Being involved in a car accident can be, at a minimum, nerve-wracking, but often, it can result in severe injuries, lifelong disability, mounting debt, and other negative consequences. If you or a loved one was recently injured in a car crash, it is essential to know and understand your rights and options.
The effects of a car accident can extend far beyond what you may initially think. You should not have to bear the financial, emotional, and physical impacts of someone else’s negligence. Contact our Temple car accident lawyer today to discuss your next steps toward recovery.
Hurt In A Wreck In Temple?
You Focus On Getting Better. Let Us Handle The Rest.
The days after a crash are full of doctor visits, repair estimates, and calls from an insurance adjuster you never asked to hear from. You don’t have to sort through it alone. The attorney you meet at your consultation is the same one who stays with your case through settlement or trial. Tell us what happened. The consultation is free, and you don’t pay us unless we produce for you.
Schedule A Free ConsultationCommon Causes of Car Accidents in Temple, TX
The cause of a car crash can be immediately apparent to those involved or more obscure. Car accidents can also be just that—an accident, but they can also be caused by someone’s negligence. The possible causes of a wreck are infinite. However, although outside of the larger Texas cities, Temple’s population and demographics can lead to a significant number of car accidents in a year.
Some common causes of Temple car accidents include:
- Driver negligence, including driving while under the influence, talking or texting on the phone while driving, disobeying traffic laws, and ignoring traffic signals;
- Poor road conditions (e.g., untreated potholes, uneven pavement);
- Road rage and aggressive driving;
- following too closely;
- Mechanical failures, including brake and engine failures;
- Failure to service and properly maintain the vehicle; and
- Manufacturing defects.
If you suspect the accident was caused by someone else wrongdoing, you may be entitled to compensation for the harm you endured. The best way to know if you have a valid claim after a car crash is to consult a qualified Temple car accident attorney.
Temple Car Accident Lawyer Insights: What Every Injured Driver Should Know
A crash on a Temple road can leave you with medical bills, lost income, and questions about who pays. Here is what a Temple car accident lawyer wants you to understand before you talk to an insurer.
- See a doctor even if you feel fine, at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center or your own physician, because adrenaline can mask injuries like whiplash and internal trauma.
- Texas generally gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a car accident lawsuit, and missing that deadline can bar your claim entirely.
- Under Texas modified comparative negligence, you can recover damages only if you are 50% or less at fault, so how blame is assigned directly affects your compensation.
- Medical records, the police crash report, witness statements, photos, and video are the evidence that proves your claim, and staying off social media keeps your own posts from being used against you.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents can result in a wide array of injuries depending on the specific circumstances, including the vehicles involved, the point of impact, speed, passenger location of the victim, and more. For instance, a head-on crash at a high rate of speed is likely to result in much more significant injuries than a low-speed rear-end fender bender.
Injuries can range in severity from mild or moderate to severe and debilitating. Often, car accident victims will walk away from a wreck with minor bumps and bruises, but other times, victims may require extraction from the vehicle and immediate lifesaving medical attention. While the type and extent of injuries can vary drastically, there are a handful of injuries we routinely see in car accident cases.
These include the following:
- Scrapes and cuts,
- Seatbelt and airbag burns,
- Bumps and bruises,
- Huesos rotos,
- Whiplash and other neck injuries,
- Lesiones de espalda,
- Soft tissue injuries,
- Lesiones medulares,
- Traumatic brain injuries,
- Parálisis,
- Burns, and
- Muerte.
Even if you believe you are initially uninjured, you should always see a doctor to ensure you do not have any underlying internal injuries. It is also common for the adrenaline and shock of the crash to mask pain, tricking you into thinking you are unharmed when, in fact, you have suffered injuries. Always ensure you are seen by a doctor.
What to Do Following a Car Accident in Temple, Texas
Car accidents are almost always unexpected. You do not typically wake up anticipating being involved in a crash that day, so familiarizing yourself with what to do in the event of a wreck can help keep you calm and level headed in the aftermath.
There are three simple steps to remember immediately after a car accident.
Call 911
Call 911 and seek emergency medical care at your local hospital, such as Baylor Scott & White Medical Center. Dispatch will also send police to the scene to help safely secure it, investigate, and complete an accident report. Even if you do not require emergency medical assistance, seek an evaluation with your doctor and follow and continue with any treatment plan.
Keep Off Social Media
Whether in the moments after a crash or even weeks and months later, avoid discussing or posting anything related to your accident on social media. It may seem innocent, but posts and pictures on your accounts can later harm your case.
Consult With an Attorney
It is imperative to seek out a qualified car accident lawyer after the accident to determine your legal options. Submitting a claim and filing a lawsuit can be more complicated than you might think, especially if multiple vehicles are involved, commercial defendants are involved, or significant injuries are involved. Our Temple car accident lawyers can guide you through the process every step of the way.
Governing Texas Law
Specific applicable laws can affect your options and the outcome of your case.
