Laredo Personal Injury Lawyers

Which Personal Injury Claims Do We Specialize In?

Our Law Firm handles any accident cases that involve serious injury or death.

Here are some examples of the most common accident scenarios:

• Truck accidents
• Car Accidents
• Bus collisions
• Incidents involving pedestrians
• Construction site injuries and death
• Workplace-related injuries
• Dog attacks
• Medical negligence cases
• Premises liability cases
• Oil rig accidents
• Train Accidents

This is a list of the cases we handle for the Laredo community and its surrounding regions in South Texas. If, for instance, you’ve been involved in a car crash and got injured, we urge you to contact our Laredo personal injury lawyers promptly for a complimentary consultation.

Our attorneys also extend their support to families grieving the loss of a loved one due to the careless or deliberate acts of others. Managing intricate wrongful death claims in Laredo, we pledge to stand with you from the initial consultation, ensuring you attain both the closure and rightful compensation you deserve.

What Are Some Common Injuries We Address?

Our Firm is committed to assisting individuals in taking legal action for personal injury cases where they’ve endured diverse injuries. This encompasses, but isn’t restricted to:

• Brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Concussions
• Whiplash
• Internal trauma (organ damage or bleeding)
• Significant blood loss
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Broken or dislocated bones
• Amputation or crush injuries
• Lacerations or puncture wounds

We recognize that not all injuries manifest physically or necessitate medical attention initially. We support clients who’ve experienced a spectrum of emotional and psychological traumas stemming from the initial incident, their physical injuries, and the ensuing recovery journey. Such traumas can manifest as prolonged bouts of stress, anxiety, and depression. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults every year. Notably, a study from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs indicates that about 8 million adults have PTSD during a given year.

What Types of Compensation Can Be Secured From A Personal Injury Case?

Not one case is like another.

Economic damages. Often termed as “special damages,” these pertain to quantifiable losses and injuries.

• Emergency medical expenses
• Subsequent hospital or doctor consultations
• Costs of prescription medications
• Expenses for medical equipment
• Future medical expenses
• Charges for physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Lost wages
• Household and incidental expenses stemming from the injury
• Property damage

Non-economic damages. Also known as “general damages,” these are more elusive to quantify than the tangible losses above. These damages address the intangible repercussions, with no direct bills to validate a victim’s:

• Emotional and psychological  trauma from the injuries
• Physical pain and anguish endured
• Loss of intimacy for a spouse
• Loss of companionship for kin
• Damages for scarring and disfigurement

The compensation amount for personal injury victims in Laredo isn’t fixed. It fluctuates based on the injury’s severity, recovery duration, shared liability, property damage costs, etc. Our attorneys collaborate with economic and financial specialists to calculate the total damages for our clients.

Understanding the Different Forms of Negligence in Personal Injury Cases

In personal injury law, the term “negligence” comes up frequently. According to the American Bar Association, negligence is a failure to behave with the level of care that someone of ordinary prudence would have exercised under the same circumstances. While there are several forms of negligence, only specific ones might be relevant to a particular case

ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE This form of negligence is the most common and central to most personal injury claims. It arises when individuals fail to fulfill their duty of care towards others. Examples include distracted driving due to texting, neglecting to clean a spill, or not addressing faulty staircases.

GROSS NEGLIGENCE Gross negligence is a heightened form of negligence. It pertains to situations where the responsible party acted with extreme recklessness or even with intent, fully aware that their actions could harm others. For instance, a driver recklessly speeding through a pedestrian zone or a medical professional prescribing drugs without assessing a patient’s medical history would exhibit gross negligence.

COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE This type of negligence is applicable when multiple parties share the blame for an incident. Laws on comparative negligence, such as those in Texas, allocate fault proportionally among the involved parties based on the evidence. Consequently, this can influence victims’ final compensation amount for their injuries.

CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE Only a handful of states in the U.S. adhere to the contributory negligence system. Under this system, if victims bear even a minuscule 1% responsibility for their injuries, they are barred from receiving any compensation. Due to its perceived inequity, many jurisdictions have abandoned this system.

The Five Crucial Elements Of Negligence

While many sources mention four elements of negligence, a deeper dive reveals a fifth, more nuanced element. To triumph in a civil personal injury lawsuit, a claimant must convincingly demonstrate all these elements to progress their case and obtain compensation.

Duty of Care: This element concerns individuals’ obligation towards others in various scenarios. The manifestation of this duty varies with the nature of the claim. For instance, every motorist on the road owes a duty of care to fellow drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, encompassing safe driving and adherence to traffic regulations. Conversely, the duty of care between a physician and patient is distinct, with doctors obligated to maintain a competent standard of medical care for all patients.

