Car Accident Lawyer Pearland TX
A Pearland, TX car accident lawyer knows just how devastating car accidents can be. In fact, according to National Safety Council (NSC), almost five million people each year consult with medical professionals for injuries they have sustained in crashes. Sadly, more than 40,000 of those victims do not survive their injuries. If you’ve been injured, our car accident attorney can help, reach out to Keith B. French Law, PLLC today.
In the majority of car accidents, there is one at-fault driver who was negligent or reckless in their behavior, resulting in the crash and subsequent injuries. Some of the more common of these behaviors include engaging in distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, or disobeying the posted speed limit or some other traffic law.
Holding Negligent or Reckless Parties Responsible
If you either know or strongly suspect that another’s actions or inactions directly contributed to the cause(s) of your crash, please connect with a trusted Pearland, TX car accident lawyer at Keith B. French Law, PLLC to discuss your legal situation. Once we have a full understanding of the circumstances that led to your collision, the kinds of harm you’ve suffered, and the losses you’ve incurred as a result of your injuries, we’ll be able to provide you with objective, personalized, professional guidance.
We don’t believe in “selling” our services. We believe in empowering injury victims to make whatever informed choices best suit their needs, goals, and priorities in the wake of an injurious crash. Know that we will never push you to take legal action. If we believe that it may not be worth your effort to file a lawsuit, we’ll tell you so. If we genuinely believe that you could benefit from pursuing any compensation to which you are rightfully entitled, we’ll inform you of that professional opinion as well.
If you are in a strong position to file legal action, we’ll work to build the strongest possible case on your behalf. This effort will necessarily involve proving that any defendant named in your lawsuit:
- Owed you a legal duty of care
- Violated this duty by engaging in negligent, reckless, or intentionally dangerous conduct
- Directly caused your injuries due to their conduct
These legal standards are complex and can be difficult to meet. At every step in the legal process, we’ll explain what we’re doing on your behalf and why we believe that our efforts are most likely to be effective in achieving your specific goals for your lawsuit.
Filing for Workers’ Compensation Benefits
It is also worth noting that it is particularly important that you contact a respected Pearland car accident lawyer at our firm quickly if your accident was work-related. You may also be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits because of your harm but if you don’t take certain steps within a matter of days, you may be barred from obtaining these potentially valuable benefits.
Seeking an Insurance Settlement
The dedicated legal team at Keith B. French Law, PLLC can also assist you with obtaining a fairly-valued insurance settlement. Insurance claims adjusters are generally trained to minimize the compensation paid to claimants because insurance companies are for-profit businesses and they aim to cut costs when they can. Our legal team understands how to secure fairly-valued compensation despite this considerable hurdle.
You Don’t Have to Navigate These Challenges Alone
Between dealing with insurance representatives, filing a lawsuit, and/or filing for workers’ compensation benefits, managing the legal aftermath of a car accident can be stressful, complicated, and time-consuming. Know that you don’t have to shoulder these burdens alone. Allow a Pearland car accident lawyer at our firm to handle this heavy lifting so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
Defective Parts or Design
However, one other frequent cause of car accidents is a defective vehicle part or design. Victims of these types of crashes may be surprised to learn that they have every legal right to pursue damages against the vehicle manufacturer or other liable party.
Dangerous and Defective Vehicle Parts and Design
In many cases, the defective car part is not discovered until after the vehicle is on the market and multiple consumers have filed complaints citing issues – and often injuries or death – because of the defect. Some of the more well-known of these cases over the past several years include:
- The Takata airbag defect recall – More than 65 million vehicles recalled to date. Recalls are still ongoing.
- The GM ignition switch defect recall – More than 2.5 million vehicles recalled.
- Toyota faulty window switch – More than 6.5 million vehicles recalled.
- Fiat Chrysler stuck cruise control – More than 5.3 vehicles recalled.
- Ford loose steering wheel bolt defect – More than 1.3 vehicles recalled.
As a Pearland car accident lawyer can explain, each one of the above defects resulted in injuries and even death to victims. Even more disturbing is that in some recalls and defective parts/design issues, the manufacturer knows of the danger but sells the vehicles to the public anyway.
Recovering Damages
Texas law allows any victim who is injured in a car accident because of someone else’s negligence to pursue a car accident claim. Although it is always beneficial to have a car accident attorney in these cases, they are usually fairly routine legally to litigate. However, when the negligence party is a vehicle manufacturer, the litigation can be much more complex. Instead of going up against a vehicle driver and their insurance company, the victim is now facing an entire corporation and its massive legal department. Having a dedicated car accident attorney who is experienced in these types of cases is essential to a successful conclusion.
What To Do When a Car Accident Involves More than Two Parties
Car accident claims can be significantly more complicated (and take longer) when there are more than two parties involved. Although two-party accidents are not necessarily open-and-shut cases, it is not typically so hard to prove who was liable for the accident. When it comes to 3 or more parties and there is vehicle damage as well as multiple injured people, it can be hard to determine whose insurance you should be speaking with and who you are filing a claim against. Especially in situations where there are 3 or more parties, you want to ensure you are working with a lawyer who can help you sort everything out and work to get you the compensation you deserve.
