Texas personal injury lawyer
Accidents
Wrongful Death Attorneys
USA Personal
Injury Lawyers
Handling accident cases nationwide including but not limited Texas, Florida, New Mexico, Illinois and Oklahoma
TEXAS PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER * ACCIDENTS *WRONGFUL DEATH ATTORNEYS
Were you seriously hurt in a car or truck accident, because of somebody else’s negligence?
When you’ve been hurt in an accident it’s a very scary experience and hard to know who you can trust. Not only are you suffering in pain but you’re also worried about how you’ll cover your medical expenses, lost wages and damages. One minute your life was fine and the next, everything has gone sideways and out of control. You need someone on your side who can stand up for and protect your rights so you can recover from your injuries.
Practice Areas
Get Legal Help with
A NATIONWIDE PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY
Texas personal injury lawyer
Accidents
Wrongful Death Attorneys
USA Personal
Injury Lawyers
Handling accident cases nationwide including but not limited to Texas, Illinois, Florida, New Mexico, Illinois and Oklahoma
Were you seriously hurt in a Texas accident, because of somebody else’s negligence?
When you’ve been hurt in an accident it’s a very scary experience and hard to know who you can trust. Not only are you suffering in pain but you’re also worried about how you’ll cover your medical expenses, lost wages and damages. One minute your life was fine and the next, everything has gone sideways and out of control. You need someone on your side who can stand up for and protect your rights so you can recover from your injuries.
Practice Areas
Get Legal Help with
A NATIONWIDE PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY
Texas personal injury lawyer
Accidents
Wrongful Death Attorneys
USA Personal
Injury Lawyers
Handling accident cases nationwide including but not limited to Texas, Illinois, Florida, New Mexico, Illinois and Oklahoma
Were you seriously hurt in an accident, because of somebody else’s negligence?
When you’ve been hurt in an accident it’s a very scary experience and hard to know who you can trust. Not only are you suffering in pain but you’re also worried about how you’ll cover your medical expenses, lost wages and damages. One minute your life was fine and the next, everything has gone sideways and out of control. You need someone on your side who can stand up for and protect your rights so you can recover from your injuries.
Practice Areas
Get Legal Help with
A Nationwide Personal Injury Attorney
Has an accident turned your life upside down?
Get the help you need
from an experienced
TEXAS BASED PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER WITH NATIONWIDE REPRESENTATION
When life is wonderful and things are going well, devastating incidents are far from your mind. Regrettably, one instant of distraction can take a driver’s attention off the road and they crash into you. Or products are faulty leading to dangerous accidents. Your cellphone catches on fire or a toy with lead paint makes your child deathly ill. Accident injuries create a level of pain that makes everyday activities difficult. Climbing steps becomes a challenge or walking a short distance leaves you out of breath. If someone else’s negligence caused an accident that left you with pain and injuries, get legal help. An experienced accident lawyer can help you get your life back on track.
When you work with the Law Office of Michael R. De La Paz, the only thing you have to worry about is recovering from your injuries. Mr. De La Paz will go to bat for you with the insurance companies and fight them in court to get you the compensation you deserve.What should you do if involved in a car or truck accident?
After a car or truck wreck, it’s likely that you could be in pain and feeling confused. Yet, you need to know what to do to protect your rights and your physical health. The following are important steps to take after a collision:
- It is crucial to stay at the scene of the accident. If you flee the scene, you could face criminal charges and a civil lawsuit. It is your responsibility to stay until you know the parties involved are okay.
- If there are injured parties and vehicle damages, call 911 for help.
- You should exchange the following information with other parties involved in the accident: name, phone numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance companies.
- If possible, take photos of the damaged vehicles, the road conditions and your injuries.
- Get medical attention for your injuries. You should see a doctor as soon as possible. If you wait to get medical attention, it can harm your case. Insurers may question the extent of harm or type of injury that you claim or say it is not accident-related.
- File a report with the police. In Texas you have 10 days to file an accident report, which is called a TxDOT crash report.
- If you suffered significant injury, seek legal advice from an experienced lawyer to protect your rights and help you recover compensation for damages.
Types of Injury Cases We Handle
Any number of factors can cause car accidents. Speeding, failure to yield the right of way, traffic violations such as running red lights or stop signs along with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol are factors. All are forms of negligence that can result in motor vehicle accidents. Thorough investigation can reveal which party was at fault. If you’re an injury victim due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation for damages.
