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Houston Car Accident Lawyer

Houston Car Accident Lawyer

Houston Car Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you may be eligible to receive substantial compensation. Our experienced car accident lawyers at Jim Adler & Associates have been helping Houstonians obtain compensation for medical bills, loss of income due to being out of work, and for pain and suffering.

Jim Adler has been fighting for Texans for over 50 years. Famously known for being the original personal injury firm in Texas, our team of attorneys have been setting the standard in achieving outstanding results for our clients. We fight the big insurance companies to ensure all of our clients receive the compensation they need and deserve.

We have recovered over $1 billion for Texans who have been hurt in car accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, motorcycle accidents, and more.

We have offices in Houston, Channelview, Dallas, and San Antonio. Our consultations are always FREE so drop us a line or call us at 1-800-505-1414 today.

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How A Houston Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You

A skilled car accident lawyer’s goal is to relieve you of the stress and handle the accident claim’s process entirely on your behalf. This ensures you are getting the best result possible under the circumstances.

Here are some more ways a qualified car accident lawyer can help you after a car wreck:

  • Gather evidence that shows who was at fault for the auto accident
  • Identify every liable party involved in the car accident
  • Handle communications with the negligent driver’s insurance company
  • Keep track of your medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses
  • Estimate future medical bills and accident-related losses
  • Communicate with your medical professional to obtain complete records
  • Recover lost wages from losing your job
  • Represent you at depositions, hearings, and in court
  • Deal with lien holders and debt collectors on your behalf
  • Lower your medical bills (physical therapy and surgeries are expensive)
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When Should I Talk to A Houston Car Accident Lawyer?

talking to a car accident lawyer

The best time to consult with a Houston car accident lawyer is immediately after your car accident.

If you need medical treatment due to a car accident, it is completely normal to take care of your health first. For many people, hiring a car accident lawyer to start the legal process sounds stressful. But keep in mind, time is of the essence. Also know that, when you hire our Houston car accident attorneys on a contingency fee basis, you aren’t being billed by the hour, and won’t pay a dime in legal fees unless we recover money for you.

You might be surprised at how long it takes to deal with the various aspects of a car accident claim—even a seemingly straightforward claim involving minor injuries and minimal property damage. If your injuries are severe, your time is best spent focusing on making a full recovery, as fast as possible. Not only that, but any misstep along the way could reduce your chances of recovering maximum compensation.

Remember: insurance companies are some of the largest and most profitable companies on earth. And their insurance adjusters are trained to DELAY, UNDERPAY, and DENY your claim.

It’s absolutely worth talking to an experienced car accident lawyer about your situation. Our injury law firm will also review your case for free.

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Should I Hire a Houston Car Accident Lawyer If I Wasn't Hurt?

hiring a car accident lawyer

While a car accident injury may not appear to be serious at first, appearances can be deceiving, especially when it comes to certain types of bodily injuries and even trauma to the brain. And just because you feel fine after an accident, that doesn’t mean you’re not injured. Later, you may start to notice symptoms of a potential injury. As a general rule of thumb, it’s always best to seek medical treatment and then consult with an experienced attorney after a car accident.

Not consulting with a Houston car accident lawyer could be a bigger mistake on your part and that can play into the hands of the insurance companies. Watch the video below to learn more.

Even if you had a low-speed accident, there is a significant body of research showing that low-speed accidents can cause chronic injuries, including whiplash and concussions.

For example, a 2021 scientific article published by the National Institutes of Health found that the use of the “biomechanical approach” (the defense tactic used by insurance companies) vastly underestimates the actual risk of real-world, low-speed impacts.

Emerging evidence also shows that there’s no such thing as a “mild” concussion. Some people develop headaches, fatigue, brain fog, memory problems, and other symptoms of post-concussion syndrome. These symptoms can last for months or even years. Similar symptoms, which can also be long-term, may result from whiplash. Both whiplash and concussions can happen in relatively low-speed collisions.

The problem with assuming your accident is “minor” is that the insurance companies might pressure you to settle your claim right away so that they don’t have to cover you or even all of your property damages. But don’t fall for this. For help dealing with the insurance company and your accident, contact our car accident lawyers right away.

