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Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Car Accident Cases
What are the first steps I should take if I am in an
Austin car accident?
Can I sue the driver who hit my car if I
think he was talking on a cell phone at the time?
Can I recover damages from a driver who hit
me while working and driving a company car?
What should I do if the negligent driver
who struck my car doesn’t have enough insurance to pay
for my damages?
What if I am partially to blame for causing
an automobile collision?
How much can I expect to recover if I have
been in a car accident?
What should I do if I don’t think I can
afford an attorney?
What are the first steps I should take if I am in an Austin car accident?
If you are in an automobile accident, you should first seek emergency medical attention by calling for EMS. If you are not immediately transported away by EMS, then you should take the following steps if possible:
- Get the other driver’s information: This includes the driver’s name, address, phone number, license number and any insurance information.
- Get the names and contact information of eyewitnesses: Often, other motorists or pedestrians will stay at the accident scene and leave once police or emergency responders arrive. Get their information quickly, if possible.
- Take photos: If you have a cell phone camera, take photographs of the damage to your car and the other driver’s car as well as shots of skid marks, stoplights, signs and other evidence at the scene.
- Get the police report number: A police officer will likely be on hand, asking questions, taking statements and collecting other information at the accident scene. Get the police report number and the name of the officer filling out the report. You should be able to get a copy of this report within one or two days after the accident, and it may form the backbone of your case.
Keep in mind: Insurance companies tend to contact a car accident victim shortly after the accident occurs. You should avoid speaking to any insurance representative until you have consulted an experienced Texas car accident attorney.
For more than 30 years, the attorneys of The Bob Richardson Law Firm have protected the rights and interests of Texas car accident victims and their families in personal injury and wrongful death cases. Drawing on our skill, experience and resources, we have secured favorable verdicts and settlements for our clients throughout Austin, Waco and the surrounding Texas communities of Round Rock, Georgetown, Killeen, Temple, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Taylor and Belton.
To learn how we can help you with your car accident case, call us today toll-free at (800) 880-5100 or use our online form. We can provide you with a free case evaluation, and we won’t charge you for our services unless we recover for you.
Can I sue the driver who hit my car if I think he was talking on a cell phone at the time?
Talking on a cell phone while behind the wheel of a car is a common form of distracted driving. It is a type of negligent – even reckless – driving that can be the grounds for a personal injury lawsuit.
Other common forms of negligent driving that cause Texas car accidents are:
- Aggressive driving: Speeding, making dangerous passes or turns and flying through red lights, stop signs or yield signs.
- Drunk driving: If a driver causes an accident while having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 or above, it is actually negligence per se. Liability may also be established if the driver is impaired by drugs, including controlled substances or prescription medication.
- Drowsy driving: Driving while tired or sleepy causes a driver to follow too closely, weave between lanes and fail to brake at appropriate times. It also leads to thousands of car accidents in Texas ever year.
The skilled, experienced and dedicated Texas car accident attorneys of The Bob Richardson Law Firm will investigate your car accident claim thoroughly, using highly qualified experts and the latest in technology, and determine both the cause of your crash and the extent of your damages. We can use this evidence to negotiate a fair and full settlement through mediation or to present a compelling case before a judge and jury. Our goal is to make sure you acquire the funds you and your family need and deserve as a result of your accident.
We protect the rights and interests of car accident victims throughout Austin, Waco and the surrounding Texas communities of Round Rock, Georgetown, Killeen, Temple, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Taylor and Belton. To learn how we can help you with your car accident case, call us today toll-free at (800) 880-5100 or use our online form. We can provide you with a free case evaluation, and we won’t charge you for our services unless we recover for you.
Can I recover damages from a driver who hit me while working and driving a company car?
The doctrine that would apply to this situation is known as “vicarious liability.” This means that the negligent driver who hit you can be held liable as can his employer if the accident occurred during the course and scope of his employment. Additionally, if the driver’s employer either failed to investigate the driver’s record or knew that he had a history of accidents when it hired him, the employer may be held directly liable for negligence in hiring him.
Vicarious liability cases can be complex, and a negligent driver’s employer may be a company with deep resources that will hotly contest your personal injury or wrongful death claim. That’s why it’s important to work with a skilled, experienced and dedicated Texas car accident attorney who knows how to develop these cases.
For more than 30 years, The Bob Richardson Law Firm has worked hard to protect the rights of car accident victims throughout Austin, Waco and the surrounding Texas communities of Round Rock, Georgetown, Killeen, Temple, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Taylor and Belton. To learn how we can help you with your car accident case, call us today toll-free at (800) 880-5100 or use our online form. We can provide you with a free case evaluation, and we won’t charge you for our services unless we recover for you.
What should I do if the negligent driver who struck my car doesn’t have enough insurance to pay for my damages?
