Texas Personal Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Allen Rogers Law Firm : Austin, Fort Worth

You've been in a wreck.  You're injured. You need medical care.  The doctor's office says they won't accept your health insurance and the auto insurance company for the at-fault driver won't pay your medical bills (or maybe they won't even return your calls).  What do you do?

Auto liability insurance does not work like health insurance.  They are not going to pay your medical bills as you go along.  The auto insurance company expects you to go out and get all the medical care you need and then, when you've completed all of your medical care, they want you to gather your medical bills and ask for reimbursement in one lump sum.  That's right.  You only get one bite at the apple.  It's a one time settlement payment.  And you cannot go back later and ask for additional money if your injuries turn out to be worse than you thought.

Getting medical care after a car wreck can be complicated and frustrating.  A common mistake is failing to contact an experienced injury lawyer as soon as possible. That error may result in a "gap" in medical care, which the auto liability insurance company will use to argue that you did not go to the doctor because you were not really injured.  The insurance company knows it's not true, but they don't care about that.  Their goal is to pay you the least amount of money possible.

You may have been transported to the hospital by ambulance.  Or you may have gone to the Emergency Room on your own.  In either case, you will be billed for the treatment you received--whether you have insurance or not.  But what do you do after that?  This article generally describes your options.  However, any person injured in a car wreck should at least consult with a lawyer for advice--whether the lawyer is actually hired in the case or not.

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Jacqueline Saburido is a hero.  Maybe you don't know her name.  But you probably know her story.  If you don't know her story you will soon.  And she very well may save your life.

Jacqueline is from Venezuela. She was a passenger in a car that was hit by a drunk driver on September 19, 1999.   Two other people in the vehicle were killed.  Jacqueline was horribly burned.  She endured the excruciatingly painful treatment , which many victims say is worse than the original injury as the burned skin is scrubbed away across exposed nerves.  Many burn victims do not survive the treatment.

She suffered severe burns over 60% of her body and she underwent more than 40 surgical procedures; and she's still not finished.  Her injuries are extreme, but drunk drivers kill and injury every day.  Sadly, Texas leads the nation in alcohol-related fatalities.

The Texas Department of Transportation is launching a new state-wide anti-DWI campaign to warn Texans not to drink and drive.  Jacqueline has graciously agreed to assist TXDOT in this effort.  The poster (right) displays her suffering.  The campaign will include shocking television ads to demonstrate the point (NOTE: Graphic Content). 

"I feel very good to do it because I know people can understand a little more what happened to me -- why my life changed completely. So I think for me, for everybody, it's a good opportunity."  --Jacqueline Saburido

Thanks Jacqueline.  You are a hero.  Find out how you can help Jacqueline.  Auto accidents caused by drunk drivers also involve complex legal issues.  For example, in addition to the claim against the drunk driver, there might also be a claim against the person and/or establishment that sold or served the alcohol.  There may also be multiple claimants who are all seeking compensation from a limited about of insurance coverage.  An injury victim from a drunk driver crash should consult an experienced lawyer as soon as possible after the accident.

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