Car Accident Lawyer Pearland, TX
What To Know When Filing an Accident Claim
When you move forward with an accident claim when multiple parties are involved, there are certain things that will be crucial to your claim.
- Texas is known as an “at-fault” state. This means that when someone is involved in a car accident, the person who is responsible for the accident (or the insurance company they are with) is the one who is responsible for compensation. When you are in a car accident with more than one other party, you will be following the modified comparative fault rule. This means that if you share a part in causing the car accident, the percentage you are responsible for is the percentage by which your compensation will be reduced.
- You still need to show liability. It is extremely important to show who is liable for the accident, including if more than one party is liable. Is not enough to simply show that you were not responsible. One party may have run a red light and started the chain of events but the person in the car ahead of you may have slammed on their breaks too quickly. Your lawyer will want to know all the details to determine what events specifically led up to the accident.
- Speak with any eyewitnesses. Because the details matter so much in these situations, it is important that your lawyer gets in touch with eyewitnesses. Car accidents like this can happen so quickly and be a blur. An eyewitness may be exactly the right person who saw everything unfold as it was happening and know which step led to the next incident happening.
- Get the police report. Even if the police officer wasn’t there as the accident occurred, the police report can gather everyone’s points of view regarding what happened and neatly compile it. This can help your lawyer sort out what happened and get information from the sources immediately following the accident.
Get Legal Help For Your Case Today!
Being in a multi-car accident can be incredibly overwhelming. It is crucial that you have a lawyer with experience working on multi-car crashes and that they are there with you every step of the way. To see how we can help, call our office now.
Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm
If you have been injured due to a defective vehicle, contact Keith B. French Law, PLLC to schedule a free case evaluation with a seasoned Pearland car accident lawyer and find out what type of legal recourse you may have for obtaining financial compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional anguish, scarring, disfigurement, and more.
Pearland Car Accident Lawyer FAQs
Car accidents are a common occurrence, and sometimes, when the other party is at fault and damages were sustained, it may be necessary to seek damages with help from a Pearland, TX car accident lawyer. There can be substantial impacts for both victims and their families after a car accident. Physical and even emotional damages are a possibility they may be required to face, in addition to the financial impact as a result of the expenses incurred from the accident. Because of this, initiating the process of gaining compensation for damages through the insurance claims process may be the most viable way to be made whole again after the accident. With help from our team at Keith B. French Law, PLLC, we can answer your questions and assist with pursuing the legal process.
What are common types of car accidents?
Car accidents can result in injuries that can range in severity, and unfortunately, in some of the most devastating accidents, fatalities may result. Victims and their families will be left to clean up the mess left behind, which can feel like an arduous process when recovering from injuries. Some of the most common types of car accidents that may cause injuries to victims can include:
- Head On Collisions
- Side Impact Collisions
- Rear End Collisions
- Multi Car Pile Ups
- Rollovers
- +More
When should law enforcement be called to an accident scene?
Law enforcement should always be called to the scene of a car accident, and this is important for several reasons. However, our Pearland car accident lawyer will share that it’s important to note that despite calling the police, they may not always be able to respond, especially in cases where damage is more minor. When the police arrive, they can secure the accident scene to prevent further accidents and ensure that everyone is moved to safety. In addition, police will also ensure emergency services are contacted, investigate the scene, gather evidence, and even determine who was at fault for the accident. Most importantly, they will produce a police report, which can be a crucial piece of evidence.
What role does evidence play in proving a car accident claim?
Evidence supporting the legal claim is one of the most important factors necessary in proving a car accident claim and gaining compensation the victim is entitled to. It’s important to begin the process of gathering evidence as soon as possible, which may include:
- Photographs/Videos
- Medical Records
- Receipts or Invoices Related to Expenses
- Proof of Lost Wages
- Eyewitness Information
- Police Reports
- +More
What types of damages are available for car accident cases?
When a person has suffered losses at the hands of another negligent party, damages are the legal remedy for recovering compensation and ultimately helping to make the plaintiff whole again after the accident. Much of the time, one of the most important things to a person seeking compensation is knowing the value of their claim. A lawyer will review the damages and determine the appropriate value for the claim. Some available damages for car accidents may include:
- Economic Damages:
- Lost Wages
- Medical Bills
- Funeral Costs
- Property Damage
- Non-Economic Damages:
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Damages
- Loss of Enjoyment
- Disfigurement
When should car accident victims consider contacting a lawyer for help?
It can be tempting to represent oneself after an accident. However, the process is more complex than it may appear. Sometimes, self-representation can result in claim denials or far-undervalued settlement offers. A lawyer will fight for the victim’s rights by fighting for the compensation their client deserves. Through careful negotiation with the opposing side’s insurance company and lawyers, victims can reserve the compensation they are entitled to.
After a car accident, victims deserve compensation for what they have lost, and a Pearland car accident lawyer from Keith B. French Law, PLLC can help protect their clients’ rights to obtain the best possible outcome for their case.