Given the current state of the economy, more and more Texas drivers either don’t have liability insurance coverage or have just the bare minimum required in order to register their car. Under current Texas law, the minimum liability limits a driver must carry are $30,000 for bodily injury (one person), $40,000 (two or more persons) and $15,000 (property damage). Because even a minor car accident can result in expensive medical treatment and costly car repairs, it is very likely that a car accident will end up exceeding those minimum limits.
That’s why it’s important to purchase Uninsured Motorist / Underinsured Motorist coverage. If you have UM / UIM coverage, you may be entitled to have your damages paid by your own insurance company if you are in a car accident with a hit-and-run driver, a driver who has no insurance or a driver whose insurance fails to cover the full extent of your damages.
Insurance companies are in a for-profit business. The more claims they pay out, the more it hurts their revenue. So, even though you have been paying UM / UIM premiums for years, your insurance company may try to deny your claim or pay only a partial amount.
That’s why it’s important to work with a skilled, experienced and dedicated Texas car accident attorney who will stand up for your rights and interests against an insurance company.
For more than 30 years, The Bob Richardson Law Firm has secured favorable verdicts and settlements for car accident victims throughout Austin, Waco and the surrounding Texas communities of Round Rock, Georgetown, Killeen, Temple, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Taylor and Belton. To learn how we can help you with your UM / UIM claim, call us today toll-free at (800) 880-5100 or use our online form. We can provide you with a free case evaluation, and we won’t charge you for our services unless we recover for you.
What if I am partially to blame for causing an automobile collision?
Several years ago, Texas adopted a comparative responsibility, or comparative responsibility, rule. Under this rule, the amount of damages you sustain in an automobile accident can be reduced in proportion to the percentage you are at fault. For instance, if you have $50,000 in damages and you are determined to be 50 percent at fault, your recovery would be limited to $25,000. If you are found to be 51 percent or more fault, you may be barred from recovering anything.
In Texas car accident cases, it’s common that the at-fault driver’s insurance company will try to shift blame to the victim. At The Bob Richardson Law Firm, we believe the only way to determine the true cause and percentage of fault in an automobile crash is to engage in a thorough investigation that involves the use of technology and highly qualified experts.
For more than 30 years, The Bob Richardson Law Firm has secured favorable verdicts and settlements for car accident victims throughout Austin, Waco and the surrounding Texas communities of Round Rock, Georgetown, Killeen, Temple, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Taylor and Belton. To learn how we can help you with your car accident claim, call us today toll-free at (800) 880-5100 or use our online form. We can provide you with a free case evaluation, and we won’t charge you for our services unless we recover for you.
How much can I expect to recover if I have been in a car accident?
Every automobile accident case involves different parties, facts and circumstances. No two cases are the same, and that means no two recoveries will be the same. Only after extensive investigation, consultation with experts, negotiation and litigation will we be able to arrive at the final amount of any personal injury or wrongful death claim arising from your car crash.
However, you should be aware that in most personal injury cases, you could be entitled to receive compensation for medical expenses, impairment, disfigurement, lost past and future income and pain and suffering. To recover, you must have suffered those damages and be able to prove them.
In some cases, punitive damages may be available. These damages are aimed at punishing wrongdoers and deterring future similar misconduct by that party and others.
In a wrongful death claim, a car accident victim’s family will be entitled to slightly different damages, such as funeral expenses, loss of the care and companionship of a loved one and compensation for their own unique pain and suffering.
To learn more about the potential damages available in your car accident case, contact The Bob Richardson Law Firm today. Drawing on our skill, experience and resources, we have secured favorable verdicts and settlements for automobile wreck victims and their families throughout Austin, Waco and the surrounding Texas communities of Round Rock, Georgetown, Killeen, Temple, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Taylor and Belton.
Call us toll-free at (800) 880-5100 or use our online form. We can provide you with a free case evaluation, and we won’t charge you for our services unless we recover for you.
What should I do if I don’t think I can afford an attorney?
If you have been injured in a car accident, you may be frightened and confused about what to do next. Even though you know that you have been harmed by another person’s careless conduct, you may be concerned that you won’t be able to afford an attorney.
At The Bob Richardson Law Firm, our primary goal is to make sure that injured and disabled Texans receive the benefits and other compensation they rightfully deserve if they have been in an automobile crash. Just because you lack available funds shouldn’t mean that you and your family are denied justice. That’s why we handle most of our cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that you won’t have to pay for our legal services unless we recover for you.
For more than 30 years, we have secured favorable verdicts and settlements for car accident victims and their families throughout Austin, Waco and the surrounding Texas communities of Round Rock, Georgetown, Killeen, Temple, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Taylor and Belton.
To learn how our personal injury and wrongful death attorneys can help you with your Texas car accident case, call us today toll-free at (800) 880-5100 or use our online form. We can provide you with a free case evaluation, and we won’t charge you for our services unless we recover for you.
