As anyone who routinely drives in Houston knows, crashes are a daily occurrence on our congested roads and highways. Some wrecks result in little more than minor damage to the vehicles involved. However, too often some accidents result in severe and sometimes fatal injuries.
When you are in an auto accident, you may be forced to deal with unexpected and sometimes life-altering consequences. You may now have a pile of medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and physical and emotional issues that affect your daily life.
After a car accident, all you want to do is to focus on your healing. Instead, you must deal with pushy insurance adjusters who are only looking out for their company’s bottom line. These insurance representatives often contact you shortly after the accident. They will do everything they can to deny, diminish, or delay your rightful injury claim. All the insurance companies want to do is save themselves money.
You deserve to focus on your recovery. You should not have to fight with an insurance company during this already trying time. Now is the time to turn to an experienced car accident lawyer in Houston at The Callahan Law firm. For more than 25 years, our car accident law firm in Houston has provided top-notch legal representation to those hurt by the negligence of others. We stand ready to help you. We will take immediate action, and we will provide personalized, small-firm attention to your case.
We have the legal experience and knowledge to help you get the full and fair compensation you deserve.
- Attorney Michael S. Callahan is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. That is a distinction earned by only about 2% of the attorneys in the state.
- Attorney Casey Brown was an attorney representing insurance companies for many years, and now represents people in claims against those companies. He understands how insurance companies handle these types of claims.
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a car accident in Houston that wasn’t your fault, turn to the Houston car accident lawyers at The Callahan Law Firm. Contact us today for a free case review by calling us or reaching out online.
Do You Need a Lawyer After a Houston Car Accident?
When you have a car accident injury, it can seem difficult to know whether you should speak to a Houston accident attorney. The questions you should ask yourself include:
- Was someone else at fault for your car crash?
- Were you hurt to the point of needing to go to the ER or your doctor?
- Does your doctor say you need additional treatment?
- Are you having trouble going back to work due to your injuries?
- Are you still in pain due to your injuries?
- Are you having trouble participating in activities you enjoyed before your car crash?
If you have been seriously injured following a car crash, having experienced legal representation in your corner can prove to be critical. An experienced car accident lawyer can ensure that you receive fair and full compensation for your injuries.
How Can a Houston Car Accident Lawyer Help You?
When you decide to pursue compensation from those who caused your car accident and injuries, a Houston car accident lawyer from The Callahan Law Firm can help you by:
- Conducting a thorough, independent investigation of your accident to secure evidence we can use in your case.
- Working with accident reconstruction experts in complicated cases to put together the evidence and determine how your accident occurred and who was responsible for causing the crash.
- Filing claims for compensation with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, or for coverage under your own auto insurance policy.
- Aggressively negotiating for a full and fair settlement of your claim.
- When a fair settlement cannot be obtained, prepare your case for trial and fight to get you maximum recovery.
With more than 25 years of experience helping car accident victims, the attorneys at The Callahan Law Firm have fought to protect the rights and interests of our clients and their families. Our goal is to ensure the at-fault parties and insurance companies are held accountable and provide the financial compensation our clients need and deserve.
Our firm focuses exclusively on representing injured accident victims and their families. As a smaller-sized boutique personal injury law firm, we can provide you with the focused attention that you and your case deserve. We strive to make ourselves available to you to talk in person, over the phone, or through video chat, email, or text at any time convenient for you.
Although we may be a smaller law firm compared to the big insurance defense firms, we provide our clients with big-firm experience and legal knowledge. Our founding partner, Michael S. Callahan, is board-certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Our legal team also brings experience in how insurance companies defend against car accident claims. We can achieve success for our clients in even the most difficult cases.
Demanding Fair Compensation for Your Damages
If you have been involved in a Houston car accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. Compensation can include:
- Past and future medical expenses, for medical necessities such as ER and hospital visits, doctor’s appointments, surgeries or other medical procedures, physical and occupational therapy, pain medication, and mobility or other medical equipment.
- Costs of long-term personal care, if your injuries leave you with disabilities that make it difficult to care for yourself. Those costs may include home health aides, housekeeping services, or alterations to your home to accommodate disabilities.
- Lost wages and income for the time you miss from work while recovering from your injuries.
- Lost earning capacity, if your injuries disable you from returning to your old job or to any form of gainful employment.
- Pain and suffering, or the physical anguish and emotional distress brought about by your injuries.
- Physical impairment, if your injuries result in you being unable to do or cause you to have difficulty doing the physical activities you could before you were injured
- Lost quality of life, such as from disabilities that prevent you from participating in activities you once enjoyed, or from physical disfigurements that may cause you embarrassment or humiliation.
- Property damage, such as repair costs for your vehicle or the cash value of your vehicle if it is totaled in the crash.
