HOUSTON CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER

What Are The Most Common Types of Car Accidents in Houston?

The most common types of car accidents in Houston are those that happen during high-traffic hours, on congested roads and highways.

Single Car Accident

As the name implies, this variety of car crash involves only a single vehicle. Typically, these involve a collision with an immobile object, or an animal, or with debris. It might also refer to an off-road collision.

Multi-Vehicle Accidents

As a general rule, multi-vehicle accidents are those which involve a minimum of three cars. These are most likely to occur on particularly busy stretches of road, including interstates and highways with multiple lanes. With that in mind, they can be caused by the fact that other drivers are driving at significant speeds and are unable to slow down in time to avoid the collision.

Multi-vehicle accidents can be complicated from a legal compensation point of view, due to the fact that it is necessary to apportion the different levels of responsibility between all the drivers involved. This requires extensive investigation, and can lead to multiple claims and lawsuits. These, in turn, can result in both financial settlements and courtroom actions.

Rear End Collisions

This type of car crash occurs when one vehicle collides with the rear of the vehicle in front. As a general rule, this type of crash results from inattention on the part of the rear driver, as well as tailgating and adverse weather conditions affecting the surface of the road. Typically, distracted drivers are most likely to be the cause of rear end collisions.

Roughly a quarter of all road traffic accidents are rear end collisions, and these in turn are mostly caused by tailgating (driving too close to the vehicle in front) or driver distraction.

Head On Collisions

A head-on collision occurs when two vehicles are facing each other when they collide, and they are frequently fatal. In order to avoid a head-on collision, it is best for drivers to pay close attention to road markings, signs and road surface conditions.

Side Impact Collisions (T-Bone)

Also known as "broadside" collisions, side-impact collisions occur when one vehicles collides directly with the side of another, forming a "t" shape. They are most likely to take place at intersections or parking lots. The IIH has reported that roughly one fourth of passenger deaths occur as a result of side impact collisions.

The severity of these crashes can vary greatly, and depends in particular on where the second vehicle is hit.

Vehicle Rollover

A vehicle rollover is one of the most destructive crashes a driver can encounter, and stems directly from the way the driver and vehicle interact with the environment, hazards and road surface. As such, vehicle rollovers can be caused by the vehicle's design, the behavior of the driver or weather conditions.

These particular types of crashes are complex and violent in nature. More than any other type of crash, rollovers reflect the interaction of the driver, road, vehicle, and environmental factors. Although a vehicle's type has a significant role in the accident, so do driver behavior and road and environmental conditions.

Sideswipe Collisions

According to the IIHS, over 700,000 sideswipe collisions occurred in a single year, of which over 100,000 led to serious injury or death for one of the parties involved. This makes the sideswipe one of the most common traffic accidents.

Although the actual collision itself might not cause a significant amount of damage to the vehicles involved, it can in fact force one or other of the vehicles off the road, leading to a subsequent collision with a stationary object such as a tree or streetlamp. The most common cause of such accidents is either willful carelessness on the part of the driver, distraction or drowsiness caused by fatigue.

Construction Zone Accidents

There are more and more vehicles traveling on Houston Roads these days, which necessitates more frequent highway construction and repair activities. Of course, highway maintenance and construction is vital in order to ensure a safe experience for road users, but the sites themselves can prove dangerous hazards for drivers.

Highway construction zones are especially dangerous for the construction workers involved as well, because it is their responsibility to complete the work in a timely manner whilst at the same time ensuring a minimal risk to the safety of road users.

Hit-and-Run Accidents

Texas state law prohibits any driver from leaving the scene of an accident, which makes hit-and-run incidents particularly serious from a legal perspective. The consequences for those who do this can be severe, and if the pedestrian involved subsequently dies of their injuries, then a wrongful death suit could lead to a significant amount of jail time.

