Austin Personal Injury Lawyer Blog | Gonzales & Gonzales

Austin, Texas

Chances are, you will be involved in an auto accident of some kind in your lifetime. Whether it is a simple fender-bender or a more serious incident, it is important to know what steps to take immediately following a traffic accident.

The following is a summary of auto accident basics. Consider printing these out and placing them in your glove compartment so you will have them handy in the event of a motor vehicle accident. In addition, jot down the number to our Austin, Texas auto accident law firm, Gonzales & Gonzales, so you are prepared at all times.

• Accept medical care if there is any possibility you are injured.
• Call the police and ask for a written report.
• Get the license plate numbers, contact information and insurance information from all vehicles/drivers involved.
• Speak with witnesses, and get their names and contact information.
• Contact your insurance company as soon as you can.
• Take photographs of the accident scene.
• Stay at the scene until the police advise you that it’s okay to leave.
• Don’t admit fault to anyone.
• Keep medical and other receipts related to the accident.

Have you or someone you love been injured in an automobile accident that was someone else’s fault? For Austin, Texas area residents, another early action to take is to contact the knowledgeable car accident attorneys at Gonzales & Gonzales for a free case evaluation at 512.474.2001.

Nash Gonzales grew up in Austin, Texas. His parents were migrant workers/laborers. As Nash was growing up, he personally experienced the sorrow and frustration which, even today, plagues the laborer communities and familes.

Nash would hear about how his parents and their friends would constantly have to fight for fair treatment and justice. After graduating from the Business School of the University of Texas at Austin, Nash decided to go to Baylor Law School in Waco, Texas. He wanted to become a lawyer in order to fight for his local community and help lift that sorrow and frustration that plagues the Hispanic community.

Nash is consistently in contact with the community through different venues in order to help the indigent and underprivileged who are in need, and fight for their rights. The Workers Defense Project (“the Project”) has served as an invaluable avenue for connecting with those Hispanics who have experienced injustice and desperately need help.

The Project was founded in August, 2002, by employees and volunteers of Casa Marianella, a local shelter, to address the problem of unpaid wages for Austin's low-wage workers. Nash has partnered with the Project in order to maximize its impact on the community.

It is a worker center and a part of a national movement of organizations that seek to provide low-wage workers with the resources they need to fight eradicate hazardous and unsafe working conditions. The Project provides a source of power and hope for many low-wage workers who do not have access to resources in order to improve their living and working conditions. The project is one of the few organizations in Texas which work to address the workplace abuse faced by low-wage workers. Additionally, the project is the most established worker center in the region.

It is the Project’s belief that those who have experienced oppression first hand are the ones who should lead social justice movements because these individuals are intentionally excluded from the decision-making processes that most strongly affects their lives.The Project creates participatory structures where worker leaders, those directly affected by workplace injustice, serve on a board of directors, and where workers themselves make important campaign and administrative decisions. The Project provides a ten (10) week Leadership Development course and periodic advanced trainings for its members.

Nash Gonzales is actively involved with the Project. He helps by representing workers who are injured or have unpaid wages. Nash also donates funds in order to support long-term survival and success of the organization.

Believe it or not, insurance companies love when more than two vehicles are involved in an accident. Why? Because it gives the insurance companies the opportunity to create confusion and blame other parties who are probably not responsible. That is why it is very important to speak to an attorney to make sure you know how to respond to the insurance companies' tricky questions.

At Gonzales & Gonzales, automobile accidents make up over 90% of our business. That is, auto accidents are our business. We have become recognized as the premier Austin Texas Auto Accident Law Firm. We advise those involved in a multi-vehicle accidents to be aware of the following:

(1) The order of impact is very important.
(2) During a recorded statement, make sure it is clear that the car behind you pushed you into the car in front of you. That is, you did not hit the car in front of you first.
(3) Clearly, state who you believe was responsible for the accident. Never say, "I'm not sure." This will allow the insurance company to decide who is responsible for the accident. Unfortunately, the insurance company often chooses the party who doesn't have insurance. This leaves you without any means to recover financial damages.
(4) Don't provide a recorded statement without legal counsel.
(5) As you may wake up with pain the next morning, don't tell the insurance company that you were not injured or hurt in the accident. Even if you don't believe you are injured, you should consult a physician for a check up.

We serve auto accident clients in both English and Spanish and look forward to helping you with your important case.

Austin, Texas

The days and weeks after an auto accident can be a stressful time, especially if you or a loved one is recovering from injuries. It is not unusual to have many unanswered questions about who will pay for property damage and medical bills.

At the Austin, Texas auto accident law firm of Gonzales & Gonzales, we are happy to help you begin to get the answers you need during a free accident consultation.

In the meantime, here are answers to two of the most frequently asked questions we receive:

Do I have a personal injury case?

Only a skilled auto accident attorney can answer this, after a consultation (and probable further investigation). But in general, here are a few of the factors we consider:

• Do you have potential witnesses or other proof of fault?
• What injuries were sustained?
• What amount of property damage was incurred?
• Were drugs or alcohol involved?

Why do I need an auto accident lawyer?

You need to concentrate on recovery. An attorney can focus on the investigation and dealing with insurance companies. Remember, insurance companies have teams of lawyers working on cases like yours every day. Having your own attorney evens the playing field.

If you live in the Austin, Texas area and have been injured in an automobile accident and have additional questions, please get in touch with our experienced traffic accident lawyers at Gonzales & Gonzales at 512.474.2001.