ALL CONSULTATIONS ARE FREE

NO FEE UNLESS WE WIN FOR YOU

COVID-19 Update

The Law Offices of Charlie Waters is here to help during this extraordinary time in our nation. We are fully operational, operating within social distancing guidelines, and working with clients both remotely or in-person by appointment.

Nationally Recognized Trial Lawyer
Nationally Recognized Personal Injury Trial Lawyer
Nationally Recognized Brain Injury Trial Lawyer
MISSION STATEMENT

At a time of challenge... Character and Dedication Matter.

Changing Lives One Case at a Time

We understand the hardship and suffering an injury, or the loss of a loved one, can cause you and your family. For most, a serious injury is an injury to the entire family since everyone is affected. We’re family oriented around here, so we get that.

This can be a time of great uncertainty and fear. Not knowing what to do or what’s coming next, can cause great stress in your life. We’ve helped a lot of people through difficult times just like you’re going through, and we can help you too. We battle the insurance companies, and their lawyers, everyday to get what our clients deserve. And along the way we build close personal relationships with those we represent that last long after the case is over. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Our clients trust us to fight hard for them and we do. For over 35 years we’ve handled all types of injury cases and we know what we’re doing. From experience we know how to build a winning case. We know what you need and how to make a positive difference for you. We change lives around here everyday…one case at a time. That’s our mission.

THE LAW OFFICES OF CHARLIE WATERS

A Brain Injury Resource

With brain injury the greatest fear is often the unknown, and understandably so. Recovery is individually unique and unpredictable, and can be a lonely and frightening journey. Intricate, physiological processes with complex treatments and therapies are involved and the shear mass of information can at times be overwhelming. That’s why we established the Texas Brain Injury Law Center located right here on this website. It’s a place where a variety of important information expressed in understandable terms can be readily found.

Visit the Center as often as you may need. It’s here for You…and it’s always open.

CHARLIE WATERS

Top 25 Brain Injury Lawyer in Texas

The National Brain Injury Trial Lawyers Association annually recognizes the top brain injury lawyers in the country. Membership in this exclusive organization is by peer review and nomination only. Charlie Waters has been recognized again this year as one of the Top 25 Brain Injury Lawyers in Texas. The Top 25 “exemplify superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence, and performance in the area of expertise.”
THE LAW OFFICES OF CHARLIE WATERS

OUR Practice Areas

Personal injuries can happen in all sorts of ways. If someone physically harmed you and in was their fault, you have a right to be compensated.

Car crashes can happen in many ways and sometimes involving several vehicles. Getting fair compensation can be complicated.

Riders should be respected on the roadways just like any everyone else. When they get hit or run off the road serious injuries generally follow.

A traumatic brain injury can affect all aspects of daily living. Brain injury litigation can be highly complex and requires special expertise.

Construction work can be dangerous. When someone carelessly harms you on the job-cite, you can seek compensation.

Losing a loved-one is difficult under any circumstances, but when the death was preventable it’s even more tragic.

Property owners and those “in control” of property have a general duty to maintain safe premises.

You can be seriously injured in a collision with an 18 Wheel trucks because of their size and weight.

If your child has suffered an injury contact our office today. Most often unique circumstances are present when children are injured.

ON Every Case

“We Leave No Dollar Behind”

THE Compensation You Deserve

Economic Damages

Economic damages are your financial losses. You most likely have medical bills and have missed time from work. Medical bills and lost wages are economic damages. You can recovery for these bills and losses. The at-fault parties who caused this financial burden on you and your family can be made to pay. The cost of future medical treatment and your future lost wages are also economic damages you can be compensated for. Often, we hire experts to help calculate all your future economic damages to make sure you get every dollar you have coming.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are those that have come upon you which are not financial, but rather reflect painful and emotional hurt. You can be compensated for your pain and anguish. Also, you may no longer be able to do things you could do before the accident and you’re entitled to be compensated for that too. If the at-fault party caused the death of a loved one, your grief may be overwhelming. You’re entitled to be compensated for your grief and heartache. We are experienced in identifying these damages to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are those meant to punish the at-fault party for conduct that was particularly bad and represented a total disregard for the safety of others. This happens when a party knew their conduct was very dangerous, but proceeded with it anyway. For example, when a drunk person chooses to drive his car or when a truck company knew the tires on an 18-Wheeler were worn thin but sent the truck out on the road anyway. When we seek punitive damages for you it can make at-fault people and corporations think twice before they engage in similar conduct in the future.

THE LAW OFFICES OF CHARLIE WATERS

HOW We Can Help You

01

It’s all about YOU!

At a time of serious injury...you need a good listener.

The first thing we do is have a conversation about YOU. We want to know about your injury, how your injury has affected you and your family and how you’re feeling now and feel about the future. What’s the status of your medical treatment? Are you having trouble seeing the doctor you want and need to see? Are there challenges with your health insurance? Perhaps at this time in your life, health insurance is not affordable for you and your family? That’s something we understand. What other burdens are weighing heavy on your mind? We want to know. This is a challenging time for you and your loved ones, and understandably you have many questions and need answers. We’re here to listen and provide answers and find solutions. We then lift the burden of your case off your shoulders and onto ours… where it belongs… so you can focus on healing and getting better.

02

Establishing Fault and Proving Negligence for a Personal Injury

At a time of serious loss...you need a fighter.

When you’re hurt you need someone on your side to fight for every dollar you’re owed. Someone was responsible through their negligence for your injuries and they should be the ones paying for your losses…not you. There may be many potential parties that could be held responsible for the damages you suffered in your accident. We look to find all of them. Nearly everyone who contributed to the cause of your accident should be required to pay for your damages. 

