Who Is the Best Auto Accident Lawyer in Houston, TX?

Facing the aftermath of a car accident can seem daunting, especially if you sustained injuries as a result of the crash. You may be interested in pursuing legal action but you might (understandably) feel so dazed that you’re uncertain of where to begin. If you’re asking yourself, “Who is the best auto accident lawyer in Houston, TX?” know that you’re going to be in excellent hands if you choose to work with the experienced team at John K. Zaid & Associates. We handle the legal “heavy lifting” with dedication and focus so that our clients can focus on their recovery.

Car Accident Injuries

Car accident injuries vary greatly. They can include:

• Cuts and bruises
• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Death

Depending on the severity of your injuries, your life may be slightly inconvenienced or you may be facing life-long recovery and rehabilitation as a result of your accident. Don’t waste any more time wondering, “Who is the best auto accident lawyer in Houston, TX?” Instead, take comfort in the reality that our team has helped many clients just like you successfully navigate some of the most challenging situations life has to offer. We will do our utmost to protect your rights and passionately pursue whatever legal options are best for your situation.

Types of Accident Claims

There are three legal claims relating to a car accident.

Property damage claims, which are abbreviated as PD claims are related directly to repairing or replacing your car that was damaged in the accident.

Personal injury protection, or PIP claim is when PIP auto insurance coverage pays your medical bills that stem from the car accident. Depending on your PIP insurance, this claim may cover 80% of the cost.

Last but not least is a bodily injury or BI claim. This is a way to receive compensation for your damages and injuries in a car accident. A BI claim means you’re probably experiencing a long-term disability after your accident, and may not be able to work anymore.

Types of Compensation

If you choose to file legal action as a result of your accident, you may receive damages for the harm you have suffered. Compensation for your injuries can include:

• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Loss of companionship
• Past, present, and future medical costs
• Rehabilitation costs
• Home improvement costs

Your injuries will require some level of medical care. Even the most minor injuries can be met with steep medical bills. Let our team help you recover compensation for your injuries so you don’t have the responsibility of any of these costs. “Who is the best auto accident lawyer in Houston, TX?” Let’s just say that the best lawyers seek maximum compensation for the harm that their clients have suffered and they do so with determination, passion, and experience. Our team meets this definition.

Whether we can settle your case quickly or we have to take your case all the way to trial, we stand beside you the whole way. You already have enough to worry about so we want to take the legal stress off your mind. Contact us today for your free, no obligation consultation with our experienced team.

When Your Accident Was Caused by an Impaired Driver

When driving on Texas roads and highways, a duty of safe driving is owed to all other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. It is this duty that necessitates that one refrain from driving while under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, prescription medications, and illicit substances. Driving while impaired, even if the reckless risk-taking does not actually cause harm to another person, is grounds for arrest and, upon conviction, fines, jail time, community service, license suspension, and the burdensome and costly installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) in one’s vehicle. Victims of drunk driving car accidents may be asking themselves, “Who is the best auto accident lawyer in Houston, TX?”

When impaired driving results in an accident in which personal injuries are suffered, those that have suffered harms may hold the impaired driver liable and seek financial damages for the consequences wrought. At John K. Zaid & Associates, we have helped countless numbers of drunk driving accident victims get the financial compensation they were entitled to for the injuries they sustained in the crash. If you have been injured in an alcohol-related accident, contact a Houston, TX car accident lawyer from our firm to discuss what legal options you may have.

Impaired Driving Is a Form of Negligence

There is a legal term for impaired driving: negligence. Negligence, the breach of a duty owed that actually and approximately caused damages, is what is known as a “tort.” In the context of auto accident injuries caused by an impaired driver, the duty is the above-mentioned duty of safe driving.

There are many ways to breach this duty (e.g. speeding, swerving, racing), but with regard to driving while under the influence of alcohol, the breach is first measured in terms of blood alcohol content (BAC). In Texas, it is unlawful to drive with a BAC above .08. It does not take very many drinks for such a measurement (typically obtained via breathalyzer at a DUI stop) to result. Often, even one or two within an hour will suffice.

