You have just been involved in a traumatic incident of some kind and now your world is turned upside down. You never planned on being:

  • injured;
  • unable to work;
  • permanently disfigured;
  • without an avenue for medical treatment;
  • no knowledge on how to get out of the hole someone, something, or some event has put you into; or 
  • what steps to take to get back before your world stopped. 

The next thing you do is communicate with family, friends, and/or co-workers. They know someone, read something, saw it on the Internet, watched "Judge Judy",  or have a "friend" themselves that has been through the exact same thing and this is what you …….STOP THE MADNESS!

It’s great to have loved ones and I am sure they want nothing but the best for you but I don’t claim to know everything about everything. I hire real estate agents to move property and tax advisers (Patterson Tax Service) to do my taxes even though I have had Real Estate and Tax classes in law school (which means I know enough to be dangerous to myself, or absolutely nothing). 

My common saying is, "You don’t listen to the devil on how to get to Heaven, so why listen to an insurance adjuster on how to settle a claim against them?"  They are going to lie, or mislead you. You don’t go to your opponent in the middle of the game and ask them how to beat them do you? NO! Stop listening to what an adjuster says about your claim. Talk to an attorney. You at least have recourse against an attorney if they give you incorrect legal advice. (You could have recourse against an adjuster but it is hard to prove). 

Likewise, stop listening to your friends give you "arm chair" legal direction on your case. Go talk to a lawyer. It is free to consult with a lawyer on most civil cases and no fee is received by the lawyer unless a settlement is negotiated or trial verdict rendered. Tell me who else you know works 100% on performance pay? Defense attorneys and insurance adjusters work hourly or salary and may get some kind of bonus based on performance but I would imagine 75% of their income will come to them regardless of how well they perform. 

I work 100% on performance and get close to 70% of my business from word of mouth based on clients, friends, family members, colleagues, and other professionals that are familiar with our firm’s performance. Seek out the help you need from the right professionals rather than receiving the wrong information. You may not hear what you like but at least it will be an honest, experienced, and informed response looking out for YOUR BEST INTEREST

 

 

 It is with great excitement and a heavy heart that I share my plans to leave the Trammell & Mills Law Firm, LLC at the end of this month!  I appreciate the opportunity Ernie Trammell provided to this young law graduate eight (8) years ago with nothing but fire in his eyes and hatred in his heart for insurance companies.  I never thought I would live to the age of 30 so now as I turn 36 at the end of this month, I realize life is too short to continue to work every day doing work I feel God called me to do. No, I think now is the time to live off my wife’s new profession of being a nurse anesthetist. The earning potential for my wife’s new profession seems to be very high and I am sure she will be excited with my decision once I talk it over with her.

My wife and I don’t have children yet, so I am looking forward to taking care of our two aging dogs every day, taking long walks both in downtown Greenville to oversee and provide free supervision to many of the on going construction projects and in our Lake Keowee subdivision where I know I will be welcomed with open arms by our neighbors. I may even be able to get  a Home Owners Association position or volunteer with other seniors like me. 

I am not sure I will be able to draw off of my 401K yet. I don’t really fear the 10% penalty they may impose if I ask for it prior to their ridiculously mandated 65 year old rule. Who the hell wants to work that long! Plus, 10% of "not a lot" is a lot less than "not a lot".

For income, I guess I could apply for disability. My disability being that I can’t fathom how the government did nothing to support my working so hard and being successful only to take my hard earned money from me. To add insult to injury, after the government takes my hard earned money they then turn around and spit on me by bailing out Wall Street ballers, fail to provide the home front with necessities before spending billions of dollars on other countries and wars, and constantly bicker with each other about what this country needs while sticking their heads in the sand after hearing themselves talk. There would be other reasons for my "disability". Those reasons would be dealing with insurance adjusters, defense attorneys, roster meetings, Roy Trammell, and how our law firm can spend so much money on overhead. 

Oh, no. My nerves are all tore up now and my body feels all "stove up". Too much stress just thinking about it all. Ahhhh but in only a few short weeks, I will be able to leave it all behind to live the life of leisure watching all those early morning lawyer commercials, "The Price is Right", one of those soap operas my grandmother use to make my grandfather and I watch when we came home for our hour break from his job as a mechanic ("As the World Turns" I think)-I was shop boy, and then I can try to grow sustainable crops on our 1/4 of an acre of asphalt. 

In the immortal words of "The Allman Brothers Band"…

Happy April Fool’s Day!

 

 

 

If this is your first time reading my blog, you may not know how I feel about Allstate Insurance Company-

I personally think they are the worst automobile insurance company anyone could possible have, period.

