Car Accidents
Auto collisions are the leading cause of personal injuries in Texas. According to Texas Department of Transportation, at least one person a day has died on Texas roadways since November 7, 2000. As of 2019, that is more than 65,000 car accident fatalities in Texas —more people than the entire population of San Marcos or Pflugerville.
CAUSES OF CAR WRECKS IN TEXAS
- Driving Under the Influence of Drugs
- Driving While Intoxicated
- Driver Fatigue
- Failing to Obey Traffic Signals
- Failing to Yield Right-of-Way
- Unsafe Lane Change
- Following Too Closely
- Speeding
- Reckless Driving
- Distracted Driving
- Texting
DAMAGES IN CAR ACCIDENTS IN TEXAS
- Pain & Suffering
- Emotional Distress
- Lost Wages
- Medical Expenses
- Property Damage
- Loss of Use of Vehicle
- Future Medical Expenses
- Disability
- Death
INSURANCE COMPANIES
The insurance company is not your friend. The goal of the insurance companies to figure out a way to not pay for your claim, or in the alternative, pay you the least amount of money possible. Sadly, many people who are injured because of the negligence of another are oblivious of the full value of their claims. Car accident victims accept the first offer from the insurance company and sign away their legal rights to pursue the claim, unaware of the full extent of their injuries and damages.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION
- DO make sure you and your passengers are okay. Check to see if you have any injuries that need immediate attention
- DO call 911 if there are injured people or significant damages to the vehicles involved
- DO document the car accident: take photos of the vehicles involves and the scene
- DO collect information: get the contact and insurance information of any other driver, including witnesses
- DON'T make any statements saying you are uninjured if you are uncertain about how you feel
- DON'T sign any documents from the insurance company nor give them a statement until you've talked an experience personal injury attorney
- DO call Sanchez Law for a free consultation with an attorney
CONTACT SANCHEZ LAW
After a car accident, you will likely have many concerns: How did this happen to me? Will my auto insurance cover my medical bills? Who will fix my car? Can I file a lawsuit against the other driver?
Instead of worrying call the car accident attorneys at Sanchez Law. Being injured in a car accident is an overwhelming experience, and we will offer you knowledge, compassion, and superior personal service. Our attorneys will establish liability on the at-fault driver by investigating, preserving evidence and interviewing witnesses. We will help you navigate the complex system to make sure you receive reasonable and necessary medical care for the injuries from your car wreck. Once you complete your treatment, our office will collect the necessary medical records and bills that document your injuries and negotiate a settlement that takes into account your damages in the past and future financial and medical needs.
Our attorneys are experienced at guiding clients and their loved ones through the claims process, and if necessary, through litigation to trial in order to recover the monetary compensation you are owed. The car crash attorneys of Sanchez Law are experienced negotiators and litigators who work on your behalf to level the playing field with the other side, who will always have lawyers. Call Sanchez Law 24/7/365 for a free case evaluation with an attorney. Because for us, it's personal.
Bus Accidents
Call us immediately if you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed in a bus crash and talk directly to an attorney. We know how overwhelming and painful these events can be, and we are equipped to advise and guide you through all phases of injury claims and investigations, and to gather the evidence necessary to prove that a bus driver's unsafe driving or an improperly maintained bus caused or contributed to you or a loved one's injuries.
DANGER FROM BUSES
Most of us intuitively know that buses present a serious potential danger to anyone involved in a crash with one, since they are among the largest and heaviest vehicles on the road. Because of basic physics, passenger buses present exponentially more forceful crash impacts when they increase their speed—a bus traveling 50 miles per hour will have 4 times the kinetic energy of the same bus traveling 25 miles per hour. Their sheer physical bulk also requires more precise driving by properly trained drivers who must be alert and who be properly trained and experienced to be able safely maneuver in traffic, and it requires that bus itself well maintained. The mass of a bus compared to a passenger car means will take the brunt of the crash. There were 232 fatal crashes caused by buses in the United States from the year surveyed from 2016 to 2017 according to the Federal Motor Carrier Administration.
PASSENGER BUSES
If the bus is owned by a Texas company and operates entirely within the state, then its owners must adhere to Texas law, Department of Motor Vehicle regulations, and Federal regulations require $500,000.00 in insurance coverage for buses designed for 15 – 26 passengers ($500,000) or over 26 passengers ($5,000,000).
MUNICIPAL BUSES
If the bus is operated on behalf of a city (for instance, Capital Metro in Austin, DART in Dallas, or VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio), injury claims require knowledge of additional regulations and legal protections that these parties enjoy because they are operating on behalf of a governmental entity. The good news is that these buses typically have multiple cameras which preserves video records taken of the interior and exterior of the bus.
