What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?

April 13, 2025

From San Antonio to Midland-Odessa, Carabin Shaw’s dedicated personal injury lawyers help Texans recover compensation and peace of mind.

What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?

Midland-Odessa’s Trusted Advocates at Carabin Shaw Explain

Many people don’t know what steps to take or who to call when life takes a sudden turn due to an accident or injury. That’s where a personal injury lawyer becomes invaluable. If you’re in Midland or Odessa and have been hurt due to someone else’s negligence, Carabin Shaw’s personal injury attorneys are here to fight for your rights and help you secure the compensation you deserve.

Find more information about Personal Injury Claims here

But what exactly does a personal injury lawyer do? Let’s dive into the specific responsibilities and value a personal injury attorney brings to the table—and why having a law firm like Carabin Shaw on your side can make all the difference.

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Understanding the Role of a Personal Injury Lawyer

At its core, a personal injury lawyer helps victims of accidents and injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. These injuries can happen in car accidents, truck collisions, workplace incidents, slip and fall accidents, oilfield mishaps, or even due to defective products or medical malpractice.

In Midland and Odessa, where oilfield work, commercial trucking, and construction are prominent industries, personal injury cases are unfortunately common. Carabin Shaw’s legal team understands the unique risks in the Permian Basin and has decades of experience handling serious injury claims in the region.

Here are the key duties and responsibilities of a personal injury lawyer:

1. Evaluating Your Case

The first step any personal injury lawyer takes is assessing your situation to determine if you have a valid claim. This includes:

Listening to your story
Reviewing accident reports or medical records
Determining if negligence occurred
Advising you on your legal options

At Carabin Shaw, this initial consultation is always free and confidential. Our attorneys provide honest insight into your case’s potential and what steps come next.

2. Conducting a Thorough Investigation

A personal injury claim is only as strong as the evidence supporting it. Your attorney will gather every detail that supports your claim, including:

Police reports
Medical records
Witness statements
Surveillance footage
Photos of the scene or injuries

Carabin Shaw’s legal team works with accident reconstruction experts, investigators, and medical professionals to build a rock-solid case. In West Texas, where truck accidents and oilfield injuries require complex investigations, our firm is known for its relentless approach.

3. Determining Liability and Calculating Damages

One of the most important roles a personal injury attorney plays is determining who is legally responsible (liable) for your injury. This might be a negligent driver, an employer, a trucking company, or a property owner.

Then, your lawyer calculates the full scope of damages, including:

Medical expenses (past and future)
Lost wages
Loss of earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Property damage
Wrongful death damages (if applicable)

At Carabin Shaw, we fight to make sure every penny you are owed is accounted for—especially in high-stakes injury claims where lives are forever changed.

4. Handling All Communication With Insurance Companies

Insurance adjusters aren’t on your side. Their goal is to settle your case for the lowest amount possible—often before you even understand the long-term impact of your injuries.

A personal injury attorney acts as your buffer and advocate, handling all communication with:

Insurance companies
Claims adjusters
Opposing attorneys

This prevents you from saying something that could hurt your case or agreeing to a lowball settlement. Carabin Shaw’s attorneys are skilled negotiators who know how to push back against unfair tactics and maximize your settlement.

5. Negotiating a Fair Settlement

Most personal injury cases are resolved through settlements, not trials. Your lawyer will negotiate aggressively on your behalf to recover the compensation you deserve.

At Carabin Shaw, we leverage our experience and proven track record to get results. We don’t settle for less than what you’re entitled to—and we’ll go to court if necessary.

6. Filing a Lawsuit If Needed

If a fair settlement can’t be reached, your attorney may file a lawsuit and take your case to court. This process includes:

Filing legal documents
Presenting evidence
Examining witnesses
Arguing your case before a judge or jury

Carabin Shaw’s trial-tested injury attorneys have handled numerous cases in courtrooms across Texas, including those in Midland and Odessa. We prepare every case as if it’s going to trial—because that’s how we get serious results.

7. Supporting You Every Step of the Way

Being injured is overwhelming. You’re dealing with pain, paperwork, and uncertainty. A good personal injury attorney doesn’t just handle your case—they provide support, guidance, and peace of mind.

Carabin Shaw takes pride in our client-focused approach. We:

Keep you informed
Answer your questions
Help coordinate medical treatment
Make sure you’re not being taken advantage of

We’re committed to walking with you every step of the way—because your recovery matters to us.

Why Choose Carabin Shaw in Midland – Odessa?

Not all personal injury lawyers are the same. Carabin Shaw brings a powerful combination of legal skill, local knowledge, and compassion to every case we handle in Midland and Odessa.

Here’s what sets us apart:

✅ Over 30 years of experience handling serious personal injury cases
✅ Award-winning legal team with bilingual support
✅ Millions recovered for injury victims across Texas
✅ No fees unless we win – we work on a contingency fee basis
✅ 24/7 availability – we’re here when you need us

Whether you’ve been injured in a car crash on Loop 250, a truck accident on I-20, or an oilfield explosion in West Odessa, we have the resources and commitment to fight for you.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Face This Alone

When you’re hurt and facing an uncertain future, having a personal injury lawyer on your side can make all the difference. From the moment you call Carabin Shaw, you’ll have a powerful team behind you—working to protect your rights, secure your future, and hold the responsible party accountable.

If you or a loved one has been injured in Midland or Odessa, don’t wait. Contact Carabin Shaw today for a free consultation. Let us help you get the compensation and justice you deserve.

