When an accident strikes in Haskell, Texas, the physical pain is often just the beginning. Medical bills pile up, lost wages create financial strain, and insurance companies push for quick, inadequate settlements.
At Lorfing Law, we understand that personal injury cases can devastate families both emotionally and financially. Our experienced Haskell personal injury lawyers have over 500 jury trials under our belt and know how to level the playing field against powerful insurance companies.
Contact our personal injury lawyers for a free consultation.
Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Haskell
The aftermath of an accident can feel overwhelming, especially when dealing with physical recovery and mounting expenses.
Insurance companies often take advantage of this vulnerable time, offering settlements that barely cover immediate medical costs while ignoring long-term consequences.
🏛️ Deep Local Court Knowledge
Our attorneys know the Haskell County Courthouse at 1 Avenue D like the back of our hands. Built in 1931 with distinctive architecture by Butler Co. Architects, this courthouse has been the center of justice in Haskell for nearly a century.
We understand the specific procedures, judges, and jury tendencies that can significantly impact your case outcome.
Practical courthouse details our clients appreciate:
- Court hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (940-864-2851)
- Parking: Free street parking available around the courthouse square, with the iconic gazebo landmark making it easy to find
- Location: Just off Highway 380, easily accessible from anywhere in Haskell County
- Filing procedures: District Clerk’s office (P.O. Box 27) handles civil case filings
Our familiarity with Judge preferences and local jury pools drawn from communities like O’Brien, Rochester, Rule, and Weinert gives us strategic advantages that out-of-town attorneys simply can’t match.
Insurance Company Tactics: Insurance adjusters use sophisticated strategies to minimize payouts. They may rush you to accept a settlement before you understand the full extent of your injuries, or they might argue that pre-existing conditions caused your pain.
We’ve seen every tactic and know how to counter them effectively.
Legal Complexity Navigation: Texas personal injury law involves intricate statutes, procedural requirements, and evidence rules. Missing a deadline or failing to properly document damages can destroy an otherwise valid claim.
Our attorneys handle these complexities while you focus on healing.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Car Accidents
Haskell’s rural highways and busy intersections create unique dangers for drivers. Highway 277 runs north-south through the county, while Highway 380 provides the main east-west corridor through downtown Haskell.
These roads see significant agricultural and commercial traffic, especially during harvest seasons when farm equipment shares the roadways.
High-risk locations our clients frequently reference:
- Highway 380 and Avenue D intersection near the courthouse square
- Farm Road 2163 connecting to Stamford and Rule
- Highway 277 corridor stretching toward Anson and Abilene
When serious car accidents occur at these locations, injuries can include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, and internal bleeding.
Our car accident attorneys investigate every aspect of your crash, working with the Haskell Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety to obtain official crash reports and evidence.
We understand the unique challenges of rural accidents, including delayed emergency response times and the need to transport seriously injured victims to medical facilities in Abilene or other larger cities.
These factors can complicate both medical treatment and legal documentation.
Truck Accidents
Commercial truck accidents often result in catastrophic injuries due to massive size and weight differences. These cases involve complex federal regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and insurance policies worth millions of dollars.
Trucking companies deploy teams of investigators and lawyers immediately after serious accidents. Having experienced legal representation protects your rights from day one.
We examine driver logbooks, maintenance records, and cargo loading procedures to build compelling cases.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle riders face particular vulnerabilities on Texas roads. Even minor collisions can result in severe road rash, broken bones, and head injuries.
Bias against motorcyclists sometimes affects insurance claim investigations and jury perceptions.
Our attorneys combat these prejudices by focusing on traffic law violations and safety failures by other drivers, emphasizing that motorcyclists have equal rights to use roadways safely.
Slip and Fall Injuries
Property owners throughout Haskell have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions for visitors. When they fail in this responsibility, serious accidents can occur, resulting in broken hips, spinal injuries, and head trauma.
Texas premises liability law distinguishes between different types of visitors, with property owners owing varying degrees of care to each category.
We thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding your fall to determine the appropriate legal standard.
Wrongful Death
Losing a loved one due to someone else’s negligence creates profound grief that legal action cannot heal. However, Texas wrongful death statutes provide a path for surviving family members to seek compensation for their devastating losses.
We approach these cases with deep compassion while aggressively pursuing justice.
Eligible survivors may recover damages for lost earnings, loss of companionship, mental anguish, and funeral expenses.
Dog Bites, Pedestrian Injuries, and Other Claims
Our personal injury practice encompasses the full spectrum of accident cases affecting Haskell residents. Whether you’ve been injured by an aggressive dog, struck while walking, or hurt in any other type of accident caused by negligence, we provide skilled representation tailored to your unique circumstances.
What to Do After an Accident in Haskell
Taking the right steps immediately after an accident can protect both your health and your legal rights. Here’s what we recommend based on our experience with Haskell County cases:
- Seek immediate medical attention – The nearest emergency facilities include Haskell Memorial Hospital on 1 North Avenue N (940-864-2621), or for serious trauma, you may need transport to Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene (1900 Pine Street, 325-670-2000). Even if you feel fine, some injuries don’t manifest symptoms for hours or days.
- Report the incident properly – Call 911 for serious accidents. The Haskell Police Department (301 S 1st Street, phone numbers vary – call 911 for emergencies) responds to city incidents, while the Haskell County Sheriff’s Office handles rural crashes. Request that officers complete a full accident report.
