Bryan, TX Lawyers

Will I Have to Go to Trial?

The majority of cases settle prior to actually going to trial. It is always best to prepare as if you are going to trial, but you should never be afraid to negotiate a reasonable settlement.

If you hire a lawyer who properly prepares your case for trial, you will most likely be able to reach a reasonable settlement of your case before it actually comes to that. When selecting an attorney, you should ask how many personal injury trials they have had, and how long it has been since they tried a case.

What Should I Do If I’m in an Automobile Accident?

The majority of drivers are involved in an automobile accident at some point in their life. In fact, there are millions of traffic accidents reported to police every year. In 2011, there were over 200,000 persons injured in motor vehicle accidents in Texas, over 3,000 traffic fatalities, and not a single day where a person did not die from a traffic accident.

This means a reported crash occurred on Texas roads every 83 seconds, and a person was injured every two minutes and 29 seconds. To help prepare yourself for any accident that may occur, you need to put an “emergency kit” with a pen, paper, and first-aid supplies in your car.

After a collision occurs, remember these basic steps:

• Move yourself and any other persons safely out of the way of other traffic.
• Call for medical attention if anyone is hurt.
• Call the police and cooperate with them once they arrive. However, never admit fault because you may not have all the available information.
• Take photographs or video of the crash scene and damage to vehicles.
• Write down details of how the crash occurred and get names of witnesses. The information you should obtain includes: Names and contact information of all other drivers involved; names and contact information of witnesses; insurance information of other drivers involved; driver’s license numbers of other drivers involved; vehicle make, model, license plate numbers; and VIN numbers of the vehicles involved; general information about the conditions and circumstances in which the accident occurred.
• Contact a lawyer if the crash involved injuries or substantial damages. When death, injury, or major property damage is involved, dealing with an insurance company without the assistance of an experienced attorney is risky. An insurance adjuster may contact you and offer a quick settlement. Remember not to sign any document until you have consulted with your attorney. If you sign an agreement, you can forfeit your right to be compensated for damages and injuries that are discovered later.

What Does Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law Mean?

There are over 70,000 attorneys licensed to practice in Texas. Only 7,000 have earned the right to be publicly recognized as Board Certified specialists in one of 21 select areas of law. Only approximately 2% of Texas lawyers are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

To earn such a certification, an attorney has to meet strenuous guidelines such as:

• Licensed to practice law for at least five years
• Dedicated the majority of their practice to personal injury trial law
• Attended continuing education seminars regularly to keep legal training up to date
• Been evaluated by fellow lawyers and judges
• Passed a day-long written examination, which demonstrates their extensive knowledge of the law of evidence, procedure, and other substantive law involved in the trial of personal injury cases.

The Texas Board of Legal Specialization was established in 1974 by the Supreme Court of Texas at the request of the State Bar of Texas and is the only governing board authorized to certify attorneys in legal specialty areas. You can visit The Texas Board of Legal Specialization’s website at tbls.org.