El Paso Car Accident Lawyer

Auto Accident Statistics in El Paso, TX in 2022

According to a report from the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), there were a total of 16,232 motor vehicle accidents in El Paso, Texas in 2022. These auto accidents include car crashes, truck wrecks, motorcycle collisions, pedestrian accidents, and collisions with any other type of motorized vehicle. In terms of order of injury severity, these crashes included:

• Fatality crashes:  66 crashes resulting in 69 fatalities
• Serious injury crashes:  226 crashes resulting in serious injuries to 259 people
• Minor injury crashes:  2,133 crashes resulting in minor injuries to 2,933 people
• Possible injury crashes:  1,771 crashes resulting in possible injuries to 2,765 people
• No injury crashes:  10,889 crashes resulting in no injuries to 31,137 people
• Unknown severity crashes:  1,147 crashes resulting in unknown injuries to 4.031 people

Auto Accident Statistics in El Paso County in 2022

In El Paso County in 2022, there were a total of 19,465 automobile crashes. These motor vehicle crashes included:

• Fatality crashes:  87 crashes resulting in 93 fatalities
• Serious injury crashes:  272 crashes resulting in serious injuries to 319 people
• Minor injury crashes:  2,592 crashes resulting in minor injuries to 3,541 people
• Possible injury crashes:  2,032 crashes resulting in possible injuries to 3,146 people
• No injury crashes:  13,147 crashes resulting in no injuries to 37,664 people
• Unknown severity crashes:  1,335 crashes resulting in unknown injuries to 4,550 people

Sources: Crashes and Injuries by Cities and Towns; Crashes and Injuries by County.

The Most Common Causes of Auto Accidents in El Paso, TX in 2022

The El Paso Police Department tracks the most common contributing factors to motor vehicle collisions using crash report data. Our El Paso car accident lawyers calculated that only 5 careless actions taken by negligent drivers contributed to 48.28% (almost half) of motor vehicle crashes in El Paso, Texas.

Top 5 Contributing Factors to Auto Accidents in El Paso, TX in 2022

The most common causes of El Paso auto accidents in 2022 were, in order of highest incidence:

1. Speeding:  3,763 motor vehicles collided (speeding was a factor in 18.98% of wrecks)
2. Driver inattention:  2,723 motor vehicles collided (not paying attention was a factor in 13.74% of wrecks)
3. Ran or ignored stop sign or red light:  1,241 motor vehicles collided (running or ignoring stop signs and lights was a factor in 6.26% of wrecks)
4. Changed lane when unsafe:  1,024 motor vehicles collided (unsafe lane changes were a factor in 5.17% of wrecks)
5. Failed to yield right of way turning left:  819 motor vehicles collided (unsafe left turns was a factor in 4.13% of wrecks)

If you or a loved one have been injured in a auto collision due to another driver’s negligence, contact our El Paso car accident lawyers today for a FREE CASE REVIEW.

Where Do Most Auto Accidents Occur in El Paso, TX?

Most accidents in El Paso occur along the Texas and Mexico border intersecting El Paso and Juarez Mexico. There is also a heavier concentration of car wrecks taking place in the Downtown El Paso due to higher traffic congestion in the streets, and the fact that there are simply a lot of intersections.

The 10 Most Dangerous Roadways in El Paso, TX

The top 10 most dangerous roadways in El Paso, TX accounted for 54% of the total accidents in the city in 2021. With more than 500+ roadways that had at least one car accident on them, these top 10 roads only represent less than 2% of all the roads with accidents in El Paso.

1. IH-10:  2,844 auto accidents occurred on I-10 in 2021
2. State Highway Loop 375:  1,030 auto accidents
3. State Highway 20:  989 auto accidents
4. US Highway 62:  938 auto accidents
5. FM 659:  672 auto accidents
6. US Highway 54:  618 auto accidents
7. Business Highway 54A:  430 auto accidents
8. N Lee Trevino Dr.:  317 auto accidents
9. George E Dieter Dr.:  290 auto accidents
10. Edgemere Blvd.:  270 auto accidents

The Top 5 Most Dangerous Intersections in El Paso, TX

It’s no news car accidents can happen anywhere in the city, but some places are more dangerous to drive in and around than others. The most dangerous intersections with the highest number of motor vehicle accidents in El Paso in 2021 included:

1. IH-10 & State Highway Loop 375:  20 auto accidents
2. Gateway Blvd. W & George Dieter Dr.:  18 auto accidents
3. Lee Trevino Dr. & Gateway Blvd. W:  16 auto accidents
4. Montwood Dr. & State Highway Loop 375:  16 auto accidents
5. McRae Blvd. & Gateway Blvd. E:  14 auto accidents

Knowing the most dangerous places to drive in El Paso can help you avoid an auto wreck, either by taking extra caution when on these roads or near these intersections, or by avoiding them completely. If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident in El Paso, call our El Paso car accident lawyers today for a FREE CONSULTATION.

