Austin Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents are an unfortunate part of everyday life for thousands of Americans. A serious injury after a car accident can affect your life in more ways than you may initially realize, including your personal life and career. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured at the fault of another, our Austin car accident attorneys at Bonilla Law Firm are here for you. We have over 30 years of experience successfully recovering compensation for our clients.

To contact our car accident and personal injury lawyers to ask questions regarding the unique circumstances of your auto accident case call us at (512) 441-1111.  Our experienced Austin car accident lawyers offer knowledgeable representation to help restore what was lost. We know how stressful and life changing car accidents can be, and our experienced legal team of personal injury attorneys are here to help with your needs. Contact us to schedule a free case evaluation today.

Why Choose the Bonilla Law Firm?

• Our highly experienced and well-informed Austin personal injury attorneys strategically and efficiently help achieve the goals of our clients.
• We form long-term relationships with our clients and colleagues by being trustworthy, transparent, and fair.
• We work effectively in search of the most optimal means of obtaining the best possible results.
• We never charge upfront fees, only if and when we win your case, do we get paid.

Facts & Causes of Car Accidents in Austin

Since the year 2000, there has not been a single day where someone has not died on a Texas road. Last year, one person was killed every 2 hours and 21 minutes, one person was injured every 2 minutes and 4 seconds and one reportable crash occurred every 59 seconds, according to traffic crash statistics given by the Texas Department of Transportation (Texas DoT). A total of 254,853 people were injured in traffic accidents and 3,721 of those were fatally wounded. Causes of car accidents are wide-ranging and include distracted driving, unsafe driving techniques and drunk drivers.

Around 4.57 million people were injured seriously in car accidents last year and required medical attention, according to the National Safety Council. More than 40,000 lives were claimed in car crashes in 2017 in the United States alone.

Here are the leading causes of accidents in Texas throughout 2017:

What Intersections Have the Most Car Accidents in Austin, TX?

Although accidents occur all throughout the city of Austin, there are intersections that are more accident prone than others. According to data collected by Texas DoT from 2012-2015, the following cross streets are the most dangerous intersections in Austin:

1. Butler Rd & Lamar Blvd — 69 crashes
2. Riverside Dr & S Pleasant Valley Rd — 68 crashes
3. Lamar Blvd & Parmer Ln — 56 crashes
4. Riverside Dr & Willow Creek Dr — 51 crashes 

These four intersections lead to accidents resulting in personal injury and serious injuries including, but not limited to, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and wrongful death accidents.

What are Common Causes of Car Accidents?

There are various ways that car accidents can occur in and around the Austin area. The majority of car accidents are caused by human error. In some cases, driving mistakes are relatively minor, but they can still result in serious accidents. Below, we discuss some of the most common causes of car accidents in the United States, and subsequently, in the Austin area.

• Distracted driving. Distracted driving becomes more and more of a threat each year, particularly as technology becomes more integrated into our daily lives. Anything that takes a driver’s attention off the roadway is considered distracted driving and incredibly dangerous.
• Impaired driving. Driving impaired by alcohol or drugs is a leading cause of traffic fatalities in Texas each year. Drivers impaired by any substance lose their ability to focus on the road.
• Speeding. While it can be tempting to drive over the speed limit, particularly if you are running late, speeding is continually a leading cause of traffic injuries and fatalities each year in Texas.
• Reckless driving. There are various types of driving behavior that can be considered reckless, including driving well over the speed limit, changing lanes too quickly, racing, and road rage.
• Running red lights or stop signs. When a driver willfully ignores stop signs or traffic signals or is distracted and does not stop accordingly, serious high-speed accidents are likely to occur.
• Tailgating. There is never a good reason to follow the vehicle in front of you too closely, regardless of how slow they may be moving. Failing to keep a safe distance away from the car in front of you can result in severe accidents if the vehicle suddenly turns or uses their brakes.
• Improper turns. There are times when drivers can turn down the wrong way of a one-way street or when drivers turn in front of oncoming traffic. Any improper turn on the roadway can lead to severe accidents.
• Roadway defects. In some cases, there are no drivers to blame for an accident, particularly if a roadway defect caused a crash. In cases of potholes or debris lying on the roadway, the government agency responsible for roadway maintenance may be responsible for a crash.
• Vehicle malfunction. In some cases, vehicle crashes are caused by a malfunction in the vehicle itself. This could be caused by a flaw in the vehicle design or a faulty part in the vehicle. These vehicle malfunctions could also be caused by a mistake made by a mechanic.

What are Common Car Accident Injuries?

Unfortunately, thousands of people are injured each year in and around the Austin area due to car accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for every one person that loses their life in a vehicle accident, eight others are hospitalized and 100 more are treated and released from an emergency department.

