Oberg Law Office

Understanding Fault in Texas Car Accidents

Being in an accident is scary, and if you were injured, it can have a big impact on your life for the next weeks, months, and maybe even years. In Texas, you have the ability to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party to get reimbursement for medical bills and pain and suffering, but what happens if you are also found at fault? Learn how fault works in Texas and how it may impact your case.

How Is Fault Determined in Texas?

When you’re in a car accident, the police will immediately respond and start investigating the scene after any medical needs have been taken care of. However, the insurance companies for the parties will make the final determination of who was at fault. They have their own investigators and can look at police reports, interview the drivers or any witnesses, and even do accident reconstructions to determine who was at fault.

What Happens When You’re Found at Fault?

Accidents happen for a variety of reasons, and it’s common for there to be more than one contributing factor. For example, adverse road conditions and speed is a combination that is more likely to cause an accident, and a front-end collision in these conditions could be especially dangerous. If you’re found at fault, you may be cited by police for a traffic violation, which can mean points on your license and having to pay fines.

Can You Still Seek Compensation If You Were Partially at Fault?

If you are found at fault for a car accident in Texas, you will be assigned an at-fault percentage. This is very important because this percentage determines whether you are able to pursue compensation from the other party or if you might end up being sued yourself. As long as you are less than 50% at fault, you can still file a personal injury suit against the other party. However, keep in mind that the higher your fault percentage the lower the amount of damages you may be entitled to. This is why it’s important to speak with an attorney before moving forward to ensure that it’s worth it to pursue a case.

Oberg Law Office Can Help

At Oberg Law Office, we know how a car accident can change your life, and we focus on helping our clients get the money they’re entitled to so they can start rebuilding. If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident and aren’t sure what your options are, call our office at 972-682-9700. A member of our legal team can talk with you about your needs and set up a consultation with a personal injury attorney so you can start moving forward.

What Are Punitive Damages?

Some accidents are catastrophic for the victims, leading to much pain and suffering, high medical costs, and loss of ability to earn a living. The outcome can be frustrating for a victim who is offered compensatory damages that don’t adequately cover the value of these damages.

With the help of a skilled personal injury attorney in Mesquite, victims can sue for punitive damages. Personal injury laws allow for the payment of accident-related expenses and money that serves as punishment for severe negligence and disregard for others’ safety and well-being. Punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages, fall in this last category.

The Punitive Damages Law in Texas

Punitive damages can be awarded in personal injury cases. The court must establish that the defendant was grossly negligent, malicious, or fraudulent in their behavior, leading to the victim’s injuries.

Proving these elements to the court when pursuing punitive damages can be challenging without the input of a skilled catastrophic injury attorney in Mesquite.

Gross Negligence

Most claims for punitive damages in personal injury cases arise from gross negligence. A catastrophic injury attorney in Mesquite can help you prove that the defendant committed an act or omission:

• Which, when viewed objectively from their standpoint at the time it happened, involved an extreme degree of risk. The actor should have considered the probability of causing harm to others and the magnitude of damage.
• Which, the defendant had actual, subjective awareness of the risk at hand, but still proceeded to commit the offense without regard for the rights, safety, or welfare of others.

Gross negligence doesn’t always imply that the defendant intended to cause harm but proceeded with reckless abandon, causing damage to the victim. For example, shooting a gun over people’s heads without the intention to shoot anyone is gross negligence if anyone is injured.

Malice

Malice involves the actual intent to cause substantial harm or injury. Proving malicious conduct entails showing that the defendant looked forward to the consequences of their action or they believed that acting a certain way would have a specific result. So, firing a gun at someone involves malice since substantial harm or injury is expected.

Fraud

Fraud is generally deception or cheating. So, when seeking punitive damages based on a defendant’s fraudulent behavior, you must prove actual fraud or their intention to deceive you. Unintentional misrepresentation that you act upon doesn’t suffice as fraud.

What Evidence Does the Jury Consider When Deciding How Much to Award in Punitive Damages?

The jury in your personal injury lawsuit has the authority to determine if you have proven the elements of a punitive damage claim through clear and convincing evidence. If so, they can decide how much to award you for punitive damages.

Some factors to look into include the following:

• The nature of the wrong
• The character of the defendant’s behavior
• The degree of guilt of the defendant
• The defendant’s net worth
• The extent to which the defendant’s conduct offends a public sense of justice or decency
• The sensibilities and situation of the defendant and the victim

You can request the defendant to provide information about their net worth through your Mesquite catastrophic injury attorney. However, the defendant can ask the court to limit this discovery. That’s why you should choose an aggressive attorney who can navigate this issue to ensure a favorable outcome.

