How Do You Know When to Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm?
According to statistics from Texas Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Facts, about 239,539 individuals were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes statewide in 2021. When an accident occurs, victims are often confused about the next steps to take and how to seek damages for their injuries. Even though you are entitled to file your claims on your own, you should still consider reaching out to a reputable personal injury law firm to guide you through the legal procedures involved.
At Ellis & Thomas, PLLC, we enjoy giving support, and skilled guidance to accident victims in their injury claims. Our caring Texas personal injury attorneys can carefully evaluate every last detail of your personal situation, explore your available options to seek damages, and help you pursue the fair financial compensation you may be entitled to. We're proud to serve clients across Houston, Montgomery County, and Harris County, Texas.
Common Personal Injuries
Personal injury is a legal term used for any injury to a person's body, mind, reputation, or emotions caused by someone else's negligence, carelessness, wrongful acts, or misconduct. Some common examples of personal injuries are as follows:
Motor vehicle accidents
Dog bites and other animal attacks
Motorcycle accidents
Boating accidents
Slip and fall accident
Dram shop liability
Pedestrian accidents.
Medical malpractice
Premises liability
Uber/Lyft accident
Defamation – libel and slander
Burn injuries
Workplace accidents
Dental accidents
Assault, battery, and other intentional torts
Product liability
Repetitive strain injury
Wrongful death
If you or someone you know has suffered a personal injury from another person's negligent actions, you need to speak with a trusted Texas personal injury attorney straight away. Your lawyer can help protect your best interests, file your injury claims, and seek the financial justice you deserve.
Knowing When to Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm
There are various steps involved in the personal injury claims process. As such, many accident victims are often uninformed about what to do or how to file their claims. If you were hurt in a negligent accident, here are some vital reasons to contact a personal injury law firm:
Fault State vs. No-Fault
Seeking damages in a fault state often require identifying the at-fault party, proving negligence, and holding the responsible party liable. Conversely, victims in a no-fault state can turn to their own insurance company (PIP coverage) to recover damages – up to the coverage limit – regardless of the at-fault party.
Texas is an at-fault state. This means that the person who caused your injury or accident (the at-fault party) will be held liable for your medical bills, property damages, and other accident-related losses. To recover damages, you can proceed by:
Filing a claim with your own insurance carrier.
Filing a third-party claim with the at-fault party's insurer.
Filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party in civil court.
A highly-skilled Texas personal injury attorney can assess every aspect of your case, help prove fault and establish liability, and guide you through the claims process.
Proof of Negligence Isn't Easy
As mentioned earlier, you must prove negligence and establish liability to recover damages in an at-fault state like Texas. This requires showing that:
The at-fault party owed you a legal duty of care.
The at-fault party breached their expected duty of care by acting negligently.
The at-fault party's negligence or breach caused your injury.
You sustained bodily injury, actual harm, damages, or losses due to the negligent actions.
Generally, proving negligent is never easy. A seasoned lawyer can help you gather the documentation and evidence you need to prove negligence and establish liability in your claims.
You Suffered Serious Injuries
In addition, if your injuries are serious, you need to act quickly and reach out to a practiced attorney to help protect your rights. In most cases, severe and catastrophic injuries need ongoing or future medical care, treatments, surgery, or therapy to help the patient recover.
Also, do not negotiate or accept the settlement offer of the insurance carrier until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) or full recovery. The MMI is the stage at which your condition cannot improve any further. Your personal injury attorney will be able to assess the extent of your injuries and losses and help you recover the maximum possible compensation for your damages.
You Don't Know Your Options
Additionally, you may be confused about the next steps to take after the accident or injury and your available legal options to seek compensation. Your attorney can review the facts of your case and determine whether to file an injury claim or lawsuit against the at-fault party.
Dealing with Insurance
Lastly, dealing with the insurance provider or claims adjuster is never easy. The insurer can deny, undervalue, or unnecessarily delay your injury claims using bad faith tactics. Likewise, the insurance adjuster can take your words out of context, interpret your statement incorrectly, or ask conflicting questions to create inconsistencies in your answers. Thankfully, a strategic lawyer can help protect your best interests and can deal with both the insurance provider and claims specialist intelligently.
Skilled Legal Guidance
When involved in an accident, reaching out to a personal injury law firm or hiring a highly-skilled personal injury attorney can make a significant difference in your claims. At Ellis & Thomas, PLLC, we have the diligence and expertise to help you hold those responsible for your injuries and damages accountable. Our skilled lawyers can fight compassionately to protect your rights and help you pursue your deserved financial compensation.
Contact us at Ellis & Thomas, PLLC, today to arrange a case evaluation with experienced personal injury attorneys. Our legal team can direct you through the complex injury claims processes and help protect your best interests. We're proud to serve clients across Houston, Montgomery County, Brazoria County, Fort Bend County, and Harris County, Texas.