McAllen, Texas, often referred to as the “City of Palms,” sits on the U.S./Mexico border on the Rio Grande River. A vibrant and exciting city in which to live, McAllen provides a beautiful and culturally diverse area in which to live, work, or visit. As part of the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission Metropolitan area, McAllen is one of the fastest growing communities in Texas. With these increased residents and visitors, of course, comes increased traffic. And with that traffic – traffic accidents.
If you have been in a car accident in the McAllen, Edinburg, or Mission areas, you may have suffered injuries, you may wonder what to do next, and you may not even know where to start. Please know that we offer a FREE consultation, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so call us right now at 800-898-4877, or click HERE to send us a question or get more information. There is NO cost to get a free consultation right now. If you decide to hire us, you pay us nothing up front, and you will pay absolutely nothing at all unless and until we’ve won your case.
With more than 20 years of experience and thousands of victories under our belts, our team of McAllen car accident lawyers will leave no stone unturned to get you the most compensation possible for your injuries. Furthermore, we are one of the highest rated major personal injury law firms in the state, and we take pride in treating our clients like family, so contact us right now.
Since establishing our headquarters in Houston, Texas in 1999, our firm has grown to numerous locations across the country, including hubs in Dallas, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. Along the way, we've built a trusted network of partners throughout all 50 states who share our values and our commitment to excellence. **No matter where you are, it's our mission to insure that you have the finest representation for your case.** Reach out now to learn more about how we can help.McAllen Car Accidents
Most people do not regularly think about car accidents. In fact, most of us wake up each day and hop in our vehicles without considering that doing so puts us at risk of sustaining a serious injury. The unfortunate reality is that motor vehicle accidents in McAllen are common and victims are often left with serious, life-changing injuries. In fact, according to statistics released by the Texas Department of Transportation, on average, more than eight accidents per day took place during a single year. Some additional motor vehicle accident and injury statistics from that year include:
- Total reported crashes: 2,615
- Possible injuries: 2,478
- Reported non-incapacitating injuries: 655
- Reported incapacitating injuries: 54
- Fatalities: 9
If an accident hurt you, protect your rights immediately—and start by retaining an attorney. Remember, our consultations are completely free and you won’t owe us anything for legal fees unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf, so call today!
Car Accidents Can Result in Substantial Economic and Non-Economic Losses
If another driver’s negligence has left you injured, you know exactly how difficult that is. Car accidents are always costly and dangerous, but when they’re more serious, they can also lead to even more arduous psychological and emotional consequences. Adequately calculating your overall damages in a complicated car accident case can turn into a difficult and lengthy process that’s best left to an experienced car accident attorney. Your just compensation is far too important to take a wait and see attitude, so contact a dedicated car accident lawyer today.
What Not to Do After a Car Accident
If you’re in a car accident that the negligence of another driver caused, you’re no doubt overwhelmed and at a loss for what to do. While this is completely understandable, here are a couple things that you should know not to do:
Don’t apologize. After an accident, it’s human nature to want to jump out of your car (if you’re able) and say you’re sorry to the other driver (even when the other driver caused the crash). You’re naturally sorry that the accident happened, but the other side can later mold your apology into an admission of fault that could damage your car accident claim. Resist the urge to apologize.
Don’t speak to the other driver’s insurance rep. If you’re injured in a car accident caused by another driver, you’re going to hear from that driver’s insurance company—you can count on it. You are not obligated to speak with the insurance rep who contacts you—and you shouldn’t. Such interviews are designed to trip you over your own thoughts and words, and the insurance company will later use the results to undermine the veracity of your claim. While your own insurance company may require you to go on the record, your skilled car accident attorney will review your responses with you and will help ensure that you give truthful and succinct answers in direct response to the exact questions asked.
Insurance Companies Always Try to Minimize Payouts
Getting Started on Your Claim
If you’re in a car accident, you may not know how to proceed. These important first steps can help you get through those first difficult moments:
- If the accident is serious and you or anyone else suffered or may have suffered a significant injury, call 911 as soon as you pull your car off the road for safety (if it’s possible to do so).
- If you’re able and qualified, go to the aid of those who suffered injuries and remain with them until emergency help arrives.
- As soon as you possibly can (if you can’t do it yourself, enlist a bystander), begin gathering evidence at the scene:
- Take smartphone pictures and videos that depict the accident from every angle. Don’t forget to get a clear overall picture and to get close-ups of the details, including license plates.
