When you contact us, we will arrange your free case review — sometimes on the same day. If you cannot come to one of our offices, we can provide a consultation over the phone or via video chat, or we can come to you.

Your initial appointment will last around 15-20 minutes, during which we will ask questions about your accident, how it happened, and the injuries sustained to determine if you have a claim. This appointment is also your opportunity to ask questions about what to expect during the process and how we will handle your claim. We want you to have no reservations that we are the right San Antonio or McAllen law firm for you, so there is no obligation to move forward, and we will never pressure you to make a decision.

To help you find the right law firm for your needs, we have written a guide containing the top 11 questions you should ask a personal injury attorney in McAllen, San Antonio, Hondo, or elsewhere in Texas, with advice on what to do with the answers you receive.

Most accidents are never a single person or party’s fault but the result of a combination of factors, so you might be partly responsible for causing your accident. Texas negligence laws allow you to recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50% at fault. Your payout is adjusted accordingly, so if you are 20% liable, you will receive 80% of the compensation award.

You have two years to file a lawsuit after your accident. This deadline is called the statute of limitations. Once it has passed, you will typically not be able to pursue compensation, although exceptions apply in rare cases.

It is vital to contact a McAllen and San Antonio personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. This time frame includes negotiations with insurance companies to attempt to settle your claim out of court, so if negotiations drag out and are unsuccessful, it may be too late to file a lawsuit. An attorney can fight for a fair settlement or begin legal action before the statute of limitations expires.

Many use the phrase “personal injury claim” to describe the action of recovering compensation after an accident — whether agreed upon during negotiations or awarded by a jury. But it more accurately refers to the most common means of recovery.

A personal injury claim best describes the method of proving a person or party was negligent and caused your injuries and negotiating a settlement with that party’s insurance company. For example, a personal injury claim can secure compensation from a driver’s insurance provider when you sustain injuries in a drunk-driving accident.

Most claims settle, but a modest percentage lead to a lawsuit. A lawsuit is a formal legal action filed in court when the parties cannot agree or if the other party’s insurance coverage is insufficient to cover the victim’s losses. A lawsuit is often time-consuming and risky but can result in a substantial award. The parties usually agree to a settlement in negotiations held throughout and drop the suit. However, if talks fail, the case will go to trial, where a judge or jury will hear evidence and determine whether the defendant is responsible and should pay compensation.

How much compensation you will receive depends on several factors, including the medical treatment you need, how long you cannot work, and how your injuries have impacted your life and might continue to do so. However, your claim is ultimately only worth what an insurance company or jury is willing to offer or award, so you must have evidence proving you incurred losses and that the other party is responsible. As your personal injury lawyer in McAllen and San Antonio, Dr. Louis Patino and his team will gather evidence that supports your claim and demand the maximum possible settlement or judgment you deserve.

Your personal injury attorney can explain how much you might be entitled to based on the details of your accident and the strength of your case. You can also use our personal injury settlement calculator to estimate your losses.

There is no average time to resolve a personal injury claim or lawsuit, as every case is unique. Your claim may settle in months if you have strong evidence of the other party’s fault and the insurance company offers a sum that will cover your past and future expenses. You can receive a settlement even sooner if you are willing to settle for less than you are entitled to, but we strongly advise against this. In other claims, you may need to wait several months or over a year to determine the severity of your injuries and if they are likely to improve. If you file a lawsuit, the entire process — from filing the paperwork and gathering evidence to negotiating a settlement and presenting your case at trial — might take several years.

You do not pay anything until we win your case. We promise you will never receive an unexpected or upfront bill. We will also regularly update you on what you can expect to pay once you win your claim, so you will never wonder how much compensation you will have left once you have paid legal fees.