A car crash is often a traumatizing experience, especially when you have sustained significant injuries. A spinal injury, for example, could have a long-lasting effect on you. It could result in permanent effects on your body functions that could prevent you from doing certain jobs.
In this devastating situation, the compensation you get from the at-fault driver would be a great help. However, how the accident happened could impact the amount of compensation you can receive. When the court finds that you were also negligent and you contributed to the car crash, you could receive minimal to no compensation.
In Texas, proportionate responsibility plays a critical role in personal injury cases. It establishes a fairer approach to calculating and receiving compensation. For instance, all parties involved in a car crash would have financial responsibility for the injuries and damages caused by the accident. If you were heavily injured in the accident but are partially responsible, the compensation you receive will be reduced accordingly. However, if the court finds you more than 50% responsible for the crash, you would not recover any financial compensation at all.
Compensation is valuable for every personal injury victim. It could help cover your medical bills, lost income, lost earning capacity, emotional distress and other damages. Seeking compensation for personal injury sustained in a car crash could be a complex process. While proportionate responsibility ensures a fair distribution of liability, it could have negative implications when you do not understand this rule fully. A competent and experienced legal professional could guide you through the process and provide options that would yield a favorable outcome.