Breach of Duty: Once the duty of care is established, it’s essential to prove that the defendant (the purported negligent party) violated this duty towards the plaintiff (the injured party). The nature of this breach varies with the situation. A driver might breach their duty by driving under the influence, speeding, or flouting traffic rules. In contrast, doctors might breach their duty by neglecting patient history, overlooking test results, or erring in medication prescriptions.

Cause in Fact: This element pertains to whether the defendant’s actions or negligence directly resulted in the plaintiff’s injury. The one is on the plaintiff and their attorney to demonstrate that the injury wouldn’t have occurred because of the defendant’s conduct.

Proximate Cause: This revolves around the defendant’s accountability for the injury. The plaintiff must prove that the defendant could have prevented the incident.

Damages: The plaintiff must prove they incurred financial losses due to the incident. These losses can span medical expenses, property damage, incidental costs, lost earnings, pain and suffering, diminished quality of life, and more.

Establishing these five elements of negligence in court is intricate, underscoring the importance of partnering with a proficient personal injury lawyer in Laredo. Such a lawyer will spearhead the investigation, devise an optimal case strategy, and adeptly navigate interactions with insurance firms and opposing counsel.

Essential Steps to Follow After Experiencing an Injury in Laredo

Experiencing an injury can be overwhelming, especially when considering the subsequent actions required to safeguard your rights and well-being. In the wake of an injury in Laredo, it’s crucial to follow these steps to ensure you receive the necessary medical attention and are positioned to claim the compensation you deserve:

1. Alert the Relevant Authorities: Reporting the injury to the proper authorities is vital. The nature of the incident dictates whom you should notify. For instance, traffic-related injuries should be reported to the police, which typically involves calling 911. If injured at work, notify your supervisor or employer immediately. Inform the property owner or manager of the premises that you were injured.

2. Prioritize Medical Attention: Regardless of the injury’s severity, seek medical attention immediately. This could mean an immediate trip to the emergency room post-incident. Even if injuries appear minor, a prompt medical evaluation is essential to diagnose potential underlying issues and to establish a clear connection between the incident and the injuries sustained. Some injuries only reveal themselves after a few days, so don’t hesitate to get a medical evaluation.

3. Document the Scene: Gather evidence at the injury site if circumstances allow. Use your phone to capture photos of the injury, its cause, potential surveillance cameras, and other relevant details. Additionally, collect contact details of any witnesses present, as their accounts can be invaluable later.

4. Notify Your Insurance Provider: Depending on the injury type, it might be necessary to inform your insurance provider about the incident. This holds especially true for vehicular accidents. Keeping your insurer in the loop is crucial to initiate the claims process even if you’re not at fault.

5. Consult with our Attorney: Engage with a Laredo truck accident lawyer early on. A seasoned attorney can manage all facets of your claim, liaising with all involved parties and amassing evidence to establish fault.

6. Stick to Medical Recommendations: Continuing medical treatments is imperative until your healthcare provider gives the all-clear. Prematurely discontinuing treatments or missing appointments can be detrimental to your claim. Such gaps can be misconstrued by insurance companies or the responsible party, potentially undermining the perceived severity of your injuries.

Understanding the Process of Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Texas

INITIATING AN INSURANCE CLAIM Seeking compensation in Texas typically begins with an insurance claim. The nature of your claim hinges on the incident’s specifics. You might find yourself liaising with car insurance providers, homeowners’ insurance agencies, renters’ insurance companies, or policies from businesses or governmental bodies.

Most personal injury claims in Texas culminate in settlements with insurance providers. The allure of this route is the expedited compensation, which is significantly quicker than a lawsuit’s lengthy proceedings.

However, each insurer has its unique claim procedure, which can be perplexing. We highly recommend consulting a seasoned Laredo truck accident lawyer to guide you. They’ll not only assist in claim initiation but also spearhead negotiations. It’s common for insurers to propose minimal settlements initially.

PURSUING A PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUIT If insurance negotiations falter or the claim is outright rejected, you might need to resort to a personal injury lawsuit in Texas’s civil courts. That’s when you need to call us. Remember that such lawsuits must be lodged within two years from the injury date is crucial. Missing this deadline can jeopardize your chances of securing any compensation.

Initiating a lawsuit triggers the “discovery phase,” a period of evidence exchange between you (and your lawyer) and the defendant. This phase might involve further investigations and witness depositions, where they provide sworn testimonies about the incident.

Often, the discovery phase unveils pivotal information, prompting either party to reconsider their stance, leading to settlements or case withdrawals. While most lawsuits don’t reach the jury trial stage, it’s essential not to shy away from pushing your case to its limits if the opposition remains unyielding.