If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, the Tyler car accident lawyers at The Benton Law Firm are ready to help. While it’s easy to feel confident in your own ability as a driver, you can never control what other drivers do. Because of that, car accidents can happen when we least expect them. All it takes is another driver’s negligence to put you in the middle of a collision and in harm’s way. Car accident victims often suffer serious and sometimes even fatal injuries. The following weeks and months can bring sky-high medical bills, car repairs, and time lost from work.
At The Benton Law Firm, we believe that negligent drivers should be held accountable for the injuries they cause. That’s why we fight so hard for car accident victims in Tyler. Our attorneys help them to recover the compensation they need and deserve. To learn more about how our Tyler car accident attorneys can help you after a crash, contact us at (214) 777-7777.
Car Accident Claims Our Car Accident Lawyers in Tyler Handle
Car accidents come in all shapes and sizes, but all have the potential to cause serious bodily harm and damage to vehicles. Here are some of the common types of car accident cases The Benton Law Firm handles:
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Rollover accidents
- Speeding accidents
- Road defects
- Mechanical defects/malfunctions
- Drunk driving accidents
- Insurance claims
Whatever type of accident caused your injury, the Tyler car accident injury lawyers from The Benton Law Firm are ready to help. Our experienced Tyler personal injury attorneys have a deep understanding of Texas traffic law and the insurance claims process and are ready to tackle whatever type of car accident case comes their way.
Commonly-Reported Injuries
Along with the many types of car accidents come various injuries they can cause. How a car accident can hurt you depends on where you were hit, how fast both cars were going, and several other factors. Here are some of the most common types of injuries we see in our car accident cases:
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Brain injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Burns
These and other accident-related injuries can result in astronomical medical bills, lengthy recovery times, and sometimes long, expensive hospital stays. All of these expenses can be a real drain on your finances. If the other driver was more at fault, you could potentially make a claim against them for a significant amount of compensation.
What to Do After a Car Accident
Car accidents can be extremely disorienting, and it can be hard to know what to do. Here are some steps you can take to help with your recovery and eventual personal injury claim:
- Call 911, get the police on the scene, and ask for an ambulance if anyone needs one.
- Get the other driver’s insurance information.
- Collect evidence, including witness reports and pictures of the scene.
- Report the accident to your insurance company.
- Seek medical attention, even if you think you are okay. Save all medical documentation.
Once you have dealt with the accident’s immediate aftermath, you can consider your legal options. The car accident lawyers of The Benton Law Firm are ready to guide you through the claims process.
Proving Fault After a Car Accident in Texas
Texas courts determine fault using a system called comparative fault. Each driver is determined to be a certain percentage at fault for the accident, depending on their negligent actions that could have contributed to it. If you win a court verdict in a personal injury lawsuit, your award will be reduced by a percentage equal to your share of fault. For instance, if you would have won a $100,000 award, but you were determined to be 20 percent at fault, your award would be reduced to $80,000. Texas also has a legal doctrine known as the 51 Percent Bar Rule. This means that any driver who is found to be 51 percent or more at fault for an accident will not be able to recover any damages.
The fault will be determined based on evidence of each driver’s negligence. For example, a witness report stating that the other driver was driving at extreme speeds could be used as evidence that that driver was more at fault. This is why getting a police report and gathering your own evidence is crucial in making your case and winning as much a percentage of your award as possible. The Tyler car accident lawyers of The Benton Law Firm can help you piece the evidence you need and build a strong case to show that the other driver was more at fault.
Recovering Damages in a Personal Injury Claim
With a successful personal injury claim, you could recuperate many of the costs associated with your recovery, either out of court in a settlement or in court as a verdict. Here are some of the damages you can seek from the driver who hit you:
- Medical expenses
- Car repairs or replacement
- Lost wages, if you missed work to recover
- Future lost income, if you are unable to return to work
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Other miscellaneous expenses
- Wrongful death
Not every car accident victim has incurred every one of these expenses, but if you have paid for it, you can seek compensation. It is always important to save all bills, receipts, and other documentation for recovery-related expenses and to share them with your lawyer so that you can receive as much compensation as possible.
Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers in Tyler
Recovering from a car accident can be one of the most difficult times in your life. In addition to dealing with a painful recovery process, you could watch your finances unravel as you pay medical bills and repair or replace your damaged car. You don’t have to face this time alone. The Tyler personal injury lawyers of The Benton Law Firm are ready to fight for you, and you won’t pay a penny for our legal services unless we win. For more information on how we can help and to set up a free consultation, call us today at (214) 777-7777.