Amarillo, TX Car Accident Lawyer
After a devastating car accident at dangerous intersections like I-40 and Coulter, you expect the liable party to do the right thing. But holding them, their insurer, or your own insurance company accountable can feel impossible. You know that your health and financial recovery should be a priority. Unfortunately, many individuals in your position have to sue for their damages. Insurance companies frequently look for any opportunity to save money, even if at your expense.
If you aren’t getting the type of service or compensation you know you deserve, working with car accident attorneys in Amarillo is crucial. At Texas Car Crash Attorney Group, our personal injury trial lawyers have the skill and litigation skills necessary to get your claim taken seriously. Our legal team helps level the playing field at the negotiation table and in the courtroom. With decades of experience that West Texas families depend on, we have made it our mission to go the distance for fair and just compensation.
What Are the Most Common Causes of car accidents in Amarillo, TX?
While every accident results from several factors leading up to the event, negligence is frequently the cause. This is why I-40 experiences regularly catastrophic car accidents, which were primarily preventable.
Distracted Drivers
Drivers have many distractions on the road, but taking their eyes off the road often has deadly consequences. All it takes is a quick glance at a text message while driving, and a life-altering car accident occurs.
Aggressive Driving
Morning and afternoon commutes are some of the worst on I-40 in Amarillo, TX. This can lead to triggered tempers and dangerous maneuvering. Making excessive lane changes, tailgating, and failing to yield frequently cause crashes that lead to debilitating injuries.
Driving Tired
Whether it was an 18-wheeler that struck you or someone commuting home from the office, fatigue behind the wheel is serious. Dozing off to sleep or fighting to focus on the road ahead jeopardizes the lives of everyone involved if an accident happens as a result.
Drunk Driving
Texas law makes it clear that driving while intoxicated can be charged as a crime if one’s blood alcohol content (BAC) is over 0.08%. The impairment caused by alcohol poses a real threat to anyone deciding to drive while drunk. This negligent behavior takes the lives of local residents every year on Amarillo roadways.
Can I Still Drive My Vehicle After a Car Accident in Amarillo, TX?
While it may be tempting to continue using your vehicle to get back and forth to work after a car accident, this can be dangerous. It may even lead to an accident where you would be at fault! At Texas Car Crash Attorney Group, we understand how important it is to have transportation. Losing a shared family car is especially devastating, but the risks outweigh the benefit of continuing to use it.
If you need transportation to continue care for your car accident injuries, state insurance requirements require personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. These policies cover the cost of your accident-related medical and many of the costs associated with such treatments. This includes transportation costs to and from appointments.
If possible, you should try to find a way to repair your damaged vehicle at a local automotive shop like Roy’s Unlimited on Glenn Street or Chauncey’s Automotive nearby on Paramount Boulevard. Make sure you get an estimate from several places before deciding who will fix it, and keep all receipts for later reimbursement. Trying to drive a damaged vehicle could also land you in trouble with local law enforcement if important features aren’t functioning.
Is There a Time Limit to File a Claim with My Insurance After an Amarillo Car Accident?
Texas law has a 2-year statute of limitations on most personal injury claims related to car accidents. This period starts on the day the accident occurred and once expired, you can’t file a damage claim. There are some minor exceptions to this deadline, but only in cases of wrongful death or state employees being at fault.
To get the most up-to-date information about Texas civil suit deadlines, you should speak with a knowledgeable car accident attorney. Even if you believe the time is up, consulting with a lawyer about your situation is best before giving up on a compensation case.
What Factors the Value of My Car Accident Claim?
Even though Texas is an at-fault insurance state for car accidents, you have to prove the other driver is responsible. On top of that requirement, you still are not guaranteed to get the amount of compensation you want. Your case can be affected by a combination of factors, including:
Where the Fault Lies
In Texas, determining fault can be complicated. State law uses a modified comparative negligence approach in personal injury suits. This means that you can be partially responsible for your own injuries and receive a reduced award. In some cases, if you are 51% or more liable, you are barred from pursuing compensation altogether. Insurance companies rely on this to help deflect some of the blame to save money.
The Severity of Your Injuries
The value of a car accident injury claim can increase or decrease with the severity of your sustained injuries. However, this doesn’t mean that minor injuries won’t be compensated fairly. Whether you suffered whiplash or a spinal cord injury, you deserve a full and fair award.
Medical Treatment
Car insurers look for any reason to question and delegitimize accident injuries. Delaying or skipping medical treatment is such an opportunity they look for to cast doubt on your claim. If you didn’t get examined until a few weeks after the initial crash, you could expect the severity of your injuries to be questioned.
This is why you should always seek prompt medical attention immediately after a car accident. It doesn’t matter if you think you are okay. Sometimes, conditions can show up later or are masked by the adrenaline high you experience after a traumatic event. No matter how minor they might seem, always report any possible injuries or symptoms right after an accident, and, once you start a course of treatment, stick with it.
