2020 Houston Car Wrecks CLE Seminar

Mastering Intakes and Managing Your Client Expectations
SPEAKER: Greta Braker

About topic:

• Common questions asked by clients during intake
• How to manage expectations with optimism
• Setting the client up to be satisfied

Trucking Crashes - Not Just a Big Car Wreck
SPEAKER: Todd Clement

About topic:

• How is a truck wreck different from a routine crash
• Discovery in truck crashes
• Proving the system failure
• Encouraging the jury's presumption of distracted driving
• Utilizing trucking technology

Gimmie 3 Steps – Discovery in Car Wreck Cases - Tactics and Pitfalls
SPEAKER: Richard Stucky

About topic:

1. Discovery begins before filing - Investigation
   1. TLO
   2. Social Media
   3. Open Records
      1. Crash Report
      2. Driving Record(s)
      3. Texas Department of Public Safety
   4. Google Earth
   5. Send client MR BR – tell them to read
   6. Discovery in the Original Petition
      1. Beware of form discovery
      2. Do you ask the “what happened” question now or later?
   7. Analyzing the Jury Charge
      1. Burden of Proof
      2. Possible defenses
   8. 18.001 & 902(10) affidavits – be ready
   9. Calendar your deadlines

2. The Deposition Deposition
   1. Plaintiff Deposition
      1. Prep Client
      2. Give MR BR ahead of time
      3. Client should know
         1. Doctors
         2. What they did
         3. Was it helpful
         4. Amount of medical bills
      4. Take MR BR into the deposition with you
         1. Prep client to refer to MR BR
      5. Stand up for your client!

2.   The Defendant Deposition
   1. Think ahead to trial
   2. Know what you gotta get!
   3. Know when to Hold em; Know when to Fold em: 
   4. To impeach or not to impeach
      1. Allstate and other Cheap carriers – be ready for trial
      2. Others – game time decision
   5. Use the Defense Lawyer to your advantage
      1. Defendant’s rarely prepped
   6. Make your investigation relevant

3. Expert Depositions
   1. Think about trial
   2. Don’t do it because you can
   3. Let insurance carrier spend the money
   4. Strike ‘em

Let's Stop Calling it "Work-Life Balance"
SPEAKER: Jim Perdue, Jr.

About topic:

When everyone is so different, why does it seem that so many of us in the legal profession face the same emotional challanges?  Maybe our brains don't really want to relax?  Maybe there is some joy to be found in the misery?  And maybe there are some perspectives that help productively navigate the highs and lows over the long term.
 

Innovative Ways to Understand and Prepare a Spine Injury Case
SPEAKER: Chad Parker

About topic:

• What does the radiology give you to work with?
• Understanding why injections are done and what they mean
• The sacroiliac joint - the answer to the mystery
• Be better prepared for your next medical deposition