Understanding Your Rights After an Injury in Texas
Accidents can happen when we least expect them. Whether you were involved in a car accident, experienced a slip and fall, or were injured because of someone else’s actions—or failure to act—you may be dealing with more than just physical pain. Medical bills, lost income, and emotional stress can quickly become overwhelming.
In situations like these, the law may recognize that negligence played a role in your injury. When someone’s careless behavior causes harm, you may have the right to seek compensation through a personal injury claim. This compensation can help cover important costs such as medical expenses, lost wages, and the physical and emotional pain you may have experienced.
What Is Negligence in a Personal Injury Case?
Negligence occurs when a person fails to act with reasonable care, resulting in harm to someone else. For example, a distracted driver, a property owner who fails to fix a dangerous hazard, or someone who acts recklessly can all potentially be held responsible for injuries they cause.
If negligence contributed to your accident, a personal injury attorney can help you understand your legal options and guide you through the process of seeking compensation.
The Texas Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Cases
One of the most important things to understand after an accident is the statute of limitations. This legal rule determines how long you have to file a lawsuit after an injury occurs.
In Texas, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years from the date of the injury. This means that if you wish to pursue compensation through the courts, your case typically must be filed within that two-year window. Most personal injury cases are filed in civil court.
Missing this deadline could prevent your case from being heard and may eliminate your opportunity to recover compensation.
Are There Any Exceptions to the Two-Year Rule?
While the two-year limit applies in most cases, there are certain limited exceptions where the deadline may be extended.
For example, extensions may apply if the injured person was:
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A minor at the time of the accident, or
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Legally considered to be of “unsound mind.”
However, these exceptions are not common and can be difficult to prove. Because of this, it is always safest to act as soon as possible rather than relying on the possibility of an extension.
Why Acting Quickly Can Protect Your Case
After an accident, time is more important than many people realize. Evidence can disappear, witnesses’ memories can fade, and important documentation may become harder to obtain.
Speaking with a personal injury attorney early in the process can help ensure that:
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Your legal rights are protected
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Important evidence is preserved
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Your claim is filed within the required time frame
Taking prompt action can make a meaningful difference in the strength of your case.
Seeking Support After an Accident
Being injured because of someone else’s negligence can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you understand your options and work toward recovering compensation for the losses you have experienced.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, seeking legal guidance as soon as possible may help you protect your rights and focus on what matters most—your recovery.
CONTACT HERRMAN & HERRMAN IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:
We can help you if you have been harmed by the following:
- Car accidents – Our lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases. We will work to identify the party or parties at fault for the crash and build a case to demonstrate persuasively how the parties caused the accident and your injuries. We will seek fair and full compensation through a negotiated settlement or at trial if necessary.
- Truck accidents – Thousands of large commercial trucks travel the roads of Texas every single day. Unfortunately, careless truck drivers and trucking companies disregarding safety put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our experienced Texas personal injury lawyers stand up to the trucking companies and insurers on your behalf.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer grievous injuries in crashes caused by other motorists. Too many motorcycle accidents in Corpus Christi are caused by careless drivers who don’t look for motorcycle riders or violate their right of way. Our personal injury lawyers will work to cut through the bias and stigma against motorcycle riders. Our goal is to seek the financial compensation that you’ll need to recover from a serious motorcycle accident and injuries such as bone fractures, road rash, or traumatic brain injury.
- Product liability – Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to make products that are safe for their intended uses and to warn consumers of any risks that may come with the product. When products have design or manufacturing defects or undisclosed dangers, the product manufacturer may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by consumers. Our attorneys can help you evaluate whether you have a valid product liability claim.
- Brain injury – Brain injuries can leave accident victims with disabilities that leave them unable to work or perform many tasks of daily living. Seeking compensation for a brain injury in an accident often proves incredibly complex. The brain injury survivor may seek compensation for anticipated future medical care and the medical care already provided. Our personal injury lawyers can help you through the difficult recovery process following a brain injury and will fight to make sure you have the resources you need.
- Spinal injury – Spinal cord injuries could cost millions of dollars of care over the course of the victim’s lifetime, especially when those injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or your loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you deserve compassionate legal representation. Our attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and expenses related to living with the disability, such as making a home more accessible.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, your family deserves to seek accountability and compensation from those at fault for the wrongful death. Our caring and dedicated attorneys can help guide you and your family through this difficult and painful time and seek justice for your loved one.
