Car accidents are stressful events. And in their aftermath, you may be reeling from medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and other unexpected costs. If you were injured in an accident in Alice, TX caused by someone else’s negligence or carelessness, you may be able to recover compensation to help with these expenses and more.
The personal injury claim process can be daunting, but speaking with an attorney in Alice, Texas, can help. An Alice car accident attorney can guide you through the legal process and level the playing field between you and the insurance company.
Contact our office at (956) 529-7336 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Alice car accident lawyer from Roderick C. Lopez Personal Injury Lawyers.
How Roderick C. Lopez Car Accident Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in Alice, TX
Roderick C. Lopez has 25 years of experience in personal injury law and has recovered over $30 million in compensation for his clients.
His exemplary work on behalf of his clients has earned him the following recognitions:
- Avvo – 9.4 rating – Top Attorney
- Avvo – Clients’ Choice Award
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Member of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys
When you hire our firm, we’ll work for you to receive the best possible outcome in your case.
Our Alice car accident attorney we’ll take the following specific steps:
- Listen to your story of the accident
- Investigate the accident further
- Track down witnesses and collect their statements
- Identify the at-fault party
- Gather evidence to support your case
- Assess the extent of your damages
- Hire expert witnesses, if needed, to bolster your claims
- Contact the insurance company on your behalf to negotiate a settlement
- Take your case to court if a favorable settlement can’t be reached
To learn more about how we can help you, contact our experienced Alice car accident lawyer today.
How Common Are Car Accidents in Alice, TX?
In Texas, 244,092 people were injured in a motor vehicle accident in 2022. Based on this information, one person was injured in a crash every two minutes and nine seconds. Of those, 15,299 were serious injury crashes in Texas, resulting in over 18,000 serious injuries.
Nationwide, it’s estimated that over six million car accidents occur per year.
What Is My Car Accident Case Worth?
While the worth of cases may vary, many case values depend on the following crucial factors:
- The severity of injuries
- Property damage repair and replacement estimates
- Insurance policy limits
- Medical treatment required
- Time missed from work
- Strength of evidence
A skilled car accident attorney can help you determine the value of your case and fight for all available damages.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Car Accident Victims in Alice?
Car accident victims can seek compensation for their losses in the form of damages. These damages can be divided into two primary categories: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the financial costs of an accident. They include things like past and future medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, loss of earning potential, and transportation costs.
Economic damages are fairly straightforward to calculate because they are usually based on specific, documentable transactions. However, some economic damages–such as future medical expenses or loss of earning potential–can be more complicated. An experienced Alice car accident will assess your damages and fight for you to receive full compensation for your losses.
Non-economic Damages
Non-economic damages are the emotional, psychological, or intangible costs of an accident. They may include things like pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of companionship by a loved one, and diminished quality of life.
Given their subjective nature, non-economic damages can be harder to calculate and prove than economic damages. Your attorney may suggest hiring an expert witness to support your claims if you’ve incurred non-economic damages.
Our experienced Alice car accident attorney will review your case and explain which damages you may be able to recover.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Alice?
Car accident lawyers, like other lawyers, generally work for a contingency fee. This type of fee is only earned if the attorney successfully recovers compensation for the client. Often, a contingency fee is calculated as a percentage of the client’s monetary award.
Contingency fees have several benefits for car accident victims. You don’t have to pay any attorney’s fees upfront, so anyone can access legal representation, regardless of their financial circumstances. Likewise, the attorney only gets paid if you do, so you won’t be caught with a high attorney’s fee bill if your case fails.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Car Accident in Alice?
In some car accidents, both parties share some responsibility. Further, it’s not unusual for the at-fault party to assert in defense that the other driver was to blame. Fortunately, if you’re being blamed for a car accident, you may still be able to recover compensation.
According to Texas law, a personal injury plaintiff cannot recover compensation if their percentage of responsibility in the accident is greater than 50%. If you are 50% or less at fault, your compensation will be reduced proportionally to your degree of responsibility.
Imagine that you are involved in an accident when someone runs a red light and rear-ends your car. If you were making a turn without properly using your turn signal, you may be assigned some blame. If your damages totaled $50,000 and you were 10% at fault, you could recover up to $45,000 (90%) of your damages.
What Causes Most Car Accidents in Alice, TX?
The most common cause of car accidents in Texas and nationwide is driver error, including:
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Aggressive or reckless driving
- Failing to obey traffic signals
- Improper lane changes
- Speeding
- Driving while drowsy
Car accidents may also be caused by circumstances outside a driver’s control, such as extreme weather, dangerous road conditions, or faulty vehicle repairs or parts.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Car Accident in Alice, TX?
If your case proceeds to filing a lawsuit, you will need to prove that the defendant was negligent. Basically, to act negligently means failing to act reasonably under the circumstances.
To prove negligence in Alice, TX, you must prove each of the following four elements:
Duty of Care
A duty of care is a legal obligation one has to adhere to a certain standard of care with regard to the safety of others. Generally, one must act reasonably under the circumstances and exercise ordinary care and caution.
For example, one has a duty to drive the way a reasonable person would in the same circumstances. This includes obeying traffic signals.
Breach
To show that the defendant breached or violated their duty of care, you must usually show that they acted unreasonably under the circumstances. For example, a reasonable driver would obey traffic signals and not run red lights.
Damages
You must show that you suffered injuries or other losses due to the defendant’s actions.
Causation
Finally, you must establish that the defendant was both the actual and proximate cause of your injuries. The “actual cause” means that the accident or injury would not have occurred without the defendant’s actions. The “proximate cause” means that your injuries were reasonably foreseeable results of the defendant’s actions.
To win, you will need to prove each of these elements “by a preponderance of the evidence.” A preponderance means a majority. Thus, you must present evidence that convinces the jury that it is more likely than not that the defendant was negligent.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident in Texas?
You have two years after a car accident to file a lawsuit in Texas. This deadline for filing your case is known as the statute of limitations, and it’s crucial that you are aware of it. If your case is not filed on time, you won’t be able to bring your case and you may be hindered in pursuing compensation.
Most car accident cases will settle before a lawsuit is filed. However, it can be an important tool if the insurance company refuses to make a reasonable settlement offer.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
There are several steps you should take immediately after a car accident in Texas:
- If you can safely do so, move your vehicle out of traffic.
- If you were injured or the other driver fled, contact the police.
- Exchange information with the other driver.
- Take pictures of the vehicles and the surrounding scene.
- Take down the contact information of any witnesses.
- Write down your memory and details of the car accident.
- Seek medical attention.
- Report the accident to your insurance company. Keep this brief. You don’t need to describe the details of the accident. Once you hire an attorney, they can communicate with the insurance company on your behalf.
- Contact an experienced Alice car accident lawyer.
You may need to take other steps depending on the circumstances of your case. Contact a seasoned car accident lawyer if you aren’t sure what to do next.
Contact Our Alice Car Accident Lawyers Today to Schedule a Free Case Review
If you were injured in a car accident in Alice, TX, you may be able to recover compensation to help pay for your injuries and other losses. Being in a car accident is stressful, but hiring the right attorney doesn’t have to be.
Contact our office to speak with our experienced Alice car accident lawyer about your case today at (956) 529-7336. Your initial consultation is free of charge.
