Frequently Asked Questions
Who is at Fault in a Rear-End Accident?
How Car Accident Insurance Claims Work
Texas Auto Insurance Requirements
Determining Fault In Traffic Accident
Understanding Car, Truck, Motorcycle, & Other Motor Vehicle Accidents
About 1.7 million rear-end car accidents happen each year and are one of the most common types of auto collisions. A rear-end collision occurs when the back end of one vehicle is hit by the front end of another. Rear-end collisions are typically caused by driver distraction. Driver distraction involves anything that takes away the undivided attention of the driver from the road.
Who is at fault in a rear-end accident?
Typically, the person responsible for a rear-end collision is the driver of the car who’s front end collided with the back end of the other vehicle. However, in the case that it was your front end that collided with the back end of the other vehicle, it does not immediately mean that you were at fault. There may be other factors that may be responsible. A possibility is that the other driver cut into your lane unexpectedly and then slammed on the brakes. Another is that your brakes or steering failed when you needed to apply them.
You Need The Best Car Accident Lawyers in Austin and the Central Texas Area.
If you were injured in a car accident anywhere in the greater Austin area, you can gain helpful insight by talking to our firm. Your initial consultation is free and confidential, you can rest assured that we can provide the guidance you need.
Who is at fault in a rear-end accident?
Typically, the person responsible for a rear-end collision is the driver of the car who’s front end collided with the back end of the other vehicle. However, in the case that it was your front end that collided with the back end of the other vehicle, it does not immediately mean that you were at fault. There may be other factors that may be responsible. A possibility is that the other driver cut into your lane unexpectedly and then slammed on the brakes. Another is that your brakes or steering failed when you needed to apply them.
You Need The Best Car Accident Lawyers in Austin and the Central Texas Area.
If you were injured in a car accident anywhere in the greater Austin area, you can gain helpful insight by talking to our firm. Your initial consultation is free and confidential, you can rest assured that we can provide the guidance you need.
The vast majority of car accident claims are paid by insurance providers.
Because Texas operates off a fault-based system when it comes to auto accidents, the driver who caused the accident will be responsible for paying the victim or victims a certain amount of money as compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings and future loss of earnings or medical care.
In serious accidents, the driver may even be held accountable for paying non-economic damages, which may cover emotional trauma, pain and suffering. Of course, the average person does not have tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars available to pay a car accident victim. This is where the at-fault party’s auto insurance provider comes into the picture.
Working with a car accident insurance claims lawyer who is adept at dealing with insurance claims, adjusters and providers is crucial if you or a loved one was injured in an auto accident of any kind. You will need to deal with your insurance company, informing them of the collision, and may be approached by the other driver’s insurance company to discuss what happened. A lawyer can handle this communication on your behalf to protect your right to compensation.
It is of the utmost importance that you do not give any statements or admit fault if approached by the other driver’s insurance company. Anything you say could be used against you at a later date when the liability of the collision is determined.
Get Insight from a Car Accident Insurance Claims Lawyer
Involving a lawyer will mean that you will have a legal representative to handle any and all communication with the insurance providers, law enforcement, the other driver and any other interested parties – and this can make all the difference as you seek financial compensation for your injuries, financial losses and property damage.
Because Texas operates off a fault-based system when it comes to auto accidents, the driver who caused the accident will be responsible for paying the victim or victims a certain amount of money as compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings and future loss of earnings or medical care.
In serious accidents, the driver may even be held accountable for paying non-economic damages, which may cover emotional trauma, pain and suffering. Of course, the average person does not have tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars available to pay a car accident victim. This is where the at-fault party’s auto insurance provider comes into the picture.
Working with a car accident insurance claims lawyer who is adept at dealing with insurance claims, adjusters and providers is crucial if you or a loved one was injured in an auto accident of any kind. You will need to deal with your insurance company, informing them of the collision, and may be approached by the other driver’s insurance company to discuss what happened. A lawyer can handle this communication on your behalf to protect your right to compensation.
It is of the utmost importance that you do not give any statements or admit fault if approached by the other driver’s insurance company. Anything you say could be used against you at a later date when the liability of the collision is determined.
Get Insight from a Car Accident Insurance Claims Lawyer
Involving a lawyer will mean that you will have a legal representative to handle any and all communication with the insurance providers, law enforcement, the other driver and any other interested parties – and this can make all the difference as you seek financial compensation for your injuries, financial losses and property damage.
Texas law requires people who drive in Texas to pay for the accidents they cause.
If you buy insurance to meet the state’s financial responsibility law, you must buy at least the minimum amount. The current minimum liability limits are $30,000 for each injured person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident.
Drivers may choose to purchase collision or comprehensive insurance, however, which will cover far more than liability insurance (including injury or property damage affecting the policyholder). Collision insurance covers physical damage to the policyholder’s vehicle.
