What are my legal options?

The benefit of consulting with a is that you can learn about all of your legal options. There are many misconceptions about what happens when you file a lawsuit. People envision facing off against a defendant in a courtroom and being interrogated by the opposing attorneys.

The reality is that most injury lawsuits result in settlements. Only 4 to 5 percent of those cases actually go to trial. Trials are more expensive and time-consuming, so it is usually in everyone’s best interest to come up with a fair settlement that both sides are happy with.

A settlement simply means that you (the injured party) accept an amount of compensation from the responsible party (or parties). In return, you agree not to seek any further damages from them.

Injury claims are civil lawsuits. It’s possible that a criminal case against the negligent party (such as a drunk driver) will take place while you are pursuing your civil case. However, those two claims are entirely separate and handled by different attorneys applying different Texas statutes.

A personal injury case does not have to happen at the same time as a criminal case (if there is one). In Texas, there is a two-year statute of limitations to file a claim against a negligent party. Sometimes the extent of the injuries is so uncertain that it can be wise to wait to file suit until you fully understand what your ultimate outcome will be. However, you still should talk to an attorney as soon as possible after your accident so that you don’t miss the deadline or risk that valuable evidence is lost. When the statute of limitations expires, it’s highly likely that your case will be dismissed.