Larry Copeland of USA Today wrote an interesting article about a "Yellow Dot" car program that is defined in the article as:

The Yellow Dot program is designed to help crash victims, especially seniors, communicate with rescuers during the crucial "golden hour," the first 60 minutes after a serious crash that can make the difference between life and death for the critically injured.
 

The yellow dot would go on the back window of your primary vehicle and indicate to EMS and other emergency responders to look for the yellow folder in your glove box that would contain "a photograph, medical conditions, prescriptions and other vital information."

This may be an antiquated system given the technological advances we have but sometimes the acronym KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) comes into play. Not everyone will purchase the brand new car that sends an alert to the nearest EMS center, where each responder has an iPhone or "App" that automatically uploads your health information.

Any system that better helps you in a time of need where you may not be able to properly communicate is something worth investing or looking into.

 

On a recent flight the pilot came across the intercom and asked if there was a doctor on board due to a passenger’s need for immediate medical attention.  To the contrary, I have never heard the above entitled question, "Is there an attorney on board this plane?" Given the hundreds of passenger’s on that plane, I would imagine several were in dire need of some legal assistance.

Although legal questions and issues don’t have the life and death nature of serious medical conditions, they can cause physical, mental, and emotional duress to the participants on both sides of the issue.  There is no need to be timid about going to see or hiring a lawyer for an issue that is out of your hands or outside your professional expertise.

We all know to call a plumber when the pipes are causing problems; a carpenter when there is need for some structural repair; and a doctor when our health is failing. There is that percentage of people that are capable and able to do it on their own but sometimes even the smallest projects need to be done right or they will have to be repeated at a much more costly rate.

Don’t be afraid to seek out the assistance you need when it comes to legal issues. You may not want to shout out on a plane, "Is there an attorney on board?", but when it lands you may want to inquire in the Yellow Pages, Talking Phone Book, Internet, and/or friends and family.

I  am fortunate to be getting married soon and in doing so we are moving to another home in downtown Greenville which we are renovating. Having enjoyed this one for close to three years, it’s time to move on to the next rehab project.  Real estate is my second professional passion after practicing law.

I bought this 3BR/2BA home from a Greenville County Master In Equity Foreclosure sale in early 2008 and before I left the courthouse that day was offered $20,000.00 more then I paid for it. I guess that was a good sign, I made a good buy.  (That particular bidder had gotten there after bidding on this home ended, lucky for me). However, I wanted this house for my primary, residential home to live and walk downtown. It was an investment but not purely an investment. I wanted to enjoy it, too.

My best friend and I from college, Christopher Smith, started Smith & Mills, Inc. out of college rehabbing and buying foreclosure homes in 2000 when there was a slight recession and credit was good because we had no cash. We have never really profited any substantial gains on these properties but we keep our fingers crossed that they will be just as good as an IRA.

When I moved to Greenville, I was lucky enough to meet Royce & Jackie Dessaure because they have been a blessing when it comes to dependable, trustworthy, and cost minded contractors. They helped me jump into 103 Arlington Avenue and remove all the carpet, white tile, counter tops, and start the whole interior over again. We ended up putting in all hardwoods, except in the kitchen and bathrooms where we used slate flooring to provide that earthy, warm look. Then went with custom lighting, granite counter tops in kitchen & baths, fenced the yard, repainted the whole home, scrapped the ceilings to have the smooth finish, made a walk in closet off the master, satin nickel plate hardware and switch plates, landscaping and created a “dry bar” out of nook in the hallway.

All this could be yours. I talk and negotiate money everyday with insurance companies so I am just giving this home away at $183,900.00. Now of course we can negotiate some but you got to remember what I got into it. Bought for $95,000.00 + Repairs, fence, appliances, landscaping $75,000.00, + mortgage interest for three years $12,000.00. Hence you have the price listed above. Make me an offer I can’t refuse and if I do refuse it, just keep moving up with your offer.

103 Arlington Avenue, Greenville, South Carolina 29601

 

As an attorney that meets with my clients face to face before taking their case, I make sure that my communication with them is clear and uniform as to what they can expect from my end. One of the biggest complaints I hear from clients, potential clients, or current clients of other attorneys shopping around is that they can not get in touch with or get updates from their attorney. To this I say simply, "the wheels of justice are slow."

