Houston is no stranger to car accidents. According to a 2021 census, Houston's population was estimated to be about 2.288 million. The more people living in a city, the more likely a car wreck is to happen. Anyone involved in a car accident in Houston should keep help from a Houston car accident lawyer right away, regardless of the circumstances. In essence, the primary problem with not hiring a Houston car accident attorney is that the victim won't be able to build a strong case against the insurance company, which will try to offer lower settlements that won't cover the victim's pain and suffering. How can an auto accident in Houston impact a person's life, and how can Houston car accident lawyers help? The following page from Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys will cover everything readers may need to get started. On the other hand, anyone interested in getting a free case evaluation with reputable car accident attorneys can contact this law firm today.
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What Our Clients Have To Say
I have worked with Schuerger Shunnarah twice and they have been very helpful on my personal injury cases. They went above and beyond my expectations and did a great job both times.
- Ashley C.
Schuerger Shunnarah helped me receive a settlement on my case in just months. I was treated with respect and dignity. Thanks to their help, I have been able to get my life back to normal.
- Michael S.
They provided me with excellent service throughout my personal injury case. They were available to answer my questions and helped me understand the process. I am very grateful for them!
- Deshawn B.
What Happens During a Car Accident?
An auto accident happens when the vehicle crashes into an object, person, or any other fixed object, causing material loss and physical injuries.
When someone gets into a car accident, the person's body typically shakes violently, which is what causes severe damages and injuries.
Since car accidents often happen fast and suddenly, the victims won't be able to react to their injuries until the state of shock passes.
Some of the factors that can affect how severe the auto accident injuries include the speed of the vehicle, whether the person was using a seatbelt, the type of collision, and more.
Addressing Adrenaline Rushes
In most cases surrounding car accidents, all the people involved will get an adrenaline release, which is a hormone that gets released under sudden stress case.
Overall, the "adrenaline rush" a person gets is to prepare the body for a fight or flight response, which could affect how they react and behave.
Some of the most common effects of adrenaline include:
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Feeling little to no pain
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Increased energy
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Increased awareness
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Fast heart rate
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Feeling stronger
In some cases, that adrenaline rush a person gets after a car accident can be good, as it will help them start preparing their legal process with their insurance company.
However, in some cases, adrenaline may mask the injury the person got, which can cause further problems. This is why it's so important for the auto accident victim to seek medical attention before it's too late.
Then, getting compensation from the insurance company will be easier, especially if the person gets help from a reputable car accident attorney.
What Happens If You Go Through a Head-on Collision?
A head-on collision will result in a big energy transfer between the cars and the people in them. This energy transfer will cause the people involved to sustain injuries.
As mentioned before, the types of damages a person can get can vary depending on different circumstances. If the person was wearing a seatbelt, for example, the injuries could be:
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Broken ribs or collar bones
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Collapsed lungs
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Internal bleeding or injuries
On the other hand, not wearing a seatbelt can lead to severe injuries and even death. In the worst-case scenario, the person's body could be ejected from the car, which greatly decreases the chances of survival for that person.
What Happens If You Go Through a Rear-end Collision?
In a rear-end collision, the vehicle seats will absorb most of the impact, but that doesn't mean the person is 100% safe. Here, the victim's head is their most vulnerable part.
Under most impacts, the person's head will snap violently backward, which can lead to a wide range of neck or head injuries, which include:
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Soft-tissue damage
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Concussion
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Herniated disks
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Compression fractures
What Happens in a T-Bone Collision?
A t-bone collision happens when a person experiences a car accident from the side. Even though it may not seem like it, these car accidents tend to be the deadliest ones, regardless of the speed the vehicles are going at.
Door cars typically don't have as much mass to absorb the impact, which makes the person more vulnerable. Depending on the crash, the person's body could be crushed.
Some of the most common injuries that come with these collisions include:
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Internal organ damage
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Upper body injuries
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Broken bones
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Head injuries
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Spinal cord injuries
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Neck injuries
What Are Some Common Car Accident Injuries?
Some car crash injuries may not seem as complex as others, so people will try to shrug them off and move on with their lives.
However, it's vital to note that some of these injuries won't appear until later after the accident, and that's where the problem comes in.