What To Do After a Car Accident in El Paso, TX

Whether you live in El Paso, were visiting El Paso for hiking or our authentic cuisine, or were just passing through on your way to San Antonio or Odessa when your accident occurred, the El Paso car accident lawyers at Thompson Law can help.

Steps to Take After a Car Accident:

1. Stay at the Accident Scene:  Do not drive off from an accident even if the collision was minor. If you leave the site of an accident, you may be cited for a hit-and-run accident per Texas Transportation Code § 550.022.
2. Move to Safety:  Do not risk being the victim of a secondary collision. If you are able to move, relocate your car, yourself, and other passengers to a safe location outside or on the side of the roadway. Further, use your hazard lights to signal to other drivers that an accident has occurred.
3. Call the Police:  Dialing 911 will allow you to get police assistance while also ensuring your future safety, preparing a crash report, and contacting an ambulance, if needed.
4. Do Not Admit Fault:  Be honest in your statement to the police and simply describe how you believe the accident happened. Our El Paso car accident lawyers can help establish liability for the accident with the insurance companies based off the crash report, witness statements, and other evidence.
5. Take Pictures and Collect Information:  Take photos of all vehicles involved in the accident and the ending location of the vehicles to help establish the force of the collision and provide evidence of fault. You should be sure to take pictures of the other party’s drivers license, license plate, insurance card, and vehicle identification number (VIN) to ensure all the information you capture is accurate. If the other driver does not have a license, take a picture of them to help prove who was driving.
6. Search for Witnesses and Video Evidence:  Assuming you are physically able to do so, look for witnesses who may have dash camera footage, as well as cameras at surrounding businesses which may have captured the wreck.
7. Seek Medical Attention and Retain Documentation:  Seeing a medical professional soon after an accident is important both for your health, and to establish the injuries you have suffered were related to the accident. Further, personal injury claims take time so it is important to retain evidence of any and all injuries, lost wages, property damage expenses, and other expenses.
8. Call Our El Paso Car Accident Lawyers:  Studies show that injury claims involving a personal injury attorney result in up to a 3x increase in compensation to victims when compared to those that handle their case independently.

Our El Paso car accident lawyers offer FREE CASE REVIEWS, and NO FEE unless we win. We have a strong track record of success and our accident lawyer in El Paso are ready to help with your injury claim.

Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

Let Our El Paso Car Accident Lawyers Help!

The time immediately following a car accident is scary, and the steps you take in the first few days and weeks following your accident are critical to protecting your injury claim. Our accident attorneys will guide you through the personal injury claims process, and help you understand how to deal with the medical bills you have already incurred, as well as the ones you are facing.

Our El Paso car accident lawyers will protect your claim right away and work to prevent the insurance company from making an insurance claim denial. We will notify the defendant’s insurance company that you have legal representation. The other party’s insurance company will not be allowed to speak with you without our consent, thus preventing you from accidentally giving them information they may later use against you.

We can obtain your El Paso crash report for you and at our expense, so you can focus on continuing your medical treatment while we do the legwork. Our accident attorneys will take your statement of events leading up to the crash, speak to eyewitnesses, look for video evidence, collect property damage photos, recreate the accident scene, and work to prepare your claim.

Once we obtain all of the medical bills and records for you and have collected all of the relevant evidence, we will create a demand to send to the insurance company for what we know cases like yours are worth. Our El Paso car accident lawyers will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, and work to obtain a fair cash settlement to put in your pocket. If the insurance adjuster is being unreasonable and we cannot reach a fair settlement, we will file a lawsuit on your behalf and are willing to take your case to trial before a judge and jury.

