Injuries can happen any time, any place. Injury victims in Waco, TX need to know that when they get hurt, there are lawyers who can help them recover the damages they need to move forward.
Our attorneys represent victims and their families in cases against drivers, property owners, businesses, product manufacturers, and more, all with the goal of getting you the damages you deserve. We can fight for medical bills to pay for your care, lost wages to help your family while you cannot work, and pain and suffering to cover the non-economic effects of the injury.
For a free case review, call the personal injury lawyers at Cap City Injury Attorneys today: (512) 612-3110.
What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?
Our personal injury lawyers can help with every aspect of your case:
- Helping you understand your legal options
- Filing insurance claims and lawsuits
- Calculating damages
- Collecting evidence
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Negotiating settlements
- Going to court.
You should never enter into a personal injury lawsuit without having a lawyer on your side. Insurance companies are always willing to cut damages and push victims into low-dollar settlements, and you may need a lawyer to get what your case is truly worth.
What is the Process of Suing for Injuries in Waco?
Injury cases start with evidence collection, then usually involve an insurance claim, before moving to the stages of a lawsuit:
Evidence Collection
You have to build a strong case before you can file it. At the scene of the accident, you may be able to collect evidence about who was involved, and your testimony will be vital. However, we can collect medical records, look for security footage, and collect other evidence you may need.
Insurance Claims
Most cases are covered by insurance, and filing an insurance claim may allow you to skip straight to settlement. However, you should never trust the insurance company, and you should never accept the money they offer you without having a lawyer review it and negotiate for fair damages.
Filing a Lawsuit
IN the initial stages of your lawsuit, your lawyer files a complaint listing what the defendant did wrong to cause your injuries and what the case is worth. There may be legal fights over the sufficiency of evidence and what kinds of evidence may be allowed.
Discovery
During discovery, both sides take depositions and collect evidence through subpoenas (recorded witness testimony), interrogatories (questions to the other side), and evidence exchange.
Settlement Negotiations
If the case has not yet settled, judges usually push the parties to settle or potentially even attend mediation as a last-ditch effort to avoid trial.
Trial
If the case has still not settled, we present the case to the judge and jury at trial. The judge decides legal questions, and the jury decides the facts of the case and who wins.
What Evidence Do You Need to Prove Your Case?
Most cases involve evidence such as the following:
- Your testimony
- Eyewitness testimony
- Expert testimony
- Medical records
- Bills and financial records
- Pay stubs and employment records
- Doctor and therapist testimony
- Photos and video
- Other records
- And much more.
What Do You Need to Prove to Win?
Most personal injury cases are based on a claim of negligence. A negligence claim says that the defendant caused the accident, rather than trying to hurt you on purpose.
This requires you to prove four elements:
- Duty – The defendant owed you a legal duty
- Breach – The defendant violated that duty.
- Causation – The victim’s breach of duty actually caused your accident.
- Damages – The breach resulted in injuries and other damages you can sue for.
Calculating Damages
Our lawyers need to examine the specifics of your case to calculate damages, but most cases involve calculations in these three areas:
Medical Bills
The total cost of treating your injuries can be claimed. This includes the expenses so far, as well as ongoing future care costs.
These costs are proven through medical bills and expert assessments of what ongoing care you need.
Lost Wages
Any money you miss out on because of the accident can be claimed. This can include lost wages while you recover, as well as ongoing lost wages if your injury is disabling.
Your pay stubs provide evidence of what you made before the injury, and we can project future losses.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering and other “non-economic damages” pay you back for the physical and mental pain, anguish, and suffering you experience because of the injury.
We have multiple methods of calculating these damages, depending on what best works for your situation. The more severe an injury, the more pain and suffering damages you get, in most cases.
FAQs in Waco Personal Injury Cases
Do You File an Insurance Claim or Sue for Injuries?
Most injury cases start with an insurance claim. However, the insurance company rarely offers full damages off the bat, and these are typically negotiated before a settlement is possible.
What is the Statute of Limitations?
The statute of limitations is the law dictating how long you have to file your claim. In Texas, the personal injury statute of limitations is 2 years.
What Damages Are Available?
Laws in Waco allow you to claim damages for any economic harms you faced, e.g., medical bills, lost wages, and more. You can also claim damages for the mental, emotional, and physical effects through “pain and suffering” damages.
Do I Have a Case?
We cannot say one way or the other whether you have a case unless we examine the facts. Injury cases have four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages; without these, there is no case.
What is My Case Worth?
We cannot estimate the damages in your case without examining the full facts.
How Long Will My Lawsuit Take?
Lawsuits can take anywhere from 3 months to 3 years after getting past the initial filings, though settlements often happen much faster, potentially resolving in a few months of your initial filing.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
You should always work with a lawyer who can help you understand your rights and what your case is worth.
Can I Settle My Case?
Cases can be settled, but never settle without speaking with a lawyer first.
Who Can I Sue for Injuries?
Lawsuits can be filed against anyone who owed you a legal duty and breached it, such as owners of dangerous property, drivers who hit you, and product manufacturers who put out dangerous products.
What Types of Cases Do You Handle?
Our lawyers handle any injury cases from car accidents to slip and falls to product injury claims and more.
How Do I Pay for a Lawyer?
Our lawyers are typically paid a percentage of the winnings in your case, meaning you pay nothing up front and you only pay if we win.
Can I Talk About My Case?
You should not talk to outside people about your case, especially on social media. Your lawyer can give you more specific instructions about how to answer questions about your injuries and potential claim.
Do I Need to Collect Evidence Myself?
Some evidence is best collected by you at the scene of the accident, such as photos. However, our lawyers can collect much of the rest of the evidence in your case later.
Call Our Waco Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
Call Cap City Injury Attorneys at (512) 612-3110 for a free case evaluation with our personal injury lawyers.