Personal Injury Car Accident Lawyer in Houston Representing Clients in Texas & Nationwide
Patrick Daniel is a Houston car accident lawyer with extensive experience representing those who have been injured in crashes through no fault of their own.
If you have been injured by a car, truck, or another motor vehicle, our team is prepared to fight mercilessly for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Virtually everyone is going to be in a car accident at some point in their lives. Although in some crashes no one gets hurt, the unfortunate fact is that many car accidents result in serious injuries and fatalities.
Often making matters worse are the tactics employed by insurance companies to reduce the amount of money they have to pay on reasonable claims.
At Patrick Daniel Law, our Houston car accident attorney advocates for the interests of people over those of corporations.
We consider it our duty to hold negligent drivers responsible, which often means we have to go toe-to-toe with major insurance companies.
Should I Get a Lawyer for an Auto Accident?
There are many different circumstances to take into account after a car accident. For most people, the biggest concerns are: “How long before I recover from my injuries?” “Will my insurance cover the costs of the accident?” “When will my life get back to normal?”
Many car accident victims don’t start to think about hiring a car accident lawyer in Houston until they receive word from the insurance company.
Their claim may be denied, or the compensation offered by the insurer may be woefully inadequate for their losses.
In reality, there are several good reasons to hire a Houston car accident lawyer – ideally before you ever speak to an insurance adjuster:
The insurance companies don’t work for you. Insurance companies are for-profit organizations. The inescapable advertising to the contrary, they are not “good neighbors” and their customers are not in “good hands.”
They are businesses, and the company will go the extra mile to pay as little as possible on your claim (whether it’s your insurance or the at-fault driver’s). Houston car accident lawyers, meanwhile, will protect your rights.
Your injuries may be serious. Getting medical attention is crucial after a car accident. If you sustained serious injuries, the value of your claim may be substantial.
However, the at-fault parties and their insurance carriers will fight to reduce their liability. You need a car accident attorney who can advocate on your behalf to recover the compensation you deserve.
You have a limited time to file a claim. In Texas, you only have 2 years to pursue a car accident claim. This time will fly by, and you may miss your opportunity to recover without the assistance of an experienced Houston car accident lawyer.
The evidence from the car accident will disappear. From physical evidence at the scene to witnesses’ memories of the accident, crucial proof of how the accident occurred will only last so long.
To hold the other driver accountable, your claim must be supported by evidence. Car accident lawyers know how to investigate the crash to build a strong case on your behalf.
The settlement offer may not be fair. If the insurance company offers you a settlement, they may be attempting to pay you a pittance so you’ll go away.
Alternatively, they may be aware of the seriousness of your claim, and they want to head off further litigation. In either case, a car accident lawyer can review the offer and advise you on what compensation would be truly fair.
Your claim may be more complicated than it seems. It is important not to assume that your case is “easy” or a “slam dunk.”
Your car accident attorney will review the facts and evaluate the evidence, then advise you of your legal options. Having a lawyer on your side is crucial if your case involves issues such as multiple at-fault parties, comparative negligence, and more.
We will discuss these and other issues in the following sections. By the end, you should feel confident in your decision to get a Houston car accident lawyer to help with your case.
What Should I Do After a Houston Car Accident?
The clock begins ticking on your accident claim the second it happens. You may be in shock and even banged up, but you can start building your claim at the scene immediately after the accident.
Follow these helpful steps, but pay special attention to steps #1 and step #2 before proceeding to the others:
Step #1: Call 911
In Texas, you are required to file an accident report with the police if the crash caused over $1,000 in property damage or if the accident resulted in injury or death. If someone is seriously hurt (including yourself), call for emergency personnel to respond to the scene.
Step #2: Get Medical Care
If you are in a serious accident, treatment will begin at the scene and continue as you are transported to the hospital.
Your priority after being hurt should be to get the care you need, so let the professionals extract you from the vehicle and then take you to the ED as needed.
You may be treated and released at the scene if fire and rescue workers don’t see signs of serious injury. Do not consider this the final word on your condition.
Some life-threatening injuries, from head trauma to internal bleeding, progress in severity. This, combined with the adrenaline you feel after the accident, could give you a false sense of security.
If you feel up to it, take the time you need to perform the steps below. Then, see a doctor as soon as possible.
