Texas Personal Injury Attorneys Fight to Recover Maximum Compensation For Victims of Negligence
Most Texas citizens never imagined they could be the victim of a personal injury. However, everyday individuals suffer personal injuries that cause them to be unable to work and provide for their families, care for themselves, or participate in activities they used to enjoy. In many cases, accident victims are left with expensive medical bills and other injury-related costs they cannot pay.
Some common personal injuries in Texas include slip and fall accidents, car accidents, bed bug injuries, food poisoning, negligent security, and wrongful death. Unfortunately, many individuals mistakenly believe they can handle a personal injury claim on their own.
Texas has no law that states you must have an attorney to recover compensation; however, individuals who have an attorney, like those of RTRLAW, typically recover more money than those who do not have legal representation.
If you’ve suffered a personal injury due to another person’s negligence, RTRLAW has well-qualified attorneys to advocate for you. Our attorneys are passionately committed to fighting for our client’s rights and recovering the maximum compensation for their injuries.
Be sure to call RTRLAW in Texas today toll-free at 1-833-HIRE-RTR (1-833-447-3787) or our Texas number (972) 478-1801 if you’ve been harmed by another person’s negligence.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Texas Personal Injury Attorney?
After you have been injured in an accident caused by another person’s negligence, hiring a qualified personal injury attorney is in your best interest. RTRLAW’s personal injury legal team is dedicated to assisting clients in holding the responsible party accountable for their actions or inactions.
One of the most considerable advantages of having RTRLAW on your side is that insurers are more willing to negotiate when they know you have legal representation. So often, when personal injury victims attempt to handle their own claims, they quickly discover the insurance company is unwilling to budge on critical items that should be included in the settlement. However, when insurance providers realize the accident victim has a skilled attorney on their side, they are more willing to offer a settlement that meets the client’s needs.
Some of the other significant advantages of having RTRLAW represent you include:
- Experience evaluating claims: Our attorneys can thoroughly evaluate your claim so that you clearly understand what your claim is worth before dealing with the insurance company.
- Understanding of the legal system: RTRLAW personal injury attorneys understand the various legal complexities that accompany personal injury law and what procedures must be followed when pursuing a claim.
- Will act as your legal advocate with the insurance company: Many personal injury cases are settled out of court through negotiations between a personal injury attorney and the insurance company. Our legal team is fearless in dealing with insurers and their attorneys and will vigorously advocate on your behalf.
- Resources to investigate your claim: RTRLAW is a law firm with the financial and investigative resources necessary to build and strengthen your claim.
- Developing case strategies: Our legal team will thoroughly evaluate your case, its strengths, and weaknesses, and determine the best strategy going forward.
- Your best interests: Unlike the insurance companies, RTRLAW has your best interests at heart. We will work diligently to resolve your case so that you can recover a financial settlement to help you resume your life.
For a free, no-obligation case review, call RTRLAW today at 1-833-HIRE-RTR (1-833-447-3787) or (972) 478-1801 so that we can schedule a free consultation to discuss your case and explore your legal options.
How Does Texas Law Define Personal Injury?
Texas law defines personal injuries as accidents caused by another person’s negligence. However, Texas also has legal criteria that must be met to qualify as a personal injury for which a person can file a claim to recover damages.
Texas law stipulates that the victim has the burden of proof in personal injury cases. The victim, also referred to as the plaintiff, is the individual who claims they were harmed and is filing the claim. Therefore, the plaintiff must successfully prove the following legal elements through a preponderance of the evidence:
- The defendant owed the victim a duty of care
- The defendant breached the duty of care they owed to the plaintiff.
- The breach caused the victim to suffer an injury.
- The victim suffered damages as a result of the injury.
Under Texas law, it is not enough to simply be involved in an accident that was someone else’s fault. To recover any type of compensation, you must have also suffered damages due to the accident.
Understanding the complex nature of personal injury law in Texas can be challenging. However, an RTRLAW personal injury attorney can sit down and explain Texas personal injury laws and how we may be able to help you recover compensation for the injuries you have suffered.
What Should I Do if I Am Injured in an Accident?
If you’ve been injured in an accident, you may feel confused and uncertain about what to do next. However, there are specific steps you must take to protect your health and well-being. They include:
- If you’re injured in a business or someone else’s property, report the accident to the management or property owner. If you’ve been involved in a car accident, make sure to pull your vehicle safely to the side of the road so other traffic can get safely by. Do not leave the accident scene.
- If you have been seriously injured and require immediate medical treatment, call 911 to report the accident and request emergency medical responders to come to the accident scene.
