Car accident attorneys typically accept cases on a contingency fee agreement. This means they do not charge an upfront fee or make you pay in advance for any case-related expenses. Your attorney will cover the costs to prepare, file, and litigate your claim. Their legal fees will be dependent on how much you are awarded in your settlement or jury award. If you do not win, you will not owe your attorney anything, so there is no risk to you.
Once you recover compensation, typically, between 33 to 40 percent will be taken as legal fees. Most often, you will owe 33% or one-third of your compensation. For example, if a settlement yields $100,000, your lawyer will keep about $33,000 as their fee for representing you, plus court costs and case expenses.
Depending on the attorney, you may be able to negotiate the terms of your contingency fee agreement. In addition, some lawyers may reduce their percentage if your case quickly resolves in a settlement or raise it if your case goes to trial. Others may work on a sliding scale fee—for example, 33% of a recovery up to $100,000, 25% of a recovery from $100,000 up to $300,000, etc. Be sure to discuss the terms before signing your agreement, to know exactly what costs you will be responsible for.
The types of car accidents that most commonly occur in Texas are:
The resulting injuries and damage from these accidents can range in severity. Whether or not seat belts are worn can be a significant factor, as well as the speed at which the vehicles were traveling, the location of impact, the drivers’ or passengers’ positions at the time of the crash, and whether airbags deployed.
The most common causes of car accidents in Texas include:
Any activity that takes a driver’s eyes or minds off the road or hands off the wheel is a distraction. Cell phones, eating, daydreaming, passengers, or following directions on GPS can all easily take away a driver’s focus and, even if it’s only for a split second, can result in a catastrophic accident.
The faster a vehicle travels, the longer it takes to stop to avoid an accident, and the more devastating the collision will be.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, even prescription medications, can dramatically impair a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely.
Aggressive driving behaviors include speeding and weaving through traffic, failure to yield the right-of-way, erratic lane changes, disobeying traffic signs and signals, and more. All of which can easily contribute to an accident.
Tired drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a collision, according to the National Safety Council.
Construction, weather, gravel or dirt roads, etc., can all pose a serious threat to a vehicle’s stability and a driver’s ability to maintain control.
Some of the most common types of injuries caused by car accidents are as follows:
A sudden jolt to the body can occur in an accident at any speed. When the body is jolted, muscles in the neck become strained trying to protect your brain and spine, causing what is known as whiplash. Whiplash is one of the leading injuries reported after a car accident and can take significant time to heal.
Car accident victims suffer back injuries of all kinds, such as herniated or bulging discs, fractures, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and others. These injuries often result in chronic pain and lifelong complications.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can range from mild to severe. However, even a minor TBI or concussion can have long-term consequences. In extreme cases, victims can suffer permanent cognitive or physical impairment.
The knees typically strike the steering wheel, an airbag, or the front dashboard in a crash, and if they suffer serious damage, they can require surgery.
Broken arms, legs, ribs, and pelvis breaks are common in even minor car accidents. They may take weeks to heal, and activities are typically restricted.
Severe lacerations or burns can occur. For instance, from the impact of the crash, broken glass, plastic parts, or a vehicle fire.
Damage to internal organs can be life-threatening if not treated immediately after a crash.
The trauma from car accidents can lead to severe mental and emotional conditions.
When another party’s negligence is responsible for a car accident, you have the right to pursue damages. Damages are the legal term that refers to the financial compensation awarded to reimburse car accident victims for their losses. The types of damages you may be entitled to commonly includes:
Actual financial losses that you must provide receipts or bills for in order to prove how much money you’ve lost. Some examples include:
Compensation for subjective losses that do not have a monetary value. For instance:
This type of compensation is rarely awarded and is only granted in cases involving an at-fault party who exhibited an extreme disregard for the safety of others. Punitive damages are intended to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior by others.
A car accident can be financially debilitating, so you may be wondering how much compensation you can expect to recover. There isn’t a precise answer because each case has unique circumstances, but an attorney can give you an estimate. The following factors typically impact a case’s value:
The more severe your injuries and financial losses, the more compensation you are often entitled to—for example, a case involving paralysis will typically result in a higher award than a broken leg expected to heal in six weeks.
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury in a car accident, contact Ramsey Law Group. Our Texas Car Accident Lawyers have the skills and resources to recover the maximum amount of compensation possible in your case. Call (713) 489-7577 or request a free consultation online today.