Step #3: Take Pictures of the Accident Scene
Insurance companies dispatch accident response teams almost immediately to the scenes of major accidents. Their goal is to capture any evidence that can reduce what they might have to pay.
While you are on the scene, you should do the same, but with the opposite goal in mind: your records should reflect the full extent of damages. The best way to do this is to capture images and even videos of:
- The injuries you have suffered
- The damage to your car and any other vehicles involved
- The state of the road, including skid marks and damage to the pavement reflecting high speeds and other factors
- The area immediately around the accident site, including signs, lane markings, and more
- Weather conditions, if relevant
- Another set of photos you need to capture is the information for the other driver.
Step #4: Exchange Information
Whether you write it down or take pictures of the documents with your phone, you will need the name, address, phone number, and driver’s license number of every driver involved in the crash, as well as the name of their insurance carrier and the policy number on the proof of insurance.
If the driver does not present proof of insurance, make note of this as well. It may impact how your claim is pursued.
Step #5: Interview Witnesses
If any bystanders are around the scene of the accident, ask them what they saw. For each person, you talk to, ask their name and get contact information.
Claims that involve word-against-word in a car accident are difficult to win. If your car accident case goes to trial, witness testimony may support your claims against the at-fault driver.
Step #6: Contact a Houston Car Accident Lawyer
It is certainly in your best interest to contact a Houston auto accident attorney if you were injured in a car accident.
This early in your case, it is difficult to know how the injuries will affect your life long-term and when all is said and done, how much everything will cost.
The insurance company is counting on you to be confused, concerned, and out of sorts. That is their perfect opportunity to have an insurance adjuster call you and ask for a statement.
BEWARE: Any statement you make to the insurance company can and will be used against you. If you say something that suggests you are at fault for the accident, however unintentionally, and the adjuster has it recorded, your options for financial recovery will be significantly limited.
Before the insurance company can take advantage of you, contact the Houston car accident lawyers at Patrick Daniel Law to discuss your options.
You are not legally required to make a statement to the insurance company, and we can handle any communications with them on your behalf.
How Will an Attorney Investigate the Car Accident?
The evidence gathered by accident victims at the scene is often a crucial foundation for subsequent claims. However, personal injury lawyers who know how to handle car accidents can do much more to build your case.
Some of the investigative steps a Houston car accident lawyer will take on your behalf include:
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Expert Examination of the Accident Scene
Accident reconstructionists have specialized training in the science behind car accidents. Through assessment of the scene in-person and via photos (ones you take as well as professional photography), reconstructionists are often able to determine key facts such as:
- The speed at which the vehicles were traveling at the time of the accident
- The force of the impact
- What actions the drivers took before and during the accident (often discernible through tire marks and other evidence)
- The condition of the road and the surrounding area, including issues related to paving and striping, construction, visibility, signage, and more
- Where the vehicles came to a stop
- Oftentimes accident reconstructionists will create computer simulations of the crash. These models are powerful exhibits if your car accident claim goes to court.
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Witness Interviews
Asking the right questions is a fixture of any attorney’s job. Though you may have gotten the preliminary impressions from witnesses at the scene of the crash, our car accident lawyers and/or experts involved in the investigation ask more detailed, precise questions as part of building your case.
Ultimately, witness testimony may be cut both ways. Some witnesses may support your account of the accident, while others possibly saw the event in a light that doesn’t help your claim.
By interviewing different witnesses, a Houston auto accident attorney will be able to prepare for both corroborating and contradictory testimony.
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Reviewing the Accident Report
The police report includes several crucial details about the accident that our car crash lawyers can use to build your case.
We will identify which police department dispatched an officer to the scene and request a copy of the report on your behalf.
The accident report may include important information such as:
- The approximate time and exact date and location of the accident
- Contact and insurance information for the drivers involved, as well as their statements
- Injuries in the accident
- Damage to the vehicles
- Names, contact information, and statements from witnesses
- Traffic citations and/or arrests
- A rudimentary drawing of the scene of the accident
As with witness statements, our lawyers need to account for all evidence that may help OR hinder your accident claim. We may be able to challenge errors in the police report, handle questions of contributory negligence if you were cited for the accident, and more.