📞 Call us at 1-800-862-1260 to schedule your free case review today.
We’re ready to fight for you—because you deserve nothing less.

Appeals Court Hears Wrongful Death Arguements

August 12, 2018

It’s been 16 years since a football player was shot and killed.

On Thursday, court proceedings continued with no telling how long the legal battle will continue.

This time, the venue was the Court of Appeals.

The court heard oral arguments in the in favor of the victim wrongful death lawsuit against the man who admitted to shooting the football player.

The the family of the football player won the wrongful death suit against the accused and were awarded $63 million.

The shooter’s attorneys are appealing the judgment, claiming the civil suit exceeded the statute of limitations and was filed too late.

They also argue the judgment was excessive.

Over the next couple of weeks, the Court of Appeals hopes to have a decision made for the sake of both parties.

The shooter was not in court Thursday.

We’re told his attorneys are prepared to take this case to the Supreme Court if the Appeals Court doesn’t rule in his favor.

LA Weight Loss Wrongful Death Suit Settled

May 12, 2018

A wrongful death lawsuit against L.A. Weight Loss Centers Inc. has settled for $700,000.

According to a March 3 order approving the settlement, L.A. Weight Loss will make payment to the two children of a woman who allegedly suffered fatal liver failure after using supplements recommended to her by the staff of a center.

The woman’s sister sued on behalf of the estate and on behalf of the deceased’s minor daughter.

Of the $700,000, about $311,000 will go to attorneys for fees and costs.

The remaining funds will be split between two children, totaling out to about $194,484.41.

The suit had been set for trial earlier this month.

According to the suit, after the woman sought help losing weight, she was given and used supplements that were not tested or regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

She later developed symptoms of liver disease and sought treatment at a Medical Center.

She was transferred to a Hospital where she was diagnosed with liver failure caused by the supplements.

She was placed on the liver transplant list.

She died of liver failure before getting a donor liver.

The suit sought damages of at least $50,000 per count and costs.
The County Circuit Judge approved the settlement last week.

Wrongful Foreclosure Scandal, Shoddy Loan Practices Could Create Legal Mess for Big Banks

Banks are facing a potential legal storm over the way they handled loan origination and mortgage servicing. According to various media reports, the recent revelations regarding wrongful foreclosures could precipitate a wave of lawsuits by embattled homeowners, as well as investors in mortgage-backed securities who have been burned by the shoddy way banks originated and serviced home loans.

Earlier this month, GMAC Mortgage, JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America and PNC Bank suspended various aspects of the foreclosure process after discovering irregularities in the preparation of court documents. Just this past week, Wells Fargo admitted to finding mistakes in thousands of foreclosure documents, but did not move to suspend home seizures.

The banks’ actions came after it was learned that some mortgage servicers employed people who could sign foreclosure affidavits so quickly they popularized a new term for them: “robo-signer.” In depositions taken by lawyers for embattled homeowners, some robo-signers said they or their team had signed 10,000 or more foreclosure affidavits a month. Those affidavits say the preparer personally reviewed the files, but in their depositions, the workers acknowledge they had no time to actually do that. In some cases, the affidavits weren’t properly notarized.

While some banks have chosen to restart foreclosures, asserting that their reviews found no major errors, the mess is far from cleaned up. Earlier this week, Bank of America admitted that identified errors in 10 to 25 of the first several hundred foreclosure cases it has reviewed. The bank is working on resubmitting documents in 102,000 cases. The errors found so far were discovered in 1 percent of the first foreclosure files that Bank of America intends to resubmit to the courts in 23 states where foreclosures require a court order.

The banks’ disclosures have prompted multiple investigations, including one by attorneys general in all 50 states. Those investigations could uncover criminal misconduct or large-scale errors that force foreclosures to be put on hold for an extended period of time. That will encourage thousands of people whose homes have been seized or are facing foreclosure to mount legal action against the banks.

But such lawsuits aren’t the only banks’ only legal worry. Large investors in mortgage backed securities could also join the fray, filing lawsuits to try to force banks to buy back securities that they say were the result of the lenders’ shoddy loan origination practices. According to a report in The Christian Science Monitor, Bank of America is already under pressure from institutional investors such as BlackRock and Pacific Investment Management Co., known as Pimco, to buy back troubled loans because of improper servicing. The case could end up in court, and Bank of America could owe billions of dollars if the investors win.

According to a Reuters report, momentum is building among investors to pursue those types of actions. On Wednesday, for example, securities lawyers met with more than 50 large mortgage bond investors to try to persuade them to fight banks.

There are concerns in some quarters that banks will try to pass along the costs of cleaning up the wrongful foreclosure mess to bondholders. To prevent that, investors could sue banks and mortgage-servicing firms for problems such as robo-signing or questionable affidavits used in foreclosure proceedings.

Lawyers Blog

Category: Wrongful Death Claims

Appeals Court Hears Wrongful Death Arguements

LA Weight Loss Wrongful Death Suit Settled

Wrongful Foreclosure Scandal, Shoddy Loan Practices Could Create Legal Mess for Big Banks

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Lawyers Blog

What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?

Understanding the Role of a Personal Injury Lawyer

1. Evaluating Your Case

2. Conducting a Thorough Investigation

3. Determining Liability and Calculating Damages

4. Handling All Communication With Insurance Companies

5. Negotiating a Fair Settlement

6. Filing a Lawsuit If Needed

7. Supporting You Every Step of the Way

Why Choose Carabin Shaw in Midland – Odessa?

Final Thoughts: Don’t Face This Alone

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PENDAS ATTORNEYS