Car accidents can be a terrifying experience, especially when they result in serious injuries. The recovery from a car accident involves financial recovery as well as physical recovery, but taking on the challenges of a complex car accident claim in Laredo while simultaneously dealing with painful injuries can be overwhelming. Instead of allowing the insurance company to take advantage of your vulnerability after the trauma of a car wreck or accident, call a personal injury attorney in Laredo at Wawi Tijerina Law for the results you need to move forward from your injuries in the best way possible.
Call or text us at (956) 489-1300 to get started today.
Let Wawi Tijerina Law Handle Your Car Accident Claim
For more than 20 years, the law office of Wawi Tijerina has been advocating for clients injured in car accidents in Laredo and the surrounding area. As a previous civil servant for underserved communities, founding attorney Wawi Tijerina calls helping others “her passion.” Our Laredo car accident lawyers offer the following advantages:
- A track record of success with over 400 cases concluded in the past five years
- A deep familiarity with Texas traffic laws and the state’s comparison negligence insurance system for recovering compensation
- With a winning combination of experience and empathy, we take a results-oriented approach to achieve the maximum available compensation for every client
- We accommodate and welcome Spanish-speaking car accident victims regardless of their migrant status
- Lead attorney, Wawi Tijerina, talks directly to her clients with open communication so they are never in the dark about the progress of their cases
We never charge upfront fees to injury victims. Instead, we offer free case consultations and use a contingency-based payment system so our Loredo car accident victims pay nothing until after we obtain their settlement or win their jury award for damages in court.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Texas Car Accident Claim?
Because car accidents often cause serious injuries, the economic damages can feel overwhelming at the same time that the car accident victim is dealing with the pain and suffering of their injuries. Common damages crash victims recover in car accident claims include the following:
- Property damage to a vehicle
- Medical expenses and hospital bills
- Future medical care costs
- Lost wages
- Future income loss
- Diminished earning capacity due to disability
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Compensation for other applicable non-economic damages like loss of vision or hearing, disfigurement, loss of limb, diminished quality of life, or PTSD
Although financial compensation cannot erase pain and suffering and other non-economic damages, these are the most devastating aspects of car accident injuries to victims. Your attorney from Wawi Tijerina Law will carefully calculate your economic and non-economic car accident damages to maximize the compensation available to you in your claim.
If the car accident was fatal, do not hesitate to call a wrongful death attorney in Laredo to get justice for your loved one today.
Car Accident Statistics in Texas
Texas sees car accidents in both urban and rural areas and on every terrain type. Driver error is the most common cause of car accidents, including failing to yield the right of way, speeding, distracted driving, and other negligent actions. The following statistics highlight Texas car accidents in 2023:
- Texas saw 15,219 serious motor vehicle accidents in 2023
- There were 4,283 traffic accident fatalities in Texas
- 250,335 motorists suffered auto accidents injuries in Texas during 2023
- 52.84% of Texas car accidents happen in rural areas while 1,120 car accident deaths occurred in intersections
Sadly, there were no deathless days on Texas roadways in 2023.
What Is Comparison Negligence in Texas Car Accident Claims?
Although drivers bear liability in most car accident claims, some car accidents are caused by a roadway hazard or a defective auto part. When one or more parties contribute to the cause of the accident, an investigation determines each party’s percentage of fault under the state’s comparison negligence insurance laws. This system allows car accident victims to recover compensation even if they are partly at fault for the accident as long as their fault doesn’t exceed that of the other driver. Texas Sec 33.001 states the following:
“a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent.”
If your car accident damages claim is for $100,000 but the insurance company decides that you contributed 25% of the fault because you were exceeding the speed limit when the accident occurred, you’d recover $75,000. Unfortunately, this may incentivize an insurance company to assign you an undue percentage of fault. A car accident lawyer defending your best interests is an invaluable aspect of a successful claim.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer in Laredo Help My Texas Accident Claim?
Insurance companies are never in a hurry to write out large compensation checks to car accident victims in Texas. It often takes assertive action from an experienced car accident lawyer to vigorously pursue action on the insurance claim. An attorney seeks the maximum compensation available to a client through all avenues, such as a direct claim against an at-fault driver’s insurance or lawsuits against third parties that may have contributed to the accident; for instance, a negligent road maintenance agency or the manufacturer of a defective car part or airbag.
Your attorney will do the following on your behalf after your auto accident:
- Handle all communication with the insurance company to protect against common tactics they use against injury victims
- Thoroughly investigate all aspects of the accident to prove the at-fault party’s liability
- Carefully calculate your damages to get the most out of your car accident claim
- Send a well-executed demand package to the appropriate insurance company—or companies if there are additional liable parties
- Negotiate with the insurance company for the largest possible settlement
- Represent your interests in court if the insurance company fails to offer an ample settlement
Insurance companies assign adjusters to investigate accidents, but their loyalties are to protect the company’s profits—at your expense. Having an experienced attorney protecting your best interests is the best way to move forward on your claim.
Proving Liability In Laredo Car Accident Claims
A car accident attorney makes the most compelling case for compensation possible by investigating the accident and documenting evidence. They examine the police report, talk to eyewitnesses, and consult with accident reconstruction specialists. Proving the at-fault driver’s liability requires showing the following:
- That the at-fault party owed a duty of care to others on the road
- They breached this duty through an act of negligence
- Their negligent breach of duty directly caused the accident
- The accident victim suffered serious economic and non-economic damages from the accident like medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering
The injury victim becomes the defendant in the case, with the burden of proving the at-fault party’s liability through a preponderance of the evidence. A skilled car accident lawyer in Laredo has the resources and in-depth knowledge necessary to present clear and concise evidence of liability and an accurate list of damages to maximize the claim.
