Bastrop Personal Injury Lawyer in Texas

How long a personal injury case takes varies based on injury severity, medical treatment duration, and whether liability is contested. Minor claims may resolve in a few months, while complex cases involving serious injuries or disputed fault can take longer. It is important to allow time for medical treatment to stabilize and for future medical needs to be assessed before accepting a final settlement. Your attorney can advise on reasonable timelines based on the specifics of your case.

Seek medical attention right away and follow all medical advice. Document the scene with photos, collect contact information for witnesses, and obtain a copy of any police or incident reports. Notify your insurance company but be cautious about giving recorded statements or signing releases before consulting legal counsel. Early legal contact helps preserve evidence and protect your rights during initial interactions with insurers.

Damages include economic losses like medical bills and lost wages, as well as non-economic losses such as pain and suffering. In some cases, future medical needs and diminished earning capacity are also factored in. Calculating damages requires careful documentation of expenses, expert opinions about future care when needed, and consideration of how the injury affects daily life. Legal counsel helps aggregate and present these elements to insurers or courts.

Many personal injury claims are resolved through negotiation and settlement without proceeding to trial. A strong case record and effective negotiation often produce fair settlements. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, preparing for court can strengthen negotiation leverage. Your attorney will advise on whether settlement or litigation is the better route based on the case facts.

Texas applies comparative fault rules that reduce a claimant’s recovery by their percentage of responsibility. If you share some fault, your compensation may be decreased accordingly and very high percentages of claimant fault can bar recovery. It is important to document evidence that supports the other party’s responsibility and to consult with counsel who can argue for a lower fault percentage when appropriate.

We commonly handle personal injury matters on a contingency-fee basis, which means we receive a fee only if there is a recovery. We explain all fees, costs, and possible expenses during the initial consultation. There may be case-related costs such as expert fees and filing expenses; we discuss how these are handled and any options to advance costs or manage them through the case structure.

Medical records documenting treatment and diagnosis, police or incident reports, witness statements, photographs of the scene and injuries, and records of lost income are all critical. These elements help show causation and the extent of damages. In more complex cases, expert testimony about medical prognosis or accident reconstruction can be important. Timely preservation of evidence strengthens the claim.

You can speak with an adjuster, but be cautious. Insurance companies often seek statements or releases that limit future recovery. Do not provide a recorded statement or sign anything without understanding the implications. Consulting with a lawyer before detailed conversations helps protect your rights and ensures you do not inadvertently weaken your claim or accept an inadequate offer.

If the at-fault party lacks sufficient coverage, you may have options through your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, if available. Other avenues include third-party claims against responsible parties with assets or pursuing legal remedies where applicable. A legal review can identify applicable coverages and strategies to pursue compensation when the at-fault party’s insurance is insufficient.

Begin by calling our office at (713) 780-1633 or submitting a contact request online for a free case review. We will discuss the facts, review your documentation, and advise on next steps and timelines. If you decide to proceed, we will gather records, work with providers, and handle communications with insurers while keeping you informed about progress and decisions throughout the case.