When you are involved in a car accident, it is important to know your rights. If you suffered physical or emotional losses in the wreck, the negligent parties have a legal obligation to pay your damages.
Working with a local personal injury attorney is the best way to get the compensation you deserve. A Gulfton car accident lawyer understands the claims process in Texas and knows how to get insurance companies and other responsible parties to live up to their legal obligations.
Get Immediate Medical Attention After a Car Wreck
Sometimes vehicle accident injuries are so severe that a victim must be transported to a hospital immediately. Thankfully, in many cases, car wreck injuries are not life-threatening. Regardless, anyone in a car accident should get medical attention as quickly as possible.
If emergency medical personnel offer a ride to the hospital in an ambulance, a person who has been in a wreck should accept the offer even if they think it is unnecessary. If transport via ambulance is not an option, they should get a ride to the hospital or their primary care physician as soon as possible.
Adrenalin can mask pain, so a person could suffer significant injuries in a wreck and not know it immediately. A healthcare provider could conduct a thorough examination to ensure that the accident survivor does not have significant injuries (such as a TBI or spinal cord damage) and could provide essential treatment if they do. In addition, a medical record generated soon after an accident provides critical evidence that a Gulfton motor vehicle accident attorney could present when negotiating a settlement.
Car Accident Claims Process in Gulfton
The at-fault driver is responsible for the losses that others suffer due to the accident. An injured person submits their claim for damages to the other driver’s insurer. Typically, the at-fault driver’s insurance company responds with an offer of less than the amount the injured person claimed.
A Gulfton attorney could submit the car accident claim on an injured person’s behalf. Generally, insurance companies are more likely to negotiate in good faith when they know an injured person has capable legal representation.
The process could get complicated if an at-fault driver is uninsured or their policy limits are insufficient to pay the injured person’s damages. If the injured person has uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, they could turn to their insurance company for payment. If the injured person did not buy this optional coverage, they could pursue the at-fault driver and any other responsible parties in court.
Potentially Negligent Parties in Car Accident Cases
Most accidents are caused at least in part by negligent drivers, but others could be liable, as well. Seeking out other potentially liable parties increases the likelihood that an injured person will receive a reasonable settlement. Looking for other responsible parties is especially important if the at-fault driver’s policy limits are insufficient to cover an injured person’s losses.
Various parties could have responsibility for a wreck, depending on the cause. Some examples of parties other than the at-fault driver who could potentially be liable include:
- An at-fault driver’s employer if they were working when the accident happened
- A manufacturer if mechanical failure contributed to the wreck
- A restaurant or bar if the at-fault driver was drunk
- A local government if poor road conditions were a factor in the crash
If the at-fault driver did not own the vehicle they were operating at the time of the crash, the owner also could be liable under a theory called negligent entrustment. A Gulfport auto collision attorney could present evidence the owner was negligent in allowing an incapable or incompetent driver to use their vehicle.
Sometimes the injured person also bears some responsibility for an accident. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001 allows them to seek damages from other negligent parties if the injured person’s conduct was not the primary cause of the crash.
Claim Your Damages with a Gulfton Car Accident Attorney
Even minor car accidents could be disruptive and expensive, and an accident that causes severe injuries might be life-changing. You deserve adequate compensation regardless of the severity of the crash.
A Gulfton car accident lawyer could aggressively negotiate to get you a settlement that offers fair compensation for the losses the wreck caused. Call the Gutierrez Law Firm today to get a committed advocate working for you.
