Cole, Cole, Easley and Sciba Trial Attorneys can help you through the claims process if you’ve been injured in a car accident in Edna. Like most people here, you get in your car every day. Driving to work, picking your kids up from school, taking them to practice, making doctor’s appointments. This all means you spend a lot of time on the road, but it also increases the chances that you’ll be in a car accident. We can help you through the whole thing. Set up a free consultation today.
When Does a Lawyer Make Sense After a Car Accident?
When you’ve been in a car accident, talking to a lawyer probably isn’t the first thing on your mind. At first, you’re focused on making sure everyone is okay, getting medical care, and figuring out what just happened.
But once the shock wears off, things can start to change. Injuries that seemed minor at first may turn into weeks of doctor’s appointments, missed work, and medical bills that keep growing. At the same time, insurance companies start asking for statements, records, and quick decisions before you’ve had much time to recover. It’s overwhelming. And that’s when it makes more sense to talk to our team. We’ll help you:
- Look into how the accident happened
- Help you gather evidence and information
- Talk to witnesses and your doctors
- Handle the back-and-forth with the insurance company
- File a lawsuit if that’s what it takes to get a fair offer
After a car accident, you’re already dealing with enough. Our goal is to take the legal and insurance side of things off your shoulders so you can focus on what matters: getting better. That can be easier said than done, though, especially when you think about all the different ways car accidents happen here.
Where Car Accidents Usually Happen in Edna
No matter how careful you are, you could easily be in a car accident here in Edna. That’s not because you’re not experienced or because you’re not being safe. It’s because car accidents are about patterns and circumstances. More to the point, they’re largely about what somebody else does. That leads to the same types of accidents happening in the same spots more often than not including:
- Rear-end collisions along US 59 and SH 111
- Head-on collisions, especially on backroads
- Sideswipes and broadside collisions at busy intersections
- Parking lot accidents
- Truck accidents around farms
Most accidents aren’t caused by anything dramatic. Instead, they stem from things that every driver does at one point or another. Speeding, texting, driving while fatigued, and worse, while impaired by drugs or alcohol. That might give you a 1,000 foot view of the problem, but it’s very different when you’re the one that’s hurt. That makes the process and how it works unique to your situation. That also applies to the information you should look for after it happens.
Information to Look For After Your Car Accident
Whether you’ve been in a car accident before or not, the immediate aftermath there at the scene is pretty important in terms of getting information. Of course, nothing is more important than your health and safety. The very first thing you should do is call 911 to report the accident. That’ll get police and an ambulance to the scene to take care of your injuries and document things. And while you wait (if you’re able), it’s a good chance to get a few basics of your own, like:
- Pictures and videos of the vehicles, roadway, skid marks, traffic signs, weather conditions, and any visible injuries.
- Names and contact information for anyone who saw the collision.
- Insurance information, driver’s license information, and contact details from the other driver or drivers.
Once things settle down, there’s more information that can help show what the accident has done to you:
- Medical records from the ER, urgent care, follow-up visits, and physical therapy.
- The police report and vehicle repair estimates.
- Photos showing how your injuries change as you heal.
- Notes about doctor appointments, time missed from work, pain, and things you can’t do because of your injuries.
- Letters, emails, claim numbers, and other information from the insurance company.
- Dashcam or nearby security footage if it’s available.
What you’re not trying to do with this information is solving things. You’re simply trying to get pieces of the puzzle. And you don’t have to even worry about trying to get everything on your own. A few pictures and notes from you can go a long way in getting the ball rolling on the claims process.
How to Figure Out Who’s Responsible for Your Car Accident Injuries
For you, the biggest question about your car accident isn’t necessarily what caused it or what kind it was. Instead, you’re more focused on your injuries and what you’ve lost. And to that end, you naturally wonder who’s responsible for paying for all that.
In legal terms, this is called liability. And the way liability is figured out is by showing negligence. That means that somebody did something—or didn’t do something—that led to the accident and your injuries.
But in the context of a car accident, that usually means somebody:
- Was distracted by their phone on US 59 or SH 111.
- Failed to yield at an intersection in or around Edna.
- Was speeding or driving too fast for the road or weather conditions.
- Made an unsafe turn or lane change.
- Didn’t adjust their driving for rain, flooding, or other changing conditions.
Here’s something a lot of people don’t know: it’s not always on another driver. Depending on what happened, liability could also land on:
- The person that wasn’t driving but owns the vehicle
- A trucking or delivery company
- A company that made the car or its parts
- The city, state or county government
Sometimes it’s clear who caused the accident. But a lot of the time, it takes a closer look at what happened before, during, and after the accident. That’s why the details of your particular accident matter, and that also plays into the actual claims process.
How to File a Claim and Get Damages After a Car Accident
Nobody expects one moment on the road to turn into medical bills, car repairs, missed work, and changes to everyday life. But that’s what can happen after a serious accident.
Maybe you’re still going to doctor’s appointments. Maybe you’re missing work or having trouble doing things you normally do. Maybe your car is badly damaged and you’re trying to figure out how to get around. Those losses are part of your claim because they’re part of what the accident has cost you. You generally have two options:
- Filing an insurance claim
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit
A lot of people start with insurance. It’s less formal and can sometimes be resolved more quickly, but you’re dealing with an insurance company that’s deciding what your claim is worth. And they may not see the whole picture. An adjuster sees medical bills and repair estimates. They don’t necessarily see how the injury has changed your day-to-day life.
That’s also why settling too early can be a problem. You may not know how serious your injuries are or how long recovery will take. Once you accept a settlement, you can’t go back and ask for more if things get worse for you. That’s when a personal injury lawsuit comes into play. It takes more time and effort, but gives you a chance at fuller financial support that are built on things like:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Current and future lost income
- Car repair or replacement costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Wrongful death expenses in fatal accidents
Texas generally gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, although exceptions can apply. Even if you’re still recovering or aren’t sure what you want to do, it’s worth understanding your options sooner rather than later. That’s why you should reach out to our team as soon as you can.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will this take?
It depends on your case. Some claims resolve in a few months, while others take longer if you’re still getting treatment or there’s a dispute about who caused the accident.
Will I have to go to court?
Probably not. Many car accident cases settle without going to trial. Still, preparing for court can put you in a better position if the insurance company won’t make a fair offer.
How do I know what my case is worth?
There’s no set formula. It depends on your injuries, medical treatment, lost income, future care, and how the accident has affected your everyday life. Your claim is about what happened to you, so it’s going to be different from someone else’s.
Reach Out to Cole, Cole, Easley and Sciba After a Car Accident in Edna
A car accident can throw everything off at once. Medical care, time off work, insurance calls, repair bills—it adds up quickly, and it isn’t always clear what you’re supposed to do next. Your situation is also different from everyone else’s. Your injuries, your job, your family, and the way the accident has affected your life all matter.
That’s where our Edna car accident lawyers at Cole, Cole, Easley and Sciba Trial Attorneys come in. We’ll help you understand your options, figure out who’s responsible, and deal with the insurance company while you focus on getting your life back on track. Set up a free consultation today to get started.
