If you or a loved one need help, contact the Houston car accident lawyer Steve Lee. We handle all kinds of vehicle accidents and are ready to listen to your story. Our team can guide you through filing insurance claims or personal injury lawsuits, helping you recover what you deserve.
Call us today for a free consultation.
The Importance of Seeking Medical Attention after a Car Accident
If you’ve been injured in an accident, see a medical doctor as soon as possible. You should ask for an evaluation or visit your doctor within 24 hours of the accident. Not only can you avoid potentially serious conditions such as internal bleeding or a head injury, but you are also gathering support for your car accident claim.
Waiting to get evaluated leaves room for the insurance company to claim your injuries were caused by something else. Car accident victims need to establish a direct link between the car wreck and their injuries to claim damages from those at fault.
After getting medical attention, the next step in managing the aftermath of car accident is to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. This starts the car accident claims process.
Filing an insurance claim may seem simple, but auto insurance companies aim to minimize payouts to maximize profits. They are not on your side. Insurance companies prefer that you contact them first because they want to obtain a recorded statement that could weaken your case. When speaking with the at-fault driver’s insurance provider, they actively look for ways to challenge your claim.
This is why we recommend hiring a Houston car accident lawyer before you speak with the insurance company. We can communicate with them on your behalf, protecting your rights and preventing them from taking advantage of you.
Insurance Company Tactics Could Leave You Paying Out of Pocket for Medical Expenses
Insurance adjusters use various tactics to minimize or deny your insurance claim. Insurance companies often make low-ball settlement offers to close your claim quickly. Rushing the process may result in you covering out-of-pocket expenses later for costs that should have been reimbursed by the at-fault party.
Our Houston car accident attorneys ensure that the insurance company fully accounts for your injuries and other personal injury damages.
Every day, we help car accident victims identify expenses related to serious injuries that insurance companies may overlook. Additionally, many car accident injuries take time to show symptoms. Common expenses that must be included in a client’s car wreck claim include:
- Medical expenses, including ER, ICU, and surgical costs
- Physical therapy
- Travel for medical care
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damage
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Anxiety and depression
- PTSD
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability, scarring, or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral expenses in wrongful death
Types of Car Accidents We Handle
There are various types of car accidents you might experience in Harris County, each with the potential to cause serious injuries. If reckless driving or hazardous road conditions caused by a construction company led to your accident, you need a skilled Houston car accident attorney to handle your case for the best possible outcome.
Attorneys Steve Lee and Sam Lee understand the complexities of different types of car crashes, including:
- Head-on collisions: These rare but severe crashes often result in fatalities. They occur when two vehicles collide nose to nose or when a vehicle crashes into a stationary object. Proving fault in these cases can be challenging.
- Hit-and-run accidents: Drivers who flee the scene of an accident may face criminal charges and civil lawsuits from injured victims. An experienced car accident lawyer can collaborate with law enforcement to identify the responsible party and seek justice.
- Multi-car pileups: Heavy traffic conditions can lead to chain-reaction crashes involving multiple vehicles. Determining liability in these accidents is complex, especially when a driver followed the law but was forced into another vehicle.
- Rear-end collisions: Common in stop-and-go traffic or at intersections, these crashes occur when a driver fails to notice brake lights. Rear-end collisions often cause whiplash, concussions, and other injuries.
- Rollover accidents: Larger vehicles like trucks, SUVs, and RVs are more prone to rolling over when t-boned or veering off steep road shoulders. Passengers inside may suffer injuries from being thrown around or even ejected if not wearing seatbelts.
- T-bone collisions: Frequently occurring at intersections, these crashes happen when one vehicle’s front collides with the side of another, often due to a driver running a stop signal or making an unsafe left turn. Victims can be trapped in their vehicle or suffer fatal injuries.
- Fatal car accidents: When a car crash results in a fatality, surviving family members may have the right to file a wrongful death claim against the responsible party. Our personal injury attorneys can build a strong case, ensuring all damages are accounted for, including funeral expenses, medical bills, and emotional suffering.
While you focus on recovery, your Houston car accident lawyer will investigate the accident, determine liability, and hold the responsible parties accountable. Common causes of negligence include driver distraction, drowsy driving, drunk driving, speeding, and failure to obey traffic laws.
If a fatal car accident has affected your family, our Houston car accident attorneys can pursue a wrongful death claim, ensuring all damages—such as funeral expenses, medical costs, and emotional distress—are included in your case.
Texas Auto Accident Law
Who is At Fault in a Houston Car Accident?
Texas is an at-fault state for car insurance, meaning drivers responsible for an accident must pay for the resulting damages through their insurance policy. If their policy limits are insufficient to cover your expenses, you have the legal right to sue the at-fault driver for negligence to recover full compensation.
Modified Comparative Negligence in Texas
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means multiple parties can share fault in an accident. However, this principle can work against you if your actions—such as speeding—contributed to the crash. If you are 51% or less responsible, you can still seek compensation from the negligent party, but your settlement or jury award will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example, if you are found 20% at fault, your compensation will be reduced by 20%.
A key part of personal injury law is establishing fault while minimizing the client’s perceived negligence. Your car accident attorney will gather and present evidence—such as law enforcement testimony—to prove the other party’s liability and secure your right to damages.
While a driver who violates traffic laws may face legal consequences from law enforcement, it is your responsibility, with the help of an attorney, to hold them accountable for your injuries. This requires proving a direct link between their negligence and your damages, including medical costs, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Car Accident Claims and Settlement Offers: Securing Fair Compensation
Filing an insurance claim may seem straightforward, but insurance companies prioritize profits over payouts. They will use various tactics to minimize or deny your claim, including offering low-ball settlements in hopes you accept quickly and close the case.
Attorney Steve Lee understands that car accident victims often face extensive medical bills and long-term costs. Many injury symptoms—such as chronic pain, anxiety, or disability—may take time to appear. Rushing to settle could leave you paying out-of-pocket for expenses that should be covered by the at-fault party.
Common Expenses That Should Be Included in Your Claim
- Medical expenses (ER, ICU, surgeries)
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Travel costs for medical care
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Emotional distress (anxiety, depression, PTSD, mental anguish)
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability, scarring, or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
Every case is unique, and your damages may vary. Your Houston car accident lawyer will thoroughly evaluate your case during a free consultation to ensure no potential expenses are overlooked. It is crucial to pursue every dollar owed for your suffering due to another party’s negligence.
Texas Car Accident Statute of Limitations: Limited Time to File
Don’t Wait to Begin Your Claim. Schedule a free case evaluation with Our Team Today.
Recovering from a serious Houston car accident takes time, but Texas law imposes a strict deadline for filing a claim. You have only two years from the accident date to hire an attorney, gather evidence, and file a lawsuit.
If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to seek compensation. At Steven M. Lee, PC, our experienced legal team ensures your case is handled efficiently, with all paperwork filed correctly and on time.
Contact the Houston Car Accident Lawyers at Steven M. Lee, PC
We Prepare for Trial From the Start
If the insurance company refuses a fair settlement, working with an experienced car accident lawyer ensures you are prepared for litigation. From day one, we build your case with evidence such as:
- Police reports and witness statements
- Photos and videos from the accident scene
- Expert testimony from accident reconstruction specialists
By reconstructing the crash, we establish technical proof of liability, strengthening your claim for maximum compensation. After a Houston car crash, your priority should be recovery, not fighting with insurance companies. Let us handle the legal and financial complexities for you. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront—we only collect a percentage of your settlement if we win your case.