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Expert Examination of the Vehicles
Our Houston car accident lawyer works with engineers, accident re constructionists, and other experts to assess the damage to and condition of the vehicles involved in the accident.
Examination of the vehicles assists with the reconstruction of the crash, as well as determining the presence of any defects that may have contributed to the collision.
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Obtaining Electronic Evidence
Sophisticated technology is everywhere nowadays, from inside our cars to our phones to the surveillance cameras homeowners and businesses use to keep their properties safe.
Patrick Daniel Law is committed to innovative legal strategies that harness the power of technology in service to our clients.
Our lawyers will track down and request digital records that pertain to your case. Types of electronic evidence may include:
- Video footage of the accident from nearby residences and businesses
- The at-fault driver’s cell phone records, if distracted driving was a factor in your car accident
Event data recorder (EDR) records – the EDRs on newer cars track data related to speed, braking, acceleration, airbag deployment, and more
Digital evidence is often unattainable without the assistance of an attorney. Our Houston car accident lawyer knows the procedures for recovering records from a wide variety of parties, and we will put our experience and tenacity to work for you.
Compensation in Your Car Accident Claim
Car Accident FAQ
What Causes Houston Car Accidents?
Negligence behind the wheel can take a host of different forms. Although most car accidents are the result of driver error, it is important not to overlook other factors that may have contributed to the crash.
At Patrick Daniel Law, we thoroughly investigate the circumstances of each car accident to determine what caused the crash and who is liable. We have handled cases involving:
Speeding
According to 2021 data from the Texas Department of Transportation, speed was a factor in nearly 30,000 vehicle accidents.
In the counties that make up Houston (Harris County, Fort Bend County, and Montgomery County), excess speed was involved in 127 fatal crashes.
Driving faster than the speed limit gives you less time to see potential hazards and brake in time to avoid them. Whether those hazards are another vehicle, a stationary object, or a person, the consequences of going too fast can be catastrophic.
Distracted Driving
Safe driving requires our full focus. Unfortunately, many drivers in Houston and other areas of Texas succumb to the abundance of distractions that vie for attention when they are behind the wheel.
Car accidents may be caused by any number of different distractions. These distractions may occupy a driver’s eyes, hands, and/or mind, endangering the distracted driver, his or her passengers, and other people on the road.
Texting: Reading and sending texts is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving.
Research shows that distracted drivers moving at highway speeds can travel the length of a football field in less than 5 seconds without looking at the road. It can take less than 1 second to get into an accident.
Talking on the phone: It is dangerous to take phone calls behind the wheel, even when you’re using a hands-free device.
Drivers who are distracted by talking on the phone typically pay more attention to the conversation they’re having than they do on the road.
Looking outside the vehicle: Driving is a routine activity. You may travel the same streets every day and see the same things every time.
Outside events such as someone in another car, wildlife near the road, or even a traffic accident may draw your eye, but even a slight lapse in concentration can cause a crash.
Passengers: Whether you’re driving with friends or you have your family in the car, your attention is likely to be divided. As the driver, it is your responsibility to get everyone from point A to point B safely. Don’t be afraid to speak up if passengers are being too loud and distracting.
Eating and drinking: For many drivers, time in the car doubles as mealtime. Drinking and eating occupy one or both hands, which reduces the ability to control the car.
Grooming: Drivers who apply makeup, comb their hair, and perform other grooming and hygiene activities face many of the same dangers as drivers who are preoccupied with eating and drinking. In these cases, however, visual, manual, and cognitive distractions may be involved.
Adjusting controls inside the car: You may think you can change the radio station or turn up the AC in the blink of an eye. However, even this split-second distraction may be enough time for an accident to occur.
Smoking: Drivers who smoke behind the wheel may be distracted visually, manually, or both, increasing the risk of a car accident.
In 2021, distracted driving was a factor in over 93,000 crashes and more than 430 fatalities.
Unsafe Lane Changes
Whether they occur as a result of distracted driving or as a simple failure to check blind spots, accidents involving lane changes present a serious risk of injury.
The driver into whose path the at-fault driver moves has little time to react, and collisions often occur on multi-lane roads and highways at high speeds.
Drunk or Drugged Driving
In Texas, the legal limit for alcohol consumption is 0.08 blood alcohol content (BAC). However, the driver does not have to be legally impaired to be held liable for an accident.
