Killeen Personal Injury Lawyer

An unexpected injury changes everything. One moment you are driving down the Stan Schlueter Loop or heading home from your post at Fort Cavazos, and the next you are dealing with pain, confusion, and a growing stack of medical bills. 

When someone else's carelessness causes you harm, you are left to pick up the pieces. This is a difficult and frustrating time, and you do not have to face it alone. Getting help from a Killeen personal injury lawyer gives you a dedicated advocate who stands up for your rights against powerful insurance companies.

Your focus should be on your recovery, not on fighting legal battles. When you are injured, the path forward often involves challenges you never anticipated.

• Dealing with aggressive insurance adjusters who want a recorded statement.
• Worrying about how to pay for your medical treatment and cover lost wages.
• Trying to manage the physical pain and emotional stress of the incident.

You deserve a team that understands what you are going through and has the resources to manage your case effectively, allowing you to concentrate on getting your life back.

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A Killeen Personal Injury Lawyer's Role in Your Recovery

After a serious injury, you may feel overwhelmed by the process. A personal injury lawyer steps in to handle the complexities of your claim. They act as your representative, managing all communications and legal work so you do not have to. 

Their job is to build a strong case on your behalf, showing how the other party’s actions led directly to your injuries and losses. This process begins with a thorough investigation. Evidence disappears quickly, so your legal team works to preserve it. 

This includes:

1. Gathering Key Evidence: This means collecting police reports, photographs of the scene and your injuries, witness statements, and any available video footage from traffic cameras or nearby businesses.
2. Working with Professionals: Your case may require input from accident reconstructionists who can show how a crash happened or medical professionals who can detail the long term effects of your injuries.
3. Handling All Communications: Your lawyer communicates directly with the insurance companies on your behalf. This protects you from tactics adjusters use to devalue or deny your claim.

A central part of any claim is proving negligence. In simple terms, negligence means that someone had a responsibility to act with reasonable care, they failed to do so, and their failure caused your injury. A lawyer works to establish this connection.

Practice Areas for a Killeen Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal injury law covers a wide range of incidents where one person's actions or inaction harms another. In a community like Killeen, with its mix of military personnel, families, and busy roadways, these incidents unfortunately happen every day.

• Traffic accidents on I-14 and US-190 are frequent occurrences.
• Slips and falls happen in local stores, restaurants, and apartment complexes.
• Serious injuries result from collisions involving motorcycles, pedestrians, and commercial trucks.

Having a legal team familiar with these specific types of cases is a significant advantage.

Car Accidents on Killeen Roads

The daily traffic around Killeen, especially on major routes like Trimmier Road and W.S. Young Drive, creates a high risk for car accidents. Distracted driving, speeding, and aggressive maneuvers are common causes. 

After a crash, you are often left with serious injuries and a damaged vehicle. The other driver’s insurance company is not on your side. They pay as little as possible.

Common injuries from car accidents include:

• Whiplash and other neck or back injuries.
• Broken bones and fractures.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and concussions.
• Cuts, bruises, and internal injuries.

Your lawyer documents the full extent of these injuries and how they impact your life to build a case for fair compensation.

Truck Accidents Involving Commercial Vehicles

Collisions with 18 wheelers and other large commercial trucks are devastating. The sheer size and weight of these vehicles mean that accidents often result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. 

These cases are far more complex than a standard car accident claim. Federal and state regulations govern the trucking industry, and violating these rules is often a key factor in proving fault.

1. Multiple Liable Parties: The at-fault parties may include the truck driver, the trucking company, the company that loaded the cargo, or even the vehicle’s manufacturer. You must determine liability, which simply means legal responsibility, for each party.
2. Extensive Evidence: Evidence in a truck accident case includes the driver's logbooks, the truck's "black box" data recorder, maintenance records, and company hiring practices.
3. Aggressive Opposition: Trucking companies and their insurers have powerful legal teams ready to defend their interests immediately after a crash.

A Killeen personal injury lawyer with experience in these specific cases understands how to navigate these complexities and hold all responsible parties accountable.

Motorcycle and Bicycle Accidents

Motorcyclists and bicyclists enjoy the freedom of the open road, whether it is a daily commute or a weekend ride through the Texas Hill Country. However, they are extremely vulnerable to other drivers who fail to share the road safely. 

Drivers often claim they "never saw" the rider, but that is not an excuse for negligence. Riders face unique challenges, including:

• A higher risk of severe injuries, such as road rash, spinal cord damage, and brain injuries, even when wearing a helmet.
• An unfair bias from insurance companies and juries, who sometimes assume the rider was behaving recklessly.

Your legal team overcomes this bias by presenting clear evidence of the other driver’s fault and showing the true impact the injuries have had on your life.

Pedestrian and Rideshare Incidents

Even a simple walk to a store at the Killeen Mall or a trip in an Uber or Lyft comes with risks. Pedestrians have no protection in a collision with a vehicle, and the resulting injuries are often life altering. 

Rideshare accidents also present unique insurance issues. Depending on whether the driver was waiting for a ride request, on the way to a passenger, or had a passenger in the car, different insurance policies apply.

