Answering Your Questions About Car Wrecks
If you’ve been in a serious car or automobile accident, you need a serious personal injury attorney. At the Marynell Maloney Law Firm, we represent victims of serious automobile accidents and their family members. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, someone in the United States is involved in a car accident every 10 seconds. When serious auto accidents occur, they can cause permanent injuries – even death. If someone’s negligence resulted in your injury or the death of a loved one, the law may provide you with the right to monetary compensation.
What can I recover for a serious car accident?
We understand that a monetary recovery can never repair the damage done to an individual or heal the emotional scars left by the death of a loved one, yet monetary compensation can ease some of the financial burdens imposed by a serious car accident. In Texas, there are two broad categories of damages available: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages: In serious automobile accidents, economic damages are basically money damages intended to compensate an injured party for actual economic losses. Economic damages may include:
- Medical expenses – both past and future
- Lost wages and lost future earning capacity
- Funeral expenses and other economic losses
Non-economic damages: These damages are less easily quantified in terms of money, but can make up a very substantial part of any plaintiff’s overall damage claim. Non-economic damages may include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental or emotional pain or mental anguish
- Disfigurement
- Physical Impairment
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium (which is loss of spousal companionship)
Why should I hire a lawyer after a serious automobile accident?
The insurance company of the person responsible for causing the accident will start an investigation immediately. They will work tirelessly to limit your recovery as an injured person to the lowest amount possible. Many insurance companies purposely stall the compensation process for as long as possible in hopes that you will lose interest or give up any hope of recovery. When liability is admitted, insurance companies rarely pay enough money to adequately compensate victims of auto accidents for their losses. Your attorney will seek to protect your rights through competent and aggressive legal representative. We are dedicated to pursuing the maximum recovery possible for each and every client.
After an accident, insurance companies take statements from the people involved, examine the vehicles, obtain police reports, photograph the scene of the accident and research any injuries sustained. Typically this is done in a matter a days as insurance companies have vast resources and experience in handling claims. Therefore, it’s important to retain an attorney who is experienced in handling serious car accidents, who has the resources to seriously pursue your claim, and who has the ability to stand up to the insurance companies. If the insurance company is unwilling to settle your claim for fair value, you need an attorney who is willing and able to take your case to trial.
Finally, under Texas law, you have a certain amount of time after the accident in which to pursue a lawsuit against someone whose negligence has resulted in your injuries. If you intend to pursue a claim, do not delay in contacting an attorney of your choice or you may waive your rights to compensation. For your protection you should think twice before signing a contract with an attorney or hustler who approaches you at the hospital or through a chiropractor’s office to sign up with them right away — or who solicits you with a letter in the mail, offering you up front money. Be sure to check out the credentials of the attorney who will be handling your case before you sign a contract for legal representation: you may be giving up valuable rights!
What if I was injured or my family member was killed by a drunk driver?
Driving while under the influence of alcohol is a serious crime. Drunk drivers maim and kill thousands of innocent drivers and pedestrians in motorcycle, truck, and auto accidents every year. We represent families and individuals who have suffered physical and emotional injury and financial loss as a result of a DWI/DUI accident. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by an intoxicated driver, we will demand compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and the payment of punitive damages. Call Marynell Maloney Law Firm at 210-446-0035 for a free consultation. We can give you the information and advice you need to make the best possible decision in your unique situation.
Can I afford an attorney for my serious automobile accident?
If our law firm is able to represent you, we will handle your case on a contingency fee basis. This means that we get paid for our services only if we are able to recover for you. Because we handle cases on a contingency fee basis, and because we want to make sure every client we represent receives the full attention his or her case requires, we have to be extremely careful in evaluating claims for merit and handle cases on a very selective basis. If you would like to have us evaluate your case, please give us a call.
Contact Us
Our firm can be reached in San Antonio at 210-446-0035, or you can complete our contact form. We can answer your questions and explain your options after a serious motor vehicle accident.