Sustaining injuries in motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall accidents, or other personal injury incidents is a traumatic event. Accident victims incur financial losses, physical agony, and mental trauma after a personal injury.
If you were injured because of someone’s negligence or other wrongful acts, you can seek compensation for your injuries from the at-fault party. Most personal injury cases begin with claims filed with insurance companies. If your case does not settle through negotiations, you might need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the party who caused your injury.
Whether you are dealing with an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit, hiring a San Antonio personal injury lawyer will benefit you in many ways. Call George Salinas Injury Lawyers at (210) 225-0909 or contact our San Antonio law firm today.
How Can a San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer Help You With a Personal Injury Claim?
It does not matter if you are dealing with a car accident, medical malpractice claim, or other injury case; you’ll benefit from the skills, resources, and legal expertise of a San Antonio personal injury law firm. Insurance companies have the resources to fight your claim, including teams of claims professionals and attorneys.
Hiring a personal injury attorney evens the playing field. Your Texas personal injury lawyer will:
- Handle all aspects of your claim, including the legal process of filing a personal injury lawsuit, if necessary
- Complete a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of your injury and identify the responsible parties
- Gather evidence proving causation and fault for the accident or personal injury
- Locate and interview eyewitnesses and expert witnesses
- Obtain copies of police reports, accident reports, and medical records
- Work with you and your medical providers to document the severity of your injuries and the extent of your damages
- Research applicable case laws and statutes
- Calculate how much your case is worth and then aggressively pursue settlement negotiations and jury awards for that amount
- Monitor the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit
Because our San Antonio personal injury lawyers represent clients on a contingency fee basis, hiring an attorney does not cost you anything upfront. We do not receive attorneys’ fees until we recover compensation in your case.
Signs Indicating You Should Hire a San Antonio Personal Injury Attorney
Hiring a personal injury lawyer is beneficial in most situations. At the very least, meeting with an accident lawyer for a free consultation to discuss your case is wise.
However, some signs strongly indicate you need to hire a personal lawyer in San Antonio. Those signs include:
You Are Being Blamed for Causing the Accident
The insurance company might try to shift blame to you for the cause of your injury. By doing so, the insurance company hopes to avoid liability or reduce the amount it must pay to resolve your insurance claim.
Contributory fault divides damages between at-fault parties in a personal injury case. Each party is responsible for an amount of damages equal to their percentage of fault for causing the accident.
The Texas proportionate responsibility statute bars you from receiving money for a personal injury claim if you are more than 50% at fault. However, if your fault is 50% or lower, you can receive compensation for damages. The amount you receive is reduced by your percentage of blame.
You Sustained Severe Injuries or Impairments
Severe injuries and permanent impairments complicate a personal injury case. These types of injuries increase the value of damages because you might require ongoing medical treatment and long-term care. You might not be able to return to work, or you might have a reduced earning capacity.
An attorney understands how to value damages for a catastrophic injury claim. Your lawyer will work with medical specialists, financial planners, and other experts to correctly value your damages.
The insurance company will not tell you an accurate value for your personal injury damages. Companies always offer settlements that are less than the case is worth.
Before accepting a settlement offer, talk with a lawyer. You could be entitled to a much higher settlement amount than the insurance adjuster indicates.
The Insurance Company Is Delaying a Settlement
Your claim is subject to a statute of limitations. If you do not file a personal injury lawsuit before the deadline, you lose the right to pursue a legal claim in court.
Therefore, an insurance company could delay a settlement to pass the filing deadline. Delays could also pressure you to accept a lower settlement offer to get money for your personal injury case.
You Are Unsure What Your Damages Are Worth
Most personal injury claims include economic damages. These damages compensate you for the cost of your medical care and treatment. It also includes reimbursement for loss of income and out-of-pocket expenses.
You can also receive compensation for non-economic damages. These damages compensate you for the pain and suffering you experience. They also pay you for loss of enjoyment of life, diminished quality of life, and disfigurement.
In very specific cases, punitive damages might be awarded by a jury. However, you must prove that the at-fault party acted with gross negligence, fraud, or malice.
The insurance company will not tell you if a settlement does not compensate you for all damages. Our legal team will ensure that all damages are included in the settlement demand to maximize your recovery.
A Government Entity Is Involved in the Case
Special rules and deadlines apply in cases involving a government entity. These cases are incredibly complex. Therefore, it is best to seek legal counsel immediately if you were injured on public property or in an accident involving a government vehicle or employee.
Your Child Sustained Injuries in the Accident
Child injury cases are also complex personal injury claims. A child’s injury can result in cognitive, physical, and developmental delays or impairments.
The consequences of a child’s injury can be life-altering. An experienced attorney can help you recover an amount that compensates your child for current and future damages.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyers
Regardless of the severity of your injuries, it is always wise to seek legal counsel, especially before you accept a settlement offer for your personal injury claim. George Salinas Injury Lawyers is here to help you! Contact our law firm or give us a call at (210) 225-0909 to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced San Antonio personal injury lawyer.
