Auto Accident Lawyer Houston, TX
If you have been hurt while driving on Houston, TX roads, you might quickly realize that your losses cannot actually be truly measured. The pain of an injury can last for your entire life. You might develop PTSD or fears resulting in challenges that could hinder your day to day life. Money may not be enough to make up for what you went through.
In Houston, TX, there are laws that can protect you. An auto accident lawyer from John K. Zaid & Associates can listen to your case and let you know what legal options are available to you. Although we would like to be able to turn back the hands of time and prevent the crash from happening, our firm knows this is not possible. All we may be able to do is get you full and fair compensation. This is our goal for each of our clients.
Causes and Types of Car Crashes
Most car crashes involve another moving vehicle such as a car, truck, motorcycle, or bus. The following statistics are taken from The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:
- In 2016, there were almost 35,000 fatal car crashes
- Over 37,000 deaths occurred from these accidents, equating to 11.6 deaths per 100,000 people
- Texas had the most fatal crashes (and California follows close behind)
- It’s estimated that auto accidents cost the U.S. around $230 billion every year
Car crashes involving a fixed object are the second most common type of accident after one that involves another moving vehicle. An experienced auto accident lawyer in Houston, TX will have likely encountered some, if not all, of the following situations:
- Collisions with a pedestrian or cyclist
- Collisions with a parked car
- Rollover crashes
- Accidents involving an animal
- Roundabout crashes
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Driver inexperience
- Driving under the influence
- Aggressive driving
A car crash can also be caused by a vehicle defect, road condition, or road obstacle. In these circumstances, you may be able to file a claim against a manufacturer, government entity, or company. An auto accident lawyer can explain this to you further detail during a consultation.
Recovering Compensation After a Car Crash
A lawyer will begin with investigating your Houston, TX case to find out who was involved and how the incident occured. If more than one party is to blame, a multi-party claim might be pursued. In general, the following damages may be recovered:
- Past, current, and prospective medical bills associated with the accident
- Lost wages
- Compensation for a reduction or permanent loss of income
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death
You may be able to settle a claim directly with an insurance company or with the help of a lawyer. Unless your claim is very minor and only involves mild damages, it’s recommended that you speak with a lawyer before taking any legal action. By having legal representation, it is more likely that you will recover the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Schedule Your Complimentary Case Review Now
If you would like to discuss your case with an auto accident lawyer Houston, TX residents trust for honest legal advice, call John K. Zaid & Associates.
How does a pre-existing injury affect my car accident injury claim?
As our auto accident lawyer can tell you, insurance companies will use any excuse to avoid paying out a high dollar claim. If you were seriously injured in a car accident, the at-fault party’s insurance company may deny your claim with the explanation that your injury had nothing to do with the car accident. Alternately, they may claim that your injury isn’t actually serious. If you had a pre-existing injury before the accident, they may use that against you.
At John K. Zaid & Associates, we are familiar with these tactics and as a result, our Houston, TX auto accident lawyers will anticipate such measures and take proactive actions to combat them on behalf of our clients. As a result, we have an outstanding record of negotiating substantial settlements for clients who were injured in accidents and who also had pre-existing injuries.
If you have a pre-existing injury, whether or not it is related to the newly sustained car accident injury, call an auto accident lawyer to discuss your case.
Common Pre-Existing Car Accident Injuries
A car accident can easily aggravate an old injury or reinjure an area of the body that had healed from a previous condition. Some of the most common pre-existing car accident injuries include:
- Broken bone
- Lower back strain
- Herniated disc
- Hernia
- Degenerative disc disease
- Arthritis
- Knee, neck, or shoulder injury
- Brain injury (including a concussion)
- Fibromyalgia
You Have the Right to Pursue Fair Compensation from the Liable Party
Your auto accident lawyer from John K. Zaid & Associates can inform you if the laws of Texas allow for compensation of an aggravated pre-existing condition if the other party’s negligent actions caused the accident. Simply because you have a pre-existing condition or injury may not preclude you from recovering your damages. If this is allowed, your car accident lawyer will have to prove that your injury from the accident was directly caused or reinjured by that accident.
Supporting Evidence of Your Injury Claim
Because the insurance may deny your claim due to your pre-existing injury, it’s necessary for your auto accident lawyer to include detailed medical records about your pre-existing injury in addition to other information. This may require that you and your physician provides the following:
- Your past medical records that only pertain to your pre-existing condition that was worsened in the car accident. Our auto accident lawyer from John K. Zaid & Associates will protect your right to privacy and not allow the insurance company to access all of your past medical records.
- Your recent medical records that document the harm you suffered in the car accident and how it worsened your pre-existing condition or caused a new injury. This will help your car accident lawyer to prove that the party responsible for the accident is also responsible for paying your resulting medical bills.
Talk to Your Auto Accident Lawyer About Your Pre-Existing Injury
It’s important that you inform your car accident lawyer about any pre-existing injuries so that they can properly support your injury claim. In order to recover the maximum possible amount of compensation for your damages, the details you supply will be critical.
At John K. Zaid & Associates, we want our clients to receive a settlement that takes into account their physical injury as well as other damages they have suffered including pain and suffering and lost wages. Call us today to schedule an appointment with our auto accident lawyer Houston, TX clients turn to for a free and confidential consultation.
