Are you suffering from a serious injury caused by a car accident that was someone else’s fault because of negligence or carelessness? We’re sorry you are dealing with this pain and stress. We have helped many people who’ve been injured in car accidents, and we want to help you. The Bowen Law Firm, PLLC knows what to expect and what needs to be done to get you justice. Call us today at 713-574-7777 for your free initial consultation.
How to Tell if You Have a Case
Just determining whether you have a legitimate car accident case can feel overwhelming. Our attorneys will review all the details of your accident and help you assess whether you have a case worth pursuing. Don’t assume you don’t have a case and give up on getting the compensation you deserve. Call us today to take advantage of a free, initial consultation.
Once you’ve determined that you have a viable case, the next step is deciding on whether or not to get legal representation. If you’re considering handling your case yourself without an attorney, keep in mind that the insurance company you will be filing against is going to have a team of them on call. This does not mean your case is not worth pursuing, but it does mean our Houston car accident attorneys can make the difference in the success of your case. They are familiar with the tactics of insurance companies and how to deal with them. Our attorneys will be by your side throughout your case to get you justice.
What is My Car Accident Case Worth?
One of the first questions people injured in car accidents ask is how much they can expect from their car accident case. The answer is that it depends on the specifics of your case, such as the extent of your injuries, how they have impacted your life, and how the quality of your life will change because of them. If you have questions about the value of your car accident case, contact our attorneys as soon as possible so they can review the details of your accident and the possibilities for a claim.
What Kind of Damages are Available?
Compensation for the harm you have experienced due to your accident is called damages. There are two types of damages you can pursue in your car accident claim. The first is economic damages. Like it sounds, this type of damages represents the ways you were impacted financially, such as debt from medical bills and loss of wages because your injuries prevented you from being able to work. Economic damages can be tallied for a case by adding up medical expenses, paychecks you missed out on, and even future costs like surgeries you will have to have. If the ability to do your work will be hindered for a period of time or permanently, those future lost wages can also be estimated.
Non-economic damages are things that aren’t as concrete but just as impactful. They can include but aren’t limited to things like pain and suffering, and loss of companionship due to new limitations, depression, and anxiety. There are numerous ways in which your injury has taken a toll. It’s important to include these in your claim, as well as ways that your quality of life may be impacted going forward. The Bowen Law Firm, PLLC knows how to sift through the facts of your case to be sure these types of details are accounted for in seeking compensation.
Is There a Limit on Damages for My Case?
The specifics of your case will determine whether there are caps on the damages you can receive. You may also find that you are eligible to receive punitive damages. This type of damages may apply if your accident was caused by the liable party with the intention of harming you, or if they acted with gross (extreme) negligence.
To find out about the limits your case may face regarding damages, call our Houston car accident attorneys. We will explain your rights and guide you through your case every step of way to bring you the compensation you deserve. Call 713-574-7777 today to get started.
Factors that Affect My Case
If you are considering filing a car accident case in Houston, you are probably wondering what types of things can get in the way of a successful case. One of these is the “Shared Fault” rule. In the state of Texas, what you can recover is dependent upon the percentage of liability you are found to have in the accident. This doesn’t mean you won’t be able to collect damages for your injuries. If you are found to be 1% to 49% responsible for the accident, you can still recover a percentage of damages. If, however, you are 50% or more responsible, you will not be able to receive compensation. When you make a car accident claim, you need to prove that the other driver was responsible for your injuries.
The Shared Fault rule is used by insurance companies in an attempt to lower the value of your case and make you think you don’t have a chance against them. The Bowen Law Firm, PLLC is used to protecting the rights of people just like you from insurance companies who want to blame you for your own injuries. Don’t give up your right to fair compensation. Call us today to get started.
Another factor in the success of your case is time. Under Texas law, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a claim. If you don’t submit your paperwork before this time period is up, you probably won’t have a chance to get compensated for your injuries and suffering. While two years may seem like plenty of time to get around to filing a claim, it can fly by. This is especially true for people recovering from injury and trauma from a car accident. Don’t miss your chance for justice. Let us help you. We can’t take away your pain, but we can take the burden of planning, investigating, filing, and navigating your claim off of your shoulders. Call our Houston car accident attorneys as soon as you can to review your case and file your claim properly and on time.
