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Car Accident Information

Motor Vehicle Accidents – An Overview

If you are involved in a Texas car accident, and you feel that it was caused by the negligence of the other driver, then you may have cause for a lawsuit.

Negligence in Texas is determined to be a factor based on “proper lookout.”  This means that every driver on the road must observe all circumstances of driving to prevent an automobile accident.  The failure of a driver to pay attention to the road and other drivers can result in a car accident because of negligence. Generally, people who operate automobiles must exercise “reasonable care under the circumstances.” A failure to use reasonable care is considered negligence. A person who negligently operates a vehicle may be required to pay for harm to a person or property, caused by his or her negligence. The injured party, known as the plaintiff, is required to prove that the defendant was negligent, that the negligence caused the accident, and that the accident caused the plaintiff’s injuries.

You may need the help of a lawyer to prove that the other driver was negligent if you were involved in an automobile accident in Texas. This can be a complex issue, especially if the accident resulted in serious injury to you or a passenger in your vehicle. You also have to prove that you suffered bodily injury in the accident and if you choose to deal with the insurance company on your own, you may have difficulty receiving the compensation which you deserve.  Lawyers are more skilled at and are better equipped to sue for compensation in a car accident.

Practical Tip

Did you know that a study found that insurance companies pay higher settlements to injured people who use an attorney than those who do not?In 1999, the insurance industry performed a study to find out if people who had accident claims received more money in settlement by using an attorney than those people who settled on their own.  The study was performed by the Insurance Research Council, a non-profit organization that is supported by leading property and casualty insurance companies across the United States.  The mission of the IRC (IRCweb.org) is to advance the insurance industries on matters crucial to insurance companies.  The IRC found that people who used an attorney received, on average, 3 ½ times more money in settlement than those individuals who settled on their own.

Andrew Traub

The damages that you can sue for in a Texas car accident case include:

  1. Loss of income because you are unable to work, permanently or for some time
  2. Medical expenses
  3. Funeral expenses
  4. Non-economic compensation, such as for pain and suffering.

The court may reduce the amount of your claim if the other driver claims that you are also responsible for the car accident, which is why you need the services of an experienced auto accident lawyer.

Cases arising out of automobile accidents are by far the most common type of personal injury case in our court system today. This is not surprising, given that every 10 seconds, someone in the United States is involved in a car accident, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, do not hesitate to seek legal counsel from a personal injury attorney experienced in automobile accident cases to best protect your interests.

Contact Us

If you were involved in an accident in Texas, we’ll be happy to mail it to you (together with a host of other free stuff.) You can either email us, call us at (512) 343-2572, or request one of our free consumer guides.

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