People in Texas who have sustained injuries in auto accidents can seek compensation through a personal injury claim.
An experienced car accident lawyer can assess your case and help you to determine whether filing a claim is the right thing to do.
With help from a lawyer, you can seek compensation for any damages related to the accident, from medical bills to property damage to pain and suffering. The Texas statute of limitations states that you must file your claim within two years of your accident.
The board-certified attorneys at Florin Roebig can assist you with your Texas car accident claims, including who is liable for paying damages and how to go about filing a claim. Some of our attorneys have even obtained Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer rating for both ethics and legal ability. Recently, one of our attorneys was named one of “America’s Leading Plaintiff’s Lawyers” by the national legal organization, Lawdragon.
Who Is Liable In A Texas Car Accident?
The liable party is the one who is legally responsible for paying damages to an injured claimant in personal injury cases.
Usually, the liable party is the insurance company of the at-fault party. This means that if you are hit by someone in an accident and it was their fault, their insurance company will be held liable if you seek a settlement in a personal injury claim.
Sometimes, other parties are held liable in accidents. For example, an auto manufacturer could be liable if a faulty part led to an accident.
Or, the state or municipality could be liable if hazardous roadway conditions caused the car wreck.
Determining liability can be complicated, which is part of the reason why having an experienced Texas personal injury lawyer by your side is so helpful after a car accident.
How Is Fault Determined For Car Accidents In Texas?
Texas is an “at-fault” state, meaning that whoever causes a car accident to occur is liable for paying the damages that they cause.
Sometimes, it is not entirely clear who caused an accident. Involved drivers’ insurance companies might argue back and forth about which driver caused an accident to occur.
If you have suffered car accident injuries and you do not feel you were at fault in the accident, you should reach out to a personal injury attorney.
An attorney can assess your case using evidence such as police reports, photos of the crash scene, and eyewitness accounts. They can help you to build a case and prove that another party caused the accident to occur.
What Are Your Legal Options After A Texas Car Crash?
With multiple drivers, various auto insurance companies, and others involved, car accidents can quickly become complicated legal matters.
In Texas, you have the right to speak with an attorney if you believe that negligence could have been at play in your accident.
An attorney can help you determine who was at fault and who is liable for paying damages and help you build a strong case and win a favorable settlement offer.
People who work with auto accident attorneys get higher average settlements than people who try to make personal injury claims alone.
How Negligence Can Affect Texas Car Accident Cases
Negligence is a critical aspect of personal injury cases. Negligence occurs when a party acts in a way that violates their duty of care.
This means that when a person or entity acts in a way that puts others in harm’s way, they have acted with negligence.
In order for a personal injury claim to successfully win a settlement, the claim must show that a party’s negligence caused a car accident and the resulting injuries to occur.
Experienced attorneys like those at Florin|Roebig are experts in determining whether negligence caused an accident and whether you can pursue a personal injury settlement.
Steps To Take After A Car Accident In Texas
It’s important to know what to do if you have been involved in an automobile accident in Texas.
Taking the steps below can help you to stay safe after an accident and set you up to file a personal injury claim, should you wish to do so.
Report The Accident
You should always report the accident to the police as soon as possible and file a police report.
A police report is an official recorded statement of what happened during the accident, and it can come in handy in legal matters down the line.
Seek Medical Care
If you have been injured, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Medical treatment is important for treating your injuries and helping you recover.
Furthermore, notes and records from medical professionals might serve as critical documents in your personal injury case later on.
File An Insurance Claim
When it is safe to do so, file a claim with your insurance provider. You will be asked to provide a detailed accident report.
If you have insurance information for other involved motorists, that can be helpful when filing an insurance claim.
Seek Help From A Car Accident Attorney
Car accident attorneys like those at Florin|Roebig can offer sound legal representation and help you to seek the compensation you deserve.
Florin|Roebig offers free consultations to discuss your case. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid if you get a settlement offer.
We only advise people to pursue a personal injury claim when we believe they will secure a settlement. In addition, our board-certified attorneys are ready to go to trial for your you which is why many Texas car accident lawyers refer us their cases.
What Causes Motor Vehicle Accidents?
Car accidents can occur for a multitude of reasons. If negligence results in an accident and people get injured, a personal injury claim might follow.
Among the most common causes of car accidents in Texas are:
- Reckless driving
- Drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs
- Negligent drivers (failing to look in mirrors or use turn signals before merging, running stop signs, etc.)
- Speeding
- Distracted driving including cell phone use and texting while driving
- Visibility issues in a vehicle
- Defective brakes or other parts
- Improperly maintained roadways or bad weather conditions
Dangerous Highways And Intersections In Texas:
- I-10 between Exits 855A and 849: This texas section has the highest fatality rate. There were 17 fatal accidents here between 2018 and 2020.
- I-45: Of all the counties in Texas, Harris County had the most fatal collisions. I-45 was the section of the road with the most fatal collisions with 45 deaths.
- I-35E in Dallas: In between downtown and Dallas Love Field, I-35 E has seen car accidents with injuries and even fatalities increase over the years.
- Tomball Parkway (TX-249): In Northwest Houston, Tomball Parkway, also known as (TX-249), in Northwest Houston, recorded an estimated 14 fatal accidents occurred there, with an average of 3.2 fatal accidents per mile.
