Getting hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence is a nightmare. You’re likely coping with medical bills, lost income, and a lot of pain. It’s understandable to want to know what you can do to get back on track financially, and a McAllen, TX personal injury lawyer at the Almaraz Law Firm can offer insight and help.
Two Main Types of Damages
Personal injury compensation falls broadly into two categories:
Economic or Special Damages
These are the easy-to-prove financial losses related to your injury. It includes things like medical expenses for past, present, and future expenses related to the accident. Your economic damages also include any lost wages and reduced earning potential. You should also get damages for any property damage you sustained, as well as for any out-of-pocket costs related to your recovery. All these are usually pretty easy to quantify with receipts.
Non-Economic or General Damages
Non-economic damages are less concrete. These aim to acknowledge the real impact your injuries have on your life beyond just finances, but there are two issues in calculating them. First, the courts recognize that no amount of money can actually make something like emotional distress “right” in the same way as money can make your economic damages right.
Second, it’s very hard to put a dollar amount on trauma because these are personal and unique to each victim. For example, if you work from home on a computer, and another person works in construction and commutes in a manual-shift car, you could have precisely the same leg injuries yet experience utterly different effects in career stress. Your emotional responses would naturally be different.
Compensation Goes Beyond Immediate Costs
While the initial hospital bill is often staggering, don’t lose sight of the long-term consequences. If your injuries prevent you from returning to work or necessitate continuous care, those costs factor heavily into your claim. An experienced personal injury attorney will work to secure compensation that addresses the full financial impact of the accident on your life: not just pay for some immediate expenses.
That’s why it’s so important to have a personal injury, attorney on your side, because it’s likely that you will be offered a initial settlement by the insurance company quickly. The settlements very often cover only the immediate expenses, and often only the estimated economic damages without taking into full account the long-term impact on your life. In addition, Texas does place some limits on compensation amounts, particularly for non-economic damages. An attorney skilled in Texas law understands the restrictions and the issues and will work to maximize what you’re legally entitled to receive.
How the Almaraz Law Firm Can Help
Rosendo Almaraz, Jr. is a Rio Grande native who has been helping people across the entire state throughout his career and has the experience to thoroughly assess your case and determine the compensation you deserve. Should trial become necessary, he has the courtroom experience and determination to passionately argue your case before a judge.
Remember, that early settlement offer is rarely a good deal. Contact us today at the Almaraz Law Firm from anywhere in Texas for a free consultation on your case.
If you are involved in an accident or sustain injuries related to hazardous conditions or someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. An experienced personal injury lawyer at Almaraz Law Firm in McAllen, TX, will explain the process of filing your specific claim; however, the basic steps are outlined here so you know what to expect.
Steps To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in McAllen, TX
Seek Appropriate Medical Care
When you experience any type of injury, you should seek appropriate medical care.
Personal injury claims may result from a wide range of situations, including:
- Car accidents
- Improper medical care
- Poor property maintenance
- Workplace injuries
- Wrongful death
If you believe the injury will be covered by an outside insurance policy, such as workers’ compensation, mention that to the care provider. Keep in mind that you should not forego medical attention for an injury because of the cost. This is one of the items that you may be able to recover in a personal injury lawsuit.
Discuss Your Case With a Personal Injury Lawyer
Not all injuries qualify for a legal claim, and you must establish if you have a valid claim before filing a lawsuit. Texas has rules about filing false claims, and you want to stay on the right side of the law. A lawyer will help determine the merits of your case, which is why you want to speak to a qualified injury attorney quickly after suffering an injury caused by someone else.
Lawyers perform crucial services to ensure that legal cases proceed as expected, including investigating accidents and establishing negligence. We also represent you in court and negotiations with other attorneys and insurance providers.
Provide Records of Injuries and Treatments
Once you decide to move forward with a lawsuit, you must provide records of injuries and the treatments you have received for them. These records support your claims and help establish how much compensation you will seek. Texas law allows you to seek compensatory damages for the following expenses as they relate to your injuries:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages (current and future)
- Costs of repairing or replacing damaged property
- Home modifications related to your injury
In some situations, you may also be eligible to seek punitive damages. This is a more complex type of lawsuit, so be sure to discuss the details with your attorney.
File Your Lawsuit
Most injury claims in Texas start in one of the 400+ district courts throughout the state that handle civil cases. The sheer size and complexity of the Texas court system virtually demands that you have a qualified attorney representing you throughout the process. Failure to file the correct form or at the correct location could result in your claim being dismissed. It may even cause you to go beyond the statute of limitations and miss the opportunity to seek compensation for your injuries.
Choose an Experienced Injury Attorney
Filing a personal injury lawsuit in Texas requires several steps, including investigating the injury, determining appropriate compensation, and filing all required paperwork. Contact Almaraz Law Firm in McAllen to request a consultation and determine your next steps.
Connect with us
Almaraz Law Firm
212 W. Nolana Ave. McAllen, TX 78504,
8422 Fountain Circle, San Antonio, TX 78229
701B W. Indiana Ste. 20, Midland, Texas 79701
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00am - 4:30pm
*Midland, Texas available by appt only*
