When you have been paralyzed from a car accident, your life may suddenly be thrown into chaos. Losing your ability to function in the same manner you did before is frightening, and can result in extensive medical care and lifestyle accommodations. These types of catastrophic injuries caused in car accidents are often the result of negligence. Whether another driver was speeding, driving under the influence, distracted, or engaged in other unsafe driving behaviors, these accidents are often preventable.
When you are facing the daunting journey ahead, a Houston car accident lawyer is prepared to help you get justice and compensation to ensure you get the medical care you need along with financial peace of mind. Williams Hart & Boundas is committed to helping you understand your legal rights after paralysis from a car accident under Texas law.
Your Rights as a Paralyzed Motorist
The impact from car accidents can cause victims a number of severe injuries, which can include spinal cord or nerve damage that may lead to paralysis. Depending on the type and severity of the injury, victims may experience partial or complete paralysis.
Paralysis can affect several areas of the body, which can be localized to one limb or side. It can also affect multiple areas or the whole body. Individuals are likely to need equipment or devices to help them compensate for the loss of their previous functions.
When you have suffered paralysis after a car accident, the future may seem bleak as you watch medical bills rapidly increase. However, you do not have to deal with the aftermath on your own. In fact, you have a number of rights and options available to you that can help you get the support you need during this very difficult time. Below is a closer look at several actions that are within your rights to act upon.
The Right to Hire a Lawyer
You have the right to seek out legal representation and hire a lawyer to fight for you. This is not the time to proceed on your own. An experienced lawyer understands the many complexities and nuances that are associated with car accidents and catastrophic injury cases and knows how to navigate them to secure the most favorable outcome.
Having a lawyer on your side also communicates to other parties that you are serious about getting the settlement you deserve. Individuals who work with a lawyer often receive significantly higher results than those who negotiate with insurance companies on their own.
The Right to File an Insurance Claim
Texas is an at-fault state, which means that you have the right to file a claim with the negligent party’s insurance company after an accident. Because they caused you harm, their insurance must pay for your losses so you can get the medical care you need. By doing this, you can avoid filing a claim under your own policy.
However, you do still need to notify your insurance company about what occurred so they are aware. Additionally, it is important to be aware that insurance companies will likely try to offer you a minimal settlement, and your lawyer can demand that they increase their offer.
The Right to File a Personal Injury Claim
There are times when insurance is not enough to cover the extent of your losses. There may also be times when negotiations with insurance companies break down and they refuse to act in good faith. For these instances, you have the right to file a personal injury claim against the other driver directly.
Whether your case is settled or goes to trial, a personal injury claim provides you with the opportunity to seek results better suited to your unique needs after being paralyzed in a car accident. Your lawyer can provide sound counsel to help navigate these claims as they build you a solid case.
The Right to Damages
You have the right to seek damages for your losses to help offset your financial burden. Damages can provide relief for expenses such as medical costs, equipment, rehabilitation, medications, home accommodations, treatments, and services. Property damage and lost income can also be included in what you may be owed.
Moreover, compensation can also provide for your less tangible losses, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, reduced quality of life, and loss of enjoyment or consortium. Your lawyer will help you calculate each of your applicable losses to ensure your settlement sufficiently meets your needs.
The Right to Negotiate
The Right to NegotiateYou have the right to negotiate your settlement value to ensure it sufficiently covers your losses. You do not have to accept an offer from the insurance company that is too low. In fact, you typically should not accept their first offer for this reason.
It is within your rights to make counter offers to increase the value to better reflect what you need. Your lawyer can negotiate on your behalf so you receive the maximum amount. If your claim proceeds to trial, they can also negotiate with the opposition to ensure you are treated fairly and you receive enough in damages.
The Impact of Invoking Your Rights
Invoking your rights after you have been paralyzed due to another driver’s recklessness is the first step toward getting closure for what you have suffered. Those actions are designed to empower you and minimize the full impact of the experience you have gone through. While it cannot undo the accident and your injuries, it can make the journey ahead more manageable.
A Williams Hart & Boundas Houston Lawyer Is Committed to Your Wellbeing
When you hire a car accident lawyer in Houston from our firm, you receive compassionate guidance through the legal system and its various requirements. Our lawyers have a comprehensive understanding of the law and can help you hold the other driver accountable for their actions. With their help, justice is not out of reach.
Your lawyer will protect your rights and your future by ensuring that you are treated fairly. That starts from the very beginning as they learn about your case, your losses, expenses, and more. This information helps them determine what your losses are worth so they know how much to seek during negotiations.
They will also gather the evidence needed to establish the other party’s negligence so you can receive the compensation you deserve. Your lawyer will demonstrate that the other driver owed you a duty of care and then breached that duty by engaging in behavior that directly caused you harm. Once established, the negligent party must pay for your expenses.
We Ensure Your Case Is Filed on time
Pursuing legal action is subject to a two-year statute of limitations, according to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 16. It is important to be mindful of this limit and act quickly to recover your losses. Your car accident attorney from Williams Hart & Boundas will file all necessary paperwork on time and accurately.
Williams Hart & Boundas Are Allies During a Painful Time
Williams Hart & Boundas is committed to helping Houstonians who have been paralyzed because of another driver’s negligence. We handle all the legal requirements and negotiations so you can better focus on your health. With extensive experience securing results for accident victims, we can help you reclaim your life.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our firm and let us help you during this challenging time.