woman calling her lawyer after being rear ended.

If you have been involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, then you are likely to be feeling frustrated, especially if your injuries have resulted in mounting medical bills and time away from work and daily activities.

The trauma of these types of accidents can leave long-lasting scars, both physically and emotionally. You should not have to deal with your injuries alone. Instead, you should seek the support of a personal injury law firm that can fight for the compensation you deserve.

At Abraham Wakins, we work on a no-win no-fee basis, which means that you can never be left out of pocket for pursuing legal representation. If your claim is successful, then we will be paid as a percentage of your settlement; if your claim is unsuccessful, we will not receive anything.

We also offer a free consultation so that you can seek some initial legal advice regardless of your circumstances. If we believe you have a valid claim, then we will offer our services. If not, then you can at least step away armed with more knowledge than you had before.

Abraham Watkins – Fierce Advocacy from One of Texas’s Longest Standing Law Firms

Abraham Watkins has been serving personal injury victims in Jersey Village and across Texas for more than 70 years, making us one of the longest-serving law firms in the state. During this time, we have built up a stellar reputation for fierce advocacy. When you secure representation from us, insurance companies know that you mean business.

Utilizing a large pool of experience, skills, and resources we will fight tirelessly to secure maximum compensation in your case. Insurance defense lawyers know that we are fierce litigators and are more likely to offer a fair out-of-court settlement when they hear we are involved. However, if your case goes to court, we are prepared to stand for you in front of a Judge.

When you have us by your side, no stone will be left unturned. So contact us today to arrange a free consultation at 713-535-9319.

What to Do at the Scene of the Accident

After a traumatic accident, you may feel lost as to what you should do. There are steps you can take to help protect your health, as well as your right to compensation. However, you should keep in mind that your health and well-being should always be your priority.

Prioritize Your Health and Wellbeing

Keeping yourself safe is the single most important thing after an accident. Your first step is to check in with yourself to assess the extent of your injuries. If you feel severe pain or numbness in your back and neck, then you should remain still and wait for help to arrive.

If you are able to, then you can check on others for injuries and move out of the way of any potential dangers. If anyone else involved in the incident appears to be seriously injured, then you should refrain from moving them and wait for help to arrive.

Call an Ambulance, Police, and the Fire Brigade if Necessary

If you or anyone else involved in the accident has suffered serious injuries, then you should call an ambulance as soon as possible. You may also need to call the police to the scene so that they can mitigate any potential danger and file a report.

It is important to note that if you were in a road traffic accident and there is a personal injury or serious property damage, then you are legally required to call the police to the scene and to remain there until they arrive.

If there is a fire or chemical spill, then the fire brigade may also be required to help protect others from potential dangers.

Gather Evidence

If your injuries allow you to move around, then you can gather some evidence that may help you in your claim. Potential evidence you may be able to gather includes:

  • Photos of the scene, including any property damage;
  • Photos of your injuries;
  • Contact information of anyone else involved in the accident;
  • Contact information of any witnesses; and
  • A short written statement was written soon after the accident. After a traumatic accident, your memory could become hazy, and so this can help establish the facts of your case.

Seek a Medical Examination

If you were not taken to the hospital by paramedics at the scene of the accident, then you should seek a medical examination as soon as possible. This will establish what injuries resulted from the accident, and your medical report will be an integral piece of evidence in your claim.

It is also important to remember that adrenaline can mask the severity of injuries, and a doctor can assess your health and advise you so that you do not unknowingly make your injuries worse.

Call Abraham Watkins

You can call us at any point to seek advice from an experienced lawyer. They will advise you on your next steps to help protect your right to compensation. The sooner, the better. If we believe you have a valid claim, we will get to work quickly to protect important evidence.

Contact Your Insurance Company

If you were in a road traffic accident, then you may have a limited amount of time to let your insurance company know that you have been in an accident. However, we recommend that you speak to a personal injury lawyer first.

A personal injury lawyer can advise you on what to say to your insurance company. Remember, insurance companies are big businesses that are driven by profit; anything you say to them could be used to devalue your claim.

What You Shouldn’t Do After an Accident

Even if you believe that it is clear an accident was not your fault, there are still things you might do that hinder your claim for just and fair compensation. The sooner you hire a personal injury attorney, the sooner they can take over negotiations and offer you valuable advice. In the meantime, here are a few things that you should avoid doing:

Do Not Accept the First Settlement Offer

One common tactic that insurance companies use to limit the amount they end up paying out to victims is to offer a quick settlement. The settlement might seem attractive, especially if you have bills mounting up.

However, if you are offered a quick settlement, it is almost always an attempt to pay you less than you deserve. Once you accept a settlement, you will not be able to fight for more, even if it turns out that the settlement was insufficient to cover your bills.

If you are offered a settlement, you should discuss it with a Jersey Village personal injury lawyer who can assess your case and advise you on whether you should accept it or not.

