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Rear-end accidents are mostly minor and can be construed no bigger than a fender bender scenario. However, they can and do become much worse, resulting in serious injuries leading to prolonged periods of pain and agony. This is especially true for any blows to the spine.
Then there’s the question of property damage. In severe cases, however, things can get out of control and even lead to fatalities. Most rear-end accidents result from the negligence of the driver in the rear, and you, as a victim can file a personal injury claim in Houston to seek fair compensation for your losses.
But this road is never as simple as described in texts, getting your rightful reimbursement is tricky, to say the least. This is why you should get a team of Houston rear-end accident lawyers involved to get fair compensation.. When the insurance company doesn't cooperate, we take the case of our clients to trial and in front of the judge and jury.
Car accidents are common in the streets of Houston, they may result due to error in judgment or deliberate negligence on part of the at-fault driver. In any case, it is the circumstances, above anything else, that determine the nature and outcome of car accidents.
Rear-end collisions and the majority of motor vehicle accidents happen due to:
Distractions: Distracted driving has more than often led to traffic accidents, including fatalities. The law demands drivers to be eternally vigilant while they’re behind the wheels.
This means that texting, talking on the phone, or fumbling with the GPS, eating, drinking, smoking, conversing with other passengers, fixating on a surrounding event, or not paying attention, are some of the things that are not acceptable for a driver behind the wheel.
If an accident does happen and the driver was involved in such an activity, they will be immediately at fault. Make sure to try and find someone who can make a statement about the fact that the driver was on a smartphone at the time of the accident. Vehicle accident lawyers can subpoena the records from smartphones to see if there is proof that the driver was on it at the time of the collision.
Drowsy Driver: If a driver is feeling drowsy, they shouldn’t carry on. Unless a driver a completely alert and responsive, they cannot drive their car, at least not legally. Many drivers fall asleep (even for a few seconds) on the wheel, result in a rear-end crash, sometimes a fatal car accident. This type of accident can be avoided.
Reckless Driving: Sometimes, drivers are frustrated at the Houston traffic and eager to get wherever they’re headed. This often results in them driving recklessly, and if the car in front of them has to stop abruptly, they may not be able to do the same, resulting in a collision. Many drivers tend to go beyond the speed limit, and this too, can result in serious rear-end car accidents.
Driving Under Influence: Alcohol not only impairs judgment and clouds the ability of drunk drivers, but it also multiplies the chance of being involved in a serious accident. Drunk driving is a criminal offense on its own, however, if it results in an accident, things can get from bad to worse for the at-fault driver. Driving under the influence can be the result of alcohol or the influence of drugs. This is another type of crash that can be avoided if a driver takes responsibility for their actions.
If you suffered at the hands of a neglectful driver, you should file a personal injury claim no matter the type of collision and get fair compensation for all of your economic and non-economic damages. Having a team of professional auto accident attorneys in Texas on your side can maximize your chances of gaining payout from the insurance company.
If you’ve been involved in a rear-end accident in Texas, even a minor crash, the first thing you ought to do is to call the police. You should also check in on the other driver, if they seem intoxicated or otherwise hostile, maintain your distance, but if not, you should exchange information with them.
If the negligent driver flees the scene, don’t pursue them, they may be armed or dangerous otherwise, however, you should try to catch a glimpse on their license plate for your record. Take pictures of all the damage caused, and if you sustained some injuries, photograph those too. During a crash, you may forget these important steps, but try to gain as much information and proof as possible (most importantly at the scene). Insurance may try to say that your injuries are a result of something else, not the accident injuries you claim them to be. Your experienced car accident attorney will handle the negotiations with these companies.
The next thing you’d want is the contact information of any bystanders because they can become your witnesses, further solidifying your case. When the cops show up, notify them about the event, and request a copy of the police report for your records. The reporting officers will take your statement, which you may be required to share with the court later on. The report will be used in the discovery process, which is required when auto accidents end up in lawsuits. The police officer may even have to testify before the judge and jury.
If you’re feeling any pain or discomfort, visit the doctor within 72 hours of the accident. Don’t delay seeing your doctor and keep track of your medical expenses, including bills for medicine, physical therapy, medical care, and so on. Depending on the severity, you could be entitled to additional compensation for pain and suffering.
If the accident cost you some lost wages, keep an account of them as well. In short, you should keep track of all of your financial losses and hang onto any documentation that may help prove your personal injury lawsuit. Failure to report the debt you have incurred from the wreck may result in an underpayment. It is your responsibility to provide your Houston car accident attorney with all of your evidence after the accident..
Most rear-end accidents in Houston don't result in severe injuries but things can range from bad to catastrophic injuries sooner than you know. What are the most common rear-end accident injury symptoms that victims sustain?