SCHOOL BUSES
The Texas Education Agency's statewide survey of school bus crashes and injury for years 2017-2018 reported 2,210 crashes which resulted in 606 injured students and 44 injured adults, along with 11 pedestrian injuries. Since they are often owned by school districts enjoy special protections as governmental entities, school bus crashes can present special legal requirements to preserve claims and a cap on damages allowed ($100,000 per person injured, up to $300,000 per accident).
Construction Accidents
Call us immediately if you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed at a construction site and talk directly to an attorney. Construction accidents present unique issues which our attorneys are equipped to handle. In Texas, the outcome of an injury claim will be dependent on some seemingly random factors (including whether the employer carried workers compensation insurance, and the legal language of the job contracts which set forth duties and obligations of individual contractors and subcontractors.) We will evaluate your case with you and can represent you in every part of your case from setting up an insurance claim and preserving vital evidence through every phase of litigation to recover the monetary damages that you are entitled to.
CONSTRUCTION JOBSITE DANGER
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5,147 workers died on the job nationwide in 2017, which equates to more than 99 a week or 14 deaths every day. According to OSHA the “Fatal Four” types of jobsite accident account for about 60% of construction worker deaths in 2017: falls, objects striking the worker, electrocutions, and crushing injuries (for example, caught-in or compressed by equipment or crushed by collapsing structure or equipment). OSHA regulations and common industry safety standards ought to be followed by all parties to construction projects, and our attorneys are equipped to investigate and prosecute claims in each of these types of cases.
Premises Liability
Call us immediately if you or a loved one have been seriously injured because of a condition on the premises of a business, an apartment complex, or an individual's home site and talk directly to an attorney. We are equipped to handle the unique issues these cases present. We will evaluate your case with you and can represent you in every part of your case from setting up an insurance claim and preserving vital evidence through every phase of litigation to recover the monetary damages that you are entitled to.
SERIOUS INJURIES FROM DANGEROUS PREMISES CONDITIONS
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission floors and flooring materials contribute directly to more than 2 million fall injuries each year. These injuries sometimes can be quite serious and result in broken or fractured bones. Of all fractures from falls, hip fractures are the most serious and lead to the greatest health problems and number of deaths, and the elderly are especially vulnerable to these types of injuries. Premises conditions which directly cause injuries include slick surfaces, falling tree branches, broken handrails, cluttered walkways, holes and uneven surfaces which are not immediately visible or noticeable. Premise owners owe a specific legal duty to inform you and your loved ones of the presence of any known dangerous condition. When they fail to do so they are not acting responsibly—these injuries can and should be avoided in every case.
Insurance Claims
Call us today and talk directly to an attorney if you are thinking about retaining a lawyer for your case. Our attorneys are knowledgeable and equipped to handle personal injury insurance claims. In certain minor injury cases you will be better off handling the claim yourself, and we will be able to tell you if your case is one of those. But keep in mind that insurance companies have every incentive to pay you as little as possible so that they can make higher profits, and sometimes seemingly minor injuries end up being more permanent and life-altering that you may initially think. Whenever there is a serious injury claim, you need an attorney. There are many pitfalls and you have too much to lose by representing yourself in these cases. Historically, Plaintiffs with lawyers have been found be much more likely to receive larger settlements than those who go it alone. We are experienced in negotiating and obtaining the maximum recovery to you, and with will handle all communications and negotiations with first party (your own) and third party ("their" insurance) insurance carriers and adjusters on your behalf.
Workplace Accident
Call us today and talk directly to an attorney if you or a loved one have been seriously injured at a workplace. In Texas, the outcome of an injury claim will depend on a wide variety of factors, including the facts and circumstances of your injury, and also including whether the employer carried workers compensation insurance. Our attorneys are knowledgeable and equipped to handle personal injury claims against employers and third parties that occur at your workplace. We will evaluate your case with you and can represent you in every part of your case from setting up an insurance claim and preserving vital evidence through every phase of litigation to recover the monetary damages that you are entitled to.
Pedestrian Accidents
Call us today and talk directly to an attorney if you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a pedestrian accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5,987 pedestrians killed nationwide in 2016 and slightly fewer in 2017. Motorists owe a duty of care to pedestrians, who are essentially completely vulnerable against a car or other motor vehicle. This duty of care includes maintaining a proper lookout and yielding to pedestrians in properly marked crosswalks. A distracted driver who is checking a cell phone instead of watching the roadway and pedestrians creates an unnecessary danger and a failure to act responsibly that can and should be avoided in every case.
