FAQs About Car Accidents
Below are some frequently asked questions about Car Accidents:
Do I Need A Personal Injury Lawyer?
There’s no legal requirement to hire a car accidents lawyer, but it’s in your best interest to do so. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses. Their goal is to make money, not give it away, so they will do everything they can to reduce your payout or avoid making one altogether.
When you work with McLaurin Law, our experienced insurance and auto accident lawyers can ensure that doesn’t happen. Our founder, Jason McLaurin, is a car accidents lawyer with experience working in the insurance space. He knows how insurers approach car accident claims and how to fight for your interests.
Can I Seek Damages If I Am At Fault?
Texas takes a fault-based approach to car accident cases. That means you can only seek damages if the other driver was at fault.
However, you don’t have to be completely fault-free. Under the state’s modified comparative negligence rule, you may seek compensation if you were less than 51% at fault.
The judge or jury will decide the fault percentage of all drivers involved in the accident and reduce your damages accordingly. For example, if the total damages are $100,000 and your assigned fault is 30%, you can only seek $70,000.
What’s The Limit On Damages In Texas?
Unless the accident is a felony, the maximum compensation you can receive in a car accident case is the greater of three sums:
- $200,000
- Twice the amount of economic damages, plus $750,000
- Twice the amount of economic damages, plus any non-economic damages
However, this doesn’t apply if the other driver was in a community service program at the time of the accident. In that case, you can seek up to:
- $100,000 per person
- $300,000 per accident for personal injury or death
- $10,000 per accident for property damage
A personal injury lawyer from our team at McLaurin Law can explain how much you can seek.
What Evidence Should I Collect After A Car Accident?
Try to gather as much evidence as you can at the scene of the accident, including:
- The other driver’s full name, address, driver’s license number, insurance company, and policy number
- The names and contact details of any eyewitnesses
- Photos and videos that clearly show the damage and the other driver’s license plate number
At McLaurin Law, our Houston car crash attorneys serve auto accident victims in and around Houston, TX. Call us at (713) 461-6500 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free strategy session with an experienced car accidents lawyer.
