If you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident in the Midland-Odessa area due to another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and other financial and non-financial damages. Call us today and get a FREE CASE REVIEW with one of the Odessa car accident lawyers at Thompson Law.
Our attorneys will assess your accident, answer your questions, and explain your options under the law. If we can help you with your case, we will fight for every dollar of compensation due to you. If we cannot assist you, you owe us nothing. Do not wait to get started on your injury claim. Call our auto accident attorneys today and let us help you through this difficult time.
Knowing what to do after a car accident is critical to your safety and physical health, as well as protecting your finances and legal rights. After an auto accident, be sure to take these important steps:
If you follow the steps above, you will protect your right to full and fair compensation after an accident. Whether you live in Odessa, were visiting Odessa, or were simply driving through town when your accident occurred, our Ector County car accident lawyers can help.
Victims of auto accident often ask “What types of compensation can I receive?” Texas law divides the types of damages available to injured parties into three categories: actual damages, exemplary damages, and nominal damages.
These are damages awarded to compensate for an injury, and can be economic or non-economic in nature.
These damages are to penalize a defendant for grossly negligent (e.g., a drunk driver) or malicious behavior (i.e., intent to cause harm).
These damages are not typically awarded in car accident claims, and are small in amount as their name implies. They are awarded when a legal right has been violated, but the injured party has not sustained any actual loss.
Our Odessa car accident lawyers can help you understand what damages you can seek based off the nature of your accident and the insurance policies involved. Call us today for a free consultation.
The statute of limitations (SOL) in Texas states that most parties have 2 years after the date of an accident to file a lawsuit for a personal injury claim related to a car wreck. If you miss this deadline, generally you will have no recourse against the person who injured you. There are some exceptions to the SOL, but they are rarely accepted by the courts, so our Odessa car accident lawyers do not recommend waiting.
How long do people have to file a claim under the exceptions listed below?
Our car accident lawyers in Odessa, TX strongly encourage you not to wait to file a claim. These exceptions largely exist to protect vulnerable people or groups, and do not apply to the average personal injury claim.
Some injuries like cuts, lacerations, broken bones, and airbag burns are obvious immediately after an accident, and are easy to diagnose and treat. Other car accident injuries are more difficult to detect, and the onset of pain is delayed. For example, injuries to the discs in your spinal column often do not hurt for days after an accident, until inflammation sets in and you now have pain radiating down your arm or leg. Some of the common accident injuries our Odessa car accident lawyers see every day include:
It is important to be aware of common car accident injuries so you know what to expect when listening to your body after an accident. Early diagnosis and treatment will help you make a faster and more complete recovery, and help resolve your claim more quickly.
The Odessa Police Department and State Highway Patrol reported 2,597 motor vehicle crashes in Odessa in 2021. In terms of severity, these accidents included:
Crash reports will list alcohol as a contributing factor to an accident when one of the drivers was intoxicated. There were 174 total crashes involving alcohol in Odessa in 2021, which included:
For Ector County, TX, in 2021 there were 3,812 total crashes that included:
Sources: Crashes and Injuries Cities and Towns; Crashes and Injuries by County; DUI (Alcohol) Crashes and Injuries Cities and Towns.
Police officers throughout Texas cite on crash reports factors that contributed to accidents, such as running a red light or while texting and driving. Every crash report lists at least one contributing factor, though there can be multiple contributing factors (e.g., ran a stop sign while intoxicated).
Over 75% of car accidents in Odessa in 2021 were caused by one of seven negligent actions taken by drivers. The most common causes of car accidents cited by the Odessa Police Department in 2021 were, in order of highest incidence:
There are a number of factors that can contribute to the danger level of an intersection or road. One is the amount of traffic that passes through. Heavily trafficked intersections and roadways are more likely to see auto accidents, simply because there are more opportunities for something to go wrong.
Another factor is the speed limit. The faster drivers are going, the less time they have to react to a potential hazard. Also, the layout of an intersection or road can be a factor. A four-way stop, for example, is typically safer than an intersection with stop signs only on two sides. Similarly, highways tend to be most dangerous near exit and entrance ramps, when slower traffic is merging into faster traffic.
Some of the most dangerous intersections in Odessa where most auto collisions occur are:
The vast majority of motor vehicle accidents in Odessa in 2021 occurred on just 9 roads, which were:
Knowing the most dangerous roadways can help you avoid a car accident in Odessa by taking a few extra minutes to plan your route, ensuring a safer and lower stress drive.
