Accidents happen every day, but some are more serious than others. If you have been injured in an accident, and you have sustained a serious injury or damages to your personal property, then you may need help from a lawyer to receive the fair compensation you deserve. But what exactly is the role of a personal injury attorney in Houston, TX?
What Is a Personal Injury Attorney?
A personal injury attorney is a legal representative who specializes in personal injury law. A Texas personal injury lawyer will be knowledgeable about the state laws that pertain to personal injuries and damages sustained in accidents, particularly the statutes of limitation and other special laws that may apply to your case.
It may be important to hire a personal injury lawyer if you have significant injuries or damages. For many people who have personal injuries, it can be difficult to win compensation for their damages without a lawyer. It’s always in your best interest to consult an experienced lawyer so that your case can have the best result.
How a Lawyer Can Help You
The advantage of hiring a lawyer can’t be overlooked. For example, by hiring a personal injury attorney, you will be able to focus on your recovery rather than your legal case and minimize your stress. Furthermore, a lawyer can help you build your case, negotiate your settlement, and represent you in court if your case goes to trial.
Build Your Case
Building your case involves analyzing the circumstances of your injury to determine liability and gathering evidence that will prove your case. There are many types of evidence you can use to build your case, such as eyewitness accounts, police reports, crash reports, medical reports, medical bills, photographic evidence, and more. Independent medical reports can also be used as evidence.
Building your case is essential when you are seeking compensation for injuries and damages. Without evidence, it’s unlikely that you will receive the compensation that you deserve. The more evidence you have on your side that will prove liability, the more likely you will be able to receive the compensation you deserve.
Negotiate Your Settlement
For personal injury settlements, you will likely receive a payout either from an insurance company or the person who is liable for your injuries. Commonly, the initial settlement offer is inadequate for the injuries and damages you have sustained, so it may be necessary to hire a lawyer for negotiations.
Your lawyer will be knowledgeable about the factors that may increase your settlement amount so that you can get the most compensation possible for your injuries and damages. Insurance companies and other lawyers may also be more willing to negotiate a fair settlement offer when you have legal representation.
Represent You in Court
Finally, a personal injury lawyer will represent you in court if your case goes to trial. Much of the time, your personal injury case can be settled outside of court through mediation, but there may also be times when your case advances to trial. Usually, a case will only go to trial if the person who is liable for the injury or the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement.
In court, a lawyer will have to use evidence to argue why you should be awarded the compensation you deserve for your damages and injuries. When cases go to trial, this can sometimes open special personal injury laws that a lawyer will have to navigate, such as comparative negligence. With a lawyer on your side, you are more likely to settle your case ideally.
Why Might You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
The most common reason to hire a personal injury lawyer is when an insurance company is not offering you a fair settlement. There are many times when an insurance company refuses to acknowledge a claim for an accident, which then prevents you from receiving the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, injuries, loss of wages, and more.
You may also need to hire a personal injury lawyer if you are injured in the workplace. In Texas, workplaces are not legally obligated to provide worker’s compensation insurance as an employee benefit. And even if your employer has worker’s compensation insurance, the insurance company and your employer may be reluctant to award compensation. A lawyer can help you receive the compensation you deserve for your workplace injury.
Accidents That May Qualify as Personal Injury in Houston, TX
Many accidents may qualify for personal injury, so you will need to consult with a lawyer to determine if you have a case. Some of the accidents that may qualify as personal injury include:
Car Accidents
Car accidents are some of the most common personal injury accidents in Texas. A car accident can be caused by drunk drivers, the violation of traffic laws, and unsafe road conditions. If you’ve been in a car accident and sustained a serious injury or your car was totaled, you may need a lawyer to help you win compensation.
Maritime Accidents
Maritime accidents and offshore accidents occur when maritime workers are injured on the job. Maritime workers are those who may work on ships, boats, docks, and oil rigs in the ocean. Because maritime law is different from the laws on land, you will need the help of a lawyer who specializes in personal injury and maritime accidents to settle your worker’s compensation for accidents and injuries.
Construction Accidents
Construction accidents are another type of workplace accident that may occur. A construction accident will typically happen because of negligence from your employer, such as not enforcing OSHA standards. Construction accidents are often serious and can result in long-lasting injuries that prevent you from working in the future.
Product Defect Accidents
Companies are legally obligated to sell products that are safe to consumers. If you have been injured because of a product defect, then you may be eligible to seek compensation for your injuries. Product defect accidents can apply to many situations, including accidents with children’s toys, defective car parts, or defective propane tanks.
Premises Liability Accidents
A premises liability accident is an injury that occurs on public or private property. Landowners, building renters, and business owners are responsible for ensuring that all guests on the property are reasonably safe. If you are injured because of a slip and fall, for example, then you may be able to seek compensation for your injuries.
Wrongful Death Accidents
Wrongful death is another scenario in which it may be necessary to hire a personal injury attorney. Wrongful death that occurs because of an accident means that someone must be held responsible for the loss of life. Usually, loved ones who are suing for wrongful death will be seeking compensation for the loss of life, the loss of earning potential from a deceased income-earner, the cost of medical bills, and more.
There are several situations in which you may need to hire a personal injury lawyer to help you seek compensation for your injuries or damages. A personal injury lawyer can help build your case, negotiate your settlement, and represent you in court. For more information about how a personal injury lawyer can help you get compensation for your injuries and damages, contact Houston Injury Lawyers PLLC in Houston, TX today.
