325-241-2868Abilene Car Accident Attorneys
Seeking Compensation for Your Injuries
Since cars became the dominant mode of transportation in America, car accidents have become a fact of life. In 2023, there were over 560,000 car accidents in Texas. That translates to 1,500 car accidents on Texas roads every day. The average person will get into at least four car wrecks over the course of their lives. Many people believe they know the proper course of action should they or a loved one get into a wreck: call the police, exchange insurance information with the other driver, and then allow the insurance companies to handle things from there. In some instances, this may be the best course of action. However, this is often the worst possible thing a driver could do.
In the event of severe injuries or property damage, another driver’s insurance company will do everything possible to avoid paying what they owe. This is why if you or a loved one have been in a car or truck accident, you must contact an experienced car accident lawyer. An attorney will be able to review the specific circumstances of your case and determine the best path forward.
What Can Happen to Me in a Car Accident in Texas?
Someone experiences a personal injury every two minutes in a car accident in Texas. In many instances, these injuries may be minor and only include some cuts and bruises. Many times, injuries sustained in an auto accident can be more severe. The number one cause of accidents in Texas is speeding. If a driver were speeding, the chance of severe personal injury would increase in the event an accident occurred.
However, serious injuries can be incurred in car accidents at any speed. Even a seemingly minor fender bender can damage internal organs or muscles. These apparently minute injuries can have potential long-term consequences for a person’s health and happiness. Potential consequences of a car accident in Texas include but are not necessarily limited to:
- Partial or Full Paralysis
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Partial or Full Loss of Vision
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Loss of Limbs
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Internal Organ Loss or Damage
- Emotional Distress
- Disfigurement
These are only a few of a car wreck’s potentially long-lasting and life-long consequences. Sometimes, an individual may require long-term care, such as rehabilitation. They may even require a temporary or long-term live-in caregiver. Such long-term care is expensive. It can quickly result in mounting medical bills. This is especially true if someone were injured so severely that they could not work. Long-term and even temporary lost wages could have a disastrous, far-reaching impact on someone. This is why, if you or a loved one were injured in a car accident, you must contact an experienced car accident attorney to seek compensation.
Why Shouldn’t I Deal With the Other Driver’s Insurance Company After a Car Accident in Texas?
Insurance companies’ jobs are not to pay large amounts of money to people their insured drivers have injured. Their primary goal is to make money. Insurance companies make money by collecting as much money as possible from drivers and then paying out as little as possible. In the event of a car accident, the responsible driver’s insurance company will look for any excuse to pay as little as possible. Insurance companies will even attempt to get out of paying anything at all.
An insurance company may attempt to take the blame away from their insured driver by placing blame for the accident on another party. They may blame factors such as weather conditions, road construction, or something else. Most of the time, though, a car accident is at least one person’s fault. Besides speeding, distracted driving is one of the leading causes of wrecks in Texas. This means a significant portion of car wrecks were the result of someone else’s negligence. This includes fatal car accidents. This is why, if you or a loved one were injured in a car or truck accident, you must consult an experienced attorney. An experienced car accident lawyer can thoroughly investigate your case and determine who can be held liable.
How Much Money Can I Sue for After a Car Accident in Texas?
You may attempt to collect three types of damages as part of a personal injury claim in Texas: economic, non-economic, and punitive.
Economic damages are those damages for which a concrete number can be proven. These include such things as medical bills, lost wages, expenses related to repairing or replacing a car, etc. Economic damages are those damages for which you can present bills and receipts in court.
Non-economic damages are damages that have a severe impact on your life but which you cannot assign a concrete number to. Examples of non-economic damages include things like pain and suffering, emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, disfigurement, depression, and more. How non-economic damages are calculated can vary case by case and attorney by attorney.
Some law firms use the multiplier method. In the multiplier method, economic damages are multiplied by a number, usually between 1.5 and 5. This number then becomes the sum asked for in non-economic damages. Another technique is the per diem method. The per diem method determines a daily “value” for a person’s non-economic damages. That value is then multiplied by the number of days the accident impacted the person. Note that while a person can sue for any amount of money for economic damages, there are certain instances where the amount of non-economic damages a person can sue for is capped. An attorney will be able to review the circumstances of your case and determine if there is a cap to your non-economic damages.
The final type of damages a person can pursue is punitive damages. Punitive means punishment. These are extra damages awarded to someone who has been injured in a car accident as a punishment to the responsible parties. The amount of punitive damages someone asks for can vary depending on the circumstances of the case.
What Should I Do if I’m Injured in a Car Accident in Abilene, Texas?
Many people believe the best course of action after an injury sustained in a car crash is to “just let the insurance companies handle it.” This is a mistake. Insurance companies will seek to pay the least amount possible on a car accident claim. They may even attempt to get out of paying any money whatsoever. This is why if you or a loved one have been in a serious car accident, you must contact Barrett Legal PLLC at 325-241-2868.
The legal team at Barrett Legal PLLC prides itself on our proven track record of excellence in handling car accident cases. We apply our deep background in personal injury law to give every client superior representation for their accident cases. We believe everyone should receive their fair compensation after a wreck, and we have zero tolerance for greedy insurance companies that try to get out of paying what they owe. Our attorneys will fight for you and your loved ones to ensure you get what you deserve. Car accidents may seem overwhelming, but they don’t have to be. If you or a loved one have been injured in a car or truck accident, call Barrett Legal PLLC today at 325-241-2868 to ask about a free consultation.