How to Build a Strong Personal Injury Case Involving Multiple Defendants

When involved in an accident with different parties, filing a compensation claim becomes more complex. You must correctly identify all liable parties, determine their degree of liability, file a compensation claim with each one, and, if needed, present a compelling argument in court on why each of them should compensate you. If you do not have a strong case, you might be unable to recover compensation or you might get less than you’re meant to.

Therefore, it is vital to know how to build a strong personal injury case involving multiple defendants. You also need experienced legal representation when dealing with multiple defendants in an injury claim, which is what we offer at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law.

With experience since 1985, we have the skills and knowledge to identify liable parties and hold them accountable for hurting you. Call us now at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 to learn more about our services; the consultation is free and confidential.

Why Choose Our Personal Injury Lawyers to Represent You in an Injury Claim With Multiple Defendants?

At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, we are committed to providing the expertise, dedication, and personalized attention you need when seeking compensation for the damages incurred in an accident. Our Houston personal injury lawyers have a successful track record with different injury claims, including those involving multiple defendants. We have secured substantial amounts in settlements and verdicts and continue to work toward maximum compensation.

We believe in putting our clients first. Therefore, you’ll receive personalized attention, clear communication, and a strategy tailored to your unique situation. Also, whether negotiating with insurance companies or litigating in court, we will fight tirelessly to secure the best possible outcome. You can count on us to be with you throughout the claims process and protect your rights and interests.

We work on a contingency fee basis, so you can focus on your recovery without worrying about upfront legal costs.

The Complexity of Having Multiple Defendants in an Injury Claim

Again, personal injury cases with multiple parties are more complex than those with just two parties. While you can get more compensation, you need a strategic approach to have a strong case. But first, you need to understand the complexities of a multiple-defendant injury claim.

Determining Fault and Liability

With multiple defendants, determining each party’s level of responsibility is crucial. In some cases, the defendants may include individuals, companies, or other entities with varying degrees of liability. As a result, thorough investigations, expert testimony, and evidence are necessary to establish how each defendant contributed to your injury, which takes lots of time.

Joint and Several Liability

Under the joint and several liability doctrine, when multiple parties share fault for the same accident, they can each be held independently liable for the full extent of the victim’s injuries. Tex. Civ. Practice & Remedies Code § 33.013 states that a defendant can be jointly and severally liable for an accident if they are more than 50% at fault for the victim’s injuries. Understanding how this principle applies to your case is critical to maximizing compensation.

Different Defenses

In personal injury claims involving multiple defendants, each person can mount their defense, and sometimes they contradict each other. One party might try to shift the blame to the other, creating various claims and counterclaims that complicate the entire process. Also, you must address each claim and counterclaim to have a successful outcome.

Insurance Complications

Each defendant has different insurance policies, coverage limits, and exclusions. You must navigate these policies and negotiate with each insurance provider to recover maximum compensation. This process can be challenging and time-consuming, but we can help.

Prolonged Litigation

Cases with multiple defendants often take longer to resolve due to the complexity of legal arguments, extensive discovery processes, and the potential for additional motions and hearings. It could take years to go through all these and conclude the case.

We understand the unique challenges of an injury case with multiple defendants and will provide the resources and workforce needed to achieve a favorable outcome.

How to Build a Strong Injury Case With Multiple Parties

Having understood the complexities of a personal injury case with multiple parties, let’s look at how to build a strong case.

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Getting medical attention is the first step to building a strong case. Your medical records contain documentation of your injuries, tests, treatments, and future prognosis. It connects your injuries to the accident or event that harmed you, making it vital evidence.

Gather and Preserve Evidence

Without evidence, you cannot have a strong claim. So, aside from your medical records, you need the following pieces of evidence:

• Accident reports
• Photos or videos of the scene, injuries, and damages
• Witness statements
• Surveillance footage (if available)
• Expert opinions (e.g., accident reconstruction specialists or medical experts).

We can help you gather and preserve this evidence when you hire us. We also know the best way to use the evidence to build a case that shows how the defendants caused the accident or event that harmed you.

Identify All Potential Defendants

You have to identify all the parties that might be liable for your injuries. Depending on the facts, potentially liable parties in a personal injury case typically include:

• Individuals (e.g., drivers in a car accident)
• Employers (if the incident occurred during work-related activities)
• Property owners (in premises liability cases)
• Manufacturers (in cases involving defective products).

Our personal injury lawyers will thoroughly investigate the events leading to the accident to ensure no potential defendant is overlooked.

Determine the Legal Basis for Each Defendant’s Liability

You must establish how each party contributed to your injury. This involves analyzing applicable legal theories like negligence, strict liability, and vicarious liability. By knowing the legal basis for which you can hold each party accountable, you will have a stronger case.

Document All Damages

Damages are what you lost because of your injury, and you must accurately document them to receive compensation for them from the defendants. The standard damages in a multiple-defendant injury claim are:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Emotional distress.

Depending on your case facts, we can ask for other damages like loss of consortium or enjoyment of life.

Work With Expert Witnesses

An expert witness is a person with specialized knowledge who provides testimony in court about a specific subject. Expert witnesses differ from regular witnesses because they are considered authorities in their field. Working with them helps solidify your case, as their testimony is objective and valuable.

Get Legal Representation

Dealing with a claim with a single defendant is difficult enough, and it becomes more challenging when there are multiple defendants. An experienced legal team will relieve you of much of the burden. We will:

• Assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case
• Negotiate with various insurance companies
• Manage conflicting defenses from defendants
• Represent you effectively in court, if necessary.

Your chances of having a strong and winnable case are better with us.

The Role of Comparative Negligence in Personal Injury Claims Involving Multiple Defendants

Under the comparative negligence doctrine, fault is apportioned based on how each person contributed to the accident. In cases involving multiple defendants, you and the defendants will be assigned a fault percentage based on the roles you played in the accident that harmed you.

Your compensation will be reduced in accordance with your degree of fault. So, assuming you were 20% liable and the defendants were 80% liable, you will lose 20% of your compensation. However, note that your liability must be less than 51% to have a valid claim.

Our Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers Are Here for You

Our team at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law has the tenacity, skill, and experience to handle an injury case with multiple parties. We will walk you through the entire process and ensure you understand what to expect every step of the way. We are only a phone call away, so call us now at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 for a free, confidential, and no-obligation consultation.