San Antonio Car Accident Attorneys

Are you grappling with the fallout of a car accident on San Antonio roads and highways? You’re not just dealing with a damaged vehicle, but you may also be facing a whirlwind of medical bills, lost wages, and emotional turmoil. Fear not, as the legal avenues in Texas provide a robust framework for you to claim what’s rightfully yours. Let’s embark on a detailed journey that will arm you with the knowledge to navigate the legal labyrinth with confidence.

Our Injury Lawyers Can Help With Compensation

First things first, let’s establish a fundamental truth: if you’ve been involved in an automobile accident in Texas, you have the unequivocal right to seek compensation. This isn’t just a privilege; it’s a legal right enshrined in the personal injury laws of the state, designed to protect victims like you. Time is of the essence, though, as the Texas statute of limitations sets a two-year deadline for filing your claim.

Choosing a law firm for your accident claim is like picking a champion to fight in your stead. The Law Offices of Tyler & Peery are not just any knights in the legal arena; they come with a storied history of securing hefty settlements for their clients. With a combined experience that spans decades, this team’s prowess in winning million-dollar jury verdicts isn’t just impressive; it’s a testament to their dedication to their clients.

Most Common Causes of Texas Car Accidents

Car accidents don’t just happen; they’re caused. From reckless driving to texting behind the wheel, these acts of negligence can have life-altering consequences. And when they do, the path to a personal injury claim begins. Understanding these common causes can help drivers be more aware and take preventive measures to avoid accidents. It’s also crucial for determining liability and fault in the event of a traffic collision.

  • Distracted Driving: This is one of the leading causes of car accidents and occurs when a driver’s attention is diverted from the road. Distractions can include using a cellphone, eating, or adjusting the radio. Even a momentary lapse in focus can lead to a collision.
  • Speeding: Driving above the speed limit or too fast for road conditions is a significant factor in traffic accidents. It reduces the driver’s ability to react to sudden changes, increases stopping distance, and can result in more severe crashes.
  • Driving Under the Influence: Alcohol and drugs impair judgment, reaction time, and motor skills. Driving under the influence of these substances is illegal and increases the risk of causing an accident with potentially fatal consequences.
  • Reckless Driving: Aggressive driving behaviors such as tailgating, rapid lane changes without signaling, and disregarding traffic signals can lead to dangerous situations on the road and result in serious accidents.
  • Drowsy Driving: The causes of drowsy driving can include a lack of adequate sleep, extended work hours, long periods of driving without rest breaks, untreated sleep disorders, or the use of medications that induce sleepiness. Driving while drowsy is a serious risk factor for accidents because it can lead to a driver falling asleep at the wheel, losing control of their vehicle, and causing a collision.
  • Poor Weather Conditions: Adverse weather conditions like rain, snow, ice, and fog can make driving hazardous. These conditions often lead to reduced visibility and traction, making it challenging for drivers to maintain control of their vehicles.

San Antonio’s Most Dangerous Roads and Highways

Certain stretches of San Antonio roads are notorious for their danger quotient. Understanding the risks associated with these areas can be pivotal in establishing negligence in your case. These highways and roads have seen a disturbingly high rate of fatal accidents:

  • Interstate Highway 410 (I-410)
  • Interstate Highway 10 (I-10)
  • Interstate Highway 35 (I-35)
  • State Highway Loop No. 1604
  • Culebra Road
  • San Pedro Avenue
  • Loop 478

Negligence in Car Accident Cases

Negligence is the linchpin in personal injury claims. It’s about careless actions—or inactions—that endanger others. Proving negligence is critical, and the attorneys at The Law Offices of Tyler & Peery are maestros in this art. They’ll meticulously determine if negligence caused your accident and whether it merits a personal injury settlement.

Identifying the Liable Party: Who’s to Blame?

Liability is a complex beast in any car accident case. Generally, the at-fault party’s insurance company is on the hook for damages. However, what happens when a defective part or a poorly maintained road caused your accident? That’s when the plot thickens, and the expertise of a seasoned personal injury attorney becomes invaluable.

Texas follows the “at-fault” system, which dictates that the party responsible for causing the accident bears the financial burden of the damages. But it’s not always black and white. Insurers can play a relentless blame game, leaving you in a bind. An experienced attorney can cut through the cacophony, harnessing evidence to prove who’s truly at fault in a car accident incident.