Our Odessa car accident lawyers charge NO UPFRONT COSTS. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid out of a portion of your settlement. If for any reason we are unable to help, you will not owe us a penny.
We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to help you with legal advice after a car accident. We can even get you signed up with one of our Odessa car accident lawyers over the phone before the insurance companies try to reach out to you and fight your right to compensation. Our staff is fully bilingual in Spanish and English, and are standing by ready to help you get back on your feet after your accident.
Maybe you do not need an auto accident lawyer today, but it is a good idea to have our contact information saved in your phone so you are not searching for “car accident lawyer odessa tx” or “car accident lawyer near me” after an accident in Odessa, TX.
Be aware the Texas statute of limitations limits the time to file a claim after an accident to 2 years from the date of accident in most cases. Call Thompson Law today for a FREE CASE EVALUATION. Take action now to protect your right to fair compensation after a car accident.
If you are injured in any type of accident, your first priority should be to seek immediate medical attention, even if you are not certain that you are injured. Seeking immediate medical treatment does two things: 1) it ensures injuries you sustained are diagnosed and treated; and, 2) it helps eliminate any doubt by the insurance company that your injuries were caused by the accident.
Often, the shock and adrenaline of an accident can mask symptoms of injuries, so making the mistake of skipping a medical examination can have profound consequences. By seeking prompt medical treatment, you protect both your health and your ability to seek compensation for your injuries with the help of your attorney.
If you were in a motor vehicle accident we have also detailed here what to do after a car accident.
A skilled personal injury lawyer is necessary to get full and fair compensation for injuries you sustained in an accident. Most defendants, whether individual drivers or commercial vehicle operators, are covered by liability insurance. Those insurance companies are not obligated to protect or take care of you. Insurance companies exist to protect the defendant (their customer) who caused the wreck.
A personal injury attorney can help you obtain compensation for every category of damages to which you are legally entitled. These damages can include things like: medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain & suffering, punitive damages, loss of limb, diminished mental function, physical impairment, scarring or disfigurement, emotional or mental trauma, and loss of consortium (in wrongful death claims). Further, you may be entitled to future medical bills, future lost income, future pain and suffering, and other damages in severe injury cases.
The largest factor affecting your claim’s value is the severity or magnitude of your injuries. More severe injuries typically require more medical treatment. So it is essential to have all your injuries documented properly by seeking immediate treatment with doctors or hospitals, and continuing under the care and direction of your doctors as long as necessary to heal. Without prompt and consistent medical treatment and documentation, an injury claim becomes very difficult to pursue, let alone win.
Of course, other factors an also have an impact, and each and every case is different. Were you injured in a commercial vehicle wreck or truck wreck that totaled your car, or was it a fender bender that did very little damage? Was the other driver intoxicated or drunk, or speeding? A multitude of factors may play into your claim’s overall likely value. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to visit with you and talk to you more specifically about factors which may affect your particular claim.
In Texas, you usually have two (2) years from the date of incident to file a personal injury claim before it is barred by the statute of limitations. There are exceptions to this 2-year time limit in Texas, for minors and others. Further, other states have different time limits, and the limit that applies is typically for the state in which the accident occurred.
The safest course of action for someone injured in a car wreck, truck wreck, slip and fall, or any other type of accident is to consult with a personal injury attorney. This will help ensure that you do not miss the applicable limitations period. Moreover, it will ensure the right investigations are conducted, and the proper steps are taken to preserve the evidence, photos, witness statements, and records needed to successfully pursue your claim.
If you are injured in a hit-and-run wreck (and are unable to locate the driver) or are hurt in a collision where the other driver does not have insurance, you are not necessarily out of options in terms of financial recovery. You may still be able to recover for your personal injuries if your own policy has Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage or Personal Injury Protection (PIP). It’s a good idea to contact your insurance company to confirm what types of coverage you have on your policy before an accident, but if you have been hit be sure to ask these questions before finalizing your claim request. Even if you do not have UM or PIP, the attorneys and investigators at Thompson Law can work to track down the other driver in a hit-and-run accident. To do this, we rely on witnesses who may have captured a photo of the car or license plate and/or available surveillance camera footage that might have captured the wreck.
Typical damages you can recover in a personal injury claim include: medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and in some cases even punitive damages. In severe injury cases, other damages may be recoverable, such as: future medical bills, future lost income, future pain and suffering, loss of body member or mental function, physical impairment, disfigurement, emotional or mental trauma, and loss of consortium (in wrongful death claims).
Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage can help save the day if you are hit by an uninsured driver or if you are the victim in a hit-and-run collision. In short, UM coverage is an add-on coverage that drivers can add to their auto insurance policies that will protect them in the event that they are in an auto accident with a driver who either does not have insurance or cannot be located. You can contact your insurance provider to confirm whether your policy includes UM. If you do not have this coverage, the personal injury attorneys at Thompson Law recommend that you consider adding UM to your auto insurance policy today.
Knowing how comparative negligence works is vital if you live in a state that uses it. In simple terms, comparative negligence implies both drivers can share fault for an accident, but one driver can be more at fault than the other. For example, you are texting while driving when another driver runs a stop sign and hits your car.
A jury finds that the driver who ran the stop sign is 80 percent at fault, but they believe you would have had a better chance of avoiding the accident if you were not texting at the time. They find you 20 percent at fault. You can only collect enough compensation to cover the other driver’s fault. In this case, you would get $8,000 if the jury thinks your case is worth $10,000.
Having the police respond to the accident scene is of paramount importance. Make sure that YOU call them and insist that they come and investigate the accident. When the police arrive, they will separate the drivers and witnesses from one another and take statements from everyone involved. Be cooperative, detailed, and firm in describing the accident. The investigating officer will usually determine fault based upon these statements, and it is essential that your version of the events is heard and believed. If you think that you may be injured, make that clear to the officer. If an ambulance or other medical professionals arrive on scene, get checked out. If not, make plans to visit an emergency room or doctor soon after you leave the scene. Before you do leave for this care, the officer will provide you with a report number and their contact information. Make sure this information is safely saved, as it will be very important in any auto accident injury claim you may have.
Call an attorney. Your first instinct might be to call your insurance company, but it’s best to seek legal council first so you don’t accidentally admit guilt or take responsibility for the accident. In many cases your attorney will call the insurance company for you to prevent that from happening.
Absolutely not. It’s important to leave the investigation to the professionals. They know exactly how to work a case to determine all of the facts and details.
In insurance terms, “totaled” or a “total loss” means that the cost to repair your vehicle to its pre-accident condition is more than the vehicle is worth. Each insurance company has a different threshold for determining if a vehicle is totaled, but generally, if it’s close, you want the insurance company to “total” your car. Following the determination that your car is a total loss, the insurance company will provide you with their assessment of the value of your car.
An experienced auto accident attorney should review this estimate to make sure that you are truly receiving fair market value for your loss. You absolutely have the right to challenge their assessment, and a skilled attorney knows the best way to do so to maximize your recovery.
Typically, yes. If a family member is seriously injured or killed in an accident, or if the injured party is a minor child, then it may be appropriate under the law for a parent, spouse, relative, or legal guardian to file a claim or lawsuit on behalf of the injured or deceased party. These types of claims are complex, and usually depend on the type of relationship involved, as well as the individual facts and circumstances of the injury. Calling the experienced personal injury attorneys at Thompson Law is step one to explore filing an injury claim on behalf of your loved one.
In Texas, even if you are partially to blame for a car accident, you may be able to recover some of your damages from the other party. Under Texas’s proportionate responsibility system (also known as comparative negligence), unless you as the claimant/plaintiff are determined more than 51% at fault, you may recover legal damages that are reduced by the percentage you are determined at fault.
For example, if you are determined to be 30% at fault, you can recover 70% of your damages from the other responsible party (you can’t recover the other 30% because that was the amount of liability that was determined to lie with you). The personal injury attorneys at Thompson Law can help you navigate this proportionate responsibility system, or can explain negligence laws by state if your accident occurred outside of Texas.
If you or a family member are injured in an automobile accident, you cannot afford NOT to hire the very best attorney available. Thompson Law works on a contingency fee basis. What this means is that you only pay legal fees IF we win for you and AFTER your case is settled.
We understand that legal fees upfront are simply too much to deal with after a serious accident where you are dealing with property damage repairs, medical bills, missed work and lost wages. The fact that you owe $0 upfront is an added bonus when you hire great legal representation at Thompson Law.
If you were injured as the result of someone else’s negligence, there is a good chance we can help you out. We will look at the facts of your accident, whether a car wreck, truck wreck, motorcycle accident, or on-the-job-injury and examine whatever reports or records are available. If we believe that you were injured and it was someone else’s fault, it is likely to be a case we can take. The more information and documentation you can give us about your accident and your injuries, the quicker we can evaluate your case and let you know. Give us a call or reach out online anytime!
