Texas Car Accident Lawyer
Frequently Asked Questions
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Car Accidents
Texas Car Accident LawyerGet a Free Consultation
Have you been hurt in a car wreck in Texas?
The roads and highways in Texas are legendary and well traveled. And as more people move to the Lone Star state, our roads become busier and even more congested. More cars, more vehicles, unfortunately, result in more accidents. Many causing serious, life-changing injuries or even death for people who were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. And often, many of these accidents could have been prevented.
Frequently Asked Questions about Personal Injury
FAQs about handling personal injury in areas near San Antonio, Austin and Houston or nationwide in states such as Florida, Illinois, New Mexico or Oklahoma
Unless you have been in an accident and suffered injury, you probably have no idea how a personal injury case in Texas works. It’s common for people to have questions. To insure you have the right information, we’ve provided some answers to frequently asked questions. Doing the right thing can help prevent harming your chances for recovery. In fact, the right actions can help your case.
The following questions link to answers below:
- How long do you have to file a personal injury claim in Texas?
- Do you have a case if you were partly at fault for causing the accident?
- What should you do if an insurance adjuster calls to speak with you?
- While injured, how do you pay your medical expenses?
- Do you need a lawyer to handle your personal injury claim?
- What damages do personal injury cases often involve?
- Why is keeping doctor’s appointments vital for a personal injury claim?
- What is your case worth?
- Will you have to go to trial?
- How long do cases take to settle?
- How will you pay my lawyer for handling my case?
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, Florida, Illinois and Oklahoma.
You have three years to file in New Mexico.
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 pursue a personal injury case. This is also true in most states.
If you are considering a personal injury case, you should refer the adjuster to your lawyer. Insurance companies are looking to cut their expenses toincrease their profits. By providing information, you could unwittingly harm your case.
4. While injured, how do you pay your medical expenses?
You will 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 haveinsurance, some doctors and hospitals will treat you through an agreement that the settlement will pay them. Your
attorney can help you with this.
5. Do you need a lawyer to handle your personal injury claim?
It depends. If your accident was minor, such as a rear-end accident where the other driver was clearly at fault and there wasn’t much
damage and youweren’t injured, then you could probably handle the accident with the insurance company on your own. However, if you
suffered significant injury and had to miss work, you should speak with an attorney. In addition, if the factors involved were complicated or
out of the ordinary, get legal advice. Also, ifthe other driver is accusing you of being at fault and you believe you weren’t, you would need a
lawyer.
6. What damages do personal injury cases often involve?
Damages that a personal injury case would cover often include:
- Medical bills
- Hospitalization
- Long term care costs
- Lost wages
- Vehicle damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental or emotional pain and anguish
- Disfigurement
7. Why is keeping doctor’s appointments vital for a personal injury claim?
Medical records are evidence that support your claim. They show how much bodily damage the accident caused, the pain and suffering
involved and can help prove who was at fault.
8. What is your case worth?
How much your case is worth depends on the extent of damages, such as your physical injuries, the mental and emotional damage,
property damages (to your car in an accident), lost wages and other related costs. Also, it depends on how much at fault the other party
was. Your attorney will do a thorough investigation to determine what you case is worth. He may be able to give you an estimate based
on other similar cases, but there is no certainty or promise that he can make for predicting the actual recovery of compensation.
9. Will you have to go to trial?
Most personal cases settle outside of court. However, when facts are disputed, a trial may become necessary. Even so, at any point during
the trial, both sides can negotiate and reach a settlement
10. How long do cases take to settle?
How long it will take to settle your case depends on a number of factors. Generally, the more serious the injuries, the longer the case takes
to settle. Your attorney wants to ensure you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), which means no further treatment
is prescribed. Not waiting for MMIruns the risk of not recovering enough compensation to cover treatment. If your case is complicated or
who was at fault is unclear, it could take longer to resolve the case.
11. How will you pay your lawyer for handling your case?
Attorneys take cases on a contingency fee basis. You owe no money out-of-pocket. When attorneys win your case in court or through
settlement, theyreceive a percentage of the proceeds.
Do you have more questions?
Our injury claim process page explains how personal injury cases work. If you have other questions, give us a call at (210) 225-HURT (4878). Or contact us online.
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,
Florida, Illinois and Oklahoma.
You have three years to file in
New Mexico.
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 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 their profits.
By providing information, you could
unwittingly harm your case.
4. While injured, how do
you pay your medical
expenses?
You will 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
with this.
5. Do you need a lawyer to
handle your personal injury
claim?
It depends. If your accident was
minor, such as a rear-end accident
where the other driver was clearly at
fault and there wasn’t much damage
and you weren’t injured, then you
could probably handle the accident
with the insurance company on your
own. However, if you suffered
significant injury and had to miss
work, you should speak with an
attorney. In addition, if the factors
involved were complicated or out of
the ordinary, get legal advice. Also, if
the other driver is accusing you of
being at fault and you believe you
weren’t, you would need a lawyer.
6. What damages do
personal injury cases often
involve?
Damages that a personal injury case
would cover often include:
- Medical bills
- Hospitalization
- Long term care costs
- Lost wages
- Vehicle damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental or emotional pain and anguish
- Disfigurement
7. Why is keeping
doctor’s appointments
vital for a personal injury
claim?
Medical records are evidence that
support your claim. They show how
much bodily damage the accident
caused, the pain and suffering
involved and can help prove who was
at fault.
8. What is your case worth?
How much your case is worth
depends on the extent of damages,
such as your physical injuries, the
mental and emotional damage,
property damages (to your car in an
accident), lost wages and other
related costs. Also, it depends on
how much at fault the other party
was. Your attorney will do a thorough
investigation to determine what your
case is worth. He may be able to give
you an estimate based other similar
cases, but there is no certainty or
promise that he can make for
predicting the actual recovery of
compensation.
  9. Will you have to go to
trial?
Most personal cases settle
outside of court. However, when
facts are disputed, a trial may
become necessary. Even so, at
any point during the trial, both
sides can negotiate and reach a
settlement.
10. How long do cases
take to settle?
How long it will take to settle your
case depends on a number of factors.
Generally, the more serious the
injuries, the longer the case takes to
settle. Your attorney wants to ensure
you have reached maximum medical
improvement (MMI), which means no
further treatment is prescribed. Not
waiting for MMI runs the risk of not
recovering enough compensation to
cover treatment. If your case is
complicated or who was at fault is
unclear, it could take longer to resolve
the case.
11. How will you pay your
lawyer for handling your
case?
Attorneys take cases on a contingency
fee basis. You owe no money
out-of-pocket. When attorneys win
your case in court or through
settlement, they receive a percentage
of the proceeds.
Do you have more questions?
Our injury claim process page explains how personal injury cases work. If you have other questions, give us a call at (210) 225-HURT (4878). Or contact us online.
Law Office of
Michael R. De La Paz
Contact Us
1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 360
San Antonio, TX 78213
Office: 210-225-HURT (4878)
Toll free: 800-645-8553
Schedule a Free Consultation
Law Office of
Michael R. De La Paz
Contact Us
1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 360
San Antonio, TX 78213
Office: 210-225-HURT (4878)
Toll free: 800-645-8553