Your Odessa Car Accident Lawyers

Legally, you’re free to represent yourself. However, having an experienced Odessa, TX, car accident lawyer on your side will give you the best shot at receiving the money you deserve. An attorney can also take the stress of the legal process off your shoulders so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. Navigating the legal process isn’t easy, but Braker White has helped countless injured individuals across the Midland-Odessa area get the justice and compensation they needed to move forward after their car accidents.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question but, in general, you probably won’t have to go to court. Most cases are solved through negotiation, which is better for all involved. Sometimes, however, negotiations stall or the insurance company refuses to offer a fair amount and a trial becomes necessary. In the negotiation stage and the courtroom, Braker White will fight hard to get you justice every step of the way.

We work on a contingency basis. This means there are no hidden fees, no upfront fees, and no fees whatsoever unless we win money for you. If we’re unsuccessful, there’s no cost at all. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by contacting Braker White.

Every case is different, so it’s impossible to give a blanket answer to how much your case may be worth. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to money to cover losses, such as your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of comfort and enjoyment of life, emotional trauma, and more. Braker White can review the facts of your accident and determine the true value of your case.

It’s best not to speak with the insurance company yourself. Insurance companies aren’t on your side; they’re trying to reduce their own financial responsibility by getting you to admit fault or accept less than you deserve. If they call, tell them they can talk to the attorneys at Braker White.

If you are partially at fault for your accident, the amount of compensation you are able to seek may be reduced. Texas has a modified comparative negligence law, meaning you are assigned a percentage of fault for the accident, and your compensation is reduced by that amount. For example, suppose you were rear-ended by another vehicle but had a broken taillight. In that case, it could be argued that the other driver wasn’t aware you were slowing down and didn’t have time to brake. In this situation, the court may assign the other driver a fault of 80%, leaving you with 20% of the fault. As a result, your compensation would be reduced by 20%.

When you work with an experienced Odessa, TX, personal injury lawyer at Braker White, you’re working with an attorney dedicated to helping you seek the maximum amount of compensation possible for your losses. Braker White will work hard to help prove you had the lowest amount of responsibility possible for your accident so you can seek the money you deserve.

Pre-existing medical conditions can complicate car accident injury cases. If someone else was at fault for your car accident, they’re still responsible for your injuries. They may even be responsible for worsening your pre-existing condition. That said, your compensation may be reduced because not all of your medical expenses may be directly connected to the accident. If this applies to you, it’s best to hire an experienced attorney at Braker White to help you build the strongest case possible.

Insurance companies won’t pay for medical expenses or other losses until it’s proven that their insured party was at fault, so you need to cover these expenses in the meantime. Several options may be available to help, such as personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. You may also be able to use your health insurance coverage. Keep in mind that you may have to reimburse these insurers if you receive a settlement.

Just like your medical expenses, your lost wages won’t be covered by the insurance company until fault is established. You may be able to use PIP coverage or short- or long-term disability from your employer. These insurers may expect to be reimbursed if you receive a settlement. You should also speak with your employer about additional options, such as paid time off, vacation time, or sick time to help cover your living expenses.

PIP coverage is a type of auto insurance coverage that pays for medical expenses and lost wages for car accident injuries. In Texas, PIP coverage is mandatory coverage for your auto insurance. Still, you have the option to sign a waiver to decline it. The state requires that every driver receive at least $2,500 of PIP coverage, but you can upgrade to $5,000 or $10,000 worth of extra protection.

The simple answer to this is no. The vast majority of car accident settlements come in a lump sum. We will review your case and determine the value of your bills up to this point and use that as a point of reference to decide what costs you might rack up in the future. We’ll then demand a settlement that should cover all of your injuries — past, present, and future. You can’t, however, make the defendant keep paying your bills on an ongoing basis.

Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM coverage) is a clause in some insurance policies that kicks in if the other driver’s insurance policy doesn’t cover them for the full amount of your settlement.

For example, your case might be worth $500,000, but if the other driver’s insurance policy only covers them up to $100,000, you might never get the other $400,000 from them. They will technically owe it to you, but if they don’t have it to pay, it’s hard to collect. If you have UIM coverage on your policy, however, your insurance company may pay some of the remaining compensation up to your policy limit. Not everyone has this kind of coverage on their policy, however, and it only comes into play if your insurance policy has it. If you aren’t sure, you can ask your insurance company or let us review your policy. Get in touch with us to get your free case review today.

Every case is unique. In a perfect world, we will review your case and issue a demand letter, and the other side will pay. But this almost never happens. Negotiations can take a very long time. It’s stressful, and we understand that, but we ask for patience. We will fight for you the entire way, and our only goal is to seek the maximum compensation we can for you while resolving the case as quickly as we can. We will also keep you informed, in the loop, and however involved you want to be the entire time.