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Can A Lawyer Still Help Me If the Car Accident Was My Fault?

Texas personal injury law book

Texas personal injury law allows you to recover compensation for a car accident as long as you are not more than 50 percent responsible. What that means is, if you are 50% or less at fault, you can still recover compensation to pay for losses like medical bills and property damage.

If you are ever involved in an accident, we advise that you say as little as possible to any parties until you’re able to speak with an experienced Houston car accident lawyer. You may have to exchange insurance information and provide police with a statement but when you do, stick to the facts. Even a simple statement like, “I didn’t see the other driver” could be taken as an admission of guilt. If you aren’t sure of what to do or say, it is your right to speak to an attorney at any point. Watch this quick video below.

Your insurer will work with the other driver’s insurer to determine fault, based on the facts. Again, your statements on who caused the car accident could come back to hurt you. You may be convinced you’re at fault, but additional details could come to light that show another driver was actually at fault, either in whole or in part. And most of all, do not make a statement to the insurance company—yours or anyone else’s.

You may have to report the accident to your insurance company within a certain amount of time, but don’t rush. With the passage of time, information may emerge that helps your case. For example, maybe you were speeding, but maybe the at-fault driver was texting and driving. You were at fault—but they were, too.

You may ultimately be at fault for the accident but still have significant injuries. If this is the case, you’ll be going through your insurance company for payment. And just because a company is your insurer, it doesn’t mean that they have your best interests in mind.

No matter what they promise, the insurance company is NOT your friend.

Before talking to the insurance company, you should always talk to your attorney first.

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What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accidents?

There are several different types of car accidents. Here are some of the most common:

Single Vehicle Accidents
These only involve your car and no one else’s.

Head-on Car Accident
These can be devastating car accidents that can result in major injuries such as brain trauma, spinal cord injuries, or even death.

Rear-end Car Accident
These are the most common type of roadway accidents that most often occur in congested traffic or in the context of distracted driving.

Rollover Car Accident
These types of accidents are often seen with SUVs and other tall vehicles. They usually occur when there’s too much speed and a loss of contact with the pavement.

Fatal Car Accidents
These types of accidents can happen in almost any situation and occur due to a variety of reasons such as not wearing a seatbelt and high speed impacts.

Hit-and-Run Car Accident
Hit-and-Runs typically involve two or more parties and one (or more) drivers leaving the scene of the accident.

Uber/Lyft/Rideshare Car Accident
Rideshare drivers are typically employed as “contractors.” Insurance coverage from Uber/ Lyft may be available, but proving fault in a rideshare accident may require a personal injury attorney.

Taxi Accidents
These are similar to rideshare accidents. You’ll want protection from a car accident lawyer as the taxi cab company may do anything it can to refuse liability.

Bus-Car Accident
Public transportation is not always the safest form of transportation. These accidents can require the assistance of a qualified car accident lawyer because they can raise complex insurance issues.

Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle crashes are among the most devastating forms of vehicular accidents. For more information, see our motorcycle accidents page.

Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents typically require the help of an attorney. Far too often, these particular cases are devastating, if not fatal.

Drunk Driving Accidents
Every year in Texas, hundreds of people are killed, and thousands are injured by drunk drivers.

Work Zone Car Accident
Increased congestion, slow-moving heavy equipment, temporary barriers, and vehicles making frequent and sudden stops make Texas work zones an accident waiting to happen.

Texting and Driving Accidents
Texting and driving is one of the most dangerous driving behaviors, contributing to thousands of auto accident fatalities and injuries every year.

Drugged Driving & DUI Car Accident
Drugged driving includes illegal substances like marijuana and cocaine, as well as over-the-counter and prescription medications. Driving under the influence of drugs is just as dangerous as drunk driving.

Intersection Car Accident
Intersection car accidents caused nearly 5,000 fatal crashes and 34,000 serious injury crashes in Texas over a recent six-year period.