Never Apologize or Admit Fault

For some of us, apologizing is an instinctive reaction. However, you should not apologize or admit fault in any way, as this could be used as evidence against your claim. Even if you believe you could be partially at fault, you should not admit it. You may not know all of the facts of the incident and should wait until an attorney has had a chance to establish the facts of your case.

Do Not Allow an Insurance Company to Record Your Conversation

Insurance companies hire aggressive legal teams whose job it is to devalue your claim. They might ask if they can record your conversation and then use underhanded tactics to get you to say something which harms your case.

If an insurance adjuster asks to record your call, you should say no. Once you have legal representation, all correspondence should go through your attorney. Therefore, if an insurance company contacts you, you can simply tell them to contact your attorney.

Common Injuries That Our Jersey Village, TX Personal Injury Lawyers Deal with

Regardless of the nature of your injuries, if they were caused by someone else’s negligence, then we can help. Our personal injury attorneys work with people who have suffered relatively minor injuries, such as broken bones, to severe injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries and paralysis.

Some common injuries we see are:

  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBI’s);
  • Spinal cord injuries;.
  • Burns, lacerations, and abrasions;
  • Broken bones;
  • Drownings;
  • Animal bites and attacks;
  • Electrocution;
  • Chemical burns and injuries;.
  • Back and neck injuries, such as whiplash; and
  • Broken bones.

Common Personal Injury Cases

At Abraham Watkins, we help victims with a broad range of cases, with car and truck accidents being the most common. Some common personal injury cases include:

  • Road Traffic Accidents – Including those involving cars, trucks, motorbikes, and pedestrians.
  • Explosions – Such as those that occur in a home, office, or workplace.
  • Workplace Injuries – Including those involving defective equipment, toxic substances, and unsafe practices.
  • Wrongful Death – If you have lost a family member, such as a spouse, child, or parent, in an accident that wasn’t their fault, then you may be owed compensation.
  • Offshore Injuries – Maritime law is highly complex, and the attorneys here at Abraham Watkins are uniquely prepared to handle cases involving offshore injuries.

What Damages Can I Recover in a Jersey Village Personal Injury Claim?

Damages are the economic and non-economic losses that you incur as a result of the accident. Some of them have a clear physical cost attached and are relatively easy to establish, such as the cost of your past medical bills. However, others, such as those involving future costs and compensation for your mental pain and suffering, are more challenging to evidence.

An experienced personal injury lawyer will understand how to evidence these types of damages and will fight for a fair settlement. The other party is much more likely to accept a settlement if there is strong evidence attached to them, and if your case does go to court, then your attorney will be ready to present the evidence they have collected.

Damages that are likely to make up your settlement include:

Loss of Earnings

If you have had to take time away from work due to your injuries, then you might feel particularly stressed. Big bills and lost earnings can be a devastating combination, and many employers offer little to no sick pay.

In a successful claim, you should be able to recover all of your lost earnings. In addition, if your injuries are ongoing and will prevent you from returning to work in the same capacity, then your attorney may be able to fight for a lifetime of lost wages.

Medical Bills

Medical bills are usually the biggest expense after a personal injury, and it is common for costs to quickly exceed insurance policy limits. Fortunately, a successful claim should see that you are compensated for all your medical bills and expenses, including those related to medication costs, physiotherapy, and more.

However, it is also important that you are compensated for your future medical expenses. That can be challenging to establish, especially if your injuries are complex and ongoing. Your personal injury attorney may draw upon expert medical testimony to ensure that you are not left out of pocket in the future.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering damages are non-economic damages and you should be compensated for your emotional trauma and physical pain. Accidents such as car crashes are traumatic and can seriously affect a victim’s mental health.

Long-lasting injuries can also seriously impact victims’ mental health, especially if they prevent them from being able to live their life in the same way they did before; this is known as a loss of enjoyment.

Pain and suffering damages are highly subjective and require an experienced attorney to evidence them so that you can be properly compensated.

Assigning Negligence Following a Personal Injury Accident in Jersey Village, TX

Most personal injury claims are based on negligence, which means that your attorney will need to establish that someone behaved negligently towards you in order for you to be able to claim compensation successfully.

Negligence, put simply, is when someone behaves in a way that is different from how a reasonable person would in a similar situation. It could be an action, such as running a red light while driving, or inaction, such as a failure to adequately train employees.