What You Said About the Accident
It’s natural for us to share our car accident experiences with those we love, coworkers, friends, neighbors, and Facebook friends. It’s therapeutic and helps you process what took place. Unfortunately, whether on a recorded line with an adjuster or in a social media post, statements you make can be used against you later.
Saying things like you are “okay” or “fine” could be construed to mean you didn’t suffer any injuries. You and your car accident attorney know this isn’t what you meant, but it will be hard to take back. This is why you shouldn’t discuss the accident with the insurance company or others until after you consult with a seasoned lawyer. They can advise you on what you should or shouldn’t say to avoid it coming to haunt you at trial later.
If You Suffered a Disability, Disfigurement, or Impairment
Amarillo car accident claims increase in value when an injured party sustains severe injuries leading to a disability, disfigurement, or other impairment. This could be paralysis, brain damage, amputation of a limb, and even severe burns and scars. The expense of treating these conditions along with the long-term care required makes compensation values rise.
Impairments that interfere with a victim’s ability to work will add lost income to your damage claim based on lifetime values. Any pain and suffering associated with these conditions will also contribute to your compensation claim, including anguish of a mental nature.
Economic Damage Totals
Economic damages are an integral part of any car accident personal injury case in Amarillo, TX. These damages have a dollar value, like:
- Medical bills
- Financial losses
- Personal care expenses
- Lost wages
This total can impact your pain and suffering damages, as well. Often, car insurers will use a multiplier method to put a monetary value on this type of non-economic compensation.
The Insurance Company You’re Dealing With
Like any business, some car insurance corporations are more straightforward to negotiate with than others. Regardless of their policies, they have the same goal of saving as much money as possible on your case. Unfortunately, some of these companies use manipulative tactics to accomplish this goal, known as bad faith practices.
This is why you need to hire car accident attorneys that will go to court, if necessary. These law firms will build a solid case to prove the liability and fault of the responsible parties involved. We at Texas Car Crash Attorney Group start preparing your claim for the courtroom on day one through careful documentation of your losses and gathering evidence. Taking this approach forces insurers to take your demand seriously and value your claim fairly.
How Much Insurance Coverage is Available for Your Claim
Texas insurance laws require residents to carry a minimum insurance liability of $30,000 for injuries to a single person. This amount doubles to $60,000 when there is more than one person hurt. In personal injury claims where your damages surpass the negligent driver’s policy limits, you may be forced to sue them directly.
You might be able to avoid this complicated process if your insurer provided you with underinsured motorist coverage. This policy type is not automatic and often requires purchase when you sign up with an insurer. You would need to file another claim with your carrier to access these benefits, and they still may fight you on it.
The Skill of Your Car Accident Attorney
A law firm’s reputation often precedes it with Insurance companies. Some law practices are personal injury mills, meaning they only focus on settling and not always for a fair value. Attorneys that work here are in the business of processing as many claims as quickly as possible to earn a profit.
If your car accident lawyer refuses to go to court and pushes for a settlement that seems unfair, contact Texas Car Crash Attorney Group right away. We are trial lawyers first and foremost, with over 600 trials under our name. We want to go to court and advocate for the best possible compensation verdict for your suffering.
Should I Accept a Settlement from the Insurance Company?
This is a common question we receive from our clients at Texas Car Crash Attorney Group. It’s not uncommon for a car insurance company to send you an initial offer quickly. These are usually low in value and don’t account for all the damages you suffered now and possibly in the future.
To know if your offer adequately covers the scope of your injuries and losses, you should speak with seasoned car accident attorneys. Our Amarillo law office offers a free initial consultation to review your case and suggest what type of compensation you should demand. Our decades of experience in trial law have honed our ability to assess and negotiate these matters, if possible. Still, we are ready and willing to take your case before a jury to ensure you get the best compensation award because that is what matters most.
Amarillo Car Accident Attorneys That Will Go to Trial
Severe car accidents leave Amarillo, TX, residents injured and unable to work every year. The long-term impact of the harm caused by a negligent driver is unfair, and accountability is critical in these matters. Texas Car Crash Attorney Group is a law practice with a unique skill set you can’t find at other quality law practices in West Texas. As trial lawyers, we understand how insurers and at-fault drivers minimize or fight compensating your damages. This is why we insist on treating your car accident claim as if it will go to trial.
Whether it does or not, we become your fiercest advocates and will not simply wait for suitable offers to be made. You deserve to heal and recover from this tragic experience with the best support available. As your personal injury trial lawyers, we don’t get paid until you do, and we never settle for anything less than what you deserve.
Contact us 24/7 to set up a free consultation and learn how our aggressive compensation strategies can help you on the road to recovery sooner.