Getting behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs is inherently reckless. A Houston car accident lawyer will present evidence of the driver’s elevated BAC or other toxicology results to show that he or she was negligent.
The driver may not be the only one liable in a drunk driving accident claim. Our Texas car accident attorneys may also be able to recover compensation on your behalf from the establishment that overserved a visibly intoxicated patron (known as a dram shop law claim).
Harris County had the highest number of DUI crashes in Texas in 2021. Drunk driving was a factor in over 4,100 accidents, 158 of which were fatal.
Aggressive Driving
The line between reckless driving and aggressive driving is very thin. Recklessness typically gives way to aggressiveness when a driver goes from overlooking a possible danger or violation to disregarding the danger of their actions.
Examples of aggressive driving that commonly cause car accidents include:
- Following another vehicle too closely (tailgating)
- Disregarding a red light or stop sign
- Speeding up to “beat” a yellow light
- Improper passing (i.e., passing a vehicle on the right or the shoulder of the road)
- Failure to yield
- Improper turning
The most extreme type of aggressive driving is road rage, where a driver is genuinely attempting to harm somebody else. In 2021, road rage was a factor in more than 1,600 crashes in Texas.
Houston Rollover Vehicle Accident
Defective Vehicles
Automobile safety has been a headline item for nearly as long as the automobile has been around, and some of the most publicized product liability cases in U.S. history have featured defects in cars, trucks, buses, and off-road vehicles.
While automobiles are infinitely safer today, defects and part failures still pose a danger to drivers and passengers.
Some of the most common defects involved in auto accidents involve the following parts and systems of the car:
Tires: Tires don’t blow out quite as often as they used to, but they still suffer from belt separation and tread defects. A tire failure can arise from manufacturing defects or design defects.
Brakes: Defective brakes or brakes that are prone to failure may prevent a vehicle from stopping in time to prevent an accident. They may also increase the risk of a rollover.
Steering mechanism: Flaws and defects in a car’s steering systems can result in a loss of control, increasing the risk of an accident.
Lights: Defects in the headlights reduce the driver’s visibility at night, increasing the risk of an accident. Defects in the tail lights and/or brake lights reduce the visibility of the vehicle to cars trailing behind, which can result in rear-end collisions.
Transmission: The transmission in a car distributes power to the wheels. Vehicles with defective transmissions may suffer from issues with stopping and acceleration, or they can become stuck between gears.
Accelerator: “Phantom acceleration” occurs when a car supposedly accelerates on its own, without the driver’s interaction on the pedal.
In the early 2010s, a series of claims against Toyota and Audi brought about recalls and drew national attention to the problem.
Automakers continue to rally behind the premise that the accidents were due to driver error – pedal error, to be precise – and not due to an inherent problem with the cars.
Fuel systems: Fuel systems are rife with hazards by nature, from the tank to the engine, and federal standards put great emphasis on the ability of the fuel system to withstand collisions, heat, and wear. However, design and manufacturing defects in these systems can cause fires and explosions.
Airbags: Though generally not the cause of car accidents by themselves, defective airbags can make the injuries in a car accident much worse.
Defects include airbags that fail to deploy, underinflate on deployment and airbags that explode and send shrapnel into the interior of the vehicle (as was the case in the massive Takata airbag recall).
Seat belts: Along with airbags, seat belts are one of the major lines of defense against serious injury and death in car accidents. Defective seat belt design and manufacturing errors may result in flaws in the buckle, belt, and other parts, increasing the harm drivers and passengers may suffer in the event of a crash.
Weight distribution/center of gravity defect: This is a design flaw that makes large vehicles like SUVs far more likely to roll over than standard vehicles. Other vehicles may develop a “death wobble” at highway speeds due to a defect in vehicle stability when cornering.
Structural integrity/roof crush: While crashes at extremely high speeds reduce most cars to jagged scrap metal, there is the expectation that the vehicle’s outer shell and framework would absorb enough of the energy of a typical collision to prevent impact injury to its occupants.
Some economy cars score poorly in this category in crash tests, although they still must meet minimum federal standards.
Defective product claims of any kind are complicated. Corporations will use the full force of their money and legal teams to combat legitimate claims.