Any victim who wants to make the most out of their car accident settlement should hire a Houston car accident lawyer so that they can fight the insurance company on their client's behalf.
Now, what are some of the most common injuries that someone can sustain after a car accident in Houston? Here's a detailed list:
Head and Back Injuries
These are the most complicated injuries that may come after a car accident. Any victim should contact a Houston car accident attorney to ensure they receive all the compensation they need to cover damages.
Some common types of injuries in this category include:
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Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
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Spinal Cord Injuries
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Concussions
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Facial Injuries (scarring, bleeding, bruising, etc.)
Neck and Chest Injuries
These are also common injuries that can happen after a car wreck. While some injuries may not be deadly, there are others that may pose a problem for the person in the future.
Some common injuries that may require proper compensation from an insurance company include:
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Broken/bruised ribs
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Heart attacks
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Whiplash
Whiplash is among the most common injuries, as the neck snaps forward or backward due to the crash. This will strain the person's neck muscles.
Sometimes, the recovery time for whiplash can be a few weeks, although severe cases may extend that to up to some months.
Soft Tissue Injuries
These aren't as severe as other injuries on this list, but they may still warrant help from a car accident lawyer if they want to get compensation.
These damages include:
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Sprains/Strains
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Bruising
Arm and Leg Injuries
When it comes to arm and leg injuries, there's a wide spectrum to consider. Some injuries may involve broken bones and dislocated joints, and while they may be painful, people can achieve full recovery as long as they get compensation from the insurance company.
However, severe accidents could lead to losing limbs. Whether the person experienced a lot of trauma after the scene of the accident or suffered from complications later, it's essential to take care of this problem as soon as possible.
Aside from calling a good car accident attorney for help, the victim should also keep immediate medical attention to assess how severe the injuries are and whether the limbs can be saved or not.
Miscellaneous Injuries
Although these injuries aren't as common as the ones previously mentioned, they can still happen after a severe car crash.
First, there are penetrating injuries, which are when a foreign object punctures the victim's body after the car accident. It's important not to remove the object from the body unless the person has medical approval to do it.
In most cases, the victim should go to a hospital for further evaluation.
Second, there is organ damage, which can happen due to blunt force trauma or a puncture wound. Typically, these injuries affect the small intestine, liver, and spleen.
Organ damage can cause internal bleeding, which can get complicated as time passes.
Finally, a person can experience PTSD, which is an emotional scar not many people recover from. As with any other injury type, people with PTSD deserve to get treatment from a professional.
What Can You Sue the At-fault Party for in Car Accident Claims?
The best way to know if someone has a case after a car accident is to contact a car accident lawyer who understands the different scenarios that make up these events.
Houston car accidents can be severe, which is why hiring an experienced car accident attorney is an excellent choice; they will guide the person through all their options and legal rights, especially if the victim sustains a serious injury.
First, the victim needs to prove that the other individual was truly at fault for the car accident. Generally speaking, the person would have to establish:
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Duty of Care: It refers to the fact that everyone has the obligation to drive safely on all public roads.
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Breach of Duty of Care: Here, the experienced car accident lawyers will prove that the other party didn't drive safely, proving they breached their care.
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Causation: Next, the lawyer must prove that the other party was, in fact, responsible for the collision.
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Damages: Finally, the law firm will prove that the person suffered monetary losses due to the car accident.
Sometimes, making car accident injury claims that go to court isn't necessary, as some lawyers will be able to resolve the problem through an insurance settlement.
This would be the ideal solution, as it avoids having to go to court, paying for court fees, and other processes.
Even if the victim's car accident claim needs to go to court, the lawyers at Schuerger Shunnarah will do everything in their power to hold the at-fault driver accountable.
People can get awarded different damages from their auto accident claim, including:
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Pain and Suffering
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Property Damage
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Medical Bills
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Lost Wages
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PTSD
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And more
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Why Do Auto Accidents Happen?
A car accident can happen due to a wide variety of reasons, and it's up to the law firm to prove if those reasons can hold the at-fault party accountable for all the injuries sustained.
