San Antonio Lawyer for Car Accidents

What Can Patino Law Firm’s San Antonio Car Accident Lawyers Do for You?

While two separate car accidents may have a lot in common, every case is unique. That’s why you need a dedicated San Antonio auto accident lawyer who will guide you through the process and develop a strategy specifically for you. When you choose Patino Law Firm, you get an individual and tailored legal solution, not a one-size-fits-all approach that may not work. We give your case the attention it deserves so you can get the compensation you need.

Your San Antonio car accident lawyer can help by:

• Gathering information and documentation. Every successful claim is supported by records and paperwork, such as medical reports, evidence of your wages at the time of the accident, insurance policy contracts, medical bills, auto shop estimates, and more. An experienced lawyer knows what documents you need to build your case and can organize everything to ensure you have evidence to accurately reflect the compensation you deserve.
• Investigating what happened. Your lawyer may investigate the car accident further to build your case, securing security camera and dashcam footage, police reports, and witness accounts. Your attorney may also recommend reconstructing the accident to better understand the factors that caused the crash and prove who is responsible, especially if the at-fault party denies liability.
• Negotiating with insurance companies. The main goal of insurance companies is to pay as little as possible — smaller payouts mean larger profit margins. Insurers resort to many tactics to achieve this, from trying to trick you into accepting fault (to dismiss your claim entirely) to pressurizing you to accept the first offer they make, which is often significantly less than what you’re entitled to and may not even be enough to cover your losses. Our San Antonio lawyer for car accidents knows how to communicate with insurance companies, using our experience pushing back against insurance goliaths to secure fair compensation while you spend time recovering after your crash instead of being hounded by aggressive and stubborn adjusters.
• Securing expert witnesses: Our car accident lawyer in San Antonio, TX, knows the importance of having the right experts supporting your injury claim. The right expert for your case will depend on the nature of your accident — you might most benefit from the testimony of an experienced vehicle engineer explaining an auto defect, a crash reconstructionist who can determine if the other driver is at fault, a specialist physician who diagnosed your injuries, or an economic expert who can calculate your lost income potential if you cannot return to work.
• Litigating in court. If settlement negotiations fail, your lawyer can file a lawsuit and represent you in court. The trial process is rife with rules, procedures, and jargon, but your auto accident lawyer will draft the necessary legal documents, build your case, and explain what to expect every step of the way. Dr. Patino is a seasoned trial attorney who can persuade a jury of the defendant’s liability and secure a verdict in your favor — and the compensation you deserve.

Our firm understands the trauma of being hurt in a car accident in San Antonio. We’re dedicated to providing our clients with a clear explanation and fierce defense of their legal rights. We handle the stress and burden of pursuing your claim so you can focus on your recovery or being with your loved ones during this challenging time.

Awards and Recognition for Our San Antonio Accident Attorney

We’re proud to have received multiple awards and recognition from some of the most coveted organizations in our industry, including Best Trial Lawyer in America (2023) by The National Institute of Trial Lawyers, Best Law Firm (2023) and Litigator of the Year (2023) by the America Institute of Trial Lawyers, and the Best Business of 2023 by Three Best Rated.

Typical San Antonio Car Accident Case Results: What’s the Average Settlement?

No two car accidents are the same. The facts surrounding a rear-end accident caused by a drunk driver differ from a multi-vehicle crash with multiple parties at fault. With so many variables at play, case resolutions will vary as well.

The amount of your awardable compensation after a car accident depends on your case’s specific facts.

At a basic level, you’re entitled to:

• Economic damages — the verifiable losses you’ve incurred due to your injuries.
  • Medical expenses: ambulance rides, hospitalization, X-rays, surgeries, and more
  • Future medical costs: long-term disability and further surgeries
  • Rehab and recovery costs: physical therapy, prosthetic limbs, and wheelchairs
  • Lost wages and future lost wages: earnings you lost from missing work
    
• Non-economic damages — subjective losses that can’t be quantified like bills and expenses (but can be substantial).
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of consortium
  • Scarring
  • Emotional anguish
  • Loss of enjoyment
    
• Punitive (or exemplary) damages — designed to punish a defendant for egregious conduct and at the discretion of a jury if your case goes to trial.

