Your San Antonio, TX, Car Accident Lawyers
Have you been injured in a car crash caused by another driver?
Contacting a lawyer can be an important step. The attorneys at Lorenz & Lorenz have been helping crash victims recover compensation for 20 years. The initial consultation is free of charge. If we validate your case, and you hire us, there are no fees while we work on your case. Our attorneys are not paid unless you receive compensation.
Founders and co-owners Ted Lorenz and Lesley Lorenz are both award-winning attorneys. Our firm has handled thousands of cases, many involving car crash victims. We have an in-house investigator and can draw on a network of medical and accident reconstruction experts.
Advantages of Hiring an Attorney After a Crash
Research has shown accident victims who hire attorneys often recover more compensation than those who do not. This could be for a variety of reasons:
- Insurance companies may be more likely to take a case seriously if the victim is being represented by an attorney.
- Experienced attorneys are prepared for every step in the legal process.
- Experienced attorneys are also prepared to go to court if necessary.
Trying to manage the legal process on your own while dealing with a serious injury can be overwhelming. Insurance companies know this, and they know how to take advantage of crash victims. They regularly deny or devalue claims.
Contact our firm today to schedule a free legal consultation to learn more about how we are prepared to assist you. We are ready to answer your questions about your claim and our firm.
How Do I Know if I May Have a Case?
This is a question you should discuss with your attorney, as there are many factors to review. If you have reason to believe the crash was caused by another driver, there may be a case.
Your attorney must prove the other driver was negligent. This is a legal theory with four parts:
- Existence of a duty of care – The other driver had an obligation to take reasonable steps to prevent you from suffering an injury. For example, drivers must obey traffic laws and avoid distracted driving.
- Breach of duty of care – Your lawyer must prove the other driver failed to uphold the duty of care.
- Causation – There must be a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the breached duty and your injuries. Another way to think about this is that you would not have suffered an injury without the breached duty of care.
- Existence of damages – Your injuries created damages. This mostly refers to medical bills you incurred to treat your injuries. Damages also include the cost to repair or replace your vehicle. There may also be non-economic damages, like pain and suffering.
Our San Antonio car accident attorneys are prepared to review your crash in detail to determine if negligence may have played a role. Some of the factors we are likely to review include:
- What you remember about the crash
- Injuries you suffered
- Where the crash happened
- Damage to your vehicle
- If there were any witnesses
- If there is video footage of the crash
Texas is an at-fault state when it comes to car accidents, which means the negligent driver is financially liable for damages suffered by the victim.
Damages We May Be Able to Pursue
If our attorneys validate your case, we are ready to pursue maximum compensation on your behalf. This may include the cost to treat your injuries, both now and in the future. Some of the medical expenses you may be able to claim include:
- Cost of surgery
- Cost of tests, such as MRIs and X-rays
- Doctor-prescribed medication
- Cost of transportation to and from the doctor’s office
Other damages we may be able to claim include:
- Lost wages if your injuries cause you to miss work
- Lost earning capacity if you are permanently disabled
- Cost to fix damage to your car
- Cost to replace your car if it is a total loss
- Physical pain
- Emotional suffering
- Lost companionship if your injuries damage your relationship with your spouse or children
The value of your claim is based on the damages suffered and other factors, such as the severity of your injuries. Typically, the more severe the injury, the more the claim is worth. However, every case is unique, and should be discussed in detail with your lawyer.
How Much Time Do You Have to File a Claim?
There is limited time to seek compensation after a car crash. Insurance companies usually have deadlines for filing claims and Texas has a two-year deadline for filing a car accident lawsuit, which is set by the state’s personal injury statute of limitations. If you do not file a lawsuit before the deadline, your case is likely to be dismissed.
The San Antonio auto accident lawyers at our firm are available to discuss your claim in a free consultation with no risk or obligation to you.
What if You Are Partially at Fault?
Unfortunately, crash victims sometimes assume they cannot recover compensation if they are partially at fault. However, this is not the case in Texas, which uses a modified comparative negligence rule.
When victims are partially at fault, their compensation awards are reduced based on their percentage of fault. In other words, if you are 20 percent at fault, any compensation you receive will be reduced by 20 percent.
However, if you are proven to be more than 50 percent at fault, you will be barred from recovering compensation. This is true no matter how severe your injuries may be.
You should not take the insurance company’s word for it about your role in the crash. Insurance companies often try to convince victims they are at fault.
Filing an Auto Insurance Claim in Texas
While filing a lawsuit over a car crash is an option, most cases are resolved through insurance claims. At-fault drivers may be financially liable for the victim’s damages, which means victims may be able to seek compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance policy.