With regard to prescription medications, the instructions on the label will clearly indicate whether it is safe to drive while the medication is active. If one disregards the state’s legal BAC limit, the label of a prescription, or drives while under the influence of illegal narcotics, the duty of safe driving has already been breached. When that breach and the impairment it produces results in a car accident in which the impaired driver causes others to suffer personal injuries, the elements of the tort of negligence are present.

What Is The Difference Between DWI and DUI?

While both DWI and DUI refer to someone being impaired while operating a vehicle in a public roadway, there are some key differences between the two terms. Firstly, DWI stands for “driving while intoxicated” and DUI stands for “driving under the influence”.

Both terms reference alcohol levels or drug use while driving and are often used interchangeably, however, a DUI is not the legal term for drunk driving—or being otherwise impaired while driving. Using drugs or drinking alcohol and then getting behind the wheel of a car means you are impaired and lack the mental and physical faculties that you’d typically have while driving.

Someone who is 21 years or older can receive a DWI charge in Texas if they are caught operating a vehicle of any kind while legally intoxicated. The legal level of alcohol levels to be legally intoxicated is .08, via a blood or breathalyzer test. For drugs, if they were to test you and find drugs in your system—or in your car—you are likely to receive a DWI charge.

Age is really where the difference comes into play. If someone is a minor and they are pulled over and found to be intoxicated while driving they will receive a DUI or a DUIA, which is “driving under the influence of alcohol”. A DUI of any kind is only given to minors.

The Zero Tolerance Policy

In Texas there is a zero tolerance policy that makes it irrelevant whether a minor who is driving is impaired by whatever alcohol they have in their system. If you are under 21 it is illegal to drive with any detectable amount of alcohol in your system. And should the alcohol content be too high (.08 or higher) the minor can receive a DWI. This is also true for if the minor has drugs in their system while driving.

Damages Available to Victims of Negligence

Victims of negligence may seek legal damages (money) for harms suffered. These damages include the cost of medical bills, vehicle repair or replacement, physical and emotional suffering, future medical treatment (including physical rehabilitation), lost income due to missed work, and the consequences of any short- or long-term disabilities incurred.

When You Are Unable to Cover the Costs of Your Medical Care

One reason to think about who is the best auto accident lawyer in Houston, TX is that not all firms are created equal. When you are seeking compensation, you want the best auto accident lawyer Houston, Texas has to offer, and only firms with the necessary skill and experience may be able to give you this peace of mind. Furthermore, establishing fault is not always straightforward or you may struggle to pay for your medical care while you wait for your case to be resolved; therefore, the best Houston, TX auto accident lawyer should be able to assist you in these situations.

Understanding Health Insurers and Liens

Perhaps you’re getting ready to file a personal injury case and have heard about liens. What is a lien? Can your health insurer file a lien against your case? While every individual circumstance will vary, it’s important you understand a few key facts about this topic. Due to its complexities, it is a good idea to discuss medical liens in further detail with the best auto accident lawyer in Houston, TX.

Settlement Liens

When the plaintiff owes a debt to an entity or another third party, the court can place a lien on the desired settlement. This ensures the debt is paid before the plaintiff receives any of the money for his or herself. When it comes to health insurers, it’s possible yours paid for some of your medical costs while you were waiting for your case to be settled. Any other third party that paid for medical costs could also have liens placed on your settlement. This includes your healthcare provider, auto insurance company, Medicaid, and Medicare. The best auto accident lawyer in Houston, Texas can tell you if there are liens on your case and explain what you can expect from them.

Where They Are Documented

Some health insurance companies embed personal injury settlement liens right into their plans. This allows the injured party to receive medical attention when needed, while also providing a protection to the insurance company. To read up on your health insurance policy about settlement liens, you can contact your insurance company, your employer or the best auto accident lawyer in Houston, TX for assistance.

How Long a Settlement Takes

Settlements can last anywhere from months to several years. Your case will depend on proof of liability, damages to be recovered, defendant assets, and more. With all of these factors considered, it’s possible you will need a generous amount of medical care before the case is complete. After years of medical care in which your insurance company will pay for, it’s understandable your provider will want a pay back. That being said, the length of time it will take to payback the medical lien will largely depend on how fast your case will settle. This is another reason to consider when you are thinking about who is the best auto accident lawyer in Houston, TX.

