Cedar Park Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been the victim of an accident caused by the negligence of somebody else in Cedar Park TX, you may be unsure of what your rights are in terms of seeking compensation for the damages you have suffered as a result.

In the state of Texas, personal injury lawsuits can be raised against an individual if they had a duty of care to the victim and breached the duty of care by acting in a negligent manner.

This is good news for victims that are suffering from the aftermath of an accident that wasn’t their fault. Accidents may leave victims with injuries that require medical attention and it shouldn’t be down to them to pay for these medical bills out of their own pocket. Equally, victims deserve to be compensated for the mental distress and pain, and suffering they have had to go through as a result.

If your accident occurred in Cedar Park, TX, then your first port of call should be to get in touch with a dedicated Cedar Park, TX personal injury lawyer. Personal injury law in Texas can be complex and tricky to navigate, even for a skilled attorney, and your chances for success will be much higher with legal representation.

When you seek legal representation, you ensure that you have the experience and knowledge of a personal injury attorney behind you. You also get to take a step back from the situation, giving yourself time to breathe and focus on your mental health and physical recovery.

Chris Morrow Law, PLLC – The Attorney That Works

Led by Chris Morrow, the team here at Chris Morrow Law, PLLC serves the Austin, Round Rock, George Town, and Cedar Park, TX areas.

We have been working on behalf of clients in similar cases for over 25 years since our founding in 1994. We work passionately on behalf of our clients to ensure that they have every fighting chance of seeking the full and maximum compensation that may be on offer to them.

By working on a no-win-no-fee basis and by offering a free consultation and free case evaluation to all new clients, our help extends to all victims, no matter what their financial situation.

Contact us today at 512-520-8100.

Damages a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help Me Claim in Cedar Park, TX

Compensatory damages are split into two categories: your economic damages, and your non-economic damages.

To seek and recover your damages, your best option is to utilize the skills of a Cedar Park personal injury lawyer with experience in doing so. Your personal injury lawyer will use their previous knowledge of similar cases to work out fair and reasonable figures for your non-economic damages.

They will also know how to advise you in the best possible manner in terms of retaining all necessary documentation to calculate your economic damages in the most accurate manner, too.

The more accurately you calculate your damages, the more difficult the other party will find it to dispute them. This means your chances of them accepting a settlement offer will be higher and if your case does proceed to court, your case will be much stronger.

These are the damages that you need to be aware of:

Medical Bills

One of the most worrying financial consequences of an accident is that your medical insurance coverage will not cover the costs of all the medical treatment you need as a result. If this does happen, you may be left finding the difference from your own pocket and this is not fair.

Fortunately, you can recover these damages from the at-fault party. Your medical damages include any procedures you have had to undergo, any therapy, medication, and all costs associated with being in the hospital, like taxi costs and food.

To assist your personal injury attorney here and help your case, you should keep copies of all of your medical bills and receipts.

Another way you can help is by keeping a daily diary of your pain levels, treatment, and your mood. This doesn’t have to be a novel, just a quick rating of your pain and how you feel and details of any treatment or medication you have been given that day.

Loss of Earnings and Lost Wages

Most accident injuries require the victim to take some time off work in order to recover and receive treatment. This will usually lead to a loss of wages and earnings to some degree.

You can recover all lost wages, both past, and future. If you are going to need to take time off for more treatment, this will be calculated and if you can no longer work in the same capacity that you used to, you may be able to claim for a lifetime of lost wages.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering damages cover a lot of the damages that cannot be quantified by a physical sum. If you have suffered from pain, emotional distress, or a loss of enjoyment of life, you can seek compensation for your suffering.

If you have developed a fear of driving as a result of a car accident, or you can no longer play the same sports that you used to play, this can class as a loss of enjoyment of life and you should be compensated.

Pain and suffering damages are the most difficult to work out accurately. Cedar Park personal injury lawyers with experience in similar cases will be able to draw upon their past victories to put sums to your suffering.

What Types of Injury Does a Cedar Park Personal Injury Lawyer Deal With

As a personal injury law firm, we see a wide variety of different injuries in the Cedar Park, TX area. Some of them are more common than others. If you have suffered from the following injuries as a result of an accident, there is a good chance you have grounds for a claim:

• Burns to the skin, abrasions, and lacerations (cuts).
• Drowning and choking.
• TBIs (traumatic brain injuries).
• Injuries to the spine.
• Animal bites and attacks.
• Electrocution.
• Back and neck injuries, such as whiplash and crushing.

While these are the most common, they aren’t the only injuries that qualify a victim to make a claim. If you have been involved in an accident, and have suffered an injury not on this list as the result of somebody else’s negligence, get in touch with our Cedar Park personal injury lawyer today for a free case evaluation.

The Process of a Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer in Cedar Park, TX Area

If you are considering a personal injury claim in Cedar Park, your first move will be to choose a skilled lawyer for representation in your case. You should try to find a team of personal injury lawyers that have an excellent track record, full of victories in cases similar to yours. They should also have exceptional time management skills and strong communication.

We know how difficult it can be to choose representation here at Chris Morrow Law, PLLC. For this reason, we offer all potential clients a free consultation. This allows potential clients to ask any questions they have regarding the process and ensures that you are comfortable with us before you move forward to the next step.

In the initial consultation, we will lay down our fee structure in a clear to understand manner so that you understand how we work. Armed with the relevant information and some free legal advice, you can make an informed decision on whether you wish to proceed with your case.

Once you have agreed to representation, we will begin working on your behalf. We will file all the relevant paperwork correctly and on time, and we will speak to the other parties’ insurance companies. We will start investigating, collecting evidence, and adding it to the evidence you have already provided and will speak to any witnesses if there were any who witnessed what happened.

