Personal Injury FAQs
Many of our clients come to us because they have many unanswered questions and concerns. If you have been injured in an accident and now you are dealing with physical, emotional, and financial burdens, you might need an attorney to help you with your injury claim.
At Tormey & McConnell, our personal injury attorneys believe in keeping our clients informed throughout the entire process so that they can make objective decisions regarding their cases. With straightforward and honest answers, we strive to give our clients the best possible chance of fair and full compensation. With an office in Amarillo, Texas, we serve injury victims and their families across the communities of Hereford, Canyon, Dumas, Borger, Childress, and Pampa.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injuries
To help you better navigate your claim from the very beginning, we have compiled some of the most frequently asked personal injury questions and answers. However, if you are looking for more specific answers—or legal representation—consider contacting Tormey & McConnell to schedule a free consultation with our attorneys.
What do I do after an accident?
It goes without saying that the first thing to do after an accident is to seek immediate medical attention and ensure that any injuries are properly documented. Delaying your visit to the doctor could negatively impact both your health and your personal injury claim. Most insurance companies require that claimants receive medical attention within 48 to 72 hours of the accident, though the timeframe may vary from company to company or even policy to policy.
Can I seek compensation if I’m partially at fault?
If you are filing a claim in Texas or any other state that follows the comparative negligence system, then yes. Under Texas’s modified comparative negligence law, accident victims are entitled to financial compensation as long as they are no more than 50% at fault for the accident. While you do have a right to pursue compensation if you are partially at fault, your recoverable damages will be reduced in proportion to the degree that you were at fault.
Should I accept the settlement offer provided by the insurance company?
In the vast majority of cases, accepting the first settlement offer provided by the insurer may not be in your best interest. Insurance companies may take advantage of your vulnerability and lack of legal knowledge in the first hours or days following the accident and make a settlement offer that does not fully compensate you for your injuries and losses. For this reason, you might want to avoid accepting a settlement offer until you (a) have a better idea of how much your claim is worth and (b) consult with an attorney.
How much is my personal injury case worth?
There is no way to determine how much money you could receive through your personal injury claim without considering many factors that are specific to your case. An experienced and detail-oriented attorney can carefully review the facts of your case and help you determine what compensation you may be entitled to.
Will I need to go to trial for my personal injury?
While you might have heard that most personal injury cases are settled out of court, you should not rule out the possibility of your case going to trial. You need to keep in mind that insurance companies are profit-driven businesses that care about their bottom line. That is why insurers often refuse to pay fairly or at all, which means going to trial may be the only option left to obtain the compensation you deserve.
How long will I have to wait to obtain compensation?
Every case is different, which is why the timeline of your personal injury case is dependent on many different factors. In many cases, the claimant should wait until they recover or reach maximum medical improvement before a demand for compensation is made. Doing so allows claimants to ensure that they understand the full extent of their damages and losses before settling their claim.
Do I need a personal injury attorney?
In most cases, it is a good idea to hire a personal injury attorney. Your attorney will help you navigate all aspects of your claim to ensure that your rights are protected throughout the case and will not let you fall victim to the insurance company’s manipulative or dishonest tactics.
When is the best time to contact an attorney?
The best time to seek legal advice is as soon as possible after your accident. Memories of the incident can fade quickly, and crucial evidence can disappear or get destroyed, not to mention that there is a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit. In Texas, the time limit (statute of limitations) to file personal injury claims and lawsuits is two years from the date of the accident. The sooner you contact an attorney, the earlier your claim can be filed and the better your chances of success.
Don’t Seek Compensation Alone
Our attorneys at Tormey & McConnell are well-versed in the legal process of filing a personal injury claim. If you want to get answers to your specific questions, reach out to our office in Amarillo, Texas, for a more in-depth discussion. We provide free initial consultations to people and families dealing with the aftermath of sustaining an injury. Contact us today to request your free, confidential consultation.