Driving through Amarillo is a scenic experience—from the city’s Historic District to the over 50 parks and facilities we have to offer, there is much to see and do. Visitors to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, the Cadillac Ranch, and the surrounding views of the Texas Panhandle bring commerce and activity to the seat of Potter County.
Sadly, we also experience some of the highest crash rates for urban areas of our size in Texas. In 2021, residents of Amarillo suffered over 5,269 traffic accidents.
Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm’s Amarillo car accident lawyers defend the rights of those injured by another driver’s negligence. Car accident victims know they can trust the legal services we offer to individuals involved in Texas vehicle collisions.
Our personal injury law firm can help you obtain compensation in the form of a fair settlement for your lost income, medical treatment, and non-economic damages like emotional pain. We won’t let a car accident injury devastate you financially. We make sure your medical bills, property damage, and other losses are covered by the negligent party and their insurance company.
Contact the legal team at Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm today to schedule a free initial consultation.
Do All Car Accident Cases Require a Lawyer?
Minor fender benders without physical injuries may not require the skill of an experienced attorney. If your Amarillo car accident did not cause serious damage, you may be able to handle the insurance claims process yourself.
However, if any of the following conditions apply to your Amarillo, TX auto accident, we advise that you schedule a free consultation to have your case evaluated.
- Your vehicle damage was significant
- Your injuries require medical care
- Your car wreck involved one or more drunk drivers
- There were one or more commercial vehicles involved in your crash
- Liability is being disputed
- The at-fault driver fled the accident scene
- You don’t fully understand how to calculate both economic and non-economic damages
- You don’t know if the insurance company’s settlement offer is the fair and full compensation you need for past and future losses
Even a seemingly straightforward case can turn complicated. For example, distracted driving is one of the most common causes of accidents in Amarillo. Yet it’s very difficult to prove the other driver’s distraction. The insurance company may deny your claim due to a lack of evidence.
Your car accident attorneys can help by obtaining and analyzing documents like the other driver’s cell phone records, a police report, and municipal traffic camera footage—things that would be hard to get on your own. If you encounter a challenge like this in your case, it’s never too late to call an Amarillo car accident lawyer for advice.
Why Choose Us After a Car Accident?
The Amarillo car accident lawyers from Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm have been advocating for victims of preventable tragedies since 1999. We have the skill to win your case, a reputation that has earned respect in Amarillo, TX courtrooms, and the compassion to support you through every step of the legal process.
Every person should be able to afford the best legal representation in Texas. Justice is not just for the financially secure. That’s why we take most cases on a contingency fee basis. We get paid when we win your case. Our fees only come out of the car accident settlements we have successfully helped our clients obtain.
Call the Amarillo Car Accident Lawyers From Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm Today
We invite you to read more about our past case successes and what our clients say about us. But more importantly, we hope you’ll schedule a free consultation to discuss your personal injury case with one of the car accident attorneys on our legal team.
A case evaluation costs you nothing. Learn what we can do to help you secure maximum compensation after an Amarillo car crash.
Recoverable Damages After a Car Accident Caused by Negligence
Victims of auto collisions can generally recover two types of compensatory damages through car accident claims: economic damages and non-economic damages.
The first category compensates the victim for economic (or financial) losses such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Loss of future income
- Damage to a vehicle or valuables
- Domestic services
The non-economic losses associated with your collision may include:
- Emotional anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
- Other psychological injuries like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
You May Be Entitled to Compensation. Don’t Wait.
Serious injuries don’t just heal on their own. To treat your physical injuries, you visit a medical professional. To fix property damage after a car wreck, you see an auto mechanic. To address your financial and emotional injuries, you need a team of car accident lawyers.
You may be entitled to substantial compensation—but you only have a limited time window in Texas to file car accident claims. Our professional services have helped clients win car accident lawsuits for decades. Call us today to learn more.
Proving Negligence in a Texas Car Accident Case
In Texas, an at-fault auto insurance state, the motorist responsible for the accident is also financially responsible for the resulting damages. Building a car accident claim requires you to prove that the other party committed negligence and caused your injuries.
Before beginning the process of pursuing compensation from the at-fault party, the following four essential elements must be present and provable:
- The other party owed you a duty of care.
- They breached (violated or deviated from) this duty of care.
- This breach of care resulted in your injuries.
- Your injuries caused you to suffer damages.
Strong supporting evidence and the backing of an experienced lawyer increases the chances that you’ll reach a favorable case outcome.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Partly at Fault?
Yes, you can still recover compensation even if you’re partially at fault. Texas follows a comparative fault rule for accidents involving motor vehicles. Under this rule, more than one party can share responsibility.
Accordingly, your compensation depends on how much of the responsibility you share. If you are determined to be more than 51% at fault, you won’t be able to recover compensation. If you were 50% at fault or lower, you can still recover damages. Your total award will be reduced by the percentage of responsibility you hold.
