Car accident compensation claims in Katy, Texas, can get quickly complicated as the state follows the rule of comparative negligence. While claiming compensation for damages and injuries is well within your rights. However, the matter is quite different when it comes to a settlement with insurance companies.
A Katy car accident lawyer can help you understand how much you can claim through compensation. Depending on your percentage of negligence according to the court’s verdict, negotiate with the insurance companies accordingly.
Understanding Comparative Negligence
Texas is not an “all or nothing” state- which means that the jury decides what percentage of the negligence rests with the concerned parties. If you are involved in a car accident in Katy, and your share of the negligence goes above 50%, you get nothing in damages even if you have filed a compensation claim.
If it is below 50%, then the percentage of negligence is deducted from the compensation amount. Katy lawyers can help you understand how much your claim is worth, and they will do the needful on your behalf while claiming compensation.
Calculating Settlement Amount
The insurance industry has specific ground rules, but each accident case is different, and you need an expert to negotiate with the insurance companies.
The settlement will not decide based on several factors like damages to your car, the injuries you sustained, and the income loss you suffered. General trends are not always beneficial as insurance companies will come with different settlement offers.
How can a Katy Accident Lawyer Help you with Negotiations?
A Katy lawyer will act as a mediator and weigh the merits of the offer presented by the insurance company and make a counteroffer based on facts and witnesses. Most insurance companies come up with an amount derived from a formula that an adjuster uses to make an offer, and it is not an accurate amount that is equal to the worth of the damages you suffered.
An experienced Katy lawyer knowledgeable about traffic regulations in Katy and Texas laws will negotiate with the insurance company to arrive at an amount that better represents the losses you suffered, enabling you to cover as much of the damages as possible.
What Damages are Covered in Accident Settlements?
If you want to take your car accident lawsuit to trial, there is no guarantee you will win, and in that case, you might end up getting nothing at all. It is a huge gamble, especially if you do not have enough evidence and documents to corroborate your side of the story. Your inability to understand all legal jargon can also leave you at a disadvantage.
In Katy, along with other areas of Texas, drivers are required to carry about $30,000 in bodily injury liability, $60,000 for all physical injuries liability, and $25,000 for property damage liability. An experienced lawyer will be able to arrive at an amount closest to them.
A Katy car accident lawyer will include various factors in their argument while representing your case, including financial and non-financial costs. These include the cost of hospitalization, physical therapy, medicines, surgeries, loss of income, hiring help, and above all, account for the intense emotional trauma you and your family went through, especially in cases of permanent disability or disfigurement.
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