The amount of compensation you might receive depends on multiple factors, from the willingness of an insurance company to negotiate a fair sum, the severity of your injuries (which directly impact the treatment you need), and the long-term impact of your injuries on your life.

One person might break their arm in an accident and receive a modest settlement for immediate treatment after the crash and the wages they lost from being off work during their recovery. Another person, however, might be paralyzed after sustaining a spinal cord injury and recover a life-changing settlement to pay for their ongoing rehabilitation and compensate them for the devastating emotional distress they suffer each day.

As the outcome of a car crash can vary so widely, there is no “average” settlement. However, you can rest assured that our San Antonio lawyer auto accident lawyer will fight for the maximum amount you’re entitled to based on your circumstances.

The first step to determining how much compensation you might receive is to calculate your economic damages. From there, you can calculate how much your claim might be worth in total by answering a few short questions on our Texas personal injury settlement calculator page. However, it’s vital to note that this is an estimate and does not account for the various factors that can impact your claim. For a more accurate determination of how much compensation you could be entitled to, we encourage you to book a free, no-obligation case review with our dedicated car accident lawyer in San Antonio, TX.

Types of Car Accidents in San Antonio and Their Common Causes

There are many different types of car accidents. It is crucial to understand the type of car accident you were in, as it can inform who or what caused the accident and, therefore, how you can pursue compensation. The most common types of car accidents in San Antonio include:

• Rear-end collisions: Rear-end collisions occur when a vehicle crashes into the car in front. Common causes include tailgating (following too closely), distracted driving, sudden braking or braking failure, and poor visibility due to weather conditions or obstructions.
• Single-vehicle accidents: These accidents involve only one vehicle and can result from driver distraction, driving while fatigued, speeding, and failing to exercise caution while driving in bad weather conditions. However, single-vehicle accidents can also happen due to external factors, such as road defects and mechanical failures.
• Multi-vehicle pileups: Multi-vehicle accidents involve three or more vehicles and are among the most dangerous types of collisions because a single act can cause a chain reaction, potentially resulting in multiple impacts. They often happen on highways or congested roads, with common causes including sudden stops, reduced visibility, and driver error.
• Side-impact collisions: More commonly known as T-bone crashes — so-named because one vehicle crashes head-on into the side of another, forming a “T” shape — side-impact crashes often occur at intersections when a driver runs a red light or does not yield the right of way. Speeding, distracted driving, and driving while intoxicated are commonly secondary factors in T-bone crashes.
• Head-on collisions: This extremely dangerous type of San Antonio car accident often happens when a motorist is driving on the wrong side of the road — often while intoxicated — or veers across the center line into oncoming traffic due to distraction, fatigue or while attempting to pass on a narrow road. A driver may unintentionally crash head-on into a vehicle when swerving to avoid a hazard on the road, such as an animal, pedestrian, or another car. More rarely, a head-on collision can occur because a driver intentionally steers into traffic.
• Sideswipe collisions: A sideswipe crash happens when two vehicles sustain side damage while traveling in the same direction. Common causes include unsafe lane changes, merging without proper signaling or checking blind spots, drifting across the lane due to drowsiness, distraction, or intoxication, or overestimating a gap in the lane during an overtake.
  

Rollover accidents: Rollover accidents often occur at high speeds due to the force required to tip a vehicle onto its side or roof. However, speeding is not the only cause, and these accidents can happen when a driver is within the posted speed limit if they brake or swerve suddenly, take a sharp turn too quickly, or encounter an uneven road surface.

San Antonio Car Accident Statistics

In January 2024, the Patino Law Firm team compiled an analysis of 2023 Texas crash data available via the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Crash Records Information System (C.R.I.S.). Using the same data, we can report on the state of San Antonio roads. In 2023, there were 40,070 reportable crashes in San Antonio. 160 crashes were fatal, killing 164 people.

