Best Car Accident Lawyers in Tyler, TX

Liability is a legal term for fault. Legal liability means that a person or other entity (like a corporation) is responsible for doing something that resulted in personal injuries or property damage.

Negligence means that the responsible party acted in a way that disregarded their duty to drive safely on the road, resulting in injury to the plaintiff.

Damages is the legal word for the money an injured party has lost due to an injury. Those damages could be medical bills, prescriptions, time off from work, lengthy recovery time, and also pain and suffering. Most insurance policies only cover certain parts of the cost involved in common injuries like car accidents, slip and falls or workplace illnesses.

Punitive damages are awarded in cases in which it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that a defendant consciously or deliberately engaged in oppression, fraud, wantonness, or malice. While punitive damages are paid to plaintiffs, courts typically award punitive damages more to punish defendants for dangerous conduct and hopefully deter others from behaving similarly.

If a negligent driver does not have enough insurance to satisfy all of the damages involved, the driver can still be held liable for the amount the insurer is refusing to cover. If the driver does not have the personal wealth necessary to pay these costs out of pocket, an attorney may be able to identify other parties that bear liability. You may also be able to recover compensation under your underinsured motorists (UIM) coverage too.