Corpus Christi, TX Car Accident Attorney - Injury, Negligence and Compensation

If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in an auto accident, a Corpus Christi car wreck attorney at Herrman & Herrman is prepared to move into action. Connect with us as early as you can after the accident so that we can collect and preserve the evidence that will support your case.

At Herrman & Herrman, we have an extensive background in car accident injury cases and have successfully resolved over 20,000 cases to date. With over 100 years of shared experience in personal injury cases, you can be confident that your case will be handled professionally and with the highest level of legal skill.

Car Accident Claims FAQs

Car Accidents

How long after my accident do I have to file a lawsuit?

It is in your best interest to contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your accident. Evidence needs to be collected and preserved. Witness statements should be taken while the incident is fresh in the minds of the witnesses. Furthermore, the law imposes a time limit for filing a personal injury claim (known as a statute of limitations). In Texas, it is two years from the date of the accident.

When you work with our firm, we are prepared to investigate your accident to determine who was at fault and to aggressively pursue a claim for compensation against the responsible party. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation with no obligation.

What damages can I recover in a car accident case?

Each car accident is different. You should consult with a knowledgeable car accident attorney to find out what damages you may be able to recover from the negligent party responsible for your accident and injuries. Depending on the circumstances in your particular case, among other losses, you may be able to recover compensation for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Property damage
  • Impairment
  • Disfigurement
  • Punitive damages (in some cases)

Punitive damages are designed to further punish the defendant for wrongs committed, in addition to compensation for the victim’s losses. These types of damages may or may not be allowed, depending on what the driver did or failed to do that caused the accident.

What is negligence in a car accident case?

In order to establish that the other driver in a car accident was negligent, that driver’s actions or failure to act must be shown to have caused the accident that resulted in your injuries. In order to establish negligence, an accident victim must show that:

  • The driver had a duty
  • That duty was breached
  • The breach of duty caused the accident and injuries
  • Damages were suffered as a result.

If the driver failed to use ordinary care – the level of care that a reasonable person would have used under the same circumstances – a breach of duty occurred. While operating a motor vehicle, we all have a duty to use ordinary care for the safety of other motorists.

The following are some examples of ways that drivers can be negligent:

  • Following too closely
  • Driving too fast
  • Driving too slow
  • Failure to yield the right-of-way
  • Failure to obey traffic signals or signs
  • Driving in an impaired state
  • Distracted driving, such as texting or talking on cell phones.

What types of compensation can I recover?

If you have been seriously injured in a car accident caused by the negligence of another driver in Texas, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your medical expenses, physical pain, mental anguish, any disfigurement caused by scarring or loss of limbs, reduced ability to earn income, or loss of marital relations.

When should I hire an attorney after a car accident?

If you have been seriously injured in an accident caused by another driver you should seek an injury attorney IMMEDIATELY. Also, if you have significant medical bills, or if you are having trouble getting your own auto insurance company to honor an uninsured motorist insurance policy, you should have a knowledgeable car accident attorney review the specific facts and explain your legal options. If we determine that you have a valid personal injury claim, our attorneys can help you pursue compensation.

How long do I have to file a personal injury claim after a car accident in Texas?

Every state sets time limits for filing a lawsuit if you have been injured in an accident. If you have been injured in a car accident in the Lone Star State, Texas law allows two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation. Because of the amount of time it takes to investigate an accident and prepare a lawsuit, it is important to contact a knowledgeable accident lawyer as soon as possible.

How much does it cost to hire a car accident attorney?

Our car accident attorneys take cases on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee arrangement allows people who have been injured in accidents to obtain legal representation without having to pay money up front. If our attorneys are successful in pursuing a settlement or verdict on your behalf, we would then be paid an agreed upon share of any settlement or verdict received.

Does my attorney deal with the insurance companies?

Our experienced car accident attorneys deal with the insurance company representing the at-fault driver and try to negotiate a fair settlement. We deal with insurance adjusters and insurance company lawyers so that you can focus on recovering your health and family.

How will I pay my medical bills if I can’t work after a car accident?

