Personal Injury Lawyer El Paso, Texas

El Paso Personal Injury Lawyer

Accidents happen every day across Texas. When they are serious, the resulting injuries can be life-changing. In the worst of cases, these accidents devastate the lives of victims and their families. Victims are often left in extreme pain, with expensive medical bills, unable to return to work or their normal activities. Sometimes, family members are left grieving after they have lost a loved one.

If someone else’s negligent actions caused you to suffer injuries in an accident, you need to learn about your legal rights. You may be able to demand compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and the pain and suffering you have endured.

Although it is your right to claim this compensation, the process is not easy. You need a dedicated Texas personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, in your corner. With more than three decades of experience, we have the skills and the resources to take on even the toughest personal injury cases. Contact us today to find out how we can help you. The consultation is free.

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Michael J. Gopin
Legally reviewed by Michael J. Gopin

Michael J. Gopin has practiced law in El Paso since 1987. Even after more than 30 years, he still remembers his first jury case. It was two weeks after receiving his license, when he represented a person whose life had been forever changed after being blinded in a work-related incident...

What Do You Have to Prove in a Personal Injury Claim?

If someone else was at fault for an accident that caused you to suffer an injury, there are four elements that you must prove as part of a personal injury claim for compensation:

First, you must prove that the other person/entity owed you a duty of care.

Sometimes, this is very easy to prove. In a car accident, for example, it’s easy to prove another motorist owed you a duty of care because all drivers must act in a reasonable manner that keeps others safe. In other types of cases, however, such as premises liability cases, this can be a difficult element to prove. This is because property owners do not owe everyone a duty of care. Property owners do not, for example, have a duty of care to trespassers.

Second, you must show that the defendant failed to provide that duty of care.

This is known as negligence, or acting carelessly or recklessly. This is typically a difficult element of proof and one in which the assistance of an El Paso personal injury attorney can be extremely helpful.

Third, you must prove that the defendant’s negligence caused your injuries.

Even if there were other factors that contributed to the accident, the defendant’s negligence must have been a factor that caused your injuries.

Lastly, you must also prove that you suffered actual damages.

If you did not incur damages or losses, there is nothing to compensate for and, therefore, there is no claim.

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How Our Texas Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help with Your Case

There are many ways a personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, can help with your case. Some of the most important include:

Knowledge of the law

This is perhaps the greatest value our attorneys will add to your case. Our attorneys have vast knowledge about the law and how it applies to your case. We can explain this in very clear terms and advise you of your legal options for seeking full compensation.

Gather records

After suffering an injury, you need to focus on your treatment and recovery. Although you will need certain documents such as medical records, you are likely not in a position to collect them. Our attorney will understand which records are most important to your case and obtain them to substantiate your claim.

Investigate

Our attorneys also have the necessary resources to investigate your case. We will visit the accident scene to collect physical evidence, ask businesses for video surveillance to serve as digital evidence, collect statements from eyewitnesses, and reach out to our own expert witnesses.

Evaluate your claim

Often, accident victims are not aware of the full extent of the damages they deserve. Our lawyers will accurately evaluate your claim so you are demanding the full amount of compensation you deserve and are not surprised later with expenses you must pay out of pocket.

Negotiation

Because most people don’t do this every day, accident victims also don’t know how to effectively negotiate for a fair settlement. Our attorneys, on the other hand, do negotiate with insurance companies and at-fault parties on a daily basis. We will use this experience to help your case and aggressively negotiate for the full settlement you deserve.

Litigation

When the other side is not willing to negotiate a fair settlement, the case will go to litigation, which is a trial heard by a judge and jury. Here again, the experience of our trial attorneys is invaluable, as we also know how to effectively argue your case and refute the statements of the defendants.

Unfortunately, there are many people working against you during a personal injury claim. However, our personal injury lawyer is always on your side and will act tirelessly as your advocate throughout the entire process.

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Types of Damages You Could Recover in a Personal Injury Claim

personal injury claim

The compensation available in a personal injury claim is known as damages. There are several different types of damages available in a personal injury claim. Some of the most common include:

  • Current and future medical expenses
  • Mental anguish
  • Current and future lost wages
  • Disfigurement
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Loss of services, such as cooking and taking care of a home
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of consortium

Our Texas injury lawyers will aggressively pursue the maximum damages you need to make a full recovery.

Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries are generally those that happen suddenly and unexpectedly and that are life-changing for the victim. There are many different types of injuries that are classified as catastrophic and that require ongoing treatment for years to come. In many cases, accident victims never recover from these injuries. The most common catastrophic injuries include:

  • Birth injuries: These occur when healthcare professionals make a mistake in the delivery room. They typically affect the newborn, and children often require treatment for the rest of their lives.
  • Amputations: These can be traumatic and occur at the accident scene, or they can be required treatment when a limb cannot be saved.
  • Spinal Cord injury: When spinal cord injuries are catastrophic, they typically result in total or partial paralysis for accident victims.
  • Loss of hearing or sight: Blindness and deafness are always considered catastrophic injuries because of the great impact they have on a victim’s life.
  • Head injuries: Even concussions can be considered catastrophic because they are long-lasting and greatly impact victims. Other head injuries can leave accident victims with permanent brain damage.
  • Burns: No matter the type, burns can cause permanent scarring and disfigurement. Severe burns are excruciatingly painful, as are the treatment options for them.
  • Facial injuries: These injuries can also cause permanent scarring and embarrassment for accident victims.
  • Nerve damage: This is also an extremely painful type of injury. Nerve damage is often irreversible, meaning the accident victim must live with it for the rest of his or her life.

Do not try to handle a catastrophic injury claim on your own. The long-term damages from these injuries can be extremely costly, and a seasoned attorney will be able to help you calculate what fair compensation should be in your case.

Texas Personal Injury Statute of Limitations on Lawsuits

Like all states, Texas has a statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits. This is the time limit you have to file your personal injury claim for compensation. Most personal injury claims in the state have a statute of limitations of two years. If you do not file your claim before this time expires, the courts will likely dismiss your claim and bar you from receiving any compensation.

It’s also important to know that building a strong case takes time, so the sooner you contact an El Paso injury attorney, the better.

Steps to Take to Protect Your Rights After an Accident

The moments after any accident can be frightening. Most accident victims aren’t sure what to do next, or how their actions may affect a future claim. Still, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your legal right to compensation.

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First, you should exchange information with the appropriate person.

If you were in a car accident, for example, you should obtain the driver’s license number, their insurance information, their name, and their contact information. If you were bitten by a dog, you should obtain the dog owner’s insurance information, their name and contact information, and any information about the dog, such as the animal’s vaccination schedule.

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Whether or not you call the police will also depend on what type of accident you were in.

It is the law in Texas that any car accident resulting in injury, death, or significant damage must be reported to the police. In the case of a slip and fall in a grocery store, the police likely won’t need to be called. Still in other cases, other authorities may have to be told about the accident. For example, if you are bitten by a dog, you should report the bite or attack to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

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It is essential that you seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Your health should always be your top priority. If you don’t see a medical professional right away, your injuries could become worse and you could suffer from serious complications. Seeing a doctor right away will mitigate the damage and help you recover faster. It will also ensure that your injuries are properly documented right from the start, which will be important as part of your personal injury claim.

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If you are able, you should also collect any necessary evidence from the scene.

This can include photos, eyewitness statements, video surveillance of the accident, and even physical evidence from the scene. If you were in a car accident, you should take photos of the vehicles involved and the damage sustained by each. If you slipped and fell in a grocery store, you should take pictures of the spill or obstacle that caused you to fall, and include the entire scene, which can help show that there weren’t any warning signs present.

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As you recover from your injuries, you should also start an injury journal and update it regularly.

Make sure you include how the injuries have impacted your life, whether they have prevented you from working or partaking in activities you once enjoyed, and any other effects they have had on your life.

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After any type of accident involving an injury, it’s in your best interests to speak to an El Paso personal injury attorney.

An attorney can advise on all the next proper steps you should take and conduct an investigation to help build a strong claim for compensation. An attorney will also effectively negotiate with the insurance company to help you demand the full amount of compensation you deserve.

Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers Today!

If you’ve been injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, don’t wait—contact the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin today. Our experienced personal injury lawyers are ready to help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless we win. Call us now at (915) 333-3333 to protect your rights and start your recovery process with the legal support you need!

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We are experienced El Paso personal injury lawyers. Give us a call and you’ll be taken care of! (915) 333-3333

Michael J. GopinReviewsout of 5 reviews
"Awesome staff.

Worked hard for my case. Bills paid and I got highly compensated.”

John

Mr. Marshall had a premises liability accident in an El Paso restaurant where he took a pretty hard hit to his shoulder. Thanks to the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, he was able to get in a timely matter a settlement that was beyond his expectations!

Jim
"I was badly injured in an accident and the insurance was refusing to pay.

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John and his son were involved in a traumatic car accident. Thanks to The Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC., the Shamley Family had the support they needed to turn this painful experience into one of hope and triumph.

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Contact Our El Paso Personal Injury Law Firm Now

An accident can change your life forever. If you’ve been in an accident that was the fault of someone else, contact our El Paso personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, today. We aggressively pursue the full and fair compensation our clients need for their recovery, and fight to help them get back on their feet. We want to help you, too.

Call us today to schedule your free consultation so we can review your case and explain all your legal options.

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