McAllen and the nearby South Texas cities in the Rio Grande Valley have become one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country thanks to our many appealing features. Nature lovers enjoy McAllen for our world-class nature tourism, particularly bird watching. Shoppers across South Texas and Mexico enjoy the wide range of stores, arts, and entertainment scene. Our McAllen car accident lawyers have seen that while growth and tourism have brought many positive benefits, one downside is more car wrecks.
With more people on the roads there is a greater chance for accidents to happen. Unfortunately, new residents and tourists are not familiar with the roads and may not be driving safely, which can lead to serious collisions causing injuries. It can be overwhelming to be hurt in an auto accident and face large medical bills, lost wages, medical appointments that are difficult to attend when your vehicle is damaged or destroyed. If you are the victim of an injury accident due to someone else’s careless driving, you are entitled to compensation according to Texas law.
Our experienced injury lawyers are ready to take on the insurance companies and get you the money you deserve. We will fight for you so that you can focus on your recovery. Call today anytime 24/7/365 for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Every motor vehicle accident in Texas is recorded in the Crash Records Information System (CRIS), which is administered by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). TxDOT produces annual reports to demonstrate the causes and severity of accidents in each city and county. Our auto accident attorneys analyzed this data to highlight the dangers of driving around McAllen, Texas.
In 2021 in McAllen, TX, there were 2,386 motor vehicle crashes (over 6.5 collisions per day) that included:
The volume of motor vehicle accidents in the surrounding county-wide area was much greater than in McAllen alone. In Hidalgo County in 2021 there were 16,263 total crashes that included:
Sources: Crashes and Injuries by Cities and Towns; Crashes and Injuries by County.
Only six negligent actions taken by drivers in McAllen caused over 70% of motor vehicle collisions. Our McAllen car accident lawyers compiled crash reports from the McAllen Police Department to show the most frequently sited causes (known as “contributing factors” on police reports) of auto accidents in McAllen in 2021, which included:
No matter what caused your accident, our McAllen car accident lawyers want to help. Call today for a FREE CASE REVIEW with one of our accident attorneys. We will answer your questions and tell you your options.
Our accident lawyers analyzed McAllen car crash data to identify dangerous areas to drive. Our goal was to help drivers protect themselves by practicing caution when driving on these most dangerous roads and through these intersections.
US Highway 83/Interstate 2 and Business 83 are highways with large densities of auto crashes. In fact, Highway 83 is one of the most dangerous roadways in Texas.
These five most dangerous roads in McAllen accounted for almost 40% of all accidents in 2021.
Most intersection crashes were on major streets heading north to south and east to west in McAllen. Of the almost 2,500 motor vehicle collisions in McAllen in 2021, over one-third were caused by speeding. Thus, it makes sense crashes are happening at intersections where drivers are expected to slow down and use caution.
Knowing these dangerous areas to drive can prevent you from being in a serious accident. If you are in a wreck, call our McAllen accident attorneys for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Most people do not think about what to do after a car accident until it is too late, but our McAllen car accident lawyers want you to be prepared. The steps you take after a wreck are crucial to ensuring you obey the laws relating to auto accidents, physically protect you and your passenger, and do not jeopardize your ability to pursue an injury claim.
If you have been in a wreck, do not wait to call us for help. We’re here to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. It does not matter whether you live in McAllen or nearby in Edinburg, were visiting McAllen, or were just passing through on your way to El Paso or San Antonio when your accident happened – our McAllen car accident lawyers can help!
We provide car crash victims with tenacious legal representation, ensuring you get full value for your claim. Our McAllen car accident lawyers will build a strong case with supporting evidence so you recover the money that you deserve.
Compensation in injury accident claims is determined by the damages (or losses) you have suffered. The types of compensation available for accident victims fall into two categories – monetary damages (also known as economic damages) and non-monetary damages (also known as non-economic damages). Economic damages are easier to quantify because they have a specific dollar amount associated with them, while non-monetary damages are harder to quantify because there is no direct monetary cost.
Examples of monetary damages in accident injury claims include:
Examples of non-monetary damages in injury claims include:
The value of an injury claim is hard to quantify in most cases until the extent of the damages are fully known. For example, with many injuries you may not know that you will need surgery after an accident, what it will cost, nor if it will resolve your pain. Moreover, multiple things factor into the value of an injury claim, such as:
Our McAllen car accident lawyers can help you understand what forms of compensation may be available to you and answer any questions you may have regarding your claim. Call our McAllen car accident lawyers for a FREE CONSULTATION and get started on your road to recovery today.
When you are involved in a car accident, there are a lot of things you have to worry about. You may be injured and need medical treatment. You may be worried about how you will pay for the damages to your vehicle. You may be concerned about missing time from work. And you may be wondering who is going to pay for all of this.
The good news is our McAllen car accident lawyers can help. Our injury attorneys will take care of many of the details for you so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. We will obtain a McAllen accident report, communicate with the other driver’s insurance company, investigate the accident, and collect all the necessary evidence to prove your case. We will also obtain your medical records and bills, and work with your physician to ensure they provide the necessary information to prove your injuries were caused by the accident.
Our McAllen car accident lawyers will then draft a demand letter and send it to the insurance company. If they offer a fair settlement, we will negotiate with lien holders to reduce the amount you owe and then release the funds to you. If the insurance company does not offer a fair settlement, our auto accident lawyers are prepared to take your case to trial. It will not cost you a penny to learn how we can help. Call our accident lawyers today for a FREE CONSULTATION!
Our accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. We offer zero upfront cost representation, which means we don’t get paid unless you get paid. Instead, we earn a percentage of the compensation that you are awarded.
We offer 24/7 support and are ready to represent you from the minute you are injured until the minute you have a settlement in hand.
If you need a car wreck lawyer, give us a call today and let us do the fighting. If you do not need an accident lawyer today, save our contact information so you do not have to search “car accident lawyers near me” after a crash.
Remember, the Texas statute of limitations only allows 2 years from the date of accident to file a claim in most cases. Call us for a FREE CONSULTATION. Take action now to protect your right to a fair value monetary recovery.
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.