But what if you were partially at fault for your accident, which sometimes happens? In Texas, we have laws that will allow injury victims to recovery damages from the at-fault parties even if they were partially responsible for the accident they were in. This is called “comparative negligence” which reduces compensation by the victim’s percentage of fault. The injury victim can still get compensation for losses, so long as their own negligence does not exceed 50%. 

The at-fault parties, and their insurance companies and lawyers, will try to use these negligence laws to their every advantage to blame the victim for the accident. That’s why it’s so important to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer to prevent that from happening. That’s where we come in.

03

Preserving Evidence and Filing Suit Before Time Runs Out

When it’s time for action...we act aggressively.

We’re always glad when a client comes to us soon after an accident so we can get started on investigating the incident and gathering evidence. We cannot emphasize enough how important that can be. The longer a victim waits to contact us, the greater the risk that valuable evidence will be lost forever. Getting to the 18-Wheeler that caused the crash before the faulty brakes can be replaced or repaired by the truck company can make all the difference in winning and losing. Taking photos of skid marks before they fade or get rained away is often critical. And, we always want to talk to witnesses soon after the accident and record their statements before memories fade. We build your case from the ground up, one piece of evidence at a time. It’s important to start the building process as soon as possible. 

To have a chance of recovering your injury damages and losses, you will need to file your lawsuit against the responsible parties within the “statute of limitations” for personal injury cases. In Texas, the general rule requires a lawsuit be filed within 2 years of the accident. After 2 years it can be too late to sue. If that happens you would recover nothing for your losses. Under very limited circumstances there may be ways to extend the 2-year deadline, but you don’t want to take any chances. Don’t wait to the last minute to do something. Contact us immediately after your accident.

04

Insurance Companies Don’t Want to Pay You

When they play games...we play to win.

Insurance companies are businesses above all else. They are out to make money and they lose money on each claim they pay out, which is why they will look for any reason they can to deny a claim or blame the victim for the accident. They don’t have sympathy for your losses because they care about their own losses more. 

Insurance companies may even go so far as to use deceitful tactics, such as hiring someone to secretly film you hoping to catch you doing something that makes you look less injured than you actually are. They may also try to dig up things in your past to try to make you look bad or find a past medical condition or injury they can blame for your current disability. They do this to reduce the amount of money they would otherwise be required to pay. We are aware of these dirty tricks and strategies, and we know how to defeat them. We won’t let insurance companies win by falsely blaming you, or others things, for the accident and your condition.

THE LAW OFFICES OF CHARLIE WATERS

Awards & Associations

WHAT OUR CLIENTS

Say About Us

Case Results

$3,235,969
Brain Damage / Premise Liability

While playing in a city park with his father, a 3-year old wandered off and fell into a water-filled ditch and nearly drowned.

$1,079,522
Brain Damage / Premise Liability

During Christmas shopping in a retail store, a women was struck in the head by a heavy display item that fell from an overhead shelf.

$1,167,983
Orthopedic Injury / Car Accident

Multiple vehicular collision at intersection with failure to control speed.

PERSONAL Injury Faqs

If you have been injured and it was someone else’s fault, you probably do. You are entitled under the law to be compensated for your injuries and losses. That said, each case is different. We can help assess your case and determine if filing a claim and pursuing a lawsuit is best for you. Let us evaluate your case at no cost or obligation to you or your family.
It is difficult to estimate the value of any case at the outset, and, if a lawyer or law firm gives you a dollar value for your case right away, don’t trust it. It is impossible to know what kind of settlement to expect before investigating the extent of any injuries sustained, medical costs, lost wages, future expenses, pain and suffering, and how the incident occurred. There are many factors that can affect the value on any case. This is why it is important that you hire a lawyer who will complete a thorough investigation and who will never advise you to accept a settlement for less than you truly deserve. Each case is unique, so the best way to learn about what compensation you may be entitled to is to speak with an experienced injury attorney.
We operate on a contingent fee basis. This means that we only charge a fee if we win your case. In other words, our getting paid is “contingent” upon our success. The fee is a percentage of the total amount of the settlement or verdict we obtain for you. The percentage is usually 33.33% but commonly goes to 40% if a lawsuit is needed. We pay all upfront costs so that you never have to pay anything out of your own pocket. If for some reason we don’t get a recovery for you, you owe us nothing. By charging a contingency fee instead of an hourly rate (which is usually many hundreds of dollars an hour) it allows anyone who has a legitimate injury to have access to legal representation regardless of their income. Otherwise, only the wealthiest among us could afford to hire an attorney. You can meet with us as many times as you like at no cost or obligation before you decide which lawyer to hire. We want you to know your rights and be completely comfortable with your decision.
It is very difficult to say. The length of time needed to reach a personal injury settlement varies with each situation. The facts of how your injury occurred, the recovery period for your injury, and the insurance company’s willingness to negotiate in good faith are all factors that affect the time needed to resolve your case. I understand that waiting can be very frustrating and downright infuriating, especially when you are not at fault for your injuries. That’s where we come in. We try to resolve cases as soon as possible for our clients, but we never recommend settling a case unless the money offered is fair and appropriate for your injuries.

The majority of personal injury cases are settled before ever going to trial, but sometimes settling out of court is not an option. A few reasons for this may be:

  • The defendant does not offer a settlement;
  • The defendant only offers an unreasonable settlement;
  • The plaintiff wants to go to trial; and
  • Liability or damages are disputed.
Even though going to trial in a personal injury case is rare, it is always good to be prepared and understand why it could happen.