When you or a loved one is injured as a passenger in a car accident in Houston, you may qualify for compensation to cover your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. In addition, you may be able to build a claim against the at-fault driver or another liable party and hold them accountable for the injuries you suffered.
A Houston passenger vehicle car accident lawyer from Loncar Lyon Jenkins can help you understand all of your options after a driver’s negligence leaves you hurt. Take advantage of a free consultation to learn more about how our Houston car accident lawyers can handle your case. We will discuss your next steps, answer your questions, and help you understand how our contingency fee agreements work.
What We Do for Our Clients
A lawyer from our law firm can perform multiple duties when handling your case, including:
- Investigating the details of your case
- Negotiating for your settlement
- Litigating for you in court if necessary
- Advocating for your rights
- Committing to your best results
Our Houston personal injury lawyers will even handle all of the paperwork and legal details for you. So you do not have to worry about dealing with the complexities of a personal injury case on your own. We will get to work for you while you focus on recovery. We can get started investigating your case and protecting your rights as soon as you sign your contract with us.
How We Pursue an Insurance Claim or Lawsuit
When we begin building your case for compensation, we will start by gathering compelling evidence of:
- The other party’s liability
- The extent of your injuries
- Your damages
This may include evidence such as police records, witness statements, your medical records, your doctor’s testimony, and more. We may even work with experts to conduct accident reconstruction, determine your future and ongoing medical needs, and value your claim.
Then, we will present our demand for compensation to an insurance company. From there, we may see the following:
- The insurance company accepts our demand for your compensation.
- The insurer negotiates with our legal team until we agree on a fair settlement amount.
- The insurance company does not agree on a fair settlement, in which case, we can file a lawsuit.
If we end up filing a lawsuit on your behalf, we may receive a settlement offer before the case goes to trial. In addition, simply by filing suit, an insurer may be motivated to settle the case out of court.
However, we will prepare your case for trial from day one. We are ready to litigate if necessary to seek the recovery you deserve. Our trial lawyers will not encourage you to accept a less-than-fair offer to avoid going to court. We are prepared to go to trial in any case we manage and will fight for your best interests, including an appropriate payout.
You Can Choose to Accept an Offer at Any Time
While we will manage every detail of your case for you, we will also keep you updated on every step of the process. It is always your choice to accept a settlement offer. If we receive an offer during negotiations, we will keep you informed and advise you on how to proceed. The final choice is up to you, but we will ensure you have all the necessary information to make a well-educated decision.
877-239-4878Available 24/7 | 356 Days | se habla español
Damages You Could Recover After Your Passenger Vehicle Accident
We will work hard to recover all the costs and losses associated with your accident. When you begin working with our team, we may ask you questions to help us understand how the accident has affected your life and finances. This will help us determine the value we may be able to attach to your case.
We may ask you to tell us more about:
- The state of your injuries and your prognosis
- How the injury has affected your ability to work in your field
- If the accident or injury has caused a change in your mental health or well-being
- To what extent the injury has impacted your responsibilities in your home
- If your injuries have changed your ability to be intimate with your spouse
We know that it can be challenging to discuss some details of your accident and injuries. However, we will be beside you through every step and will work to seek justice on your behalf. Our compassionate and understanding team abides by the highest standards of confidentiality and ethics while pursuing compensation for the tangible and intangible losses you suffered.
Non-Economic Damages
Based on the details of your situation, we can help you evaluate non-economic losses caused by the accident. These damages may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of companionship
- Mental anguish
Economic Damages
We will also help you understand the fair value of your financial losses, such as:
- Medical bills, such as the cost of emergency care, surgeries, hospitalization, physical therapy, visits to a doctor or specialist, and more
- Future or ongoing care and support costs necessitated by your injuries
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Determining How Much Your Case Is Worth
Many accident victims will want to know what settlement they can expect through an insurance claim or lawsuit. This is not something we know early on in handling your case and certainly not something an attorney should try to guess during your free consultation. Each case is unique, and fair compensation is something that we can tell you more about once we investigate the details of your specific case.
In general, certain factors tend to influence car accident settlements or awards, including the seriousness of your injuries and the extent to which your life was affected by the crash. The severity of your injuries increases many of the recoverable damages, including time away from work, medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.
For instance, if you were in an accident and suffered a spinal cord injury and your everyday life and routine are now changed, you may be able to seek a higher settlement amount. Still, you should not dismiss your chances of seeking compensation for more moderate injuries. Your case could be worth more than you realize.
When to Hire a Lawyer from Our Personal Injury Law Firm
There are many reasons why you may wish to get help with your passenger vehicle accident case. Having a knowledgeable personal injury law firm on your side can make you feel more confident about the outcome of your claim, reduce your stress, and more. You can benefit from working with a lawyer from our team when:
You Are Still Recovering
Dealing with the back-and-forth of negotiations can take a great deal of time and energy. However, if you are in pain and still in the recovery process, you do not have to deal with the legal matters with us on your side. Instead, you can focus on your therapy, rehabilitation, and other steps on the path to physical recovery.
You Are Facing Serious Injuries and Costs After an Accident
The more severe your injuries, the more money you will need to pay your past and future medical bills. In these cases, an insurer could significantly undervalue your claim – but we will work to seek the amount you deserve.
