Car Accident Attorney in San Antonio

What Can Patino Law Firm’s San Antonio Car Accident Lawyers Do for You?

While two separate car accidents may have a lot in common, every case is unique. That’s why you need a dedicated San Antonio auto accident lawyer who will guide you through the process and develop a strategy specifically for you. When you choose Patino Law Firm, you get an individual and tailored legal solution, not a one-size-fits-all approach that may not work. We give your case the attention it deserves so you can get the compensation you need.

Your San Antonio car accident lawyer can help by:

• Gathering information and documentation. Every successful claim is supported by records and paperwork, such as medical reports, evidence of your wages at the time of the accident, insurance policy contracts, medical bills, auto shop estimates, and more. An experienced lawyer knows what documents you need to build your case and can organize everything to ensure you have evidence to accurately reflect the compensation you deserve.
• Investigating what happened. Your lawyer may investigate the car accident further to build your case, securing security camera and dashcam footage, police reports, and witness accounts. Your attorney may also recommend reconstructing the accident to better understand the factors that caused the crash and prove who is responsible, especially if the at-fault party denies liability.
• Negotiating with insurance companies. The main goal of insurance companies is to pay as little as possible — smaller payouts mean larger profit margins. Insurers resort to many tactics to achieve this, from trying to trick you into accepting fault (to dismiss your claim entirely) to pressurizing you to accept the first offer they make, which is often significantly less than what you’re entitled to and may not even be enough to cover your losses. Our San Antonio lawyer for car accidents knows how to communicate with insurance companies, using our experience pushing back against insurance goliaths to secure fair compensation while you spend time recovering after your crash instead of being hounded by aggressive and stubborn adjusters.
• Securing expert witnesses: Our car accident lawyer in San Antonio, TX, knows the importance of having the right experts supporting your injury claim. The right expert for your case will depend on the nature of your accident — you might most benefit from the testimony of an experienced vehicle engineer explaining an auto defect, a crash reconstructionist who can determine if the other driver is at fault, a specialist physician who diagnosed your injuries, or an economic expert who can calculate your lost income potential if you cannot return to work.
• Litigating in court. If settlement negotiations fail, your lawyer can file a lawsuit and represent you in court. The trial process is rife with rules, procedures, and jargon, but your auto accident lawyer will draft the necessary legal documents, build your case, and explain what to expect every step of the way. Dr. Patino is a seasoned trial attorney who can persuade a jury of the defendant’s liability and secure a verdict in your favor — and the compensation you deserve.

Our firm understands the trauma of being hurt in a car accident in San Antonio. We’re dedicated to providing our clients with a clear explanation and fierce defense of their legal rights. We handle the stress and burden of pursuing your claim so you can focus on your recovery or being with your loved ones during this challenging time.

Awards and Recognition for Our San Antonio Accident Attorney

We’re proud to have received multiple awards and recognition from some of the most coveted organizations in our industry, including Best Trial Lawyer in America (2023) by The National Institute of Trial Lawyers, Best Law Firm (2023) and Litigator of the Year (2023) by the America Institute of Trial Lawyers, and the Best Business of 2023 by Three Best Rated.

Types of Car Wrecks in San Antonio and What Causes Them

There are many different types of car accidents. It is crucial to understand the type of car accident you were in, as it can inform who or what caused the accident and, therefore, how you can pursue compensation. The most common types of car accidents in San Antonio include:

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions occur when a vehicle crashes into the car in front. Common causes include tailgating (following too closely), distracted driving, sudden braking or braking failure, and poor visibility due to weather conditions or obstructions.

Single-Vehicle Accidents

These accidents involve one vehicle and can result from driver distraction, driving while fatigued, speeding, not exercising caution while driving in bad weather conditions, and external factors like road defects and mechanical failures.

Multi-Vehicle Pileups

Multi-vehicle accidents involve three or more vehicles and are among the most dangerous of collisions because a single act can cause multiple impacts. They often happen on highways or congested roads and are caused by sudden stops, reduced visibility, and driver error.

Side-Impact Collisions

More commonly known as T-bone crashes, side-impact crashes often occur at intersections when a driver runs a red light or does not yield the right of way. Speeding, distracted driving and driving while intoxicated are common secondary factors in T-bone crashes.

Head-On Collisions

This dangerous type of San Antonio car accident often happens when a motorist drives on the wrong side of the road or veers across the center line into traffic due to distraction or while attempting to pass on a narrow road. A driver may unintentionally crash head-on into a vehicle when swerving to avoid a hazard, or a reckless driver might intentionally steer into traffic.

