Serious car accident injuries can turn your entire life upside down. From lost wages to medical bills, it may seem like there is no other way to get out from underneath mounting bills, making it tempting to accept a low settlement from the insurance company. Do not let their high-pressure tactics intimidate you; get legal advice from a Texas personal injury lawyer.
Wawi Tijerina Law will hold them accountable for your rights while demanding a full and fair settlement under state law. You may have more options than you realize. Start getting answers today with a free consultation by calling or texting (956) 489-1300.
Why Clients Choose Wawi Tijerina Law
We understand that choosing an attorney is a significant decision. It can also be a challenging one to make. Our Texas car accidents lawyer has the results and experience that speak for themselves, including client feedback over the years.
Clients say that they choose the Law Office of Wawi Tijerina for our:
- In-depth knowledge: We know the intricacies of codes and statutes with years of experience handling car accident injury cases, including familiarity with insurance company tactics.
- Client communications: Our Texas car accident lawyer will explain your rights in plain language, keeping you involved. We are also strong negotiators and effective courtroom presenters.
- Compassion service: Ms. Tijerina understands the difficulties of recovering from car accident injuries. Her legal team will support you throughout your recovery while promptly helping you decide on issues.
In addition to our client-focused services, our legal team also takes car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This term means you pay us nothing upfront to represent your case, meaning we do not get paid until you win.
Types of Car Accidents Common In Texas
The Texas roadways are an eclectic mix of rural routes along many terrain types and bustling urban meccas with congested traffic and confusing intersections. These various road and traffic conditions result in a wide range of car accidents that are unfortunately common in Texas. Car accidents frequently seen in Texas car accident claims include the following:
- Angle collisions such as T-bone accidents: these collisions typically occur in intersections when a driver fails to yield the right of way or intentionally runs a red light
- Rear-end collisions: a rear-end accident often happens due to tailgating (following too closely), distracted driving, or brake failure
- Head-on collisions: a head-on collision happens when a driver departs from their lane into oncoming traffic or enters a one-way street or divided highway in the wrong direction
- Sideswipes: a sideswipe often occurs from unsafe lane changes or improper merging
- Collisions with obstacles: this may happen due to distracted driving, speeding, or obtrusive road construction debris
- Roadway departures: when a vehicle leaves a roadway at full speed due to a variety of causes
- Rollover accidents: vehicle rollovers are more common in accidents involving pickup trucks, SUVs, vans, and commercial trucks
Depending on the cause and type of accident, injuries in Texas car accidents range from mild, inconvenient injuries with minor pain, a single emergency room bill, and a few days of lost pay to catastrophic injuries with adverse life-altering effects on the injury victim and their family.
Types of Injuries In Texas Car Accidents
The crash force of an accident is more powerful than most people imagine. According to expert crash force calculations, a 125-pound person becomes a 5,625-pound force in a collision at 45 miles per hour. This force propels them forward against the seatbelt and then snaps them back against the seat, causing massive physical trauma, often while the structures of the vehicle collapse inward as well, causing additional injuries. While seatbelts and airbags inarguably save lives, they cannot prevent all injuries. Common injuries in Texas car accident claims include the following:
- Head injuries/traumatic brain injuries
- Fractures, including of the limbs, hips, ribs, and pelvis
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Soft-tissue injuries to shoulders, knees, wrists, and ankles
- Facial trauma
- Internal organ injury/internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Lacerations, abrasions, and contusions
In the worst-case scenario, car accident injuries can be fatal. If your loved one suffered fatal injuries in a car accident, a Texas wrongful death attorney from Wawi Tijerina Law can help close family members recover compensation for their losses and a voice for justice.
Proving Liability After a Car Accident In Texas
Under the state’s modified comparative negligence insurance system, the injury victim has the burden of proving the at-fault party’s liability by showing the following:
- The at-fault party owed a duty of reasonable care to others on the road including the injury victim
- They breached this duty through negligence
- Their breach of duty to take reasonable actions directly caused the injury
- The injury victim suffered damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering from the injury
A negligent, reckless, or intoxicated driver is most commonly liable for damages in Texas car accident claims. Less frequently, other parties are liable or contribute fault to accidents. For example, other liable parties sometimes include the manufacturer of a defective car part, a negligent road maintenance crew, or a city road planning agency that designed a confusing intersection or failed to place adequate signage.