In serious injury cases, Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., we can provide loans to clients to cover their living expenses while we pursue personal injury claims on their behalf. We also provide a pharmacy discount card to clients to help reduce the cost of their prescription medications. Our accident attorneys are committed to helping clients get back on their feet after a serious accident caused by negligence. Call to see if your case qualifies.

What if I was partially at fault? Am I eligible for compensation?

Yes, you may still be eligible to receive compensation even if you were partly at fault, but it may reduce the amount you can recover. Texas applies a modified comparative fault rule to personal injury cases in which multiple drivers are at fault. If the court finds that you are partly at fault, you may still be eligible to recover damages as long as you are no more than 50 percent at fault. The amount of compensation that you would be eligible to recover would be reduced by a percentage equal to your degree of fault. For example, if a court found that you were 25 percent at fault for an accident and the court awarded $100,000 in damages, you would be eligible to receive $75,000.

The driver who hit me doesn’t have insurance. Can I still file a claim?

If the at-fault driver who hit you does not have auto insurance, you may file an insurance claim on your own uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) motorist policy. The Texas Department of Insurance requires that UM/UIM coverage must be offered as part of every automobile liability policy sold in Texas to protect drivers from damages caused by motorists who do not have insurance. Unless you specifically declined UM/UIM coverage, it is likely that your auto insurance policy protects you from damages caused by uninsured and underinsured drivers. If your insurance company disputes your uninsured motorist claim, have our experienced car accident lawyer review your accident to determine if we can help you.

My child was injured in a car accident caused by the teenaged driver he was riding with. What can we do?

You may have a claim against the teenage driver and his or her auto insurance provider for injuries caused to your child in the accident. If the auto insurance coverage on the vehicle that the teenager was driving was in the name of the teen’s parents, you may possibly have a claim against that insurance company. It is important to identify all the potentially responsible parties after an accident to maximize the compensation that an accident victim can seek. Those are the kinds of issues that a car accident attorney will research as part of preparing an accident claim.

How Can I Afford My Medical Expenses if I Am Out of Work Due to an Injury?

If you are unable to work as a result of an injury and we are handling your personal injury case, we may be able to loan you money to pay your expenses if necessary. We are committed to helping our clients receive all the medical care necessary to recover from a serious injury. Through a personal injury claim you may have a legal right to seek compensation for your medical bills and other expenses if someone else’s carelessness or negligence caused your injuries. While pursuing a claim on your behalf, our attorney can contact the hospital that treated you and your other health care providers and inform them that you are pursuing a personal injury claim. Many health care providers are willing to hold off on any billing collection efforts if they understand that litigation is in process and they will be paid eventually.

How Can I Afford to Pay for a Lawyer?

You have no upfront legal fees if a personal injury attorney at Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., represents you. A car accident attorney at Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., will handle your injury case on a contingency fee basis. We will advance all the costs of pursuing compensation from the at-fault parties for your injuries. You will not owe us any money unless we are successful in obtaining compensation for you through a negotiated insurance settlement or a jury award. If we have success in securing money for you, then we would take a portion of the settlement as payment for our legal services and expenses. If we do not win money for you, you will not owe a legal fee.

Heatmap of Fatal CrashesHeatmap of Fatal Crashes

Types of Car Accidents in Corpus
Christi that We Handle

There are various types of driving behaviors that put innocent people at high risk of injury
or death. The most common negligent driving behaviors include:
car wreck lawyer

Speeding Drivers

Drivers who refuse to adhere to posted speed limits are responsible for many injuries and deaths in the Corpus Christi area. The inability to control the vehicle due to high speed is particularly dangerous for other drivers sharing the road.

accident attorney

Distracted Driving

Drivers who are texting, talking on a cellphone, eating, or simply not paying attention to the road ahead put other drivers and their passengers at high risk of injury or loss of life.

accident attorneys

Types of Car Accidents

We have access to some of the most respected professional accident reconstruction experts to call on when it is necessary to get the case moving in the right direction.

car accident attorney

Aggressive Driving Accidents

People who are aggressive while behind the wheel often tailgate other vehicles, weave from lane to lane, speed through intersections, and engage in other dangerous driving behaviors.

car accident lawyer

Drunk Driving Accidents

A driver who has consumed alcohol may weave from lane to lane, speed, drive the wrong way on streets or highways, or fail to stop at red lights or stop signs, leading to an impact that often has tragic consequences for innocent people.

