Houston Car Accident Lawyer

Texas has more road miles than any other state in the U.S. In 2022, Houston had over 67,000 reported car crashes, including 308 fatal accidents. Thousands of people sustained injuries in these collisions. Those involved in motor vehicle accidents often require medical treatments, an extended recovery period, and time off work. Some people also experience long-lasting trauma.

Unfortunately, insurance companies are often reluctant to pay compensation when their policyholders cause collisions. Insurance carriers may offer minimal amounts or deny your claim altogether. What can you do? Contact Haun Mena’s Houston car accident lawyers.

Why Hire Our Houston Car Accident Lawyers?

Top-rated personal injury attorneys Ryan Haun and Doug Mena believe every case deserves top-notch service, whether big or small. We at Haun Mena give all our clients personal attention during the entire claims process, from your initial free consultation until resolution. We will also:

• Provide you with information, advice, and legal options
• Investigate your car accident, gathering evidence to support your claim
• Determine who is liable to pay damages in your collision
• Speak to insurance company representatives on your behalf
• Negotiate a reasonable settlement offer or take your case to trial if necessary

At Haun Mena, our attorneys have successfully handled many car crash insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits. Most people receive significantly more compensation with legal representation than without, and your Haun Mena legal team will fight to maximize your claim.

What Types of Car Accident Cases Do We Handle?

Car accidents happen for many reasons, and the resulting insurance claims are sometimes complex. Regardless of the cause, the experienced Houston car accident attorneys at Haun Mena can help.

Commercial and government vehicles

Multiple parties may be responsible when commercial or government vehicles cause collisions. These cases require extensive investigations to determine all liable parties. In addition, claims involving government agencies are subject to strict guidelines and deadlines.

Drunk driving

When drunk drivers cause collisions, others may be partially to blame. Fortunately, the car accident lawyers from Houston’s Haun Mena Law Firm know how to hold all guilty parties accountable.

Failure to yield

Stop lights, stop signs, merging into traffic, and other situations require some drivers to yield the right of way. When drivers don’t follow the rules of the road, they can cause catastrophic crashes.

Fatal

Unfortunately, many people lose their lives in car crashes every year in Texas. Eligible survivors can seek many kinds of compensation.

Head-on

Head-on collisions can involve more than one vehicle, or a single driver may collide with a stationary object, such as a light pole or concrete barrier. The force in head-on crashes is often greater than in other collisions and can produce severe injuries and devastating property damage.

Hit and run

Although Texas law requires drivers to remain at accident scenes, only some follow this law. Your Houston auto accident lawyer from Haun Mena can handle your accident claim, regardless of whether anyone finds the fleeing driver.

Intersection

Many auto accidents happen at intersections, sometimes involving pedestrians and cyclists. These collisions often produce injuries.

Multiple-vehicle collisions

In crashes involving three or more vehicles, unraveling the sequence of events to determine who is liable for paying damages is complex. Many parties may be partially to blame.

Rear-end

Rear-end collisions often happen because the rear car is following too closely or its driver isn’t paying attention to traffic conditions.

Rideshare

Insurance claims are somewhat tricky if you sustain injuries in a car crash involving a rideshare vehicle, such as Uber or Lyft. The rideshare driver’s status at the time of the accident determines which insurance company is liable for paying damages, and the driver’s personal policy may deny your claim. In Houston, the Uber accident lawyers from Haun Mena understand these complexities and can hold the liable insurance company accountable.

Rollovers

Rollover accidents often crush the roofs of passenger compartments, producing severe injuries. These crashes also typically cause significant damage to the vehicles involved.

T-bones

T-bone collisions present a substantial risk of severe injuries to the person sitting in the impacted area. This type of accident often happens at intersections when one car doesn’t yield the right of way.

Uninsured motorist claims

Although Texas requires drivers to maintain minimum car insurance coverage, not everyone does. You may seek compensation from the at-fault driver or through your own uninsured motorist coverage.

How Do Car Accidents Happen?

Sadly, most car accidents happen due to some form of human error, making them preventable. People sustain injuries in crashes every day in Houston, and they deserve compensation. Haun Mena’s competent car accident lawyers can help.

Distractions

Distracted driving is a leading cause of car crashes. By definition, this is anything that takes your mind away from the act of driving, your eyes away from the road, or your hands off the wheel. Examples include:

• Texting
• Putting on makeup
• Eating, drinking, or smoking
• Interacting with passengers
• Daydreaming

Distracted drivers have delayed reaction times, increasing the chances of accidents.

