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You never know when or where a car accident will happen, especially to you. And when they do occur, even without significant damages, deaths, or injury, there are far still ranging effects afterwards. Like the cost to repair your car, or any resulting loss of income (from the loss of property, or injury).

When involved in a car accident, there are a few things that you should know. Compensation is always the question in everyone's minds after an accident- be it compensation for damages, injury, or death. Now, for most of the time, damages are covered by insurance, but first, to determine how much the claimants are to be given, the company has to establish fault.

In assigning fault, the question is about the degree of responsibility. The insurance paid out depends on how much at fault each of the two (or more) parties involved are. The insurance companies will send out claims adjusters, who study the situation, and based on their findings, fault to the parties, with a percent value known as "comparative fault." Some states calculate insurance coverage by "pure comparative fault." With pure comparative fault, your degree of responsibility is deducted from your claim. If you are found to be 20 percent responsible for the accident, then twenty percent is also deducted from your claim.

Here in San Antonio, we have "proportional comparative fault-" meaning, you get your full claim from insurance provided you aren't responsible for a certain percent of the accident. The state of Texas sets the bar at 51 percent- you get the full amount from your insurance company, provided you were found to be 51 percent or less responsible. If not, your insurance company will not consider you entitled to compensation.

For you get as much compensation as you can, you should hire one of the San Antonio auto accident lawyers in the area. With a good auto accident attorney, you get someone who can assess the situation, and serve as your advocate when negotiating with the claims adjuster. If the case reaches court, your lawyer can represent you there, as well.

An auto accident attorney can help in a number of other ways. They can gather the evidence needed to plead your case (before a court or insurance company), like police and medical reports. An auto accident attorney in San Antonio can find and talk to potential witnesses, who can give statements to help you build your case. San Antonio auto accident lawyers can help you understand your legal situation, inform you of your rights, draft letters, and be your advocate if there are any disputes.

Do you need a lawyer after every accident? It depends on the circumstances of the incident. If there's been death or serious or permanent injury involved, you will definitely need one. If fault is an issue, or if you feel you have a strong case for compensation, then call one of the good San Antonio auto accident lawyers. It always helps to have someone on your side who is knowledgeable, and looking out for your best interests.

One of the top car accident lawyers in San Antonio, Tom S Powers moved to Texas in 2008 after seven years of representing more than two hundred people in personal injury collision cases all over the United States. As an auto accident attorney in San Antonio, he writes legal advice online and for a local publication. Along with other San Antonio auto accident lawyers, he sometimes holds small workshops and legal clinics for auto accidents, road laws, and auto safety.