Personal Injury Lawyer in Cedar Park, Texas

COMMON PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS

Car Accidents

One of the most common personal injury incidents is car accidents. Car wrecks are a frequent occurrence and may have a variety of causes, including speeding, distracted driving, failing to obey applicable traffic laws, running a stop sign or red light, or driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The driver who was at fault may often be liable for any injuries or damages caused by the accident.

Bicycles and Pedestrians

Bicyclists and pedestrians are often struck by vehicles. Because of the lack of protection afforded to bicyclists and pedestrians, as well as the speed and force of the vehicle, these accidents often result in severe injuries or even death. The vehicle’s driver may be liable for these accidents, especially if the bicyclist or pedestrian was in a crosswalk or following applicable traffic laws.

Dog Bites

Dog bite injuries can often be very severe. Bites can cause tissue and muscle damage, high risks of infection, and other complications. The dog’s owner or the property owner where the dog bite occurred may be liable for dog bites, especially if leash laws or other animal restrictions were not properly followed.

Product Liability

Consumers buy products that they assume are safe to use. However, these products may contain a defective part that causes the product to malfunction and cause an injury, or the product may have even been designed in a defective manner without appropriate safeguards. If the product caused an injury, the manufacturer or retailer may be liable for the product being defective or for failing to warn of possible dangers of using the product.

Slip and Fall

Slip and falls are another common personal injury accident. These accidents frequently occur on a wet floor in a business, which may be caused by a spilled liquid or recently mopped surface. Slip and falls may also be caused by a dropped object such as a banana peel, or by a defect in the surface itself, such as a crack in a sidewalk. The property owner may be liable for the slip and fall, especially if they knew or should have known about the dangerous condition, and the owner failed to properly warn of the dangerous condition or eliminate the risk, such as by putting up a caution sign for a wet floor or by cleaning spills and picking up litter.

Workplace Injuries

Workplace accidents may occur when safety measures such as protective equipment are not properly used, equipment is not properly maintained, or an employee or other person behaves negligently. Common workplace injuries may include electrocution or shock from exposed wiring, cuts or bruises from sharp edges, or broken limbs from falls or contact with machinery.

Wrongful Death

It is often difficult to cope with the sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one. This loss may be even harder to understand and accept when the death was caused by the negligence or mistake of another person. Wrongful death claims may compensate families of loved ones killed in a car accident, by a defective product, in a workplace accident, or in similar situations.

WHO MAY BE RESPONSIBLE

The Party Who Caused the Accident or Injury

The party primarily liable for injuries suffered in an accident is generally the party who caused the accident. A driver who was at fault for the car accident or who struck a bicyclist or pedestrian may be liable for the accident. Similarly, the person who caused or failed to prevent an unsafe condition in a workplace or business may be liable for workplace injuries or slip and falls.

Employers

Sometimes, a party’s employer may also be liable for your injuries. For car accidents, the employer may be liable if the employee was acting in the scope of employment at the time of the accident, such as a delivery driver or employee using a company vehicle. Employers may also be liable for workplace injuries, like if an accident occurred because the employer failed to properly maintain or inspect machinery, failed to properly train employees, or failed to ensure proper safety measures were in place and followed.

Property Owners

Property owners may be liable for injuries suffered on their property, such as slip and fall accidents. Premises liability arises when the owner’s fails to warn of dangerous conditions or to keep surfaces clean and free of dangerous conditions such as spilled liquids or slippery objects. Property owners may also be liable for dog bites suffered on their property.

Manufacturer

Manufacturers may be liable for injuries caused by their defective products. Manufacturers may be held responsible for products that were defectively designed or manufactured, or for failing to adequately warn customers of any dangers the product may pose. Similarly, retailers that sold or marketed the product may also be liable for marketing these products that contained defects or lacked adequate warnings.

HOW DO I PROVE MY CASE?

To make a successful personal injury claim, you must show that the other party acted negligently by meeting the following elements:

• The other person owed a duty of care to you, such as a duty to avoid accidents with other drivers on the road.
• The other party breached this duty of care owed to you, such as by driving drunk or failing to leash a dog as required by law.
• The other party’s breach of duty actually caused your injuries or damages.
• You must have suffered damages, such as injuries, property damage, or even death.
  

HOW TO FILE A CLAIM

Gather Documentation

After an accident, you should maintain as much documentation as possible. Medical records and bills, witness statements and contact information, employer statements, pictures of the accident scene and any contributing factors, any warning signs or labels, and other documentation could be crucial to successfully seeking the compensation you may be entitled to.

Contact an Attorney

You should contact an experienced Cedar Park personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your accident. Time is often of the essence because important evidence may be lost if too much time passes before beginning your claim. A personal injury lawyer may be able to handle your claim while you focus on recovering from any injuries.

Negotiation

Your attorney may negotiate with the other party or insurer to reach a settlement agreeable to both parties so that trial may be avoided. This process may involve discussions about the available evidence proving the other party’s liability or the severity of your injuries.

Trial

If your attorney is unable to reach a settlement with the other party or the insurer, your case may proceed to trial. Here, your attorney may use the evidence gathered during their investigation, like testimony from the parties and witnesses, to prove your case before the judge or jury.

WHY YOU NEED A LAWYER

Personal injury accidents may be very complicated, and an experienced Cedar Park personal injury attorney may be the difference in successfully pursuing the compensation you may be entitled to. A lawyer may have experience negotiating with insurance companies and proving liability in personal injury cases. This experience may help the attorney successfully reach a settlement with the insurer or pursue compensation for your injuries at trial. With a personal injury attorney handling your claim, you may not have to bear the burden of pursuing compensation for your injuries or losses alone.

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Texas is two years from the date the injury occurred. If you do not file a lawsuit within this time frame, you may be unable to pursue any legal action against the party that caused your injuries unless an exception applies. If a minor was injured, the statute of limitations may not begin running until the minor reaches the age of 18. Other exceptions to the statute of limitations include anyone who may have a disability, such as someone who was put into a coma or suffered some other physical or mental disability that may serve to prevent the statute of limitations from beginning to run until the disability ends.

GET HELP FROM A CEDAR PARK PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY TODAY

At Zinda Law Group, our personal injury lawyers may be able to assist you with your personal injury claim. We help our clients pursue the maximum compensation they may be entitled to after being injured because of the negligence of another.

Call (800) 863-5312 today for a free consultation with one of our experienced Cedar Park personal injury lawyers. As one of our clients, you will not pay anything unless we can win your car accident case. That’s our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.