Car accidents happen every single day. After an accident, you may be left injured and experiencing financial difficulty. A car accident can have a negative impact on your physical and mental health, and these impacts may last for an extended period of time.
Fortunately, you may be entitled to receive compensation. Our Santa Fe, TX, car accident lawyer at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law is ready to provide exceptional legal advocacy to help you receive the financial recovery you deserve. Our team helps clients throughout the Santa Fe area.
What To Do After a Car Accident in Santa Fe, TX
After a car accident, it is common to feel shaken and unsure of what to do. Follow these steps to help protect yourself and your claim.
Call 911
As soon as possible after your collision, dial 911. Request police assistance, and if you or anyone involved has suffered any injury, request medical assistance.
Seek Medical Attention
If you’ve sustained any injuries in the accident, you can expect to receive medical attention at the scene. However, even if you believe you did not suffer any injury, it is always best to visit an emergency room or your primary care physician.
Often, although you may feel perfectly fine, you could be injured. Some injuries take time to become evident, but a thorough examination from a medical professional can help greatly.
Also, be sure to follow your treatment plan and medical advice. All information regarding your diagnosis and treatment is put into your medical records, which can play a vital role in your case.
Gather Information and Evidence
As quickly as possible after your accident, try to gather any relevant evidence or information. This can include:
- Photos and videos of the scene
- The other driver’s contact and insurance information
- Witness contact information.
Additionally, as information becomes available, including the police report, your attorney will use this to help build a strong case.
Talk to Your Insurance Company Only
It is essential that you contact your car insurance company soon after your accident, as they expect to be kept up to date on these events when they occur.
You can also expect to receive communication from the other driver’s insurance company, but you should not speak to them. Insurance companies often call to get your side of the story, but they have ulterior motives. Anything you say can be used against you in an effort to limit their liability. It is best not to speak to anyone regarding your accident without first consulting with your car accident lawyer.
Consult with a Car Accident Attorney in Santa Fe
Make an appointment with a Santa Fe car accident lawyer to discuss your case. An attorney can answer your questions, gather details, and give you the best legal advice on how to proceed.
How a Santa Fe, TX, Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You
Your Lawyer Will be Your Best Ally
It is common to feel lost and stressed after a car accident. From beginning to end, your attorney will work with you to provide the best legal representation. You can feel confident knowing your lawyer has your best interests at heart.
Your Attorney Will Competently Handle Your Claim
Your lawyer will have many tasks on the path to getting you the most favorable outcome. Some of these important tasks include:
- Thoroughly investigating your claim
- Compiling relevant evidence
- Communicating with the insurance companies
- Engaging in settlement negotiations on your behalf
- Filing a lawsuit, if needed
- Answering your questions and keeping you updated along the way.
Your lawyer will go the extra mile to get you the financial compensation you deserve after your accident.
Your Lawyer Will Help Fight for Your Right to Compensation
Along the way, there will likely be pushback and challenges on the route to compensation. Nonetheless, your attorney is experienced and knows how to handle these scenarios. Your Santa Fe car accident lawyer will work diligently to get you the financial recovery you need while you worry about your physical recovery.
Why You Should Consult with Our Santa Fe Car Accident Attorney
Not all car accident lawyers serving Santa Fe, TX, are the same. At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, we try to set ourselves apart from the competition. We provide you with the compassion and understanding needed during a trying time. Our firm also aims to provide top-quality customer service and legal representation, from inception to completion.
Whether your case settles or needs to see the inside of a courtroom, you can trust our skilled and determined attorneys to get you the resolution you seek.
We Are Familiar with the Santa Fe, TX, Area
Santa Fe is a city within Galveston County, Texas. The city got its name from the Santa Fe railroad that runs through the town along State Highway 6.
Santa Fe is a quaint city, with a population of nearly 14,000. The city offers unique attractions, including the Santa Fe Old School Museum, the Linh Son Buddhist Temple, and Haak Vineyards and Winery.
Charming attractions can mean visitors coming in from all different directions. More movement within the city can unfortunately lead to more traffic accidents. If you’ve experienced a collision in Santa Fe, TX, it is beneficial to work with an attorney that knows the area. Terry Bryant Accident and Injury Law can help.
Commonly Asked Questions After a Car Accident
What Type of Compensation Is Available After a Car Accident?
Generally, there are two main categories of damages for car accident cases: compensatory and punitive damages. Compensatory damages aim to compensate you for your losses. They can be economic or non-economic in nature.
Economic damages are those directly related to your accident. They can include:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost wages.
Non-economic damages are also related to your accident but may be a little more difficult to quantify. These include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional distress
- Loss of consortium.
Punitive damages are special damages assessed only in certain cases. These damages are used to punish and deter when a defendant’s extremely negligent behavior caused you harm.
Damages can be challenging to calculate, but your experienced car accident attorney will determine the fairest amount of compensation owed to you.
How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth?
There is no “average” car accident settlement amount. Because every car accident claim is different, there are certain factors used to determine how much your case would be worth.
These factors can include:
- The severity of injuries sustained
- The total cost of medical expenses
- The amount of property damage
- The total amount of lost wages
- Whether your actions contributed to your accident.
These and other details are weighed to determine the worth of your car accident claim.
Will My Case Go to Court?
Nearly all vehicle collision cases settle out of court. Successful resolution of a claim prior to litigation may provide the best possible result for the client in certain situations. Out-of-court settlements help end cases earlier, so victims get their financial compensation sooner. Furthermore, these resolutions give victims more control over the outcome.
If informal negotiations break down, and if suit was not filed earlier on in the process for strategic reasons, a lawsuit will be filed. Whether before or after the case enters litigation, mediation can be elected by the parties or required by judges. During mediation, both sides have a legal duty to negotiate in good faith. Often, mediation is successful. In sum, even though most cases never go all the way to trial, we are always prepared to help you until the very end.
What If I Am Found to Be Partially at Fault?
Texas operates under a modified comparative fault standard. This law dictates that a person who is more than 50% at fault for their accident cannot recover compensation. However, a person less than 50% at fault is still eligible to recover for their accident. A complete investigation will help determine who is truly responsible for the accident and to what degree.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit?
There is a statute of limitations for car accident claims. A statute of limitations is a law imposing a strict time limit on a person’s ability to file a lawsuit. In Texas, the general statute of limitations for car accidents is two years from the date of the accident (TX C.P.R. §16.003). (*Always speak directly to an attorney for the exact deadlines that apply to your specific claim(s).) If you fail to file your lawsuit within the time specified, you will likely lose your right to compensation.
Therefore, the sooner you begin working on your claim, the better.
Don’t Delay—Contact Our Car Accident Lawyer Serving Santa Fe Today
There are a multitude of reasons to consult with a car accident lawyer in the Santa Fe area as quickly as you can. Aside from the peace of mind having an attorney will give you, it will also give you the best possible chance at receiving fair compensation.
Contact Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law today at (713) 973-8888 to schedule your free case review.
Attorney Terry Bryant
Terry Bryant is Board Certified in personal injury trial law, which means his extensive knowledge of the law has been recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, setting him apart from many other injury attorneys. The 22 years he spent as a Municipal Judge, Spring Valley Village, TX also provides him keen insight into the Texas court system. That experience also helps shape his perspective on personal injury cases and how they might resolve. This unique insight benefits his clients. [ Attorney Bio ]
