Irving Car Accident Lawyer

Irving Texas Injury Attorney Michael Grossman Explains the Basics of Car Accident Cases

Everybody unfortunately winds up in car wrecks. They can be minor and cause little damage, and then there are accidents with serious effects that can alter the lives of individuals.

Whether it’s a small or major accident you’ve been involved in, you need to take the proper steps to protect your rights. There are instances when you can defend yourself on your own. There are times, though, when you need to retain an Irving car accident lawyer for your case. In this piece, Irving attorney Michael Grossman will tell you about the basics of car accident law so you’ll know all the details involved in the legal process and how you should decide if you need to get a lawyer. In this article, the following topics are examined:

• Facts needed to prove your case.
• Understanding what happens when an insurance company works on your case.
• When you’re fine to work on your own and when you need a lawyer.
• Best ways to select the right attorney.

If you have any more questions about your legal rights, or if you’re unsure about if you need the assistance of an attorney, we can be reached toll free at 1-855-326-0000 (toll free). We’ll provide our opinion for you, free of charge.

What it Takes to Win

When it comes to trials pertaining to car accidents, it’s up to the plaintiff to prove their case, which is also referred to as the burden proof. The defendant is not held responsible until the plaintiff can present evidence that clearly shows this individual is liable for the plaintiff’s injuries. At that point, plaintiffs have the chance to seek compensation.

Since you’re the plaintiff in this car accident lawsuit, you need to know the first step in winning your case is to prove the defendant violated the duty of care you were owed. Virtually every driver must owe fellow motorists a duty to drive in a safe manner so they can make sure and keep other drivers and pedestrians safe. If a motorist acts in a way that regular people don’t, even just for a quick moment, he is deemed to have violated his duty of care. One common example is if someone is driving drunk, speeds through traffic and swerving everywhere on the road, then floats a red light, in most cases he will have violated his duty of care.

After that, if a victim hopes to recover, they have to show their injuries were caused by the defendant’s breach of legal duty owed to the victim. A lot of times multiple people may have been a part of your accident, so there’s a strong chance that the defendant will try to shift the blame to another motorist, pedestrian, or possibly you, and say they were to blame for the accident. Showing that the defendant was the cause of your injury takes proof that an Irving car accident lawyer can help you obtain and give to a judge and jury.

The last step is for you to show you sustained injuries and need compensation for them. Your injuries you’re dealing with from your accident are probably very overwhelming to handle. You may also be trying to figure out how to deal with the mounting repair and hospital bills. There’s a chance you’ve also been living in constant pain since your accident happened. Maybe you haven’t been able to work either because of your accident. While it may seem obvious that anyone can see your injuries and the problems that have originated, you shouldn’t expect a judge and jury to believe you immediately. You need to have totaled how much you think you need compensation for and provide facts about your injuries to support your totals.

The Role of Insurance

Texas state law requires every car to have insurance, but unfortunately numerous drivers choose to violate this law and drive without it. Whether the driver who caused the accident had insurance or was uninsured will play a critical role in your case’s outcome.

If the other motorist did have insurance, you’ll have to deal with an insurance company and some adjusters for your claim. The upside is that since an insurance policy exists, there likely is money available to help assist you with your injuries. The tough part is that it may take a while to access it. Chances are that you’ll have to fight for it. Insurance companies aren’t around to assist customers; they are like any other company seeking to turn a profit. Whenever the need arises, insurance companies will turn to investigators, attorneys and adjusters in a move to reject a victim’s claim or offer victims as paltry a settlement as they can.

However, if the motorist that caused your accident was driving without insurance, that individual will have to pay for your expenses on their own. While well-known insurance companies and their aggressive adjusters won’t be in the picture, you’ll encounter a whole new kind of dilemma. If the defendant you’re dealing with had enough money, they could have purchased insurance for their vehicle. But what happens is that many times uninsured drivers can’t assist victims and reimburse them for their losses. If the defendant in your case is uninsured, an Irving car accident attorney can conduct an asset check on the defendant to determine what their real worth is, even when the defendant is attempting to hide some assets. If the defendant honestly has no financial means of assisting you, there’s nothing that can be done to remedy the situation. It’s an awful fact that lots of plaintiffs can’t get what they truly deserve from an uninsured motorist.

Signs You Need an Irving Car Accident Lawyer

It’s usually not a smart move to elect self-representation after you’ve been hurt, but there are exceptions to this case. If you want to look closer, if the injuries you sustained in an accident were those to your vehicle or some property, you probably would be able to take care of the claim yourself. However, if you were physically harmed, then the best decision would be to seek assistance from a lawyer.

If you haven’t been physically injured n an accident, then there’s a chance to defend your legal rights without having to hire a lawyer. The reason is that when you’re dealing with cases where property was just damaged, insurance companies must adhere to stringent guidelines when figuring out how much victims should be compensated. In these matters, there’s not much room for insurance companies to get the chance to give you a low-ball settlement.

If you’ve been in an auto accident and are just dealing with car damage, the first thing to getting help with your property damage is to swap information with the other motorist. You’ve got to get his contact information, and all the necessary details pertaining to his insurance. Take your car, or tow it, then to a mechanic. The mechanic will then prepare the bill and send it straight to the other motorist’s insurance provider so you can get reimbursed. There are instances when the two insurance providers will argue which should take primary responsibility for paying the bill. When this occurs, the two companies usually manage to reach an agreement without your involvement. If the amount in question exceeds $5,000, you may have to participate in the negotiations and obtain a lawyer to help with your claim.