A drunk driver or driver under the influence of drugs is liable for damages when drunk driving accidents occur. However, in addition to the drunk driver, other parties might also be liable, including:
- A restaurant, bar or store who sold alcohol to the drunk driver.
- A drunken driver’s employer. You have the right to sue the employer If while working, the drunken driver causes an accident.
- Social host providing alcohol to a non-related minor. .
As an industry, construction carries a high risk of injury and death and is one of the most dangerous types of work for employees. Often the contractor or building owner carries the liability when a construction worker dies or suffers serious injury. This is especially true when unsafe work conditions exist. Falls, stuck by moving equipment or vehicles, caught-in excavation or trenches and electrocution rank the highest for injuries in construction accidents.
The legal term for bringing a lawsuit involving dangerous products is called products liability. Manufacturers have a legal responsibility to produce safe products. When they manufacture dangerous products that harm people, they become subject to personal injury lawsuits. Examples of unsafe products are batteries that explode, whether in electric bikes, cars or phones. Children’s toys that contain toxic materials, such as lead paint are another example of an unsafe product. Defective parts in automobiles can be underlying causes of accidents. In addition, dangerous medical devices and harmful medications might result in injury and be subject to personal injury claims.
READ MORE
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops gradually. In fact, it can take as long as 20 years before symptoms become apparent. Unfortunately, there is no known cure, although treatment may help ease suffering and prolong an individual’s life. For decades, industries were aware about the effects of asbestos exposure. Yet, they did little to warn or protect their workers. As a result, they have been held accountable in lawsuits to recover compensation for injury. READ MORE
Any number of factors can cause car crashes. Speeding, failure to yield the right of way, traffic violations such as running red lights or stop signs along with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol are factors. All are forms of negligence that can result in motor vehicle accidents. Thorough investigation can reveal which party was at fault. If you’re an injury victim due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation for damages.
A drunk driver or driver under the influence of drugs is liable for damages when drunk driving accidents occur. However, in addition to the drunk driver, other parties might also be liable, including:
- A restaurant, bar or store who sold alcohol to the drunk driver.
- A drunken driver’s employer. You have the right to sue the employer If while working, the drunken driver causes an accident.
- Social host providing alcohol to a non-related minor. .
As an industry, construction carries a high risk of injury and death and is one of the most dangerous types of work for employees. Often the contractor or building owner carries the liability when a construction worker dies or suffers serious injury. This is especially true when unsafe work conditions exist. Falls, stuck by moving equipment or vehicles, caught-in excavation or trenches and electrocution rank the highest for injuries in construction accidents.
The legal term for bringing a lawsuit involving dangerous products is called products liability. Manufacturers have a legal responsibility to produce safe products. When they manufacture dangerous products that harm people, they become subject to personal injury lawsuits. Examples of unsafe products are batteries that explode, whether in electric bikes, cars or phones. Children’s toys that contain toxic materials, such as lead paint are another example of an unsafe product. Defective parts in automobiles can be underlying causes of accidents. In addition, dangerous medical devices and harmful medications might result in injury and be subject to personal injury claims.
READ MORE
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops gradually. In fact, it can take as long as 20 years before symptoms become apparent. Unfortunately, there is no known cure, although treatment may help ease suffering and prolong an individual’s life. For decades, industries were aware about the effects of asbestos exposure. Yet, they did little to warn or protect their workers. As a result, they have been held accountable in lawsuits to recover compensation for injury. READ MORE
You’ve got
somebody on your side
When you’re badly hurt it’s easy to feel that you are in the fight alone. However, at the Law Office of Michael R. De La Paz, you are a valued client who is given individual attention and the personalized legal help you deserve. Mr. De La Paz tailors your case to your circumstances and individual needs. So you can concentrate on regaining your health, while we focus on winning your case.
What are the advantages of
using an attorney?
Accidents are traumatic experiences, especially when they result in injury. Typically, injury causes pain and hardship. In addition, the type of injury can vary in extreme from fractured bones to permanent disability. On top of injury, economic losses such as lost wages, expensive medical bills and other costs can be devastating.
Victims of serious injury are in no shape to face an accident case alone. However, you don’t have to deal with injury by yourself. An experienced accident lawyer can determine who was negligent, prove the other party was at fault and protect your rights.
More About Negligence
What role does negligence play in injury cases?
