956-923-4472McAllen Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, you are concerned about protecting yourself and recovering compensation. If you cannot return to work, you may quickly be in a financial crisis. Additionally, even with health insurance, you may be forced to pay expensive medical bills that can quickly add up.
The best way to protect yourself is to hire an experienced McAllen car accident lawyer to help you file a car accident claim. Insurance companies often try to delay, deny, or reduce claims to protect their bottom line. Our Texas personal injury attorney has the experience and skills to help you secure fair compensation for your incurred damages.
Contact Ruy Mireles Law Firm, PLLC, today to schedule a free consultation so that we may thoroughly evaluate your case. A qualified legal team member will gladly meet with you and answer your questions.
Why Do Most Car Accidents Occur?
Texas, like all states, has its fair share of car accidents. Many motor vehicle collisions can be attributed to a high volume of traffic and the many interstates that crisscross the state. However, several commonly reported risk factors are frequently cited in accident reports, including:
Speeding
Even with the heavy traffic in the area, speeding is one of the leading causes of car accidents. Speeding drivers often fail to realize that traffic is stopped ahead or cannot stop in time, leading to accidents.
Speeding not only increases the likelihood of a crash but also intensifies the severity of injuries sustained, as higher speeds result in greater impact forces.
Driving Under the Influence
Impaired drivers lack good judgment, have slower reaction times, or fall asleep at the wheel, which leads to devastating collisions. Motorists who drive while under the influence often cause deadly head-on or rear-end collisions that result in severe injuries or wrongful death.
The use of alcohol or drugs significantly diminishes a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely, making DUI one of the most dangerous behaviors on the road.
Distracted Driving
Even with the various state laws prohibiting using a handheld device or texting while driving, many car accidents can be attributed to distracted driving. Other factors include the driver being distracted by passengers, eating, and adjusting the radio or GPS.
Even if the driver’s eyes leave the road for a few seconds, it can quickly result in a rear-end or T-bone collision. Distracted driving remains a leading cause of crashes nationwide, and its prevalence continues to rise with the increasing use of smartphones and in-car technology.
Other Common Causes
Beyond these primary factors, other causes such as reckless driving, failure to obey traffic signals, adverse weather conditions, and driver fatigue also contribute significantly to the number of car accidents in Texas.
Poor road maintenance and defective vehicle parts can also play a role in causing crashes. Understanding these various causes helps accident victims and their attorneys determine fault and hold the responsible party accountable.
Whether you have been injured in a drunk driving accident or by a speeding driver, your first step should be to contact a McAllen car accident lawyer who will help you begin the legal process of starting a claim.
What are the Most Commonly Reported Auto Accident Injuries?
Car accident injuries can range from minor cuts and scrapes to more serious injuries, such as internal injuries that can have life-threatening consequences. Some of the most commonly reported car accident injuries include:
- Fractured or broken bones
- Head, neck, and back injuries
- Facial and dental injuries
- Cuts and abrasions
- Internal injuries
Catastrophic Injuries
In some instances, personal injury victims suffer catastrophic injuries that result in permanent disabilities that impact their ability to perform daily activities. Catastrophic injuries also typically result in them requiring extensive and costly ongoing medical treatment. Catastrophic injuries include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Amputations
- Severe burns
- Organ loss
Regardless of the injuries you have suffered in a car accident, you must hire a qualified attorney who will help you file a personal injury claim immediately. Contact Ruy Mireles Law Firm, PLLC, today so we can get started on your personal injury case.
Additional Common Injuries and Their Impact
Beyond the injuries listed above, many accident victims experience soft tissue injuries such as whiplash, sprains, and strains. These injuries, while sometimes less visible, can cause chronic pain and require prolonged medical treatment. Whiplash, for example, occurs when the neck is suddenly jerked back and forth, causing damage to muscles and ligaments.
Moreover, psychological injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression are increasingly recognized as significant consequences of car accidents. These emotional and mental health impacts can affect victims’ quality of life and may require therapy or counseling as part of their recovery.
Importance of Prompt Medical Evaluation
It is crucial to seek immediate medical attention after any car accident, even if injuries seem minor initially. Some injuries, like internal bleeding or traumatic brain injuries, may not present symptoms right away but can be life-threatening if left untreated.
Early diagnosis and treatment not only improve recovery outcomes but also provide important medical documentation that supports your personal injury claim.
Role of Medical Records in Personal Injury Claims
Medical records play a vital role in substantiating the severity of your injuries and the necessity of medical treatment. Detailed documentation from healthcare providers helps establish the connection between the accident and your injuries, which is essential when negotiating with insurance adjusters or presenting your case in court.
