Austin Car Accident Lawyers

Have you recently experienced the horrific event of being involved in a car accident? If so, you are probably suffering the stress of having a million different unanswered questions about the future, even as you try to deal with unimaginable pain and trauma. You may be especially concerned about how a mountain of medical bills can be covered by your limited health and driver’s insurance, or how to manage with a loss of income due to a halt in your work.

In the face of catastrophe, know that you are not alone. Our empathetic Austin car accident lawyers are here to alleviate your stress during these challenging times. Trust Cofer & Connelly, PLLC to fight for your compensation and get you to solid ground.

Contact us today at (512) 991-0576 or fill out our contact form online so that our dedicated personal injury law firm can assist you in fighting back after your accident.

Common Types of Car Accidents

A car accident, also known as a traffic collision or motor vehicle accident, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction, such as a tree or utility pole. Car accidents can result in a range of outcomes from minor property damage to severe injury or death.

Some of the common types of auto accidents include:

• Rear-End Collisions: Occur when one vehicle hits the back of another, often due to tailgating or distracted driving.
• Head-On Collisions: Happen when two vehicles collide front-to-front, typically due to wrong-way driving or swerving into oncoming traffic.
• Side-Impact Collisions (T-Bone Accidents): Occur when the side of one vehicle is struck by the front or rear of another, commonly at intersections.
• Sideswipe Collisions: Happen when two vehicles scrape alongside each other, usually during lane changes without checking blind spots.
• Single-Vehicle Accidents: Involve one vehicle hitting a stationary object like a tree or barrier, often due to speeding or loss of control.
• Multi-Vehicle Pile-Ups: Involve three or more vehicles, typically occurring on highways and are particularly dangerous due to multiple impacts.
• Rollovers: Occur when a vehicle flips onto its side or roof, more common in taller vehicles during sharp turns or collisions.
• Hit-and-Run Accidents: Happen when a driver leaves the scene without providing information or assistance.
• Pedestrian Accidents: Involve vehicles hitting pedestrians, frequently near crosswalks or in urban areas.
• Parking Lot Accidents: Occur at low speeds in parking lots, often involving vehicles backing out of spaces or hitting parked cars.

Most Common Causes of Automobile Accidents

Crashes involving vehicles can come about for a number of different reasons. The most tragic aspect about these accidents is that they would usually be preventable, were it not for the drivers’ negligence.

Here at Cofer & Connelly, PLLC, we have been extremely successful in helping our clients get compensation when they have been injured in crashes that have involved: 

• Driving while being distracted
• Drowsy or sleepy driving
• Driving while using a mobile device
• Tailgating
• Driving recklessly or aggressively
• Running red lights and stop signs
• Driving down the wrong way
• Punctured tires
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI)
• Speeding or racing
• Failing to yield to the party with the right of way
• Dangerous weather conditions
• Poor road conditions (such as potholes, roots, or cracks in the asphalt)

Texas Car Accident Laws

Texas operates under a fault-based system, meaning the driver who is found to be at fault for causing the accident is responsible for the resulting damages. This system influences how insurance claims and lawsuits are handled.

Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If you are partially at fault for the accident, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. However, if you are found to be more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover any damages.

Texas law requires drivers to report accidents to the police if:

• The accident results in injury or death.
• The accident causes property damage exceeding $1,000.

Failure to report an accident can result in penalties, including fines and license suspension.

The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Texas is two years from the date of the accident. This applies to claims for both personal injury and property damage.

What to Do After a Car Accident

The first thing to do after an accident is make sure you and any other people involved in the crash are safe from further harm. This means getting to the side of the road and trying to calmly call 911. Only after you are certain you and other members of the crash are out of immediate harm’s way should you begin to document the events.

Directly after a crash, victims are often onset with whiplash and confusion, or even lack of memory. It is perfectly understandable that you might not know what caused the crash. Therefore, the more pictures and videos you can take, the easier it will be to establish how the opposite car could have been negligent in causing the crash. Get the names, insurance numbers, and contact information of the other car driver as well as any witnesses. This can be crucial in establishing fault so you can claim compensation.

Why You Shouldn't Trust Insurance Companies

Insurance companies, while providing essential services, sometimes employ strategies that can disadvantage policyholders filing car accident claims. Here are several ways they might take advantage of policyholders:

• Delaying the Claims Process: Insurance companies may intentionally slow down the claims process, hoping policyholders become frustrated or desperate enough to accept a lower settlement. Delays can be caused by excessive documentation requests, repeated investigations, or slow responses.
• Offering Low Initial Settlements: Insurers often present initial settlement offers that are significantly lower than the actual value of the claim. They bank on policyholders needing quick cash or lacking the knowledge to negotiate effectively for a higher amount.
• Denying Valid Claims: Some insurance companies may deny valid claims outright, citing ambiguous policy language, disputing the cause of the accident, or arguing that the damages aren’t covered under the policy. This tactic pressures policyholders to either accept the denial or invest time and resources into an appeal.
• Using Recorded Statements Against Policyholders: Insurers might ask policyholders to provide recorded statements, which they can later scrutinize for inconsistencies or admissions that could be used to justify reducing or denying the claim. Policyholders might inadvertently say something that the insurer can interpret unfavorably.
• Disputing Medical Treatments: Insurance adjusters often question the necessity, duration, or cost of medical treatments. They may argue that certain treatments are unrelated to the accident or that the medical costs are inflated, thus reducing the settlement amount.
• Requesting Unnecessary Documentation: Requesting excessive or irrelevant documentation can create hurdles for policyholders. This can lead to delays and frustrations, potentially causing policyholders to give up on pursuing the full extent of their claims.
• Misinterpreting Policy Language: Insurance policies can be complex and filled with legal jargon. Insurers may exploit this complexity, interpreting policy terms and conditions in ways that minimize their payout obligations. Policyholders without legal expertise may struggle to contest these interpretations.
• Blaming Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurers might argue that a policyholder’s injuries are due to pre-existing conditions rather than the accident itself. This can significantly reduce the compensation for medical expenses and pain and suffering.
• Underestimating Property Damage: Adjusters may undervalue the extent of property damage to the vehicle, offering settlements that do not cover the full cost of repairs or replacement. They might also recommend repair shops that use cheaper parts or methods.
•  Pressure to Settle Quickly: Insurance companies might pressure policyholders to settle quickly, especially if the policyholder is injured and facing mounting medical bills. Quick settlements can prevent policyholders from understanding the full extent of their injuries and associated costs.

Devoted to Your Compensation

Here at Cofer & Connelly, PLLC, we are determined to get you fair recompense for all the pain and suffering you have undergone. The other car driver most likely did not mean to cause an accident, but you should not have to pay the consequences for their negligence.

Call us now at (512) 991-0576 or contact us online so that our car accident lawyers in Austin can help answer all your questions.