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What Does a Houston Car Accident Lawyer Do?

You may wonder if you need a lawyer if you’ve been injured in a car accident in Houston, TX. After all, can’t you just submit a claim to insurance without going to court and making it a big deal?

The truth is that car accident lawyers in Houston do a lot for their clients and often make the process less stressful. While you can try to navigate a personal injury case pro se (meaning without a lawyer), you may have a difficult time understanding the legal system and evidentiary requirements.

It is always helpful to have an experienced advocate on your side, especially when your financial stability is at stake. Contact the Houston car accident lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your case at (713) 500-5000. We have decades of experience in car accident law and have recovered millions for injured clients.

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Our Houston Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You After a Car Crash in Texas

Most victims have a lot going on after an accident. Medical bills. Lost income. There are many damages and losses with which to contend. The thought of hiring a lawyer on top of these challenges may seem overwhelming.

However, a Houston personal injury lawyer can be a major asset to your claim. Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers has recovered millions of dollars for car accident victims in Texas.

When you hire us after a car accident, you can expect us to:

Investigate the crash
Negotiate with insurance companies
Go to trial
Seek damages on your behalf

We will do everything possible to ensure you get fair compensation after your crash. Contact us today in Houston, Texas, to schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team.

The Role of a Car Accident Lawyer

Unfortunately, car accidents are all too common in Houston. In 2021, there were 66,988 car accidents, 312 of which were fatal. Many of these cases were litigated in Houston courts by car accident lawyers. That’s why car accident lawyers are the best resource for people who are looking to recover damages.

Investigate the Crash

When you hire a car accident lawyer, you also get access to an entire team of professionals working on your case. This may include an investigator, case managers and paralegals, expert witnesses, and administrative staff in the office. As a result, more people are available to help investigate the crash, than if you were on your own.

Personal injury lawyers will investigate the circumstances of the crash including:

Visiting the scene and collecting evidence
Looking at the physical evidence, such as a wrecked car or photograph on the scene
Reviewing accident reports and medical records
Identifying witnesses and taking depositions
Prepare interrogatories
Discuss evidence, like skid marks, with crash reconstruction experts
Locate video evidence
Review discovery

There can be a lot of evidence in a car accident case. A car accident lawyer will help collect and organize evidence for later use in trial and during negotiations.

Negotiate with Insurance Companies

Insurance companies are almost always looking for ways to get out of paying for injuries caused by the insured. Most car accident lawyers are experienced at negotiating with insurance companies and know what to expect when it comes to a settlement. This means that you are probably more likely to receive a fair payout if you work with a lawyer rather than if you represent yourself.

Having a lawyer communicate directly with the at-fault party’s insurance company is always smart. It limits the risk that you will say something in an interview that you may later regret.

Even innocent statements can be twisted into accepting blame when an insurance company is trying to get off the hook. A lawyer will ensure that you always put your best foot forward when talking with insurance agencies.

Go to Trial

If your lawyer isn’t able to settle with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, or the insurance company refuses to pay the full damages, they might file a lawsuit on your behalf. In Houston, this lawsuit is commonly filed against the at-fault driver, who may or may not have the resources to pay damages.

Your lawyer will prepare your case for trial by:

Reviewing the evidence and medical records
Taking depositions
Questioning witnesses
Hiring expert witnesses
Filing pretrial motions
Picking a jury
Making oral arguments
Submitting favorable evidence to the court

It is also possible that your lawyer will continue to negotiate with the at-fault driver during the trial. This is common after a defendant sees the evidence against them and becomes worried about losing the lawsuit.

Recover Damages on Your Behalf

Perhaps the most important role of a car accident lawyer in Houston is to recover damages on your behalf. Whether through a settlement with an insurance company or a court order, a lawyer’s goal is to get you paid.

In Houston, the injured can regularly recover both economic and non-economic damages. Depending on the specific circumstances of your case, your lawyer may argue for both.

Economic damages are easily quantifiable and usually have a dollar amount directly associated with them. This includes damages like:

Medical bills and rehabilitation expenses
Lost wages and lost earning capacity
Transportation costs
Household assistance

Non-economic damages are more difficult to calculate because they are intangible. Non-economic damages include costs such as:

Loss of quality of life
Emotional distress
Pain and suffering
Disability
Loss of consortium

You can also recover punitive damages in Houston courts. Punitive damages are special damages awarded to punish the at-fault party rather than to reimburse someone or make them whole. Punitive damages are more common in lawsuits against companies or entities that need to be deterred from future bad behavior. Your lawyer can explain whether or not you can pursue punitive damages.

How Much Do Car Accident Lawyers Charge in Houston, TX?

Car accident lawyers, like most personal injury lawyers, usually charge their clients on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee is a set percentage that a lawyer takes from the total damages awarded in a case. The fee is agreed upon before representation. Usually, the contingency fee is between 30% – 40%.

Contingency fees are great for injured people because it means you don’t pay any money unless your lawyer wins the case. You won’t have to worry about being able to afford the legal bill because it will always be a percentage of the total award.

How Our Auto Accident Lawyers in Houston at Attorney Brian White Can Help You

If you’re ready to talk to a car accident lawyer, call Attorney Brian White for a free consultation. Our team has over 45 years of combined legal experience, and we know car accident laws in Houston. We have a proven track record of success in Houston courts and always fight aggressively for our clients.