car crash attorney

Texting While Driving Accidents

Texting while driving is illegal, but many people continue to engage in this dangerous practice, particularly younger drivers. Texting while behind the wheel is exceptionally dangerous as it involves all three types of driver distraction: cognitive, manual and visual.

car wreck attorney

Highway Accidents

Many of the accidents in the Corpus Christi area occur on the highways, including Highway 286, Highway 358, Highway 357, Highway 77, Highway 44, Highway 181, Interstate 37, and Highway 35.

injury attorney

Dangerous Roads & Highways

Car accidents and truck accidents involving dangerous road conditions can occur because of the poor surface condition of a road, improper design, lack of adequate marking or signage, inadequate guardrails, vegetation blocking sightlines, or poor traffic control in work zones.

injury lawyers

Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Accidents

It is estimated that about 20 percent of the drivers in Texas are currently uninsured. The number of underinsured drivers is far higher. When an uninsured or underinsured driver causes an accident, it will be necessary to seek compensation through your own auto insurance company.

Car Accidents in Corpus Christi

There were no days without a traffic death on the Texas roadways in 2018. In fact, Texas traffic statistics reveal that one person was killed in a vehicle accident every 2 hours and 25 minutes in the state, with one person injured every 2 minutes and 7 seconds. In 2018, 14,908 people sustained serious injuries in crashes, and 3,639 people died in fatal traffic accidents. In Corpus Christi in 2018, there were 27 fatal accidents, 119 serious injuries, 684 other injuries and a total of 8,601 car accidents.

At Herrman & Herrman, we have an extensive background in car accident injury cases and have successfully resolved over 20,000 cases to date. With over 100 years of shared experience in personal injury cases, you can be confident that your case will be handled professionally and with the highest level of legal skill.

How a Car Accident Attorney Can
Help Recover Compensation for Damages

Ordinarily, the at-fault driver’s insurance company will contact an injured person and attempt to get a statement or to gain legal access to medical records. Never allow an insurance company to record your statement, or sign a paper that allows them to get your medical records. The process of getting a settlement will involve various actions, and if you hope to be treated fairly, it is vital that you have legal representation to deal with the other party’s insurance company. Based on the facts in the case, our legal team may engage an accident reconstruction expert or other professionals to provide a report or testimony should the case advance to trial.

When our firm is involved in a car accident case, we take all the necessary actions to get your case resolved as quickly as possible, and at the right level of compensation. When the case is not resolved through negotiations with the insurance company, we can proceed to civil court to seek justice. The actions we take on behalf of our clients include:

  • Accident investigation and reconstruction by experts
  • Managing the release of any medical information to protect you
  • Ensuring our clients get medical treatment
  • An extensive expert medical evaluation of your condition
  • Working with insurance adjusters
  • Analyzing insurance policy limits and other sources of compensation
  • Filing insurance bad faith cases when necessary

Texas Car Accident Statistics

Recent traffic data released by the Texas Department of Transportation indicates that driving in Texas is still very dangerous. In 2018, the fatality rate in Texas decreased by 5.84% percent from the previous year. In 2017, there were 3,727 motor vehicle deaths recorded, while in 2018, the number decreased to 3,639. A total of 14,908 people sustained serious injuries in Texas crashes in 2018, down from 2017 also.

In 2017, there were 254,853 people injured in motor vehicle crashes in Texas. In 2018, that number dropped slightly to 249,241 people. Contributing factors to car accidents vary, but negligence is by far the leading cause of car crashes. At Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., we help our clients get back on the road to recovery after they have become the victim of a negligent driver.

We’re committed to accident victims. You can count on our team of Texas auto accident lawyers.

