Many people have found themselves at the mercy of debt collectors.  Regardless of how you acquired your debt, it’s important to know your rights when it comes to dealing with debt collection agencies.

The Texas Debt Collection Act is designed to protect people from harassment and illegal practices by debt collectors or collection agencies.  Just as it’s important to pay off the debts you owe, it’s equally important that you’re treated with dignity and respect by collection agencies.  Here are a few things you can do to help deal with debt collectors:

1. Understand your rights. Just as you would contact a car accident law firm or a drunk driving accident attorney to learn your rights after an accident, you should contact a law firm that specializes in unfair debt collection.  They can inform you of exactly what debt collectors can and cannot do.
2. Keep good records. Any time you deal with a debt collector, it’s important to keep records of everything that’s said and done. This can help you with your case in the future. Whether it’s the letters that have been sent or phone calls, be sure to keep records of everything.
3. Verify the debt. It is required by law that a debt collection agency must verify your debt within five days of contact.  Make sure that the debt they’re claiming is actually correct.
4. Negotiate. If possible, you should work with your debt collection lawyer to negotiate with the agency.  Set up a payment plan if possible, but make sure that the agreement is within your budget.
5. File a complaint if needed. If the collection agency is still harassing you, it’s important to work with your lawyer to file a complaint against them.  Showing them that you will not be bullied helps set a precedent that can help future victims of debt collecting harassment.

The important thing to remember when dealing with debt collectors is that you have rights, and that you’re not alone. Contacting a debt collection harassment attorney can help you start your journey to becoming debt-free.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one.

Two lawyers met at a cocktail party one night. The first one asks, “How’s business?” The second replies, “Awful. I chased an ambulance the other day for twenty miles. When I finally caught up to it, there were already two lawyers hanging on the bumper.”
It’s become commonplace, almost fashionable, to joke about lawyers. They have the reputation for being opportunistic, and are thought to have sold their souls to the devil long ago. However, many lawyers out there have gotten a bad rap when it comes to the work they do.
A car wreck lawyer’s job isn’t to squeeze as much money out of plaintiffs or defendants as possible. Their job is to use their knowledge of the law to help citizens receive justice. Most lawyers work incredibly long hours to serve their clients, and so much of the work is done outside of meetings or courtroom proceedings that it often goes unnoticed and unrecognized.
Let’s say you’ve been involved in an accident, and it turns into a courtroom battle. Without going to a car accident law firm and consulting an attorney, you may be walking into a situation that requires more knowledge than you have. A “drunk driving accident attorney” is well-versed in the laws surrounding drunk driving, and will be able to bring his or her arsenal of knowledge and tools into the courtroom to make sure your rights are secure. If you’ve been injured due to a malfunctioning product, a product liability attorney will know which laws protect you and the precedents that have been set when it comes to your case. A lawyer’s extensive knowledge of the nuances of the law can really come in handy when you’re seeking justice.
So, the next time you’re about to make another lawyer joke, stop and consider how having a lawyer on your side when you need it could drastically affect your welfare. And if you find yourself in need of legal advice, give us a call, and we’ll prove to you that we’re not a group of ambulance chasers.

Co-founders Mark and Scott Frankel used to work as defense lawyers for companies, so they know how the opposition thinks. And they always remember that clients come to Frenkel & Frenkel seeking justice – sometimes from big corporations.

Recently DePuy Orthopedics, a division of Johnson and Johnson Service, Inc., announced a voluntary recall of its ASR hip implant devices. These devices have been found to be defective and dangerous to those who have these replacement implants. DePuy anticipates that a minimum 13% of patients with these implants will require a second replacement surgery or other treatment. DePuy’s figure of 13% is a very conservative estimate and it’s expected that there will be many more patients needing surgery to replace or fix DePuy’s defective implant.

The majority of patients with these devices are elderly citizens and will most likely suffer through a difficult and extended recovery period. Hip replacement surgery is a complicated procedure and complications during surgery can be significant, and in certain instances life threatening. Some of the possible complications include: permanent pain and or discomfort, reduced range of motion, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, shortening of the involved leg, hip dislocations and infection. These all represent a significant risk for long-term health problems.

It’s important to understand the debilitating effect that these hip replacements will have on the victim’s life. We sympathize with those that are suffering and have seen how faulty products can ruin and sometimes take lives. We have experience handling product liability cases and often take cases that other attorneys pass on. We believe manufacturers should be held accountable for their products and patients, that are now victims, should get their fair share. We offer free consultations for those that have had a replacement or procedure due to complications from their hip implant. We are also accepting cases from patients that need a replacement and even those that haven’t experienced complications yet.