First and foremost, if they have another attorney, I tell them I can’t help them or talk with them, they need to discuss that with their attorney. On a side note, if they are complaining about their current attorney, they are going to complain about me 9 times out of 10. It doesn’t matter who has their case, they are "high maintenance".

Granted there are some bad apples in any profession and there are people that will complain about a beautiful day being too hot or too cold. Nothing is ever good enough for them. Keep in mind the time line of your personal injury case is largely dependent upon your injuries improving or your reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI).  There are several other factors to consider as well but most cases take time and have no definitive value or ending point until you are as good as you are going to get from the trauma, or injury, you incurred.

The South Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.4, states:

(a) A lawyer shall:
(1) promptly inform the client of any decision or circumstance with respect to which the client’s informed consent, as defined in Rule 1.0(f), is required by these Rules;
(2) reasonably consult with the client about the means by which the client’s objectives are to be accomplished;
(3) keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the matter;
(4) promptly comply with reasonable requests for information; and
(5) consult with the client about any relevant limitation on the lawyer’s conduct when the lawyer knows that the client expects assistance not permitted by the Rules of Professional Conduct or other law.
(b) A lawyer shall explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation. (emphasis added).

Notice the word "reasonable" mentioned several times and highlighted above. As one of my friends in sales stated one time, "I spend 90% of my time on 10% of my clients." I want you to be educated and informed about your case and the process it takes from the beginning. However,  if you call every week, sometimes there is nothing new to tell you. At the same time, if you haven’t heard from my office or had any contact with my office in 8 months– we may need to talk.

 

Today several news outlets are reporting that the "ivory tower" defense firms are finally coming clean with their smoke and mirror marketing and admitting that their term "litigation firm" means-only litigating against everyday people for the all powerful insurance companies that pay them hundreds ($300’s) of dollars an hour.

This fact is commonly known throughout the hard working, for the people, doing it for justice, workers against evil, otherwise known as Plaintiff’s Attorneys, who strive to right the wrongs of the Evil Empire, aka insurance companies. A big move that has many lawyers scratching their heads as to why these firms made of gold, silver, and ivory off the sweat and torture of young associates for 7-10 year spans, all on the promise of a few gold coins more,  would come clean after all these centuries.

Ben Dover of Soma, Baughty, Goinia, Paye, LLC, said, "Well, it doesn’t appear like the public is getting any smarter and they sure do forget things pretty quickly. We didn’t think this would be any different. Stupid is as stupid does."  Mr. Dover has a point considering the inundated insurance jingles and coarse hands that consumers seem to believe over actually seeking out the advice of an attorney that works for them and educates them on how insurance companies make money.

Mary A. Richman and Robin Banks of Wie, Love, Monet, agreed that it was time. "Given the amount of money we spend on a yearly basis to take those fools to strip clubs in the Legislature, just to have them at our call and beckon, we knew no one could beat us in making laws, through legislators, " said Richman.

No comment could be found available through any of the following litigation firms: Smith More Leatherwood, LLP, Turner Padget Graham & Laney, P.A., Gallivan White & Boyd, P.A., McAngus Goudelock Courie, LLC, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP, Nexsen Pruet, and  McNair Law Firm, P.A. .

If you see any of the above attorneys out and about please ask them about this most recent development on this, the 1st of April, commonly referred to as "April Fool’s Day".

 (Last year on this same day, I was hired by Allstate to handle their claims.)

What an amazing spectacle of media, publicity, and sheer genius,or insanity, have been shown the last few weeks through a man, or warlock, and his tiger’s blood. You may have surmised it from the title, your vast knowledge of recent media, or from not having your head in a hole, Charlie Sheen is entertaining.

His latest rants and quotes have caused popularity chasers to start a website entitled, http://www.livethesheendream.com/, consisting of recent quotes to include:

• “They picked a fight with a warlock.”
• ”I have one speed. I have one gear. Go.”
• ”It was so gnarly I can’t remember.”
• ”I’m not ‘aw shucks’. Because I’m gnarly.”
• ”One of my favorite poets is Eminem.”
• “We’re Vatican assassins. How complicated can it be?”
• “If you’re a part of my family, I will love you violently.”
• ”Let’s hook up and just bring fiery death.”
• ”I don’t know, winning, anyone? Rhymes with winning? Anyone? Yeah, that would be us.”
• ”I’m a peaceful man with bad intentions.”
• ”Duh, WINNING.”
• ”I guess I’m just that goddamn bitchin’.”
• ”Resentments are the rocket fuel that lives in the tip of my saber.”
• ”Mistook this rockstar, bro.”
• ”Park your nonsense.”
• ”I have a disease? Bullshit. I cured it with my brain.”
• “A lot of people think Major League’s called Wild Thing. As they should.”
• “I’m on a quest to claim absolute victory on every front.”
• ”Go back to the troll hole where you came from.”