What to Do to Protect Yourself After a Texas Car Accident
After a serious car accident, the injured victims may be so badly harmed that they cannot take purposeful action, especially if they are unconscious or incapacitated by their injury. However, if an injury victim or an uninjured companion can use a cell phone, taking the following steps will help protect their physical and financial future:
- First, call 911 to report the accident and request the police and emergency services
- Apply any reasonable first aid and comfort to injury victims
- While waiting for emergency services, use the phone’s camera to take photos of the accident scene, the damaged vehicles, and any visible injuries
- Add the contact information of the other driver or drivers
- Add the contact information of eyewitnesses to the accident
Always go directly to the hospital after a car accident, either with the ambulance or by making arrangements for transportation if you feel your injuries are minor. Ask for a thorough medical examination with a detailed medical report listing your injuries, the doctor’s treatment recommendation, and your prognosis for recovery.
Common Insurance Company Tactics to Avoid During a Car Accident Claim In Texas
Documenting evidence at the accident scene, hiring a skilled attorney, and directing all communication with the insurance company to your car accident lawyer are important steps to help counteract common tactics insurance companies use to deny, delay, or dispute claims. An injured car accident survivor has to be wary of the following common methods an insurance carrier may use against them during the claims process:
- They might reach out very soon after the accident with a settlement offer—typically this happens before an injury victim knows the full extent of their damages and is a low-ball settlement offer for far less than the full amount available to the injury victim
- The insurance adjuster may attempt to assign the injury victim an undue percentage of fault for the accident to reduce the amount they have to pay out on the claim
- Insurance adjusters often call on recorded lines, take the injury victim’s words out of context, and use them against them later
- An insurance adjuster could follow the injury victim on social media to “catch” them looking more physically fit than they claim to be, even if they were smiling through their pain for the photo
- They often ask the injury victim to sign a medical authorization to inspect the injury report but the document is actually a blanket authorization that allows them access to the entire medical history so they can find a pre-existing condition or previous accident they can claim as responsible for the injury victim’s symptoms
- They may claim that the doctor’s recommended treatment isn’t necessary for the injury
- They sometimes state that the injuries cannot be serious because the car wasn’t totaled in the accident
When an injury victim hires an experienced attorney, it protects them against the common tactics above so they have the best possible chance of gaining the full compensation available to them.
What Types of Car Accidents Happen in Laredo?
Distracted driving, failing to follow traffic laws, intoxicated driving, tailgating, and unsafe lane changes all contribute to car accidents in Laredo and throughout Texas. Common types of car accidents include the following:
- Rear-end collisions
- T-bone accidents (angle collisions or broadside accidents)
- Sideswipes
- Head-on collisions
- Roadway departures
- Rollover accidents
- Accidents between cars and large commercial trucks
- Multi-car pile ups
Car accident claims in Texas require a thorough investigation and documented evidence proving liability. Under the state’s modified comparison negligence system, a car accident injury victim must prove the at-fault driver’s negligence and liability to recover compensation from their insurance company. All of these types of car accidents can cause head injuries — a Laredo brain injury lawyer can get you the settlement you deserve.
Common Injuries in Laredo Car Accident Claims
A motorist weighing 130 pounds becomes a 7,150-pound force propelled forward and then snapped back against the seat in an accident at 55 miles per hour. Vehicle occupants suffer significant crash-force trauma, even when properly restrained. Often, this occurs at the same time that the car’s structure collapses inward at the point of impact causing further injuries. There are many types of serious car accident injuries that cause pain and suffering to victims and prevent a prompt return to work. Common car accident injuries in Laredo include the following;
- Traumatic brain injuries ranging from mild concussions to severe injuries with permanent impairment
- Broken bones
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Lacerations, bruises, and abrasions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Facial/dental trauma
- Burns
- Traumatic amputations
The attorneys at Wawi Tijerina Law spend one-on-one time with injury victims and their families, observing the traumatic impacts of serious car accident injuries. We have deep compassion for car accident victims. Our empathy for clients gives us a compelling voice when arguing for the highest possible settlement.
Do I Have to Go to Court for a Car Accident Claim In Texas?
Most car accident claims end with a settlement from the insurance company, especially when there is an attorney acting as a strong voice behind the claim. Only about five percent of car accident claims require litigation in court due to an insurance company’s wrongful denial, disputes, or delays. If your case requires a lawsuit, your attorney will file the petition within the statute of limitations and ensure that you are well-prepared for the court process. A trial takes longer than a settlement but often ends in a large jury award for damages.
What Is the Statute of Limitations For Car Accident Claims In Texas?
Texas allows injury victims up to two years after the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in court. If the injury victim is a minor, they have until up to two years after their 18th birthday. The court may extend the deadline for injury victims who are unconscious or incapacitated for some time after the accident, or if they have delayed discovery of injuries.
Call the Laredo Car Accident Lawyers at Wawi Tijerina Law
Car insurance companies are not on the victim’s side, despite their compassionate tones. They protect their profits at the expense of injury victims and use common tactics to delay, dispute, or deny claims or reach out quickly with low settlement offers before an injury victim knows the full scope of the damages they are facing. After a car accident, call the attorneys with the experience and deep compassion to get the results you need. At Wawi Tijerina Law, we are ready to take on your car accident case as if it were our own.
To get started today, fill out our contact form on this page or call us at (956) 489-130 to schedule your free consultation.