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Car accidents can happen to anyone. Even the safest drivers have a chance of encountering negligent people on the road.
Regretfully, this often ends in serious accidents that leave victims with lifelong health complications.
At Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, P.C., we always stand by our clients and tirelessly fight for their recovery.
Contact us online or call (866) 432-4790 today for a free, no-obligation consultation. today for a free consultation.
Lubbock, Texas Car Accident Statistics
Every year, the Texas Department of Transportation releases statistics detailing the number of accidents in the state. The most recent report for 2020 has some worrisome figures that suggest accidents are becoming more deadly.
For example, the annual death toll of car accidents between 2019 and 2020 increased by 7.54%. In addition, around 25% of fatalities involved a driver who was under the influence of alcohol.
Unfortunately, the number of injuries and fatalities in Lubbock isn’t much better. In 2020, Lubbock had 6,154 reported accidents. Around 38% of these accidents had an injury or fatality, which is slightly higher than the state’s overall percentage of injury accidents.
This means that an accident in Lubbock is more likely to result in an injury or death. Although it’s not the most dangerous city in Texas, it had the 8th most accidents in the state in 2020.
When to Consider a Lubbock Car Accident Attorney for Your Case
Not every car accident claim requires the assistance of a lawyer. However, there are a few signs that retaining legal counsel may be beneficial.
Generally, it’s best to consult a Lubbock car accident lawyer if:
- You or a loved one receives a serious injury,
- The accident recovery resulted in lost wages,
- The insurance company denied your claim,
- Your settlement offer doesn’t cover all of your costs, or
- You sustained a significant amount of property damage.
These situations may cause complications, especially if you can’t work or take care of basic necessities. If any of these factors apply to you, reaching out to a Lubbock car accident law firm is worth your time.
Typical Damages in a Lubbock Car Accident
When going over the details of your car accident, your Lubbock accident lawyer considers three categories of possible damages as part of your settlement demand. Depending on the circumstances, each damage type may play a significant role in your settlement demand case.
Here’s an overview of the different types of damages and what they include.
Economic
In car accident cases, economic damages are the base on which other damages are built. Essentially, economic damages refer to any financial losses associated with the accident. These financial losses must be tangible and have a standard cost.
Some examples of this include:
- Medical treatments or surgeries,
- Medications or diagnostics,
- Vehicle repairs/replacement,
- Lost wages during recovery, and
- Reduced earning capacity.
Determining current and past economic damages is relatively simple. Most Lubbock car accident attorneys just add up the receipts, bills, and estimates you receive for various services. However, determining future damages is slightly more complicated.
For long-lasting injuries, an attorney may consult with a medical expert. This helps them find out the financial costs of further treatment, even if that treatment doesn’t occur for a few years.
Or, if the injury requires the victim to switch jobs, they may ask an employment or economic specialist. Ultimately, it depends on whether your accident causes long-term financial issues.
Non-Economic
While financial losses are the base of a car accident claim, other losses are harder to quantify.
What if your injury causes a severe disability? Does it affect your quality of life? This is where non-economic damages come in. Instead of reimbursing the victim for financial losses, non-economic damages are for intangible losses.
This includes things like:
- Pain and suffering,
- Mental anguish or illness,
- Permanent disability,
- Severe disfigurement, and
- Loss of consortium.
Since the impact of these losses is unique to every individual, they aren’t easy to calculate. Many Lubbock car accident lawyers have different methods for determining non-economic damages.
Some simply multiply the total economic damages by a whole number. Others may find a per-day cost during the victim’s recovery. However, many create their own specific formulas on a case-by-case basis.
Punitive
Although rare, punitive damages are sometimes awarded by the court. Unlike economic and non-economic damages, the purpose of punitive damages isn’t to reimburse the victim for any losses.
Instead, the court awards them when the defendant acts with malice, or gross negligence, meaning they acted with conscious indifference to the safety of others.
This doesn’t apply to most car accident cases, but it may happen with crashes involving DUI or other crimes. If you believe the defendant intentionally harmed you, we recommend contacting an experienced Lubbock car accident lawyer immediately.
How Long Do You Have to File a Lawsuit?
Every personal injury case has a time limit known as the statute of limitations. This law limits the amount of time plaintiffs have to file a lawsuit. The goal of this law is to preserve evidence and prevent frivolous lawsuits long after the incident takes place.
Currently, victims of car accidents in Texas have two years from the date of injury to bring an action. However, there are a couple of exceptions to this rule. For example, if the victim is disabled or under the age of 18 at the time of the accident, the statute of limitations pauses until either the victim is of sound mind or the victim reaches the age of 18.
In addition, if a government employee causes your injury while on the job, you may only have a few months to file a claim with the government entity responsible. For this reason, it’s essential you reach out to a Lubbock accident attorney soon after your crash.
You Don’t Need to Fight for Your Recovery Alone
Whether you or a loved one sustains an injury in a Lubbock, TX car accident, we are here for you. Founded in 1984, FCHC Law has helped clients throughout Texas pursue the compensation they need for recovery. We know the devastating impact injuries have on one’s quality of life.
To set up a free consultation with an experienced Lubbock car accident lawyer, give us a call at 866) 432-4790 or contact us online.