El Paso Car Accident Lawyers
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Attorney Chavez has excellent character and is truly honest and caring. The empathy his staff has shown me during my devastating time has made me feel like I am a member of their own family. I wish this law firm nothing but the best for showing such integrity.
– Luis Amador
Mr. Chávez is an excellent attorney and very professional. He solved my case and exceeded my expectations! If you need legal help regarding a wrongful termination, he is the best attorney for that!
– Maria Terrazas
My experience with Mr. Chavez was nothing but great! Him and his staff are very helpful and were always ready to answer any questions I had. The whole process was smooth and he fought real hard to get me a good settlement. I highly recommend the Chavez Law Firm. You will not be disappointed
– Adriana Solis
Mr. Chavez and all of his staff are 100% professional and dedicated to resolving a problem you may have. I highly recommend them if you have been put in a bad situation. Mr. Chavez takes a personal interest directly in your case and always remains in contact. I have a deep respect for this firm!
– Steve Hendrix
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ENRIQUE CHAVEZ, JR
El Paso Trial Lawyer
Born and raised in El Paso, Enrique has represented hundreds of personal injury clients throughout the state of Texas. His interest in law began at the age of four, when his father explained to him that lawyers help people by defending them when wrongs are committed against them. It was the encouragement of Enrique’s father, Enrique Sr., which drove Enrique to become a lawyer and fight to rectify the wrongs committed against his clients through the legal system.
El Paso Car Accident Lawyers
Helping Across the State of Texas
When you are involved in a car accident, your life can be seriously affected in a very negative way. You might have serious injuries and damages that deserve full and fair compensation. Our El Paso car accident lawyers will guide you through your case successfully.
After you have read more here about car accidents in El Paso, please do not hesitate to call Chavez Law Firm today to set up your free, initial consultation. These cases are complicated and you want to ensure that you have the right attorney representing you.
The crash statistics for the state of Texas are staggering. In 2017, more than 18,800 crashes were reported in El Paso County alone. Over 2,000 of these crashes involved injury, and 55 of the car accidents resulted in a fatality. Irresponsible and negligent motorists who cause such accidents need to be held liable for their actions. “Accidents” only happen when drivers choose to disregard the rules of the road and decide to use their cell-phone, drink and drive, or break basic traffic laws.
When these drivers and their insurance companies don’t take responsibility for the harm that they have caused, the attorneys at Chavez Law Firm step in to hold them accountable and protect the community. Chavez Law Firm is dedicated to the safety of Texas residents and can provide exceptional representation for people who need to obtain compensation for a serious car crash.
Common Car Accident Injuries
The leading cause of traffic collisions in Texas is speeding; this is true for most states. Speeding creates a significantly shorter reaction time for both the driver and the vehicle. Driving in bad weather is dangerous to begin with, but when you speed in bad weather, your chances of getting into an accident increase exponentially.
Due to the high number of car accidents, caused by speeding or other factors, that occur each year, car collisions are the leading cause of personal injury claims in El Paso and throughout the United States. Some of the most common injuries include:
- Whiplash
- Seat belt injuries
- Airbag injuries
- Broken bones
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
Other damages can include property repair and replacement, medical bills, loss of income, and even mileage to and from doctor appointments. Anyone who has been seriously injured in an accident has every right to obtain fair compensation by filing an injury claim with the help of our El Paso car accident lawyers.
How Car Accident Compensation Works in Texas
When you have been seriously injured in a car accident, there are a few things that you need to understand before you should call a lawyer about your case. You are seeking compensation for your injuries and damages. Generally speaking, the more severe your injuries are, the more your compensation will be. Additionally, you can get economic and non-economic damages.
The economic damages are the ones that are easily calculated:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future lost wages
You can typically look at medical receipts, pay wages, and lost hours in order to calculate to the penny how much money was lost.
The non-economic damages are harder to calculate and include:
- Past and future pain and suffering
Pain and suffering is a damage that does not have a dollar amount attached to it. It needs to be determined. When determining the amount of non-economic damages you are owed, there are a lot of factors that come into play. If you are not able to do the things you used to do, you cannot return to the same line of work, or you have a decrease in your quality of life, then that is taken into consideration.
