How to Know if You Have a Potential Personal Injury Case
Personal injury law covers a broad expanse of accidents and injuries. Automobile accidents and slip and falls are just two examples of a potential personal injury case. You may be wondering how to know if you have a potential personal injury case if you’ve recently been involved in an accident. Before you file a San Antonio personal injury claim, consider speaking with an attorney to ensure you have a case. San Antonio residents can use the resources available at Carabin Shaw, such as a free initial consultation, before filing.
What is Personal Injury?Personal injury claims are essentially broken down to two components: liability and damages. Liability is similar to responsibility; so, whomever is responsible for the accident is held liable. Damages means any physical or mental damage caused by the accident. A San Antonio personal injury attorney may ask you questions about your incident before deciding to file a case. A successful personal injury claim directly connects your injuries, or damages, to the liability, or responsibility, of the defendant. Only then will you be compensated for your injuries.
What are Common Examples of Negligence?The most common examples of a personal injury case are automobile accidents and slip and falls. For example: if a driver disobeys traffic laws, thereby causing an accident and your injuries, the driver may be seen as negligent in court. Negligence relies of the following components:
- Duty: an obligation to provide a reasonable degree of care, including taking precautions against injury
- Breach of Duty: The defendant acted in a way that disregarded their duty
- Causation: The breach of duty caused injuries
- Damages: The plaintiff was harmed as a result of the defendant’s actions
A San Antonio accident attorney will develop each of these tenants in order to argue a negligence case. Establishing a duty between two parties is crucial to developing a negligence case. If you believe your injuries are a result of someone else’s negligence, then it may be time to speak to a qualified lawyer today.
What Can Damages Can I Sue For?Medical bills can rack up after a serious accident. You deserve to earn what you’ve lost due to the accident. You may be eligible to receive financial compensation for your San Antonio personal injury claim. Typically, you are able to sue for the following:
- Medical bills and expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and Suffering
Your attorney will work with you to determine what you can sue for, but it is necessary for you to keep track of all records during this time. You may be offered a settlement, in which case you will be offered a large sum of money in exchange for signing a contract, dropping negligence charges. A settlement can occur at any time during a case. If you decide to go to trial instead, however, your compensation may be determined by lawyers, judges, and a jury.
Knowing When to File a Personal Injury CaseUnder Texas law, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a case with a lawyer. If you are still wondering how to know if you have a potential personal injury case, then consider speaking to a San Antonio personal injury attorney. It’s integral to file within the statute of limitations, or time limit. You will not be able to file a claim after two years. You may have a case if your injuries were sustained as the result of someone else’s negligence. Don’t wait to file your claim, speak to a professional attorney today.
What Should I Do Now?You should call the office of Carabin Shaw in order to set up a free initial consultation with a San Antonio accident attorney. This call will help you determine the next legal steps to take. San Antonio residents have a valuable legal resource on their side. We’ve won over $500 million for our clients. What will you win? Call our office today at 210.222.2288.