Some of the most common injuries that the team at Bonilla Law Firm helps clients that have been impacted by the following kinds of injuries:

• Broken and dislocated bones
• Severe lacerations or puncture wounds
• Spinal cord injuries with possible paralysis
• Other neck and back injuries, including whiplash
• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
• Open head wounds
• Internal organ damage or internal bleeding
• Crush injuries or amputations

Our Austin car accident attorneys also regularly help clients who have sustained immense emotional and psychological trauma due to their accident. In many cases, car accident victims can suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the incident and their subsequent injuries.

What is the Statute of Limitations in Texas for Car Accidents?

In the State of Texas there is a time limit, also known as statute of limitations, for victims of personal injury to file a claim. For car accidents this time limit is two years from the date the injury occurred.

It is important to remember the statute of limitations if an injured victim decides to file an injury claim. Injured victims that fail to file a suit within the two-year time frame, risk losing the option to file a civil suit against a potential defendant. 

To ensure that accident victims do not miss the deadline to file a case, it is of utmost importance to discuss the facts and details of a case as quickly as possible after personal injuries are sustained. Talking to an attorney shortly after the accident allows a legal team to begin to conduct the necessary research and build a case while the accident is fresh in a victim’s mind. 

Our attorneys are here to handle the legal work, research, negotiate with insurance companies, assess damages relating to medical and emotional tolls and consult with reconstruction experts to establish the cause of the car accident. After an auto accident occurs, victims should focus on what’s most important- recovery. Our attorneys can handle the rest. 

Is Texas a Comparative Fault State?

Yes – Texas is a comparative fault state – meaning that if an individual is found to be 50% or more at fault for the accident, they will not be able to recover damages.

The State of Texas operates under a “modified comparative” fault state. This means that if one of the parties involved is found to have been at partial fault for the auto accident, the court system will establish and calculate the percentage of fault that can be attributed to each party.

For example if there is a car accident case where the plaintiff is suing a defendant in the amount of $1,000,000 of damages – and the plaintiff was found to be 25% at fault for the ensuing accident – the plaintiff could potentially be awarded $750,000 in this specific example.

If the car accident plaintiff is found to be partially at fault for that accident, that percentage of fault will be reduced to reflect the percentage equal to that party’s respective fault.

Do I Need to Report My Car Accident?

In Texas, there are instances when auto accidents must be reported to the department of transportation. If you have been involved in an auto accident, and the auto accident was not investigated by a law enforcement officer. It is required to report a car accident if any of the following events occur:

• Injury to a person
• Death to a person
• Property damage exceeding $1,000

If any of the events occurred outlined in the points above, a Crash Report form (CR-2) needs to be submitted to the Texas Department of Transportation within ten days of the date of the accident. This form needs to be completed by yourself, an insurance agent, the owner of the vehicle involved in the accident or a legal representative.

If however, a police officer investigates the car accident scene and finds that there is an injured person, a death has occurred or property damage exceeding $1,000 the police officer is required to submit a crash report per Texas Transportation Code §550.062. If this has occurred, an individual is not obligated to file the crash report. If you are confused whether or not you need to report a car accident, or if you are in the need of legal auto accident assistance from an experienced attorney, our law firm can help.

Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Attorney?

When you have been injured in a rollover car accident , rear-end, side-collision, head on, drunk driving accident, or any other form of a car accident hiring a car wreck attorney can be invaluable. Injuries not only cause physical pain but financial strain as well. Freely consulting with an experienced attorney regarding car accident cases and legal options helps make a well-informed decision on how to move forward and the best pathway to do so. Working with an Austin car accident attorney can alleviate you from:

• Obtaining police reports/statements
• Speaking to and working with insurance adjusters
• Collecting and analyzing medical records
• Interviewing witnesses
• Collecting factual information from the other parties involved
• Hiring experts to aid in reconstructing the accident
• Negotiating a settlement

Insurance carriers have teams of their own lawyers and adjusters that are looking out for their own best interests. Some of these carriers begin evaluating your injury claim and as soon as they are notified. Retaining legal counsel immediately after you are injured is essential to recovering the compensation you are owed.

After a car wreck occurs, medical bills can quickly pile up. In some instances, emergency surgeries and operations are required to help a victim of an accident. In the most extreme scenarios, auto accidents result in wrongful deaths that can put the surviving family members under enormous financial and emotional stress.

How Bonilla Law Firm PLLC Can Help

The Bonilla Law Firm PLLC has decades of experience in protecting the rights of car accident victims. We have the resources to stand toe-to-toe with insurance company or carrier. Our car accident attorneys have the necessary skills and dedication to fight to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your losses. Our personal injury law firm is here to help in the difficult time for our injured clients. Contact our auto accident attorneys for a free consultation today via our online contact form or by phone at .

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