Accidents happen, but when they happen due to someone else’s negligence, they aren’t true “accidents,” and the negligent party is responsible to compensate you for your losses. There are several specific situations where having San Antonio personal injury lawyers on your side is a must.
10 Situations Where You Need San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyers on Your Side
Auto Accidents
It can be hard to nail down liability in any auto accident, but when it involves a multi-vehicle pileup, figuring out who is at fault can become incredibly challenging. An experienced lawyer can sift through the insurance claims, accident reports, and eyewitness statements, identifying who is responsible and ensuring you get fair compensation.
And what if you’re a victim of a hit-and-run? Tracking down the guilty party might seem impossible, but with legal assistance, the process can be made smoother, as your lawyer can leverage resources you might not even know about. And if an auto accident results in catastrophic injuries or fatalities, you’ll definitely want a qualified and experienced San Antonio professional to protect you and get you the compensation you desperately need.
Slips, Trips, and Falls
Property owners in Texas have a duty to maintain safe premises for visitors, so if you suffer an injury due to a slip, trip, or fall that was a result of negligence – like wet floors, uneven walkways, or other hazards – you deserve compensation. Proving liability in such cases can be tough, though, so you need a lawyer who knows how to gather and interpret evidence, liaise with insurance companies, and negotiate on your behalf. Slips and falls are the most common way to be injured on someone else’s property, but they aren’t the only injuries you need a lawyer for.
Premises Liability
Beyond the common slip and fall accidents, general premises liability includes any injury sustained on someone else’s property due to their negligence. This could be an injury at a public place, like a shopping mall, or at a private residence. Injuries that aren’t slips or falls can include being hit by falling, unsecured objects, or even being the victim of a criminal act due to lack of security or inadequate lighting. Given the broad range of situations here, each case requires a unique approach from a skilled attorney.
Medical Malpractice
You entrust your health to the medical professionals who treat you, and you expect them to treat you with a certain care. If their care falls below the standard expected by the larger medical community, leading to injury, missed or wrong diagnosis, or the worsening of a condition, you might be facing a medical malpractice scenario. Hiring a lawyer with expertise in medical malpractice is absolutely essential, as insurers and courts are often biased on the side of medical professionals in these cases, and it can be very difficult to prove negligence.
Workplace Injuries
While the state of Texas doesn’t mandate that private employers carry workers’ compensation coverage, many choose to provide it. If you sustain an injury on the job, and your employer has such coverage, it should ideally cover your medical expenses and lost wages. However, there might be situations where your claim is denied or inadequately compensated. In other cases, the injury might be caused at your place of employment during work, but by a third party, and thus worker’s comp may not come into play.
Furthermore, if your employer doesn’t offer workers’ compensation, you can then seek damages through a personal injury lawsuit. This route requires proving that your employer was negligent or responsible for the negligence of someone else, which can be challenging. Having a lawyer on your side ensures your rights are protected and you get what you’re due.
Product Liability
As consumers, we trust that the products we purchase are safe to use for the purpose intended. Sometimes, however, manufacturers, distributors, or sellers offer defective products that cause harm, and it then becomes a matter of product liability. Product liability can include anything from faulty car parts to harmful medication side effects.
Since big corporations usually back products, they often have a team of lawyers ready to defend them. To level the playing field, you must have a competent and experienced attorney who is willing and able to stand up to these corporations and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Dog Bites and Animal Attacks
Texas follows something generally known as the “one bite rule,” and an owner can be held liable if they knew the dog had aggressive tendencies. This rule doesn’t mean the owner is off the hook for the dog’s first bite: it just means that the victim must show the owner was aware the dog was dangerous; and while some owners will realize this without the dog ever biting anyone, many will not really be aware until that first bite.
If you’re a victim of a dog bite or any animal attack, though, proving the owner knew the animal’s tendencies or was negligent in restraining the dog can be difficult. Without substantial evidence, your claim might not hold water. A skilled attorney can help you gather the right evidence, be it veterinary records, eyewitness accounts, or previous complaints, and ensure the owner is held accountable for their failures as an animal owner.
Wrongful Death
Losing a loved one is always a deeply traumatic experience, and when that loss is due to someone else’s negligence or deliberate act, the suffering is even greater. Texas wrongful death claims can be filed by immediate family members, including spouses, children, and parents.
While compensation can’t replace a loved one, it can help cover funeral expenses and loss of income, and it can be some compensation for the emotional distress. A dedicated attorney will shoulder the burden of the legal proceedings, which allows you to grieve while still ensuring justice is served.
Assault and Battery
While often thought of as a purely criminal act, assault and battery can also have civil implications. If you’re the victim of an intentional violent act in Texas, you can file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for your injuries, even if the other party is also facing criminal charges and even if they win their criminal court case.
The keys to winning these cases are proving the intent of the offender and showing the extent of your injuries. Things can get complication when a criminal case is also pending, so having an attorney is essential here.
Injuries from Toxic Substances
Texans can sometimes find themselves exposed to toxic substances in the air, water, or even the soil, and especially in industrial or farming situations. These environmental hazards can lead to severe health issues, from respiratory problems to chronic illnesses.
Pinpointing the source of the contamination and the responsible party requires expertise and determination. Expert legal representation is indispensable in these injuries, especially since complicated scientific issues may be at play, and you may be dealing with large corporations that have enormous resources at their disposal.
Get Help From a Skilled Attorney
You should never have to face a personal injury situation alone. Whether you’ve been in an auto accident or suffered from medical malpractice, your pursuit for justice and rightful compensation will be most successful with the right lawyer at your side. If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligence of another, contact the Joe A. Gamez Law Firm, PLC right away and work with San Antonio’s most accomplished personal injury lawyer.