When you or a family member has been harmed in an accident and another party is at fault, you deserve to be compensated. This doesn’t just mean for any recurring medical expenses, but also for the mental anguish, along with time lost from work, and any other ramifications directly stemming from the incident. Unfortunately, too many people neglect to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer to help them through this time.
Knowing When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
The simplest explanation as to when you should hire a personal injury lawyer is as soon as possible after the incident. The important thing to remember is that there are lawyers out there who want to help you through this trying time in your life. They’ll be there for you in a numbers of ways, some of which you’ll see below.
Understanding Personal Injury Law in Texas
Every state in the country will have its own share of unique laws when it comes to any legal matter, and personal injury is no different. Here are a few personal injury laws specific to Texas, whether you’re in Houston or Alamo Heights:
Maximum Damage Payment
In Texas, medical malpractice cases have a limited amount of payment to victims. In most medical malpractice cases, pain and suffering damages are capped at $250,000 per defendant. Wrongful death cases have a cap that’s approximately $2 million, and that’s determined by an inflation index. Remember that these caps only apply to cases originating because of medical malpractice.
Shared Fault Rules
When you file a personal injury claim against someone, they can argue that you share partial blame. The amount of fault you share (usually a percentage) will be taken into consideration when the final amount of compensation is determined.
Statute of Limitations
For a personal injury case, you have two years from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit. Not filing in this time frame means the court system will likely refuse to hear your case at all.
How Can a Law Firm Help
When you’re looking for a law firm, you want to hire a team that is proficient in a variety of legal services pertaining to personal injury. They’ll not only be able to help you with the filing process, but also act as your biggest advocate throughout the case, using aggressive and creative tactics to help get you the compensation you’re entitled to. Besides guiding you through the entire personal injury process, they will be a support system for you and your family as well. Being injured, or losing someone in your life is a traumatizing time for anyone. A great law firm will become an extension of your family as you piece things back together.
Don’t Let a Personal Injury Case Tear Your Life Apart
As careful as we are in our day to day lives, bad things can happen to good people. When those things do happen, and you’re unsure how you’ll pay medical bills, or deal with the trauma to you and your family, always reach out to a reputable and trustworthy law firm who will be your greatest advocate during the personal injury process.