Dealing with the Insurance Company
Insurance companies are notorious for offering the lowest possible settlements. Some may delay payment or even deny valid claims, and policyholders and claimants may feel as though there is nothing they can do to get a fair settlement.
This does not have to be the case after your car accident. Hiring an attorney shows the insurance company that you mean business, and with a legal professional to handle your claim and all communication with the insurer, you can focus on healing and spending time with loved ones – and moving on with your life.
Our team at The Valentine Law Firm is particularly skilled in negotiating with insurance companies when handling our client’s car accident claims. We know how to put enough pressure on a provider to pay a valid claim in a timely manner, and we have the resources to investigate the cause of a collision when liability is incorrectly assigned to our client. If a case must go to court, we are prepared to litigate on a client’s behalf in order to seek fair compensation.
You Need an Attorney
Instead of trusting that your insurance company will handle your claim, consider taking a proactive approach and involving an attorney. You may not need legal counsel after a minor fender bender in a parking lot, but if you were involved in a serious collision that left you injured and unable to work, you may run into any of a number of difficulties when trying to secure fair compensation.
Contact our firm today to learn more about how we can help you.
If you buy insurance to meet the state’s financial responsibility law, you must buy at least the minimum amount. The current minimum liability limits are $30,000 for each injured person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident.
Drivers may choose to purchase collision or comprehensive insurance, however, which will cover far more than liability insurance (including injury or property damage affecting the policyholder). Collision insurance covers physical damage to the policyholder’s vehicle.
Dealing with the Insurance Company
Insurance companies are notorious for offering the lowest possible settlements. Some may delay payment or even deny valid claims, and policyholders and claimants may feel as though there is nothing they can do to get a fair settlement.
This does not have to be the case after your car accident. Hiring an attorney shows the insurance company that you mean business, and with a legal professional to handle your claim and all communication with the insurer, you can focus on healing and spending time with loved ones – and moving on with your life.
Our team at The Valentine Law Firm is particularly skilled in negotiating with insurance companies when handling our client’s car accident claims. We know how to put enough pressure on a provider to pay a valid claim in a timely manner, and we have the resources to investigate the cause of a collision when liability is incorrectly assigned to our client. If a case must go to court, we are prepared to litigate on a client’s behalf in order to seek fair compensation.
You Need an Attorney
Instead of trusting that your insurance company will handle your claim, consider taking a proactive approach and involving an attorney. You may not need legal counsel after a minor fender bender in a parking lot, but if you were involved in a serious collision that left you injured and unable to work, you may run into any of a number of difficulties when trying to secure fair compensation.
Contact our firm today to learn more about how we can help you.
An important aspect of handling a car accident claim is the determination of fault.
A car accident may have one or a number of causes, or circumstances that have made the incident happen. Because Texas implements a fault-based system when it comes to traffic accidents, it will be necessary to discover and prove who or what caused the accident and therefore who should be held legally responsible. The driver or other party who caused the accident can be held accountable for the injuries, economic losses and property damage that the accident caused.
In some cases, fault is clear. In others, it may be difficult to determine at first glance what caused the accident to occur and what party or parties should be held accountable. This is particularly true in complex cases involving large commercial trucks or situations where several vehicles were involved. It may take a thorough investigation and accident reconstruction to determine and prove fault.
If you were injured in a car accident in Texas, traffic accident lawyers at The Valentine Law Firm. may be able to help you.
Even if you believe you may have been at fault in the accident, you may be surprised to find that an in-depth investigation reveals that another factor was to blame. A poorly designed intersection or defective auto part, for example, could affect even the most responsible driver’s ability to avoid a collision. If you are certain that the other driver caused the accident, we can get to work in finding evidence of this. No matter the circumstances surrounding your case, our Texas Traffic Accident Lawyers are prepared to provide quality legal counsel.
Fault vs. No-Fault Insurance Laws
In some states, no-fault insurance laws apply to car accidents. This means that fault does not need to be proven and is not even taken into account when an auto insurance policy pays damages to a car accident victim. A victim’s own auto insurance policy will cover his or her injuries, with some exceptions. When a person is seriously injured or killed in a car accident, even states with no-fault insurance laws will allow victims or families of victims to seek additional compensation through personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits, depending on the case.
In Texas, your right to sue is protected. Drivers and other negligent parties who cause car accidents are held accountable for their actions. This fault-based system makes determining the cause of an accident one of the most important parts of the legal representation provided by a Texas traffic accident lawyers.
Insurance providers are notorious for doing whatever they can to avoid paying claims, and this may include laying the blame for a collision on the wrong driver’s shoulders simply because that driver did not have proper counsel to show that he or she did not cause the accident.