How Much Can I Recover in Punitive Damages?

The amount of damages you can recover in a personal injury lawsuit is limited. The Texas Civil Proactive and Remedies Code refers to the limit as “Damage Caps.” Punitive damage caps are typically capped at the amount greater between:

• $200,000 and
• Twice the amount of economic damages plus an amount equal to non-economic damages up to $750,000

Cases Where the Cap Doesn’t Apply

The maximum amount and formula for punitive damages differ in the case of medical malpractice lawsuits and claims involving the government. When the defendant’s actions amount to felonies and are committed “knowingly and intentionally,” you can seek punitive damages in excess of the usual cap.

Some felonies to which the cap exception applies to include:

• Sexual assault
• Murder
• Fraud
• Intoxication manslaughter
• Intoxication assault

In the case of intoxication assault and manslaughter, proving that the defendant acted knowingly and intentionally is unnecessary. The elements are often associated with DWI cases, and your accident lawyer in Texas can fight for unlimited punitive damages.

Wrongful Death and Punitive Damages

You can seek exemplary damages in a wrongful death case if you can prove that your loved one died through an act of gross negligence or willful malice. Since the cases are highly situation-specific, contact an experienced Mesquite personal injury attorney for legal guidance. An experienced lawyer will skillfully demonstrate your entitlement to punitive damages.

Who Makes Decisions About Punitive Damages?

Your catastrophic injury attorney in Mesquite can negotiate in the arbitration process for an additional award in addition to the compensatory damages owed. They can win punitive compensation based on the suffering you endured due to the egregious behavior due to the defendant’s fault.

Secondly, if a case needs to go to court, the jury can decide to award punitive damages, but this option is often complex as a complete agreement is necessary for a jury trial in Texas. The juror must agree on the liability and the amount to be awarded.

A Legal Professional Helping You Fight for Fair Compensation

Winning punitive damages can be challenging because of the decisions courts must make. That’s why you should engage the services of a skilled catastrophic injury attorney in Mesquite. After suffering severe injuries, high medical expenses, and enduring pain and suffering due to someone’s negligence, you deserve more than these primary reimbursements.

If you don’t know where to turn for legal assistance, our lawyers are ready to help. We provide a solid legal strategy to help clients pursue the compensation they deserve. Don’t suffer alone in silence if you have been a victim of someone’s negligence. Contact Oberg Law Office at 972-682-9700 for skilled legal guidance.

Fault in Auto Accidents in Texas

Many factors go into an automobile accident, but it’s often the case that one party is predominantly at fault. When you are injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may have questions about whether you can file a personal injury claim and what kind of compensation you may be able to get. Find out whether Texas is a no-fault state and what this means for your case.

What Does No Fault Mean?

In a no-fault state, it means that you can’t file a personal injury claim against the other party in an accident. Instead, you have to file a claim with your insurance company, and it is responsible for paying out any money. However, Texas is not a no-fault state. This means that you can — and often should — pursue compensation through the civil courts by filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault party after an accident.

How Is Fault Determined in Texas?

Many people think that the police officers who respond to a crash are responsible for determining who was at fault in an accident because they may give out tickets to one or both parties. However, it’s actually the insurance companies that must decide who was at fault and to what percentage. They will take into consideration various factors, including the weather and the amount and location of damage to the vehicles, look at the police reports for the crash, and possibly even do an accident reconstruction to assist in their determination.

Can I File a Personal Injury Claim If I Was Partially at Fault for an Accident?

It’s a common misconception that the other party has to be found 100% at fault to be named as a defendant in a personal injury lawsuit. However, in Texas, you can file a personal injury claim against the other party as long as they were at least 51% at fault for the accident. In general, the higher the other party’s at-fault percentage, the higher your compensation may be if you win.

Working With a Personal Injury Attorney

If you’re not sure whether you were at fault for an accident or whether you may have a personal injury case, you need to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after your accident. The insurance company may attempt to get you to accept a lowball settlement offer quickly, but you need to know the extent of your injuries, what kind of recovery you may be experiencing, and what a fair settlement offer may be.

If you were injured in an accident and someone else was found at fault, call 972-682-9700 to speak to an attorney at Oberg Law Office. We can help you understand what your legal options may be and represent your interests, whether that’s at trial or through settlement negotiations.