Accidents can happen anywhere, even if you are the most careful person. It is hard to predict just when you could be the victim of an accident that was not your fault. Unplanned injuries can prove to be very expensive as well as traumatic.
If you are sure that you know who was responsible for your injuries, you should consider the possibility of claiming compensation through a personal injury attorney. Talk to a Laredo based personal injury attorney as soon as you are able to do so.
Choosing a Personal Injury Attorney in Laredo
If you are considering taking legal action after an accident that has injured you through no fault of your own you should first contact a Laredo based personal injury attorney.
Attorneys tend to specialize in different aspects of law, so you should select an attorney who is both licensed and understands how personal injury claims should be filed and fought in Texas. There are around 70 personal injury attorneys registered in Laredo alone, so there is certainly no shortage to choose from.
Typical Injuries in Laredo
Injuries can happen anywhere, but there are some accidents that are more common than others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains a record of accident types and their prevalence across the U.S.
These figures are obtainable through the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics.
The Center’s statistics reveal that by far the greatest percentage of injuries*, especially serious ones, happen on the highways. Traffic accidents account for 10% of all injuries.
Slip, trip and fall injuries that can happen anywhere, even in an office environment. A proportion of these injuries may be attributable to improper maintenance by city authorities.
Construction accidents account for many workplace related injuries, although compensation for workplace injuries may be obtained through a workers’ compensation claim, if the employer has this type of insurance.
Medical malpractice also accounts for a significant number of injuries and fatalities in Texas. Medical malpractice includes things like misdiagnosis, incorrect drug prescription, prescription errors and improper surgical techniques.
The Personal Injury Claim Process in Texas
If you are injured by a private individual, business or organization in Laredo, then your ability to file a personal injury claim will be subject to Texas laws on personal injury claims.
Note that a claim against a government body like the city of Laredo can be more complicated than suing a private party. Generally, you have two years to file a claim against a private party in Texas, but only six months to file a claim against a government entity.
Personal injury claims should be filed with the relevant court. In Laredo, this is the Webb County Civil Court. Claims should be filed electronically, although the curt is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for enquiries.
The personal injury claim process is not something to be handled lightly. You need to have sufficient proof that someone else was responsible for your injuries and you must have proof that the injuries were caused by a specific event or events.
It is common for the defendant in a personal injury lawsuit to allege that you were at least partly to blame for your own injuries. Texas’ comparative negligence laws mean that you can still claim a percentage of compensation even if you were partly to blame, as long as your percentage of blame was less than 50%.
Personal injury lawsuits against your own employer are only feasible if your employer did not have workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation is not compulsory in Texas, so this is entirely possible. Talk to an experienced personal injury attorney after any kind of accident that was not your fault.
Use a Free Claim Evaluation to Find a Suitable Personal Injury Attorney
With so many good potential attorneys available in Laredo, it can be hard to know who to choose. We have made that easier for you. You just have to complete the free claim evaluation form below for help in selecting the attorney who is best for your claim situation.
Additional Resources
Source: * bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp&tid=45