Help & Information
We have straight answers to difficult questions to help you navigate legal process and secure financial compensation.
At Thomas J. Henry Law, we want to ensure all injured victims are informed and knowledgeable about their rights. The legal process can be complicated, confusing, and overwhelming, especially when you are also dealing with the aftermath of an accident or injury.
Thomas J. Henry Law has prepared the following Infographics, FAQs, Videos, and Personal Injury Legal Guides to assist you on your road to recovery. If you wish to speak directly with an attorney, contact our offices now for a FREE Case Consultation – we are available 24/7, nights and weekends.
Your questions answered
How Does the “No Win No Fee” Promise Work?
The Thomas J. Henry “No Win No Fee” promise works as part of a contingency fee agreement. Instead of receiving payments from clients, we recoup fees and expenses from the final settlement or verdict our clients receive.
This allows us to start working on your case as soon as you hire us, ensuring that your case is handled with the urgency it deserves. It also means you can focus on getting better rather than cutting us a check.
The percentage we collect may vary depending on the complexity of your case, but you will be kept informed so you know what we are collecting before your case is closed.
Even better, you owe us nothing if we don’t win your case! Because our fees are collected as a percentage of your settlement or verdict, we do not collect anything unless and until you get your recovery. This means there is no risk to hiring a qualified attorney to handle your case!
Do I Have to Pay to Speak with an Injury Attorney?
Thomas J. Henry Law offers free case reviews so that you can better understand your legal options. This means you pay nothing for your first consultation. Additionally, Thomas J. Henry Law works on a contingency fee basis meaning that if you do choose to hire us, you pay us nothing unless and until we win your case.
To learn more about what it takes to speak with an injury attorney about your claim here.
Do I Need a Personal Injury Attorney Help Me Settle My Case?
Insurance companies will attempt to pay out as little as possible when resolving an injury claim. When an individual pursues compensation from an insurance company without the aid of an attorney, the insurance company may see the lack of representation as an opportunity to lowball the injured victim as there is no immediate risk of trial or legal recourse.
By hiring a competent attorney who has a reputation for achieving large verdicts in the courtroom, you are sending a message to the insurer. It will provide the insurance company with extra incentive to offer a fair settlement the first time.
If that first offer is not fair, an experienced personal attorney will have the resources and the knowledge to negotiate with the insurance company in pursuit of a better offer.
What is a Contingency Fee?
In a contingency fee arrangement, an attorney agrees to accept a fixed percentage of your recovery as payment. This means that if you win your case, your attorney will collect their fees and expenses from the money awarded to you. However, if you lose your case, your attorney will collect nothing.
Most lawyers prefer not to work on contingency cases for two reasons:
- There is a risk the firm will be paid nothing
- Any payment is delayed until money is collected from the opposing party
Generally, a lawyer who accepts contingency fee cases:
- Regularly represents clients who lack the financial resources to pay hourly attorney’s fees (as is often the case for personal injury victims).
- Is more selective about the cases they accept.
- Is very confident in their ability to win the cases they choose to handle.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?
The cost associated with hiring a personal injury attorney and how payment is collected may vary from firm to firm. At Thomas J. Henry, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means that we don’t charge our clients a penny unless and until we win their case.
Working on a contingency fee basis allows clients access to resources and legal representation they might otherwise struggle to afford. The more serious a case is, the more money it costs to take to trial. This is because complex litigation tends to take longer to resolve and the entities involved fight harder.
This is especially true if your lawsuit is against a large company, as would be the case in a trucking accident or on-the-job injury. Such companies employ teams of lawyers and have seemingly unlimited financial resources. You need an attorney who has the same. Thomas J. Henry employs a team of more than 100 attorneys and has the money to fight your case out to the end.
Finally, by collecting any fees and expenses after a verdict or settlement is secured, Thomas J. Henry can help ensure his clients are able to focus on healing. “The client’s job is to heal. We will handle the rest,” says Thomas J. Henry.
How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
In Texas, a personal injury case is only worth what a jury is willing to award you. This is why you need an attorney who can not only prove the economic damages you have sustained due to your accident, but can also demonstrate the value of non-economic damages you may have sustained, such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of consortium.
Learn more about how to estimate the value of your personal injury claim here.
What Types of Expert Witnesses Could Benefit My Car Accident Lawsuit?
If you have been involved in a car accident, expert witnesses may be called in to help prove liability and damages. Expert witnesses your Texas car accident lawyer may call to assist your claim include:
- Medical Doctors and Physicians
- Biomechanical Engineers
- Automotive Forensic Consultants
- Accident Re-constructionists
Are Expert Witnesses Necessary to Prove Fault in a Car Accident Case?
Expert witnesses are an essential part of proving fault and damages in a car accident claim. Thomas J. Henry Law has spent more than 25 years gathering and building professional relationships with some of the nations leading auto industry experts.
Can a Passenger Sue in an Automobile Accident?
In Texas, if you are involved in a car crash as a passenger, you can pursue claims against any drivers involved, including the driver of the vehicle you were in. Beyond that, you can also sue people and entities that may have contributed to your crash and injuries in other ways, such as the vehicle’s manufacturer, property owners, and drinking establishments that over-served an intoxicated driver.
Can I Choose My Own Repair Shop After a Texas Car Accident?
Many auto insurance companies will have existing contracts with body shops and repair shops in your area. These contracts typically benefit the body shop and the insurer by exchanging referred business for the body shop for lower labor and material rates.
However, these agreements may benefit you as well. By choosing a repair shop recommended by an insurer, you will generally be back on the road faster. Additionally, most reputable insurance companies require that contracted body shops meet certain equipment and training requirements and also require that contracted body shops provide lifetime warranties on any repairs made.
Still, there are situations in which you may want to use a body shop not contracted by the insurance company, which is your right.
If you choose a body shop recommended by an insurer, you may get some pushback from claims representatives. This is because claims adjusters are often given set regarding the number of claims that should go to the insurance company’s direct repair shops. They will tell you that the shop is not on their list and that they will not be able to handle your claim effectively, or say that it could be weeks before an adjuster will be available to write an estimate on your car.
Do not be intimidated. If a body shop is truly reputable, they will make sure you receive any and all the benefits of choosing the insurer’s recommended body shop.
If I Was Injured in a Car Crash, Can I Sue the Driver of the Car I Was Riding In?
Typically, a passenger who gets hurt in a car crash has an easier case than a driver or any other type of personal injury plaintiff due to the fact that the passenger generally does not share any liability (though there are exceptions). In a two-car accident, for example, fault will normally lie with one or both of the drivers.
However, the passenger must still prove that:
- The crash was the defendant’s fault
- The plaintiff suffered damages
- The defendant’s actions resulted in damages
- The extent of the damages sustained
With this in mind, a passenger injury claim will proceed just like any other car accident claim. Just as in other auto accident cases, the passenger would want to gather the insurance information for any drivers involved in the crash and file claims with the insurance companies of any of the drivers he or she believes is liable for the crash.
Of course, if the accident were a single-vehicle crash, the passenger would only file with their own driver’s insurance company.
How Long Does it Take to Get Money in a Texas Auto Accident Lawsuit?
The amount of time it takes for you to recover money for an auto accident depends on a number of factors that are unique to your case. Sometimes your case will be settled within weeks, other times resolution may take months or even years.
Generally speaking, the more complex a case is the longer it will take to be resolved; however, at Thomas J. Henry Law, your Texas car accident lawyer will do everything in their power to ensure your case is resolved in a timely manner.