I-35 Accidents in Waco, Texas
Car, motorcycle, and truck accidents are some of the most common incidents along Interstate 35 in Waco, Texas. As one of the most congested highways in the State of Texas, I-35 is especially dangerous for those individuals who engage in distracted driving and fatigued driving. Hundreds of thousands of motorists travel along Interstate 35 every day. Gaining insight into the causes of accidents in Waco, Texas, can give you a clearer understanding of when it’s crucial to consider seeking legal representation from Waco car accident lawyers.
Auto Accidents and Negligence
One of the most important subtopics of Tort law is negligence. The fundamental idea of negligence law is compensating a victim who suffers injuries due to the negligent conduct of another party. The four elements of negligence are as follows: (one) duty, (two) breach, (three) actual cause and proximate cause, (four) and damages. The party must satisfy These four elements by asserting legal claims against the defendant. Also, each element must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence, generally understood as 51 percent or greater.
Establishing each element of negligence is one of the jobs a personal injury attorney performs for clients. Documentary, real, and testimonial evidence need to substantiate the elements. A personal injury attorney may depose parties and witnesses involved in the incident where you suffered injuries. Moreover, a personal injury attorney will provide you with insight to discern whether a settlement offer aligns with the facts of your case, determining its reasonability or unreasonability.
Vehicle accidents are a common source of negligence claims. However, slip-and-fall cases and other tort cases often fall under the categorization of negligence claims. The best thing to remember is that duty and breach are connected. For a breach to occur, a defendant must have a duty, which may come from common or statutory law.
For example, all drivers must act reasonably prudent under similar circumstances. This is a fixed constant in negligence law, and it means that you must still act reasonably prudent no matter if the circumstances change, for example, if you are driving in a blizzard or other inclement weather conditions.
Common Injuries Accidents Victims Suffer in Waco, Texas
Waco is an expansive part of Texas, and many major highways and intersections are dangerous depending on particular traffic conditions. Therefore, determine the common types of injuries accident victims suffer in Waco, Texas. The following are some of the most common injuries these victims experience in Waco:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractured bones
- Third-degree burns
- Contusions
- Internal organ damage
- Knee and ankle injuries
The severity of an accident victim’s injuries will often depend on the specific circumstances of the incident. A smaller vehicle may provide less resistance during a head-on collision, and the occupants may, therefore, suffer serious bodily injury or death.
Also, drivers who operate large SUVs and trucks may become involved in rollover accidents. These accidents may cause victims to roll around inside the vehicle. Car accidents are frightening, and those who suffer injuries during these incidents need to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Sometimes, you may not believe you suffered any major injuries. An injury may not produce noticeable symptoms until days or weeks after the incident. You must seek medical care even if you believe you did not suffer any serious bodily injuries. Speaking with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney will provide the information you need to recover compensation for your injuries.
The Most Dangerous Intersections in Waco, Texas
Interstate 35 is a dangerous thoroughfare in Waco. However, some other areas are also commonly associated with traffic accidents. The following are some of the most dangerous intersections for motorists and pedestrians in Waco, Texas:
- University Parks Drive and I-35 Frontage Road
- Waco Drive Junction and Valley Mills Drive
- South Fourth Street Crossing and Franklin Avenue
Some of the most dangerous intersections in Waco have many different turning options and multiple lanes. Drivers must be careful as they navigate these intersections, particularly during the early morning and late afternoon commuting times. Sometimes, drivers cause accidents because they underestimate how congested a specific highway area may become during the morning and late afternoon hours.
Also, motorists must focus on what they can do to reduce the likelihood of being involved in a car accident. Sometimes, motorists engage in risky behaviors, which can create an increased risk of suffering serious bodily injury or death.
Common Driver Behaviors that Cause Auto Accidents in Waco, Texas
Drivers must act responsibly and sensibly when traveling along Interstate 35 in Waco. Sometimes, motorists do not understand what to do in a dangerous situation. The following are some of the most common driver behaviors that cause car accidents in Waco:
- Distracted Driving: This refers to any activity that takes your attention away from driving—like texting, talking on the phone, or fiddling with the radio. These distractions can significantly increase the chances of accidents by slowing reaction times.
- Fatigued Driving: When you’re excessively tired or sleepy while driving, it can make you less alert, affect your focus, and slow your reactions. This is especially risky during late-night drives or long journeys without breaks.
- Driving at an Excessive Rate of Speed: Speeding beyond the limit or too fast for road conditions can reduce your control over the vehicle and make it harder to stop quickly, increasing the severity of accidents.
- Eating While Driving: Juggling food and driving can distract you, impacting your control and reaction times. Spills or sudden movements while reaching for items can also lead to accidents.
- Failing to Maintain Headlights and Taillights: When your lights aren’t working correctly, it reduces visibility—especially in low light or bad weather. This can make it harder for other drivers to see your vehicle or understand your movements.
- Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs: Being impaired by alcohol or drugs seriously affects your judgment, coordination, and reaction times, greatly increasing the risk of accidents that can lead to severe injuries or even fatalities.