Some of the most common causes of car accidents include:
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Speeding: The driver was going over the legal speed limit, making them more likely to crash. Going over an excessive speed can decrease reaction times, and it makes it difficult for the driver to have control over their vehicle.
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Drunk Driving: Drivers who are intoxicated with alcohol or drugs will not be able to drive properly. If the attorney can prove the other person was impaired to drive in any way, they can sue them.
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Reckless or Distracted Driving: It's no secret that all drivers must keep their full concentration on the road while driving. However, some drivers tend to check their phones, talk to other people, or do other things that distract them from what's happening. That can lead to poor driving decisions that can lead to an accident.
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Not Obeying Traffic Signals: Unfortunately, not many people follow traffic signals, which can cause a crash sooner than later.
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Tailgating: Not respecting the distance that should be between vehicles can create the possibility of an accident.
However, a car crash may not always be another driver's fault. Depending on the circumstances, the accident can also be due to reckless pedestrians, poor weather, poorly maintained roads, and more.
Understanding the cause of the problem will make it easier for the lawyer to file a personal injury lawsuit, which will also help the victim recover money to pay for their medical bills.
What Can Houston Car Accident Lawyers Do?
Many people wonder if hiring someone who knows personal injury law is worth it. The short answer is: yes.
Insurance companies will do their best to offer lower settlement amounts in order to not lose that much money, so everything the victim says or does after an accident can be used against them in court.
The help of trial attorneys who understand insurance companies' secrets will pave the way for a successful case. Overall, the team at Schuerger Shunnarah has years of experience dealing and negotiating with insurance companies in Houston, Texas, and they can now use those strategies to favor the victim's case.
In essence, the law firm's goal is to help people get as much compensation as possible for all the damages they sustained after an accident, especially if it wasn't their fault.
Here's a list of things that the victim can do right after the car accident to ensure a better case in the future:
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Check if everyone involved in the accident is fine or needs immediate medical attention.
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Collect evidence of what happened, including photos and videos of the scene of the accident.
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Get the contact and insurance information of the at-fault driver, they should also get the contact information of any eyewitnesses.
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Seek a medical check up to ensure there aren't any hidden injuries.
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Report the accident to the insurance company, ensuring that the victim doesn't mention anything about the other person's insurance company.
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Talk to a reputable lawyer who can help the victim build a strong case.
A reputable lawyer will help with the following:
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Collecting and reviewing evidence
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Determining liability
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Calling third-party experts and witnesses
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Calculating the costs of the crash (medical expenses, treatment, material losses, and more)
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Demonstrating who was responsible for the crash and how it happened
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Negotiating a reasonable settlement with the insurance company
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Filing a lawsuit if the insurance provider doesn't comply with the requested compensation amount.
Client Testimonial
They were polite and really cared throughout the entire process and made me feel like my case was important. I would highly recommend them to anyone that didn’t get a fair offer from the insurance company like me!
- Brian D.
What's the Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents in Houston?
Something important to keep in mind is that the statute of limitations in each state is different. In Texas, this period is two years.
This means that the victim has two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If the victim fails to file a lawsuit during this period, the case may get dismissed immediately.
In any scenario, victims should call their lawyer as soon as possible to address their case. The sooner, the higher the chances of receiving proper compensation for all the damages sustained.
On the other hand, in case someone involved in the accident dies, the lawyer could file a wrongful death case, which could get a one-year extension granted.
There are two other exceptions, which will be explained below:
If the victim who wants to recover damages is a minor, the two-year period to file a lawsuit won't start until they turn 18 years old.
On the other hand, if the defendant moves out of state before the lawyer initiates any legal proceedings, the victim can get an extended lawsuit period.
Is Texas a No-fault State?
No. Texas is an at-fault state. This means that the at-fault party will be responsible for paying all the damages. In other words, the at-fault driver will use their insurance company money to pay for any expenses and property damage that the victim suffered.
Bottom Line - Contact Reputable Houston Car Accident Attorneys Today
Going over car accident claims without any legal help can be exhausting, which is why it's essential that any victims contact the team at Schuerger Shunnarah for legal counseling.
The team offers a free case evaluation for anyone interested, making the process much more comfortable for victims who want more information about their options.
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