Many thousands of U.S. motorists experience automobile accidents each year, and many are killed or injured. In Texas, nearly 270,000 people were injured in car crashes in 2016 alone.
Car accident settlements in Texas may help those who were injured or help the family members of those who may have been killed on Texas roadways.
Auto Accident Statistics in Texas
The Texas Department of Transportation reported that a Texas roadway fatality occurred every 2 hours and 20 minutes, a roadway injury occurred every two minutes and a reportable crash happened in the state of Texas every 57 seconds.
Also reported by the Texas DOT was that the fatality rate on Texas roadways in 2016 was 1.44 deaths per hundred million vehicle miles traveled. This may not seem like a lot, but it was a 3.6% increase from the year before.
Reportedly, there were over 14,000 serious injury crashes in Texas last year, with 17,500 people reporting a serious injury.
Without a doubt, car accidents in Texas are a risk for motorists, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians alike.. In fact, pedal-cyclist fatalities saw a 25% increase from 2015 to 2016 and pedestrian fatalities saw a similar increase: 21.5%.
Car Accident Settlements in Texas
Because of the number of auto accidents in the state of Texas, if you are a Texas resident, it is important to know what to do in the case of a car accident and how you may be a recipient of one of the car accident settlements in Texas.
If you are involved in a car accident in Texas, you must fill out a Crash Report form CR-2 within 10 days of the accident. You should also exchange personal, vehicle and insurance information with the other driver. It is also recommended that you make note of the road conditions including weather.
Important to note is that Texas is a “fault” car insurance state. What this means is that as a driver, you may be held liable for any injuries that it are determined you caused in an accident. It is suggested that every motorist carry liability insurance in the amount of $30,000 for each injured person, $60,000 for injuries per incident and $25,000 for property damages.
There are certain factors the affect the amount of money received in car accident settlements in Texas.. Some of these factors include the limits of the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage if the injury altered your appearance and the nature and severity of your injuries. Some car accidents may result in nerve damage, organ damage, paralysis, limb amputation, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries..
Other factors that can affect the amount that a person may receive in car accident settlements in Texas include if you were partially at fault for the accident and your medical expenses. Some medical expenses that result from auto accidents include ambulance transportation, physical therapy, hospitalization, prescription medications and medical devices..
If you have been injured in an auto accident, you may reap the benefits of car accident settlements in Texas. You may benefit from speaking with an attorney to discuss your legal options. Contact the attorneys at McDonald Worley by filling out the form on this page.