Were You an Injured Passenger in a Car Accident?

When serious auto collisions occur, it puts everyone in the vehicles at risk for severe injury. Some people don’t realize that anyone who suffers an injury in these accidents has the right to seek compensation from the responsible parties. This includes any passengers in either vehicle. These cases can become very complex, and it is important to have an experienced personal injury attorney on your side from the start.

When you hire our firm, we will thoroughly review your case in order to determine who was at fault. Even if you were a passenger in the negligent driver’s vehicle, you still have the right to seek compensation for your injuries. Some people are hesitant to pursue damages against a friend in these cases, but it may be your only solution.

Our extensive background in these matters gives us a complete understanding of the law. We know the rights of injury victims and we know all the benefits provided to them under the law. When you hire our firm, we will help you understand your legal options and make sure you have all of the information you need to make a sound decision before we proceed.

Types of Car Accidents

Not all automobile accidents are created equal. From the disorienting whirl of a sideswipe to the devastating impact of a head-on collision, the nature of your accident can significantly influence fault determination and the subsequent legal approach. Each type of collision has unique factors and potential consequences, and understanding them can be crucial when filing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

  • Rear-End Accidents: This common type of collision occurs when one vehicle hits the back of another. Often caused by sudden stops or inattentive driving, the trailing driver is typically at fault.
  • Head-On Accidents: When two vehicles traveling in opposite directions collide front-to-front, it’s a head-on collision. These are often serious and can result from distracted driving, drunk driving, or swerving into oncoming traffic.
  • T-Bone Collisions (Side-Impact): These accidents happen when the side of one vehicle is hit by the front or rear of another vehicle, forming a “T” shape. They often occur at intersections, due to failure to yield or running a red light.
  • Hit-and-Run Accidents: When at least one party involved in a collision leaves the scene without providing contact information or aiding the other party. These are illegal and can complicate insurance claims.
  • Vehicle Rollover Accidents: A type of accident where a vehicle flips over onto its side or roof. These can result from sharp turns at high speeds or collisions that cause the vehicle to tip.
  • Sideswipe Collisions: Occurring when the sides of two parallel vehicles touch, sideswipe collisions can happen when a driver changes lanes without checking their blind spot or drifts out of their lane.
  • Single-Vehicle Accidents: When only one vehicle is involved, such as when an automobile hits a tree, rolls over, or crashes off the road. Causes can include driver error, poor road conditions, or avoiding something on the road.
  • Multi-Vehicle Pile-ups: Involving multiple vehicles, these accidents typically occur on busy roads and highways and can be caused by a chain reaction where one accident triggers another, often in poor visibility or slippery conditions.

Important Things To Do After A Car Accident In San Antonio

Many people are unsure about what to do after an accident. If you have been in a car wreck, there are a number of things you can do at the scene that could help protect your interests. The first priority should always be to seek medical attention for any injuries that may have happened to yourself or others at the scene. There is nothing more important than the well-being of those involved in an accident.  Here are things you should and should not do:

  • Do cooperate with police officers at the scene. Give the responding officer a complete statement about the accident. Be as detailed as possible when you answer questions.
  • Do not mention who was at fault. Especially avoid any comments that imply that you may have shared in the cause of the accident.
  • Do not talk to anyone from the insurance company. This is true at the scene and in the following days. Insurance company representatives are specially trained to get you to say things that undermine the strength of your claim.
  • Do take photos of the accident scene. Use the camera on your phone or a regular camera if you have one with you. Get pictures of the accident scene, damage to vehicles, skid marks and wide shots that show stop signs or traffic lights. Also get photos of your physical injuries.
  • Do get the contact information of any witnesses. The ability to contact these people later in the process could be helpful to your case.
  • Do speak to an experienced personal injury attorney. We will provide a thorough review of your case, help you understand your legal options and let you know what to expect throughout the process.

Understanding Damages in a Car Accident Case

Economic damages in San Antonio car accidents cover direct out-of-pocket costs incurred due to the accident, while non-economic damages account for the more subjective, personal impacts of an accident, such as emotional trauma and physical pain. Both are crucial in ensuring that victims are made whole for both tangible and intangible losses following an accident. An astute auto accident lawyer can champion your cause, ensuring that you receive a settlement that reflects the true extent of your damages.