- Depending on the extent of your injuries, document the accident scene by taking numerous photos and videos detailing the flooring, lighting, and other conditions present during the accident. For example, if you tripped on loose, broken, or missing stairs, or the handrail is missing, take pictures so the evidence can be preserved later.
- Gather information such as the name of the business, the manager on duty, and who owns the property. If you were involved in a car accident, be sure to try and get the other driver’s information, as well as any other parties that may have been involved. You can take pictures of their driver’s license, insurance information, and license plate to save time.
- Collect the contact information of any bystanders who may have witnessed the accident, including phone numbers and addresses.
Seek medical attention immediately. If the emergency medical responders advise you to go to the hospital, be sure to comply. In many cases, the insurance company will refuse to honor a claim if a medical professional does not examine the accident victim. - Request a copy of the police and medical reports. These reports will contain information that may prove invaluable should you need to file a lawsuit to recover compensation.
- Lastly, be sure to hire a well-qualified personal injury attorney like those of RTRLAW to handle your case. A personal injury attorney can review your case and advise you of the next steps you need to take.
It is essential that you follow the steps as outlined. Failure to do so could result in your claim being rejected, and you could lose your ability to recover the rightful damages owed to you.
RTRLAW can assist you after you’ve been injured and give you the guidance you need to protect your legal rights.
What Should I Do if I Believe I Am the Victim of Medical Malpractice?
Unfortunately, every year patients discover they have been the victim of medical malpractice. If you believe that you have been injured due to medical malpractice, just like with an accident, there are specific steps that you must take to protect your health and future ability to file a claim. These steps include:
- Seek medical care through a different provider. Your health and welfare should always be your top priority. Additionally, consult an attorney as to any legal issues that could arise from leaving the doctor you believed harmed you to go to another practice. In some instances, the at-fault physician may be able to use this against you.
- Keep track of all your medical records. Your medical records could be strong evidence that proves your case. Medical records include hospital bills, diagnostic tests, and prescriptions. You should also be sure to save all receipts for any expenses you paid due to your injuries.
- Keep a detailed journal of how your medical malpractice injury has affected your life. A journal recounting the money you have spent and the emotional and physical changes you have dealt with can help when it comes to the court awarding damages.
- Do not communicate with the liable party or their insurance company. Often the insurance companies who insure medical providers will try to settle out of court for a lower amount than the claim is actually worth.
- Consult with a Texas personal injury attorney like those of RTRLAW as soon as possible. Our legal team can review your case and determine your legal options.
Should I Speak With the Insurance Adjuster?
In many instances, an insurance adjuster will make contact with you almost immediately after the accident occurs. Often the insurance provider will try to offer injury victims a quick settlement. Many personal injury victims are tempted to accept the offer, especially if they have been unable to work.
However, these quick settlements rarely take into account the extent of the injuries the victim has suffered and the medical costs and other expenses they may have to pay in the future.
The insurance adjuster may ask you to consent to make a recorded statement detailing the facts and circumstances of the accident. However, you should be advised that insurance companies have the legal right to use your statement against you to avoid paying the claim or try to pay less than your claim is worth.
It is in your best interests to never speak with an insurance adjuster without having your attorney present. However, if you do need to speak with the adjuster, you should never admit partial or total responsibility for the accident. Additionally, you should never say,” I’m sorry,” to the other party or the insurance adjuster. If you do, your claim could be undervalued or denied.
RTRLAW’s attorneys can advise you on all aspects of a personal injury case, including what you should or should not say to an insurance adjuster. In addition, RTRLAW is familiar with insurance companies’ deceitful tactics to avoid large payouts.
RTRLAW is not afraid to stand up to the insurance company to protect your rights and help you recover the financial compensation you deserve.
Can I Obtain Compensation For My Lost Wages and Medical Bills?
Texas law allows personal injury victims to file compensation claims to recover compensatory damages. Compensatory damages include economic and non-economic damages. Compensatory damages are designed to make the plaintiff “whole” after being injured by negligence.
What Do Economic Damages Cover?
Economic damages, also called special damages, are designed to reimburse injury victims for the out-of-pocket expenses they have paid or may have to pay in the future due to being injured.
Some of the most commonly awarded economic damages awarded to personal injury victims include:
- Past, current, and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damages, if they apply to your situation.
One of the most pressing questions personal injury victims ask is whether or not they can receive compensation for other injury-related expenses such as physical therapy, rehabilitation, medical testing, ongoing specialized medical care, and prescription drugs.
RTRLAW personal injury attorneys have the training and skills to assess your medical needs and determine the amount and types of damages that are appropriate for your situation.