Serious injury is a common outcome of hit-and-run incidents, meaning the victim is often left with costly medical expenses. In addition, they can also be very complex when it comes to pursuing damages. That's why it's important to hire a legal team with the know-how to achieve sufficient compensation.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Houston, TX

Distracted Driving

One of the most frequently encountered causes of car accidents is distracted driving. When a driver's attention falters, they are significantly more likely to put themselves and other drivers at risk. Common examples of distractions would be: talking to passengers, focusing on maps or GPS devices, and tuning the radio.

Speeding

A key causal factor in car accidents is speed. It is important for drivers to allow themselves sufficient time to avoid accidents, and the most effective way to go about this is by adhering to the speed limit. This will help to accommodate the driver's reaction time and increase the likelihood of avoiding a serious accident.

Reckless Driving

Recklessness when you are out on the roads might take the form of tailgating, racing, running lights, or other activities that might be construed as negligence. Ultimately, reckless driving refers to anything that could potentially put other road users at risk or cause an accident.

Texting and Driving

Texting whilst driving increases the risk of a traffic collision 23-fold. That's right: you are 23 times more likely to be involved in a collision if you are using a cell phone while you are at the wheel, compared to undistracted driving.

Drunk Driving

Driving while under the influence of alcohol is all too common as a cause of road accidents. It impairs concentration, reflexes, and just about everything a driver needs when out on the road. And needless to say, drunk driving accidents are especially traumatic for the friends and family members of those involved. DWI car wrecks are often deadly and require the expertise of a Houston DWI injury lawyer.

Falling Asleep While Driving

To ensure that your reflexes and reaction times are in the best condition, it's vital to get enough rest. This can be tricky if you are traveling long-distance, but if you are drowsy or tired you run the risk of falling asleep at the wheel, which could lead to a major car accident.

Driving Under the Influence

Drug use, whether that refers to illegal drugs or legal medication, can increase the risk of car accidents if the drugs in question slow your reaction times, make you drowsy, or have other significant side effects. Therefore, driving while under the influence of drugs is highly reckless and negligent act.

Road Hazards

A key external factor in road accidents is hazards such as uneven surfaces or abrupt changes in lane. These may be the result of, for instance, an improperly designated work zone. If the road accident is a demonstrable result of improper road markings or an external hazard, then the authority or agency responsible may be legally liable.

Vehicle Failure

In some instances, road accidents may result directly from a malfunction in the design or manufacture of one of the vehicles involved. For instance, if the steering, brakes or air bags fail while the vehicle is out on the road, then the accident is determined to be the result of the faulty parts. In such cases, the manufacturer may be held legally accountable for any injuries or other damage caused.

The Most Common Car Accident Injuries in Houston

Neck And Back Injuries

Both passengers and drivers who are involved in road accidents are likely to experience some kind of neck or back injury; this is a very common occurrence. Typically, such injuries result from the unnatural jerks or twists of the body which occur on impact. Alternatively, the individual may be thrown clear of the vehicle altogether, causing further serious physical injury.

Neck and back injuries may result in chronic pain or limited movement. This, in turn, may lead to permanent disability and subsequent financial burdens resulting from medical expenses and lost income, as well as significant emotional trauma.

Broken Bones And Fractures

Both drivers and passengers are susceptible to fractures or broken bones when involved in a car accident. This can occur when wearing a seatbelt, but the likelihood is significantly increased for those who do not wear a seatbelt. In a worst-case scenario, the victim may even find themselves crushed by the steering column.

Broken bones can require significant medical treatment, including surgery to insert plates or pins to repair the damage. They can also require expensive, long-term physical therapy to regain the ability to walk, or simply to increase mobility.

Broken bones or other fractures can even lead to long-term impairments. For instance, broken bones can sometimes leave an individual increasingly susceptible to chronic conditions such as arthritis.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

"Traumatic brain injury" is a term used when referring to severe, life-changing brain trauma, but it can also refer to less serious afflictions such as concussion. Essentially, it covers both short-term and long-term physical, cognitive and/or emotional aftereffects.