Therefore, it is important to level the playing field by working with a Houston car accident lawyer who is well-versed in auto defect litigation.
Unsafe Roads
Roads that experience heavy traffic endures significant wear and tear. Weather events such as heavy rain can also make roads impassable without proper grading and drainage.
If you were injured in a car accident caused by a defective or damaged road, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries. Road defects that may lead to a car accident include:
- Potholes
- Loose gravel and debris on the road
- Uneven lanes
- Blind corners
- Missing or damaged road signs
- Insufficient lighting or reflectors
- Faded road striping
- Damaged or missing guardrails and barriers
- Flooding or standing water due to inadequate drainage
Liability for defective road accidents can be complicated. You may be able to pursue a claim against the government agency responsible for the road, as well as the construction company and/or the subcontractors who designed and built the road.
Claims against the government in Texas are subject to special rules and tight deadlines.
You only have six months to file a claim (or less, depending on where the accident occurred; claims against a municipal authority in Houston, for example, must be filed within just 90 days), and you must follow specific procedures in filing your claim.
n experienced Houston car accident lawyer can help you with these steps, but it is important to act quickly.
Single-Vehicle Accidents
You may assume that you and you alone are responsible if you crash your car. However, if another driver cuts you off, swerved into your lane, or forced you off the road, that driver can be held responsible for the damages you sustain in an accident that only involves your vehicle.
The key to establishing fault in a single-vehicle accident is prompt investigation. Witness statements, surveillance camera footage, and other evidence can help a car accident lawyer in Houston identify the driver who caused you to crash.
What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accidents?
The positioning of the vehicles in your traffic accident claim plays a large role in the seriousness of your injuries and who is at fault for the crash.
The attorneys at Patrick Daniel Law handle all types of car accident claims in Houston and other areas of Texas, including:
Rear-end collisions: The most common type of vehicle collision, rear-end accidents typically occur because the at-fault driver fails to maintain a safe distance from the car ahead, or as a result of distracted driving.
Rear-end crashes can occur at any speed, from when you’re stopped at a traffic light or road sign to when you’re driving on the highway.
Head-on collisions: A head-on car crash often results in serious injury to both the drivers and other occupants of the vehicles involved.
They often happen because the at-fault driver enters the wrong lane as a result of distraction, intoxication, or unfamiliarity with the area.
T-bone crashes: The “T” is formed when the front of one car smashes into the side of another car. T-bone accidents are most common in intersections.
Depending on which side the impact occurs on, the driver and passengers of the car that gets hit may be seriously injured.
Sideswipe accidents: These accidents occur when one car “clips” another, damaging the sides of both vehicles.
They may happen when two cars are traveling next to each other side-by-side, or when a vehicle moving in one direction moves out of its lane and slightly into the path of oncoming traffic.
A sideswipe doesn’t necessarily result in injury, but one or both of the drivers may crash separately in the course of trying to regain control.
Rollover accidents: Any vehicle can roll if the conditions are just wrong. However, many rollover crashes are the result of defects in the design or manufacture of certain vehicles, particularly SUVs, trucks, and vans.
Hit-and-run accidents: Drivers must stop after they have been in an accident. When an at-fault driver fails in this duty, they may face criminal charges as well as civil liability.
Of course, not all car accidents only involve passenger vehicles. At Patrick Daniel Law, we represent clients in claims that run the full gamut of motor vehicle collisions:
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Bus accidents
If you have been injured in a car crash or any type of vehicle accident, our Houston car accident lawyer will fully investigate to determine who is at fault.
We will develop a legal strategy tailored to the facts in your particular case, and pursue compensation for the injuries you have suffered.
Houston Car Accident Injury Lawyers
What Injuries Occur in Car Accidents?
Despite all the safety features of cars today, vehicle collisions are still one of the major causes of serious injuries and deaths in the United States.
Even accidents that occur at relatively slow speeds can have life-changing impacts on drivers and passengers.
Major types of injuries in car accidents include, but are not limited to, the following. Tragically, some of these injuries can be fatal even with timely medical intervention.
Traumatic Brain Injury
The brain is a complex and sensitive organ. If you suffer head trauma in a car accident, it is important to be evaluated for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as soon as possible.
Brain injuries can range in seriousness from a concussion to an open head wound resulting in severe brain damage. The long-term effects of a TBI are often not apparent until the injury has stabilized.