Forms of Compensation Available to Car Accident Victims

Texas law divides damages (losses) car accident victims can receive into three categories based on the nature of the damage:

1. Actual or Compensatory Damages: These are for monetary (economic) or personal (non-economic) losses resulting from your injuries.
   • Economic Damages:  These financial losses, which are legally referred to as special damages, typically include:
     • Medical bills (e.g., ambulance, hospital, therapy, surgery) you have incurred, and any that are anticipated in the future.
     • Lost wages for any work you missed in the past, or may need to miss (e.g., due to surgery).
     • Lost earning capacity if you can, for example, no longer perform a manual labor job and have to take a new job for less pay.
     • Any other expenses you incurred, such as a maid to perform daily work you could no longer perform.
   • Non-Economic Damages:  These are physical (non-monetary) losses, legally referred to as general damages, such as:
     • Pain and suffering, in the past and potentially in the future.
     • Disfigurement, such as if you have permanent scarring or have lost a body part.
     • Permanent physical impairment, for example if you now walk with a limp.
     • Loss of enjoyment of life, if you can no longer do activities you used to love.
     • Loss of companionship, if you have lost a loved one.
2. Exemplary or Punitive Damages: These apply when there has been gross negligence, such as a drunk driver seriously injuring someone. They are meant to deter negative behavior and punish the defendant.
3. Nominal Damages: These apply when a legal right was violated but there was not a true loss. As the name implies, they are very small in nature and are not typically awarded in auto accident cases.

Common Auto Accident Injuries

Some common injuries our attorneys see sustained in auto accidents include:

• Spinal column injuries
  • Back and neck injuries, such as whiplash
  • Intervertebral disc injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Paralysis injuries, such as quadriplegia and tetraplegia
  • Facet joint injuries
• Joint injuries
  • Torn ligaments and tendons
  • Articular cartilage damage
  • Dislocations
  • Lost limbs
• Internal injuries
  • Organ damage
  • Internal bleeding
  • Bone fractures
• Head injuries
  • Concussions
  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Psychological trauma
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Skin injuries
  • Avulsion injuries
  • Abrasions and lacerations
  • Burn injuries

How Long Do I Have to Make an Accident Injury Claim?

After a car accident, it is important to act quickly in order to protect your legal rights. In the state of Texas, there is a statute of limitations (SOL) that imposes a deadline for filing a lawsuit. For the majority of car accident victims, the deadline is two (2) years from the date of the accident. Beyond that deadline, the courts typically will not allow a lawsuit barring one of the exceptions below.

Exceptions to the 2 Year Statute of Limitations (SOL) in Texas

The timeframe you have to file a lawsuit varies from the two year norm in the situations below. For these exceptions, the statute expires:

1. Under 18:  2 years from your 18th birthday.
2. Your Own Insurance (UM/UIM):  2 to 4 years after the accident depending on your insurance contract.
3. Unsound Mind:  2 years after the disability resolves.
4. Wrongful Death:  2 years from the date of death.
5. Claims Against the Texas Government:  6 months from the date of accident (note the shortened SOL).
6. Defendant Leaves Texas:  SOL pauses until they are back in Texas.
7. Undiscoverable Injuries:  2 years after the injuries are discovered

Our motor vehicle accident attorneys highly recommend not trying to rely on any of these exceptions to the SOL, as they are very rare and difficult to pursue. Further, the personal injury SOL varies across U.S. states, and the applicable SOL is in the state in which the injury occurred. Do not wait to file your car accident injury claim – call Thompson Law today and let us help get you on the road to recovery.

Our El Paso Car Accident Lawyers Charge NO UPFRONT FEES

The El Paso car accident lawyers at our firm work on a contingency fee basis, which means we don’t receive any payment unless you do. If we are able to obtain money on your behalf, we only earn a percentage of the compensation we recover.

Our staff is ready to help, is fully bilingual in English and Spanish, and wants to help you get back on your feet. Our car accident lawyers in El Paso TX are available anytime 24/7 to help with beginning to represent you for your accident, and will shepherd you through the process while you focus on getting back to the level of health you enjoyed before your accident.

Hopefully, you never need an El Paso personal injury lawyer for a car wreck, but it never hurts to have one saved in your phone so you are not searching for “car accident lawyers near me” when you need one most. It does not matter whether your accident happened in El Paso, or whether you were visiting family in Arizona when the wreck occurred – we can help.

Remember that the Texas statute of limitations limits the time to file an injury claim after an accident to 2 years from the date of accident in most cases. Call Thompson Law for a FREE CASE EVALUATION. Take action now to protect your right to obtaining maximum compensation for your motor vehicle accident injuries.