Oilfield Accidents
Call us today and talk directly to an attorney if you or a loved one have been seriously or fatally injured in an oilfield accident. Oilfields and their support industries present unique dangers which require strict adherence to government regulations and standard industry safety practices. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 39 workers sustained fatal injuries on the job in mining, quarrying and gas extraction in 2017. Of those 39 fatalities, 22 were caused by transportation incidents, and 13 were caused by exposure to harmful chemicals or non-transportation extraction equipment. In Texas, the outcome of an injury claim will depend on a wide variety of factors, including the facts and circumstances of the injury, which people and entities bear legal responsibility, whether those entities carried workers compensation insurance that would cover the injuries. Our attorneys are knowledgeable and equipped to handle personal injury claims against oilfield operators and support entities following an oilfield accident. We will evaluate your case with you and can represent you in every part of your case from setting up an insurance claim and preserving vital evidence through every phase of litigation and when necessary will associate with other attorneys when necessary to cover every aspect of the case with all of the resources needed to obtain the monetary recovery you are entitled to.
Drunk Driving Accidents
Car collisions are always distressing experiences and collision victims are often left with physical injuries, emotional pain and significant financial burdens. The consequences are worse when the at-fault person who caused the accident was driving under the influence of alcohol and completely unable to safely drive.
About one in three traffic deaths in the United States involve a drunk driver, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. A 2012 national survey reported by the CDC found that Texans report driving after drinking too much at a higher rate than the national average.
The attorneys at Sanchez Law fight for victims of drunk driving collisions in all the greater Austin area, including Bastrop, Buda, Kyle, Manor, Bastrop, Manchaca, Round Rock, Hutto, and Pflugerville. Our attorneys are prepared to hold accountable these reckless and dangerous drivers and help their victims obtain the compensation they deserve.
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE IN TEXAS
A person who operates a motor vehicle on a public road while intoxicated can be charged with DWI. The Texas Penal Code defined intoxication as having a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or above, while the threshold for commercial drivers is .04 percent or above. A driver is also intoxicated if they do not have the normal use of their mental or physical faculties due to alcohol and/or drugs. Under 21 years of age? Then you are not permitted to drive with any detectable blood alcohol content.
DRAM SHOP LAW IN TEXAS
Bars, taverns, or any drinking establishment where alcoholic beverages are sold is known as a "dram shop." Under the dram shop law in Texas, if a drinking establishment serves alcohol to someone under the age of 21 or who is visibly intoxicated may be held partially responsible for injuries or death caused by that person. These types of cases are difficult, and often need an experienced attorney to prove liability against potential parties.
WE FIGHT FOR VICTIMS OF DRUNK DRIVING COLLISION
If you or your loved were injured in a drunk driving accident, call the experienced team at Sanchez Law. We have the experience, resources, and skills to fight on your behalf. As personal injury attorneys, we will conduct a thorough investigation of all aspects of the case, including a background search on the drunk driver and to find any other potential parties who could be liable for your accident and injuries.
18-Wheeler Truck Accidents
Being involved in a car accident is a stressful experience. Victims are often left with physical injuries, emotional pain and significant financial burdens. The consequences are more severe when the negligent person is driving a commercial vehicle, such as an 18-wheeler, semi-truck, and tractor-trailers. Collisions with these types of vehicle can be tragic, resulting in fatalities or severe injuries, such a traumatic brain injury, broken bones, or other injuries that require surgery.
CAUSES OF 18-WHEELER ACCIDENTS IN TEXAS
- DWI: Driving a truck under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a controlled substance.
- Fatigue: Truck and trailers often drive for long hours throughout Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas, which can be weary and tiresome. These drivers are often under a deadline and experience fatigue, negligently causing a truck accident.
- Speeding: A major cause of truck accidents occurs when the truck driver is traveling too fast for the conditions, especially if they are carrying a load.
- Poor Maintenance: 18-wheeler collisions can occur because of poor brakes and non-working signals.
- Overloaded Trucks or Trailers: An overloaded commercial truck or trailer puts additional strain on the vehicle, especially the brakes and tires. An overloaded trailer that is towing weight heavier than the towing vehicle can lead to loss of control, especially down hills.
- Driving Distract: Drivers of semi-truck and 18-wheelers often travel to new places where construction is booming, such as Hutto, Manor, Bastrop, and South Austin. Drivers are often unfamiliar with the roads and are constantly looking at their phone or GPS to find their way around town. This distracted driving often leads to collision on the roads with unsuspecting Texans.
