Why You Shouldn't Settle Too Quickly After a Laredo Truck Accident

After an 18 wheeler or big truck accident in Laredo, TX, you may be overwhelmed by injuries and their associated costs, pain, mounting household bills, and more. To hasten financial recovery, you might be tempted to accept a settlement offer too quickly, but doing so will likely guarantee that you are leaving substantial compensation on the table. Hiring a local lawyer ensures that your rights are protected and that you have an advocate who understands the intricacies of the local legal landscape, thus securing you get the compensation you deserve.

The Laredo TX injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw know how to negotiate a better settlement or are prepared to take your case to trial to maximize your rightful compensation. We offer our services on a contingency-fee-basis, and we have English- AND Spanish-speaking staff available, reducing the barriers to legal assistance. Read our client reviews to find out more.

An initial settlement offer is often an attempt to resolve a lawsuit with minimal damages to the defendant. They are often low offers that don’t reflect all the commercial trucking accident damages claimed by the plaintiff.

While most cases do settle outside of court to minimize legal costs, settling too early can leave truck accident victims with less money than they need to make a complete recovery. Hiring a lawyer with high-quality negotiation skills ensures you don’t accept a lowball offer.

The compensable damages allowed by the Laredo, Texas, civil court system include economic, noneconomic, and exemplary damages. This includes:

• Medical bills
• Property damages
• Lost income
• Wrongful death
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Punitive damages

It is unlikely that you’ll get punitive damages in a settlement offer, as this is usually awarded during a trial in cases of gross negligence, meaning you and your attorney cannot include it in the claim. However, settlement offers should include noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and more.

Your legal team will work to gather evidence to prove liability and support your claim. You can aid this process by taking photos at the scene of the South Texas accident or getting witness contact information. Keeping a journal of the day-to-day impacts of the accident can also benefit your case.

You do not have to accept a settlement offer; rejecting an offer doesn’t automatically mean you are destined for a trial. Instead, you counteroffer with an amount you and your lawyer agree is fair compensation for your damages. You can negotiate a Laredo truck accident settlement back and forth repeatedly until you reach an agreement or the parties decide that the court must intervene to reach a decision.

Rule 167 in the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure outlines some legal requirements for a settlement and its acceptance or rejection. Once the plaintiff accepts the settlement agreement and the Webb County District Court enforces it, the plaintiff can no longer sue the defendant for the same accident. The law considers the incident resolved, so negotiating fair compensation is incredibly important.

Negotiating a settlement is a skill that comes with experience, and the Carabin Shaw legal team has decades of experience in personal injury law. We will provide evidence to support your claim and ensure you get the most out of your truck accident lawsuit. We’ll also provide transparent information about the advantages and disadvantages of going to trial so you can make sound decisions about when to accept a settlement offer.

Dealing with the aftermath of a truck accident can be a stressful and painful process. The commercial auto insurance and the 18 wheeler company’s legal team will do their best to mitigate their damages regardless of your legal rights. A skilled 18 wheeler accident attorney Laredo levels the playing field, making the process fair for the injured victim.

At Carabin Shaw, we maximize fair outcomes for all our clients while remaining compassionate and empathetic about their physical, emotional, and financial struggles. Call our toll-free number today at 800-862-1260 to schedule a free consultation. Someone is available 24/7 to speak with you.

For more information:

• Texas Statutes 41
• TX Courts
• Web County TX