Once there is a dollar amount determined, there is one more factor that goes into how much you can collect. In Texas, we follow something called modified comparative negligence, which means the role you played in causing the accident will affect your compensation award. Texas does allow you to collect an award even if you are partially at fault. The way modified comparative negligence works is as follows:
- If you are 0% at fault, your compensation is unaffected
- If you are 1% – 50% at fault, you have a reduced compensation award
- If you are more than 50% at fault, you will not be allowed to collect compensation
The fault that you have in the accident will be determined during insurance negotiations. For example, if someone was speeding a little bit while they were driving, but got hit by someone blowing a red light, they might be deemed 10% at fault. If someone with 10% fault was awarded $100,000 in damages, then it would have to be reduced to $90,000 to account for their role in the accident.
Avoid Case-Ruining Mistakes in Your Car Accident Claim
If you have sought out compensation from the liable party’s insurance company, you will likely be getting phone calls from them asking for a recorded statement from you. It is not in your best interest to give them one. When they get recorded statements from people, they are trained to ask questions in a way that could lead to that person giving an answer that could ruin their case. Anything you say, they can use against you.
To protect yourself from slipping up and saying something wrong, it is beneficial for you not to give them a recorded statement at all. You are in no way obligated to give them any kind of statement. Instead, you can have your Texas car accident lawyer take over all communication with the insurance company. They will be able to protect your right to full and fair compensation.
Texas Car Accident Statute of Limitations
These cases can be complicated and you do not have an unlimited amount of time. Texas allows two years from the date of your car accident to bring your claim. If you do not bring your claim within two years, you will be barred from receiving compensation.
There is a lot of time sensitive stuff in a car accident claim such as evidence at the scene of the crash, testimony from the witnesses before they forget, and avoiding making mistakes that you might not know about if you don’t have a lawyer yet. The sooner you hire one of our Texas car accident lawyers, the more successful your case will likely be.
Accidents Caused by Police Chases
If you’ve sustained injuries or damages because of a car accident that occurred during the course of a police chase, you need to fight for restitution. Whether you were hit by the fleeing suspect or your accident was caused by the pursuing officers, you should not be left to pay the consequences. Do not hesitate to reach out to one of our Texas car accident lawyers with questions if you find yourself in this situation.
Important Steps to Take After a Car Accident
Car accidents are stressful. After a collision, it is important to stay as calm as possible and remember a few important actions.
- Call 911. Even if no one appears to be injured immediately, having police assistance will help to calm the situation.
- Get medical attention. If you are not seriously injured and don’t need to be transported to the hospital from the accident, you should still get assessed by a doctor. Some injuries may become apparent in the days following the collision. If you don’t get a doctor’s assessment, you may find it difficult to prove that your injuries actually came from the accident. Be sure to keep all documentation about all the medical care that you receive. This could be vital later on in the case.
- Don’t admit fault. The police and insurance companies may ask you a number of questions about the accident. It’s important to stick to the facts and that you don’t admit it was your fault in any way. This could be used against you when you try to claim compensation.
- Document the scene of the accident. Take pictures of everything – the damage to your car and personal property, your injuries, skid marks in the road, and the location of the accident.
- Get a copy of the police report. You have the right to get a copy of the police report. Insurance companies will often accept police reports as a credible source of information.
- Contact a lawyer. Our skilled Texas car accident lawyers can walk you through the process of filing an injury claim and protect your rights throughout your case.
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Frequently Asked Car Accident Questions
What should I consider when choosing an attorney for a car accident?
People often call our firm with questions about what to do when they have been involved in a car accident. What can be done under these types of situations? How does a client, under these circumstances, go about finding the right attorney for this type of case?
The most important thing that a client in these circumstances can do is make sure that they talk to a lawyer with a lot of trial experience in this specific area of law. Although it may seem straightforward, this area of the law requires a lot of experience. Building a strong case involves a number of factors, including getting the right type of experts and the right kind of medical treatment. You also want to be able to explain to a jury how the defendant violated the safety rules of the road.
It’s very important that a potential client or somebody in these circumstances look for a trial-experienced attorney. We at the Chavez Law Firm have this type of experience. We are trial-experienced lawyers, and we are here to answer any question you have about your case.
What are some common mistakes that I should avoid after a car crash?
A common mistake that people make when they get into a car crash is not immediately calling the police; another one is not going to seek medical treatment soon thereafter. Perhaps the worst mistake of all is talking to the insurance company adjuster before talking to an experienced trial-ready lawyer. Insurance companies are in the business of making money for themselves and for their shareholders. They’re not in the business of paying out compensation for those that have been injured, and they have an agenda when they reach out to you.
How do I determine the value of my car accident claim?
