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Waco Car Accident Lawyer

The Texas Department of Transportation reports that in 2021, one person was killed every hour and 57 minutes, and one person was injured every two minutes and 12 seconds in car crashes in Texas. When you are in a car accident, your life can change in an instant. A car accident can impact your ability to work for a period of time, or even permanently. A car accident can cause you mental anguish because of the limitations to your lifestyle caused by injuries suffered in the accident.

Thousands of Texans are on the road everyday going about their business. Your life as you know it can come to an abrupt standstill if you are injured in a car accident. If your accident was the result of another person or entity’s negligence, you may be entitled to financial compensation for the damages you suffer. An experienced Waco car accident lawyer can help you understand your rights and get the compensation you deserve. Craft Law Firm can help you.

Why Choose Craft Law Firm

Craft Law Firm has a track record of success getting full and fair compensation for our clients.
We have been recognized by U.S. News as one of the Best Law Firms in America for four straight years.
Craft Law Firm has recovered millions in settlements and verdicts for victims of motor vehicle accidents just like you.
We have a reputation for excellence and experience, including our track record of success.

If you have been injured in a Waco car accident, or you lost your loved one in a fatal car accident, you need a Waco car accident lawyer who knows the law and will ensure that you get justice. We believe that all victims should have fair representation to get the financial compensation they need to get their lives back on track. We make sure this is possible by offering free consultations and representation on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win. Call 254-212-4107 today to speak with one of our experienced car accident attorneys.

Leading Causes of Car Accidents in Waco, Texas

Some of the leading causes of collisions in Waco include:

Distracted Driving

Cell phones, eating, daydreaming, children in the backseat, or following directions can easily take a driver’s focus away from the road. Getting distracted, even if only for a split second, can result in a catastrophic auto accident.

Impaired Driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, even prescription medications, can dramatically impair a driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.

Drowsy Driving

Fatigued drivers are three times more likely to be involved in an auto accident, according to the National Safety Council.

Speeding

Speed limits are in place to promote safety. The faster a motor vehicle travels, the longer it takes to stop to avoid an accident.

Road Conditions

Construction, weather, or gravel, and dirt roads can all pose a serious threat. Gravel or loose dirt can shift under the tires and cause a motor vehicle to become unstable.

Damaged or Defective Auto Parts

If just one part of a car is defective or was poorly installed and fails, the entire vehicle can be affected and may lead to a serious crash. These types of accidents commonly involve commercial vehicles due to faulty parts or lack of regular maintenance.

Texas Car Insurance Requirements

Texas is an at-fault state. This means that any person who causes an accident will be financially responsible for the damages that they cause, including the repairs or replacement of damaged property and the medical expenses of any injured parties. Most drivers meet their obligations by holding car insurance policies to pay for damages they may cause as a result of a car accident.

In Texas, drivers must carry basic liability insurance with minimum coverage of:

$30,000 for one injured person in an accident;
$60,000 for all injured persons in an accident; and
$25,000 for property damage.

While this is the basic minimum requirement, drivers should consider other policies such as collision, uninsured and underinsured motorist, and personal injury protection to ensure that they are prepared to cover the financial impact of a car accident.

Most Common Injuries Caused by Waco Car Accidents

Below are the most common types of injuries that victims file claims for after a car accident:

Whiplash: A common form of soft tissue damage that occurs when a person’s neck is ‘whipped’ violently back and forth. It is one of the most common car accident injuries. Soft tissue injuries can be excruciating, and they can take a considerable amount of time to heal.
Broken Bones: Broken and fractured bones are not only severely painful, but they take a lot of time to heal. They can be even more dangerous if a bone chip or fragment moves through the bloodstream and comes in contact with vital organs, such as your lungs or heart.
Traumatic Brain Injuries: Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most frightening injuries. In the most severe cases, brain injuries can result in permanent cognitive or physical impairment.
Spinal Cord Injuries: The spinal cord is one of the most sensitive parts of the human body. Even a tiny amount of damage can have catastrophic consequences. A spinal cord injury can result in loss of range of movement, partial or total paralysis, permanent cognitive impairment, and loss of control over basic bodily functions.
Disfigurement or Amputation Injuries: Road rash or any other severe laceration from a car accident can leave you permanently scarred or disfigured. In extreme cases, victims can experience a loss of a limb.
Burn Injuries: When a motor vehicle explodes or catches fire, victims can suffer varying degrees of burn injuries which can be devastating and create lifelong consequences for the victim.
Internal Injuries: Internal injuries are easily undetected and possibly life-threatening if a victim doesn’t seek medical attention right after a car accident.
Emotional Distress: Not all car accident injuries are purely physical. In some cases, victims are forced to deal with severe psychological damage, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Car accident victims should not hesitate to seek professional treatment for their mental or emotional trauma.

All injuries from car accidents require immediate medical treatment. Some severe injuries can take up to 72 hours to fully materialize, so it is best not to assume that you do not need to see a doctor.

How a Waco Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You

In no-fault states, when drivers are involved in an auto accident, they generally do not have to worry about establishing who was at fault for the accident if the damages are within a certain limit. A victim’s insurance company is responsible for their damages and so a victim simply files a claim with their own insurance company. The aim of this system is to make it easier and faster for car accident victims to recover their damages and carry on with their lives. Although the no-fault system has its advantages, every state has its limits.

Because Texas is an at-fault state, a victim in a car accident must establish that the other party was at fault in order to get any compensation from them. This is not always an easy task, as most defendants and their insurance companies will try to avoid liability. An experienced car accident attorney has the knowledge and professional and financial resources to investigate the accident and establish which party was at fault.

What if I Was Partly at Fault for the Accident?

You may be panicking because you think you were at fault for the accident and therefore you are not entitled to any compensation. That is not always the case. Even if you think that you caused the accident, you should never admit to anyone, particularly the other party or their insurance company, that you were at fault.

There is a legal rule called contributory negligence, which bars a victim from getting any compensation if they are found to be even one percent at fault for the accident. As you can imagine this would cause hardship for victims who such a rule applied to. Luckily, Texas does not apply that rule.

Texas applies what is called a modified comparative fault rule. Under this rule, a victim’s compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault apportioned to them, as long as the victim’s fault does not exceed the total fault of the other responsible parties. If there are multiple responsible parties, they will all be jointly responsible for the total amount apportioned to them. This means that, if you are the victim in an accident and you are found to be 30% responsible for the accident, and your damages are $100,000, you will only be able to recover $70,000, which represents the portion of the damages you were not at fault for.

The best way to ensure that you are not apportioned greater fault than is fair is to have a passionate and experienced Waco personal injury lawyer who can fight for you and protect your interests.

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Waco?

Texas limits the amount of time you have to file a car accident claim to two years from the date of injury. This law, known as the statute of limitations, helps ensure that the legal process moves forward and the evidence remains available. However, claims against a city, county, or state government agency must be filed within six months. There are limited exceptions that can extend or delay the deadline, and once it has passed, you will not be able to recover compensation.

Contact the Waco, Texas Accident Attorneys at Craft Law Firm

If you have been injured in a car accident, truck accident, or motorcycle accident, you need a professional legal team working for you. The insurance companies will try to avoid as much liability as they can. But, when they see that you are represented by Craft Law Firm, they will know that you are serious about your case. We have a reputation for excellence and experience, and our track record of results for our clients speaks for itself. If you are looking for a Waco car accident lawyer that will vigorously pursue your case and get you the compensation you deserve, call 254-212-4107 to schedule your free consultation.