In an injury case, you can hold the person responsible who was at fault for causing the accident. Their insurance company would have to pay for the damages you experienced due to injury. Negligence is a word you hear lawyers say a lot. It refers to a failure to provide the level of care a reasonable person would provide under the same circumstances. Examples of reasonable levels of care include following traffic laws such as adhering to speed limits, stopping at red lights and stop signs. A driver who fails to do so is negligent. When their negligence causes an accident, the legal system can make them pay the expenses you incurred due to the accident.
Gathering Evidence of Negligence
To prove negligence, law firms use various approaches to gather evidence in an accident case. They may speak with witnesses, consult police reports and visit the accident scene.
They can also work with recognized experts, such as:
- Accident reconstruction specialists
- Skid mark analysts
- Surveyors
An accident reconstruction specialist can use computer simulations to reconstruct the circumstances of the wreck.
If your own negligence contributed to the accident, your attorney can assess how much you were at fault and to what extent other parties were at fault.
Examples of Negligence that Could Have Caused a Wreck
Country roads and intersections are common locations for accidents. When drivers don’t follow the rules of the road or make bad judgment calls, they can cause accidents. Examples of negligence include:
- Speeding
- Failure to stop at a light or stop sign
- Tailgating
- Lack of attention to driving
- Texting
- Drunk driving
- Illegal turns
- Unsafe lane change
- Failure to abide by traffic laws
- Poor weather conditions
- Unmaintained roads resulting in dangerous hazards
- Defective auto parts
Steps in Proving Negligence
To recover compensation, your attorney must prove the other driver’s or party’s negligence. The following steps are involved with proving negligence:
- Show that the other person had a duty of care—in other words, they must provide a reasonable level of safety
- Show that the person breached their duty of care
- Prove that the breach caused your injuries
- Prove as a result of your injuries, you suffered damages
Once an attorney establishes that negligence occurred, you have the right to recover compensation based on the extent of damages.
FAQs
Questions about pursuing a personal injury case
We handle personal injury cases nationwide. If you’ve been injured in an accident in an area near San Antonio, Austin or Houston, we also can help with your case. Unless you’re trained in the law, the legal system is full of procedures that you may not be aware of and legal terms you may not understand. You probably have lots of questions. The following are questions people frequently ask about accident injuries:
1. How long do you have to file a personal injury claim in Texas?
From the date of your accident, you have two years to file a personal injury claim in Texas. This limitation has a legal name, which is statute of limitations. Most states have the same or a similar statute of limitations for injury cases.
2. Do you have a case if you were partly at fault for causing the accident?
As long as you weren’t more than 50% at fault for causing the accident, you can have the legal right to pursue a personal injury case. This is also true in most states.
3. What should you do if an insurance adjuster calls to speak with you?
If you are considering a personal injury case, you should refer the adjuster to your lawyer. Insurance companies are looking to cut their expenses to increase profits. By providing information, you could unwittingly harm your case. To protect your rights, your attorney can handle all communications with the insurance company for you.
4. While injured, how do you pay your medical expenses?
You can cover your bills using health insurance. Or, if you have Personal Injury Protection (PPI) coverage for a motor vehicle accident, you can pay costs through it. Once your case is settled, insurers have the right to be imbursed through the compensation recovered. In addition, if you don’t have insurance, some doctors and hospitals will treat you through an agreement that the settlement will pay them. Your attorney can help you arrange this and tell you which doctors work with him in this manner.
See More FAQs
Compensation for a Car Accident
There are a number of damages that might result through a car accident whether in Texas or some other location in the U.S. They include economic and non-economic damages.
Texas car accident lawyer near me (210) 225-HURT (4878) or (800) 634-8553
Types of Economic Damages for Car Accidents
You might be able to recover compensation for:
- Current medical expenses. Ambulance, emergency room, hospitalization, diagnostic procedures, surgery, doctor visits, prescriptions, physical therapy, home health care, etc.
- Future medical expenses. Rehabilitation, recurring treatments, checkups, etc.
- Lost earnings. Wages you lost due to injury.
- Lost future earnings. If permanent disability results in lost earning capacity, you can seek compensation to cover the damage.
- Loss of property. Damage to a motor vehicle, for example.
Types of Non-Economic Damages for Car Accidents
You might be able to recover compensation for:
- Pain and suffering. As a result of an accident, people often experience pain and suffering. This includes immediately after the accident but may also be long lasting.
