Representing Victims of Car Accidents caused by Negligence
Accidents of all kinds cause hundreds of thousands of injuries each year and are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. In 2007, more than 41,000 people died in 37,248 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the U.S., and more than two million were injured. There are four major factors that contribute to vehicle accidents. They are, in ascending order, mechanical issues, road design and maintenance, road condition, and poor driver performance. The latter is, of course, the most significant, and 95% of all accidents involving motor vehicles include poor driver performance in tandem with one of the other three. It is no surprise that automobile accident claims are the most common type of personal injury cases seen today.
Statistics give you the numbers, but they can’t tell you the stories of the people involved in car accidents: their daily struggles to overcome their injuries, the pain they experience, the stress on them and their families, and the strain on their finances.
The attorneys at Ross Law Group are here to help you with experienced, effective representation in car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, boat, bicycle and auto-pedestrian accidents. Our law firm has years of experience representing Texas accident victims just like you get the best recovery possible for you and your family.
There are many reasons to contact an Austin, Texas, personal injury attorney right away to represent you in a serious injury case.
- First, it is likely that immediately following the accident you will begin to receive calls and letters from the liable party’s insurance carrier asking for recorded statements, authorizations for the release of your medical information, and other information. What you do and say at this critical time could affect the strength of your case. It is always better to have the advice of an attorney from the beginning.
- Second, dealing with a traumatic injury takes a toll on your daily life. Our strategy from day one is to focus on your case, so you can focus on your recovery.
- Third, there are Statutes of Limitations that apply to personal injury cases. If you wait too long to take action, you will lose any right you may have to recover from liable parties.
Studies have shown that up to 80% of drivers involved in traffic accidents believe someone else is at fault and 5% take responsibility for their actions, while the other 15% present varied combined responses. Proving liability is often easier said than done. Investigating the circumstances under which the accident occurred and proving who was at fault is the most critical aspect of your personal injury case. When there is a fight over liability, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side. Evaluation of police reports, witness statements, examination of the scene, the vehicles involved, and accident reconstruction are tools we can use to help prove your case.
While distractions can cause accidents - cell phones, eating or drinking, tuning the radio, applying make-up - the biggest cause of vehicle accidents is speeding. Police reports show that the following factors cause the most accidents, and all of them are under the driver's control:
- Speeding
- Unsafe or too-frequent lane changing
- Not using turn signals
- Tailgating
- Not yielding the right of way
- Ignoring traffic signals
- Driving while impaired by alcohol or chemicals.
Law enforcement officers are also generally quick to remind us that the chance of a motor vehicle accident increases by 50% once the sun goes down.
When you are injured in a car wreck because of someone else’s negligence, it is important to learn what your rights are and what remedies may be available to you. Contact the experienced Texas personal injury attorneys at Ross Law Group, who know how to evaluate the legal liabilities of all of the parties involved and help you achieve the maximum recovery available from each liable party.
Many injuries can result from a car accident. One of the most common is soft tissue injury, sometimes called “whiplash” when it affects your neck and shoulders, which commonly happens when a person is rear-ended. Other injuries may include bruises and contusions, especially from restraint systems like seatbelts and airbags, shoulder injuries, knee injuries, foot injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury. It is important to always seek medical attention right away.
Besides the injury, the injured party must also establish, through credible and relevant evidence, that the at-fault party is legally responsible for his or her injuries. Proof of causation must be both in terms of actual causation and proximate (legal) causation. Actual causation is determined by literal cause and effect. Whether legal causation is established depends on the facts and circumstances of the particular matter in question.
The losses that an injured person can seek compensation for are called “damages.” A person who is injured in an accident caused by the negligence of another can seek compensation for damages including past and future medical expenses, lost wages in the past, loss of future earning capacity, physical and emotional pain and suffering, and disfigurement. Contact our experienced Austin, Texas, personal injury attorneys for an assessment of damages from your accident.
Ross Law Group provides a review of the earnings history of every personal injury client for the past three years, with an emphasis on making sure that all wages due to you under the FLSA were paid. This provides essential information for proving your lost wages, and if we discover that you have been underpaid, we can assist you with a wage claim.
Another factor that is important in managing your legal case arising from an injury is the insurance that is involved. There may be avenues of recovery that you are unaware of or haven’t considered. On the other hand, if your health insurance, or workers compensation insurance provided by your employer, has paid for medical treatment, the carrier usually has the right to demand reimbursement from your monetary recovery from the liable parties. If you have underinsured motorist coverage for protection in the event that the liable party’s insurance coverage is insufficient to compensate you for your damages, you may have to obtain the permission of your insurance carrier to settle with the liable party or lose your right to recover from your own insurance.
Medical providers may file liens for the costs incurred for medical care arising for treatment of the injury. An experienced personal injury attorney will help negotiate with the medical providers to try to reduce their charges and enable you to get the maximum benefit from your recovery.
Injured people often ask, “How much is the settlement in a car accident case?” Even the most experienced personal injury lawyer cannot give you an easy answer to that question. Many factors affect the settlement value of a personal injury case.
The practical answer is that your settlement in a personal injury case is dependant on the amount of money available from the party of parties who are liable for your injury and from your own insurance coverage. Within the total amounts that may exist from which to demand compensation, the settlement value of your case depends on your ability to prove liability, causation, and damages. Ross Law Group’s experienced personal injury attorneys have the knowledge and skill to investigate, prepare, present, negotiate, and try your case to try to obtain the maximum recovery you are entitled to receive. When Defendants know that you have an experienced attorney who is ready to take your case to trial, they are usually more open to serious negotiations. Contact us today for a free personal injury consultation.
The attorneys at Ross Law Group are here for you and if you are unable to visit one of our offices because of your injuries, we are happy to visit you in the hospital or at home. We are committed to providing excellent client service. Contact us today to make an appointment for a hospital or home visit.
If you are finding it emotionally difficult to deal with your injuries from a motor vehicle accident, please seek help. It is normal for you to find it difficult to deal with the changes in your body and your life, and anger and depression are common reactions. Counseling, and perhaps medication for depression, can help. Tell your doctor how you are feeling.
Things to Do if you are in a Car Accident:
- Call the police to file a report
- Immediately seek medical attention (if necessary)
- Take pictures of the scene if possible and get contact information from any witnesses
- Get the other driver’s license and insurance information
- Do not give statements to anyone until you have spoken to an attorney and learned about your rights
You can rely on Ross Law Group for effective representation and personal client service in all types of personal injury cases. To learn if we can be of assistance to you, please contact an Austin accident lawyer today for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win compensation for you.
Please tell us about your case:
Motor Vehicle Questionnaire
Other Personal Injury Questionnaire
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is general in nature and does not constitute legal or medical advice. If you have a matter that has a deadline and requires an urgent response please call us immediately at 1-800-634-8042 or 512-474-7677. Please be aware that sending an instant message or e-mail and/or receipt of a response does not create an Attorney-Client relationship or constitute the formation of a contract. No obligation is created on the part of the sender or the recipient. A contract of representation can only be created by signature of an Attorney-Client Agreement.
