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Were you involved in a car accident in Houston? Read this article to learn more about how a car crash attorney can help you!
There are thousands of cars on the road every single day. And in Texas, we drive everywhere – to our jobs, to school, to the supermarket, and everywhere else.
Texas has some of the most crowded and dangerous roads in the country. 3,896 people died in car accidents in Texas in 2020. That's 1.5 deaths for every 100 million vehicle miles traveled, an increase of 19 percent from 2019. From motorcycle accidents, pedestrians hit by negligent drivers, driving under the influence, to driving at high speeds, an experienced car crash attorney has seen it all.
So what can you do if you are involved in a car accident in Houston? How do you find a good car crash attorney? Contact Calhoun Meredith to get legal advice if you were involved in a car accident in Houston.
Car accidents can happen to anyone. Even if you are not the person behind the wheel, you can be involved in an accident. Car crashes lead to severe injuries, medical expenses, and a plethora of other legal or financial problems you have to deal with. What's more, you may also get involved in a criminal case, depending on the specifics of each accident. A good car crash attorney can help you understand the laws on car accidents, and you will get the right legal counsel. Your auto accident lawyer will act only in your best interest and will be your legal partner.
Unfortunately, most people don't understand the importance of getting legal help if involved in a car crash. Never trust the other party to help you or to understand your case. Every party is looking to defend their case and will try to get the best outcome for themselves.
There are times when you wouldn't need an attorney, such as a simple straightforward case without injuries. But sometimes it's easier to work with a car crash attorney and have them do the heavy lifting for you. Keep in mind that when medical expenses are high, the at-fault party's insurance company may try to weasel their way out of paying you the full amount you deserve. On top of that, most insurance carriers have a powerful legal team to help them. A car crash attorney will stand by your side and fight to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Below are some situations in which you might consider working with a lawyer for a car accident in Houston:
Check the safety of the other party, if possible. Go to the wreck and see if you can offer any type of help to the other drivers or passengers. After this, move as far away as possible from the oncoming traffic. Go to a safe area and pay attention to the traffic.
Be precise and describe your situation to the first responders. Even if the accident is not serious, and is not an emergency, contact the police and explain your situation. Keep in mind that all accidents have to be reported.
Focus on the damages caused by the motor vehicle accident. Pay particular attention to the cars at the accident scene – this will be helpful when negotiating with the insurance company. Also, pay attention to property damage.
Get the information from all of the other parties involved in the motor vehicle accident. Give out your information to the other parties. Get the police officer's contact information or police report number.
Your injuries have to be carefully addressed and documented by medical professionals. This is important when creating the medical treatment and the physical therapy plan. Also, it helps when determining the responsible party and the fault driver.
No matter how serious the accident is, be as precise as possible when talking to the police. Stick to the facts, be truthful, and be open about the accident. If you don't know the answer to a question, don't answer. Be cautious with your story, don't try to lie or change facts. Most insurance companies train their staff to detect loopholes in car accident cases. They will immediately deny your claim if they notice any sign of misleading information. Also, if you don't know what to say, or feel unsure about yourself, don't say anything. The last thing you want is to get into legal issues because you provided incorrect information.
A personal injury law firm will help you better understand what to do immediately after a car accident and determine the fault driver. It's the attorney's job to protect your legal rights after the accident. If you feel pressured by the police, by insurance companies, or by anyone else, contact your car crash attorney.
Talk to a car accident attorney immediately after you were involved in an accident. A good attorney will help you:
A major advantage of hiring a car crash attorney is speed. You'd be surprised to see how long a car accident claim takes. Even minor accidents, with minimal damages, can take months to reach an accident settlement. On the other hand, if the accident is serious, and you are suffering from severe injuries, you should spend your time recovering, not fighting insurance companies. Your attorney will deal with insurance companies, healthcare professionals, and authorities. If you have an attorney, you will have a better shot of getting fair financial compensation during the personal injury claim. Keep in mind that insurance companies have the best lawyers who are trained to bring the accident settlement down, and make you lose money. Essentially, insurance companies make a lot of money by denying, delaying, or underpaying insurance claims – and this means you lose money.
Most car and motorcycle accidents are minor, the damages are minimal and physical injuries are almost non-existent. However, appearances can be deceiving. Yes, you may get up and walk away from an accident, but you may be suffering from long-term injuries which may be visible only after several weeks. For example, brain injuries may only be visible after a longer period. Headaches may be persistent, suggesting hemorrhage or other underlying medical conditions. Always talk to an experienced car accident attorney to determine what your options are even after a minor accident.
Insurance companies often tend to minimize the effect of minor car accidents, according to a study published by the National Institutes of Health. This is done to reduce the costs associated with these types of accidents. Don't fall for this strategy to pressure you to settle for less. There is no such thing as a “mild concussion”. The seemingly minor concussions can develop into serious chronic conditions, which may lead to other medical issues.
If you only sustained minor injuries or no injuries at all, you may not need an attorney. In simple cases where the damages are low, you can usually just go through the insurance company.
There are multiple types of car accidents – here are some of the most common ones:
Still unsure about how a car crash attorney can help you? Reach out to our law firm today to see if we can take on your case.