Long-Term Effects of Auto Accident Injuries
Certain injuries sustained in car accidents may have long-lasting or permanent effects on your health and lifestyle. For instance, spinal cord injuries can lead to paralysis, while traumatic brain injuries may cause cognitive impairments or personality changes. Chronic pain from soft tissue injuries can persist for years, impacting daily activities and employment.
Understanding the potential long-term consequences is critical when pursuing compensation, as your claim should account for ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and loss of quality of life.
The Role of Expert Medical Testimony
In complex cases involving serious or catastrophic injuries, expert medical testimony can be instrumental in explaining the nature and extent of your injuries to insurance companies or a jury. Medical experts can clarify how the accident caused your injuries, the prognosis, and the anticipated future medical needs, strengthening your personal injury claim.
Common Injury Treatment and Rehabilitation
Treatment for car accident injuries varies widely depending on the severity and type of injury. It may include emergency care, surgeries, physical therapy, chiropractic care, pain management, psychological counseling, and long-term rehabilitation programs. Proper treatment is essential not only for recovery but also to document your injury progression and support your claim.
Importance of Following Medical Advice
Insurance companies often scrutinize the consistency and compliance of accident victims with medical treatment recommendations. Following prescribed treatments and attending all medical appointments demonstrates your commitment to recovery and helps prevent insurers from disputing the legitimacy or extent of your injuries.
How Injuries Affect Insurance Settlements
The nature, severity, and documentation of your injuries significantly influence the value of your personal injury claim. More severe injuries that require extensive medical treatment and cause long-term disability typically result in higher settlements or verdicts.
Conversely, minor injuries with limited medical intervention may lead to lower compensation.
A skilled McAllen car accident lawyer can help ensure that your injury claim fully reflects the impact of your injuries, including future medical expenses and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
Why Timely Medical Treatment Matters for Your Case
Delaying medical treatment after a car accident can harm both your health and your legal case. Late treatment may worsen injuries and make recovery more difficult. From a legal perspective, gaps in medical care or late diagnoses can be used by insurance adjusters to challenge the causal link between the accident and your injuries.
Therefore, prompt and continuous medical care is essential to protect your health and strengthen your personal injury claim.
How a Skilled McAllen Car Accident Lawyer Can Assist
An experienced McAllen car accident lawyer understands the complexities of injury claims and can help you navigate the legal process. They will work with medical experts to accurately assess your injuries and future medical costs, ensuring that your claim reflects the full extent of your damages.
Additionally, they will advocate on your behalf to secure maximum compensation for your physical harm, emotional distress, and financial losses resulting from the accident.
By hiring a knowledgeable McAllen car accident lawyer, you increase your chances of obtaining a fair settlement that covers all aspects of your injury, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any long-term care needs.
Contact Ruy Mireles Law Firm, PLLC, today to schedule a free consultation and discuss how we can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Should I Accept the First Offer Presented By the Insurance Company?
When you have been involved in a car accident, the insurance company will likely contact you quickly after you file a claim. Insurance providers deal with countless personal injury claims annually and are eager to try to resolve them quickly.
The insurance company may offer you a quick settlement that seems tempting to accept at first glance. However, quick settlements rarely account for pain and suffering or future medical expenses. Insurers know that many accident victims are worried about their lost wages and medical bills and will accept settlements out of fear of the future.
The best option to protect your financial well-being is to hire an experienced personal injury attorney to handle all the legal issues with the insurance company. An accident attorney is familiar with the nuances of personal injury law and the methods insurance providers use to avoid paying fair compensation.
Often, an insurance company is more willing to offer a fair settlement if it knows you have hired an attorney to assist you. Our McAllen car accident lawyer will handle all legal matters with the insurance company representing the at-fault driver so that you can focus on your recovery.
How Do Texas’s Comparative Negligence Laws Affect Compensation Claims?
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence doctrine, meaning that even if an injured victim is partially at fault, they can still pursue compensation. However, any compensation they recover will be reduced by the percentage of fault they are assigned.
For example, if you are awarded $250,000 financial compensation but are found to be 10% at fault for the accident, your settlement will be reduced by $25,000. If the plaintiff is found to be more than 50% at fault, they cannot pursue compensation.
Insurance companies often try to leverage the state’s comparative negligence laws to their advantage to reduce payouts. If you are injured, the insurance provider may argue that you are totally or partially at fault, so they can try to deny or reduce any compensation they may have to pay.
Unlike what is portrayed in advertising and the media, insurance companies are more concerned about their profitability than claimants’ well-being.
How A Personal Injury Law Firm can Help Gather Evidence
Due to the manipulative tactics that insurers often use, hiring a personal injury attorney is always the best option. An accident attorney can gather critical evidence, including witness statements, medical records, police reports, and video surveillance that substantiate your claim.
Our personal injury law firm has comprehensive experience fighting for the rights of accident victims. If we agree to take your case, we will craft an innovative strategy that will withstand legal scrutiny should the case need to be resolved in court.