Additionally, suppose you or your loved one suffered catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries. In that case, you most likely will require expensive medical care for the rest of your life. This type of care is quite costly and can quickly throw a family into a financial crisis as they struggle to keep up and pay expenses. Furthermore, your injuries may require modifications to your home or vehicle to accommodate the need for a wheelchair.
Our attorneys have successfully negotiated settlements that provide for the injury victim’s needs and allow them to live life as comfortably as possible without worrying about the future.
How Do I Obtain Non-Economic Damages?
Non-economic damages are also called general damages and are granted to the injury victim to compensate them for the intangible losses they suffered as a result of their injuries. Because every personal injury case is unique, the amount and types of damages the injured party recovers will differ in every settlement.
Some of the most frequently awarded non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- Permanent disfigurement and scarring
The term “pain and suffering” is used frequently in personal injury cases, but some injury victims may not be entirely sure what it actually covers. Pain and suffering damages are meant to make amends to the victim for emotional, physical, or mental issues they were forced to deal with after being injured.
Some examples of pain and suffering include:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Embarrassment and humiliation
- Physical pain
If you still have questions about pain and suffering damages or non-economic damages in general, contact RTRLAW to schedule an appointment with one of our knowledgeable attorneys. Our attorneys will work hard to help you win a financial recovery that will sufficiently cover your expenses and help you have peace of mind knowing that your future is protected.
Does Texas Allow Personal Injury Victims to Recover Punitive Damages?
Texas law does allow individuals to recover punitive damages, also called exemplary damages. However, a plaintiff has to specifically ask for these damages. In addition, the victim must present clear and convincing evidence that the defendant is guilty of gross negligence, malice, or fraud that resulted in them being injured.
Unlike compensatory damages that are awarded to reimburse the injury victim, punitive damages are awarded to punish the wrongdoer and send a warning to others not to repeat the same type of behavior.
Texas law dictates that punitive damages may not exceed more than two times the amount of economic damages plus the amount equal to non-economic damages not to exceed $750,000 or $200,000, whichever is greater.
To see if you qualify to recover punitive damages in Texas, contact RTRLAW to schedule a free case review by calling 1-833-HIRE-RTR (1-833-447-3787) toll-free, seven days a week. 24 hours a day. You may also reach us by calling our Texas number at (972) 478-1801.
Is There a Statute of Limitations in Texas on How Long You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim?
Texas law allows injury victims up to two years from the date the accident occurred to file a claim against the responsible party or entity. The statute of limitations is the maximum amount of time a personal injury victim has to take legal action to recover compensation for the harm they have suffered.
If you miss the two-year deadline to file a claim, your case will most likely be thrown out of court, and you will miss any opportunity you may have had to recover compensation. Although two years may seem like a long time, it can quickly pass by. For this reason, if you have been injured in an accident caused by another person’s negligence, seek qualified legal representation immediately.
There are, however, exceptions to the statute of limitations if certain specific legal criteria exist. For example, if the injury victim is a minor, or in cases of medical malpractice, the injury is not reasonably discovered until a later date, the statute of limitations may be tolled. Tolling the statute of limitations means the clock is paused until later.
Additionally, if the personal injury case involves exposure to asbestos or silica, the case may also be tolled.
As stated above, personal injury cases that involve minors may be tolled until the minor reaches the legal age of 18. From that point, the clock starts running again, and the individual will then have up until their 20th birthday to file a claim. This law is set in place to help protect minors as they are not mature enough to make legal decisions for themselves.
If you have been injured, do not allow the statute of limitations to run out before filing a personal injury claim. RTRLAW attorneys can advise you of your right and assist you with promptly filing a personal injury claim.
Why is RTRLAW the Best Choice For My Legal Needs?
The attorneys of RTRLAW are passionately committed to helping personal injury victims in their time of need. We realize this is a time of great uncertainty in your life as you decide what to do to protect yourself and your family’s future.
Our attorneys will negotiate with the insurance companies to ensure that you are adequately compensated for your injuries and, if necessary, take your case to court. Our attorneys have extensive legal experience inside and outside the courtroom and know how to get results for our clients.
Our attorneys and investigators can also come to you, even if you are in the hospital or confined to home due to your injuries. We if choose to take your case, you will not pay anything upfront. RTRLAW works on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay NOTHING unless we win your case and win money for you.
Since our founding in 1988, RTRLAW has represented tens of thousands of clients and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars. Our attorneys fight hard to protect our client’s legal rights and get the compensation they deserve.
For more information or to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys, CHAT WITH US NOW, or contact us at our office in Garland, or call or text us 24 hours a day, seven days a week toll-free at 833-HIRE-RTR (1-833-447-3787) or our Texas number (972) 478-1801, or email [email protected].