A soft tissue injury can be sustained from the jolt of the car, often called whiplash. Blows to the head (traumatic brain injuries) and spinal injury can lead to debilitating and lasting pain or paralysis, sometimes even concussions (brain injury). You may also receive damage to the neck. You may even expect that broken bones will be a result of an accident. The extent of your auto accident injuries will be the result of the factors and severity of the wreck. Additional care may be needed to see you through your recovery, like pain management.
Internal injuries are often not detected until it is too late. The importance of seeking medical attention after an automobile collision is necessary to ensure that there are no additional injuries to the brain, or worse, injuries that result in death. If a loved one has died as a result of a rear-end collision with someone aggressive driving you may be entitled to wrongful death damages.
Sometimes, the physical pain is severe enough to keep you from work for a couple of days, even a week. Any settlement claim will take this into consideration. Accident lawyers handle the insurance companies and ensure you are receiving a settlement amount that is fair for your auto accident injuries. Chronic pain is not something that shows up on a test, making insurance companies try to deny accident victims of compensation for these types of injuries.
If any children were sitting in the car when a rear-end accident happened, they may be more harmed by the sudden impact than you. Children can even suffer from whiplash, much like an adult can. In these types of collisions, the backseat passengers often face severe damage and a longer recovery time.
As an injured party, there is nothing worse than being denied compensation by an insurance company for your injuries. Accident attorneys don't take "no" for an answer. They will go to trial by jury if it means getting you the compensation needed for your medical bills. Money doesn't grow on trees and your medical bills won't pay themselves, so after an automobile accident, you need to make sure that your insurance claims and lawsuit are taken seriously - which is handled by a Houston rear-end accident lawyer.
Once everything else has been taken care of, you should approach the insurance company of the negligent driver unless it was a hit and run accident, in which case you’ll have to visit your own insurance provider. In either case, you will have to present all the details before the company and seek a fair and meaningful reimbursement for your common injuries and even catastrophic injuries.
If the insurance adjuster fails to cooperate with you, don’t say anything (your words and actions can be used against you), instead, walk away and let your personal injury lawyer handle it.
Your Texas attorneys will factor in the following when demanding common types of financial compensation for your losses:
On average, rear-ending claims can get people around $15,000 in Texas personal injury claims per individual and $5,000 for property damage. But the amount can be much higher for severe accident lawsuits. Moreover, rear-end accident claims don't take much time to resolve, if the insurer is cooperative, you shall get your reimbursement sooner than anticipated.
Getting lawyers involved is imperative for the success of your personal injury claim in your endeavors for securing fair financial compensation that can help you get back on track after all that you had to go through due to someone's negligence. Insurance companies often avoid paying up a fair sum, they can use any technicality, even a minor one, to either pay less than what you deserve or not pay at all. You deserve maximum compensation.
Thus bringing lawyers into the mix is essential for getting your rightful reimbursement for the severity of your accident injuries. Your lawyer may conduct accident investigations. These investigations may seek out additional witnesses, look at the crash scene, and more. These can be used in testimony, the discovery process, and the litigation process as needed to prove the at-fault party accountable.
Moreover, a personal injury lawsuit attorney will explain your legal rights, help you with solidifying your claim by filling in any gaps with an independent investigation, give you a better estimate for your compensation sum, and most of all: represent your case in front of the insurer, and if need be, in a court of law.
Thus if negotiations fail, which they do more frequently than you think, your Texas accident lawyers will take your fight to the appropriate Texas court for trial and get you a fair sum.
Most people falsely assume that rear-end accidents are no big deal. Things can turn ugly and what may be nothing more than a fender bender case most of the time can become the source of excruciating pain and agony. No one should have to go through such a mess on their own. Our skilled car accident lawyers handle many types of collisions and discuss settlement negotiations with insurance companies.
The worst part about car accident settlements is that the insurance companies try to find ways to avoid paying you the sum you need. Despite the months of recovery, you may face due to the motor vehicle collision, they want to deny your lawsuit on the grounds of a stipulation within an automobile insurance policy.
Whether it is a minor accident or a major one, you should contact a team of expert personal injury attorneys to step in and handle the insurance adjusters – they’re experienced enough to do so. Calhoun Meredith has a rich history of having served clients from all walks of life in getting the compensation they deserved for their losses and medical bills after an automobile collision.
Just give us a call, consultation is free, and you won’t have to pay us upfront either because we work on a contingency fee basis. No matter what your situation is, we will work hard to get you a fair settlement in Houston, Texas.
Rear-end crash victims have the right to hold the negligent party responsible for the crash injuries. As your Houston rear-end car accident lawyer, we will ensure the liable party is required to submit payment, seeing that you have justice. Let us review your police accident report and unpaid bills, and we will see if we can help you on the road to financial recovery.