Car accidents, slips, trips, falls, and truck accidents. These are all examples of where a person’s negligence can lead to the injury or wrongful death of an innocent victim. These accidents happen through no fault of the victim, and this can leave those involved feeling like the world is against them.
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury because of negligent behavior, you should not be responsible for paying your medical expenses, replacing your property, or handling the shortfall from lost wages whilst you recover. You also deserve to seek compensation for the mental distress and pain you have had to go through as a result.
We recommend seeking aid from a Dripping Springs personal injury lawyer immediately. They will be able to evaluate your case and will be able to assist you in recovering your damages. A personal injury lawyer will have the experience and the knowledge to calculate what your damages are worth, investigate on your behalf and build a case that is hard to dispute.
Once you have agreed to representation from a reputable law firm, you can relax a little, confident in the knowledge that they are going to take over your case. This will give you the space and time to focus on your own recovery and mental well-being.
Chris Morrow Law, PLLC – The Attorney That Works
For the best possible chances of seeking full and maximum compensation, you need representation from a reputable Dripping Springs, TX, law office, one that has a proven track record of success in cases similar to your own.
At Chris Morrow Law, PLLC, our team of Dripping Springs personal injury lawyers have countless victories under our belt. We have won favorable outcomes and fair and reasonable settlements for accident victims in a wide variety of cases. We use this experience to tailor a bespoke strategy for each client, using past cases as a foundation. This means we know what strategies have the best chances of success for any given case.
Through our years of service to the state of Texas, we have built a reputation for fierce advocacy and reliable representation. We are led by an attorney with an impeccable reputation. Chris Morrow has earned his reputation through the incredible approach to the client-attorney relationship he employs and the precise and skilled manner in which he requires his team of attorneys to handle their cases.
Accessibility is incredibly important to our law firm, and we believe that all victims should have the right to seek representation when they have been the victim of an accident that wasn’t their fault and should not have to forgo representation due to a lack of finances.
This is why we offer all potential new clients a free consultation and case evaluation. In this initial consultation, we can advise victims of their rights and answer any important questions they may have. We can evaluate your case, advise you on whether it is worth pursuing, and if you are confident in our abilities, we can begin work right away.
We also work on a contingency fee basis, allowing us to work for clients without up-front fees. This means victims can seek our assistance without worrying about losing or initial costs. We only take our fees from your settlement if we win your case. If we don’t, it’s non-recourse, meaning you don’t have to pay us a penny.
Call us today at 512-520-8100.
What Types of Injury Does a Dripping Springs Personal Injury Law Firm Handle
As personal injury lawyers, we see every type of injury under the sun on a weekly basis. This means we have most likely dealt with cases just like yours before. The most common injuries that we deal with are:
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
- TBIs (traumatic brain injuries)
- Electrocution
- Injuries to the spine
- Burns to the skin, abrasions, and lacerations (cuts)
- Animal bites and attacks
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Drowning and choking
- Back and neck injuries, such as whiplash and crushing
- Premises liability
- Product liability
- Work injury
This list includes the most common injuries we deal with but is not comprehensive. Any injury caused by a negligent party and their behavior could qualify you for a personal injury claim, so if you have received an injury not on this list, get in touch with a Dripping Springs personal injury lawyer immediately.
The Process Of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer in Dripping Springs, TX
The very first step to raising a personal injury lawsuit should, in our opinion, always be to seek a reputable Dripping Springs personal injury lawyer to represent you. The earlier you get them involved, the easier it is going to be for everyone, and the better your chances will be of success.
If you have never had to retain a personal injury lawyer before, we know it can seem like a scary prospect.
At Chris Morrow Law, PLLC, this is just one of the reasons we offer a free consultation to potential new clients. This free consultation has no strings attached. If you want, you can simply use it to ask any important questions and have your case evaluated. If you wish to walk away after this, you can.
If you do wish to proceed and you are confident in our abilities and comfortable with your assigned personal injury lawyer, we can spring into action, taking over the tedious aspects and the investigation and building your case.
What Damages Can I Recover With a Dripping Springs, TX Personal Injury Lawyer
One of the most important jobs that your Dripping Springs personal injury lawyer will take on is the calculation of your damages, both economic and non-economic. This is one of the most important aspects of any personal injury case, as it will dictate how much compensation you seek.