Sideswipe Collisions

A sideswipe crash happens when two vehicles sustain side damage while traveling in the same direction. Common causes include unsafe lane changes, merging without proper signaling or checking blind spots, drifting across the lane due to drowsiness, distraction, or intoxication, or overestimating a gap in the lane during an overtake.

Rollover Accidents

Rollover accidents often occur at high speeds due to the force required to tip a vehicle onto its side or roof. However, speeding is not the only cause, and these accidents can happen when a driver is within the posted speed limit if they brake or swerve suddenly, take a sharp turn too quickly, or encounter an uneven road surface.

Lyft and Uber Accidents

These accidents involve a motorist offering rideshares via platforms like Uber and Lyft. These accidents can happen due to driver distraction (such as while checking the rideshare app), fatigue from long driving hours, unfamiliarity with roads, and pressure to pick up more fares. Rideshare accidents can be complex because liability can depend on which stage a trip is in during the crash.

San Antonio Car Accident Statistics

Using crash data from the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Crash Records Information System (C.R.I.S.), we can determine how many car accidents occur in San Antonio. There were 40,465 reportable crashes in San Antonio in 2023; a reportable crash is an accident that must, by law, be reported to the police. You must report an accident if it causes death, injury, or property damage worth more than $1,000. Of those crashes, 166 were fatal.

However, this data represents all motor vehicle accidents, including those involving pedestrians, truck drivers, motorcyclists, and more.

For this analysis, we only want to look at car accidents — crashes where the only vehicles involved were two or four-door passenger cars or sports utility vehicles (SUVs).

Filtering this data resulted in the following outcomes:

• There were 19,344 reportable car accidents in San Antonio in 2023.
• 35 individuals suffered fatal injuries.
• 218 individuals suffered suspected serious injuries in car accidents in San Antonio.
• 3,738 people sustained suspected minor injuries in San Antonio car accidents.
• 4,972 individuals suffered possible injuries.

Accidents Caused by Drunk Drivers

When a driver gets behind the wheel while intoxicated, they put everyone on the road at risk. Alcohol impairs judgment, slows reaction times, and reduces coordination, making it impossible to drive safely. 

The Texas Department of Transportation cites “contributing factors” for every car accident they investigate. A drunk-driving accident might have several contributing factors — for example, driving while intoxicated may be a primary factor, with fatigue and driver distraction listed as secondary and tertiary factors. When examining only the primary factor — the most significant contributor to a car accident — “had been drinking” or “intoxicated (alcohol)” were cited 636 times. However, 874 motorists had a positive blood alcohol result, indicating drunk driving remains a significant problem on San Antonio roads.

If you’ve been injured in a drunk-driving accident, you can recover compensation from the intoxicated driver, but you might also be able to hold other parties at fault, such as the establishment that served them alcohol if they were already visibly impaired.

Accidents Caused by Auto Defects

Sometimes, car accidents aren’t caused by driver error but by defects in the vehicle itself. These defects range from faulty brakes and tire blowouts to malfunctioning airbags and electrical system failures. When an auto defect causes an accident, the manufacturer may be liable for the resulting injuries and damages. Other parties potentially responsible for auto defect crashes include the driver (if they failed to maintain their vehicle or failed to take action after noticing a problem) and an auto shop that did not identify or fix an obvious fault).

The most common vehicle defects cited in San Antonio car accidents were defective brakes, faulty steering mechanisms, defective tires, and defective head and tail lamps.

Accidents Caused by Road Rage

Road rage incidents occur when drivers are aggressive. Aggression may initially take the form of shouting or swearing. This behavior alone can make a motorist feel threatened. However, another driver’s anger or frustration may also influence their conduct on the road, leading them to tailgate, cut off other drivers, or intentionally ram into another vehicle.

Road rage was cited as the primary contributing factor 51 times in 2023 San Antonio car accidents.

Accidents Caused by Driver Fatigue

Fatigued driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. When a driver is overly tired, their reaction time deteriorates, and they may fall asleep at the wheel. These accidents often occur late at night or early in the morning, but they can happen whenever a driver pushes past their limits. According to C.R.I.S. data, “fatigued or asleep” was cited as the primary contributing factor 237 times in 2023 San Antonio accidents. If you’ve been hurt in an accident caused by a fatigued driver, our San Antonio car accident attorney will work to prove the driver’s negligence and secure the compensation you need to recover.