When you work with a lawyer at our firm, you will find that we will take the time to look into what caused your accident, through police reports, witness testimony and physical evidence. We often involve accident reconstruction professionals who can use computers and other tools to recreate the circumstances of an accident to see how it was caused. Using these resources and the testimony of expert witnesses as necessary, we can then present a compelling case to a judge and jury to show where fault truly lies.
A car accident may have one or a number of causes, or circumstances that have made the incident happen. Because Texas implements a fault-based system when it comes to traffic accidents, it will be necessary to discover and prove who or what caused the accident and therefore who should be held legally responsible. The driver or other party who caused the accident can be held accountable for the injuries, economic losses and property damage that the accident caused.
In some cases, fault is clear. In others, it may be difficult to determine at first glance what caused the accident to occur and what party or parties should be held accountable. This is particularly true in complex cases involving large commercial trucks or situations where several vehicles were involved. It may take a thorough investigation and accident reconstruction to determine and prove fault.
If you were injured in a car accident in Texas, traffic accident lawyers at The Valentine Law Firm. may be able to help you.
Even if you believe you may have been at fault in the accident, you may be surprised to find that an in-depth investigation reveals that another factor was to blame. A poorly designed intersection or defective auto part, for example, could affect even the most responsible driver’s ability to avoid a collision. If you are certain that the other driver caused the accident, we can get to work in finding evidence of this. No matter the circumstances surrounding your case, our Texas Traffic Accident Lawyers are prepared to provide quality legal counsel.
Fault vs. No-Fault Insurance Laws
In some states, no-fault insurance laws apply to car accidents. This means that fault does not need to be proven and is not even taken into account when an auto insurance policy pays damages to a car accident victim. A victim’s own auto insurance policy will cover his or her injuries, with some exceptions. When a person is seriously injured or killed in a car accident, even states with no-fault insurance laws will allow victims or families of victims to seek additional compensation through personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits, depending on the case.
In Texas, your right to sue is protected. Drivers and other negligent parties who cause car accidents are held accountable for their actions. This fault-based system makes determining the cause of an accident one of the most important parts of the legal representation provided by a Texas traffic accident lawyers.
Insurance providers are notorious for doing whatever they can to avoid paying claims, and this may include laying the blame for a collision on the wrong driver’s shoulders simply because that driver did not have proper counsel to show that he or she did not cause the accident.
When you work with a lawyer at our firm, you will find that we will take the time to look into what caused your accident, through police reports, witness testimony and physical evidence. We often involve accident reconstruction professionals who can use computers and other tools to recreate the circumstances of an accident to see how it was caused. Using these resources and the testimony of expert witnesses as necessary, we can then present a compelling case to a judge and jury to show where fault truly lies.
Any motor vehicle accident can leave a victim with serious injuries or may even lead to death
Motor vehicle accidents are actually the leading cause of personal injury cases throughout the United States, most often arising from situations where a driver was distracted or negligent and caused an accident with another vehicle or with a fixed object.
Make Sure You Know Your Legal Rights
Are you interested in getting more information about motor vehicle accidents and what legal options you may have in the wake of an accident of this kind? A personal injury attorney at our Austin law firm can offer you a free case evaluation to discuss the matter.
We represent drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or any other individual who may have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, including those cases involving catastrophic injuries as well as wrongful death.Your initial consultation with a lawyer at Flores & Valentine, P.C. is free, and you can count on our experience and knowledge as we evaluate your case and determine how we can best assist you.
No matter what circumstances led to your motor vehicle accident and even if you think you may have been at fault, you will benefit from consulting with an experienced attorney.
It is crucial that you think about your options and get the information you need to make an informed decision about moving forward with a lawsuit. Depending on the case, you may be able to file a lawsuit against another driver and an experienced lawyer can help ensure you have the opportunity to recover the true value of your claim.
Motor vehicle accidents are actually the leading cause of personal injury cases throughout the United States, most often arising from situations where a driver was distracted or negligent and caused an accident with another vehicle or with a fixed object.
Make Sure You Know Your Legal Rights
Are you interested in getting more information about motor vehicle accidents and what legal options you may have in the wake of an accident of this kind? A personal injury attorney at our Austin law firm can offer you a free case evaluation to discuss the matter.
We represent drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or any other individual who may have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, including those cases involving catastrophic injuries as well as wrongful death.Your initial consultation with a lawyer at Flores & Valentine, P.C. is free, and you can count on our experience and knowledge as we evaluate your case and determine how we can best assist you.
No matter what circumstances led to your motor vehicle accident and even if you think you may have been at fault, you will benefit from consulting with an experienced attorney.
It is crucial that you think about your options and get the information you need to make an informed decision about moving forward with a lawsuit. Depending on the case, you may be able to file a lawsuit against another driver and an experienced lawyer can help ensure you have the opportunity to recover the true value of your claim.