How to Find the Best Houston Car Accident Attorneys

Find Houston Auto Accident Lawyers Near You

Every year in the United States, between five and six million car accidents will occur. Statistically, driving a vehicle is one of the most hazardous actions a person in the United States frequently takes. And despite the statistics regarding the frequency of car accidents, many people only consider that they may one day be involved in an accident when buying or renewing a car insurance policy. Because of this, many drivers are not as familiar with state laws, insurance policies and procedures as they should be. This means that when an accident happens, the driver involved may find themselves uncertain of his or her rights in time to enforce them. That is why our car accident attorneys are here - to help guide our readers through the complex field of automobile accident claims.

Below, local Houston attorneys offer information about car insurance, state laws and what to do after an accident. If you have questions or need assistance with a claim today, then contact us to set up a free consultation with a lawyer in your area.

How Do I File a Car Accident Claim in Houston?

After a car accident, you will need to file an insurance claim to help you recover damages related to the accident, such as medical costs and damage to your vehicle. Depending on fault in the accident, you will want to file a claim with either your insurance provider or the provider of the at-fault driver. Unfortunately, the process of recovering the damages that you are entitled to can be full of legal loopholes, inaccurate information and unexpected circumstances. Therefore, to protect your right to compensation, this is what you should do after a car accident.

Immediately after a car crash, if you are able, you should:

• Call emergency services as well as the police. Your first concern should be getting medical help for anyone who is hurt. Additionally, a police report can be powerful evidence for your injury claim.
• Take down as much information as you can about the other driver and anyone who witnessed the event. This includes names and contact information as well as the other driver’s insurance information and license plate number.
• Take photos. Use your smartphone to take pictures of the scene, your car, any other vehicles as well as your injuries. Photographic evidence is one of the most powerful tools you can have when attempting to prove a personal injury claim, and can help corroborate other forms of evidence such as medical reports.

Then, as soon as you can, you should also:

• Contact your insurance provider. Most insurance policies require the holder to notify the provider of any accidents as soon as possible. However, when speaking to your insurance company, DO NOT tell them anything beyond the basic facts of the car accident. If your provider asks if you are making an injury claim, do not say no, even if you do not believe you have been injured. Some injuries may take some time to manifest symptoms, such as concussions. Instead, say that you will seek medical attention and you will provide more information at a later time.
• Speak to a car accident lawyer. Houston car accident lawyers offer free initial consultations for car accident victims. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by speaking to a lawyer about your accident.
• Maintain records for all medical treatments or injuries

What Are the Car Insurance Requirements in Houston?

In the state of Texas, drivers are required to have a minimum amount of car insurance coverage, like most other states. The minimum insurance requirements in Texas are:

• $30,000 for bodily injury liability per person injured in an accident you cause
• $60,000 for total bodily injury liability when two or more people are injured in an accident you cause, and
• $25,000 for property damage per accident you cause.

This basic coverage (known as "30/60/25" coverage in insurance circles) pays the medical bills, property damage bills, and other costs of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians who are injured or have their vehicle damaged in a car accident you cause, up to coverage limits. However. these requirements are simply minimums, and it is encouraged that you carry as much insurance as you possibly can, because minimum insurance often will not cover the total costs that can be incurred during car accidents.

Additionally, you should include underinsured and uninsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage in your policy. Though it is not illegal in Texas to drive without UM/UIM coverage, this type of insurance protects you if you’re injured in an accident caused by a driver who didn’t have insurance, or who didn’t have enough coverage to take care of the damages. It is a good idea to have this type of insurance because you never know when you will be involved in an accident, and with whom.

When it comes to fault, Texas is a traditional tort insurance state. What this means is that drivers are liable for damages resulting from accidents caused by those drivers. After a crash, the not-at-fault party files a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. This also means that drivers must be able to prove that the other driver was at fault in order to recover damages.

What Is Comparative Negligence and How Will It Affect My Houston Car Accident Claim?

Texas uses a modified form of comparative negligence (also known as "proportionate responsibility" in Texas). This means that if you are found partially at fault for the injury, then your damages can be reduced. Texas’ modified comparative negligence rule follows a 51% bar rule. This means a person injured in a car accident cannot recover compensation if they are found to be 51% or more at fault for causing the crash. Put simply, a person cannot recover damages if they are found to be mostly responsible.

The modified comparative negligence rule also means that when victims are found to be 50% or less at fault for contributing to an accident, their damages will be reduced by their percentage of fault. If, for example, a victim was found to be 30% at fault for an accident, and the other driver 70% at fault, the victim’s recovery would be reduced by 30%. For example, this means that an award of $100,000 in damages would be reduced to $70,000.

Dangerous Intersections in Houston

The following intersections have proven to be some of the most dangerous in the city:

• Long Point & Gessner
• Fondren & West Bellfort
• Bissonnet & Wilcrest
• Shepherd & Allen Pkwy & Kirby
• Taylor & Spring & MKT Trail
• Hawthorne & Spur 527 & Holman
• Fannin & Pierce
• Ranchester & Bellaire
• West & Airline
• Bellaire & S Gessner
• 11th & Nicholson
• Patterson & Washington

Need Help with a Car Accident Claim? Ask the Lawyers!

If you have questions or concerns about insurance or negligence laws, then do not hesitate to ask the lawyers. Otherwise, to find an attorney in your area, consult our local listings.

Contact Our Houston Car Accident Attorneys

• Ben Dominguez
• Michael S. Callahan
• Aaron Allison
• Michael Callahan
• Ben Dominguez
• Marc Whitehead