Impaired driving

Drugs, alcohol, and fatigue have similar effects on the human body. Even some prescription or over-the-counter medications can cause impairments, such as:

• Blurred vision
• Confusion and difficulty focusing
• Delayed reaction times
• Drowsiness
• Poor judgment

All these conditions are unsafe, and people under the influence shouldn’t get behind the wheel.

Lane changes

Most Houston drivers must change lanes multiple times daily. Unfortunately, not all of them do so safely, causing collisions.

Poor road conditions

Heavy rain can cause roads to become slick, and drivers who don’t take precautions may cause collisions. Potholes or cracks can make vehicles shift unexpectedly. If poorly maintained roads in Houston contributed to your accident, your car accident lawyers from Haun Mena can seek damages from the responsible government agency.

Speeding

Government agencies set speed limits based on rate at which vehicles can travel safely. Whether speeding drivers are doing so accidentally or intentionally, increased speeds pose many dangers:

• Longer stopping distance and time
• Less control over the car’s maneuverability
• Increased force caused by momentum if accidents occur

Speeding often accompanies other irresponsible driving behaviors, such as weaving through lanes, tailgating, and drinking.

Tailgating

Drivers should maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of them. Tailgating decreases that distance and may not give the rear driver enough time to react if the front car slows.

Wildlife

Animals sometimes unexpectedly appear on the road, and drivers may be unable to avoid hitting them. Your Houston car accident lawyer can help you seek compensation.

What Are Common Car Accident Injuries?

The injuries sustained in car accidents vary in severity, but people involved in crashes often experience the following:

• Whiplash
• Broken limbs
• Bruises, cuts, and lacerations
• Internal damage, such as bleeding, soft tissue, or organ damage
• Concussions, traumatic brain injuries, or cuts on the face from broken glass
• Spinal cord injuries

While some of these injuries are minor, other long-term impacts from a car accident are potentially catastrophic and have far-reaching consequences.

What Should You Do After a Car Accident in Houston?

If your physical condition allows it, there are a few things you should do at the accident scene. You should move your vehicle to the roadside if possible, but don’t leave. Then:

• Assess and assist: Try to help others involved to the extent you can. At the least, you can gather information about their injuries.

• Dial 911: Ask for a law enforcement officer to make a report. You should also tell the operator about the injuries present; they can use that information to determine how many first responders to dispatch to the scene.

• Use your phone: Take photos of all pertinent details, such as vehicle positions and damage, injuries, road conditions, skid marks, and anything that contributed to the accident. You can also record witness statements.

• Accept or seek medical attention: Your health is your priority. In addition, medical personnel will document your condition, which can serve as evidence in your auto accident claim.

• Call your insurance company: Although you should report the accident and any injuries to your own insurance company, don’t speak to representatives from any other company.

• Contact a Houston car accident attorney: We can provide information and advice free of charge to protect your interests.

• Keep records: Keep all bills and receipts for accident-related expenses. In addition, make notes about the accident and all steps you take afterward.

To further protect your health and claim:

• Don’t admit any fault.
• Continue recommended medical treatments.
• Don’t post anything about your crash on social media.

If you have questions, always ask your attorney.

Car Accident Claim Process

The investigation

A car crash investigation needs to answer several questions. Why did the collision occur? What are the immediate causes? (Like a vehicle entering an intersection without the right-of-way.) Are there any underlying causes? (Like a vehicle defect that caused the brakes to fail.) In addition, the victim’s damages must be determined. We also look at insurance policies that may pay compensation.

The insurance claim

Starting a case may mean beginning or continuing a claim through an insurance policy. It may be possible to negotiate fair compensation directly through the insurance company. Having a lawyer is still very important for an insurance claim. With a fully built case, you’re in a strong position to negotiate.

The legal claim

It may be necessary to file a legal claim. That means filing a case in court. Just filing a case doesn’t necessarily mean the case will go to trial – but we’re always ready! In a legal case, the defense is required to answer the claim against them. There are formal options to build evidence and narrow the issues in dispute. Court claims resolve through settlements and judgments.

The recovery

Whether you resolve your case with a negotiated settlement or a judgment, the result is a court order that determines the amount that you receive. We can assist you with any appeals or post-litigation matters that may be necessary. We collect your judgment on your behalf, determine our fee, and your case ends. It’s not goodbye – we’re always here when you need us.

Texas Car Accident Statute of Limitations

A statute of limitations is a legal term for a time limit. You have a limited amount of time to file your case. If it sounds arbitrary, that’s because it is. A statute of limitations is a time limit created by the state legislature. The purpose of it is to decide cases when the evidence is fresh and so that all parties can have finality when the case is over.

