Only you can decide whether you should call a lawyer after a car accident to help you pursue financial recovery. If you were injured in a collision, you can pursue monetary compensation on your own.
However, if you decide to hire a lawyer to represent you, they may:
- Be familiar with Texas’s personal injury laws and regulations
- Assign an accurate financial value to your claim
- Build a personal injury case based on evidence
- Negotiate a favorable financial settlement
- Interview witnesses to support your recollection of events
Additional benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer include their ability to conduct an independent investigation (if needed), calculate your damages, and consult with third-party field experts.
When you hire a lawyer to help with your personal injury matters, they will also keep you continually updated on the progress of your case. They can also explain how Texas’s personal injury statute of limitations applies to your situation.
PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMANTS HAVE A TWO-YEAR PERIOD TO FILE A LAWSUIT
Like every potential personal injury lawsuit, yours has a time limit in Texas. From the date of your car accident, you generally have two years to file a lawsuit, according to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003. You do not want your case to expire under the state’s statute of limitations. If that happens, the full financial impact of the accident will become yours, and the at-fault driver cannot be compelled to pay for your expenses.
Do not allow time to run out on your ability to seek financial compensation for the injuries you or a loved one sustained in a car accident. A lawyer can file your case within the state’s deadline, if time permits.
A LAWYER CAN SUPPORT YOUR CASE WITH EVIDENCE
To recover compensation for your collision-related damages, you will need to build a case based on evidence. Your lawyer can use certain pieces of information to prove the cause, effect, and financial impact of your accident.
One important document is your official crash report. You must file a crash report following a car accident if the collision resulted in injuries, death, or apparent property damage exceeding $1,000, per the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
The police report may contain:
- The contact information for the at-fault driver
- The contact information for their insurance company
- The contact information for any witnesses
- Statements given by witnesses
- The involved vehicles’ makes, models, and license plate numbers
- Notes and diagrams from the investigating officer
In addition to your official crash report, your lawyer will also request the following forms of evidence:
- Your accident-related medical records and bills
- Photos of your injuries and vehicle’s damage
- Your employment history and financial loss statements
If you need help collecting these items, your lawyer may be able to get them for you. Their goal is to help you build a case that supports your right to compensation.
A LAWYER CAN ACCURATELY VALUE YOUR COMPENSATION CASE
Your compensation case is valued according to the economic and non-economic damages that stem from the collision. Calculating those expenses –– especially expenses related to pain and suffering –– can be challenging.
Some recoverable damages in your car accident case may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Physical disability
- Physical disfigurement
- Medical bills, both present and future
- Lost income
- Loss of earning capacity
- The cost of replacing or repairing your vehicle
You may be entitled to recover the cost of these losses (among others), according to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 41.001. If you lost a loved one in a traffic accident, you might be able to recover the cost of their funeral and burial expenses.
Discuss the total financial impact of the accident with your lawyer. They can assess your situation and work to ensure that no expenses are undervalued or overlooked. Calculating the cost of your accident-related damages is a very important part of your personal injury case. If your compensation claim is not fully valued, you could be left with out-of-pocket expenses.
A LAWYER CAN FIGHT FOR THE COMPENSATION YOU DESERVE
Whether you choose to call a Houston car accident lawyer after a wreck is ultimately your decision. At Loncar Associates, we can help you navigate the process of filing a personal injury insurance claim or lawsuit. We offer our help on a contingency-fee-basis. We get paid our attorney’s fees out of the insurance settlement or court award we recover on your behalf. If your case does not succeed, then you do not need to worry about paying us for certain services.
To call in the Strong Arm, dial (877) 239-4878.