How Does a Cedar Park Personal Injury Lawyer Assign Negligence

Your case’s success will rely upon you and your attorney proving certain elements. One of the most important elements will be proving that the other party acted negligently.

Negligent behavior, defined by Cornell Law School, is:

“A failure to behave with the level of care that someone of ordinary prudence would have exercised under the same circumstances.  The behavior usually consists of actions, but can also consist of omissions when there is some duty to act (e.g., a duty to help victims of one’s previous conduct). “

In more simple terms, negligent behavior is any behavior that is different from how a sensible, reasonable person placed in the same situation would have acted.

The Four Elements of a Personal Injury Case

If your personal injury claim requires litigation in the courtroom, you will be expected to prove four elements in order for the court to award you your damages:

1. The at-fault party had a duty of care for the individual who was injured.
2. The at-fault party breached their duty of care to the victim by acting in a way that is seen as negligent.
3. The injuries of the victim are a result of that negligence.
4. The incident led to the victim suffering from economic and non-economic losses.

The Do’s and the Don’ts After an Accident in Cedar Park, Texas

From the moment the accident occurred, your behavior is important. If you want to maximize your chances of success and ensure you do not accept accidental liability, there are certain things you should and should not do.

Things to Avoid Doing

Let us start with the things that you should avoid doing.

Never Apologize

One of the most crucial things you should bear in mind is that you should never apologize in any way, shape, or form. Apologizing is an instant way to accept some form of liability. If you apologize to the other party, they will use it against you.

Never Allow an Insurance Company Representative to Record Your Conversation

Both insurance companies may be looking for a way to reduce the amount they have to pay out following the accident. One way they do this is to record seemingly innocent phone calls with victims. They may ring to ask what happened and use underhanded tricks in order to get you to say something that reduces their liability.

If an insurance representative asks to record a conversation with you, politely decline and inform them that you wish them to liaise with your personal injury lawyer going forward and not yourself.

Never Accept a Settlement Offer on the Spot

If you are offered a settlement you should always reply that you want to think about it and discuss the offer with your personal injury lawyer. Another insurance company trick is to offer a settlement that is lower than they know is reasonable in the hopes you accept as you need the money.

The first settlement offer is almost always lower than they are willing to truly offer.

Things You Should Do!

Next, let’s look at some things you should do at the scene of the accident to ensure you have the best chances of seeking compensation:

Prioritize Your Safety

The top priority following an accident should always be your own health and safety. To do this, first check to see if you have hit your head, or if you have any pain in your back or shoulders. This could be an indication of trauma in the spine or a TBI, and you should not move if possible until the paramedics turn up.

If your injuries allow it, move from any further danger. For example, if you have been involved in a car accident, move away from oncoming traffic.

Check for Injuries and Call an Ambulance

If you are able to, check yourself and any others involved for signs of injury and if there are any, call for an ambulance, even if the injuries seem minor. Certain serious injuries, like internal bleeding or head trauma, may have no outward symptoms to begin with.

The ambulance team will be able to check everyone over and ensure that any serious injuries are dealt with immediately. They will also file an accident report that you can later use as evidence.

Call The Police or Fire Department if Necessary

If the accident was caused by a drunken or aggressive party, call for the police, or if it involves fire, electricity, gas, explosion, or structural damage, call for the fire department. They will ensure that the scene is made safe and both departments will file an accident report.

Collect Evidence and Speak to Witnesses

If you are in a position to do so, you should begin collecting evidence and speaking to any witnesses on the scene to collect their details and a short statement. You should take videos and pictures of the accident and write down what happened in your own words while it is still fresh.

Call a Cedar Park Personal Injury Lawyer

Once you have followed the above steps, a smart move is to call a Cedar Park personal injury lawyer immediately. They will advise you on what to do next and may remind you to do the above if you have not already. They will also be able to investigate immediately, which will give them the best possible chance of building the strongest case on your behalf.

Do I Really Need a Cedar Park Personal Injury Lawyer?

Without dedicated representation, your chances of successfully winning the maximum compensation are usually lower. People still do it, as they are under the common misconception that they will walk away with more, but in the majority of cases, they do not.

Even with a personal injury attorney deducting their fees from your settlement, you will usually walk away with more money in your pocket, as they will normally win a higher settlement figure.

A personal injury claim can also take several years to settle, and if you do not seek representation from a skilled personal injury attorney, you will have to fight the entire time by yourself. You will be responsible for filing paperwork, working out your damages, and dealing with the insurance companies by yourself. If you are dealing with serious injuries and mental trauma, this may not be the best position to fight your case from.

Lastly, personal injury cases involve fighting against insurance companies, and these companies usually employ extremely skilled and often aggressive loss adjusters and legal teams. This puts you at a massive advantage. They deal with cases like this every day, and it is their sole job to reduce their liability and your eventual settlement.

In many cases, insurance companies may simply decide to settle due to the knowledge that you have a strong attorney behind you, as they know a lengthy legal battle where they eventually lose will cost them more than the settlement.

Deadline after an Accident

Under the Texas Statute of Limitations, you have a certain period to make a claim following an accident. After this time, you are barred from making a claim and if you try to raise one, it will be thrown out.

How Do I Find a Good Personal Injury Lawyer in Cedar Park, Texas

We understand that choosing a personal injury law firm to represent you is a difficult choice, and we recommend that you take your time and do your research.

In our opinion, here are the important factors you should consider:

1. Do not hire a lawyer based on flashy ads or billboards, instead, ask to see their previous victories.
2. Look for a personal injury lawyer that has strong organization and time management skills. They will most likely have a full caseload, but that should not stop them from making time for you and answering your queries promptly.
3. Make sure that you take advantage of a free consultation to ensure that your personalities do not clash. You may have to work with your lawyer for several years, so make sure you get along.

Cedar Park Personal Injury FAQs