In rare cases, you might be entitled to receive an award of punitive damages from the at-fault party or parties. Punitive damages are not intended to compensate you for a loss. Instead, punitive damages are intended to punish the at-fault party for his or her conduct and to serve as a deterrent to others from engaging in similar conduct in the future.
Let our experienced Houston personal injury lawyers review your case. We can help you understand more about the kinds of compensation you may deserve.
Statute of Limitations on Car Accident Lawsuits in Houston
Under Texas’s statute of limitations law, you generally have two years from the date of your crash that happened in the state of Texas in which to file a lawsuit because of your injuries and damages. In some cases involving injured minors, this two-year period does not begin to run until the injured minor turns 18 years old. If you fail to file your lawsuit before the limitations period expires, the court can permanently dismiss your case.
If you are involved in a car wreck with a state or municipal vehicle or a state or municipal employee driving on business, you must also comply with the notice of claim requirements under the Texas Tort Claims Act. That law requires you to provide the relevant state or municipal government unit with notice of your claim within an even shorter timeframe, sometimes even as short as 90 days after the date of your accident.
What to Do If You’ve Been Hurt in a Car Accident in Houston
After a serious car crash, make sure you protect your legal rights so that you can pursue compensation for your injuries and damages. Remember to take these steps:
- Call 911. When you’ve been seriously hurt, you or someone else should call 911 to summon paramedics and police to the scene. The police officers who respond to the scene will prepare a police accident report. Either you or your attorney must obtain a copy of this report from the police department after your accident. Get checked out by the responding paramedics. If they recommend you go to the ER, either have the paramedics transport you or arrange your own transportation to get medical attention as soon as possible.
- Get the other driver’s contact information and insurance information. You may also wish to take down the make, model, license plate number, VIN, and registration number of the other vehicle. That way, you will know who to contact if you later need to file a claim for compensation.
- Get contact information from any eyewitnesses, in case you later need to contact them for a statement. Remember that the longer you wait to get a statement from eyewitnesses, the more likely it is that their memory of the accident will fade.
- Take photos or videos of the accident. If possible and safe to do so, you or someone you know should photograph or video the accident scene. Include details such as the resting positions of the vehicles after the crash, the damage to the vehicles, any skid marks on the road surface, the road lines and traffic control, and the weather, lighting, road, and traffic conditions at the time of the accident. Also, photograph any visible injuries you have suffered.
- Schedule a physical examination with a doctor if you weren’t taken to the hospital. Even if you do not feel as though you were seriously hurt, get checked out by a physician as soon as possible following your crash. The shock of an accident can lead to an adrenaline rush that masks the pain of injury for hours or even days after an accident. Promptly diagnosing your injuries not only allows you to get treatment more quickly but also strengthens your argument that your injuries were caused by the accident.
- Talk to a Houston car accident attorney from The Callahan Law Firm. Our attorneys can review the facts and circumstances of your case and help you to understand your legal rights and options. We can also guide you through the process of securing financial recovery.
Common Types of Car Accident Injuries
The force of impact from a violent car crash can leave a car accident victim with catastrophic, life-altering injuries.
Common injuries suffered in car accidents include:
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Head and brain injuries
- Crush injuries
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Orthopedic injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Burns
Common Types of Car Accidents in Houston
Each type of car accident presents its own unique challenges for injury victims as they pursue compensation. Examples of car accidents we handle on behalf of our clients include:
- Rear-end crashes
- Sideswipe accidents
- Head-on collisions
- T-bone crashes
- Hit and run accidents
- Uninsured motorist accidents
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Truck accidents
- Commercial vehicle accidents
- Rollover accident
Common Causes of Houston Car Accidents
Many car accidents are caused due to the negligence or recklessness of other motorists on the road.
The causes of car accidents include:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Following too closely
- Ignoring traffic signs or signals
- Wrong-way driving
- Defective auto parts
Car Accident FAQs
Do you have questions about a car accident you were involved in? Don’t hesitate to contact the compassionate and knowledgeable legal team at The Callahan Law Firm for a free case review.
Car Accident
What Do I Do If I Have Been Involved in a Houston Car Accident?
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, it is common to feel stressed and overwhelmed. However, you can take specific steps that could help your case and your likelihood of receiving compensation, including:
- Seeking medical attention. You should always put your health and well-being first. If you are seriously injured in an accident, you will likely receive medical treatment at the scene. If you don’t, it is best to visit an emergency room or your primary care physician as soon as possible after the accident. It is equally important to follow through with your doctor’s treatment plan. Keep in mind your medical records will eventually become a crucial part of your case.