Facial Injury
The head and face are particularly vulnerable in the event of a car accident. Some of the common injuries to the face in a crash include:
- Broken orbital bone (eye socket)
- Broken nose
- Broken cheekbone (zygomatic bones)
- Lacerations
- Broken and dislodged teeth
Broken jaw and damage to the structure of the jaw (e.g., the temporomandibular joint, which controls the movement of the jaw)
Facial injuries in a car accident may require extensive treatment. They can also result in scarring and disfigurement that permanently alter your appearance.
Neck Injury
Whiplash is a common outcome of car accidents at any speed. The force of the impact in the accident causes the head to move rapidly in multiple directions, resulting in hyperextension and flexion of the cervical vertebrae (the bones in the neck) and damage to supporting soft tissue in the neck.
Insurance companies often underpay damages related to whiplash injuries. A Houston car accident lawyer can discuss the typical car accident settlement amounts for whiplash and what your case may be worth.
Another potential injury to the neck in car accidents is damage to the discs that separate the cervical vertebrae.
These discs, which support the neck and facilitate its movement, may become herniated or ruptured in a car accident. A herniated or ruptured disc can result in chronic pain and loss of function that gets worse over time.
Back Injury
As with the neck, vertebrae in the upper and lower back (known as the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, respectively) may suffer disc injuries in a car accident.
Supporting structures such as muscles and ligaments may also be damaged, further compromising movement and stability of the back.
A fracture of one or more of the thoracic and/or lumbar vertebrae is known as a broken back. A broken back is not the same thing as a spinal cord injury (see below), but it can be extremely painful and limit mobility.
Spinal Cord Injury
When people think of a spinal cord injury, they usually think of the worst-case scenario: paralysis. Although paraplegia (paralysis of the lower extremities) and quadriplegia (paralysis of the upper and lower extremities) may occur as a result of a car accident, paralysis is not a guaranteed outcome of a spinal cord injury.
Other issues associated with spinal cord injury include a loss of sensation and motor function in the affected area(s). Though perhaps not as debilitating as paralysis, these issues can significantly impact your quality of life and your livelihood.
Damage to Internal Organs
The chest and abdomen are vulnerable areas in a car accident. The force of the collision may cause injury to vital organs such as:
- The lungs
- The heart
- The liver
- The spleen
- The stomach
- The kidneys
If you experience pain in your chest or abdomen after a car accident, seek medical attention immediately. Each of these organs plays a crucial role in your health, and damage that is not caught in time may result in serious complications.
Internal Bleeding
As with organ damage, internal bleeding after a car accident is a medical emergency. If you experience lightheadedness, fatigue, difficulty breathing, or unexplained bleeding outside the body, you may have suffered internal trauma to blood vessels, tissues, and/or vital organs.
Broken Bones
So far we have talked about trauma to the head, neck, and back. Bones in these areas can all suffer serious fractures in collisions, though they are not the only broken bones that we see in car accident cases.
Other parts of the body that are prone to bone breaks in an accident include:
- The arms
- The wrists
- The hands and fingers
- The ribs
- The hips and pelvis
- The legs
- The ankles
- The feet and toes
Some broken bones are treatable with a cast or splint. Others, however, may require surgery to repair, followed by extensive physical therapy to restore function.
Loss of a Limb
Amputation injuries are among the most catastrophic outcomes of any car accident. Losing a limb is both physically incapacitating and emotionally traumatic.
In addition to complicating the activities you used to perform every day with ease, you may view yourself differently or experience embarrassment and self-consciousness about the injury.
Short-term, car accident victims who lose a limb may have to undergo extensive physical and vocational therapy to adjust to life after an amputation injury.
Long-term, they may be confined to a wheelchair or forced to use a prosthesis for the rest of their lives.
Burn Injury
It is crucial for fire and rescue personnel to arrive at the scene of a car accident as soon as possible. Fires may break out due to leaking gasoline and other fluids, or as a result of defects in the fuel tank and other systems.
Burn injuries require extensive treatment and rehabilitation. Victims may suffer disfigurement, loss of function and sensation in the affected area, and/or a range of complications such as infection, hypothermia, and more.
Why You Need a Car Accident Lawyer
What Compensation Can I Recover in a Car Accident Case?
