Corpus Christi Personal Injury Lawyer

Corpus Christi Personal Injury AttorneysAt Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., our Corpus Christi personal injury attorneys have decades of experience helping individuals move forward following injuries caused by someone elseā€™s negligence or recklessness.

We have successfully resolved more than 20,000 personal injury cases. We would like to help you too.

We are a personal injury law firm that represents injured individuals and families across South Texas. We understand the challenges you might be facing after suffering a serious injury. You may be struggling with pain on a daily basis and trying to manage countless medical appointments. You may no longer be able to work or earn a living. You may have a stack of unpaid medical bills and have questions about what steps to take next.

We offer every client personalized care, compassion, and skilled legal representation. Weā€™ll take the time to understand your needs, develop a legal strategy that meets your goals, and help you through the legal process.

Get help from an established law firm that is ready to stand by your side and tackle the most complex personal injury case. We have the experience and resources to take on large, powerful insurance companies. Let us handle your case so you can focus on recovering your health and quality of life.

Our law firm has extensive experience in personal injury law, having handled more than 20,000 cases. We have office locations in Ft. Worth, Brownsville, McAllen, Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi South Side, San Antonio, and Houston. Herrman & Herrman has Spanish-speaking and English-speaking staff so you can discuss your legal matter in the language that you feel most comfortable speaking.

Types of Compensation Available in Personal Injury Cases

If you have been injured due to someone elseā€™s negligence, then you may have a right to file a claim against the at-fault party, seeking compensation. You may pursue compensation for:

  • Present and future medical expenses related to the injury
  • Lost wages if you are unable to return to work for a period of time due to your injury
  • Property damage or vehicle damage
  • Pain and suffering including emotional trauma and mental anguish
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Punitive damages, if deemed appropriate

What Evidence Is Needed for a Personal Injury Claim?

If you are planning to file a personal injury claim, you will need evidence to support your case. An experienced personal injury lawyer will know exactly what types of evidence you need and will move quickly to preserve evidence to back your claim. The types of evidence that our personal injury lawyers seek include:

  • Police or accident reports, which usually provide details about the scene of the accident, injuries, vehicle damage, witness statements, contact details for everyone involved in the accident, an initial determination of fault, and more.
  • Photo and video evidence, such as photos and videos you may have taken at the scene of the accident, or surveillance camera footage from nearby security cameras that may have recorded the accident.
  • Witness testimony, if any motorists or bystanders observed the accident. Bystanders can provide an objective view of the accident, and their corroboration can help strengthen your claim.
  • Expert testimony, if your attorney decides it is appropriate. If you were injured in a car accident, your attorney may consult a crash reconstruction expert to recreate the scene in an attempt to demonstrate how the accident played out.
  • Medical records, including documentation detailing your prognosis, recommended course of treatment, hospital and surgery bills, and more.

Steps to Take After a Personal Injury Accident

Being in an accident can be confusing and traumatizing. Familiarizing yourself with what to do after sustaining an injury can put you on the right path. After a personal injury accident, you should take the following steps:

  • Seek medical attention ā€“Seeking a medical evaluation after an accident can provide documentation of your injuries and how they occurred. Insurance companies will look for medical documentation when considering your injury claim.
  • Gather medical documents ā€“ Keep a file containing all of your hospital bills, prescription labels, surgery invoices, physical therapy bills, and more.
  • Donā€™t post on social media ā€“ Insurance companies and defense lawyers can use anything you post on social media against you to undermine your claim. If you post photos of a recent outing or vacation, for example, the insurer may use your photos to contend your injuries are less serious than you claim. Refrain from posting anything on social media until the claim is resolved.
  • Consult with an attorney ā€“ Working with an attorney is often your best shot at getting the fair compensation you need to recover financially after an accident.

Tips for Getting the Best Personal Injury Settlement

If you were injured due to someone elseā€™s negligence, you deserve to be fairly compensated. Follow these tips for getting the best personal injury settlement possible:

  • Gather evidence ā€“ Preserve valuable evidence of the accident, such as photos and videos of the accident scene, a copy of the police accident report, and medical records.
  • Seek medical treatment ā€“ Get treated as soon as possible after the accident.
  • Calculate damages ā€“An attorney can gather your medical bills and accident-related losses and estimate the value of your case. Itā€™s a good idea to have an idea of the full extent of your financial and non-financial losses.
  • Donā€™t accept any initial offers ā€“ If the insurance company makes a quick settlement offer, it probably isnā€™t very generous, even if it may seem that way. Donā€™t sign anything presented by an insurance company without consulting a personal injury lawyer.
  • Consult with an attorney ā€“ Trying to navigate the claims process on your own while recovering from your injuries is never a good idea. An experienced personal injury attorney at Herrman & Herrman will have the time, knowledge, and resources to build a successful case and pursue the compensation you need.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit

In some cases, you and your attorney may not be able to reach a settlement agreement with the insurance company. In that case, we may consult with you about whether to file a personal injury lawsuit and take your case to court.