Many articles and posts have been written about the company I commonly refer to as "Allsnake":

Don’t get upset-get even. However, you need to know what you are up against and be willing to fight them to change this horrible disparity. We are here to help even the playing field. Call us today at 864-231-7171 or visit our website.  

A skit I put together based on my dealings with Allstate:

 

 

This morning while traveling on Augusta Street in Greenville, South Carolina around 9:10 a.m.,  I was in the right hand lane headed to drop off our two dogs when suddenly and without warning a Ford SUV came directly into my lane striking the driver’s side quarter panel and causing me to run into and over the right side curbing. Prior to contact I was edging to the right and pressing on the horn in an effort to prevent the collision but to no avail. After being run into and over the curbing I pulled into the exit of DryClean USA , I checked on the dogs that were a little shaken up in the back seat but more importantly noticed the other driver continuing down the road. I felt confident he knew what had happened considering he jerked back into his lane then put on brakes to stop but after I went off into a parking lot, continued on. 

Needless to say I was furious but more importantly I knew, not having a witness or third party to verify what had just happened, I was SOL (not a lawyer term). Why would I be &*^* out of luck you ask? Well in South Carolina in order to utilize your own uninsured coverage against someone that is unknown to you several circumstances have to happen, one of those being a witness to the collision. (  S.C. Code 38-77-170).  I got back onto the road and noticed he had been paused by a stop light further down the road. In an expedient manner, but not over the speed limit, I was able to get beside him to try and wave him over. Short of shooting me the bird, he simply gave me a facial expression I will keep throughout the process and waved back at me. I then got behind him and dialed 911 to pass along the make, model, and license tag number of his vehicle. After doing so, I then pulled beside him again and mouthed, "P-O-L-I-C-E" and showed him my phone. A funny thing happened, he pulled over. 

After pulling over into a church parking lot, I got off the phone with 911 and told them I would call back if I needed police assistance. He rolled down his passenger window and I said, "Man, you ran me off the road and kept going! What’s your deal?". A lot of my "fight or fight" response lowered when I saw he had two minors in car seats in his back seat. He immediately apologized saying, "I’m sorry, I must have had the sun in my eyes and just didn’t see you there beside me." I said, "Well, you saw me go off the road then you didn’t stop when I flagged you down. Why was that?" He just shrugged his shoulders and asked if anything was wrong with my vehicle and told me he had Travelers Insurance. Rather than wait on hour on police to do a report from conversations they hear from both of us, I simply used my Iphone to record down him saying his information, along with the date and time of the collision.  (I DONT RECOMMEND ANYONE ELSE USING THIS METHOD! ALWAYS NOTIFY POLICE).  In addition to having police come if you want to document things with your phone, go ahead. 

A more thorough evaluation of the vehicle indicates a noticeable impact point on the driver’s front quarter panel, ground up passenger front rim, and alignment that needs to be inspected at this point. My right shoulder and wrist are a little jammed from impact of curb but we will have to let medical professionals determine any injuries. Depending on how cooperative the at fault driver is in disclosing the truth to his own insurance company will be the true test of character. I will provide his name, work information, address and other particulars as needed, if needed to help with any further revelations. 

Most times the investigating officer will not write a ticket for "hit & run" if the other driver is actually there. Don’t get upset, just try and get the other driver to admit to it while you record them. 

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM A LEGAL AND PRACTICAL STANDPOINT

  • If you are ever side swiped, run off the road, or struck by another vehicle that does not stop you need to be able to prove an impact occurred, you need to have a witness, and you need to try and notify police of the make, model, and license tag number of the vehicle. Otherwise you are SOL;
  • Always call the police and have them do a report, then you have all information on the other driver you need without "trusting them to do the right thing";
  • Never trust the other driver will tell the truth later down the road or do the right thing, always get it documented, recorded, videoed, or some verification at that time or place. 

SEE ALSO

Hit-and-Run Accidents in South Carolina: What You Need to Know

People throughout Anderson, Oconee, & Pickens Counties are missing their money.  In fact, they’re missing millions.  For many, it’s a few thousand dollars…but for some, it’s a whole lot more.  And many of these victims don’t even realize their own money is gone.

How is this possible?  Money that is rightfully theirs—owed to them for any number of legitimate reasons—simply isn’t paid.  It happens every day, because no one stands up for the people who need it most.  In a lot of cases, it’s pure greed on the part of an employer or an insurance company

Every day, workers suffer injuries at on the job.  They are legally entitled to be paid because of those injuries, but insurance companies deny claims without even blinking.  Others have valid Social Security claims that are routinely dismissed.  And folks get hurt daily in car wrecks, slip and fall cases, and dog bite cases only to be told the insurance company won’t pay.