- Document the scene thoroughly – Take photos of:
- Vehicle damage and accident scene
- Street conditions (especially important on rural farm roads)
- Weather conditions (West Texas storms can be relevant factors)
- Your injuries and any property damage
- The courthouse square gazebo or other landmarks to establish exact location
- Collect witness information – Get names and contact numbers from anyone who saw the accident. In rural areas, witnesses might be harder to locate later.
- Contact a Haskell personal injury lawyer immediately – Insurance companies often contact accident victims within hours. Having legal representation from the start protects your rights and prevents you from inadvertently damaging your case.
Critical timing note:
Texas law requires personal injury claims to be filed within two years, but evidence disappears much faster. Highway Department maintenance records, security footage from local businesses, and witness memories fade quickly.
How Our Haskell Injury Attorneys Can Help
Comprehensive Case Evaluation
Every personal injury case begins with a thorough evaluation of your injuries, the accident circumstances, and available insurance coverage. We review medical records, police reports, and witness statements while working with medical experts to project future treatment needs and long-term impacts on your earning capacity.
Strategic Claim Development
We develop comprehensive claims that account for both economic and non-economic damages:
| Economic Damages | Non-Economic Damages |
|---|---|
| Medical expenses | Pain and suffering |
| Lost wages | Mental anguish |
| Future medical costs | Loss of enjoyment |
| Property damage | Disfigurement |
| Rehabilitation costs | Loss of consortium |
Aggressive Insurance Negotiations
Insurance companies rarely offer fair settlements in initial proposals. Our negotiation strategies focus on demonstrating the full value of your claim through compelling evidence and expert testimony.
When insurers refuse to negotiate in good faith, we’re prepared to take cases to trial.
Trial-Ready Litigation
With over 500 jury trials combined, our attorneys aren’t afraid to fight in court.
This trial experience gives us credibility during negotiations – insurance companies know we’ll follow through on our promises to pursue maximum compensation.
Damages You May Be Entitled To
Texas personal injury law allows recovery for various types of damages, depending on the specific circumstances of your case:
Medical Expenses: All reasonable medical costs related to your injuries, including emergency room treatment, surgery, medications, physical therapy, and future medical care.
Lost Wages: Compensation for time missed from work, including lost overtime opportunities, bonuses, and benefits. We also pursue damages for diminished earning capacity when injuries affect your ability to work in the future.
Pain and Suffering: Non-economic damages for the physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life caused by your injuries. These damages often represent the largest component of personal injury settlements.
Property Damage: Repair or replacement costs for damaged vehicles, clothing, and other personal property.
Punitive Damages: In cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct, Texas law may allow punitive damages designed to punish wrongdoers and deter similar behavior.
Why Choose Our Law Firm?
West Texas Focus
While other firms spread their attention across multiple states, we focus exclusively on West Texas communities like Haskell. This regional concentration means we understand local conditions, courts, and the unique challenges facing rural Texas residents.
Proven Track Record
Our attorneys have secured significant compensation for injured clients through both settlements and jury verdicts, backed by over 500 trials of experience.
Personal Attention
You’re not just a case number at Lorfing Law. Our attorneys personally handle every aspect of your case, returning phone calls promptly and keeping you informed throughout the legal process.
No Fees Unless We Win
We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis – you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your injuries.
Contact Our Haskell Personal Injury Lawyers Today
Time is critical in personal injury cases. Evidence disappears, witnesses’ memories fade, and Texas law imposes strict deadlines that can bar your claim forever.
The sooner you contact our office, the better we can protect your rights.
Don’t let insurance companies take advantage of your situation. They have teams of lawyers and adjusters working to minimize what they pay.
You deserve equally skilled representation fighting for your interests.
📞 Call 325-480-8100 now for your free consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Texas?
Under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003, most personal injury claims must be filed within two years from the date of injury. This statute of limitations is strict – waiting too long can permanently bar your right to compensation.
Important filing details for Haskell County cases:
- District Court jurisdiction: Cases over $500 in damages are filed with the District Clerk at the courthouse on Avenue D
- Justice of the Peace courts: Smaller claims may be handled locally (contact: 940-864-2451)
- Federal court venue: Complex cases may require filing in the Northern District of Texas, which includes Haskell County
However, some exceptions may apply, such as cases involving government entities or undiscovered injuries.
The two-year deadline is unforgiving, so don’t delay in seeking legal advice.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule with a 51% bar. This means you can still recover damages even if you were partially responsible for the accident, as long as your percentage of fault is 50% or less.
However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example, if you were found 30% at fault and your total damages were $100,000, you would receive $70,000.
If you’re found 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover any damages under Texas law.
How much is my personal injury case worth?
Case values depend on multiple factors:
- Severity and permanence of injuries
- Amount of medical expenses
- Lost income and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering endured
- Available insurance coverage
- Strength of liability evidence
Our attorneys provide honest assessments during free consultations, but final values often depend on factors that emerge during the legal process.
Will my case go to trial?
Most personal injury cases settle before trial, but we prepare every case as if it will go before a jury. This preparation strengthens our negotiating position and ensures we’re ready if settlement negotiations fail.
Insurance companies are more likely to offer fair settlements when they know opposing counsel has trial experience and isn’t afraid to use it.
