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Amarillo Car Accident Lawyers

Cars are necessary to get around the Panhandle and surrounding areas. Many residents are driving for most of the day to care for their families and for their jobs. Unfortunately, this means that car accidents are a common occurrence. Speeding, driving while intoxicated, and distracted driving, among other poor driving practices, can cause a driver to lose control and cause a collision. A car crash can cause serious damage to not only the vehicles involved, but can also injure the driver and passengers. If you or a family member have been injured in a car accident, you should talk to a lawyer to see if a personal injury case makes sense for your situation. The experienced Texas trial lawyers at Lovell, Isern & Farabough, LLP have extensive experience handling all types of car accident cases.

Steps to Take After a Car Accident

If you are in a car accident, you need to first assess the situation. Is anyone seriously hurt? If so, call 911 immediately. Even if you do not think you are hurt, a medical professional should check you out as soon as possible to make sure you are not seriously injured.  If possible, move the cars involved away from a busy street, or at least move all the people involved to a safe area. Exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver or drivers. Cooperate with the police who respond to the car accident and take photos and/or videos of all the vehicle damage, the accident scene, and the surrounding area.

Soon after the car accident, and before you talk to any insurance companies, you should consult with a personal injury attorney. The statute of limitations in Texas within which you must file a car accident claim is two years after the incident date, but it makes sense to start the process as soon as possible. Our team will work with you to investigate your claim.

When building your case, we will gather all evidence concerning the nature of the crash. We will obtain items like the police report, medical evaluations, and any bills related to care for the crash. If any nearby cameras caught the accident, we will obtain that footage. We will also investigate the at fault driver to learn about their driving record. Any pictures or statements obtained at the scene will also need to be reviewed. With this information, we will be able to make a strong claim to the insurance companies involved. If needed, this will be the foundation of our case if it goes to trial.

Car Accident Liability

One of the most important foundational issues in a car accident case is determining who is at fault. The police report will generally give an official indication of how the collision occurred and who law enforcement believes caused it. If you were partially at fault for a car accident, you may not think you can file a claim; however, Texas law follows shared responsibility which means that if you are only partially at fault, you may still be able to recover damages. Our job is to determine who ultimately caused the car accident and hold them accountable for the resulting damage.

Sometimes it is not just an individual who should be held responsible for a car accident, but also the company the driver was working for; or, a crash might result from poorly maintained roads or a problem with one of the motor vehicles involved. Our legal team will examine all aspects of your crash and determine all of the potential parties who may be at fault.

Insurance companies – even your own – attempt to save money by paying out as little as possible on claims, so having a lawyer fighting on your side to get you the financial compensation you deserve often makes the ultimate payout of your claim much higher. If you do not have a car accident lawyer working with you, the insurance company knows a lawsuit is not on the table and therefore won’t feel pressured to pay you what you deserve. Our legal team understands how insurance companies work and knows how to negotiate with them.

Common Types of Car Accident Injuries

While any number of injuries can result from a car accident, the most common car accident injuries we see include but are not limited to:

  • Whiplash
  • Neck injuries
  • Back injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Lower extremity injuries
  • Head injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Concussions
  • Abrasions, cuts, and bruises
  • Broken bones
  • Shoulder injuries
  • Internal organ damage

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accidents

Why should I get an attorney for an accident that wasn’t my fault?

Insurance companies negotiate very differently with individuals who are not represented by counsel. They will not offer maximum compensation unless they are under the threat of trial. Using an attorney will undoubtedly increase your potential car accident compensation and ensure that the insurance carriers involved do not rush you to take a lowball settlement offer. In addition, there are investigative techniques experienced lawyers use that can increase the value of your case through expert reports such as those from accident reconstructions.

What is considered a hit and run in Texas?

In Texas, a hit and run car accident occurs when one vehicle collides with another, causing damage, and then flees the scene of the crash without stopping to check and ensure that everyone is okay or to exchange the legally required information with the other driver. If a driver does not stop after a car accident involving death, injury, or property damage, they can suffer criminal penalties ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony. In order to avoid being charged with a hit and run or “leaving the scene of an accident,” a driver involved in a car accident must stop, render aid to the injured parties, exchange driver’s license and insurance information if asked, and if law enforcement is on the way, they must wait for the officer to arrive.

What is considered distracted driving?

There are four categories of distracted driving: (1) visual, (2) auditory, (3) manual, and (4) cognitive. With visually distracted driving, the driver is looking at something other than the road ahead such as the radio dial or a child in the backseat. With auditory distracted driving, the driver is distracted by hearing something unrelated to driving such as nearby sirens, the music inside the vehicle that is overly loud, or a screaming child. Manual distracted driving refers to using one’s hands to manipulate something instead of having your hands on the steering wheel. This could be using your hands to put on makeup, eat or drink, or even hold hands with a front seat passenger. Cognitive distracted driving occurs when the driver’s mind is on something other than driving such as talking to another passenger, being preoccupied with work issues, or talking on even a hands-free phone.

How long do car accident cases take?

The length of time it takes a car accident case to resolve can vary greatly depending upon the facts of the case. While a simple car accident can be resolved in a matter of weeks or months if injuries are not extremely severe and liability is reasonably clear, more complex cases – such as those involving commercial vehicles – can take one or more years to resolve. It is best to present the unique facts of your situation to an experienced personal injury lawyer to get a gauge for how long your particular case might take.

How much do car accident attorneys charge?

Car accident attorneys work on what is called a contingency fee basis. What this means is that a client does not have to pay any money up front to work with a fantastic and experienced lawyer. In car accident cases, our firm takes all of the risk and partners with you for the duration of your case. You will owe us nothing unless and until we are able to recover financial compensation on your behalf. If we are successful, our firm will take a percentage of what we are able to recover for you plus the cost of our expenses incurred in order to resolve your matter. This is the standard fee arrangement with almost every Texas personal injury lawyer for car accident claims.

Amarillo Car Accident Lawyers

Payouts for a successful car accident claim can vary greatly. The severity of the medical injuries, the total cost of medical bills, cost of future treatment, lost wages, whether you will be able to work again, and the pain and suffering you experience will all be taken into account to determine what you can expect to receive. The experienced and award-winning legal team at Lovell, Isern & Farabough, LLP fights for the maximum possible amount of financial compensation, whether dealing with an insurance company during the claims process or if we take your case to trial.

We know being seriously injured in a car accident can be a terrible experience. Our goal is to make the legal process to obtain compensation as painless as possible so you can focus on healing. We will work hard to hold those who are responsible accountable and get you the highest dollar amount possible for your damages. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a Texas car accident, contact Lovell, Isern & Farabough, LLP today.

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Talk to a member of our legal team today. We are Board Certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law; Civil Trial Law; and Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. We have won awards including Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars in Energy & Natural Resources and Texas Super Lawyers in General Litigation and Personal Injury. Many of us are rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell – the highest possible rating for ethics and skill in our industry. All communication is kept confidential and private.