Severe Weather Car Accident
Texas generally enjoys good weather year-round, but thunderstorms, fog, tornadoes, wind, hurricanes, hail, and even snow storms, when they do occur, increase the risk of a severe weather car accident.

Vehicle Defect Accidents
While the vast majority of car accident cases are attributed to human error, some result from mechanical defects, such as problems with tires/wheels, brakes, steering, and suspension.

Wildlife and Livestock Accidents
There are tens of thousands of animal-related crashes annually in Texas. Drivers injured by wildlife or livestock may be able to file a claim against the animal’s owner or their own insurer.

Dangerous Roadway Accidents
Degraded road surfaces, potholes, water that doesn’t drain properly, poor lane markings, and lack of signs, signals, and lighting can increase the likelihood of an auto accident and lead to a claim against a government agency, maintenance company, or other party.

Uninsured/Underinsured Driver Accidents
State law requires drivers to carry minimum amounts of auto insurance. Nonetheless, there are millions of drivers on Texas roads that fail to purchase insurance.

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What Types of Injuries Can Happen in An Auto Accident?

A variety of serious injuries and medical problems can occur from vehicle crashes. Some common car accident injuries include:

  • Whiplash
  • Cuts, lacerations, and bruises
  • Soft tissue injuries (sprains, strains, and contusions)
  • Broken or fractured bones
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries/TBI (concussions)
  • Serious Burns
  • Exsanguination (severe blood loss)

Some injuries can even be considered “hidden” injuries and are more common than you may think. Watch the video below to learn more.

If you or a family member sustained any of these types of injuries in your accident, consult with one of our experienced Houston car accident lawyers right away.

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What's The Difference Between a Bodily Injury Claim and a Personal Injury Claim?

A bodily injury (BI) claim is an insurance claim, while a personal injury (PI) claim is a lawsuit claim. A personal injury lawsuit may be necessary in a couple of different scenarios:

  • Insurance is delaying, denying, or disputing your car accident settlement. In this scenario, you would file a lawsuit against the insurance company.
  • Insurance accepts your claim and pays you the full amount allowable under the policy, but that amount is not enough to fully compensate you. For example, the insured has the minimum amount of bodily insurance liability coverage ($30,000 for one person), but your losses are worth $100,000. In this scenario, you would file a lawsuit directly against the at-fault driver for the remaining balance.

When you file a bodily injury claim, you are trying to get compensation from the car insurance company by negotiating with them directly. When you file a personal injury claim, you are relying on the court to hear the facts of your case and determine how much the insurer, or the other driver, owes you.

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How Does the Car Accident Settlement Process Work?

You’ve been in an auto accident. You aren’t at fault. You’re injured and need medical treatment. You make a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance. Here’s a best case scenario of how the insurance claim process could play out:

  • The other driver’s insurer investigates the claim.
  • During the investigation, an insurance adjuster contacts you to gather evidence about the accident.
  • You are asked to give your side of the story about what happened. You are also asked to provide photos of the accident scene and your injuries, medical care records, proof of medical costs, and proof of lost wages.
  • The insurance company determines that the their insured is at fault for the accident.
  • Once you have completed all medical treatments for your injuries, insurance offers you a settlement amount based on the total cost of your losses (the amount of your medical bills and lost wages), up to the policy limit.

This may sound simple. And it is—in theory, at least. But in reality, the claims process is rarely this straightforward. A lot could go wrong, such as:

  • The insurance company denies that their driver caused the accident, either in whole or in part, instead claiming that you are partially or totally at fault for the crash.
  • There is a disagreement about the extent of your injuries and/or the amount of your insurance claim.
  • The insurance company alleges that your accident-related injuries are preexisting and not caused by the crash.
  • Insurance delays paying you the BI claim settlement and ignores your attempts to contact them.

You have the right to speak to a Houston car accident lawyer at any point in the injury claims process. Ideally, you contacted a car accident lawyer before you filed your claim. Hiring a lawyer can make the claims process much easier, especially if you are seriously injured. An attorney can provide help with documentation and negotiating a bodily injury claim settlement. They can handle all communications with the insurance company and speak to them on your behalf.