Types of Car Accidents We Handle
Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm has experience in many types of car accidents. We handle cases involving:
- Distracted driving
- Multi-vehicle collisions
- Rear-end crashes
- Head-on collisions
- T-bone accidents (broadside or side-impact collisions)
- Intersection accidents
- Sideswipes
- Hit-and-runs
- Crashes caused by defective auto parts
- Car accidents involving other motor vehicles like motorcycles or tractor-trailers
- Accidents involving drug or alcohol intoxication
- Crashes caused by uninsured or underinsured motorists
- Accidents resulting in wrongful death
Common Types of Motor Vehicle Collision Injuries
If you were injured in an Amarillo, TX auto crash, it’s important that you seek medical attention promptly. Injuries can be masked by the rush of adrenaline in a fight-or-flight situation like a vehicle collision. Some of the most common car accident injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Facial disfigurement from steering wheel or airbag impact
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Bruises, lacerations, abrasions, and soft tissue damage
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries
- Vital organ damage
- Fatality
Car Accident Statistics in Amarillo and Texas
The Texas Department of Transportation reported the following Texas car accident statistics for the year 2021:
- Motor vehicle deaths in Texas increased by over 15% from 2020 to 2021—from 3,896 to 4,489 individuals killed.
- 239,539 people suffered injuries, with 19,448 of these injuries considered highly serious (incapacitating or catastrophic).
These may look like just numbers. But remember that these numbers represent our friends, neighbors, and loved ones who were killed, suffered serious injuries, or lost a family member in an automobile accident that should have been prevented.
This knowledge motivates our auto accident lawyers to continually strive to provide our clients with the legal assistance they need.
To better understand the scope of the problem, you can think of the above-listed motor vehicle collision statistics in these terms. Last year, in Texas:
- 1 person was killed every 1 hour and 57 minutes.
- 1 person was injured every 2 minutes and 12 seconds.
- 1 reportable crash happened every 57 seconds.
- Not a single “deathless” day passed that year—at least one person died in a car crash every day.
- On the deadliest day of the year, 27 individuals died in auto accidents.
Top Causes of Car Accidents in Amarillo, TX
According to Texas Department of Transportation crash data, the following are the top contributing factors in car accident cases in our area:
- Speeding or driving at an unsafe speed for conditions
- Driver inattention (distracted driving)
- Failure to yield
- Following too closely
- Running a stop sign
- Traffic light violation
- Changing lanes when unsafe
- Failing to drive in a single lane
- Faulty evasive action (overcorrecting or oversteering)
- Drunk driving
- Driving fatigued (particularly in rural accidents)
If you were hurt because another motorist violated their duty of care, an Amarillo car accident attorney can help you pursue compensation. An experienced car accident lawyer from our team will hold the responsible party accountable by proving negligence and recovering a fair settlement on your behalf.
Call Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm today to discuss your legal case with one of our personal injury attorneys.
What To Do After an Amarillo Car Accident
Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm’s Amarillo car accident lawyers recommend taking the following actions after a car accident in Potter County:
- Move to safety and check yourself and your passengers for injuries
- Call 911
- Wait for emergency services to arrive
- Exchange personal and insurance information with the other motorist
- Take pictures of the accident scene
- Obtain a copy of the police report
- Seek medical attention
- Keep a record of your doctor’s visits, test results, and medical bills
- Contact an Amarillo car accident lawyer to discuss your legal options
Amarillo, TX Car Accident Frequently Asked Questions
The Amarillo car accident lawyers from our law office have prepared a list of FAQs that answer many of the most common questions asked by victims of a serious collision in Texas.
If you have another question that hasn’t been answered here on our webpage, please contact our office to schedule a free case consultation.
How Long Do I Have To File a Car Accident Claim in Texas?
Personal injury cases like car accidents are governed by a statute of limitations. This dictates how much time you have to take civil legal action after injury. Under Texas law, the statute of limitations is two years, although there are some exceptions.
This is a relatively short amount of time to build a successful case, so it’s important that you act promptly after an automobile accident to begin the legal process.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Car Accident Attorney in Amarillo?
This is a question to ask during your free consultation. Make sure you understand the law office’s fee structure before moving forward. Our contingency fee structure requires no upfront payment. Instead, we will take a small percentage of your award amount as our fee.
Will My Car Accident Case Go to Trial?
It is rare for car accident cases to go to trial. Most claims can be settled through out-of-court negotiations.
Our approach is to prepare for trial, even if we expect to settle. That way, your case is stronger, and we are ready to take your case before a judge if the insurance company refuses to give you the compensation you deserve.
What Should I Say to an Insurance Adjuster About the Accident?
You must notify your insurance company of an accident, but you should limit what you say so your words can’t be used against you. You do not need to answer questions from the other driver’s insurance company.
When speaking with an insurance adjuster, only provide the general facts. Never admit fault, make guesses, discuss your injuries in detail, accept the first settlement offer, or agree to record your statement.
What if the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?
If you were hurt by an uninsured driver, we can help you explore options for recovery. Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage or personal injury protection (PIP) is usually the first place to look. We can help you understand your policy and communicate with the insurance company.
There may be third parties liable for your accident as well, such as a negligent auto parts manufacturing company. We will research every avenue for financial recovery to find the best option for you.
What Happens if I’m Injured in a Hit and Run Accident?
If the at-fault driver fled the scene, your case will be more complicated. Our lawyers are skilled investigators who can analyze camera footage and crash reports, work with the police, and interview witnesses to help track down the liable motorist.
The quicker you contact a lawyer after a hit-and-run, the better your chances of finding and holding the culprit accountable.
We Are Ready To Fight for You
You don’t have to go through your car accident claim on your own. At Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm, we understand how difficult and confusing this time can be. An Amarillo, TX car accident attorney is prepared to take over the legal side of things so you can focus on your recovery.
Reach out to our office to schedule a free consultation.