These people are legally entitled to collect money, but can’t do it on their own.  They don’t know how to fight the system, so they give up.  The Trammell & Mills Law Firm, LLC steps forward to help these victims, with great success.  Ernest Trammell, Trey Mills, Bradley Bledsoe and Roy Trammell have the compassion and experience to truly help.

In a lot of cases, insurance companies use complex legal language to deny claims.  The professionals at Trammell & Mills translate the legal talk into words anyone can understand.  They take the mystery out of legal documents, so people can make the right decisions.

The attorneys of Trammell & Mills are dedicated to helping the people who need it most.  And they believe in giving back to the Anderson community.  They actively support local groups like the Anderson Free Clinic,  Boy Scouts, Cancer Association of Anderson, Coaches 4 Character,  Miracle Hill Ministries, Tackling the Streets, The Leukemia & Lymphoma SocietyThe Red Cross, and YMCA.  They serve at church, on IPTAY and on bank boards.  They’re caring neighbors.

They believe in doing the right thing.  And that means standing up to the nameless, faceless insurance companies who make heartless decisions without thinking.  They help the people of Anderson County get the money they’re missing.  Learn how The Trammell & Mills Law Firm LLC can help you at www.trammellandmills.com or contact us at 864-231-7171. 

 

Floyd S. "Trey" Mills III with the Trammell & Mills Law Firm, LLC has just been recognized and invited to join The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyers. Mr. Mills was recognized for his work in the state of South Carolina for Civil Plaintiff’s litigation. 

 

The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 an invitation-only organization composed of the premier trial lawyers from each state in the nation who meet stringent qualifications as civil plaintiff and/or criminal defense trial lawyers. Selection is based on a thorough multi-phase process which includes peer nominations combined with third-party research. Membership is extended solely to the select few of the most qualified attorneys from each state who demonstrate superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence, stature and public profile.

In more simpler terms, without all the law mumbo jumbo, Mr. Mills represents the rights of those harmed by the negligence, ignorance, and/or omissions of others. Ninety-nine (99%) percent of the cases he files a law suit on involve the insurance company of that negligent, ignorant, and/or omitting party that has caused his clients a loss or harm. The insurance company provides a lawyer to the at fault party and then the insurance company makes every effort to not pay a dime or a much lower price for the actual harms and losses Mr. Mills’ clients have incurred. An example of cases you can consult with Mr. Mills in assisting you on your legal needs are listed below:

Trammell & Mills Law Firm, LLC also handles cases involving injuries at work and disability claims. Feel free come by our office in Anderson, visit us on the web, or like our Facebook page

 

The National Trial Lawyers

The cost of higher education has increased significantly since the attorneys at Trammell & Mills Law Firm, LLC have attended universities throughout South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina. In an effort to continually give back to those communities we work and live, T&M has sponsored the Fort Hill Clemson Club’s fundraiser to provide scholarships to local students since 2011. This event centers around National Signing Day for college football recruiting, with Clemson coaches providing over 700 attendees with information about the newest recruits. More importantly the recipients of the Fort Hill Clemson Club scholarships are recognized for their outstanding accomplishments. Feel free to contact T&M or the Fort Hill Clemson Club for additional information on how you can support the local Clemson community

 

 If you want to see some real talent, check out Trey Mills in the video of the sponsors (starting at 4:59-5:30) :

RECRUITING WRAP UP SPONSOR VIDEO 2013

I have blogged about the benefits of citizens filing for property arbitration hearings in their respective county when they are unhappy, insulted, and/or confused with the offers they receive from the at fault driver’s insurance company following a motor vehicle collision. Clicking on the link below from a prior article I wrote, will set forth the actual law on property arbitrations and highlight the items you should bring to win your case. More importantly, this process may take more time but it only costs $10 (ten dollars). Seriously, you could get hundreds or thousands more on your property for a $10 investment and your time. 

Why do I advocate property arbitration?

  1. I feel insurance companies habitually take advantage of people injured through no fault of their own and start kicking them while they are down immediately with low ball or inaccurate information about property reimbursement. 
  2. Insurance companies can lie and mislead you on the law because they aren’t lawyers, they are only protecting their money. Not your money.
  3. It is such a simple, affordable, and successful process for the property owner to get more money than they are being offered by the insurance company AND cost the insurance company additional money for being greedy. 

Below I have detailed a real life example and scenario that happened in Anderson County on January 16, 2014 in an arbitration hearing for one of my clients.