Economic Damages in San Antonio Car Accidents:

  1. Medical Expenses: In San Antonio, victims can claim costs for emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, and any long-term medical treatments needed due to the accident.
  2. Lost Wages: If an accident leads to time off work, victims can recover the income lost during their recovery period.
  3. Loss of Earning Capacity: Should injuries from an accident affect future earnings, victims can claim compensation for this potential loss.
  4. Property Damage: This includes expenses for repairing or replacing vehicles and any personal property damaged in the accident within San Antonio or surrounding areas.
  5. Rehabilitation Costs: Costs associated with physical and occupational therapy or other rehabilitation services needed post-accident are recoverable.

Non-Economic Damages in San Antonio Car Accidents:

  1. Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical and emotional distress endured as a result of the accident..
  2. Mental Anguish: This covers psychological suffering due to the accident, which can include anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other emotional issues.
  3. Loss of Consortium: In San Antonio, family members of the accident victim can claim damages for the loss of companionship and affection if the injuries are severe.
  4. Disfigurement: If the accident results in scarring or other permanent changes to appearance, victims can seek compensation for these lasting effects.
  5. Punitive Damages: While not typical, punitive damages may be awarded in San Antonio cases where the at-fault party’s actions were particularly reckless or intentional.

Most Common Car Accident-Related Injuries

There are many factors that impact the nature of your injuries in a car accident. These factors may include how fast the vehicles were traveling, where you were sitting, whether or not you were wearing your seat belt and even your body position.

There are so many variables, in fact, that it often takes a team of experienced personal injury attorneys and experts to determine what exactly happened in the auto accident and exactly how you were injured.

At The Law Offices of Tyler & Peery, in San Antonio, we have the resources necessary to do this. Representing car accident victims throughout south Texas, south-central Texas, and across the state, our lawyers handle many different injuries commonly caused in auto accidents:

  • Orthopedic injuries: Problems that affect the bones, joints and ligaments are some of the most common in car accidents. Many of our clients have received broken bones that are painful now and may lead to arthritis later in life.
  • Neck or back pain: Neck or back pain is often an indicator or more serious problems, like herniated discs, which require can require surgery. Back pain that radiates into the arm, hand, thigh or leg can be a sign of nerve damage. Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sudden back-and-forth movement of the head.
  • Spine injuries: Spinal cord damage can result from a severe impact to the spine and lead to a loss of sensation and mobility  Paralysis, or loss of muscle function, can also be caused by spinal cord injuries.
  • Muscle strains: Cervical or lumbar muscle strains are common back problems that car accident victims experience when their cars stop suddenly.
  • Brain/head injuries: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), concussions and other injuries to the head or brain.
  • Injuries to joints: Injuries to knees, ankles and hips often occur in front-end collisions. Depending on the nature of the car crash, many people also experience injuries to the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hands.
  • Burn Injuries: Burn injuries occur when the skin or tissues are damaged due to contact with heat, chemicals, or friction during an accident.
  • Scarring or Disfigurement: Injuries that involve permanent changes to the skin or physical appearance.
  • Dismemberment: Refers to the loss of a limb or other body part due to severe trauma during an accident.

When you work with The Law Offices of Tyler & Peery, we will conduct extensive investigations of your medical records. We will make sure that you see specialists who can treat you effectively, and we will work with you to gain a full understanding of your condition  You will then know exactly how the car accident has affected your body, and you will gain the complete physical picture of your injuries today and in the years to come.

The Law Offices of Tyler & Peery: Experienced Car Accident Lawyers

An automobile accident lawyer wears many hats. They’re your negotiator, tirelessly advocating for a fair settlement with insurance companies. But if push comes to shove, they’re also your litigator, ready to take your battle to the courts to demand justice. With accolades like “Super Lawyers” under their belt, The Law Offices of Tyler & Peery are more than just legal representatives; they’re your partners in the pursuit of justice. They’re the team you want in your corner, whether you’re negotiating a settlement or standing before a judge.

Don’t face the aftermath of a San Antonio car accident alone. The Law Offices of Tyler & Peery are at your service, ready to help you navigate the complexities of your claim. Reach out today, and take the first step towards the settlement you deserve and the peace of mind you need to move forward. To get the process started, call 210-340-0900 or complete our simple online intake form.