000. The first two digits still tell you the week, but the third digit tells you the year in the decade that it was made. It could be in the 1980's or 1990's. Since we are now in 2016 you should not under any circumstances drive on tires manufactured prior to the year 2000.
In fact, most tire experts agree you should not drive on tires that were manufactured more than 6-years ago. So if the last 2 numbers in the DOT number are 10 or less you should immediately replace the tire even if the tread looks fine. Tires will degrade and become dangerous after six years even though it may not be apparent.
How can I tell if my vehicle has been recalled?
I represented a family that received a recall notice a few months after the father/husband was killed in a head-on collision when his airbag failed to deploy in a survivable frontal-collision. Turns out the airbag had been recalled for failure to deploy in frontal-collisions.
Please don't count on the manufacturer letting you know - go to the government's website and check it for yourself. Takes 5 minutes and may save your life:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/Vehicle+Safety/Recalls+&+Defects
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
As much as we all enjoy Facebook and social media no one should ever check their Facebook or social media feeds while driving a motor vehicle. People unfortunately do it all the time and I have personally seen the devastation caused when someone is distracted by their cell phone.
What should you do if you receive a recall notice for your vehicle?
If the recall notice is for any safety feature on your vehicle (for example air bags, seatbelts, etc.) you should immediately follow the instructions in the recall notice. You should not delay addressing the issue as accidents happen and these safety features cannot be underestimated. My firm represented a man that had a head-on collision with another vehicle causing substantial damage to the front of his vehicle. Unfortunately, his air bag did not deploy and his face struck the steering wheel and he did not survive the crash. He left behind a wife, son and a young daughter. A few weeks after his death his wife received a notice of recall letter due to a defect in the front air back sensors that sometimes led to a lack of deployment of the frontal airbags. The case was resolved with the vehicle manufacturer but sadly for the family the recall notice arrived too late. Undoubtedly, the vehicle manufacturer was aware of the problem with the sensors well-before they sent the recall notice.
What should you do if you are injured by a hit-and-run vehicle?
If you are unable to identify the vehicle or individiual that struck you - you can still make a claim against your own insurance policy for your injuries IF you have purchased Uninsured Motorist Coverage.
This is an optional insurance coverage and often individuals think if they have "full coverage" that it also includes Uninsured (and Underinsured) motorist coverage. However, as mentioned this is optional coverage which every vehicle owner should purchase up to the limits that you can afford. Why? Because this coverage specifically protects YOU and YOUR vehicle occupants when the other driver has no insurance (i.e., is uninsured or for example if you are struck by a hit-and-run vehicle).
Most carriers will require the following if you are invovled in a hit-and-run accident in order to make an uninsured motorist claim:
1) Actual Physical Contact: is required between your vehicle and some other vehicle (so for example if you swerve to avoid someone that pulls out in front of you and strike a telephone pole, and you never make contact with the other vehicle, and the person who caused you to have to swerve drives away, this is not covered under the Uninsured Motorist Coverage).
2) Police Report: Most insurance policies require that you have a police report for your hit and run accident for there to be Uninsured Motorist Coverage for a hit and run accident.
Unfortunately, texting while driving is legal in Texas...which explains why more people text while driving in Texas compared with states with a ban on texting while driving. This dangerous practice should be against the law.
Comparing the 46 states with bans on texting to the four that do not – Texas, Missouri, Arizona and Montana – researchers with AT&T found drivers in the states without a ban have a roughly 17 percent higher rate of texting. The study was unique in that it used AT&T customers with Android phones and logged their texting from moving vehicles. The information, which only included incidents of texting and shielded identities, was then analyzed with a host of other factors to get a valid sample of how likely people are to text while commuting in metro areas, Susanne Halstead, senior data scientist with AT&T, said Tuesday. That means unlike surveys where people are asked about their texting habits behind the wheel – where some people lie – the study is based on actual incidents of people texting from a moving car and census data related to how many people drive alone or with someone.
Who would have ever thought we would have a risk of earthquakes in Texas? Well it turns out we do...
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey now estimate the risk of earthquakes in areas around Oklahoma City and Dallas-Fort Worth as on the same level as California, historically the most quake prone region of the country. The warning came in a forecast released Monday predicting oil and gas activity will raise the risk of earthquake damage in parts of Oklahoma, Texas and other states to levels not previously understood. "By including human-induced events, our assessment of earthquake hazards has significantly increased in parts of the U.S.," said Mark Petersen, chief of the USGS National Seismic Hazard Mapping Project.