Vehicle Accident Types in Texas

Negligent Drivers and Speeding

A driver is considered negligent if he or she drives carelessly, resulting in harm to another person or damage to property. There are many ways in which a person could drive negligently. Texas, like all states, has laws that define the “rules of the road.” Should a driver violate any of these rules, he or she would be considered negligent and responsible for any damage or injury that results from this negligence. For example, Texas drivers have a duty to adhere to posted speed limits and to drive at a reasonable, prudent speed given the weather and road conditions. However, speeding is a problem in Texas, as it is in most jurisdictions. Speeding remains a prevalent issue even though Texas has some of the highest speed limits in the nation. There are roads with speed limits of 70, 80 and even 85 mph speed limits. Despite these high-speed limits, people routinely and dangerously exceed them. According to the Centers for Disease Control, speeding is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents, injuries and deaths.

Drunk Driving

In Texas, it is against the law to drive while intoxicated. Despite the stiff penalties for driving while intoxicated, and despite efforts of law enforcement, schools and nonprofit organizations to educate the public about the dangers of driving while intoxicated, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drunk driving remains a leading cause of car accidents and deaths in Texas (see drunk driving statistics). In 2010, out of 2998 traffic fatalities, 42% were due to drunk driving. This percentage is even more startling when compared to other states. It is 35.5% higher than the average for all other states.

Distracted Driving

The fastest-growing cause for car accidents is distracted driving from using an electronic device such as a cell phone while driving. In 2012, according to the Texas Department of Transportation cell phone usage was a contributing factor to 3,283 car accidents in Texas. Except in school zones, Texas law does not ban the use of handheld phones while driving or texting while driving. However, if a driver negligently uses a cell phone or other electronic device while driving and causes an accident, that driver will be liable. Call our distracted driving lawyer for legal assistance.

Failure To Yield 

Many crashes in Texas are caused by drivers’ failure to yield the right of way. A failure-to-yield accident can leave you in agonizing pain and facing crippling medical bills. If you’ve been injured in a failure-to-yield accident, the Texas car accident lawyers at Herrman & Herrman are here to help.

Texting & Driving 

Driving requires a driver’s full attention. Sending text messages while driving is extremely dangerous and leads to many preventable accidents each year. Texting is especially popular among young people. But texting while driving can create a distraction for drivers of any age.

Inexperienced Drivers 

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Teen drivers age 16 to 19 are nearly three times more likely than drivers age 20 and older to be in a fatal crash. The risk of a car accident is particularly high during the first months a teenager has a driver’s license.

Aggressive Driving 

We all know how frightening it feels to be on the road with an aggressive driver. A driver who speeds, weaves dangerously through traffic and tailgates puts everyone at risk.

More than 60 percent of drivers report seeing aggressive behavior on the road, though about one-half of drivers also admit to occasionally being part of the problem. You are right to be concerned, as aggressive driving contributes to more than half of all fatal car crashes in the U.S.

Drowsy Driving

People who drive when they are sleepy or fatigued create a danger of car and truck accidents that is comparable to drunk driving. Sleepiness behind the wheel slows reaction time and fogs thinking and coordination, just as alcohol does.

A drowsy driver who closes his eyes for just a few seconds at 60 mph can cover 100 yards blindly – if he doesn’t crash into someone or something first. State statistics show more than 9,700 crashes in Texas in 2017 caused by a driver who was fatigued or asleep at the wheel.

Uninsured Motorist 

Twelve percent of all drivers in the U.S. – or 1 in every 8 drivers – were uninsured in 2012, as reported by the Insurance Information Institute. The situation is even worse in Texas where 13.3 percent of all drivers in 2012 were uninsured. This amounts to 2.6 million uninsured drivers in Texas.

Even when a driver carries the minimum coverage required by law, it may not be enough to cover your damages if you suffer serious injuries in an accident caused by the other driver. Texas minimum liability limits are 30/60/25 – $30,000 per injured person, up to $60,000 total per accident, and $25,000 property damage per accident.

Talk to our Corpus Christi car accident lawyer today for a no-obligation free consultation. We are available 24/7.

We understand that car accidents happen any time – day or night. That’s why our Corpus Christi Accident Lawyers are ready to help you when you need it most. Contact us 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays. With a second location in McAllen, TX, our attorneys are able to serve injured car wreck victims in the Rio Grande Valley, too. If you were involved in a car accident due to auto defects, our Corpus Christi auto defects lawyer can help.

Our car accident attorneys serve the whole Rio Grande Valley in Texas including Laredo, Weslaco, Harlingen, and Brownsville.

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