Accidents Caused by Distracted Driving

Distracted driving comprises a range of behaviors, from texting or adjusting a GPS to eating or daydreaming. These accidents can be particularly frustrating for victims, as they’re entirely preventable. Our car wreck lawyer will thoroughly investigate your case, gathering evidence to prove the other driver’s distraction and fight for the full compensation you deserve.

There were 4,710 instances of distracted driving cited as the primary contributing factor in San Antonio accidents, comprising:

• Driver inattention
• Distraction in vehicle
• Cell/mobile device use – talking
• Cell/mobile device use – texting
• Cell/mobile device use – other
• Cell/mobile device use – unknown.

Speed-Related Accidents

Speed-related accidents are a significant concern on San Antonio roads, encompassing excessive speeding and driving too slowly. When drivers exceed the posted speed limit, they reduce their reaction time and increase the force of impact in a collision, often leading to more severe injuries or fatalities. Conversely, driving significantly under the speed limit can disrupt traffic flow and cause unexpected obstacles for other drivers, potentially leading to rear-end collisions or dangerous passing attempts. Whether you’ve been injured by a driver racing through traffic or crawling along at an unsafe speed, our San Antonio car accident lawyer can help. We’ll gather evidence to prove the other driver’s negligence, including traffic camera footage, witness statements, and expert accident reconstruction if necessary. We commit to securing the maximum compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and other damages resulting from these preventable accidents.

The speed-related contributing factors available to law enforcement in Texas accidents are:

• Unsafe speed
• Failed to control speed
• Speeding (overlimit) [sic]

These factors were cited 2,206 times in 2023 San Antonio car accidents.

Hit and Run Accidents

Motorists involved in an accident are required by law to remain on the scene, but a startling number of motorists flee. For those injured in a hit-and-run, a car accident can become even more devastating, as it is difficult to secure justice — not to mention compensation — from the responsible party when law enforcement does not know who they are or cannot track them down. Fleeing the scene was especially common in San Antonio in 2023, with 3,483 vehicles flagged as hit-and-runs.

What Can Patino Law Firm’s San Antonio Car Accident Lawyers Do for You?

While two separate car accidents may have lots in common, every case is unique. That’s why you need a dedicated San Antonio auto accident lawyer who will guide you through the process and develop a strategy specifically for you. When you choose Patino Law Firm, you get an individual and tailored legal solution, not a one-size-fits-all approach that may not work. We give your case the attention it deserves so you can get the compensation you need.

Your San Antonio car accident lawyer can help by:

Gathering Information and Documentation

All successful claims are supported by paperwork, such as medical reports, evidence of your wages before the accident, insurance policy contracts, medical bills, auto shop estimates, and more. An experienced lawyer knows what documents you need to build your case and can organize everything to ensure you can prove how much compensation you deserve.

Investigating What Happened

Your lawyer may investigate the car accident further to build your case, securing security camera and dashcam footage, police reports, and witness accounts. Your attorney may also recommend reconstructing the accident to better understand the factors that caused the crash and prove who is responsible, especially if the at-fault party denies liability.

Negotiating with Insurance Companies

The main goal of insurance companies is to pay as little as possible — smaller payouts mean larger profit margins. Insurers resort to many tactics to achieve this, from trying to trick you into accepting fault (to dismiss your claim entirely) to pressurizing you to take the first offer they make, which is often significantly less than what you’re entitled to and may not even be enough to cover your losses. Our San Antonio lawyer for car accidents knows how to communicate with insurance companies, using our experience pushing back against insurance goliaths to secure fair compensation while you spend time recovering after your crash instead of being hounded by aggressive and stubborn adjusters.

Securing Expert Witnesses

Our car accident lawyer in San Antonio, TX, knows the importance of having the right experts supporting your injury claim. The right expert for your case will depend on the nature of your accident — you might most benefit from the testimony of an experienced vehicle engineer explaining an auto defect, a crash reconstructionist who can determine if the other driver is at fault, a specialist physician who diagnosed your injuries, or an economic expert who can calculate your lost income potential if you cannot return to work.

Litigating in Court

If settlement negotiations fail, your lawyer can file a lawsuit and represent you in court. The trial process is rife with rules, procedures, and jargon, but your auto accident lawyer will draft the necessary legal documents, build your case, and explain what to expect every step of the way. Dr. Patino is a seasoned trial attorney who can persuade a jury of the defendant’s liability and secure a verdict in your favor — and the compensation you deserve.

Our firm understands the trauma of being hurt in a car accident in San Antonio. We’re dedicated to providing our clients with a clear explanation and fierce defense of their legal rights. We handle the stress and burden of pursuing your claim so you can focus on your recovery or being with your loved ones during this challenging time.

