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Defendant Answers to Personal Injury Claims

The basic answers a defendant can submit when you file a personal injury claim in Texas are to admit to the complaint, deny the complaint, or state that they have insufficient knowledge to admit or deny. Another option the defendant in your claim has is to file their own claim, either against you or involving another party.

A counterclaim is when the defendant files a claim back against you, often accusing you of another complaint related to your original claim. Essentially, the counterclaim is a lawsuit that the defendant would have filed against you should they have taken the opportunity to do so before you filed your personal injury claim.

A cross-claim is when the defendant identifies another party as a co-defendant in the claim. This happens often with lawsuits that include multiple defendants, such as multiple-vehicle accidents. One defendant can file a cross-claim against another, claiming the other party was more at fault for your personal injuries.

A third-party complaint is when a defendant brings another party into the lawsuit that was not part of the original complaint and claims they were responsible for all or part of your personal injury claim. The original defendant is now called a third-party plaintiff and all current parties are served the third-party complaint.

There are many ways the defendant in your personal injury claim can answer your complaint, and a Houston personal injury attorney can help you make sense of it all. Our article on filing a personal injury claim in Texas can help you better understand the process of filing your lawsuit and obtaining the compensation you deserve. 

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious personal injury, you have the right to the legal expertise of a Houston personal injury attorney to help you fight for fair compensation. Contact the law offices of Steven Lee, P.C. today at 713-921-4171 or 1-800-232-3711. Help is available 24 hours a day and the initial consultation is always FREE. We are also able to provide transportation options as well as home and hospital visits.