When we solely explore car accidents — involving a two or four-door passenger car or Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV):

• There were 33,953 reportable car accidents in San Antonio.
• 98 of these car accidents were fatal, killing 45 people.
• Where the injury severity was known, 13,054 individuals sustained injuries in a San Antonio car accident in 2023.
• 169 people suffered suspected serious injuries in car accidents in San Antonio.
• 5,340 individuals sustained suspected minor injuries.
• 7,359 people sustained possible injuries in San Antonio car accidents.

Some of the most common injuries sustained in Texas car accidents, and that our San Antonio auto accidents lawyer can recover compensation for, are:

• Back and spinal cord injuries
• Neck injuries, such as whiplash
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Traumatic brain injury
• Lacerations
• Broken bones
• Burns
• Internal damage and crush injuries
• Amputations
• Disfigurement.

Recovering from a motor vehicle accident can be an overwhelming feat, not to mention all the external factors that come in the aftermath of a crash: insurance companies bargaining to provide the minimum compensation they can, lost wages from needing to take time off of work, and more. Having a San Antonio car accident lawyer in your corner allows you to focus on yourself and your family while your attorney seeks the compensation and justice you deserve.

When Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in San Antonio?

You will likely need a San Antonio car accident lawyer if a car accident results in injury or property damage, you have medical bills related to the accident, or you have lost wages due to time off work following the accident. Attempting to handle your case yourself can add more stress to an already challenging situation. An experienced car accident lawyer in San Antonio can help you get your life back together and get you compensation.

Consulting an experienced car accident attorney should be one of your first steps following a car wreck, crash, or accident after you’ve sought medical attention. Your lawyer will inform you of your rights under Texas law, whether you have a claim, and how much you might expect in a settlement.

Not hiring a car accident lawyer in San Antonio means you will have to negotiate with other parties, including stubborn insurance companies. If you’re offered a settlement, it will likely be less than you truly deserve. Our skilled lawyers know how to handle the tricky tactics insurance companies resort to and will push back to secure a fair and comprehensive settlement.

Additional Information about San Antonio Car Accidents: Helpful Resources for Your Claim

Learn more about the aftermath of a San Antonio car accident and what you need to know to maximize your settlement.

• Types of Car Accidents
• Common Car Accident Causes
• Dealing with Insurance Companies after Your San Antonio Accident
• Who Pays for Compensation after a Car Accident?
• How to Read Your Texas Car Accident Crash Report
• What to Do after a San Antonio Car Accident

What to Do after a Car Crash in San Antonio

The moments after a car accident can be a blur, but there are several steps you should take as soon as possible to support your compensation claim. If you cannot — or did not — do these after your crash, it’s vital to consult a San Antonio lawyer who specializes in car accidents as soon as possible. You may still be entitled to claim, and an attorney can advise on your options.

Document the Scene (If You’re Not Severely Injured and It Is Safe)

Some of the most helpful evidence for a personal injury claim can be gathered at the scene. If possible, photograph the road conditions, vehicle damage (to your car and any others), and your injuries. You should also collect the contact information of any eyewitnesses and the following details from other drivers involved in the crash:

• Name
• Contact information
• Insurance company and policy number
• Driver’s license
• License plate number.

Call the Police

If you or any other driver sustained injuries or vehicle damage, you must report the accident to the police. Law enforcement will create a crash report when they attend the scene, which can be a vital piece of evidence for your personal injury claim.

Seek Medical Treatment (Even If You Feel Okay)

Your health should always be the priority, so you should see a doctor after your accident — even if you don’t think you’ve sustained an injury. Many San Antonio car accident victims do not seek medical attention after a crash because they’re worried about the cost, only to be entitled to substantial compensation and compromise their claim because they cannot prove when they sustained their injuries. More importantly, some injuries worsen hours, days, or weeks after an accident, but an immediate examination can detect them early and allow you to begin treatment — or at least know what signs and symptoms to look for.

Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer

If your accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, you deserve compensation for the impact of your injuries on your physical, mental, and financial health. Our car accident lawyer in San Antonio, TX, can identify who is responsible and explain your options. More than that, we can also help you get the medical treatment you need and defer payment, handle aggressive insurance adjusters trying to blame you for the crash and gather evidence to build a strong case while you focus on your health.