Why Do I Need to Hire a McAllen Car Accident Lawyer to Help Me File a Claim?
Due to the legal complexities and deceptive tactics used by insurers, you must hire a skilled attorney when filing a personal injury claim. Due to the countless numbers of car and truck accidents that occur annually in Texas alone, many insurers want to resolve claims, but often at the cost of injured victims.
A McAllen car accident lawyer can help you begin the confusing claims process by helping you complete and submit insurance paperwork on time, so you do not miss any critical deadlines. One of the key reasons that insurance claims are denied is that they are incomplete or not filled out correctly.
A personal injury lawyer also has the legal and financial resources to gather essential evidence that verifies your version of how the accident occurred. If you have suffered serious injuries that will require expensive medical treatment or leave you permanently disabled, the insurance provider may try to blame you to avoid a large payout.
One of the most significant legal services injury lawyers provide to accident victims is negotiating with insurers to obtain a fair settlement. A skilled lawyer will seek compensation that adequately provides for your damages, including lost wages and future medical bills.
If you have been injured in a car accident, you need a personal injury law firm that will fight for you and your future. Contact Ruy Mireles Law Firm, PLLC, today to learn how we can help.
What Type of Financial Compensation Can I Try to Recover After Being Injured in a Car Crash?
Filing a personal injury claim aims to seek compensation that will pay for economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are compensation for money you have paid out of pocket after being harmed by someone else’s negligence. Economic damages are tangible losses that can be verified through receipts, medical bills, and property damage estimates, and include compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
- Property damage
Additionally, an experienced Texas personal injury attorney may also be able to recover compensation that pays for ongoing medical treatments that can be costly to try and pay independently.
Non-Economic Damages in Injury Cases
Non-economic damages are compensation for intangible losses that cannot be quantified financially. Non-economic or general damages are based on the unique facts involved in the accident and will vary from case to case. Commonly awarded non-economic damages may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disfigurement and scarring
How Long Do I Have to File a Texas Car Accident Claim?
If you have been injured in a Texas car accident, you will generally have two years from the day of the collision to file a claim. The two-year statute of limitations ensures that there is no backlog of cases, evidence is easy to obtain, and potential defendants do not have to live indefinitely with the fear of litigation. If you fail to file a claim within the two-year time limit, your case will likely be thrown out, and you will have no other legal recourse to obtain compensation.
Even though the state’s statute of limitations allows accident victims up to two years to file claims, insurance companies usually require individuals to report accidents as quickly as possible. If you delay in reporting the accident, you could lose your ability to file a claim in the future.
If a government entity is the at-party, you will only have six months or less to file a compensation claim. The state also only allows families two years to file a wrongful death claim.
If you have been involved in a car crash, allow our McAllen personal injury lawyer to assist you in filing a claim immediately so you do not miss any crucial deadlines.
What Happens if the Insurance Company is Unwilling to Offer Fair Compensation for My Motor Vehicle Accident Damages?
If negotiations between your McAllen car wreck lawyer and the insurer fail to produce a fair settlement, your legal representative will file a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages. A personal injury attorney will gather evidence to build a robust case.
Your attorney may call on medical experts and accident reconstructionists who verify your events depending on the circumstances.
In some instances, you and the insurance provider can work out a fair settlement through mediation or arbitration that meets your needs. Although many car accident victims worry about their case having to go to trial, most personal injury claims are settled out of court.
Insurance companies generally want to avoid the time and expense involved with litigation and the possibility that a jury will award a plaintiff more than they would offer through negotiations.
Although many car accident victims worry about their case having to go to trial, most personal injury claims are settled out of court. Insurance companies try to avoid the time and expense involved with litigation and the possibility that a jury will award a plaintiff more than they would offer through negotiations.
If you have concerns about your car accident case, contact Ruy Mireles Law Firm, PLLC, today so we can answer your questions.
Does Your McAllen Car Accident Attorney Have the Experience It Takes to Help Me Recover Maximum Compensation?
If you have been injured in a McAllen car accident, you must hire McAllen personal injury lawyers to stand up for your rights and ensure you receive maximum compensation for damages. Ruy Mireles Law Firm, PLLC, is dedicated to helping clients when needed most and never backs down from a challenge.
If we agree to take your case, we will work tirelessly to help you recover full and fair compensation and hold the at-fault driver accountable for their actions. We know that no amount of financial compensation can make up for the harm you have suffered in your personal injury lawsuit.
Contact a McAllen Personal Injury Lawyer Today
However, holding the negligent driver accountable is often the only way to ensure you receive the justice you deserve.
Contact our McAllen car accident lawyer today at to schedule a free initial consultation. Remember, we don’t charge you anything unless we win your personal injury lawsuit.
