If you’ve been hurt in a car wreck, you have certain rights. Our job is to make sure they are protected. The hardworking and experienced attorneys at the Hanna Law Firm understand the emotional and physical devastation that follows a serious car accident. We use our track record of successful outcomes and thorough understanding of Texas state law to fight for the money you need to pay your bills and rebuild your life. All you have to do is focus on one thing: recovery.
Call us today to set up a free consultation.
Abilene and West Texas Car Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been in a collision in Texas, don’t take on Big Insurance yourself. Trust an Abilene car accident lawyer at the Hanna Law Firm to protect your rights.
A car wreck is a terrifying experience, but an excellent car accident lawyer can ensure the aftermath goes as smoothly as possible. An attorney can negotiate insurance claims, go to court if necessary, and recoup the money you need to move on with your life.
If you are like a lot of Texans, you rely on your car every single day to transport you and your family members to work, school, shopping, and various activities around town. And while we tend to take them for granted, our streets and highways can be treacherous places. Even if you are a cautious and attentive driver, you can’t control the actions of the drivers around you. And sadly, too many people make poor decisions while behind the wheel — driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, at unsafe speeds, or while texting or otherwise using with their phones.
If you’ve been in a car wreck, one of the first steps you should take is to call an experienced car accident lawyer at the Hanna Law Firm. We take pride in the quality of our work in representing our clients and making sure their interests are served. Get in touch with us online or call us at 432-580-4878. To serve our clients locally, we have offices in Abilene, Midland, Sweetwater and Odessa. LET US START TODAY
Especially if the wreck was relatively minor, you may think hiring a car accident attorney is an unnecessary expense. But it’s a big mistake to think you can negotiate with the insurance company yourself and get the same results.
At the Hanna Law Firm, we have years of experience advocating for victims of reckless drivers. Our car accident lawyers serving West Texas are meticulous, hard-working, and committed to representing our clients and their best needs.
Once we’ve met with you and determined you have a claim, we will conduct a thorough investigation of the accident and its consequences. This may include going through police reports, looking at photographic evidence, collecting any medical bills you’ve accrued, and looking at repair or replacement costs for your car and any other personal property.
We will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. It’s critical that you not attempt to do this part on your own, or to speak with their representative without consulting us. They will almost certainly offer you a lowball sum that’s designed to save them money, not fully compensate you. We will make sure all expenses related to the accident — including future expenses and pain and suffering — are covered in any offer.
If the insurer is unwilling to give you the amount we believe you are owed, we will guide you in initiating a lawsuit and fight for you in the courtroom.
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by calling a West Texas car accident lawyer at the Hanna Law Firm for a free initial consultation. Dial 432-580-4878 or request an appointment through our online form.
Your car accident attorney from the Hanna Law Firm will collect all bills and other documentation related to your wreck to best determine how much in damages (or compensation) you should receive.
In car accidents and other personal injury cases, there are two main categories of damages: economic (or special) and non-economic (or general).
Calculating Economic Damages in a Car Accident
Economic damages are the most straightforward and easy to calculate, because these are the tangible expenses that have a real dollar amount attached to them. Examples of economic damages related to a car accident include:
Medical expenses, including doctor bills and copays, medication, therapy and rehab costs, mobility aids and medical devices like wheelchairs
Projected future medical expenses
Lost earnings due to inability to work
Lost earning capacity, if the injuries suffered will prevent the victim from earning at previous levels long term or permanently
Reimbursement for repairing or replacing damaged property, like your car or personal items that were inside the car and damaged in the wreck
Household services, such as cleaning help or extra childcare needed during your recovery
Calculating Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are the tougher of the two to calculate, because there are no bills, paystubs, or price tags to guide us in determining the value of a loss. Non-economic damages are designed to cover these examples of losses:
Physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering
Disfigurement
Loss of consortium
Loss of quality of life, or enjoyment of life
There are generally accepted methods of evaluating non-economic damages. Even though many times, pain, worry, and inconvenience are the worst part of an injury, Big Insurance doesn’t value it all. This is where our years of experience and trial ability can make all the difference between a full recovery and an inadequate one. At the Hanna Law Firm, we will look at the facts of your case and make sure you win the full amount of damages you need to rebuild your life.
In any vehicle accident, an important step is to determine who was at fault for the collision. To determine who was at fault, we (and insurance companies), will look at police reports and any other available documentation relating to the incident. There are certain cases that are more clear-cut than others. For example, in a rear-end collision, the driver of the car in the back is almost always at fault. Likewise, the driver of a car turning left that hits a car coming straight on is usually at fault. If an accident is caused not by driver error, but by a defect in a part of the vehicle itself, the manufacturer may be found to be responsible.
Texas: A Comparative Negligence State
If one party is determined to be 100% at fault for the accident, then they (well, their insurance company) will be responsible for reimbursing you for all of your economic and non-economic losses. But Texas is a state that uses a “comparative negligence” rule. This means that more than one party may be determined to be at fault, and financial liability is calculated based on the percentage of responsibility.
For example: as discussed above, the driver of a car that turns left into oncoming traffic and hits another car is generally at fault. But what if the car it hits is speeding? In that case, the driver of the oncoming car may be found to be partly responsible for the collision, and their compensation will be reduced by the percentage they are at fault. But as long as the other driver is found to be at least 51% responsible, you may receive some compensation from their insurer.
What If My Car Is Hit by a Truck?
If you spend any amount of time on the road, it’s impossible to miss the legions of commercial trucks rumbling across the state. Considering that an 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and most cars weigh in at about 4,000 pounds, it’s not surprising that when a car is hit by a truck, the car and its occupants are at the greatest risk of injury and death.
Truck drivers and carriers are bound by strict rules regulating driver qualifications, how long the driver may be on the road, maintenance schedules, and load weights and how they are secured. But pressure to deliver cargo on time and minimize costs may tempt truckers and their employers to skirt these rules, putting the public in danger.
At the Hanna Law Firm, we understand how a commercial truck accident differs from other car wrecks. We know the state and federal laws that commercial trucks, like 18 wheelers, have to comply with. We will find all the responsible parties and hold them accountable.
Call Our Car Accident Lawyer at Hanna Law Firm
A vehicle wreck is a traumatizing experience under the best of circumstances. And it can be financially devastating if you don’t have a good lawyer representing your interests early on. Having a car accident attorney on your side does not mean that you will have to go through a lengthy court case. In fact, the vast majority of claims are settled outside of the courtroom. The expense and uncertainty of a trial isn’t in the best interest of you or the insurance company.
Passionate. Knowledgeable. Understanding. Hanna Law Firm’s Team.
At the Hanna Law Firm, our entire team is knowledgeable and passionate about serving our clients. We understand the difficulties you are facing in the aftermath of your wreck and are always happy to take the time to answer your questions and concerns.
We will strive to win you the full amount of compensation you deserve through negotiation with the insurance company. And, if necessary, we will take it to the next level and fight for you in court.
Fill out our online form or call 432-580-4878 to schedule a free initial consultation. We have offices in Abilene, Midland, Sweetwater and Odessa.
