September 2009 Newsletter
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Neese Law Firm Opens New OfficeThe Neese Law Firm is pleased to announce the opening of our new office at 1717 St. James Place, Suite 680, Houston, Texas 77056.
One of the best things about our new office is that our clients do not have to suffer downtown traffic and parking. We are conveniently located near the corner of San Felipe and St. James Place, and we offer free parking right at the building.
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Professional Profile: Christina HogueAlthough she wasn’t born in Texas, Christina Hogue likes to say she "got here as fast as she could." At the age of five, her parents packed up their home in Iowa and headed to Beaumont, Texas. Christina graduated from West Brook Senior High School in Beaumont in 1999. In 2003, she graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. In February 2004, only weeks after completing her undergraduate degree, Christina began working with John Neese as a legal assistant. Christina quickly learned the ropes and in January 2005, she earned her paralegal certification from the National Association of Legal Assistants. In late 2005, Christina was promoted to docket manager and given the responsibility of overseeing fifteen paralegals, legal assistants, and other staff members. As docket manager, she manages all phases of the litigation process from client intake to discovery, and all the way through trial. |
"For over five and a half years, Christina has been the backbone of my practice," says John Neese. "She is extremely capable and professional, and the clients just love dealing with her. Christina is definitely one of the firm's greatest assets," says John. Christina and her husband have a two year old daughter and two Chihuahuas. They enjoy spending time outdoors and with their family and friends. We Appreciate Your ReferralsThank you for giving us the opportunity to help you and your family with your legal needs. The highest compliment is when our past and present clients refer their friends and family. We value and appreciate the confidence you place in the Neese Law Firm. |
Insurance Coverage You Can't Afford Not to Have
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Recently a gentleman came to our office who had suffered two broken legs in a car wreck that was not his fault. He had multiple surgeries on his legs and was in the hospital for over 2 weeks. After he got out of the hospital, he was out of work for several months while he recovered from his injuries. The medical bills alone were close to $70,000. The other driver, who was at fault, only carried the minimum liability insurance required in the State of Texas - $25,000. While the insurance company offered the full amount of the policy, it was not nearly enough to compensate for the medical bills, lost income, and injuries. And because the at-fault driver happened to be out of work and did not have any assets, there was no other money to pay for these harms and losses. Unfortunately, situations like this happen all the time. In the current economic climate, there are more drivers out on the roads with either the bare minimum insurance or no insurance at all. Sadly, we were limited in what we could do for the gentleman because there were no funds for us to recover for him. However, there is a type of insurance that covers just this type of situation. It is called uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage or UM/UIM. This kind of insurance kicks in to pay for your losses if the person who hit you has no insurance or not enough insurance. In Texas, your insurance company is required to offer UM/UIM coverage to you. Many people think it is just an extra charge for something they do not have to have, and they decline the coverage. But that is a huge mistake, especially considering how cheap it is. When a person has suffered a serious injury and has substantial medical bills it can be financially devastating. We recommend that all our friends and clients call their insurance agent and look into adding UM/UIM coverage to their auto policies if they do not already have it. |
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Driving Under the Influence of Not Enough Sleep?
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According to an expert, driver fatigue has the same affect on driving skills as driving after drinking alcohol. That’s pretty scary when you think about it. How many parents drive carpool under conditions of driver fatigue? How many sleepy drivers are next to you on the road every day? Now granted, driver fatigue is more than just being tired. Fatigue means being tired to the point of weariness or exhaustion. However, missing as little as two hours of sleep can affect reaction time, memory, mood, alertness, concentration and overall mental functioning. Over a period of days and weeks, missing just one hour of sleep per night can result in what is called "sleep debt." And a sleep debt can cause driver fatigue to such an extent that your brain actually shuts off and you go to sleep involuntarily. What's worse is that driver fatigue affects driving long before a person realizes they are falling asleep at the wheel. Some people fall asleep multiple times while driving and don’t even know it. Fatigue and driving are all too often a deadly combination. It can be very dangerous to ignore the warning signs of driver fatigue - yawning, poor concentration, tired eyes, restlessness, drowsiness, slow reactions, boredom and over-steering. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has a driver fatigue quiz which you can take here: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/facts-research/research-technology/topics/fatiguequiz.htm. |
You can also calculate your level of fatigue with this fatigue rating card:
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