There’s a second way in which time is relevant to your case. The longer a case takes to get filed, the more delayed the investigation and collection of evidence will be, oftentimes. Making the strongest possible foundation for your accident case means gathering quickly and thoroughly. Don’t give witnesses time to forget what they saw, and evidence time to be lost. The Bowen Law Firm, PLLC will get your case started as quickly as possible to preserve and record evidence and witness statements. Even though we are determined and efficient, we will need some time to properly collect evidence and thoroughly review details and facts. Don’t wait until the deadline is looming. Help us help you by calling 713-574-7777 today.
If Your Claim Involves the Government of Texas
If your injury involves a government entity or someone who works for the state, you need to be aware of different rules than when the government is not involved. Your claim must be against the governmental unit involved in the accident that caused you harm, rather than simply the state of Texas. You also have a smaller window to file your claim, which closes six months after the date of your injury. If you’ve been injured due to the negligence or carelessness of someone else, and the liable party is affiliated with a government entity, call The Bowen Law Firm, PLLC as soon as you can for your free consultation. We’ll give you the guidance you need for a successful case.
Mistakes You Can Avoid
We get asked all the time what mistakes people can avoid to give a car accident case the best chance of success. Insurance companies will employ numerous tactics to devalue your car accident claim, and they are counting on you to open the door to many of them. Fortunately, many common mistakes can be easily avoided with a little awareness.
One of the mistakes people make immediately after a car accident is not getting checked out by a doctor. Even if you don’t think you’ve been injured at the time, it’s important to show up and get checked. This protects you in more ways than one.
After a traumatic event like a car accident, your body may be flooded with two hormones that can increase your pain threshold temporarily, causing you to overlook injuries until later. This can happen as part of the body’s “fight or flight” response. It’s important to get checked for injuries as quickly as possible after an accident, whether or not you think you are injured at the time.
Getting checked out medically when you’ve been in a car accident also helps you make a strong car accident claim. As unjust as it sounds, any delay in your seeking medical care after a car accident will probably be used against you by the insurance company. They can use it say you weren’t injured as much as you say, lowering the value of your car accident claim. They may even suggest the delay was because your injury didn’t even happen in that accident, but at some later date. If the insurance company is successful with this story, your case can get thrown out.
There’s one other person who may devalue your case if you skip the medical check after a car accident — is you. If you make light of your accident, it may undercut your confidence to speak up about it later. You may also forget important details. In any of these cases, you lose when you hesitate. Protect your health and your right to compensation for your injuries by getting medical attention immediately after a car accident. Then call our Houston car accident attorneys for your free consultation at 713-574-7777 today.
Another mistake people unknowingly walk right into is giving a recorded statement to the insurance company. Speaking at all with the insurance company after a car accident is risky. Not only are you very likely emotionally vulnerable while you are healing, but insurance adjusters are trained to get information from you that they can use to lower the value of your claim. Remember, they aren’t calling to be your friend, they are calling to save themselves money. Anything you say that helps them do that is almost certainly going to be used against you.
If you speak to them and they don’t manage to get your case tossed out entirely, they may convince you that a prolonged case is not worth the fight and you should accept their first lowball settlement offer. After all, they may suggest, something is better than taking your chances and ending up with nothing. The Bowen Law Firm, PLLC have heard this all before and know how to handle the antics of the insurance company. Don’t let these companies bully you— call 713-574-7777 today.
Call Our Texas Car Accident Attorneys
If you’ve been injured in a car accident that was someone else’s fault, contact us as soon as you can. We want to fight for you and take the burden of your legal case off your mind. We have the experience to investigate, prepare, file, negotiate, and even go to trial on your behalf if necessary. We’ll help you build the strongest possible case to hold the liable party responsible for your damages. You deserve justice, and The Bowen Law Firm, PLLC wants to get you full and fair compensation for your injuries. Call 713-574-7777 and speak with our Houston car accident attorneys today and get your free, initial consultation.