At Patrick Daniel Law, we are committed to pursuing results many other law firms are unable to achieve. The compensation you may be entitled to in your car accident case will depend on the damages you and your family have suffered.
Our Houston car accident lawyer will investigate the crash and work with you to understand the full impact of the crash on your life – present and future. You may be entitled to compensation for:
Medical Bills
Car accident victims often face significant medical expenses. If the car accident was not your fault, you may be able to recover compensation for the cost of:
- Ambulance transport
- Emergency room care
- Hospitalization
- Surgical procedures
- Medications
Physical therapy and other rehabilitation
In addition to your present medical expenses, you may be entitled to compensation for the cost of ongoing treatment. This includes future bills for physical therapy, counseling with a psychiatrist, occupational rehabilitation, and more.
Lost Wages
When you have been seriously injured, you may be unable to work for weeks, months, or more.
Many workers have limited (or, in some cases, no) sick leave, paid to time off, and other programs that enable them to continue earning income when they can’t work.
As a result, they miss out on the money they need to cover regular household bills and other expenses, not to mention the costs they incur from the accident.
Lost wages are another significant type of damage in car accident claims. You may be able to recover all of the income you lost in your time away from work.
If you are unable to return to your prior job and salary as a result of your car accident injuries, you may be able to recover compensation for loss of earning capacity.
This is the legal term for future wages and benefits you would have received had you not been hurt in the accident.
Pain and suffering
Damages for pain and suffering compensate car accident victims for physical pain and discomfort, as well as the emotional burdens associated with a painful, debilitating injury.
Pain and suffering are generally a major part of the non-economic damages in your car accident claim.
Instead of compensating you for actual financial losses (i.e., the money you may spend on medications to manage pain), pain and suffering damages are a form of recompense for the physical and emotional hardships you experience due to the negligence of the at-fault driver.
How Much Should You Get for Pain and Suffering from a Car Accident?
Pain and suffering damages must be supported by evidence. There is no “golden formula” for calculating the compensation you deserve, although insurance companies lean heavily on equations to determine what they think these non-economic damages are worth in your case.
Your Houston car accident lawyer will investigate the accident and hire experts to understand how your injuries affect you physically and emotionally.
Based on the evidence, not an algorithm, your attorney can advise you how much you may be able to recover from pain and suffering.
Mental Anguish
Similar to pain and suffering damages, you may be entitled to compensation for psychological issues stemming from the car accident such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Intrusive memories of the accident
- Sleep disorders, such as insomnia, recurring nightmares, etc.
- Phobias
As with pain and suffering, damages for mental anguish must be supported by the evidence in your case. This may include evaluations by your doctors, expert testimony on the injuries you have sustained, and more.
Loss of Consortium
Loss of consortium damages compensates you and your loved ones for the disruption your injuries cause to familial relationships with a spouse, child, or parent.
Depending on how your relationships are affected, these damages may be known by different names:
Loss of consortium generally refers to the loss of affection, support, and intimacy between spouses
Loss of parental guidance refers to the loss of support a parent provides his/her child or children
Parents may be able to recover damages for loss of society and companionship if their child is injured in a car accident
In any car accident claim, it is important to take into account not only how the victim has been affected but the impact on the whole family.
Special Damages
Special damages are a type of compensation designed to offset the costs of lifestyle adjustments you need to make for the unique circumstances of your life after a car accident. You may be able to recover special damages for:
- Modifications and renovations of your home
- Modifications to your vehicle
- The cost of traveling to and from appointments with doctors and other medical professionals
- The cost of a cane, crutches, wheelchair, prosthetic limb, and other devices
- And more
It is crucial to hold on to all receipts, estimates, and other paperwork outlining what you paid or the projected cost of these and other expenses.
Your Houston car accident attorney will account for all of these losses and pursue fair compensation as part of your claim.
Punitive Damages
In some instances, punitive damages may also be available in your car accident claim. While this “extra” compensation is awarded to you, the purpose is to deter the defendant in your case and others in similar situations from engaging in the same kind of behavior.
The jury may choose to award punitive damages if they determine that the defendant’s conduct constitutes willful or excessive recklessness.
For example, in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, the jury may take into account how high the driver’s blood alcohol content was or his previous DWI convictions to determine if his conduct meets the standard for extreme negligence or misconduct.