Contact Sanchez Law if you or someone in your family has been injured or wrongfully killed in an 18-wheeler truck or semi-truck accident anywhere in Texas. It is important that you hire an experienced attorney immediately so that the process to preserve evidence beings before it is lost.
Remember, if you've been injured in a collision, you should not speak with or accept a settlement offer from insurance companies until you have hired an attorney to represent your best interests. The attorneys at Sanchez Law have the knowledge and experience to fight on behalf of clients injured or wrongfully killed by negligent truck driver. Call Sanchez Law today for a free case evaluation.
Bicycle Accidents
People all over Austin enjoy biking. It is a great way to avoid traffic, exercise and enjoy being outdoors under the Texas sun. Unfortunately, bicycle collisions are far too common, and usually results in serious injuries. In 2017, there were 783 bicyclists killed in traffic crashes in the United States, and the number continues to rise, especially in Central Texas.
As you might expect, when a crash occurs between a vehicle and a bike, it's the cyclist who is most likely to be injured. Bike riders are very vulnerable on the road, especially in areas where construction is on the rise and the population is booming, such as Manor, Bastrop, Kyle, Buda, Manchaca, Westlake, Cedar Park, and Hutto.
CAUSES OF BICYCLE ACCIDENTS IN TEXAS
- DWI
- Fatigue
- Speeding
- Distracted Driving
- Failure of Drivers to Yield Right-of-Way to Cyclists
- Texting & Driving
- Careless Driving
- Running Red Lights or Stop Signs
Contact Sanchez Law if you or someone in your family has been injured or wrongfully killed in a bicycle accident anywhere in Texas. It is important that you hire an experienced attorney immediately so that the process to preserve evidence beings before it is lost.
Remember, if you've been injured in a collision, you should not speak with or accept a settlement offer from insurance companies until you have hired an attorney to represent your best interests. The attorneys at Sanchez Law have the knowledge and experience to fight on behalf of clients injured or wrongfully killed by negligent drivers. Call Sanchez Law today for a free case evaluation.
Motorcycle Accidents
The motorcycle community in Texas is alive and thriving. You will find motorcycles in many cities, such as in Austin, Round Rock, Houston, and San Antonio, and in the beautiful Texas hill country in places like San Marcos, Boerne, Fredicksburg, and Blanco. Motorcyclists' safety on most roads usually depends on nearby larger vehicles being considerate and obeying the rules of the road, and when those larger vehicles fail to do so the injuries to the bikers are likely to be severe or catastrophic.
COMMON INJURIES IN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS IN TEXAS
- Broken Bones
- Road Rash
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Permanent Disfigurement
- Biker's Arm
- Spinal Cord Injury
Contact Sanchez Law if you or someone in your family has been injured or wrongfully killed in a motorcycle accident anywhere in Texas. It is important that you hire an experienced attorney immediately so that evidence can be preserved before it is lost.
Remember, if you've been injured in a collision, you should not speak with or accept a settlement offer from insurance companies until you have hired an attorney to represent your best interests. The attorneys at Sanchez Law have the knowledge and experience to fight on behalf of injured clients or wrongfully killed in a motorcycle accident. Call Sanchez Law today for a free case evaluation.
Dog Bites
Dogs are an integral part of most Austin families. You often see dogs and their owners out and about at restaurants, playgrounds, and parks. At the end of the day, dogs are still animals and in certain instances, they can lash out. Unfortunately, millions of people sustain a dog bite injury each year. Most victims of dog bites are children, due to their small size and lack of awareness about the dangers of dogs, and the experience can result in lasting emotional trauma, as well as scarring or permanent disfigurements.
When it comes to injury claims from dog bites, Texas laws are different that many other states. Other jurisdictions apply the "one-bite" rule, while Texas courts apply strict liability on the owner in dog bites cases, regardless of whether the dog has bitten anyone before.
In Texas, if you are bitten by a dog and the following facts are all true, then you are owed compensation for your injuries:
- The defendant owned or possessed the animal;
- The animal had dangerous propensities abnormal to its class;
- The defendant knew or had reason to know the animal had dangerous propensities; and
- The animal's dangerous propensities were the producing cause of the victim's injuries.
Contact Sanchez Law if you or someone in your family has been bitten by a dog. It is important that you hire experienced attorneys to immediately start the process to preserve evidence before it is lost and to thoroughly investigate the matter. Remember, if you've been injured, you should not speak with or accept a settlement offer from insurance companies until you have hired an attorney to represent your best interests. Call Sanchez Law 24/7 for a free case evaluation. Because for us, it's personal.