Types Of Car Accidents In Texas
The type of car accident you are involved in can influence who is at fault and whether negligence played a role.
Sideswipe Collisions
A sideswipe collision occurs when one vehicle ‘swipes’ the side of another.
Both vehicles are traveling in the same direction when one car’s right side impacts another car’s left side. The fault is not always immediately clear in these accidents.
T-Bone Collisions
T-bone collisions occur when the front of one vehicle collides with the side of another.
These often happen at stop signs or traffic lights and may be the result of one car illegally running through the intersection at the wrong time.
Rear-End Crashes
When one vehicle’s front collides with another vehicle’s rear that is traveling in the same direction, this is called a rear-end collision.
Usually, the driver of the vehicle that runs into the car in front of it is at-fault in rear-end crashes.
Head-On Collisions
When two vehicles traveling opposite directions on a roadway collide with the fronts of their vehicles, this is called a head-on crash.
These crashes have a high fatality rate due to the deadly impact force that is often involved.
Multiple-Vehicle Accidents In Texas
Any car crash, truck accident, or motorcycle accident involving two or more vehicles is called a multi-vehicle crash.
Hit-And-Run Accidents In Texas
When a vehicle crashes into another car, object, animal, or person and flees the scene, this is called a hit-and-run accident.
What Types Of Injuries Are Caused In Car Accidents?
Car accidents can range from minor “fender-benders” to major collisions with serious injuries involved.
If you’ve been injured in a car crash, filing a personal injury claim can help you to seek compensation to pay medical bills and other related expenses.
Some of the most common car accident injuries include:
- Head trauma including traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Dismemberment
- Burns
- Neck or back damage
- Joint or muscle injury
- Whiplash
- Disability
- Spinal cord damage
- Broken bones
- Paralysis
- Fatality
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Damages To List On A Car Accident Claim
Damages are financial compensation that you can seek to cover the cost of expenses related to your injuries, and to reimburse you for other impacts to your life.
An experienced personal injury legal team like the one at Florin|Roebig can help you to get the maximum possible fair settlement amount from your claim.
The two types of damages you can seek are called economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are compensation you can seek as a means of covering the direct costs associated with your accident and injuries.
Examples of economic damages include:
- Current and expected medical expenses, including physical therapy and other treatment
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning ability
- Wrongful death payments (for deceased family members or loved ones)
- Property damage
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are less straightforward. These damages are meant to compensate people for emotional distress and other similar issues related to the accident.
Some examples of non-economic damages in car accident claims include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional anguish
- Punitive damages
- Loss of consortium
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How Can A Car Accident Lawyer Help With Your Case?
Under Texas law, you can represent yourself in a personal injury claim. However, most people opt to hire a lawyer.
Why? The average settlement amount for people with personal injury lawyers is higher than those without.
A car accident lawyer can help you with your claim in two major ways:
Negotiating Your Settlement Offer
Experienced practitioners of personal injury law know how to get their clients the best possible settlement offer from the insurance company or other liable party.
Your lawyers will work tirelessly to negotiate a favorable settlement amount.
They will collect documents and other information and present your case to the liable parties, using your losses to leverage a favorable settlement.
Defending Your Case In Court
In rare cases, a favorable settlement might not be attainable outside of court.
When you, your attorneys, and the liable party can’t agree on a settlement amount, you have the option to file a lawsuit so a court can hear the case and decide on a settlement amount.
If your case goes to court, you will want an experienced attorney by your side who is capable of clearly demonstrating why you should be compensated for your losses.
List Of Top-Rated Texas Car Accident Lawyers Near You
Florin|Roebig law firm has years of experience helping Texas car accident victims get the compensation they deserve after a crash.
Our lawyers are based out of two Texas offices in Dallas and Houston. We help people across the state of Texas to win personal injury claims.
The Florin|Roebig legal team has won numerous awards and accolades, including a recent selection to the “Best Lawyers in America” list.
We are backed by excellent client testimonials and over $1 billion won for our clients in settlement offers.
The award-winning team of esteemed attorneys at Florin|Roebig law firm includes:
- Wil H. Florin, B.C.S.
- Tommy D. Roebig, B.C.S.
- Chase P. Florin, B.C.S.
- Parker Y. Florin, LL.M.
- Taylor D. Roebig
- John J. Hart
- Lawrence J. Najem, O.C.
- Nollys R. Solarte, O.C.
- Andrew M. Leone, O.C.
For every year since the inception of the honor in 2010, Florin|Roebig has been selected as one of the “Best Law Firms in America” by “US News and World Report” and “Best Lawyers in America.” With more than 30 years of experience, you can trust that our car accident attorneys will work hard to ensure your case is as successful as possible.
We Are Nationally Awarded Lawyers
Connect With Florin|Roebig For Help With A Texas Car Accident Claim
The Florin|Roebig team is here to help you with your Texas car accident claim. We want to see you get the settlement offer that you deserve to help you deal with the hardship that follows a crash.
Our team can assist with cases across the state, from San Antonio to Dallas and everywhere in between. To chat more or schedule your free case evaluation, contact Florin|Roebig today.