However, if you do not have a car accident lawyer and your negotiations break down, at this point, you should strongly consider hiring legal representation and filing a personal injury lawsuit.

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How Much Time Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim?

Under Texas law, you have no more than two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against the party responsible for your injury.

This two-year deadline might be pushed back if you only find out later that you have injuries, but this could raise insurance claim questions about why the injury wasn’t discovered earlier. This is why seeking prompt medical attention is so important after a car wreck.

You should also never wait until the last minute to report a car accident to the insurance company. In Texas, insurers have 35 business days to settle a claim after it is filed. They also have specific time frames in which they must acknowledge car accident claims and decide whether to accept it before paying a settlement.

If you are unhappy with a settlement offer, and the insurer won’t offer more, you may have no option other than filing a lawsuit. But if you wait more than two years to file, the statute of limitations may already be expired.

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Car Accident FAQs

How Much Will It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Attorney?

talking to a car accident lawyer

Most car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means you won’t pay anything unless they recover money for you.

Most attorneys will cover all of the upfront costs of handling a car accident claim. If your attorney obtains a recovery on your behalf, they will deduct their fees from your payout. The standard rate for contingency fees is usually between 35% and 40%, depending on whether the case settles or ends up going to court.

Keep in mind, however, that most cases are settled outside of court. Most attorneys will also never file a lawsuit if they do not have the client’s permission to do so.

Here’s an example of how it works: if your attorney negotiated a $20,000 settlement on your behalf, 35% of that ($7,000) would be paid in attorney fees.  You will then receive the remaining $13,000.  From that $13,000, your medical bills and any other outstanding debts will then need to be paid (by law) and the remaining amount goes back into your pocket. If no settlement is reached, then there would be no cost to you.

Settlement offers are almost always paid out in one lump sum by the insurance companies as they don’t typically like to split the amount into smaller payments.

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How Much Will I Get from My Car Accident Case?

how much will I get from my car accident claim

Every personal injury case is unique as there are multiple factors that can determine how much you’ll receive from your settlement. It all depends on how the accident occurred, the extent of your injuries, and other factors specific to your claim.

This is why it’s critical to document everything and hold on to all records detailing your car accident case. Some factors that could affect the payment amount of your settlement are:

  • Medical expenses related to any personal injury
  • The cost of future medical care due to your car accident
  • Disabilities, impairments, or disfiguration that resulted from the car accident
  • Whether you require physical therapy
  • Lost wages and future lost income due to your accident
  • Any suffering that you experienced due to your car wreck
  • The skill of your car accident attorneys
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How Long Will My Car Accident Case Take to Settle?

how long will my car accident case take

Car accident claims go through several different stages. Every car accident case is unique and will be different in duration and outcome. Most settle fairly quickly (2-12 months), but some can take years!

Remember: every car accident case is unique and will be different in duration and outcome.

A serious crash that causes major injuries usually takes longer to resolve because there will be questions about the victim’s future, such as whether they will be able to work again and the cost of their ongoing medical bills. Answering these questions requires working with experts, performing complex calculations, and sometimes-lengthy negotiations. And if the case ends up going to trial, the litigation process will have to play out in court, which will add to the case’s timeframe.

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The Texas Hammer® Is the Name to Trust!

Jim Adler and Bill Adler - Personal Injury Lawyers

There are many personal injury attorneys out there, but none come close to the experience we have.

We have a team of over 30 attorneys, a legal support staff of over 300 strong, and over 50 years of experience fighting for the victims of accidents and negligence. We are dedicated to making sure our clients are treated fairly, honestly, and that they receive their rightful compensation.

We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis because we believe that everyone deserves access to a qualified attorney. We have Texans covered.

Every successful case begins with a FREE consultation so call us or send us a message or call us at 1-800-505-1414 today.

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Jim Adler and associates are the best! Professional, caring, supportive individuals who have the skills necessary to handle your legal challenges! This firm is amazingly talented!

– Javier Zavala
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$5,908,403
Car Wreck Accident
$2,250,000
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$2,030,000
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$1,250,000
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