These actions may increase the risk that you and others will suffer serious bodily injury or death. Drivers must understand that their actions have consequences, and other motorists share the roads, streets, and highways. Responsible driving patterns can reduce the risk that you or a loved one will suffer injuries during a car accident.
How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You
Suffering injuries during an auto accident can make you feel victimized and unfortunate. However, you must proactively seek monetary damages for your injuries. An insurance company representative will not bring a check to your door. You must do everything within your power to substantiate your legal claims, and one way of doing this is by retaining a personal injury attorney.
Hiring legal counsel ensures you have an advocate who can communicate with the insurance company while you heal from your injuries. Also, a personal injury lawyer can request medical records, review insurance policies, and begin settlement negotiations with insurance claim adjusters. These tasks can be overwhelming if you try to perform them independently while healing. Therefore, one of the primary benefits of hiring a lawyer is that you can care for yourself while your legal representative cares for your personal injury case.
Maintaining an orderly set of medical records is key to a successful personal injury case. Defense counsel will want to see a computation of damages associated with your injuries, and this means that you need to give your attorney time to determine the total damages you suffered. Calculating the total damages amount will help your lawyer begin the settlement negotiation process.
You will also benefit from attorney-client privilege and confidentiality when you hire legal counsel. You do not have to worry about what you tell your lawyer. Everything you say to your lawyer is privileged, and you can be confident that your words will not be used against you at a later stage in your personal injury case.
Attorneys need their clients to inform them about all the details regarding an auto accident. This can be difficult to do if you do not have the protection of attorney-client confidentiality and attorney-client privilege. If you bring your legal claims alone, defense counsel may try to have you admit things that can harm your case.
A personal injury lawyer can also raise objections to preserve for potential appeals. If your case undergoes an appeal process, these objections will prove essential in safeguarding your legal rights. Hiring an attorney gives you the peace of mind to focus on yourself and your family members rather than the complexities of a civil lawsuit.
The Types of Damages Accident Victims May Claim in Texas
Most personal injury cases usually have two primary areas: liability and damages. Once you establish that the defendant was liable for your injuries, you must prove that you suffered damages due to the defendant’s negligent conduct.
The majority of accident victims claim general damages and special damages. In some cases, injured parties will claim punitive damages if the defendant committed malicious conduct.
General damages refer to the psychological, emotional, and mental distress suffered by the accident victim. It also includes such things as loss of familial relations and loss of enjoyment of life. Essentially, these are intangible losses that cannot have a direct monetary equivalent. The plaintiff asserts these damages and calculates them based on the loss’s severity and the injured party’s prior relationships.
Losses categorized as special damages involve precise calculations. For example, medical bills can account for past and present medical expenses. Understanding how to compute the total damages amount in a case is important. When a personal injury attorney begins settlement negotiations, the total damages amount will be critical to the initial settlement demand proposed by the personal injury attorney.
Ongoing Medical Care and Car Accident Cases
You may have to focus on the most critical aspects of your medical care in the weeks and months immediately following the date of the incident. Following up on all necessary medical care if critical to your personal injury case. Defense counsel may attempt to argue that the accident did not cause your injuries or that you did not seek medical care immediately after the incident occurred. Due to these circumstances, you must be vigilant about all medical treatment you seek regarding your injuries.
Ongoing medical care may require you to attend physical therapy and rehabilitation classes. These may require that you focus on the most important aspects of your physical health. Suppose you are worried about your physical health and feel inadequate medical treatment. In that case, you should contact medical providers who can provide a second opinion regarding your medical treatment.
Gathering Evidence For Your Car Accident Case
A personal injury attorney assists in collecting the evidence necessary to support your legal claims. You must be tenacious about seeking medical records, bills, and other documentary evidence to support your claims. Another necessity for you is to focus on using the evidence in your case to support your legal claims.
Real documentary and testimonial evidence are critical to your case. Focusing on how you can collect this evidence will also help your attorney determine how to litigate your case. The available evidence is often critical to a case settling or going to trial. However, parties typically resolve most civil lawsuits through settlement negotiations, mediation, or arbitration. These are forms of alternative dispute resolution, and you must focus on how to promote your case’s resolution.
Many clients want to be contentious and angry with opposing counsel. However, focusing on your goals and what you need to do to meet them is much more productive. Hence, be ready to understand how to gather evidence that substantiates your legal claims.
Ted R. Lorenz, Car Accident Attorney in Waco, TX.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney Today to Schedule a Consultation
The right car accident lawyers are here for you throughout the entirety of your civil lawsuit. You do not have to worry about filing legal documents or conducting depositions. Accident and injury lawyers work every day helping clients seek financial compensation for their injuries. If you want to know more about how you can enforce your legal rights, then contact a Waco personal injury law firm near you today to schedule a free consultation.
They will be ready to support you and your family as you navigate these circumstances; offering support and legal experience to comprehensively and satisfactorily address your needs.