Economic Damages
Economic damage is any losses incurred that have a physical price tag. The repair of your car or replacement of your motorcycle following a car accident is an economic damage. Other examples include medical bills and loss of income.
These damages can be calculated easily and can be supported by invoices, bills, receipts, or other necessary documentation.
Non-Economic Damages
Your non-economic damages are a little bit more difficult to work out. To place a value on them, your personal injury lawyer will need to consider what they are worth. Your non-economic damages cover things that do not have a tangible price tag.
Examples of your non-economic damages are any pain and suffering you have been through or will go through and any loss of enjoyment of life you have suffered.
The more experience your Dripping Springs personal injury lawyer has in doing this for previous clients in previous cases, the better. When a personal injury lawyer can draw upon past experience, it allows them to maximize the value of your damages without them being seen as more than what is fair and reasonable.
When damages are calculated in a way that is reasonable and fair, it serves two purposes.
- Firstly, when your settlement offer is made up of damages that have been calculated fairly, the other party will be more likely to offer you what you are seeking.
- Secondly, if you cannot win an out-of-court settlement, your attorney will find it easier to convince the court you deserve to be awarded what you are seeking.
You can assist your personal injury lawyer in this task by ensuring you are familiar with the damages and what they entail. These are the ones to keep in mind:
Medical Bills
Medical bills have the ability to escalate suddenly. If your injuries have resulted in multiple surgeries or serious long-term treatment, your insurance coverage, if you have insurance, may not be enough to cover it. This can leave you finding your medical bills yourself or, worse, not being able to afford the treatment you need.
You should not be left in this situation, especially as the accident and your injuries occurred through no fault of your own.
With your Dripping Springs personal injury lawyers, you will be able to recover all medical expenses you have incurred. These include:
- Treatment costs.
- Medication costs.
- Surgery costs.
- Transport to and from the hospital.
- Childcare.
In Texas, you are entitled to seek the recovery of all past, present, and future medical expenses. This means you can recover your treatment costs from the aftermath of your accident, and if you are going to require long-term medical care, your personal injury lawyer will be able to calculate what that is worth. To do this, they may employ the help of a medical expert to corroborate your claims.
It is instrumental if you wish to seek the maximum recovery of damages to retain all receipts, bills, and invoices for the treatment you receive, as they will support your claims.
You should also keep a diary of your pain levels daily and your mood levels, as well as any treatment you have received that day. This will help when your attorney is considering the pain and suffering you have been through.
Loss of Earnings and Lost Wages
When it comes to personal injury accidents, most of the time, injuries require the victim to take time off work. This often leads to a loss of income and wages.
Fortunately, you can recover all lost wages you have incurred as a result of the accident, and if your injuries mean you will need to take longer off work in the future, you can claim for this too. If your injuries are so bad that you will never be able to return to work in the same capacity you may be entitled to seek a lifetime of lost wages.
Pain and Suffering
Your pain and suffering relates to the pain you have been through as a result of the accident and the suffering, both physically and mentally.
If you have spent weeks in pain as a result of the injuries, you deserve to be compensated for this. If you have suffered from a loss of enjoyment of life, for example, if you can no longer go hunting or play basketball because of your injuries, you deserve to be compensated for this loss.
Pain and suffering damages need a skilled and experienced Dripping Springs personal injury lawyer in order to be calculated in a fair and reasonable manner. Too little and you may not receive the compensation that you deserve; too much and the other party or the courts may think you are asking for more than you deserve.
The Importance of Assigning Negligence Following a Dripping Springs Personal Injury Accident
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). ”
If you are still unclear, negligent behavior is any behavior seen as different from reasonable.
An example would be driving faster than the posted speed limit and causing an accident. A reasonable person would follow the speed limit.
The Four Elements of a Personal Injury Case
There are four important elements that your Dripping Springs personal injury lawyer will need to consider. If your case ends up proceeding to the courtroom, they will be expected to prove each element, so it is worth familiarizing yourself with them:
- The at-fault party had a duty of care for the individual who was injured.
- The at-fault party breached their duty of care to the victim by acting in a way that is seen as negligent.
- The injuries of the victim are a result of that negligence.
- The incident led to the victim suffering from economic and non-economic losses.
Maximizing Your Chances of Success
There are things you can do to increase your chances of a successful claim, and there are things you should avoid doing.
Things to Avoid Doing After The Accident
Let us start with the things that you should avoid doing.
Never Apologize or Admit Fault
During the chaos of an accident, victims sometimes apologize without meaning to. If you apologize to the at-fault party, there is a highly likely chance that they will use this against you. If the other insurance company learns of this, they will use your apology as an admission of guilt. This may reduce your compensation or, in the worst-case scenario, cause you to lose your case.
Never Allow an Insurance Company Representative to Record Your Conversation
The other party’s insurance company will probably contact you at some point. This may seem innocent, but if they ask you to record your call, this is a major red flag. Do not accept and inform your Dripping Springs personal injury lawyer. Ask the insurance company to speak to your personal injury lawyer going forward.
This is because the insurance company may use what you say in your phone call as a way to reduce their liability. They might ask loaded questions and use tricks to get you to admit fault in some way or another without you even realizing it.
Never Accept a Settlement Offer on the Spot
Another common strategy is to offer what seems like a decent settlement figure in the days that follow the accident in the hopes that you accept it. Once you have accepted any settlement, you have forgone the right to seek further compensation. This means you will not be able to claim more, even if you end up suffering further damages.
Always speak to your Dripping Springs personal injury lawyer about any settlement offer.
Things You Should Do at The Scene of the Accident
Prioritize Your Safety
Your safety and well-being should always be the top priority in any accident. This means you should ensure you are safe and out of danger first. Check yourself for injuries before you check anyone else. If you are in further danger, move away, even if others seem to be in danger too.
Check for Injuries and Call an Ambulance
Call an ambulance immediately if there are any injuries or if you suspect there are any. They will be able to treat any injuries and will check people over for hidden internal injuries as well. Internal bleeding may not have any outward symptoms, and adrenaline and shock can mask other important indicators. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
Collect Evidence and Speak to Witnesses
If you have not had to receive immediate medical attention and your injuries allow it, now is the perfect time to collect some important evidence. Taking pictures or a video and collecting witness statements and details at the scene will massively help your personal injury lawyer.
Call a Personal Injury Lawyer
The more time you give your personal injury lawyer, the better. If you call a lawyer as soon as you can, they will be able to investigate quicker and build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
Do I Really Need a Dripping Springs Personal Injury Lawyer?
In the state of Texas, you are fully within your rights to seek compensation for your injuries and damages by yourself. This does not, however, make it a smart idea. You will be responsible for pushing the case. Some personal injury cases can last several years, and you will be responsible for your case for this entire period.
Often victims will assume that they will walk away with a higher figure in terms of compensation without the added fees of their attorney, but this is another misconception. In the majority of cases, a Dripping Springs personal injury lawyer will win a higher figure of compensation. Even with their fees, this is usually that much higher that you will end up with a larger sum.
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, too, meaning you won’t have to find fees upfront to hire them, and you won’t have to pay unless you win.
Finally, you are going to be seeking compensation from the other party’s insurance company, and they will most likely employ an entire team of highly skilled and aggressive lawyers and loss adjusters. This puts you at a major disadvantage when you are fighting without any legal representation whatsoever.
It is also worth noting that the other party may decide to settle with you simply because you have retained a Dripping Springs personal injury lawyer with a strong reputation, as they know their chances of winning are slim.
Dripping Springs Personal Injury FAQs
It is extremely unethical for an attorney to guarantee a client a victory. If you are considering employing an attorney who has promised you a victory, we advise against it.
Some personal injury cases are simple. There is a clear liability and few parties involved. These cases may be over quickly.
Some cases, however, may take several years to complete. If there is a question of liability, serious injuries, or multiple parties, expect your case to take longer.
You do not have to go to a specific medical provider for treatment. You have the right to use whoever you wish. The only exception to this is if you have been injured in a workplace accident. In these cases, there may be a company-approved healthcare insurance provider.
If your accident involved damage to a car, motorcycle, or truck, you have the right to get it repaired at any repair shop you wish.
Contact Us Here at Chris Morrow Law, PLLC Today
When you have been injured in an accident that was caused by a negligent party, it is normal to feel overwhelmed and frustrated. You should not be left to deal with the rising medical bills and lost wages alone.
Here at Chris Morrow Law, PLLC, each and every Dripping Springs personal injury lawyer on our team is courtroom tested. We are as experienced at seeking settlement as we are in courtroom litigation, meaning we are ready to handle your case, no matter what direction it takes.
We take the time to build a strong and secure attorney-client relationship with every client that comes to us.
Contact us today to arrange a free consultation at 512-520-8100.
