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If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident, you should consult with a qualified Houston car accident attorney as soon as possible. A car accident attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve.

In the Houston metropolitan area and throughout Texas, car accidents are one of the leading causes of injury and death.

houston car accident lawyer

Being involved in a car accident is a terrifying experience, and the injuries that result can be life-altering, devastating, and even fatal.

If you have been injured in a car accident in Houston, contact an experienced Houston car accident attorney as soon as you can.

One of the compassionate personal injury attorneys from the Grossman Law Offices can give you the best chance at successfully recovering the compensation you deserve.

Top 10 Critical Steps to Take (and Avoid) After a Car Accident in Houston

There are several things you should, and shouldn’t, do after you’re involved in a car accident to help to ensure you can get the compensation you deserve for your damages.

Call 911

Police officers and EMTs can investigate the accident and assist anyone who may be injured. They will interview witnesses, document vital details, and create an official report that explains what they found.

This police report will be critical to helping identify who is at fault for the accident, prove liability, and strengthen any claim to a favorable resolution.

Exchange Information

Make sure you do not leave the scene of the accident without the names, contact information, driver license information, and insurance information of the other driver or drivers involved in the accident.

You may want to take a photo with your smartphone of their driver license information as well as their insurance cards so that you have it in a secure place.

It’s also a good idea to get the contact information of any witnesses, making quick notes of what they saw in the process. When you get the police report, note any additional witnesses that may be able to provide more information for your case.

Take Pictures

Speaking of pictures, it’s a good idea to use your phone to document the scene of the accident. Make sure you take pictures or video that highlights the road conditions, wreckage, and surrounding features of the scene. These can come in handy later to help establish key details of your case.

Get Medical Attention

If you’re injured in the accident but don’t need emergency medical care, make sure to get medical attention in a timely manner. It’s important that you get on the road to recovery as well as document the severity of any injuries you may have sustained in the crash.

Keep the documentation for any expenses related to medical care as well so that you can get compensated for medical bills.

Record the Details

As soon as you can after the crash, document the details you remember in writing. Memories tend to fade very fast and can even change over time, so making sure you have a record of what you recall immediately after the accident is crucial to the success of any potential personal injury case.

Contact Your Auto Insurance Company

Within the first 48 to 72 hours after the accident, you should call your car insurance provider to make them aware of what happened.

Some policies have terms that require you to report accidents within a defined time frame. You need to comply with those terms to help the success of any future claims.

Get a Copy of the Police Report

The report completed by the officer on the scene of the accident is normally available within a few weeks of the date of the accident. Make sure to request a copy and keep it in your records along with everything else you have related to the accident.

Talk to a Houston Car Accident Lawyer

If you feel you have a case, then don’t hesitate to talk to an auto accident lawyer in Houston. They will be able to tell you more about the value and strength of your case that can help lead to a successful resolution.

Do Not Admit Fault

Don’t ever tell another party that you are sorry for the accident or admit that you were at fault for it at the scene.

Even if you didn’t cause the accident, the simple phrase “I’m sorry” can hurt you if the case ever needs to go to court. Don’t assume blame; keep your lips zipped, so you don’t admit to anything you’re not actually responsible for.

Do Not Leave the Scene

Make sure you do not leave the scene of the accident (unless you’re injured and need to go to the hospital right away). Under Texas law, you’re required to stop your vehicle at the scene.

If you fail to do so, then you can be charged with a crime. Wait for the police officers to get to the scene and take a report. Do not leave before then.

If You’re Worried About COVID-19, Do You Have to Come to the Office to Hire Grossman Law’s Car Accident Lawyers?

We realize that right now we’re all going through unprecedented times together. Because of this, there’s no need for you to come in. We have implemented practices and protocols that allow you to work with our lawyers and legal team completely contact-free.

We can handle every aspect of your car accident case remotely, keeping everyone safe and healthy.

Grossman Law’s Car Accident Lawyers Aren’t in Houston; Does That Matter?

The fact that Grossman Law’s car accident lawyers aren’t physically located in Houston doesn’t matter in the least. We have worked hard to recover tens of millions of dollars for car accident victims across the entire state.

5 Essential Questions to Ask Your Houston Auto Accident Attorney

To determine if an attorney is the right one to handle your case, there are some important questions that need to be asked in several different areas.

Experience

Always make sure to look at a car accident lawyer’s education, background, and professional experience to determine if they’re right for you. To get a firm understanding of this, you should ask:

  • How long have you been in the practice of personal injury law?
  •  Do you work only with injury accident victims, or do you practice other types of law as well?
  • How many car accident victims do you represent each year?
  • How many car accidents or personal injury lawsuits do you settle each year? How many do you take to trial?
  • How many cases like mine have you handled?
  • Do you belong to any professional legal organizations?

You might also want to ask attorneys whether they have any specialized experience representing victims of car accidents who have the same type of injuries that you suffered.

Assessment

The assessment of your case done by the car accident lawyer can help to give you a better understanding if they’re the right fit for your case. Tell them about your accident and any injuries you may have suffered, then ask them:

  • What assessment would you give my case?
  • What sort of financial judgment or settlement do you think I can realistically expect?
  • Do you think we’ll need to go to trial?
  • What factors are working in my favor? What factors are not?

It’s also important to ask any potential attorney how long they believe it will take to resolve your case.

Style

Each lawyer varies in how they handle a case, so ask questions to get a handle on their legal philosophy and approach when it comes to the law they practice. Some good questions to ask include:

  • How would you describe your approach to practicing law?
  • How do you handle car accident cases in general?
  • How would you describe your style of working with clients? Will you ask what I think or will you tell me what I should do?

Be sure to also ask what the attorney will expect of you as you move through the legal process.