The best personal injury attorney has three major characteristics: Excellent customer service, cutting edge technology, and a willingness to take cases and win at trial. Ask your potential attorney about the client experience they offer, what kind of technology they use to make your life easier, and when was the last time they took a case to jury trial. Asking these types of questions will give you guidance on what kind of experience you can expect as a client and what kind of results you can expect at the end of your case.
Thompson Law has high ratings from clients for its emphasis on customer service, and its attorneys have achieved significant results on small, large, and complex cases alike. No matter if you have been involved in a minor car wreck or are dealing with catastrophic injuries from a rarer and more devastating event like a terrible workplace accident, dog bite, or an 18 wheeler wreck, Thompson Law can assist you.
Yes! Thompson Law is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide free consultations. If you have been injured in a truck wreck or car accident, hurt in a slip and fall incident, or otherwise injured from the negligence of another person or party, give us a call any time at 1-800-LION-LAW. We can speak to you over the phone, chat online through our website or social media outlets, or arrange an in-person meeting at your convenience. Our team is ready to help!
Thompson Law is available 24/7 to provide free consultations and to sign up new clients. We can sign you up over the phone or we can send one of our experienced licensed investigators to meet you at the hospital or at your home if you prefer. Whether you live in Arlington, Fort Worth, El Paso, San Antonio, or even outside of the state of Texas, we are always here to assist you and provide the resources you need at a difficult time. We do the hard work for you so that you can focus on healing from your injuries.
Being in a wreck, especially on the highway, can be a terrifying experience. Remember these 6 steps to make sure you are safe and to help preserve your legal case right from the start:
Yes! Passengers in auto accidents are entitled to make claims for their damages and injuries too. As a negligence-free passenger, who you make a claim against (one or both drivers and their insurance companies), and what coverages are available (e.g., third-party and/or first-party coverages, personal injury protection, MedPay), depends on the specific facts and circumstances of the car wreck. Injured passengers should call the personal injury attorneys at Thompson Law to assist in navigating these complex issues so that they may receive the fair compensation they deserve.
Under Texas law, “bicycles are entitled to all rights of the road that apply to a motor vehicle, including access.” Unfortunately, drivers often don’t respect the rights of cyclists, and bike accidents are increasingly common, causing severe injuries to the cyclist.
First, stay at the scene. As soon as it is safe, assess the situation and call 9-1-1 to report the incident.
Second, when help arrives, receive emergency medical attention. Get “checked out” even if you think you are okay—the trauma and shock of the collision can cause your body to block out pain and injury, and internal injuries often produce non-specific symptoms. Follow the medical advice of the emergency response team.
Third, with assistance from the police, exchange and obtain information, such as insurance information as well as the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all witnesses, passengers, and drivers. DO NOT discuss the facts and circumstances of the bike accident with anyone other than the investigating officer.
Fourth, document the scene. Make notes on paper or using your cell phone about the time of day; weather conditions; road or traffic conditions; lighting; location of the vehicles and involved parties; and any relevant road signs, traffic control devices (lights, stop signs, yield signs) etc. Also, make sure to get photographs of your bike, the driver’s car, and the scene.
Last, a lawyer to discuss your rights. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Thompson Law will help you investigate all applicable insurance coverages and fight to get the compensation to which you are entitled.
An insurance company will not pay medical expenses or other damages as they come due; rather, after they have accepted liability, the insurance company will make a one-time, lump-sum final payment only at the end of your case. Dealing with medical expenses, and obtaining the proper medical care, after an accident can be tricky. But it does not have to be! Call the personal injury attorneys at Thompson Law, who can explain how to deal with the “day-of” hospital bills, how to continue to receive the care you need, and ultimately how to recover an appropriate settlement that takes care of your bills from the incident as well as fair and just compensation for you.
Let’s be honest: this isn’t a legal show on TV and your case will not settle in the next hour – or even tomorrow. The true answer is: it depends. We find that most cases settle within 6-12 months from date of incident; but the timeline in your case could be shorter or longer depending on: the facts and circumstances of the accident; the length of time it takes you to complete medical treatment; and the character of the insurance company, or companies, involved in your case. In the event that your case cannot settle pre-litigation and it becomes necessary to file a lawsuit, the litigation process alone can take 1 to 2 years due to the court system and legal process necessary to prepare for trial. But because so much of the timeline depends on the facts and circumstances of your unique case, call Thompson Law today to discuss the personal injury claims process.
Thompson Law charges NO FEES unless we obtain a settlement for your case. We have put over $1.9 billion in cash settlements into our clients’ pockets.
Contact us today for a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your accident, get answers to your questions, and understand your legal options. State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an injury accident, so call today.