Do I need a personal injury lawyer?

While it is possible to negotiate an insurance settlement on your own, the wisest course of action is to seek the counsel of an experienced personal injury lawyer. Insurance companies are focused on their bottom line – which means getting you to settle for the lowest amount possible. A personal injury lawyer, by contrast, works only for you, with your best interests at the forefront of everything they do.

 

Often an insurance company will offer an accident victim only a fraction of what their claim is really worth. A personal injury lawyer can help ensure that you recover an amount that represents the true value of your claim. Your attorney can make sure you are compensated not only for your physical injuries and medical bills, but also for your pain, suffering and emotional trauma.

 

Personal injury lawyers are skilled at negotiating with insurance companies to get you the best possible settlement. If necessary, a personal injury lawyer also has the knowledge and skills necessary to take a case to trial.

 

The average person does not know all of their legal rights. As personal injury lawyers, it is our job to know the law inside and out. An insurance company’s only job is to pay out on a claim. A personal injury lawyer, on the other hand, will advise you every step of the way and ensure that your legal rights are protected.

 

If you have been injured in an accident, you already have enough to worry about. Let a personal injury lawyer step in to handle all of the paperwork and communications with the insurance company and the other party’s legal counsel. That way, you can focus on your recovery and getting your life back to normal.

 

At Fears | Nachawati, we represent accident victims in obtaining full and fair compensation for their personal injuries. We will deal with the insurance company so you don’t have to.

 

For free legal advice on your personal injury claim or insurance settlement, contact us today. You will speak directly with a Texas personal injury lawyer who will answer all of your questions and advise you on the next steps you should take. Simply email us at info@fnlawfirm.com or by phone at 1.866.705.7584.

 

The insurance company says my car is totaled - what does that mean?

You’ve been in a car accident, and your vehicle was damaged so you make an insurance claim. Now the insurance company has one of two choices: they can either pay for the necessary repairs to your car or they can “total” it.

 

The phrase “totaled” conjures up images of a car smashed up beyond recognition, a car that is completely beyond repair. However, in insurance lingo “totaled” doesn’t mean what it sounds like. Rather, a car is “totaled” if the cost of repairing the car exceeds the value of the car.

 

What you will receive for your “totaled” car is its “actual cash value.” Actual cash value is defined as the cost of replacing your car with a car of similar make and quality in Texas, with some deductions made for your current car’s wear and tear.

 

In some cases, a car accident victim will disagree with the insurance company that their car is totaled. The victim may want to keep their car and pay for the repairs. You do have this right.

The process of reclaiming your totaled car works like this: the insurance company will pay you the actual cash value of your car. However, the insurance company will deduct the amount they would have gotten for your car at a salvage yard. If you want to go this route, it’s important that you inform your insurance company right away before your car is sent off to an auction at a salvage yard.

If you have been involved in a car accident, it is wise to seek the advice of a Texas car accident attorney before accepting any offer from an insurance company. The insurance company’s goal is to pay you as little as possible for the damage to your car. A car accident lawyer can help ensure that you get a fair settlement.

For free legal advice on car accident insurance claims as well as personal injury claims arising from car accidents, contact Fears | Nachawati today. Simply email us at info@fnlawfirm.com or call us on our toll-free hotline at 1.866.705.7584.

 

Construction accident involving 200-pound tire kills worker

A construction worker was killed when he was struck by a 200-pound tire that had come loose from a tanker truck carrying flammable liquids.

 

The victim was 52-year-old J. Pedro Garcia, a state contract road crew worker.

 

The first right rear wheel of the tanker came off while the truck was crossing over Lewisville Lake on the I-35 southbound bridge. The first lost tire struck two vehicles.  

 

After losing the first tire, and after striking the other vehicles, the truck continued driving for about a half a mile. A second wheel then came off and hit Garcia.

 

Garcia was flown by ambulance to an area hospital where he later died from his injuries.

 

The truck company for which the driver worked, Safety-Kleen, is cooperating with police in the ongoing investigation.

 

Click here to read more about this Texas construction accident.

 

Workers who have been injured in construction accidents may have a basis for bringing a Texas personal injury lawsuit. For free legal advice on your potential claim, contact Fears | Nachawati today by email at info@fnlawfirm.com or on our toll-free helpline at 1.866.705.7584. 

 

What if more than one person is responsible for my accident?

It is not uncommon for multiple people to be responsible for a plaintiff’s personal injury. For instance, say you slip and fall in a grocery store. You might have a claim against the store where the accident occurred as well as the corporation that owns the store. In this case, Texas’s rule of joint and several liability would come into effect. It’s a complicated name for a simple concept.

 

The Texas joint and several liability rule was implemented to cover situations where more than one person or entity is responsible for an accident. Under this rule, you have the ability to seek compensation from multiple defendants. The benefit to the plaintiff is that they can still recover their full judgment even if one or more of the defendants can’t pay up.

 

Texas is somewhat unique in its approach to joint and several liability. Typically joint and several liability means that every defendant who is a party to the lawsuit is responsible for the entire amount of damages awarded to a plaintiff, regardless of their percentage of fault.

 

In Texas, however, a defendant is only responsible for the full amount if they are found to be 51% responsible for the accident. Otherwise, they are only responsible for an amount equal to their percentage of fault.

 

The victim of a personal injury may not realize that multiple people or entities are at fault. That is why it is so important that you seek the immediate legal assistance of a personal injury lawyer.

 

An experienced Texas personal injury attorney can determine exactly whose negligence caused your accident, and this may include a number of different potential defendants. If you have been injured in an accident, contact Fears | Nachawati today for free legal advice to learn more about your rights and options. You can reach us by email at info@fnlawfirm.com or by phone at 1.866.705.7584.

