FAQ
Q: I was involved in a rollover but my injuries are not serious. Do I still have a case?
A: Technically, yes. However, the cost of preparing a rollover case for trial, which is all born by Brent Coon and Associates, can be in excess of $300,000.00. If your damages are not significant, it becomes economically impossible to prosecute your case since those preparation costs are typically not recoverable in litigation.
Q. I was involved in a rollover or wreck that involved a tread separation. What do I need to do right away to preserve my rights?
A. You need to do the following right away:
- Get control of the vehicle and or vehicles involved in the wreck. Insurance companies who adjust property damage claims on the vehicle usually take title to the wreckage and sell it for scrap. This sometimes results in the crushing of the vehicle. The case is much easier to prove if you get control of the wreckage so that it can be examined by our experts. If there is a tread separation, leave the failed tire on the vehicle so that we can prove that the tire was on the vehicle when the accident occurred.
- If the wreck involved a tread separation, try to obtain any parts of the tread at the accident scene. Document your collection of the tread parts with photographs and an independent witness.
- Obtaining counsel who can arrange inspection of the vehicles and accident site as soon as practicable is important. There are usually marks on the roadway and on the shoulder that can disappear over time that could add to the data base used in the accident reconstruction work.
- Obtain a copy of the accident report as soon as possible. This will help any lawyer you consult with to make a judgment about whether you may have a case worth investigating.
The team at Brent Coon and Associates is ready to make a rapid response to all inquiries that have potential claims against responsible solvent parties and is experienced in collecting and preserving all relevant evidence to your case.
Q. I own an SUV. What can I do to protect me and my family?
A. We suggest the following:
- Wear your seatbelts at all times
- Consult your owner’s manual and dealership about proper installation of child safety seats.
- Drive defensively, giving yourself as much room as possible to react to emergency situations.
- If your car does not have ESC (Electronic Stability Control) talk to your dealership about installing it.
- If you are driving a mid sized or small SUV consider selling it and if you must drive an SUV upgrade to a full sized SUV.
Q. I have a pre-teen in my family who is too big for a child safety seat or booster seat. What can I do to make sure the seat belt will not hurt him/her in a collision?
A. In many front seat applications the ring attached to the pillar between the front and rear window is adjustable. Consult your owners manual about proper adjustment. Few back seat belts have this adjustable feature. This a problem that has led to many seat belt inflicted injuries. In some vehicles there is a lap belt only in the center seating position. Never use this seating position and never use the lap belt only.
Q. What will it cost me to sue Ford or General Motors? Can I afford it?
A. If Brent Coon and Associates accepts your case, the up front cost to you is zero. We pay for all litigation expenses and then recoup them out of the settlement after we collect our contingent fee of 33 1/3% or 40% depending on when in the litigation the case is settled or a judgment is paid. If we recover nothing for you, your obligation is still zero and we absorb the loss.