Car Accident Victim’s Rights in Texas
When you are injured in a car accident, you are entitled to certain car accident victim’s rights in Texas. Severe injuries can take a physical, emotional, and financial toll on accident victims –– we believe that you should not have to carry that burden, especially if the accident was not your fault.
In Texas, victims are entitled to specific car accident victim’s rights to help seek financial compensation for their losses as a result of the accident. However, insurance companies will do everything in their ability to not give you the full amount of compensation you deserve. We won’t let that happen.
As former insurance attorneys, the expert personal injury lawyers from Grimes & Fertitta are here to help you understand your car accident victim’s rights and how an attorney can aid you in your accident case.
What are my car accident victim’s rights?
1. You do not have to provide a statement
When you are involved in a car accident, you will receive a call from the other party’s insurance company. An insurance adjuster will likely ask you for a statement or to release your medical records –– this is to help them build their own case against you. It is within your car accident victim’s rights to refuse. You can politely decline and have an attorney help you with this conversation.
2. You have the right to seek financial compensation
If you or a loved one are injured in a car accident, you have a right to be compensated for your losses. Accident victims can submit a claim to the at-fault driver’s insurance provider, also known as a third-party claim. Here are common types of financial compensation you can be rewarded as a result of the physical and/or emotional damages the accident has caused you:
- Medical bills and medical care (short and long-term)
- Repairs to your vehicle
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of current/future earnings
3. You have the right to hire an attorney
Car accidents can be a traumatizing and stressful event, especially if damages to your body or property are involved. An attorney can help you navigate legal matters –– such as compensation negotiations –– while you focus on your recovery. While it isn’t required, we highly encourage you to hire an attorney that you trust to help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
How do I protect my rights after a car accident?
The following steps are crucial to ensure that you are protecting your rights after a car accident.
Seek medical attention
The most important thing is that your injuries are taken care of. If you’re suffering from any severe injuries as a result of the accident, seek medical help as soon as possible. Keeping documentation of the medical care you receive will not only help you heal physically but it can be used as evidence in your accident case against the at-fault party.
Document everything about the accident
Evidence can be the defining difference between successful and failed accident cases. Be sure to document the contact information, insurance information, and vehicle details of the other party. In your car accident victim’s rights, you also have the right to ask any witnesses for their testimony and contact information, but they are not obligated to give it to you.
Take note of the circumstances of your accidents:
- Was someone fatally injured as a result of the accident?
- Was the weather considered dangerous to be driving in?
- Was someone driving a defective vehicle?
- Were you injured as a result of drunk driving?
Depending on the situation of the accident, a drunk driving accident lawyer in Houston or a fatal injury lawyer from Grimes & Fertitta can help preserve the evidence necessary to pursue a claim against the negligent party who caused the injuries to your or your loved ones.
Contact an attorney
In our article, we discuss when to get an attorney for a car accident. If you are showing any symptoms of an injury or there is any damage to your vehicle, contact an attorney immediately. This is especially important if you believe the accident was not your fault. Do not speak with an insurance adjuster or make any statements that can be used against you later without speaking to an attorney first.
File your injury claim within a reasonable time
How long after a car accident can you sue in Texas? In Texas, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit for compensation is two years after your injury date. Do not wait until the last minute to file your claim. The longer you wait to file a claim, the longer the other party has to build a case against you.
We understand the emotional and physical burdens a car accident can have on a person, and that’s why we are dedicated to helping accident victims get the justice they deserve as soon as possible.
Are you a car accident victim? Contact Grimes & Fertitta ASAP to preserve your car accident victim’s rights.
The only way to fully comprehend your car accident victim’s rights is to hire the best car accident lawyer in Houston. The expert personal injury attorneys at Grimes & Fertitta are ready and willing to help accident victims like yourself obtain the full amount of financial compensation you deserve.
If you’re looking for a client-first legal team, call Grimes & Fertitta at 713-224-7644 or schedule a free consultation online today.
More Helpful Articles by Grimes & Fertitta: