Car accidents are extremely scary and stressful no matter what the situation is, whose fault it was, or how serious the outcome. And while sometimes a mere fender bender doesn’t do much damage, other accidents can be catastrophic in terms of injury, medical cost, and pain and suffering. If you live in the San Antonio area and have been injured, you may already be searching for a “personal injury claim lawyer near me.” If this is the case and you’d like to learn more about filing a personal injury claim after a car accident in San Antonio, please read on. The San Antonio car accident lawyers at Carabin Shaw have the information you need.
What To Do First After a San Antonio Car AccidentYour first order of business after a wreck, before even thinking about contacting a personal injury lawyer in San Antonio, is to seek medical treatment. There are several reasons for this, not the least of which is to protect your well-being and ensure you are safe. But seeking medical treatment quickly will allow you to document your injuries, which will prove important later on during your claim.
If it is as all possible, after you exchange insurance information with the other driver, you should also try to document the scene of the accident with photographic evidence. The police will get witness statements, but your evidence will be very helpful.
Finally, at this stage, you should avoid speaking with any insurance companies — have your lawyer do that for you — and do not admit fault or apologize for the accident.
Proving Liability in a Car AccidentWhen filing a personal injury claim after a car accident in San Antonio, your attorney will need to prove liability. They will interview you and investigate the accident thoroughly, so you need to be upfront and honest about what happened. What they will try to prove is that the other driver was liable for the accident and directly caused your injuries.
Note, however, that you may be found partially at fault for the accident. In this case, this means that whatever damages you are awarded are reduced by the percentage to which you were found liable. Thus, if you are found 25% liable for the accident, your compensation will be reduced by 25%. As long as you are under 50% liable you can still receive damages; however, if you are found 51% or more responsible for the accident, you are ineligible to receive anything.
Personal Injury Damages and CompensationThe next thing your personal injury lawyer in San Antonio will do is assess damages. In a car accident, you can receive both economic and non-economic damages. The former, economic damagers, are those that have a specific monetary values, such as:
Non-economic damages are a bit different: these are things that do not have a specific monetary values, such as:
After liability has been proven and damages have been assessed, the insurance company may offer to settle outside of court. Having a qualified, experienced San Antonio car accident lawyer by your side will ensure that you do not settle for less than your case is worth. If a settlement cannot be reached, your lawyer will take the case to court.
How Do I Find A Great Personal Injury Claim Lawyer Near Me?If you’re in the San Antonio area, look no further than Carabin Shaw. Our lawyers have over 200 years of combined experience with car accidents and other personal injury claims, and we will fight with all our power to make sure you get justice and receive the compensation you deserve. Call us today at (210) 222-2288 for a free, no obligation consultation with an attorney — you have nothing to lose.