Statute of Limitations
A statute of limitations is when a car accident victim has to initiate a lawsuit against the negligent party. Every state has its own statute of limitations for different types of legal proceedings. In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit with the court. However, there are exceptions to this general rule, and you may have more or less time depending on the specific circumstances.
It is best to meet with a car accident lawyer in Temple as soon as possible for a case assessment. If you fail to initiate your claim within the prescribed period, you may be barred from seeking compensation altogether.
Modified Comparative Negligence
Texas is a modified comparative negligence state, which allows a plaintiff-victim to recover damages only if their fault is less than 51%. In other words, if a court or jury determines that more than 51% are at fault, they may be barred from recovery.
Damages are Available in a Car Accident Lawsuit
One of the most common questions we receive from individuals contemplating filing a civil lawsuit after a car accident is how much they can obtain.
If you are successful, you may be entitled to significant compensatory damages for your injury, including:
- Medical costs for past and future medical bills,
- Salarios perdidos,
- Vehicle repair or replacement,
- Dolor y sufrimiento, y
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
Once you meet with our Temple car accident attorney we will be able to discuss your case with you in detail and determine how much compensation you might be eligible to receive.
The Insurance Company Already Has A Team Working On Your Crash. Do You?
Insurers start building their side of the story early, and they may look for ways to pin part of the blame on you. Before you give a recorded statement or accept a quick offer, talk to someone who is on your side. We can help gather the records, photos, and witness accounts that show what really happened, so you can focus on healing.
Schedule A Free ConsultationProving Damages in a Car Accident Lawsuit
Simply because you state the defendant’s negligence caused your injuries does not mean their insurance company will just write you a check. As the plaintiff, you must prove your case, and to do this, you need credible evidence.
Your car accident attorney will investigate the incident and help you gather evidence.
Common examples of evidence used in motor vehicle accident cases are as follows:
- Copies of your medical bills and records,
- Police and accident report,
- Eyewitness statements,
- Photos and accident recreation technology,
- Video surveillance, and
- Expert reports and testimony.
You may be able to check all of these boxes, but you most likely only have one of two pieces of evidence in your possession. That’s okay. We will assist you in gathering what you need. Sometimes, it is not about how much evidence you have but rather the quality of what you have.
Our Temple personal injury lawyers have the knowledge, skills, and resources you need.
Temple Car Accident Lawyers
At The Zimmerman Law Firm, we provide individual and personalized attention to each of our clients. The injury lawyer you meet during your consultation is the attorney who will be with you to see your case through to a settlement or trial. We are there every step of the way. Contact us today for a no-cost compassionate consultation.
Hurt In A Temple Car Crash? Meet With Us Close To Home
Our Temple office is at 16 E Avenue A, and we have four more offices across Central Texas. Pick the location that works best for you on the map or in the list below.
Injured in a car accident in Temple or Bell County?
Schedule A Free ConsultationAdditional Practice Areas We Handle
In addition to car accident cases, our experienced team also handles other personal injury cases in Temple. If you’ve been injured and need legal guidance, explore our other services:
Temple Local Resources
Courts & Legal Resources
Bell County Courthouse
- 101 E Central Ave, Belton, TX, 76513
- Visit website
Bell County Courts & District Courts
- Bell County Justice Center, 1201 Huey Drive, Belton, TX 76513
- Visit website
Temple Municipal Court of Record
- 401 N 3rd Street, Temple, TX 76501
- Visit Website
Police & Public Safety
Temple Police Department
- 209 E Avenue A, Temple, TX 76501
- (254) 298-5500
- Visit website
Accident Reports & Records
TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System
- Official Texas Department of Transportation portal to search and purchase certified Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Reports (CR-4) for crashes in Temple and Bell County.
- Visit website
Medical & Emergency Care
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center — Temple
- 2401 S 31st St, Temple, TX 76508
- (254) 724-2111
- Visit website
Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center
- 1901 SW H K Dodgen Loop, Temple, TX 76502
- (254) 724-5437
- Visit website
Towing & Roadside Assistance
Temple Towing (Temple Wrecker Service)
- 3815 Shallow Ford W Rd, Temple, TX 76502
- (254) 771-1303
- Visit website
Auto Repair & Mechanics
Cody’s Auto & Transmission
- 1600 E Adams Ave, Temple, TX 76501
- (254) 774-9843
- Visit website
Christian Brothers Automotive Temple
- 58 S Kegley Rd, Temple, TX 76502
- (254) 313-0272
- Visit website
Rental Car Services
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
- 4103 S General Bruce Dr, Temple, TX 76502
- (254) 770-1342
- Visit website
Hertz Car Rental
- 3603 SW H K Dodgen Loop, Temple, TX 76502
- (254) 771-2045
- Visit website
Mental Health & Support
Central Counties Services (MHMR)
- 304 S 22nd Street, Temple, TX 76501
- (254) 298-7000
- Crisis Line (24/7): (800) 888-4036
- Visit website
LifeStance Health Temple
- 3010 Scott Blvd Suite 103, Temple, TX 76504
- (254) 773-4022
- Visit website