James Osborne, Houston Chronicle 03/29/2016
Ge**er has issued a recall on four batches of baby food pouches due to the potential of spoilage during transport. Included in the recent recall are two batches of Ge**er Organic 2ND FOODS Pouches: Pears, Carrots & Peas and two batches of Ge**er Organic 2nd FOODS Pouches: Carrots, Apples & Mangoes. The food pouches included in the recall have best by dates of July 12, 2016, July 13, 2016 and July 14, 2016. The baby food pouches were distributed nationwide in stores and online.
Staff Report, Fox News 03/28/2016
What are Uninsured Motorist Coverage and Underinsured Motorist Coverage? Should I purchase this optional coverage on my insurance policy?
UNINSURED MOTORIST (UM) COVERAGE
It is unlikely that you will recover money from an uninsured driver, so it is a good idea to obtain Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage from your own insurance company. It pays the cost of damages and injuries resulting from an accident with an uninsured or hit-and-run driver. You and your passengers will have coverage for medical expenses, lost wages, and possibly pain and suffering.
UNDERINSURED MOTORIST (UIM) COVERAGE
Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage is similar to UM coverage. It covers the damages that exceed the amount of coverage carried by an underinsured driver. If the other driver does not have a sufficient amount of insurance, you may not be fully compensated if you are injured in an accident.
Since Uninsured and Underinsured motorist coverage protect you and your family, I would highly recommend that everyone purchase this optional coverage. In addition to it protecting you, this coverage is also typically significantly less expensive than liability coverage that you are required to maintain by the State of Texas.
DuPont Slammed in Report on Fatal Plant Leak
by Neena Satija
Sept. 30, 2015
HOUSTON — Ten months after four DuPont workers died from a toxic gas release at the company's La Porte plant, federal investigators presented their most comprehensive assessment yet of the chemical manufacturing giant’s facility near the Texas coast.
It was a scathing assessment, particularly of DuPont’s insecticide manufacturing unit where the accident occurred.
Facing about 150 people in a downtown Houston hotel, the federal Chemical and Hazard Investigation Board described a unit that routinely endangered workers and the surrounding public until it shut down after the November 2014 tragedy. Were it to reopen today, the board said, it would continue to present dangers.
“Safety deficiencies cost four families their loved ones and eroded public confidence in DuPont,” said Vanessa Sutherland, the board's chair. “My fellow board members and I are determined to make sure this does not happen again.”
On Nov. 15 2014, veteran operator Crystal Rae Wise opened a faulty valve on a pipe carrying methyl mercaptan, a chemical used to manufacture DuPont’s popular insecticide called Lannate. More than 20,000 pounds of the foul-smelling gas — deadly in even small doses — spewed out. Wise was found dead hours later, and three men who rushed in to help her — Wade Baker and brothers Gilbert and Robert Tisnado — were also killed.
GM knew ignition switch was defective and did nothing to warn the public...the decision not to warn the public and issue a recall led to the deaths of 124 people...
http://money.cnn.com/2015/09/17/news/companies/gm-recall-ignition-switch/index.html?iid=hp-toplead-dom
General Motors pays $900 million to settle criminal charges related to its flawed ignition switch that has been tied to at least 124 deaths.
Bickham Law has an updated website! Follow this link to see how Bickham Law can help you protect your rights! www.blawattorneys.com
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The dangers of distracted driving cannot be overstated. While driving, we all engage in seemingly innocent behavior which can actually be very dangerous: we use our cell phones; eat meals; put on makeup; tie our ties and so on. There are some folks who even post to social media, text, watch videos and read emails while driving. A vehicle traveling 55 mph will travel 80 feet in ONE second - which is more distance than any of us typically leave between us and vehicles in front of us. Think about that please the next time your phone beeps with a new text message or you are tempted to put on your make-up. All it takes is one second with your eyes off the road for tragedy to strike.
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Firm founder Thomas Bickham has been chosen as a "Texas Super Lawyer" by Texas Monthly Magazine in 2007 and 2009 through 2019. Only 5% of Texas attorneys are chosen as Texas SuperLawyers. In addition, Mr. Bickham has again been rated as “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell - their highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards. In addition, associate David Swick is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and has also been chosen by Texas Monthly Magazine as a “Texas Super Lawyer”.
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