Injured in a Texas Car Crash? We Will Help
The element of negligence plays a crucial role in determining the outcome of a car accident injury claim against another driver. In Texas, you must prove that the other driver acted unlawfully, causing your accident injuries. This endeavor is a challenging undertaking without the guidance of a Texas car accident lawyer.
Wawi Tijerina Law represents people injured negligently by another driver’s negligence, including:
- Distracted driving
- Intoxicated driving
- Reckless driving
- Traffic violations
- Illegal maneuvers
- Improper licensing
- Other acts of negligence
It is essential to know that our state also follows a modified comparative negligence rule per Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001. This rule states that you can still recover a percentage of damages even if you are somewhat at fault. However, you are unable to recover any damages if you are 51 percent or more at fault.
Insurers Use Tactics That Reduce Their Liability
Did you know that insurance companies will reduce your settlement if they can find a way to do so? This strategy can have negative consequences. It is critical to recognize their tactics so that you do not get less than you deserve.
Here are three common ways that insurers reduce settlements legally:
Tactic #1. Low Settlement Amounts
Insurers reach out to injury victims soon after the accident while still recovering. They will pressure you to take a lower settlement offer before they take the time to understand the true extent of your injuries and losses.
Tactic #2. Claim Delays and Denials
Insurers deploy several negotiation tactics to delay or deny claims. Essentially, they hope you will give up and give in to a lesser amount. Do not take the bait; discuss any settlement offers with an attorney first. Once you sign the settlement agreement and claims release, you cannot ask for additional compensation in the future if you discover that your injuries are more severe than previously thought.
Tactic #3. Overstating Proportionate Responsibility
Insurers may also attempt to shift more liability onto you even if the other driver was at fault. They will argue that you caused the accident or that your injuries were not as severe as your doctor claimed, for example.
Avoid Their Tactics with Our Texas Car Accidents Lawyer
It can feel like insurance companies hold the power position when negotiating an injury settlement. Start putting the power back on your side with answers and options. Schedule a free consultation with the Texas car accident lawyer at Wawi Tijerina Law by calling or texting (956) 489-1300 or sending us a private message. If you were instead involved in a truck accident, contact a Texas truck accident attorney today for financial compensation.
Our Experienced Legal Team Will Fight for Fair Compensation
Getting the results our clients deserve takes time, resources, and tenacity. That is why our Texas car accidents lawyer takes a multi-faceted approach when pursuing client objectives, including:
Evidence Preservation
Wawi Tijerina Law will investigate your accident and preserve admissible evidence, such as accident police reports, witness statements, photos, and videos. If necessary, we will also work with expert witnesses to establish liability while working with your physician to assess the full extent of your injuries and their long-term impact.
Settlement Strategies
Our legal team will develop a solid legal strategy so that you get the outcome you want and deserve. We will also evaluate the value of your damages, including:
- Current/future medical costs
- Current/future lost wages
- Property damage reimbursement
- Physical pain and suffering
- Other recoverable losses
Ms. Tijerina will use her findings in demand letters and proposed legal pleadings. Opposing counsel will know you mean business if you decide to hire our legal team.
Meeting Client Objectives
Our objectives are your objectives when negotiating or litigating a civil award. We will pursue all available routes for compensation, including insurance and potential third-party liability claims. Wawi Tijerina Law will review your case from numerous angles and hold liable parties accountable where the law allows.
Trial Readiness
If the insurer refuses to reach a fair settlement and you want to do it, our Texas car accident lawyer will file a civil petition and take your claim to trial. We will assertively represent your side of the story in court, present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and deliver persuasive arguments.
Your Free Consultation Is Just One Call Away
You do not have to fight this legal battle alone. Wawi Tijerina Law is ready to help you get answers and move toward physical and financial recovery. Call (956) 489-1300 or message us online to schedule your free consultation with our Texas car accident lawyer today.