What You Should Do

If you’re worried about paying for your injuries following an accident, don’t be put off from filing a personal injury claim with your insurance provider to receive financial help. Yes, you might get a lien put on your settlement, but your health is the most important thing to consider. Depending on the damages you receive, you may still collect for pain and suffering, lost wages and ongoing medical costs.

Contacting Your Auto Accident  Lawyer

Being injured can cause a lot of stress by itself, but when you don’t have the finances to pay for your medical expenses, it can get worse. Allow your health insurer to step in and cover the cost, and don’t be overly concerned about the lien they’ll place on your settlement. It shouldn’t be any more than what they’ve covered, so it should all equal out in the end. Contact your Houston auto accident lawyer  today for more information and to help you walk through the process.

Let a  Car Accident Lawyer in Houston, TX Help

If you have been injured in a car accident, you want to know who is the best car accident lawyer in Houston, TX. Contact an experienced car accident lawyer from John K. Zaid & Associates to set up a free and confidential case evaluation and find out how we can help you get the financial compensation you deserve.

Understanding “Why” Accidents Happen Is Important

Automobiles have been around for more than a century, and from the beginning, driving and/or riding in these machines has always posed an injury risk. From malfunctions on the Model T to texting-related collisions today, drivers, passengers, and pedestrians have been seriously hurt and killed in auto accidents for a very long time.

Over the years, researchers have used data on car accidents and industries to craft detailed, useful portraits of exactly how accidents usually happen and the likely injuries that result from each major “type” of collision. Academics specializing in this area offer particularly vivid accounts of risks, often influencing engineers, policymakers, and transportation experts when designing new spaces or making safety modifications to existing areas. Oftentimes, this research is also referenced in car accident lawsuits and other legal cases. If you’ve been involved in a crash, you may be asking yourself, “Who is the best auto accident lawyer in Houston, Texas?” After all, you’ll only want “the best” handling your case. Know the answer to the question of “Who is the best auto accident lawyer in Houston, Texas?” will include those attorneys who are well-versed in the latest research concerning car accident causation. After all, one can’t build a strong case without understanding the “why” an accident occurred in the first place. There is no single “right” answer to the question of “Who is the best auto accident lawyer in Houston, Texas?”. However, the experienced team at John K. Zaid & Associates can certainly be considered among the best, most knowledgeable advocates in the Houston legal community. We take pride in understanding why accidents occur and in using that knowledge to benefit our clients. 

One often-cited study is entitled “The Statistical Analysis of Highway Crash-injury Severities.” It offers a helpful guide to what research shows about the common injuries that occur in different types of auto accidents using data collected over many years.

Some interesting facts culled from this research on accidents include:

•                 Crashes involving driver violations at an intersection result in relatively fewer severe outcomes for pedestrians when compared to accidents in the middle of a roadway. This is a reflection of how vehicular speed plays a role in injury severity.
•                 Younger children were at greatest risk near the middle of a block and during daylight hours. Alternatively, older children were more likely to suffer injury at night and in intersections.
•                 Researchers also examined pedestrian accidents at intersections where signals were present. Of particular note, they found the highest probability of injury was for a pedestrian or a bicyclist traveling straight while a motor vehicle was turning left.
•                 Those intersection accidents are less risky than mid-block accidents, which result in more deaths (presumably because of the higher speeds of the vehicle at the time).
•                 Of all pedestrian accidents, about 36 percent occur while a pedestrian is trying to cross the street. Of those accidents that occurred while pedestrians were simply walking straight, on the side of the road, a significant 57 percent were at locations without sidewalks.
•                 Lighting conditions have an effect on pedestrian injury severity. Most notably, daylight conditions reduce the odds of an injury resulting in death by a shocking 75 to 83 percent. Research noted that “light conditions are more important at intersections than at mid-block, where, presumably, drivers are less cognizant of the potential presence of a pedestrian than at intersections and where, perhaps, vehicular speed is higher.”

The bottom line is that we have access to immense amounts of data that explain why auto accidents occur, where they are most likely to strike, and when severe injuries are common. This information may be useful when showing the specific cause of an accident or injury. We may not be able to definitively answer the question, “Who is the best auto accident lawyer in Houston, Texas?”. However, our firm can say with authority that our attorneys are among the best and we’re eager to learn about how we can help you at this time.