In order for you to have a valid claim to compensation, your personal injury lawyer will need to establish all five elements of negligence, they are:

  1. Duty of Care – First, your attorney will need to establish that the at-fault party owed you a duty of care. For example, all road users owe a duty of care to others on the road, and employers owe a duty of care to their employees.
  2. Breach – Next, the at-fault party must have breached their duty of care by acting unreasonably. For example, a reasonable person would follow the rules of the road while driving to avoid causing a car accident.
  3. Cause in Fact – The victim’s injuries must have been a direct result of the at-fault party’s negligent behavior.
  4. Proximate Cause – The at-fault parties’ duty must be sufficiently related to the accident. This means that the defendant’s behavior could have foreseeably caused harm, and the resulting injuries were not out of the ordinary, considering the circumstances.
  5. Damages – Finally, the injuries must have led to damages that can be compensated for, such as medical bills and lost wages.

What Happens When You Contact Abraham Watkins?

When you contact Abraham Watkins, we will arrange a free consultation where we will assess whether we believe you have a valid claim for compensation. If we think you do, we will discuss our fee structure with you and will offer you representation on a no-win no-fee basis.

Once you have all the information, you can make a decision as to whether to continue with representation or not. If you do decide to continue, then we will get to work quickly to protect the evidence in your case. The sooner, the better, as some evidence, including CCTV footage and property damage, can sometimes be lost if it is not protected quickly.

We will gather as much evidence as possible and will use this to establish who the liable party is. Sometimes insurance policies are insufficient to cover all of your damages, which is why we will explore every avenue of compensation. There may be more than one liable party who we can collect compensation from.

We will also use this evidence to establish what your damages are worth. As a long-standing law firm, we have strong relationships with experts, such as accident reconstruction specialists and medical experts, who will provide strong evidence for your claim. We will ensure that we determine a set element figure that covers your expenses both now and in the future and that is truly representative of your suffering.

Most claims never go to court and instead, end in a settlement. Court cases are expensive and time-consuming, and so usually, they are best avoided. We have a reputation for being fierce litigators, and so insurance companies may be more likely to offer you a fair settlement rather than risk more in court.

That being said, if your case does end in a lawsuit, we will be prepared to litigate on your behalf and will make sure we have all the evidence we need to present a strong case to a Judge.

Do I Really Need an Attorney to Handle Texas Personal Injury Issues?

As a victim of a personal injury, you are within your rights to seek compensation without the help of an attorney. However, we always recommend that victims secure compensation as we believe that this gives you the best chance of securing just and fair compensation.

Most victims who secure experienced representation end up with a higher amount in compensation even after their legal fees are taken than those who don’t. This is thanks to the experience, skills, and resources that an attorney is able to use to establish liability and the value of your damages.

Navigating the Texas legal system alone can also be highly stressful. Insurance companies hire aggressive legal teams and will not go easy on you just because you are the victim of someone else’s negligence. Without representation, they are unlikely to take your case seriously, and it is likely that you will end up with less than what you deserve.

Personal Injury Lawyer Jersey Village, TX FAQs

How Long Do I Have to Make a Claim in Texas?

Texas is governed by a statute of limitations that prevents personal injury victims from making a claim after two years has passed. Once two years have passed since the date of the accident, you will usually be unable to make a claim. However, there are rare exceptions such as if your injuries did not present themselves until a later date.

Is Compensation Guaranteed?

Compensation is never guaranteed. Each case is unique, and sometimes unforeseen circumstances may present themselves. No attorney should promise compensation; however, in your free consultation, they can tell you if they believe your case has a high chance of success.

How Long Does it Take to Secure Compensation?

Every case is different; however, most personal injury claims take many months to settle. Although this can be frustrating when you are dealing with mounting bills, it often takes time to establish liability and the value of your damages.

Speak to One of Our Experienced Attorneys at Abraham Watkins Today

At Abraham Watkins, we have been helping personal injury victims in Texas for over 70 years. We believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality legal representation, which is why we offer a free consultation and work on a no-win no-fee basis.

Our personal injury lawyers have a stellar reputation, which helps us to secure just and fair compensation for our clients. With our team by your side, your case will be taken seriously. We will advocate fiercely on your behalf and take pride in doing everything in our power to help our clients achieve the results they deserve.Contact our law office today and arrange a free consultation at 713-535-9319.

Free Consultation

We offer a free consultation to prospective clients. If you have been injured and wish to speak to one of our attorneys in a no-cost consultation, please call us at (713) 222-7211. or toll free at 713-222-7211

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Our Record of Success

$250+

million

Drug Litigation

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million

Plant Explosion

$88

million

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$60

million

Drug Litigation

$60

million

Chemical Plant Fire

$35

million

Premises Liability

Our Awards

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Top 10 Wrongful Death US 2022.
Top 20 Motor Vehicle Accidents - 2022.
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Number 1 settlement for wrongful death in Texas 2022.
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Number 1 for Wrongful Death Settlements in TX for 2022.
Firm Award - Top 10 Motor Vehicle Settlements in Texas 2022
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Top 100 Best Lawyer Award 2021 for Abraham Watkins.
2021 Top 10 Practicing Lawyers in Texas Award.
2021 Top 10 Personal Injury Verdict Award.
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