Case Management

The manner in which a car accident attorney will handle your case is important, so ask probing questions to help you understand what to expect if you choose them to represent you. These questions should help:

  • Will you personally manage my case or will another lawyer manage it?
  • Will you be my primary contact? If not, who will my contact be?
  • Will you personally handle my court appearances and negotiations?
  • How long does it typically take you to respond if I have a question?
  • Will you provide me with progress reports on my case?

You might also want to ask whether there are other attorneys in the practice who will work on your case. If so, inquire about their background and experience.

Fees

You will want to have a reasonable expectation of your legal fees and costs before selecting an attorney. These questions will help:

  • Will you accept my case on contingency?
  • Will I owe any money if we don’t win the case?
  • Do you charge a retainer?
  • What fees, costs, or other out-of-pocket expenses will I have to pay?

You might also ask the attorney to show you an example of how much you could expect to net from a settlement once legal fees and expenses are paid.

Once you’ve finished your consultation with a car accident lawyer and asked these questions, you should have a better idea whether they’re the right lawyer for your case.

Top Causes of Houston Car Accidents That Necessitate Legal Representation

There are a variety of reasons that car accidents occur. However, there are some very common reasons behind car accidents that the car accident attorneys at the Grossman Law Offices deal with frequently.

Distracted Driving

In Texas, one of the leading causes of car accidents is distracted driving. It’s easy to see why, as there are plenty of distractions in the car that can cause you to take your eyes off the road for a moment and get involved in an accident.

Perhaps the biggest distraction for drivers today is the smartphone and the lure of texting when you’re behind the wheel. Texting while driving makes you significantly more likely to be involved in a car accident.

Drunk Driving

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, alcohol is involved in a car accident that injures or kills someone every 20 minutes. Alcohol and other drugs reduce your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, impairing your judgment, reaction time, and vision.

Drowsy or Fatigued Driving

Many car accidents are also caused by people simply being tired while operating a vehicle. Sleepiness has similar effects to alcohol and drugs since it can lower your response time, decrease your awareness, and impair your judgment.

Automotive Defects

Some accidents occur due to faulty vehicle parts or manufacturing defects. Defective ignition systems, airbags, tires, steering wheels, and brakes can all lead to car accidents.

Unfortunately, it may not be a defect someone is aware of until it results in an accident. When a vehicle defect is at the heart of a car accident that results in injuries, you may be able to hold the car designer or manufacturer accountable through a product liability claim.

Speeding

The faster the speed of a car, the less time drivers have to react to avoid an accident.

Also, the higher the rate of speed a vehicle is traveling, the more distance it needs to make a complete stop. Often, even if the driver applies the breaks, a car that is traveling too fast simply cannot avoid getting into an accident.

In this situation, the force of impact is greatly increased, which can make the safety systems in the car, such as airbags and seatbelts, less able to prevent injury.

The Most Common Injuries from Houston Car Accidents for Which Damages Can Be Recovered

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There are multiple factors that can impact the nature of an injury sustained from a car accident.

The speeds of the vehicle involved, where the car was hit, where occupants were sitting, and a plethora of other factors all influence how seriously someone is injured.

However, some of the most common types of car accident injuries include:

  • Fractures,
  • Burns,
  • Lacerations,
  • Spinal cord injuries,
  • Internal organ damage,
  • Traumatic brain injuries,
  • Nerve damage,
  • Head injuries,
  • Whiplash,
  • Neck injuries, and
  • Soft tissue injuries.

The injuries sustained in a car accident can have a lasting impact on your quality of life and can even create a situation where you must deal with a long-term disability.

Insurance companies tend to undervalue the losses associated with such injuries over a person’s lifetime, which is why it’s critical to have an experienced car accident attorney on your side.

Why Are There So Many Car Accident Lawyers in Houston?

Houston is a beautiful city, but it has a rather startling designation: It’s also one of the most dangerous cities for drivers in America.

According to the Houston Chronicle, the city has a higher number of yearly traffic fatalities than many other major cities, including Los Angeles and Phoenix. Houston also has a 38% above average likelihood of drivers being involved in a collision.

Because Houston is a place where many car accidents and fatalities occur, you can find a lot of car accident attorneys who want to take on a case.

Crashes, Fatalities, and Injuries in Houston: 2015 to 2019

Some of the most dangerous highways in America can be found in Harris County. In fact, the county accounts for over 10 percent of the total fatal car crashes in the entire state.

Take a look at data from 2018. There were 1,662 suspected serious crashes along with 1,947 suspected serious injuries from car accidents. Further, 20,517 possible injuries resulted from about 107,215 crashes.

Texas roads are a dangerous place. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there hasn’t been a day free from a death caused by a car accident in the state in almost 20 years.

Will Hiring a Houston Car Accident Attorney Ensure a Larger Recovery?

No one can guarantee the amount you may be awarded as a result of a personal injury lawsuit.

What you can expect from working with the Grossman Law Offices is a dedicated team of car accident attorneys who have the right resources to give the best chance at the recovery you deserve.

Will You Be Pressured to Hire Grossman Law Car Accident Lawyers If You Get a Free Consultation?

The answer to this is simple: No, you won’t. We want you to have the best possible outcome in your case. For that reason, we will speak honestly with you about the viability of your claim and how we can assist you.

If we believe you can pursue your claim directly through the at-fault party’s insurance company, we will recommend that course of action. If, however, we believe we can help you improve your outcome, we will work tirelessly to help you recover the compensation you deserve.

What Are the Next Steps to Take to Speak With a Houston Accident Lawyer?

To learn more or to schedule your free consultation, you can reach Grossman Law Offices 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call us at (855) 934-1342 or contact us online today to speak to one of our Houston car accident lawyers.