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A personal injury lawyer in Houston TX can be a big help when it comes to fighting for the legal rights of injury victims. Learn how to find them and the qualities to look out for in this article.
If you or someone you care about has suffered a personal injury, it might be a good idea to consult with a personal injury lawyer in Houston TX. Not every injury claim requires an attorney. However, the decision to hire one may be the difference between getting the fair compensation you deserve or a less desirable outcome.
If you need help with your personal injury claim, you must be intentional about the kind of lawyer representing you. A personal injury lawyer in Houston TX will help you navigate the world of insurance companies and the compensation claims process. The legal tactics employed in investigating and proving your claim can make or break it, so you don’t want to work with just any lawyer.
There are different types of personal injury lawyers in Houston. Some specialize in accident cases; others may specialize in workers’ compensation, product liability, or class action lawsuit injury. Depending on the nature of your case, you should choose a lawyer for your accident type.
This article discusses qualities to look out for before hiring a personal injury lawyer in Houston TX.
Personal injury is the legal term for injury or damages to you or your property caused by someone else's negligence. Personal injury laws allow injured victims to file a civil claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company or institute a civil lawsuit in court. Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer in Houston TX can help you prove all elements of your case to recover monetary damages for minor or catastrophic injuries and other losses.
A personal injury lawyer is one who practices tort laws. They represent clients and explain the legal options available for protecting their financial rights regarding a physical or psychological injury due to someone’s negligence. Examples of this include injuries sustained in a car crash, from a dog bite, or a slip and fall on someone’s property.
Personal injury caused by the careless, reckless, and negligent actions of another can result in huge financial loss from expensive medical care, cost of repairs, lost wages, etc. Victims do not have to bear the financial consequences alone.
A personal injury lawyer in Houston TX will conduct a comprehensive investigation on how you sustained your injury and who should be responsible. They help to protect your rights to recover money for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, etc.
Houston is one of the nation's most populated cities. With its heavily trafficked roads, it's no surprise that accidents are bound to occur. Every year, thousands of people are injured as a result of negligence. However, regardless of the type of personal injury you sustain, its effect on you and your loved ones can be devastating.
Sadly, many Houston accident and personal injury victims do not know their rights and how to assert them. As a result, they bear the financial burden of the accident while the party responsible walks free.
What constitutes personal injury is wide-ranging. However, common examples of what is considered personal injuries that a lawyer would handle include:
Keep in mind that not every personal injury lawyer in Houston TX handles every type of case. For example, many attorneys do not handle medical malpractice or workers' compensation claims. Typically, you will find out during your initial consultation whether or not the attorney can help with your case. If they can't help, they can usually refer you to another law firm or provide a number for legal services.
It is important to find a lawyer with extensive experience, specialization, and personality that best fits you and your case. When you are experiencing physical pain and financial loss, working with an attorney should not be a source of additional stress. Instead, finding the right lawyer will give you peace of mind during this period in your life.
While there are many licensed attorneys in Houston to choose from, not all are the same. Here are some important qualities to consider when looking to connect with the ideal personal injury lawyer in Houston TX.
The attorney should:
To find a good personal injury attorney near you, we recommend you follow these steps:
Again, find a lawyer with relevant experience in personal injury law. When you schedule an initial consultation with them, be sure to ask detailed questions about their experience. Examples of such questions include:
Ask family members, friends, coworkers, or acquaintances to help you find a good personal injury lawyer in Houston TX. While personal recommendations can be helpful, it's best to do your own research before making your decision.
If you know an attorney either personally or through working with them in the past, consider hiring them first. However, even if they are qualified lawyers, you must ensure they have experience representing victims of personal injury claims.
Besides word of mouth, take advantage of additional tools to find a good lawyer. Examples of these tools include:
Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means that they don’t get paid until they win you money, and their pay comes from a percentage (usually around 33%- 40% or more) of your settlement. However, it is a good idea to discuss and find out this information and avoid making assumptions.
Damages are monetary compensation you receive for your injuries and other losses. Your legal team will calculate the full scope of your economic and non-economic damages to get you the maximum settlement.
Damages available to recover from responsible parties in Houston are:
Houston personal injury lawyers know that there is limited time to file a personal injury claim. This procedural rule is known as the Statute of Limitations. They also know that the deadlines specified by Texas law depend on the specific details of your case.
In Houston, TX, you have a deadline of two years from the date of the injury to file your claim. If you file your case after the Statute of Limitations has elapsed, you may be barred from asserting your right to compensation. This is true regardless of how strong your case is.
To ensure your case is filed on time, consider working with a personal injury law firm. A personal injury lawyer in Houston TX should be familiar with the Statute of Limitations and its exceptions as applicable to your case. They will assess your claim and begin working on it earnestly.
You can choose to file your injury claim yourself, but it's not always the best decision. Every accident victim has the right to choose an attorney to represent them.
A personal injury attorney can significantly impact your claim. Sadly, many victims do not know their rights. In addition, many shy away from getting the legal representation they deserve.
Legal battles can be overwhelming and intimidating without any legal experience. When it's unclear who is at fault for your injury, you should seek legal help. This is because the other party’s insurance company may deny liability for the accident. So again, working with a lawyer can help protect your rights and give you the defense you need.
A lawyer can help you prove your assertions to the insurance company and the jury. They can only do so by investigating, gathering, and preserving every piece of evidence to support your case.
The key to winning your personal injury settlement claim is to build a strong case that places complete fault on the negligent party. An accident lawyer has the experience and skills to handle the steps associated with filing your claim.
A settlement with insurance adjusters may not always work in your favor. Insurance companies are in the business of making a profit. Their incentive is not to help you but to pay you less than what is sufficient to cover your medical bills and other financial losses.
Without a personal injury lawyer pursuing your compensation claims, you are at the mercy of the at-fault party and their insurance company. In addition, aggressive insurance adjusters can manipulate you to accept fault for the accident to strip you of your rights to financial compensation.
In creating a legal strategy for proving liability against the liable party and getting clients the best possible financial outcome, a lawyer can do the following:
Personal injury lawyers are instrumental in any personal injury case. It is essential to set the right expectation when working with one. At Calhoun Meredith we have a proven track record of success in helping our clients with their personal injury claims.
Reach out to us today and schedule a free consultation!