 

How to choose a Texas personal injury attorney

Suffering an injury in an accident is a traumatic experience. During this difficult time, you are faced with the task of choosing the right Texas personal injury attorney for bringing your claim. To help you select an injury attorney for your personal injury lawsuit, we have provided this step-by-step guide.

Finding a Texas personal injury attorney begins with asking trusted friends and family members for recommendations. If someone you know and trust was satisfied with their injury lawyer, there is a good chance you will be satisfied as well.

In addition to your friends and family members, Martindale-Hubbell is another excellent resource when searching for a Texas personal injury attorney. Visit www.martindale.com and click on “Lawyer Locator.” The service is free and allows you to view an extensive list of attorneys who have been rated by their peers in terms of ability and ethics.

Once you have narrowed down your choices of Texas injury attorneys, check with your state bar to see if there are any disciplinary actions against the attorneys. Visit the American Bar Association website at www.abanet.org/cpr/regulation/scpd/disciplinary.html for a link to the disciplinary agency in your state.

It is also important to speak with Texas personal injury attorneys who provide you with a free initial consultation, as Fears | Nachawati does. This consultation gives you an opportunity to evaluate the attorney’s experience and decide if this is someone you would be comfortable working with.

Fears | Nachawati is a Texas personal injury law firm representing victims of numerous types of accidents. Email us at info@fnlawfirm.com or call us on our toll-free number at 1.866.705.7584 for a free consultation.

 

 

What is my claim worth? Damages in Texas personal injury lawsuits

Damages are the amount of money that is awarded to a successful plaintiff in a Texas personal injury lawsuit. In Texas, damages fall into one of two broad categories: economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are much easier to calculate because they can be quantified through objective information such as the plaintiff’s medical bills and the value of personal property that was destroyed.

Economic damages include:

·        Past and future medical expenses

·        Lost wages, both present and future

·        Loss of earning capacity

·        Damage to personal property

·        Any other costs that are a direct result of an injury sustained in the car accident

·        Court costs

Non-economic damages are the more difficult of the two when it comes to assigning a value. Pain and suffering, for example, fall into the category of non-economic damages. In many Texas personal injury lawsuits, pain and suffering-related damages represent a significant amount of the overall award.

Under Texas law, non-economic damages in a personal injury lawsuit can include:

·        Physical pain and suffering

·        Mental anguish

·        Emotional suffering

·        Physical impairment

·        Disfigurement

·        Loss of enjoyment of life

·        Loss of consortium and companionship

·        Inconvenience

·        Injury to reputation

If you have been the victim of an accident, contact the law firm of Fears | Nachawati to find out what damages you may be entitled to. For a free consultation from a Texas personal injury lawyer, email us at info@fnlawfirm.com or call us on our toll-free number at 1.866.705.7584.

Personal Injury Claims - How long do I have to file suit?

In Texas, the amount of time a person has to file their claim or case with the courts varies according to the type of lawsuit or claim that is filed.  While there are limited exceptions to when limitations expires, a lawsuit or claim should be filed well ahead of the expiration of the applicable limitations statute.  The reasoning for filing well in advance is that many complications could arise in computing the time line, and once the limitations date expires, you generally lose your right to sue forever--something you do not want to happen.  General legal information on some Texas statute of limitations is listed below:

- Personal Injury - 2 years from date of injury

- Injury to Property - 2 years from date of injury

- Product Liability - 2 years

- Wrongful Death - 2 years from date of death

- Minors - does not begin to run until minor reaches age 18

Call the lawyers at Fears | Nachawati Law Firm if you have questions about your potential case and the proper calculation or the statute of limitations. 1.866.705-7584 or info@fnlawfirm.com

 

 

Victoria boy struck by SUV while crossing the street on his bicycle

A 14-year-old Victoria, Texas, boy was hit by a car as he was crossing the street on his bike on the evening of Friday, May 22nd. The boy is Joseph Garcia, who was headed back home from a friend’s house when the accident occurred.

The identity of the woman driving the SUV that struck Garcia is not currently available. After striking Garcia, the SUV the collided with a truck being driven by 57-year-old Danny Kearney.

Garcia’s condition is unknown. The driver of the SUV, who had to be extricated from her vehicle, has since been released from the hospital.

For more on the accident, click here for the full article.

Cyclists are highly vulnerable to serious injuries when they are involved in accidents. Depending on the specific circumstances, it could be either the bike rider, the driver of the car or both who are responsible for the accident. Those injured in a bicycle accident may have a personal injury claim. To learn more, contact Fears | Nachawati for your free consultation at info@fnlawfirm.com or toll free at 1.866.705.7584.

What is a personal injury lawsuit?

A personal injury lawsuit is based on one person being injured because of the negligent actions of another person. A person is negligent if they fail to act with the prudence that a reasonable person would under the same circumstances. Liability can also be founded on behavior that is reckless or intentional. The person liable for the accident is the defendant, while the person bringing the suit is the plaintiff.

The purpose of a personal injury lawsuit is to compensate the victim for their injuries and losses. These are known as “damages.” The amount of compensation awarded to a plaintiff in a successful personal injury claim depends on the extent of their injuries, both physical and emotional.

The law surrounding personal injury lawsuits varies from state to state. That is why it is so important that you seek the advice of a Texas personal injury attorney. Only an attorney versed in Texas personal injury law can properly advise you on your potential claim.

The law firm of Fears | Nachawati represents accident victims in personal injury lawsuits. To find out if you may have a personal injury claim, contact us today to receive a free consultation. You can email us at info@fnlawfirm.com or call us on our toll-free number at 1.866.705.7584.

You should not hesitate in consulting with a Texas personal injury attorney. If you wait too long, your claim might be barred by the state’s statute of limitations. A statute of limitations is a law that limits the amount of time in which you have to bring your personal injury claim.