There are usually several steps involved in a personal injury lawsuit:

  • Your attorney will file a complaint in court on your behalf. The complaint will then be served to the defendant, who will have a period of time to respond.
  • Your case will go through the discovery process. During this process, your attorney will exchange information and documentation with the other side.
  • Many cases will need to go through mediation before proceeding to trial. Mediation is a last-ditch attempt to get both sides to come to a settlement agreement.
  • If mediation falls through, the case then goes to trial. Your case will be presented in front of a judge or jury, who will return a verdict based on the evidence presented in court.

Can Social Media Be Bad For My Personal Injury Case?

The number of social media users continue to grow rapidly, partly thanks to the fact that all a lot of folks all over the world now have access to mobile technologies that allow them to do so, and also partly because it is a great way to stay in touch with your buddies and family, connect to people everywhere and make new friend, share your experiences with people and learn about theirs.

However, whatever you do or post on social media can potentially make or break you, there is no going around this fact especially if have filed a personal injury lawsuit. So, what does this mean for you? Thankfully, you do not have to go cold turkey and stay off your social media pages while the case is still on or is starting, even though it isnā€™t the worse idea, but you must be careful and be smart about what you post.

Why Should I Be Cautious?

For starters, if you have taken an individual, group, a government agency, or organization to a civil court over a personal injury case, it means that you have suffered an injury or damages that the defendant is possibly legally responsible for, and they or their insurance company will be asked by the court to pay medical bills and or including monetary compensation. So, just as you will be represented by a personal injury attorney and you will be going up against their attorney and an attorney representing the insurance company.

How can They Use Your Social Media Against You?

  1. The Opposing Lawyers Carry Out Research

Any lawyer worth his/her salt will do what they can to win the case and typically this involves a lot of researches into your personal life and even your social media profiles, which means they could use your social media post against you.

  1. To Discredit Your Testimony

If your case is based on bodily harm caused to you and you post photos of you being active and performing activities you shouldnā€™t be able to, this could be very harmful to your case and could even destroy it.

  1. What Your Family and Friends Post

During this time, even the things the people close (who could be potential witnesses) post on their profiles could be used to ruin your case, by posting pictures or making statements about the case that could be damaging.

However, while you should always talk to your attorney before making any post or being extremely cautious about and also dissuade your family and friends from making posts related to the lawsuit on social media, it isnā€™t all bad. Given the number of people in the community that are also on social media, used the right way, you could use your pages to garner support and speak in your favor which could have a positive influence on the case. But remember, be responsible with your posts and you might come out on top.

Average Time to Settle a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Every personal injury lawsuit is different. A variety of factors will influence how long your case takes. For some, it may take months to resolve. or others it may take years. While it may be tempting to accept a quick payout, itā€™s important to understand that staying the course may help you maximize your compensation in the end.

If you have been injured due to someone elseā€™s negligence, contact our personal injury attorneys at Herrman & Herrman today. We will evaluate your case and discuss your legal options.  Reach out today for a free consultation.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do personal injury lawyers handle insurance companies?

If you have been injured in an accident such as a fall at a store or at another personā€™s property in South Texas, you may be entitled to seek compensation from the property ownerā€™s insurance company. Our attorneys investigate your accident and compile evidence showing the property owner was at fault. We negotiate with the property ownerā€™s insurance company for a settlement that fully reflects the extent of your injuries and other damages such as lost income from missed work. We handle the paperwork and dealings with the insurance company.

I have medical bills and I am missing work in order to recover. How can I afford to hire an attorney to handle my personal injury case?

At Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., we understand that if you are seeking a lawyerā€™s help after a serious personal injury, you are going through a difficult period and may be struggling financially as well. You do not need extra expenses. We represent clients in personal injury cases such as premises liability cases and injuries from defective products on a contingency fee basis. You do not have any upfront fees to pay. We also have the resources to loan you money to help you cover living expenses while pursuing your personal injury case.