In addition, you may not feel up to fighting the insurer to get a fair payout, or you may not be physically able to handle the process right now. But, again, our team is here for you. We can manage your claim for you and sue if we cannot recover fair and just damages.
You Want an Advocate to Fight for You
Some insurance companies may bully you or push you into accepting lower settlement offers. We will counter these kinds of tactics and protect your settlement value.
You do not have to let an insurer tell you that:
- Your injuries are not as serious as they are.
- You were more responsible for the crash than you were.
- You have to make a recorded statement about the accident (this could be used against you in negotiations).
We will handle all communication with an insurer for you. This protects your right to pursue a fair and appropriate settlement based on the costs and losses you incurred because of the crash.
You Want to Seek the Best Possible Settlement
When we represent accident victims, we understand what a fair settlement looks like. We will accurately determine what your case is worth and fight for you at the negotiating table. If the insurance company does not budge, our trial lawyers are not afraid to take legal action in civil court.
877-239-4878Available 24/7 | 356 Days | se habla español
Your Rights as a Passenger in a Car Accident
After an accident, you may not know that you have certain rights under Texas law. We can explain what you should be able to expect through the insurance claims and legal process. In general, you should be able to seek justice and recover compensation for your damages in most car accident cases.
How Insurance Affects You as a Passenger
As a passenger in an accident, you are entitled to compensation to help you cover expenses caused by your injuries. However, according to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), the at-fault driver’s insurance is responsible.
This compensation could come out of their liability coverage if the other driver is at fault. If the car’s driver in which you were a passenger were at fault, then the compensation would come out of their medical payment coverage (for medical bills) or personal injury protection coverage (for other damages like lost wages, pain and suffering, and more).
Sometimes, this coverage is not enough to cover your expenses since adjustors try to keep costs low for insurance companies. When that happens, a lawyer from our firm can help you pursue additional compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance.
You Could Still Seek Compensation If You Were Partially Liable
As personal injury lawyers who handle passenger vehicle accident cases, we can investigate what happened to cause the accident that left you injured. We will contact witnesses and uncover facts that will help prove who is at fault for your accident. In most cases, passengers do not hold any responsibility for an accident.
Texas is an at-fault state with a proportionate responsibility clause. According to Texas Civil Practices and Remedies Code § 33.001, the person responsible for the accident is also responsible for the injuries caused by the accident.
Even if the at-fault party is not 100% responsible for what happened, that does not preclude you from recovering damages. The other party only has to be responsible for a greater proportion of the accident than you.
How Texas law would determine the proportion of fault in your case is something that one of our passenger vehicle accident lawyers can help you understand. We will advocate for you to ensure that your rights are protected.
What to Do If You Are Injured in an Accident as a Passenger
When you are just a passenger in a car accident, you are not in control of the factors that lead to a crash. However, this does not mean you have no control over what happens afterward. Here are some steps you can take after being injured as a passenger in a car accident to protect your rights and keep your options open.
Get Medical Help
Your first step should be to seek medical aid for yourself and others involved in the accident. At Loncar Lyon Jenkins, we care about your well-being first and foremost. Therefore, only take the following steps once you are safe and your injuries have been treated by a medical professional.
Collect Information
Collect any evidence or information that you think might help you understand what happened. Some examples of evidence that can help determine who was at fault include:
- Pictures: Take pictures of the vehicles, your injuries, the road conditions, and the surrounding environment after the crash.
- Contact information: Get the phone numbers, addresses, and insurance information of the parties involved.
- Witness statements: Ask witnesses for their contact information and a statement about what they saw.
- Official reports: If the other parties involved in the crash do not report the accident, you should do so. Contact the police to file an official crash report.
Learn Your Options
Even if you cannot collect the information outlined above, you do not forfeit your ability to pursue compensation for damages. You still have rights. One of our passenger vehicle accident attorneys can explain what they are.
Pursue Compensation
Once you know your options, the next step is to pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering caused by the accident. You can hire a lawyer with our firm to advocate for your rights and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
Bring in the Strong Arm
At Loncar Lyon Jenkins, we have been fighting for injured Texans across the state since 1988. We take on around 7,000 cases each year, working out of eight offices and traveling to those who cannot come to us.
We make it a priority to give each client the personal attention that they deserve. If you contact us, we will contact you back. If you have questions, we will try our best to answer them as quickly and thoroughly as possible. We want to be the Strong Arm you can lean on in tough times and a guiding hand throughout the legal process.
You Pay Nothing Up-Front to Get Started
We take cases on a contingency-fee-basis, meaning we do not charge you a thing until we secure compensation for you. That way, we are just as motivated as you are to achieve the best outcome on your behalf.
The Personal Injury Statute of Limitations in Texas
According to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, the statute of limitations for bringing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit is typically two years. This means that you have limited time to take action on your case.
If you contact us in time, we will ensure that your case meets this critical deadline and you do not lose your chance to seek compensation.
Get Help from a Passenger Vehicle Car Accident Attorney in Houston Today
A Houston passenger vehicle car accident lawyer from Loncar Lyon Jenkins is ready to get started on your case. We want to discuss your crash and injuries with you now.
Call our office today at (800) 777-7777 to receive your free consultation with a legal team member and learn more about how we will be a Strong Arm for you and your family.
