Car accidents can happen anywhere and at any time. Knowing what to do immediately after a crash can be critical for both your safety and your legal rights. The steps you take can help to prevent further injuries, and if you have already suffered harm, you can act promptly to address your injuries. However, there is more to this than just looking out for your safety.
At Lone Star Injury Attorneys, we understand too well how important it is for injured victims to get modern medical care for their injuries. But sadly, not everyone has access to quality treatment due to a lack of finances. This is where our skilled car accident lawyers come in. We help victims like you seek compensation in Friendswood car accident cases.
Generally, anyone injured in an accident caused by someone else has a right to sue for damages. However, there’s confusion on who can do this if the injured party is rendered incapable to do so. If you are severely injured and cannot pursue justice on your own, your relative(s) can spearhead this process on your behalf with the help of a knowledgeable lawyer.
In case someone is killed, the deceased’s estate or any other legally appointed party may act on the family’s behalf. But because litigating a wrongful death is traumatizing and adds additional complications to the injury claim, such cases are often handled by compassionate and aggressive wrongful death attorneys from our firm. Our focus will be on building a strong car accident case and fighting for full compensation on your behalf.
Personal injury laws allow injured victims to recover compensation for their injuries and damages. Sustaining an injury doesn’t guarantee compensation. You need to prove that the defendant was negligent; that they breached their duty of care towards you and caused you harm. According to personal injury law, the third and fourth elements of negligence are:
These losses can be economic or non-economic. Economic damages cover losses to which a monetary value can be easily attached. In other words, they have tangible proof such as bills and receipts. They include:
On the other hand, non-economic damages account for emotions and psychological trauma that injured victims go through. There is no measure of what these damages amount to, but your attorney may work with existing data to calculate a fair value. They include:
Loss of consortium and parenthood only applies if someone was killed, and is often brought up in a wrongful death claim. On top of these damages, you may also qualify for punitive damages in the right circumstances. The amount payable to you as compensation is set by the judge or jury presiding over your vehicle collision case, and it’s only available through a court process.
One of the most popular ways of getting monetary compensation out of a car accident claim is through negotiations with insurance companies. Generally, an insurance adjuster may make an initial offer a few days after reporting the accident. But it’s important not to jump at the first offer; this offer is often not a true reflection of the settlement you are entitled to.
Insurance companies understand how desperate injured victims are for money, and therefore take advantage of this to offer them lowball settlements. Having an aggressive car accident attorney works magic. The insurance companies know this too, and that’s why they will call you directly before you think of retaining an attorney in Friendswood. The brighter side about settling with insurance companies is that the process is fast and easy compared to the court process.
If negotiations fail, your lawyer takes matters a step further by filing a petition in court. Typically, the court process is longer and more complex compared to negotiations, however it is often the only solution to get full justice. Your attorney will handle all these processes on your behalf.
At trial a judge or jury will listen to arguments from your attorney and the defense counsel, then proceed to value the amount of damages you’ve sustained as a result of the car accident. One key advantage of proceeding to trial is that you get a judge or jury of your peers to value the compensation for your injuries and damages, instead of the insurance company.
Determining whether you qualify for compensation in a Friendswood car accident case can be challenging. The only sure way to know what legal action to undertake is by talking to a lawyer. The attorneys at our firm will review the details of your case and advise you on the best action to take. Call us today for a free consultation.
