Houston car accident lawyer
Fight back with a Houston car accident lawyer if you're injured in a crash
Our experienced attorneys won’t let you get pushed around
If you were injured in an accident in Texas that was not your fault, let our Houston auto accident lawyers handle your case and fight to get you the compensation you need and that you deserve. Knowing what your rights are after a car accident and trying to determine the value of your claim can be overwhelming in the aftermath of a serious accident, but you don't need to go this route alone. Smith & Hassler has over 30 years of experience delivering results for Houston clients and is ready to help you maximize your claim value.
From a debilitating whiplash to a severe concussion, there are many types of accidental injuries that you or someone you love can sustain in an accident. You may have been rushed to the emergency room or needed an extended hospital stay. You may need to undergo diagnostic tests, such as an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI. For treatment, you might need physical therapy, medication, surgery, and maybe even long-term care.
Expenses after a car accident can add up quickly, but if you didn't do anything to cause your accident, you shouldn't have to pay for someone else's careless mistakes. Unfortunately, many accident victims end up having trouble getting compensation for their damages. This is because insurance companies are notorious for making lowball settlement offers, or even worse, blaming you for the whole accident.
Call our law firm in Houston immediately. Our attorneys know how to build solid legal cases that demand the attention of the insurance company. We know what evidence to look for to back up your claim and how to handle pushy adjusters. We are savvy negotiators and skilled lawyers - and when the insurance company sees that you've retained Smith & Hassler to handle your claim, they'll know you're serious about getting fair compensation for your damage.
What should I do after a car accident?
Stay local and call 911. If someone has been injured and needs emergency medical care, ask the dispatcher to send an ambulance. Otherwise, report that you were involved in an accident and wait for the investigating officer to arrive. If you are involved in a hit-and-run accident, which sometimes happens with uninsured drivers, do not attempt to follow or chase the other driver. Call the police immediately and give them a description of the vehicle, the driver and the direction they were going if you can.
Talk to everyone involved in the accident. Get name, address, phone number, license plate number and insurance information. Don't talk about the car accident and don't argue about who's to blame.
Take lots of photos of the scene of the accident. Remember to include damage to any vehicle—not just yours—and don't forget to take photos of visible injuries.
If someone witnessed your accident, ask if they are willing to give you their name and contact information. Witness testimony can be a crucial piece of evidence in establishing attribution.
Write down the details of your crash. Before your memory fades, write down the time and location of your accident, weather conditions, road hazards, construction sites, and other pertinent information.
Consult a doctor. You should be examined by a licensed physician within 24 hours of your accident. Even if you don't feel any noticeable pain or symptoms, you can have a serious injury and not realize it. Injuries such as whiplash, concussion, or traumatic brain injury can have delayed-onset symptoms. Follow your doctor's instructions for treatment and attend all follow-up appointments. If you claim to have been injured and wait too long to see a doctor or miss scheduled appointments, it can be a red flag to the insurance company.
Notify your insurance company. Tell them you were in a car accident, but don't go into too much detail. Keep your comments short and provide only basic facts.
Call an auto accident attorney to review the details of your case. Explain what happened and learn what legal options are available to you. You can usually do this for free as most personal injury law firms offer a free consultation.
Don't talk to the other driver's insurance company. If they ask for a recorded statement, politely decline and refer them to your attorney. Don't get into a discussion about mistakes or injuries. Anything you say could later be used to contest or deny your claim.
What if the car accident wasn’t my fault?
Texas is a “fault” car insurance state, which means if you were in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, the driver who caused your crash is typically considered liable for paying your damages. That means in most cases, if you were injured in a car accident due to the negligence of someone else, you should be entitled to compensation.
Texas requires all drivers to have auto insurance with minimum liability coverage, which gives you a few different options for getting compensation if you sustain an injury in an accident that wasn't your fault. These options include:
Making a claim against the at-fault driver's insurance policy
Report the damage to your own health insurance company
File a lawsuit against the culpable driver
It is important to note that under the state's comparative negligence laws, if you are determined to be partially at fault in your car accident, your compensation may be reduced by the percentage of blame attributed to you for the accident.
vehicle involved in the accident. There will also be an "Injury Code" field indicating the type of injury a passenger sustained in the accident.
Page 2 lists any charges made against a driver, passenger or pedestrian at the scene of an accident, along with a description of the accident and a pictorial diagram of the scene of the accident. The sequence of events leading up to the collision and one official's opinion on how the accident happened will also be found on this page. This page also contains information on where injured victims were taken, including ambulance and hospital identification information. If someone was killed at the scene of the accident or within 30 days of the accident, the date and time of death is listed on this page of the report.
On page 3 of your accident report you will find information about the commercial vehicles involved in your accident. If a commercial vehicle (van, articulated lorry, etc.) was involved in your accident, find the name, address and contact details of the commercial transport company. You will also find additional information about the load on the truck, the vehicle weight and additional information about the commercial truck driver.
Page 4 of your Texas accident report explains many of the codes and terms included in your accident report. Our Houston auto accident attorneys can explain these technical points to you and thoroughly analyze your accident report with you personally.
Claim value in car accidents
Let our Houston attorneys handle every aspect of your claim
If you've been injured in an accident, your focus should be on your recovery and not on how you're going to pay your bills. While your case may seem simple, understanding how to navigate the confusing claim process and the best way to get full compensation for your damage can be overwhelming. That's why you need someone in your corner who knows what it takes to get real results.
Let's take control. Our car accident attorneys have the knowledge and experience to deal with every detail related to your claim while you focus on getting better. Whether through a negotiated settlement or a court decision, we fight to ensure you receive the greatest possible payout. If you or someone you love was injured in a bus accident, bicycle accident, or any other type of pedestrian accident in Houston, our attorneys can also help you obtain compensation for your damage.