After an incident involving a pedestrian or rideshare vehicle, you should:

• Get medical attention immediately.
• Report the incident to the police.
• Collect contact information from any witnesses.

A lawyer helps you sort through the complicated insurance layers to identify all sources of coverage for your injuries.

Wrongful Death Claims

There is no greater loss than the death of a loved one because of someone else's negligence. While no amount of money can replace your family member, a wrongful death claim helps secure your family's financial future and holds the responsible party accountable. 

In Texas, these claims allow surviving spouses, children, and parents to seek compensation for their losses. The personal representative or executor of the estate may also file the claim on behalf of these beneficiaries. Damages in a wrongful death claim cover:

• Lost earning capacity of the deceased.
• Loss of companionship, comfort, and society.
• Mental and emotional anguish suffered by the surviving family members.
• Lost inheritance, including what the deceased would have likely saved and left to the family.

These are deeply sensitive cases that require a compassionate yet determined legal approach.

Calculating Fair Compensation in a Killeen Personal Injury Case

A common question is, "What is my case worth?" The answer depends entirely on the specific details of your situation. The legal term for the money you recover is damages. 

The goal of a personal injury claim is to secure damages that cover all your financial and personal losses.

There are three main types of damages you may recover:

1. Economic Damages: These are the direct financial losses you have suffered. They are calculated by adding up things like medical bills (past and future), lost wages from being unable to work, and damage to your property.
2. Non-Economic Damages: These damages compensate you for the non financial losses that have a profound impact on your quality of life. This includes pain and suffering, emotional distress, physical disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.
3. Punitive Damages: In rare cases involving gross negligence or malice, a court may award punitive damages, which Texas calls exemplary damages. They do not compensate the victim to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior.

Your Killeen personal injury lawyer carefully documents all your losses to present a comprehensive demand to the insurance company.

Why Choose Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC as Your Killeen Personal Injury Lawyer

When you are facing a difficult recovery, the legal team you choose makes a difference. At Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC, we fight for the injured people of Killeen and Central Texas.

We provide strong, straightforward representation grounded in a deep understanding of what you are going through.

• We Investigate Thoroughly: Our team immediately begins gathering the evidence needed to build your case. We work to uncover every detail that supports your claim for compensation.
• We Fight the Insurance Companies: We take on the insurance companies for you. Our attorneys handle all negotiations and are prepared to take your case to court if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement.
• We Communicate With You: You receive regular updates about the status of your case. You are never left wondering what is happening. We are here to answer your questions and guide you through the process.
• You Pay Nothing Upfront: We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you owe us no attorney fees unless we recover money for you.

We are a part of the Central Texas community. We understand the challenges people in Killeen, Temple, and the surrounding areas face because we live and work here too.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to hire a Killeen personal injury lawyer?

At Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC, we operate on a contingency fee agreement. This means our fee is a percentage of the financial recovery we obtain for you. There are no upfront costs or hourly rates. If we do not win your case, you do not owe us an attorney fee.

What is the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in Texas?

The statute of limitations is a legal deadline for filing a lawsuit. In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. 

There are some exceptions, but missing this deadline typically means you lose your right to seek compensation forever. You should consider these points about the deadline:

• The clock starts ticking on the day of the incident.
• Waiting to contact a lawyer jeopardizes the ability to gather crucial evidence.
• Contacting a legal professional early gives them the time needed to build the strongest possible case before the deadline approaches.

Should I give a recorded statement to the other person's insurance company?

Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions in a way that can hurt your claim. They may try to get you to admit partial fault or downplay the severity of your injuries. 

It is advisable to decline giving a recorded statement until you have spoken with a lawyer who can protect your rights.

What are the first things I should do after I get home from an accident?

After you have received emergency medical care and are back home, your actions still matter.

1. Follow all your doctor's orders precisely. Attend all follow up appointments and physical therapy sessions.
2. Keep a simple journal documenting your pain levels, physical limitations, and how the injuries affect your daily life.
3. Gather all documents related to the accident, including the police report, medical bills, receipts for prescriptions, and any correspondence from insurance companies.

Killeen Personal Injury FAQs

What if I am partially at fault for my accident in Texas?

Texas follows a proportionate responsibility rule, also known as modified comparative fault. You can still recover damages as long as you are not found to be 51% or more at fault for the accident. However, a court will reduce your financial recovery by your percentage of fault.

Do I have to go to court for my personal injury claim?

Most personal injury claims resolve through a negotiated settlement without ever going to trial. We prepare every case as if it will go to court, which allows us to negotiate from a position of strength.

If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement that covers your losses, filing a lawsuit and proceeding to trial may become the necessary course of action to secure the compensation you deserve.

How long will my Killeen personal injury case take?

The timeline for a personal injury case varies greatly depending on its complexity. We work to resolve your case as efficiently as possible without sacrificing the value of your claim.

What information should I bring to my first meeting with a personal injury lawyer?

To help us provide the most accurate assessment of your case, please bring any documents you have related to the incident. This includes the police or incident report, your driver's license and insurance information, the other party's contact and insurance information, any photos or videos you took at the scene, and any medical records or bills you have received so far.