If you need counseling or legal advice don’t hesitate to contact us. You always will speak directly with a partner in the firm and consultations are always free.

Some people think that product liability cases are frivolous lawsuits. They don’t take into account the damage that has been caused to the victim or the fact that shortcuts might have been taken in the manufacturing process or safety inspection. The Firestone tire incident is a perfect example of a product being released that didn’t meet safety standards.  We have seen cases that involved auto defects, power tools, toys and child carriers, defective construction equipment, home appliances and even lawn mowers.

It’s also important to know whether the victim was using the product properly or whether the injury resulted from an unintended use. That’s why you need to talk with experienced attorneys when considering a product liability case. These are not short lived cases. Corporations have attorneys at their disposal and ready to fight any lawsuit that may come up. We have a high success rate with cases that other attorneys have turned down. Being former insurance attorneys has given us invaluable insight into dealing with corporate lawyers. If you feel that you or a loved one has been a victim of a faulty product the first thing you should do is contact an attorney.

Above is a great story about how Texas is really behind the times when it comes to holding bars responsible for over serving patrons.  If a bar allows someone who is drunk to continue to be served they should be held liable.  Their actions often directly lead to severe injuries and death. 

We will continue to work with MADD to help keep drunk drivers off the road.

Above is a link to a story about a large class action settlement with 24 Hour Fitness.  They were seemingly overcharging customers after they cancelled their memberships. 

These types of cases/classes are not unusual, businesses, banks, phone companies, all are prone to not conducting themselves as they should.  We are always on the lookout for these types of cases at our firm.  If you ever say to yourself something doesn’t seem right about this charge, or it doesn’t seem like they should be able to charge that, give us a call and let’s discuss it.

That’s what makes Frenkel and Frenkel stand out.  More than just attorneys, Frenkel and Frenkel have previous experience defending insurance companies and consumer law cases.

Why is this important? It’s advantageous to choose an attorney who has experience and knows both sides of the argument. At Frenkel and Frenkel, we know what to expect from corporations or insurance companies, because we’ve been there.  During every step of the trial we can anticipate the response of the person on the other side of the table or courtroom.  We understand the law, and can view it from all perspectives.  This gives us a unique advantage over other firms.  We haven’t just fought the other side.  We’ve been the other side.

So, when you’re looking for a lawyer to help you fight against large, faceless entities, it’s a good idea to find one that knows their secrets, and will use them to get you the best possible outcome for your case.

Today’s break-neck work environment can often cause employers to focus on productivity and the bottom line over employee safety and well-being.  Sometimes, the implementation of a union can help workers ensure they are receiving fair treatment in the workplace.  Many industries have existing unions, such as teachers, nurses, electricians and other skilled tradespeople.  However, not everyone has a union that they can join, and certainly not all workplace problems can be solved by unions.

Unions are just one of the few preventatives for combating unfair labor practices, but not all unfair practices are union issues. Other examples include discrimination by an employer, improper payment for working overtime and unsafe working conditions. Threats and other types of mistreatment by employers might also be illegal, depending on the state and circumstances.

Are you being mistreated at work? If so, it is important to capture everything you can about the incident or incidents. Documenting the details of the situation at your workplace will help counselors or attorneys decide if you have a case.

If you are concerned about issues or instances at your workplace, it is important to contact someone who can help you understand your rights and advise you on what steps to take to prevent or stop any harassment or unfair treatment.

As one of the leading car wreck attorneys in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, we realize the importance of ending the epidemic known as drinking and driving.  That’s why we have partnered with the North Texas chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to help end these preventable tragedies.

For 30 years, MADD has been working to end drunk driving.  Over the years, they have worked with lawmakers,car accident law firms, and other community organizers to raise awareness about the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  They’ve connected faces- and names to statistics. In doing so they’ve created a movement that has potentially saved thousands of lives.  MADD’s  main mission is to remove the perception of drunk driving as being acceptable in today’s society.

Being accident attorneys has exposed us to the devastation caused by drunk driving.  Unfortunately, a large part of current car accident settlements are from drunken driving incidents.  These cases are easily avoidable.  By working with organizations such as MADD, we can join forces and use our expertise to raise awareness of the devastating effects on driving while under the influence of alcohol.

In an ideal world, there wouldn’t be any victims that we’d need to help recover from drunk driving accidents.  Until the day that drinking and driving is no longer an issue in our society, we will continue to partner with organizations such as MADD to help spread the word about the dangers of drinking and driving.