If you or someone you love suffered an injury or property damage, there are several options to choose from to recover compensation:
- The first option is to file a claim with your own car insurance company if you think the losses will be covered under your policy. If so, your insurer will likely pursue a claim against the at-fault party.
- The second option is to seek compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company by filing a third-party claim.
- The third option is to file a personal injury lawsuit in court against the at-fault party. You may be able to obtain compensation for your medical bills, property damage, pain and suffering, and other related losses.
That is why Texas requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage in case they cause an accident:
- $30,000 for one person’s bodily injury
- $60,000 for injuries to two or more people
- $25,000 for property damage
What if the At-Fault Driver Does Not Have Insurance?
You may be able to file a claim against the uninsured motorist coverage in your own insurance policy. While this coverage is optional, insurance companies are required to offer it to you. This coverage is often used after a hit-and-run accident when the driver cannot be located, or the driver lacks insurance coverage.
It is possible the value of your damages may exceed the limits of the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. If this happens, you may be able to file a claim against the underinsured motorist coverage in your insurance policy. This coverage is meant to cover the difference between your damages and the limit of the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage.
Steps to Take After Being Involved in a Car Crash
While your attorney can manage the legal process on your behalf, it is important to note there are some steps you can take to help protect your health and your claim for compensation.
Move to Safety
Whenever possible, move your car out of the flow of traffic to a safe place. Make sure to turn on your hazard lights and only get out of the car if it is safe to do so.
Call 9-1-1
The police and other first responders who come to the scene can assess injuries, provide treatment and help secure the area.
In Texas, those involved in an accident must report it to the authorities if it caused:
- Injury or death of any person, or
- Vehicle damage that prevents the safe operation of the vehicle
These types of accidents must be reported to the appropriate authority:
- Local police if the crash happened in a municipality
- Local police or sheriff’s office if the crash happened within 100 feet of the limits of a municipality
- Sheriff’s office or nearest office of the department
When the police arrive, they can begin an investigation and complete an accident report. This serves as an official record of the crash and helps your attorney to build a case.
Under state law, police officers must send a written report of the crash to the Texas Department of Transportation within 10 days of the crash.
If the police did not come to the scene, you can file a Driver’s Crash Report (CR-2). You will need the following information to complete a report:
- Crash location
- Time
- Date
- Names, addresses and birthdates for everyone involved
- Driver’s license information
- License plate numbers
- Summary of the crash
- Weather and road conditions when the crash happened
Check for Injuries
Assess your injuries and the injuries anyone else suffered. You may be able to render first aid until help arrives.
Collect Evidence at the Scene
Whenever possible, and when it is safe to do so, gather evidence. This includes pictures of the scene and your injuries – pictures can be powerful evidence to help prove liability. Information about those involved is also important, including license plate numbers and insurance information. Writing down what you remember about the crash can also be helpful, as you may forget important details rather quickly.
If people nearby witnessed the crash, ask them about what they saw. Make sure to ask for their contact information for future reference.
Seek Medical Help Right Away
This is vital even if you do not think your injuries are very serious. Waiting could make your injuries worse and hurt your chances of recovering full compensation for your damages.
Watch What You Say
This not only applies to insurance companies but social media posts. Saying too much could hurt your chances of recovering compensation. Insurance companies are looking to use anything you say against you. It is often best to refer the insurance company to your lawyer, as he or she deals with insurers all the time.
Seek Legal Help
You do not have to sign anything or agree to anything before talking to a lawyer. Our San Antonio car accident lawyers understand how insurers think and how to protect a claim.
Common Types of Crash Claims
Our San Antonio car accident lawyers are prepared to help victims of many car crashes. Some of the most common crashes that result in legal claims include:
- Head-on crashes
- T-bone crashes
- Impaired driving crashes
- Rear-end accidents
- Rollovers
- Sideswipes
- Distracted driving accidents
If you were injured and you think the crash was caused by another driver, we are ready to discuss it. The consultation is free, so there is no risk to you.
Call a San Antonio Car Accident Lawyer
Have you or a loved one been injured in a car crash caused by another driver’s negligence?
Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about how the experienced attorneys at Lorenz & Lorenz may be able to assist you. There are no risks or obligations, which means no upfront fees for you.
For 20 years, we have been helping car crash victims secure compensation to help them move forward after an accident. We are ready to manage the legal process on your behalf so you can focus on your treatment and recovery.
Our San Antonio office is just off 1604 East, just a 10-minute drive from the City of Shavano Park Municipal Court and a short drive from the District 9 City Council Office.