Accidents where you’ve been physically harmed are handled differently since insurance companies don’t have any rules to follow in figuring out how to compensate you. They have every chance to not pay you a dime, and in order to recover, you’ll have to meet the burden of proof as we’ve discussed earlier. If you’ve sustained injuries that are physical, whether it’s whiplash, broken bones, head injuries or back injuries, that require medical care, then you need to think about seeking an Irving auto accident attorney to help with your claim. In these situations, getting guidance from an attorney can help you get compensated or ending up with nothing.

Even if your wreck doesn’t cause any harm, there are other reasons to seek help from a lawyer for your claim. If you disregard these issues and keep pursuing your claim without legal representation, you stand a greater chance at not getting the assistance you deserve.

The other driver harasses you: If the other motorist becomes combative and uncooperative, this may be a sign that they’re going to make it impossible for you to get compensation for your injuries. If a driver doesn’t provide you with his phone number or insurance, or if he’s trying to persuade you not to call the cops about your wreck, this could be an indication that you need to get an attorney to ensure your rights are protected.

You can’t afford healthcare: Following a car wreck, the costs for getting medical care for your injuries can be exorbitant. Several who live in Irving and nearby don’t have health insurance, and those who do have health insurance may be unable to cover their deductibles, or discover that the necessary treatment isn’t available under their plan. After an accident, some victims may neglect the medical care they need because they’re concerned about the financial harm that would come if they missed work to get compensation.

If you’ve been hurt in a car wreck, obtaining medical care isn’t just important to your health, it’s also critical to your case. The Irving car accident attorneys at Grossman Law Offices can see to it you get the proper medical attention you deserve, even if you think it’s not within your price range. We’ll connect you to a doctor who will help you and consider your financial situation. Along with that, we’ll help you understand how the wages you lose when you miss work to get medical care may be reimbursed by the defendant in your case.

The insurance company attempts to pressure you: Insurance companies aren’t any different from a normal business. They’re seeking a profit, not just to help people. Following a wreck, insurance companies will often try to get accident victims to take much smaller financial settlements. If you take a settlement from an insurance company instead of electing to head to trial, you’ll surrender your chances to sue the defendant for more cash to assist with your injuries. Don’t trust any insurance company the tries to settle your case through an offer before obtaining legal representation. You need to make sure you have a lawyer examine any settlement before you take it.

You also need to seriously think about acquiring legal representation if insurance companies do any of the following:

• Call you nonstop, asking continuous and repetitive questions.
• Attempt to get you to admit to causing the accident, or that you really aren’t hurt.
• Denying you a rental car while your car is being repaired.
• Providing you a settlement offer then saying things like it’s “more than you’re entitled to” or it’s “the best you’ll get.”
• Saying they’ll cover your medical costs or repairs once you send them your payment, and then refusing to pay once you’ve submitted the information.

You have a bad feeling about how your case is being handled: If you’re uncomfortable about the manner in which your case is being dealt with by the insurance company, trust your gut! Remember that the insurance company’s motives contradict yours. While you just want what’s fair, they’re seeking to deny your claim or grant you a tiny settlement. If you’re concerned with the way in which your claim is being worked, call the Irving Texas car accident lawyers at Grossman Law Offices. We’ve prevailed and defeated every big-time insurance company in the country. Insurance companies are aware of our track record, and we know what to do to make sure your claim is treated right.

How to Choose the Right Irving Car Accident Lawyer for your Case

There are tons of attorneys in the Irving area, especially in the Metroplex. Choosing the one that can handle your particular case may seem like a daunting and overwhelming matter. While finding the right lawyer is critical, it also shouldn’t be overly-complicated. At Grossman Law Offices, we always suggest you talk with two or three lawyers before you elect to hire the final one to work your case. Ask each attorney about their history with working and winning similar cases such as yours. Ask questions to see what they believe the pros and cons are with your case and if they can let you talk to another client who had a case like yours. The eventual goal is to hire an attorney who’s prevailed in cases like yours and one you trust.

The Irving automobile accident lawyers at Grossman Law Offices have been working car accident cases for the past two decades. We’ve dealt with all manner of accidents and injuries. Odds are that we’ve already worked a case like yours and we’ve had to negotiate with the insurance company connected to your case. With each car accident case we obtain, we take on all the details that come with the claims. Some of the issues we handle in every case include the following:

• Totaling your eventual medical costs and sending a request for the defendant to compensate you before your bills are due.
• Doing a thorough investigation to see who all has been involved in your accident, whether it’s motorists, pedestrians, other passengers, manufacturers and others.
• Demanding that insurance companies and adjusters stop calling you and contact us instead for the remainder of the process.
• Sending all of the medical and repair bills to your insurance carrier, so your attention can switch to your healing process and not having to stress about deadlines and filling out papers.
• Obtaining facts and securing evidence like photos, witness statements, police reports and measurements that will help prove your case.
• Making sure you get medical care, even when you don’t have the money in your budget for a doctor’s visit.
• Using our reputation to make sure the insurance company gives you the best settlement available.
• Acting as a mediator.
• Taking your case to trial if that’s required.

If you’d like additional information about what our Irving car wreck lawyers can do to assist you or if you want a free personal consultation, contact us toll free at 1-855-326-0000. Our firm is here 24 hours a day, seven days a week to talk with you whenever you need. We’ll help you understand your options and how we can be there for you.