Types of Car Accident Injuries

Car crashes are a leading cause of accidental injury and death in Texas. Tens of thousands of people are injured on the state’s roads every year.

Being injured can disrupt every aspect of your life. You’re in pain. You may not be able to work. And if you’re dealing with catastrophic injuries, you may not know what the future holds.

Despite the chaos, there is good news. Financial compensation is possible for Texans who are injured in auto accidents caused by someone else. If you’ve been hurt, you need an experienced Houston car accident attorney who can explain your legal rights and how to protect them.

Let Seerden Law Firm, PLLC help. Our firm has successfully represented clients in Houston car accident cases for more than 20 years. We have the knowledge and resources necessary to build strong and successful claims for compensation.

Beyond our legal skills, we’re a firm with heart. We know that clients need compassion as well as compensation after an accident. You’ll never feel alone with Seerden Law Firm, PLLC by your side.

Contact us today for a free consultation.

Car Accident Injury Statistics

There have been no deathless days on Texas roads for more than 17 years. Nearly 15,000 people suffered serious injuries in crashes in a single year, according to the most recent data from the state Department of Transportation.

Consider these other figures about Texas injuries and crashes:

• One person is hurt every 2 minutes and 7 seconds in a Texas traffic accident.
• Houston leads the state for the number of people seriously injured in motor vehicle wrecks.
• Someone is killed in a Texas car accident every 2 hours and 25 minutes.
• One reportable collision occurs every 58 seconds in The Lone Star State.
• By far, the most car accidents happen in Harris County.
• Houston has the highest total number of auto accidents in Texas, more than double the amount of the next highest city (Dallas).
• Houston also ranks as the city with the most crashes in the nation.

Sadly, the National Safety Council estimates that individuals have a 1 in 114 chance of dying from car accident injuries. Given these staggering statistics, it’s important to know what your legal options are if you’re ever in a crash in Texas. Reach out to Attorney Andrew Seerden at Seerden Law Firm, PPLC to learn more.

Common Types of Car Accident Injuries

When a car is struck in a collision, the vehicle’s occupants keep moving until the car stops completely or a safety device (such as a seat belt) restrains them. Until that happens, their bodies could come into contact with any number of dangers, such as dashboards, broken glass, and the buckled metal of the damaged vehicle.

Common types of car accident injuries include:

• Whiplash
• Soft tissue damage
• Broken bones
• Cuts and scrapes
• Chest trauma
• Torso injuries
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Concussions
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Internal organ damage
• Facial injuries
• Burns
• Amputation

The more severe the injuries, the more financial losses can be expected due to expensive medical bills and missed wages. With some of the worst injuries, doctors often can’t predict a full recovery. That leaves victims facing the prospect of life with a permanent disability that could jeopardize their health, livelihood, and happiness.

The thought of hiring a lawyer during such a stressful time can feel overwhelming. But it’s a good idea to contact one as soon as possible. Insurance companies may call within hours of the accident to offer a quick settlement. It’s almost guaranteed that the offer will be far lower than what you truly deserve.

How Much Will My Car Accident Settlement Be?

Most car accident claims result in settlements. One of the first questions that clients ask is what the settlement amount will be.

There’s no exact answer. All car accident cases have different facts. Drivers can have different amounts of insurance coverage, which can affect how much compensation you are ultimately able to recover. It’s rare for two seemingly identical cases to settle for the same amount.

Another factor impacting your settlement amount is who is at fault for the car accident. Texas law allows accident victims to obtain compensation for their losses, even if they are partly responsible for the wreck. The key is determining how much you are at fault. This is done by assigning you and the other involved parties with a certain percentage of fault.

In Texas, you can still obtain compensation for your car accident injuries as long as you are not more than 51 percent responsible for the crash. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

For example, let’s say you were found to be 10 percent responsible for an accident, and the other driver was found 90 percent at fault. Your total compensation would be reduced by 10 percent. That means that for a $200,000 award in damages, you would only be able to receive $180,000.

Other considerations also go into calculating your settlement amount, such as:

• The severity of your injuries
• How much medical treatment you need (or are expected to need)
• How your injuries impacted (or will impact) your ability to earn an income
• Your age
• Any pre-existing conditions
• Your physical pain and suffering
• Your emotional distress
• If you have lost the ability to provide daily household services (e.g., child care)
• More

While some of these factors can be calculated by looking at receipts or wage statements, others will not be as easy to quantify. However, an experienced lawyer can research past case results and use other methods to estimate what a fair settlement amount could be in your case. Always keep in mind that it will be an educated guess. No attorney should ever promise you a certain payout.

How To Avoid Car Accident Injuries

Some car accidents are unavoidable. But most are preventable. At the very least, you can minimize your risk of suffering serious injuries by taking certain safety precautions. Here are some tips:

• Always wear a seat belt. Buckling up can reduce your risk of injury by as much as 50 percent.
• Don’t drive drunk or get into a car with an intoxicated driver. It’s just common sense.
• Perform regular maintenance on your vehicle. Tire blowouts, brake failures, worn windshield wipers, and burned-out headlights and taillights can lead to deadly crashes.
• Don’t drive while distracted. Texas has banned the use of handheld devices for texting while driving. Some local ordinances ban the use of cell phones altogether.
• Get enough sleep. Driver fatigue resulted in nearly 5,000 accidents in Texas in a recent year.
• Obey all rules of the road. Pay attention to traffic signals and signs. Don’t tailgate. Check your blind spots. All of these can prevent accidents.
• Don’t give in to road rage, even when provoked. We’ve all been irritated by an irresponsible driver in Houston. Don’t speed up to yell at them or get aggressive. Not only is your attention off the road, it could also increase your chances of becoming the victim of violence.

If you’ve already been in a crash, seek medical attention immediately. Many injuries have a delayed onset. See your doctor as soon as possible to check for these “invisible” injuries. Make sure to tell them that you’ve been involved in a car accident.

Even the safest drivers are vulnerable to harm from the moment they get in their vehicles. But by following these suggestions, you may lessen your chances of being seriously injured in a crash.

When To Contact A Houston Car Accident Attorney

Not all car accidents require a lawyer’s help. For example, if there were no injuries and minimal property damage, you can probably obtain a fair settlement with the insurance company on your own.

You should always speak to a lawyer if:

• There were serious injuries: After being injured, your prognosis may not be clear for weeks or even months. However, insurance companies often push people to settle before they understand what the financial implications will ultimately be. A trusted car accident attorney knows to wait until accident victims have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) before settling. Settle too soon, and you could lose out on money that you need in the future.
• Fault is being disputed: If you’re partly at fault for the wreck, it’s guaranteed that the insurance company will try to push the blame onto you to minimize their own liability. Remember, you can only collect compensation in Texas if you are less than 51 percent responsible for the crash. Having a lawyer can protect you from being assigned an unfair percentage of fault.
• The accident was fatal: If a loved one died from his/her car accident injuries, you should always speak to an attorney. Wrongful death compensation is available in Texas to help with funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and other losses.

It’s also wise to contact an attorney if, at any point, you are unsure of what to do or believe the insurance company is intentionally denying you payment.

Demanding Maximum Compensation For Houston Car Accident Injuries

You shouldn’t have to suffer for someone else’s reckless actions. If you’ve been injured in a Houston car crash, Seerden Law Firm, PLLC will fight for you to obtain full and fair compensation.

To learn more about how we can help, contact us today for a free consultation. There’s no fee unless we win, so you have nothing to lose.