A car crash can happen before you have time to react, but the aftermath can last a lifetime. If you’ve been in a car accident in Houston, you might be facing medical treatments, lost time from your job, and endless stress. The road to recovery can be long, painful, and expensive. That’s where Houston car accident attorneys step in.
Medical bills pile up fast, especially if you need surgery, rehab, or long-term care to heal from your injuries. At the same time, you might not be able to work, which makes it even harder to cover basic expenses.
Insurance companies often make things worse by dragging their feet or trying to offer a settlement that barely covers a fraction of your costs.
When you have the help of strong legal counsel, you have a team that will handle the legal battle so you can focus on healing. From collecting evidence to taking the insurance companies to court if they won’t settle, your lawyer will fight to get you the compensation you need to move forward.
Common Types of Severe Injuries in Houston Car Accidents
Every accident is different, but car crash cases in Houston tend to see certain types of injuries more often than others.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
A strong blow to the head can cause the brain to slam against the skull, which can cause a concussion or more severe brain trauma. TBIs can affect a person’s memory, concentration, mood, and even basic motor skills. Many people recover, but others face lifelong complications.
Spinal Cord Injuries
A serious crash can easily cause damage to the spine, resulting in partial or full paralysis. Victims with these types of injuries often need extensive rehab and help from adaptive equipment. Many people can’t return to their previous jobs — or any job at all.
Broken Bones and Fractures
High-speed accidents often cause broken bones. While some fractures heal with time, the more serious ones need surgeries, metal implants, and physical therapy to help the patient recover. Multiple fractures can make it impossible to work or do regular daily activities for months.
Internal Injuries
Seat belts and airbags save lives, but they can also cause internal injuries during a crash. Internal bleeding, organ damage, and punctured lungs can be life-threatening if they’re not treated immediately.
Severe Burns
Fires and explosions aren’t common in car crashes, but they sometimes happen. Severe burns require skin grafts and ongoing medical care to treat properly. Even after treatment, victims are often left with mobility issues and permanent scars.
How Car Accident Attorneys Investigate and Build Your Case
Winning a car accident case involves more than just proving you were hurt. You also have to be able to show that someone else was at fault. That’s where an attorney’s experience comes in. They’ll gather the evidence you need to make a strong case, such as:
- Police Reports: Include critical, non-biased details about the case as observed by the responding officers
- Medical Records: Show the severity of your condition and connect it back to the accident rather than some pre-existing condition
- Witness Statements: Testimony from anyone who saw the crash and can help confirm what happened
- Accident Reconstruction: Expert analysis of the scene, vehicle damage, and injuries to figure out how the crash occurred
- Surveillance Footage: Any video from traffic cams, dash cams, or business cameras that may have captured the incident
By pulling all this evidence together, your lawyer can strengthen your case and increase your chances of getting the compensation you’re entitled to.
Dealing With Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are more concerned with protecting their bottom line than making sure accident victims get the money they need to recover. Their goal is to protect their profits, which means they’ll often try to:
- Blame you for the accident to reduce or deny your claim
- Downplay your injuries and argue that they weren’t as serious as you say or that something else caused them
- Offer a low settlement that is almost guaranteed not to cover all of your costs
- Delay your claim in the hopes that you’ll give up or take less money
Many accident victims take lowball settlements because they feel pressured or don’t realize how much their case is worth. Houston car accident attorneys know these tactics and how to fight back so you don’t get tricked into taking less than you deserve.
FAQ
How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?
Most Houston car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, so they don’t get paid unless you win. Their fee will be a percentage of your final settlement, so you don’t have to worry about upfront costs.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
In Texas, the statute of limitations for car accident cases is generally two years from the day of the crash. That sounds like a long time, but pulling the whole case together can take a while. If you wait too long and miss the deadline, you could lose your right to seek compensation.
What if the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?
If the at-fault driver isn’t insured (or doesn’t have enough insurance), you still have options. Your own insurance might cover damage through uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. An attorney can help you explore other options, as well.
Can I Get Compensation if Something I Did Contributed to the Accident?
Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule. As long as you were less than 51% responsible for the crash, you can still recover compensation. However, your payout will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Get the Legal Help You Deserve
If you’ve been hurt in a car crash, contact the team at Ramsey Law Group to schedule a free consultation. You don’t have to face this battle alone. We’re ready to fight for your rights and make sure you get what you need to heal and move forward.