Legal Question in Insurance Law in Texas

Accident involving home and vehicles on own property

A driver completely knocked down our mail box, hit my new 2003 truck, and my boat at 4:30 am. The bed of my truck is destroyed and possibly the frame bent. There is some cab damage. The driver seemed drunk, tried to run, I followed them and got license plate number, gave info to police. Driver called the next day and gave me all the insurance info, Progressive. I put $7000 down on my truck. Do not want a truck that has been wrecked due to loss of resale value, what can I expect the insurance to try to pull on me to avoid replacing my truck, do I have any legal recourse?

What kind of damages can I expect to receive other than the physical damages? Any punitive damages?


Asked on 4/20/03, 9:16 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Basil Hoyl Law office of Basil Hoyl

Re: Accident involving home and vehicles on own property

You raise a very common question. Lawyers practically never answer this question for free. To get legal answers on this question, lawyers require that you hire the lawyer. Our time and advice are our stock in trade and what you ask is what we sell, not what we give away. Negotiations with insurance companies over claims are part and parcel of the ordinary business of lawyers and the uncertanties and questions you raise are the same needs that cause people in your situation to hire lawyers. However lawyers do more than just possess knowledge. They also marshall evidence and prepare for alternatives to settling the case. In building the case, they build the value of the case. The insurance companies have trained adjustors and lawyers working for them. Your choice is whether to handle your case without a lawyer using such resources as you can find and spending such time as you desire on the matter or whether to hire a lawyer. The lawyers, having spent a great deal of money and time (and losing three years of income in not working during the time they went to school and studied), and law school is very expensive, and having spent a great deal of time and money in taking courses after being licensed, well they are not in a position to give away what they spent so much time and money learning. Good luck if you decide to handle this matter yourself. The links page on my web site might give you some inroads to your research. Http://www.reasonable-doubt.com If you decide that you might require professional assistance in the matter, send me an e-mail if you like.

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Answered on 4/20/03, 10:31 am


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