In Houston and throughout Texas, the statute of limitations for a car accident claim is two years. If the defendant is a public entity, it’s much shorter – six months.

Talking to the insurance company doesn’t count in meeting the statute of limitations. Only formally filing a court case by the deadline meets the requirement. You don’t have to fully resolve the case by the deadline, but it must be formally started with a summons and complaint in court.

In addition to filing the case within the time limits, you must also make reasonable efforts to serve the other party with your case in a timely manner.

Car Accident Case FAQs

How Much Is Your Car Accident Settlement Worth?

Several factors combine to determine how much compensation you can obtain after a car accident. Your attorney will assess your case, determine your losses and tell you how much your case is worth. You may qualify to receive compensation for many kinds of damages, including:

• Medical bills, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and medications
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Losing your enjoyment of life

While some of these damages reimburse you for out-of-pocket expenses, others compensate you for intangible injuries. Insurance companies are usually reluctant to pay more than the bare minimum, but your attorney will fight for the compensation you deserve.

Car Insurance Adjuster Tactics

Part of representing you means anticipating the insurance company’s tactics. Car insurance companies have various ways to avoid paying claims and discouraging people from seeking compensation.

Watch out for:

• Evasive information about coverage
• Saying that the insurance doesn’t cover it
• Adjusters who don’t respond to your communications
• Constantly asking you to provide more information
• Offering you a settlement that is way too low
• Implying that you don’t have a claim, misrepresenting the law
• Blaming you for the accident
• Delaying your payment, making a partial payment
• Suggesting that you have pre-existing injuries
• Not making an offer when liability is clear

When our car accident lawyers represent you, we don’t accept insurance adjuster tactics. Our team of professionals fights back on your behalf, moving your case forward.

Car Accident Attorney Cost and Fee Structure

When we meet with car accident victims for the first time, they often ask about the cost to hire our attorneys. When you’re suffering from a car accident, paying for an attorney shouldn’t be one more thing you have to worry about.

• Consultations: Free consultations for car accident victims and families
• Fee structure: Contingency fee, based on the results we get for you
• Fee if no recovery?: No
• Hourly fee?: No
• Written fee agreements?: Yes

Free consultations

If you’re in a car accident, we want you to be comfortable calling us or sending us a message. That’s why we offer free consultations for car accident victims and their families. If you are a family member of a victim who is injured or who has died because of a car accident, we are happy to talk with you.

Your free consultation has no cost and no obligation. We want you to learn everything you can about your case, the law, and how our lawyers can help you.

Contingency fees

Many car accident victims assume that they need to have the money upfront to hire a lawyer. At Haun Mena, we don’t expect car accident victims to pay an hourly fee. Instead, we use contingency fees.

Contingency fees are a results-based structure where you pay your attorneys based on the results that we get for you. The fee is determined as a share of your financial recovery after case expenses are deducted. We don’t get paid more the longer your case takes. We get paid for what matters – results.

There’s no fee if you don’t receive a recovery. That’s our commitment – and our confidence in our ability to get results for you.

Houston Car Accident Statistics – 2022

• 75,715 – Motor vehicle collisions in Houston
• 23,999 – Crashes in Houston that cited speed as a related factor – 32% of all collisions
• 133,506 – Motor vehicle collisions in Harris County
• 366 – The average number of traffic collisions each day in Harris County
• 346,352 – People involved in traffic collisions in Harris County
• 32% – Crashes in the City of Houston and all of Harris County citing speed as a contributing factor
• Less than 1% of traffic collisions in Houston cite cell phone use as a factor

Car accidents by county, greater Houston area, 2022

• Austin – 585
• Brazoria – 6,947
• Chambers – 1,359
• Fort Bend – 12,312
• Galveston – 8,409
• Harris – 133,506
• Liberty – 1,781
• Matagorda – 662
• Montgomery – 12,234
• Walker – 1,912
• Waller – 1,524
• Wharton – 917

Source: C.R.I.S. Query, State of Texas, Department of Transportation

Contact Haun Mena to Speak to a Car Accident Attorney in Houston

Call us as soon as possible after your accident. Insurance companies start their investigations right away, and so should you. When you hire Haun Mena, your legal team will begin working on your case immediately, allowing us to find and preserve vital evidence to support your claim.

Haun Mena works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t owe fees unless we win compensation for you. Contact our Houston car accident lawyers 24/7 to request your free consultation by calling our office or submitting our online form.