BACKGROUND

My client was the owner of a 1971 Pontiac Bonneville that had been passed down from his family to him and kept in pristine shape. He loved that car and had strong emotional and sentimental attachments to it. On occassion he would allow his son to drive the car and on one such day his son was driving in Oconee County when suddenly and without warning he was violently rear ended while driving in his lane of travel by a young girl in a Dodge Ram pick up truck. The damage was extensive to the classic vehicle. However, my client wanted it repaired or paid the classic value he associated with it. Liability was not in dispute, the at fault driver was responsible for the collision for speeding. 

Unfortunately, the at fault driver was insured by Safeco Insurance Company and they took a draconian approach to resolving my client’s property damage. They offered to pay my client $3,500.00 for the vehicle because their own estimate for repairs was $5,700.00 and they felt that my client’s vehicle was worth the lowest end of the NADA estimate. You have to realize insurance companies don’t make money paying it to claims from their insureds causing harms and losses. Insurance companies make money low balling, minimizing, and starving out clients to force them to settle. 

My client refused Safeco’s low ball offer and followed my advice by filing a property arbitration in the county the at fault driver lived, which was Anderson County. Since I was assisting his son on the personal injury claim from the motor vehicle collision, I thought I would run by the courthouse and make sure he presented the best case in front of the panel and the defense attorney hired by Safeco.

In any property arbitration hearing the plaintiff, or person bringing the claim, will present their side of the case first. The plaintiff should bring two or more property estimates signed and notarized by the company providing the estimate, pictures of the damage or vehicle, a copy of the accident report, and be prepared to answer any questions the panel my have. Next, the defense attorney will present their case and explain to the panel why they think the property damage is only x amount of dollars. 

Yesterday, we presented the evidence and although Safeco had only offered $3,500.00 19 months earlier, at the hearing they agreed the claim was worth at least $5,000.00. My clients had originally filed on their own and only asked for $7,500.00 but since I came I went ahead and provided a more recent property estimate for over $10,000.00 and asked for that amount from the panel. The whole process took around 30 minutes from start to finish. The panel eventually awarded my client $8,255.00, which turned out to be the difference between Safeco’s original estimate of $5,700.00 and my more recent estimate for over $10,000.00. A fair verdict no doubt and more than double what Safeco had ever offered my clients. 

Go forward people and fight this battle! Stop being railroaded into accepting less than the value of your vehicles. Stand up and fight for yourselves. The insurance companies will continue to take money from your hands as long as you allow it. 

 

PRIOR ARTICLE DETAILING PROCESS AND LAW:

South Carolina Property Arbitration: Your Weapon Against Insurance Adjusters

 

They may carry insurance in other states but I can only speak to South Carolina law. A recent State Farm Deer Vehicle Confrontation Report indicated that the month of November was the month most likely to strike a deer. The second and third most active months were, October and December, respectively. 

Anyone traveling in the state of South Carolina for any period of time has either directly or indirectly encountered some wild animal that decides at the most in opportune time to cross the road. The driver of the motor vehicle must immediately decide between that cute furry creature or their lives. Many drivers make the choice for the cute furry creature, causing thousands of dollars in property damage and personal injuries

Like in any instance of survival, there are ways to protect yourself against ignorance, accidents, and PETA like compassion for animals over your own well being and the well being of those passengers in your vehicle. It’s called the right type of automobile insurance. 

What covers you when there is no other vehicle, person, or entity to blame? Your own insurance if you were educated on it by your insurance provider or smart enough to educate yourself by reading this blog. 

Everyone that can afford cigarettes, tobacco, gas, books or alcoholic beverages can afford the following additional insurance coverage to better protect themselves. Everyone cares about themselves, right?

Comprehensive Coverage: covers damage caused by incidents other than a car accident, including theft, fire, vandalism, weather, falling objects and animal damage.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Medical Payments Coverage: is "no-fault" insurance that covers you and your passengers for any damages sustained while in the operation, maintenance, and/or use of the insured vehicle. If you have PIP coverage it often times covers, or follows, you while in another vehicle. Depending upon the insurance company and contract, you can stack PIP coverage. PIP coverage is awesome and you are not the sharpest tool in the shed if you don’t have it. 

Watch out for those furry creatures!

 

 

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If you haven’t seen our billboards yet, be on the look out for these four guys with Trammell & Mills Law Firm, LLC. We may be blanketing the Golden Corner of South Carolina but only in an effort to keep you informed and educated on how to battle against those evil insurance companies and corporate entities trying to minimize your settlement or verdict.

If you have been involved in a motor vehicle collision, interstate trucking accident, slip and fall, dog bite incident, product liability claim, injured at work, and/or totally disabled and turned down by the Social Security Administration, you may need to contact us or learn more about your legal rights.

We look forward to helping you. Ask around, I am sure you will find someone we have helped.