In Texas, for most personal injury claims, the statute of limitations requires an injured party to file their lawsuit two years from the date of the incident. This also applies to wrongful death cases.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Liability in an Injury Case<\/h3>\n
Liability<\/strong>: In order to have a viable claim, a plaintiff must be able to show a defendant owed a duty of care to the injured party and breached that duty, that this breach was the cause of the victim\u2019s injury (causation), and that the victim did suffer damages as a result of the injury. In cases where the fault is shared among multiple parties, if the injured party is one of the responsible parties, it will impact the total compensation they can receive \u2013 the plaintiff will have their award reduced by an amount equal to their percentage of fault. If the plaintiff\u2019s fault exceeds that of the parties they sued, they cannot win.<\/p>\nCompensation for Medical Expenses and Other Damages<\/h3>\n
Damages<\/strong>: Even if a plaintiff can prove a defendant was negligent and responsible for their accident, the victim cannot recover financial compensation unless they can prove damages. The damages available in a personal injury lawsuit generally fall into three main categories \u2013 economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages. Economic damages<\/strong> are measurable financial losses like property damage, medical bills, and lost wages. Non-economic damages<\/strong> are harder to quantify and thus more challenging to prove but are absolutely recoverable if presented by an experienced lawyer. They include pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of consortium, and more. Punitive damages<\/strong> are designed to punish a bad actor to deter similar future conduct. Texas does not have caps on any of these damages except in medical malpractice cases, in claims against the government, and when comparative negligence shows the plaintiff was partly at fault.<\/p>\nHow A Personal Injury Case Works<\/h2>\nSeek out and Receive Medical Treatment<\/h3>\n
You are likely wondering what to expect and how a personal injury case will work. While many of these claims settle without a trial, the entire process is important to understand. The first step after the incident that causes injury is for the injured party to seek out and receive medical treatment<\/strong>. Even if you do not feel the effects of bodily injury immediately following an incident, it is very important to go to the emergency room and\/or seek treatment with your doctor as soon as possible. This is of course necessary to ensure you are safe and healthy, but it is also a crucial component of proving your claim. If you wait to seek medical attention for too long after your accident, linking the treatment to the accident will be far more challenging and may even cause an insurance adjuster to reject your claim entirely.<\/p>\nSeek out and retain an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer<\/h3>\n
After ensuring your medical condition is secure, seek out and retain an experienced personal injury lawyer. At J.D. Silva and Associates, our injury attorneys will investigate your claim<\/strong> and review all applicable records. As part of the investigative process, our legal team will interview you to learn as much as possible about the incident, your injuries, your medical treatment, and how what happened to you has affected and continues to affect your life. Our legal team will order all of your medical records and bills as well.<\/p>\nSettlement Negotiations with the Insurance Company<\/h4>\n
After a thorough review and assessment, your lawyers will send a demand<\/strong> to the representatives of the responsible party or parties \u2013 usually one or more insurance companies. Many lawyers will wait until their client has reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) before making a demand to ensure all potential damages have been included in what is sent over to the other side. If the demand does not yield fruitful settlement negotiations, your lawyer will file a personal injury lawsuit.<\/p>\nPersonal Injury Litigation Phase<\/h4>\n
The personal injury litigation phase begins once your lawyer files a civil lawsuit<\/strong> against the responsible individual or business. Your lawsuit must be filed within two years of the date of the incident that caused your injury and other losses. This filing leads to pretrial procedures which can vary depending upon what court your case is assigned to. One of the most important components of the pretrial phase is discovery<\/strong>, during which each side looks into the other side\u2019s claims and defenses. Each side can send written discovery in the form of documents called interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admissions, and more, as well as notice and take depositions \u2013 question people under oath. The court will set deadlines to govern and guide this process.<\/p>\nAfter discovery is completed, lawyers for both sides will discuss settlement negotiations. Sometimes they can work the case out through letters, phone calls, and emails; and, other times, they will turn to alternative dispute resolution through mediation<\/strong>. During mediation, all parties and their lawyers work with a neutral third-party mediator to try to resolve their case without going to trial. While it very often works, if mediation proves unsuccessful, the case will be set for trial.<\/p>\nWhile it very often works, if mediation proves unsuccessful, the case will be set for trial.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
A personal injury trial will vary in length depending upon a variety of factors, including how complex the case is and how the court handles its trials. Typically, the trial will last for at least several days and at the end a judge or jury will determine if the defendant or defendants are responsible for the plaintiff\u2019s damages; and, if they are responsible, how much they will have to pay the plaintiff. After the verdict and award, either side can appeal.<\/p>\n
What To Know When You Hire a Personal Injury Attorney<\/h2>\n
A personal injury attorney is a lawyer providing legal services to those who have been injured as a result of the negligence or wrongful behavior of another party or parties. Our lawyers fight for the rights of victims of others\u2019 bad acts in order to get them the compensation they deserve and need to move forward with their lives. When you are in need of the services of legal counsel, you should ask the following questions during an initial phone call, meeting, or consultation:<\/p>\n
\n- Do you regularly handle cases like mine?<\/li>\n
- Do you have client testimonials or reviews I can see?<\/li>\n
- Who will I be talking to while we work together?<\/li>\n
- How long will my case take?<\/li>\n
- Do you think my case has any problems and what are they?<\/li>\n
- Do you have any personal injury case results I can look at?<\/li>\n
- How often do you go to trial?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Having the right personal injury attorney on your side makes a huge difference in your case. Ask the attorney any questions you might have. In addition, the attorney will also ask you many questions to fully understand your case. Be wary of a lawyer who promises you a certain amount of money early on, as good lawyers need time to evaluate the value of a case.<\/p>\n
One important note about working with a personal injury lawyer is that most are paid on what is called a contingency fee basis. Our lawyers handle all injury and death cases on this payment structure. What this means is there is no fee unless your case is successful \u2013 your lawyer does not get paid unless you recover money. If you are awarded financial compensation, the lawyer\u2019s fee is based on a percentage of your total recovery and they are paid at the end of the case after those funds have been issued. Once you hire an attorney, you will be asked to sign a contract with them that specifies the exact fee percentage they will take. Make sure to ask any and all questions about the fee before you sign it.<\/p>\n
How long does a personal injury case last?<\/h3>\n
A personal injury lawsuit can take anywhere from a few months to several years. On average, these lawsuits take 18 months to three years. Understanding how a personal injury lawsuit works include understanding that it will take time to get you the best possible result. As detailed above, the litigation process is structured and time-consuming, but lawsuits are invaluable in forcing insurance companies to take your case seriously and make a reasonable offer of financial compensation. This is just one of the reasons why it\u2019s always important to obtain the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney with extensive litigation experience who can guide you through the litigation process and achieve a successful outcome.<\/p>\n