Traumatic brain injuries are typically caused by the impact between an individual's head and an object (such as the dashboard or steering wheel), or the penetration of the head by an object such as broken glass. However, this is not exclusively the case. It can also be brought about by whiplash, causing an impact between the brain and the interior of the skull.

Spinal Cord Injuries

One of the most common effects of a spinal cord injury is paralysis, on either a partial or total scale. Regardless of the severity of the injury, an individual's mobility and sensation can be permanently affected.

The financial implications of spinal cord injuries are severe. As the sufferer may require significant and long-term medical care, the costs can be very high indeed, sometimes reaching the millions.

Vehicle Burns

A particularly serious car crash can cause burn injuries, either through contact with hot metal or from actual fire damage. This can have a significant impact on the skin and tissue, requiring major medical attention. However, the injuries may not simply stem from contact with the intense heat of the burning vehicle, but from smoke inhalation. This can lead to long-term respiratory complaints and severe lung damage.

Internal Organ Damage

The impact of a car accident can cause major damage to internal organs, including the lungs, heart and liver. It perhaps goes without saying that the loss of organ function can have very serious medical implications, which can be not only costly but potentially deadly.

One particularly dangerous aspect of internal organ damage is that its symptoms can often be mistaken for those of other, less serious injuries. For instance, the pain caused by liver or kidney damage may be mistaken for muscle strain. Eventual diagnosis may require a number of expensive medical tests.

Emotional And Mental Trauma

But the impact of a car accident is not merely physical. It can also do a great deal of damage to the emotional and mental health of those involved. This can even result in long-term psychological conditions such as PTSD.

If left untreated, the emotional and mental trauma can become exponentially worse, and affect all aspects of the sufferer's life including work and personal relationships.

What Types of Compensation Can Be Recovered in a Car Accident Claim?

There are a few things which can effect the level of compensation you are entitled to as a car accident victim. Tangible financial costs are referred to as economic damages, while those which cannot be quantified are determined to be non-economic damages.

Economic damages in car accidents may include:

• Hospital bills
• Medical expenses
• Rehab treatment
• Prescription medication
• Prosthetic required as a result of injury
• Surgery as a direct result of injury
• Wages and income lost as a result of the crash
• Property damage
• Long or short-term disability

Non-economic damages in a car accident may include:

• Physical trauma and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of quality of life
• Burial costs, resulting from wrongful death

Punitive damages are also available in Texas. These are designed to directly punish and discourage the behavior exhibited by the individual responsible for the crash. As such, they are somewhat rare, and may only be pursued when directly ordered by the court. For more information on this, speak to an experienced Houston car accident attorney.

Will I Need a Lawyer if the Insurance Company Accepts Full Responsibility for the Collision?

The simple fact that your insurance company has accepted full responsibility does not automatically mean that you will receive a fair settlement for the non-economic damages you have suffered, such as pain and suffering. A lawyer will be able to help you ensure that you are not missing out on your rightful remuneration.

If an insurance adjuster advises you that the company is assuming full responsibility, it doesn't mean your medical costs and other expenses will be covered. As a general rule, the simple fact that an insurance company's client is liable for an accident does not mean they will be willing to pay the full amount that you as the victim are entitled to.

How Much Do You Get for Pain and Suffering in a Car Accident?

Pain and suffering is difficult to quantify, and as such there are no strict parameters for establishing the scope of monetary compensation. The amount of money you are entitled to does not simply depend on the seriousness of the injuries you have suffered, but also on their likely long-term impact, plus the level of liability of those involved. Ultimately, if the case is taken to court, the final decision will rest with the jury. Compensation is not always offered by insurance companies, and they may even seek to reduce the monetary amount of a settlement for injuries such as whiplash. That's why your best bet is to seek legal guidance to assist you every step of the way.