When another party injures you, you deserve to be compensated for your damages. However, insurance companies and at-fault parties are not interested in paying you a fair amount for your personal injury claim. Instead, they are concerned with protecting themselves from liability.
Hiring a Houston personal injury lawyer gives you a better chance of receiving the money you need after an accident or injury. It also allows you to focus on healing and recovery while your attorney focuses on obtaining a fair settlement for your personal injury case.
Table of Contents
- Houston Personal Injury Lawyers Protect Your Legal Rights After an Accident or Personal Injury
- Signs That You Need To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Houston, TX
- Contact Us for a Free Consultation With Our Undefeated Houston Personal Injury Lawyers
Houston Personal Injury Lawyers Protect Your Legal Rights After an Accident or Personal Injury
Your personal injury lawyers handle all aspects of your case to protect your legal rights and best interests. Examples of steps personal injury attorneys take after you hire them include:
- Investigate your claim to determine how your injuries occurred and identify the parties responsible for causing your injuries
- Interview witnesses and other parties involved in the case
- Gathers evidence, including working with expert witnesses as necessary
- Obtains and reviews copies of the accident report and police report
- Researches applicable laws and statutes
- File claims with insurance companies and handle those claims
- Documents damages and calculates how much the case is worth based on those damages
- Work with your doctors and medical specialists to determine the extent of your injuries and any impairments
- Prepares a settlement demand letter and negotiates with the insurance company to settle the claim
- Defends you against allegations of contributory fault
- Files a personal injury lawsuit and takes the case to trial, if necessary
The insurance company has a team of professionals working for them to protect their best interests. They have unlimited resources to fight your claim. Hiring a Houston personal injury lawyer levels the playing field by giving you the resources necessary to fight for the money you need.
Signs That You Need To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Houston, TX
Hiring a personal injury lawyer to handle your claim is the best solution in most situations. Attorneys offer free consultations, so speaking with an attorney about your case costs nothing.
However, some situations indicate you need to talk with an injury lawyer immediately. If any of these situations apply to your case, we strongly recommend that you contact our Houston office to discuss your case with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers in Houston, TX.
You Are Being Blamed for Contributing to the Cause of Your Injury
Texas contributory fault laws do not prohibit you from receiving compensation if you are partially at fault for causing an accident. However, the proportionate responsibility statute has a 51% bar, meaning you cannot recover any money for your claim if you are over 50% to blame for an accident.
If you are less than 51% to blame, you can recover a portion of your damages based on your percentage of fault. For example, if you are 10% to blame, your damages are reduced by 10%.
The Insurance Company Refuses To Acknowledge or Investigate the Claim
An insurance company is required to acknowledge and investigate all claims. If the company is stalling, it could be acting in bad faith. Likewise, if the company does not complete a thorough investigation before denying a claim, it could be acting in bad faith.
If you hire an attorney, the attorney holds the insurance accountable for their actions. The company is less likely to act in bad faith because it knows the attorney will pursue a bad faith claim in addition to the personal injury claim.
You Sustained Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries result in high medical bills, significant lost wages, and other extensive damages. The insurance company wants to settle the claim as soon as possible to end its liability. Therefore, you might be pressured to accept a settlement agreement.
Cases involving catastrophic injuries can be complicated. An attorney understands the unique challenges with these cases and how to protect your right to compensation for damages for your total losses.
The Accident Resulted in a Permanent Impairment or Disability
In addition to past and current damages, you could receive future damages if you sustain a permanent injury. For example, in addition to lost wages, you may receive compensation for future loss of income and reduced earning capacity. You may also receive money for future medical bills and long-term personal/nursing care.
Future damages for an impairment include compensation for diminished quality of life, ongoing pain and suffering, and the impairment itself. These non-economic damages can be equal to or more than the economic damages.
Your Child Was Injured in an Accident or Other Incident
Child injury cases can be complicated personal injury claims. Your child may need ongoing medical care and treatment for injuries. The extent of their injuries may not be easily determined because they continue to grow and develop. Your attorney may retain numerous experts to assist in evaluating your child’s damages and losses.
Furthermore, you may need court approval for a settlement for a child’s personal injury case, depending on the circumstances. An attorney handles that matter for you as well. Hiring a personal injury attorney when your child is injured allows you to focus on your child’s well-being while the attorney protects your child’s legal rights.
You Are Unsure How Much Your Damages Are Worth
For a layperson with little to no experience in personal injury law, valuing damages can be challenging. First, you must know what damages you can receive for a personal injury claim. Second, you must know what those damages are worth.
Insurance companies undervalue damages whenever possible to lower the amount they pay to settle a claim. The company may be less likely to try that tactic when dealing with an experienced Houston personal injury lawyer with a reputation for winning cases and recovering top amounts for their clients.
A Government Entity Is Involved in the Case
The rules governing personal injury claims against government agencies and entities differ from those governing other personal injury claims. For example, you may have just a few months to file a notice of claim to protect your right to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. You should contact an attorney immediately if your case involves a state, county, or local government office.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation With Our Undefeated Houston Personal Injury Lawyers
At Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers, our lawyers are experienced, resourceful, and dedicated advocates for personal injury victims. Our law firm is equipped to handle the most complex injury claims, and we’ve recovered some of the largest accident settlements and verdicts in Texas history. Call now for a free consultation with an experienced, record-setting Houston personal injury attorney.