What are the fees to hire a personal injury attorney?

There are no upfront legal fees for hiring Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., to represent you in a personal injury case in South Texas. You pay a lawyerā€™s fee only if we are successful in obtaining money for you through a negotiated insurance settlement of your claim or a jury award if the case goes to trial. If we are successful on your behalf, we receive an agreed upon percentage of the settlement or award. You owe us nothing unless we secure compensation for you from the insurance company or other responsible parties.

Is there a time limit on filing a personal injury lawsuit?

If you have been injured in a personal injury accident such as a slip and fall or an accident involving a faulty product in Texas, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. This time limit for filing a personal injury claim is known as the statute of limitations. If you do not file a claim within the time limit, you lose your right to make a claim.

How does a personal injury claim work?

After you contact Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., our personal injury lawyers analyze the circumstances surrounding your accident to determine whether the specific facts support a claim that another person or businessā€™s negligence caused your injuries. After you sign an agreement hiring us to represent you, we gather evidence to support your claim and identify all the potentially responsible parties and their insurance providers. We then contact the insurance providers and attempt to negotiate a settlement without filing a lawsuit.

How does a third-party claim work?

In some instances, you may file a third-party liability lawsuit after a work-related accident and collect workersā€™ compensation. A third-party claim can increase the compensation you receive after a work-related accident. But itā€™s not always obvious to an injured worker what actions may constitute a third-party claim.

Injured workers who received workersā€™ compensation benefits generally cannot sue their employer. But multiple subcontractors may be working at a job site. If you are an employee of a subcontractor at a work site and the general contractorā€™s lack of attention to safety contributed to a workplace accident, then you may file a lawsuit against the general contractor who is a ā€œthird partyā€ in the accident. If an employee of another subcontractor is negligent and his negligence injures you, then you may seek compensation from the other subcontractorā€™s insurance company through a third party claim. If a piece of defective machinery or equipment contributed to your injury, you may bring a third-party claim against the manufacturer of the equipment in addition to receiving workersā€™ compensation from your employer.

How Can I Pay for Medical Treatment if I Cannot Work Due to an Injury?

If an injury has left you unable to work for an extended time, we understand that money may be tight for your family. If we handle your personal injury claim, we may be able to loan you money to help you pay your expenses. We are dedicated to helping make sure that our clients receive the medical treatment needed to recover from a serious accident. If someone elseā€™s negligence caused your injuries, you may have a legal right to seek compensation for your medical bills through a personal injury claim. As your attorney, we can reach out to the health care providers and inform them that you are making a personal injury claim. Many health care providers will delay collection efforts if they understand that litigation is underway and they may be paid eventually.

Is it possible for medical bills to be over my personal injury settlement? If yes, what are my options to fund my treatment?

With the current landscape in Texas surrounding personal injury laws and the limits of liability, it is entirely possible that an injured partyā€™s medical bills exceed the personal injury settlement award. In Texas automobile insurance, the minimum limits of injury liability coverage needed are $30,000.00 per person and $60,000.00 per accident. This means that if a driver carries $30,000.00 in coverage per person, $60,000.00 per accident, the driver is in good standing with the state. Unfortunately, though, vehicles are very dangerous and often-times cause more damage than the minimum limits of liability will cover. If this is the case, the injured party can mitigate damages by carrying Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Underinsured Motorist (UM) coverages. These portions of an automobile policy are optional and can cover deficits. I always suggest to my clients and anyone that I meet to carry these additional options of PIP and UM just in case the additional coverage is needed. Another great way to help mitigate your damages in this scenario is to hire a personal injury lawyer. If an injured party has no health insurance, no primary care physician, and cannot afford treatment, a law firm can get treatment set up under a letter of protection (LOP). The LOP will protect the incurred bill(s), oftentimes with no upfront payment required. Once the case is settled, the lawyer will pay the LOP medical bills back. Oftentimes, if the medical bills are very high compared to the settlement, the LOP provider(s) will make reductions/concessions to their bill(s) in order to help with the settlement. The personal injury lawyer will fight to reduce LOP and non-LOP medical bills and liens related to the injured partyā€™s case in an effort to maximize the settlement for the injured party. Also, in some circumstances, an Emergency Room or non-LOP provider will accept a payment program and often times will reduce the bill significantly to help.