Most “accidents” on the road are actually preventable. They often occur because a driver was distracted, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or because they didn’t follow the local traffic laws. If you’ve been hit by someone who acted in a negligent way, you can file a lawsuit and claim compensation by hiring a highly competent car wreck lawyer local to the Houston, TX area.
After an accident, you might have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to rebuild your life. You may need the money to pay for your medical expenses, to make up for any income lost, and to compensate you for the emotional trauma you are dealing with. But how much can you expect to gain during a lawsuit? Today, let’s examine your likely level of compensation and how you can make sure you get the best outcome possible.
How Much Compensation Can You Get for a Car Accident in Houston, TX?
In Texas, every driver is required to have minimum insurance coverage for car accidents. For this reason, you can expect to receive some compensation, even if the negligent party doesn’t have many assets and is unable to pay you directly. However, this insurance amount is quite low, and you can often ask for much more, especially if your injuries are significant.
A good attorney can evaluate your situation and figure out which types of damages apply to you. Some will be economic, which means that it’s easy to figure out the exact amount. Others are noneconomic, so the amount needs to be estimated. With the help of a competent lawyer, you will be able to receive the money you need to recover physically, emotionally, and financially from what happened.
Minimum Insurance Coverage
Every driver should have the minimum liability coverage required in the state of Texas. With the money from the insurance company, you will be able to pay for your medical care as well as the damage done to your vehicle. Currently, the amounts are $30,000 for each person injured in a car wreck, $60,000 for the total injuries in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
Unfortunately, there are some drivers who are uninsured or underinsured, even if this is illegal. In such a case, you should check whether you have underinsured motorist protection (UIM). If you do, your own insurance company will pay for the damage. If not, your car wreck lawyer will help you decide whether it is worth pursuing the negligent party directly.
Economic Damages
Often, the minimum insurance coverage won’t be enough to pay for all your expenses. For this reason, hiring a lawyer and taking the person responsible for the incident to court could be a good idea. Although the exact level of compensation you’ll receive depends on your accident, many victims have won six- or even seven-figure amounts in the past, particularly if they have a permanent disability and are unable to return to work.
Your attorney will add up all the economic damages you have suffered. These include everything that can be measured in dollars. For instance, they will look at all your current and projected future medical bills, the lost wages, the damage to your property, and your loss of earning potential. The latter applies if you are unable to return to your job and therefore can’t earn an income anymore.
Noneconomic Damages
The economic damages are the easiest to calculate, but there are other types of losses that should be taken into consideration. A good lawyer can help you receive payment for intangible issues like the pain and suffering you’re going through, the deterioration of your mental health, and the loss of enjoyment of your life. If you lost a loved one in the crash, you could also claim money for the loss of companionship.
While these aspects are harder to prove, victims of an accident often receive significant amounts for emotional damages. If you take the other party to court, your lawyer will lay out your case in a way that demonstrates how much you have suffered as a result of the car crash.
How to Gain the Maximum Amount of Compensation Possible
Most people who were injured in an accident because of someone else’s negligent behavior will receive some compensation. However, the amount varies wildly, depending on the exact situation, the quality of their proof, and the competence of their lawyer. To make sure you don’t miss out, you should avoid getting in an argument with an insurance adjuster. By hiring a local Houston, TX lawyer, you can prevent making any mistakes that could damage your case.
Avoid Speaking to Insurance Adjusters
After an accident, many people receive a phone call from the other party’s insurance company. The goal of the adjusters is to pay as little money as possible, so they will attempt to discredit your claim. In some cases, they might try to get you to admit guilt. If you do this, t’s unlikely that you will receive any compensation. They might also offer you a token amount, which is much lower than what you deserve.
Avoid arguing with the adjusters or answering their questions, since this could invalidate your claim. Instead, remain polite and ask to speak to them with your lawyer present. Then, you can get in touch with a personal injury attorney, who will know exactly how to deal with the insurance company.
Gather the Relevant Evidence
It’s never too early to start gathering evidence. You will need to provide proof of your expenses, such as your medical costs and the money needed to replace or repair your car. Bring your bills and any photographic evidence of the accident to your lawyer, so they can use it when laying out your case.
You should also keep a record of your emotional state in the weeks and months after the accident. This can prove that you have suffered mentally as well as physically, and it could lead to compensation for non-economic damages.
Hire a Competent Car Wreck Lawyer
Some people try to fight for their rights without the help of a lawyer, but they often receive inferior results. No matter the situation, you should always speak to an attorney before you make a decision. Fortunately, many of the best firms offer a free initial consultation, so you don’t need to spend any money on this first meeting. Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the attorney, you can decide whether you’d like to hire them and move forward with your case.
Everybody who is suffering from injuries due to someone else’s negligence is entitled to compensation. This is necessary because the victim of the accident might have to deal with expensive medical bills, a loss of income, permanent disability, and significant emotional trauma. Fortunately, drivers are required to be insured in Texas, so there is a minimum amount you will receive, no matter whether the responsible party has any assets or not.
Getting in touch with a highly qualified car wreck lawyer in Houston, TX is almost always necessary because they will help you maximize the amount of compensation you can get. That way, you won’t have to worry about your finances, and you can fully focus on getting better. Contact us now at Houston Injury Lawyers to book a free initial consultation with one of our top attorneys.