- Mental anguish. A traumatic accident can leave emotional scars.
- Loss of consortium. A loss of companionship between the injury victim and their family.
- Loss of enjoyment of life. A negative effect on daily life and the victim’s ability to socialize.
Auto accidents differ from one to the next and so do the recoverable damages. Your attorney can help you determine what types of damages apply to your case.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are a less frequent type of damage that courts sometimes award. The purpose in awarding such damages is to punish the negligent party for extremely dangerous behavior. Awarding punitive damages also sets a precedent that acts as a deterrent to others so they do not behave in a similar manner. An example of a circumstances for awarding punitive damages might be for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
What types of compensation can you recover in a wrongful death lawsuit?
Types of compensation you might be able to recover include:
- ·Hospital bills
- Prescription medication costs
- Other medical expenses
- Funeral expenses
- Lost income or other financial support
- The value of household services
- The survivors’ mental pain and anguish
- Lost companionship, comfort, love and society
- Any lost savings or inheritance
How is personal injury compensation paid?
There are two ways in which you can receive compensation:
- Lump sum. You receive a check for the full amount of compensation determined through settlement or verdict.
- Multiple payments. There is a payment schedule and you receive multiple payments based on the way the schedule is structured. The advantage in receiving compensation this way is it can help you supplement your income. It can also prevent spending the compensation all at once.
CALL (210) 225-HURT (4878) OR (800) 645-8553. Arrange a free consultation to evaluate your case.
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Latest News
News and Other Valuable Information About Injury Accidents
Information about how the law works along with relevant news about accidents and how they’re caused can be helpful for injury victims. You can get a sense of the types of accidents that may be subject to the legal process. You can also see how certain aspects of the law protect your rights. For this reason, we provide new articles every month. Our most recent articles are featured below. See our blog page for more articles.
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The Injury Claim Process
The personal injury claim process follows a legal procedure outlined in the court system. Understanding how the process works can assist you in participating in the process. What’s more, doing so might help your case. In addition, it can dispel some of the mystery about what to expect, which helps relieve some of the stress and confusion often associated with injury accidents. It’s reassuring just knowing there is a standard process that many injury victims have taken part in to successfully recover compensation. During the injury claim process, your lawyer will handle matters on your behalf by conducting an investigation, sending legal notices, filing paperwork with the court and taking other actions.
What does an experienced lawyer do to prepare your case?
There are actions an experienced takes when handling a case. These are actions you are not trained to do. For this reason, it is invaluable to rely on an experienced attorney. An attorney will do the following to prepare your case:
- Investigate the circumstances of your accident
- Gather vital evidence to prove fault
- Conduct negotiations with the insurance company
- Send demand letters
- Prepare case pleadings
- Engage in discovery
- If necessary, take your case to trial
Handling the Complicated Aspects of Your Case
Not all cases resolve in a routine manner. Some involve complicated issues like the following:
- Contesting or denying your claim. The negligent party’s insurance company may argue that you don’t have a claim, stating that their party wasn’t negligent. Or, they may try to minimize the severity of your injuries. They could assert that a gap in your medical care treatment was the reason for the severity of your injuries. Insurance companies use a variety of tactics in an attempt to reduce compensation for damages.
- Offering lowball settlements. The insurance company’s settlement offer might be too low to cover your medical expenses and other losses. This might even occur with your own insurance provider. Injury victims often do not recognize this is happening. However, an experienced accident attorney does and can provide valuable guidance.
- Arguing you were at fault. Because Texas courts only award damages when the other party is more than 50 percent at fault, insurance companies may try to shift the majority of the blame to you. While you might have had a smaller percentage of the fault, they may try to assign you a false percentage of greater than 50% liability.
- Multiple parties involved. More than one driver or party might be at fault for the accident. For example, in addition to negligent drivers, unsafe road conditions could make a municipality responsible. Your attorney can ensure you seek compensation from all responsible parties, and do not leave potential compensation on the table.
At the Law Office of Michael De La Paz, we deal with the insurance companies, protect your rights, and handle all legal matters for you.
Don’t go it alone—talk to a
personal injury lawyer
If you’ve been seriously hurt or have lost a loved one, because of another’s negligence or recklessness, get legal advice as soon as possible. Call us at (210) 225-HURT (4878) or toll free (800) 645-8553 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation at our San Antonio office today. If you are unable to travel, we can come to your home or hospital to discuss your case. Se habla español.
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