Typical San Antonio Car Accident Case Results: What’s the Average Settlement?

No two car accidents are the same. The facts surrounding a rear-end accident caused by a drunk driver differ from a multi-vehicle crash with multiple parties at fault. With so many variables at play, case resolutions will vary as well.

The amount of your awardable compensation after a car accident depends on your case’s specific facts.

At a basic level, you’re entitled to:

• Economic damages — the verifiable losses you’ve incurred due to your injuries — such as:

• • • Medical expenses for ambulance rides, hospitalization, X-rays, surgeries, and more.
    • Future medical costs for additional surgeries, follow-up appointments, and medication.
    • Rehab and recovery costs for physical therapy, prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, home adaptations, and other aids.
    • Lost wages and future lost wages covering earnings you have lost and will lose from missing work.

• Non-economic damages — subjective losses that can’t be quantified like bills and expenses (but can be substantial) — including:

• • • Pain and suffering
    • Loss of consortium
    • Scarring
    • Emotional anguish
    • Loss of enjoyment

• Punitive (or exemplary) damages — designed to punish a defendant for egregious conduct and at the discretion of a jury if your case goes to trial.

The amount of compensation you might receive depends on multiple factors, from the willingness of an insurance company to negotiate a fair sum, the severity of your injuries (which directly impact the treatment you need), and the long-term impact of your injuries on your life.

One person might break their arm in an accident and receive a modest settlement for immediate treatment after the crash and the wages they lost from being off work during their recovery. Another person, however, might be paralyzed after sustaining a spinal cord injury and recover a life-changing settlement to pay for their ongoing rehabilitation and compensate them for the devastating emotional distress they suffer each day.

As the outcome of a car crash can vary so widely, there is no “average” settlement. However, you can rest assured that our San Antonio lawyer auto accident lawyer will fight for the maximum amount you’re entitled to based on your circumstances.

The first step to determining how much compensation you might receive is to calculate your economic damages. From there, you can calculate how much your claim might be worth in total by answering a few short questions on our Texas personal injury settlement calculator page. However, it’s vital to note that this is an estimate and does not account for the various factors that can impact your claim. For a more accurate determination of how much compensation you could be entitled to, we encourage you to book a free, no-obligation case review with our dedicated car accident lawyer in San Antonio, TX.

Additional Information about San Antonio Car Accidents: Helpful Resources for Your Claim

Learn more about the aftermath of a San Antonio car accident and what you need to know to maximize your settlement.

• Types of Car Accidents
• Common Car Accident Causes
• Dealing with Insurance Companies after Your San Antonio Accident
• Who Pays for Compensation after a Car Accident?
• How to Read Your Texas Car Accident Crash Report
• What to Do after a San Antonio Car Accident

What to Do after a Car Crash in San Antonio

The moments after a car accident can be a blur, but there are several steps you should take as soon as possible to support your compensation claim. If you cannot — or did not — do these after your crash, it’s vital to consult a San Antonio lawyer who specializes in car accidents as soon as possible. You may still be entitled to claim, and an attorney can advise on your options.

Document the Scene (If You’re Not Severely Injured and It Is Safe)

Some of the most helpful evidence for a personal injury claim can be gathered at the scene. If possible, photograph the road conditions, vehicle damage (to your car and any others), and your injuries. You should also collect the contact information of any eyewitnesses and the following details from other drivers involved in the crash:

• Name
• Contact information
• Insurance company and policy number
• Driver’s license
• License plate number.

Call the Police

If you or any other driver sustained injuries or vehicle damage, you must report the accident to the police. Law enforcement will create a crash report when they attend the scene, which can be a vital piece of evidence for your personal injury claim.

Seek Medical Treatment (Even If You Feel Okay)

Your health should always be the priority, so you should see a doctor after your accident — even if you don’t think you’ve sustained an injury. Many San Antonio car accident victims do not seek medical attention after a crash because they’re worried about the cost, only to be entitled to substantial compensation and compromise their claim because they cannot prove when they sustained their injuries. More importantly, some injuries worsen hours, days, or weeks after an accident, but an immediate examination can detect them early and allow you to begin treatment — or at least know what signs and symptoms to look for.

Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer

If your accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, you deserve compensation for the impact of your injuries on your physical, mental, and financial health. Our car accident lawyer in San Antonio, TX, can identify who is responsible and explain your options. More than that, we can also help you get the medical treatment you need and defer payment, handle aggressive insurance adjusters trying to blame you for the crash, and gather evidence to build a strong case while you focus on your health.