- Record eyewitness statements and contact information. (If the accident’s more serious, officers on the scene will likely take care of this step.)
- Make a sketch of the accident scene that incorporates every detail, including the exact location of the accident, of the cars, and of any extenuating circumstances such as inclement weather, a damaged roadway, obstacles to clear vision, and anything else that you believe may have contributed to the accident.
- Write a few paragraphs that describe exactly how the accident occurred and that contain as many details as you can remember. Do this as soon after the accident as you, can because the attendant commotion can quickly blur your memories.
- In the ensuing days, compile all documentation associated with the accident, including police reports, medical bills and reports, damage estimates, and anything else that pertains.
What Does Driver Negligence Look Like?
While driver negligence comes in any number of forms, several basic categories play significant roles in many of the accidents on our roadways:
Impaired driving. While everyone who’s old enough to drive understands the dangers associated with driving under the influence of alcohol, many drivers continue to make the deadly decision to drink or take drugs and drive. Impaired drivers endanger everyone with whom they share the road.
Distracted driving. Distracted driving is so dangerous and has become such a significant safety issue that the U.S. government has devoted a website to the topic, distraction.gov, which characterizes the three primary categories of distracted driving:
- Driving while one’s vision is focused on anything other than driving safely
- Driving while one’s hands are occupied by doing anything other than driving safely
- Driving while one’s thoughts are on anything other than driving safely
Driving is a complex task that requires total concentration, and drivers who multitask don’t give their primary job of driving safely the attention that it deserves and demands. The pinnacle of all driver distractions is smartphone use, which not only increases in prevalence but also manages to meld all three categories of distraction into one exponentially deadly activity.
Driving aggressively. We’ve all seen an aggressive driver or two out there, and they’re frightening to behold. Aggressive drivers seem to adhere to the belief that they own the road and that they must punish anyone who dares to question their entitlement. Steer clear of aggressive drivers—and you’ll know them when you see them:
- Motorists who speed excessively
- Motorists who tailgate;
- Motorists who drive erratically, including passing on the shoulder, ignoring traffic signs and signals, and failing to yield safely
- Motorists who bully other drivers by honking incessantly, flashing headlights, hurling invectives, and gesturing obscenely
Speeding. Speed limits are posted for one important reason—to help keep the roads safe for everyone on them. It’s well established that speed kills, and drivers who believe they’re entitled to pick and choose the speed that suits them make our roads deadlier. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety states that speeding is the most dangerous form of aggressive driving and that it’s a significant factor in about one-third of traffic fatalities in the United States. When you spot a speed junkie quickly gaining on you, get out of that driver’s way and—again—alert the authorities.
Car Accidents and Expenses
Even fender benders can result in significant costs, and more serious accidents can lead to astronomically expensive injuries. The expenses that often accompany such accidents include:
- Property damage to the vehicles (and even to the roadways)
- Lost wages and diminished earning potential
- Emergency medical transportation and care
- Surgeries and aftercare
- Doctors, specialists, and therapists
- Follow-up care and therapy
- Prescription medication
- Adaptations to the home and for personal use
- Home healthcare
- Long-term care
The expenses associated with a serious car accident are extensive, but you can’t receive just compensation if you don’t carefully accounted for it all. Your car accident attorney will helpfully calculate your damages.
Consult a McAllen Car Accident Lawyer Today
Another driver’s negligence injured you, and it’s likely that you’re unsure about where to turn. While many such victims want to put the whole thing quickly behind them by allowing the insurance companies to take over, it’s not in your best interest to do so. The consequences of a serious car accident can reverberate into your future, and just compensation—though it can never return you to your pre-accident self—can help you along the path toward recovery. To get a consultation with Trust Guss Injury Lawyers right now, call our office today at 800-898-4877 or get in touch through our online contact form.
See what past clients have to say:
Review: 5/5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"As a relatively new resident of Houston, I did not know of an attorney to contact for a personal injury suit. I randomly went through the yellow pages contacting two attorneys that had rejected my case prior to me contacting Stewart Guss. Stewart took my case on and settled for far more than I had anticipated. The silver lining of this is that I will now have enough money to go back to school for retraining, so I will be able to reenter the workforce in a new capacity. The paralegal, Angela, was kind and supportive throughout the process. If I did not understand the legal jargon, I did not hesitate to ask, and was never once made to feel that I was incompetent. Thank you Stewart and Angela for giving me a new lease on life."
-Sally T.