Austin Personal Injury Lawyer

When an accident happens, your life can change overnight. Suddenly, you might find yourself dealing with growing medical bills, lingering injuries, and the emotional turmoil of knowing that you aren’t responsible for your injury.

Each year, Texans all across the state find themselves in similar situations: Their injuries are caused by the carelessness of someone else. Fortunately, a civil lawsuit might be able to provide economic relief. If you’ve been injured in an accident, an Austin personal injury lawyer can help you take your life back.

Understanding the Laws Related to Your Austin Personal Injury

A personal injury can be debilitating in more ways than one. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may need emergency medical treatment, surgery, or ongoing physical therapy sessions.

If you’ve been injured in an accident, however, you understand that your injuries go beyond physical harm. You might be dealing with emotional issues, including post-traumatic stress. It’s possible to experience emotional pain and suffering as you adapt to the aftermath of your injuries.

Finally, accidents can have a significant economic impact as well. Between mounting medical bills, lost wages, and the cost of litigation, personal injury-related expenses can pile on quickly.

The good news is that a personal injury lawsuit might be able to help. Filing a claim allows victims of another person’s carelessness to recover economic damages for their injuries.

In order to win your case, you must follow all legal procedures for filing a claim in Austin, Texas. Additionally, you must demonstrate that the at-fault party’s negligence caused your injury and led to actual damages. Although it’s possible to represent yourself, many people choose to retain the services of an Austin personal injury attorney to increase their chances of winning a maximum settlement.

Types of Personal Injury Lawsuits

A personal injury lawsuit refers to any civil dispute in which an injured party seeks to recover damages from the at-fault person or organization. As such, a personal injury lawyer can work on a variety of different cases, including the following common claims:

• Car accidents – Negligent driving is the culprit behind many car accidents. From distracted driving to excessive speeding, there is no shortage of ways another driver can put you in harm’s way. If you can prove it, you can make them pay.
• Truck accidents – Truck drivers are often overworked and can be liable to make a mistake. Unfortunately, truck accidents are rarely minor. An 18-wheeler can cause catastrophic loss of life or limb when colliding with a much smaller and lighter passenger vehicle. If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, know your rights.
• DWI accidents – Everyone knows that driving over the legal limit carries legal repercussions. But if you’re injured by a drunk driver, you can sue to recover damages to your vehicle or person. Unfortunately, these tragic accidents often require the assistance of a wrongful death attorney.
• Premises liability – Premises liability is the area of law describing the legal responsibility that the owner of an establishment has for the safety of people visiting their premises. Some of the cases that could fall under this category include dog bites, swimming pool accidents, and slip-and-falls at the local grocery store.
• Work accidents – Sometimes, a workplace accident can be caused by faulty equipment, exposure to dangerous or hazardous materials, or a lack of proper safety training. If you’ve been injured on the job, an Austin personal injury lawsuit is one way to hold your employer responsible for failing to provide a safe workplace environment.

Modified Comparative Negligence: What Does It Mean For My Austin Personal Injury Claim?

Another potential stumbling block is Texas’ laws on shared fault. In Austin and the rest of the state, the doctrine of modified comparative negligence means the total value of your claim can be reduced by the portion of the accident for which you are responsible.

For example, a judge or an insurance adjuster could determine that your own negligence behind the wheel makes you 20 percent responsible for your accident. That means that even if your damages are really worth $100,000, you lose 20 percent for your role in the accident, which leaves you with a take-home settlement of $80,000.

In a worst-case scenario, assuming more than half of the responsibility for the accident will bar you from collecting damages through a civil lawsuit.

For this reason, personal injury victims must build the strongest case possible, as the value of your potential settlement can be decreased proportionally by the negligence you are found to possess for the accident.

Negotiating a Fair Settlement for Your Austin Personal Injury with the Insurance Companies

Because Texas is a fault state, damages for your accident will likely be paid for by the at-fault party’s insurance company. It’s also likely that the insurance company, in an effort to reduce the costs of a lengthy court battle, will attempt to settle your case out of court.

Most people would be wise to have an Austin personal injury attorney examine any pretrial settlement from an insurer before they accept any such agreement. For starters, insurance adjusters are normally authorized to propose only a percentage of your claim’s true value. This is especially important if you opt for self-representation, as insurance companies view cases without lawyers as less serious.

Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer is the best to signal to the insurance company that you mean business—and that you will settle for nothing less than a maximum settlement.