Wrongful Death Damages in a Car Accident Claim
What If My Loved One Was Killed in a Car Accident?
In addition to personal injury cases stemming from car accidents, Patrick Daniel Law also has experience helping families with wrongful death claims when their loved one dies in a car accident.
We recognize that no monetary recovery will make up for your loss, but a verdict or settlement in your favor makes it possible for you to pay bills and rebuild your lives with the peace of mind that comes from not facing financial pressures on your own.
Our car accident lawyers will pursue the full compensation you and your family deserve via a wrongful death lawsuit.
Available damages may include:
- The loss of income and expected income from your loved one’s passing
- Funeral expenses
- The cost of burial or cremation
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages (depending on the circumstances)
Compassion is one of the hallmarks of the client experience at Patrick Daniel Law. Read our reviews to see what clients have to say about working with us.
How Much Is the Average Car Accident Settlement?
Ultimately, the amount of compensation you can recover after a car accident is unique to the circumstances of the crash, your injuries, and other facts in the case. The “average” settlement has little to do with what you deserve based on your losses.
The Houston car accident lawyers at Patrick Daniel Law have extensive experience pursuing compensation on behalf of clients who were injured in car crashes.
We have resolved claims through successful settlement negotiations, and we have won jury verdicts in cases where the insurance company would not offer a fair settlement.
In achieving these results, we have found that there is no such thing as an “average” client. So, there is no such thing as an “average” settlement, either.
If you are wondering how much to expect from a car accident settlement, you need to speak with a car accident lawyer in Houston as soon as possible.
Should I Accept the Insurance Company’s Settlement Offer?
If the insurance company offers you a settlement, you should speak to a Houston car accident lawyer before accepting.
The offer may seem fair based on your current losses, but insurance companies are notorious for undervaluing and underpaying car accident claims.
Once you accept a settlement from the insurance carrier, you will be unable to pursue additional compensation.
Even if your injuries turn out to be worse than you thought or you incur unexpected expenses related to the accident, you will be forced to manage with the amount from the settlement.
An experienced car accident lawyer can help you avoid signing away your rights prematurely and getting less than you deserve.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit?
Every state has a statute of limitations that places a time limit on car accident claims and other types of personal injury cases. In Texas, the statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of the accident.
With this in mind, it is important to contact a Houston car accident lawyer as soon as possible after you have been in a car accident. Key evidence can be lost in 2 years, which may limit the compensation you can recover.
How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Charge?
Your initial consultation with Patrick Daniel Law is FREE. Furthermore, you pay no upfront costs and owe us nothing in fees until we recover compensation on your behalf through a jury verdict or settlement.
This is known as a contingency fee agreement. It enables the victims of car accidents to pursue justice for their injuries without having to worry about an upfront or ongoing financial commitment (especially when they are already facing medical expenses, loss of income, and other challenges).
Should I Hire a Houston Car Accident Lawyer?
After a car accident, it is important not to make any assumptions. You won’t know if you have a claim or what damages may be recoverable until you speak to a lawyer with experience in car accident cases.
People come to Patrick Daniel Law when they need help the most. We are honored to be their law firm of choice, and in return, our team fights mercilessly to achieve justice in their case.
When you hire Patrick Daniel Law to represent you in your car accident claim, our firm will:
- Start gathering crucial evidence immediately, including the police report, your medical records, and more
- Identify the party (or parties) at fault in the accident
- Calculate the value of your claim based on all of the costs you and your family are facing, as well as those you may face in the future
- Develop a strategy for your car accident case that combines our team members’ expertise in legal matters and business matters
- Communicate with you every step of the way to ensure our services align with your expectations and you are fully informed of developments in your case
Fight for you tirelessly no matter the course of your claim; car accident cases are often resolved in settlement negotiations, but we will not hesitate to go to court if that is the best option for your recovery
Ultimately, Patrick Daniel Law is your advocate in claims against parties that may seem untouchable: insurance companies.
After an accident, insurers will do everything they can to avoid paying. If you don’t hire representation, they have the staff, resources, and money at their disposal to do just that in your case.
Patrick Daniel Law helps protect clients from being taken advantage of by the insurance company. We can help you, too.
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