Why should you care and how does this relate to law? Well sometimes the craziest most unique stories get all the attention. They tend to overshadow the reality and everyday lives of so many hard working, intelligent, and compassionate people. These people go on with their lives without making the news or making millions of dollars. However, without these wonderful people the United States of America would not be where it is today. Thank you hard working, intelligent, and compassionate America. I know you are out there, even though my TV will never have you on it.

For the rest of you, "You’re on a drug and it’s called vanity." –Trey Mills.

After reading The Wall Street Journal’s, "Animation Nation", article on Friday, February 11, 2011, I knew I had to give my Hollywood aspirations a shot. I put this video together using my experience over the past five years in dealing with insurance claims. No one insurance company sticks out more then Allstate because of the way they handle claims. Using Xtranormal, I felt I should put into pictures and words lessons to help those that may learn better through visual and auditory presentations.

Please watch and enjoy my very first movie, exclusively for use and copyrighted by Palmetto LDC, LLC:

 

If you do not have any other resource to seek treatment for your injuries, ailments, disease, or disorder please use this resource to find medical and dental assistance.

We hope this helps you get the medical and/or dental treatment you need. No one should go without care in the United States. Additionally, those that are able should donate to ensure these facilities remain open.

http://www.freemedicalsearch.org/sta/south_carolina

For more specific local areas, please see below:

ANDERSON:  Anderson Free Clinic

GREENVILLE: Greenville Free Medical Clinic, New Horizon Family Health Services, New Horizon Family Dental Care, and West End Medical Family Alliance

PICKENS: Clemson Free Clinic

 

These are the three horror stories I heard about the most in 2010. Oddly enough they are told by the insurance companies themselves:

  1. We, the insurance company of the at fault party, do not believe our insured injured you;
  2. We, the insurance company of the at fault party, believe if you were injured it was not a result of the accidental, intentional, or ignorant act of our insured; and
  3. We, the insurance company of the at fault party, believe if you were injured by the accidental, intentional, or ignorant acts of our insured it is not worth what your treating physician charged you because they don’t know what they are doing. (At least not as much as the nurses know that we pay to review those treating physicians’ records.) 

If you have heard horror stories like the above, please call someone that can shed light on the darkness. (Hint: not the person working for the insurance company of the person that harmed you.)

 

"Trey’s Top Three" continues with this second article to determine the top three insurance companies I believe evaluate and handle their claims in a professional, ethical, and reasonable manner. This analysis is based on my observations, experiences, and interactions over five years working in the trenches against these insurance companies: Direct Insurance, State Farm, Allstate, Travelers, Nationwide, Dairyland Auto, Selective Insurance, Specialty Risk Services, Liberty Mutual, GMAC, Infinity, Farm Bureau, Auto Owners, Sentry, Occidental, Chubb, Bristol, Sedgwick, GEICO, Progressive, Viking, Great Central, Gateway, USAA, Safeco, Ohio State Casualty, James C. Green, AIG, Great Falls, Crawford & Co, Horace Mann, Lancer Insurance, Affirmative, Cottonstates, Zurich, Scottsdale, Cinncinati, Companion, Montgomery Insurance, Frontier Adjusters, Gallagher Bassett, First Acceptance, Constitutional State Services,  Foremost, Assurance, Penn National,and others I cant recall at this moment. (I have settled claims against all these companies).

And the winners of "Trey’s Top Three" evaluation are:

  1. State Farm
  2. Farm Bureau
  3. Nationwide/Travelers*  (tied)

 

If you have Allstate please switch immediately as ALLSTATE IS THE WORST insurance company you could be with. When you go in and switch or modify your coverage make sure you have:

  • PIP/Medpay
  • UIM