- Gathering evidence. Following an accident, begin gathering any relevant evidence or information. It may include:
- Photos and videos of the accident scene
- The other driver’s contact and insurance information
- Witness contact information
As other information becomes available, such as police reports and medical records, add those to your file and share them with your attorney.
- Avoid speaking to the other driver’s insurance company. It is very common to receive communications from the other driver’s insurance company. However, it is best to avoid speaking with them directly, as they do not have your best interests in mind. While they may appear compassionate and ask for your side of the story, they won’t hesitate to use your words against you to limit their payout. If you get a call from the insurance company, simply inform them you cannot speak to them without first consulting an attorney.
- Consulting with a qualified Houston car accident attorney. Handling a car accident claim can be stressful, but you don’t have to do it alone. Your lawyer can thoroughly investigate the crash, answer any questions you may have, and formulate a plan of action to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Should I Seek Medical Treatment After a Car Accident Even If I Feel Fine?
You should always get a complete medical exam after a car accident, even if you feel fine at first. During traumatic moments, such as a collision, your body will produce adrenaline, masking pain. A thorough examination can help identify any injuries you may not be immediately aware of, allowing you to begin treatment as soon as possible.
I Can’t Afford a Lawyer. Now What?
Many accident victims have a common misconception that you must pay an attorney upfront to retain their services. Fortunately, this is not how most lawyers for car accident cases operate.
Personal injury lawyers usually work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you’re not required to pay any upfront fees to retain an attorney. Your lawyer will front the initial costs and work on your case, then take a percentage once you’ve received compensation. That eliminates the fear of costly legal expenses while allowing you to get the help you need.
What Is a Fair Settlement?
When it comes to car accident cases, there is no specific “fair” settlement. What is fair will depend on the circumstances of your particular case. To determine how much your case is worth, certain factors are taken into consideration, including:
- The severity of your injuries
- The total amount of medical bills
- Who was at fault for the car accident
- Lost wages and earning potential
- The extent of your other personal losses
How Long Is the Car Accident Claim Process?
The length of the claim process will depend on the circumstances of your case. Less complex cases may settle quicker than more challenging cases, such as those that involve more severe, long-term injuries and those in which fault is questioned. To get a better idea of how long your claim may take, it is best to discuss this with your car accident lawyer.
How Can I Prove Fault?
To prove fault, you will need to demonstrate that the other party was negligent, meaning they failed to use reasonable care to avoid the risk of hurting others, such as by breaking traffic rules or driving while distracted, for example.
Your attorney may rely on various tools to prove the other driver’s fault, including:
- Witness statements
- Information from police reports
- Photos and videos of the accident scene
- Traffic camera, dashcam, and surveillance camera footage
- Cell phone records
- Expert witness findings
What If I Was Partly to Blame for the Crash?
If you were partly at fault for the accident, you can still seek compensation as long as you’re not more than 50 percent at fault. However, your settlement will likely be reduced according to your percentage of liability. So, for example, if it is determined you were 10 percent at fault for the accident and your settlement amount is $100,000, you would receive $90,000.
What If the Other Driver Was Uninsured?
While all drivers must have car insurance in Texas, some break the law by driving without coverage or with fake paper license plates. Even if the other driver is uninsured, you could still receive compensation. You can file a claim with your own insurance company if you have uninsured motorist (UM) coverage.
What Kind of Damages Could I Be Entitled to?
For car accident cases, you may be entitled to compensation for losses related to your accident, called compensatory damages. These may include:
- Medical expenses (present and future)
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
Can I Still Recover Damages If I Was Not Wearing a Seatbelt at the Time of the Accident?
Drivers and passengers are required by law to wear seatbelts at all times, but some individuals may not wear them for every single ride. If you were not wearing your seatbelt at the time of your accident, you can still seek recovery. Not wearing a seatbelt does not cause an accident, though it could make your injuries worse.
How Can a Houston Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?
Car accident cases can be complex, and many car accident victims don’t realize the full value of their case. A car accident attorney can help you understand your legal options and handle your case from beginning to end, including:
- Investigating your case
- Speaking with witnesses
- Gathering evidence
- Communicating with the insurance companies
- Negotiating aggressively for a fair settlement
- Preparing your case for court, if necessary
Having a knowledgeable lawyer on your side can give you valuable peace of mind while you focus on your physical recovery.
Talk to a Houston Car Accident Attorney Now
When you or a loved one have been seriously hurt in a car accident caused by another careless or reckless driver, you have the right to seek financial compensation for your injuries and losses.
Do not wait another day to start the process of pursuing your car accident claim. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a personal injury attorney in Houston from The Callahan Law Firm.
Call us today or fill out an online contact form. You can discuss your case with us and learn more about your legal rights and options. You will also learn how we can help you and your family secure the fair and full compensation you need and deserve. You owe no fees unless you win.