Clients often ask us how they can determine the value of a car wreck case. One of the factors that goes into determining the value of a car crash case is how bad the defendant’s conduct was in causing the injury. For example, a driver being seriously inebriated obviously adds to what the case is worth. If you have a defendant driver who chooses to run a red light or tries to beat a yellow light, those are also factors that go into determining the value of a case. Other factors include medical expenses and how much a client has suffered emotionally and physically in terms of trauma as a result of their injuries.
Can I file a claim if I was injured by a distracted driver?
A number one reason for car crashes in El Paso =, TXand across our nation is distracted driving. You’ve probably seen it yourself – the driver beside you on the road is distracted because they’re texting or looking at something on their phone. We at the Chavez Law Firm know how to look for that type of evidence. If you believe you were involved in a wreck in which a driver was distracted and caused serious injuries to you or your family, please give us a call; we’re happy to help and answer any questions you have in that regard.
Can I receive compensation if I was injured by a drunk driver?
Sometimes, clients reach out to us because they or their loved ones have been hit by a drunk driver. Obviously, drunk driving is one of the most horrendous and serious types of crashes that can occur. We here at the Chavez Law Firm handle cases against drunk drivers and are experts in this area. We know that these types of cases are serious, and we give them the attention and resources that they deserve – serious attention and resources. If you believe that you have been involved in an accident related to the influence of alcohol or drugs, please give us a call. We’re happy to answer any questions that you have in those types of situations.
Should I talk to an insurance company about my car accident?
After a car crash, it is never a good idea to give a statement to the insurance company’s adjuster. Insurance companies are not in the business of paying out compensation to other people who have been injured. They’re in the business of making money for themselves and for their shareholders. Additionally, it’s been our experience as a firm that insurance companies at times have doctored statements and transcripts that people have given them to win a case.
To avoid these scenarios, you need to talk to an attorney who is experienced in this area of the law to guide you through that process. We here at the Chavez Law Firm have the necessary trial experience, and we are ready, willing and able to answer all the questions that you have concerning your case. Please give us a call; we’re happy to help.
Can I recover lost wages after a car accident?
Oftentimes, clients involved in a car crash want to receive reimbursement for lost wages caused as a result of the injuries that they suffered. The first step in making sure that you have your lost wages fully and fairly compensated is hiring an attorney with trial experience in this area of the law. A firm such as ours with this type of experience knows what to do to move your case forward so that you get full and fair compensation from the insurance company of the negligent driver.
What if I was injured by an uninsured driver?
On occasion, the other driver in a car wreck does not have liability insurance. Under those circumstances, we ask the client to bring in all of their own insurance documentation and what we do is we look for uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage in Texas covers these sorts of situations. Sometimes, the other lies about their insurance status or employment status. A driver on the clock during an accident may well be covered by employer insurance. That is something that we at the Chavez Law Firm know to look for. The other driver not having insurance isn’t the end of the story. We are happy to answer any question that you might have about your case or about your situation.
What should I do after being injured in a car accident?
If you’re in a serious car crash here in El Paso, the first thing you should do – if you can and are able – is get as much information as you can from the other side, including insurance information and contact information. Also, make sure you get as much information from the police officers at the scene and witnesses as is possible. Additionaly, you need to seek medical attention immediately so that we get a snapshot early on of what your injuries seem to be.
How long will it take to settle a car accident case?
We often get this question from clients: How long is my car wreck/car crash case going to take to get resolved? There are a lot of factors that go into how long a case takes. First and foremost is how long medical treatment takes. If their treatment takes a year, then you have to factor in at least a year before we can, in earnest, start to push the case. We need to have a complete picture of where they are in terms of their health and their injuries and what their medical expenses are, so that is a big factor that goes into it.
Rest assured that at the Chavez Law Firm, we, will push your case as quickly and efficiently as possible, with the goal of maximizing the outcome. If you have any questions about your car crash/car wreck case, please give us a call. We’ll be more than happy to answer your questions and help you any which way we can.
Who will pay my medical bills after a car accident?
Many clients are concerned about medical expenses and who is going to pay for those medical bills in the aftermath of an accident. The goal is always to make the insurance company of the negligent driver pay for those medical expenses. The first step in accomplishing that goal is hiring a trial team – lawyers with trial experience in this area of the law. We here at the Chavez Law Firm have that type of experience and, on a daily basis, help our clients go through the process needed to get full and fair compensation for medical expenses.
CONTACT CHAVEZ LAW FIRM FOR A FREE CONSULTATION
You deserve to have strong, dedicated, and experienced representation for your case. Our El Paso car accident lawyers are here to guide you every step of the way to get you the results you need. Please call Chavez Law firm today to set up your free, initial consultation. We keep an eye toward trial for each case.
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