Driving is a privilege, not a right. Every driver has a legal obligation to act in a manner prescribed by the law. Failure to do so can result in an accident.
The number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads of Texas and the rest of the United States has increased during the past year, even though millions of Americans spent much of that time stuck at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
SOME IMPORTANT FACTS AND STATISTICS ON CAR ACCIDENTS.
- In Texas, 3893 people were killed in automobile accidents during 2020, up from 3623 deaths in 2019. Surprisingly, traffic volumes were almost 50% below normal for majority of the year, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
- According to safety experts, the main reason for the rise in the number of accidents is fewer people and vehicles on the roads led to motorists speeding and losing control of their vehicles.
- Crashes resulted in the death of 251 people in Houston in 2019.
- Between 2014 and 2018, 1153 people were killed by Houston drivers.
- Houston was the most dangerous city to drive in Texas in 2019 as 13% of all accidents in the state occurred in the city.
- Average vehicle speeds in major metropolitan areas rose 22% in 2020.
- 3 Houston highways were named in the list of most dangerous highways in the country. Interstate 10 in the Houston area was ranked number 5 on the most dangerous list.
If you or your loved one has been injured in an car accident anywhere in the Houston area due to the carelessness or negligence of another driver, or manufacturer of a defective vehicle or part of a vehicle, or a government agency, you should hire one of the prominent Car Accident Attorneys in Houston to represent you.
Car accident cases involve complex and intricate legal concepts. Determining liability for injuries and valuing a claim can be difficult processes which a victim of a car accident should not attempt to undertake without the expert guidance of a competent Injury Attorney Houston TX.
FIVE COMMON CAUSES OF CAR COLLISIONS/CRASHES IN HOUSTON TX.
Federal and State government agencies and car manufacturers work together to ensure road, vehicle and driver safety, yet car accident numbers continue to rise. Some major factors that contribute to car accidents in the State of Texas are:-
- Failure to control speed.
- Driver inattention.
- Failure to drive in single lane.
- Failure to yield when turning left.
- Driving under the influence of Alcohol or drugs.
Car accidents due to human error and negligence are the greatest causes of deaths and serious injuries in Houston and throughout Texas.
Negligence is defined as “Failure to take reasonable care to avoid causing injury or loss to another person.”
To prove negligence, the plaintiff (the injured party) must establish the following four main elements:-
- The defendant (the accused party) owed the plaintiff a reasonable duty of care.All drivers owe a duty of care towards other drivers, passengers, pedestrians and others on the roadway when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle.
- The Defendant breached his or her duty of care.The breach of care by the defendant is the crux of the personal injury law. It is the plaintiff’s burden of proof to convince the judge or jury that there was a breach of care committed by the defendant.
- The breach of duty by the Defendant caused the accident.It is not enough to show that the Defendant was negligent, careless or reckless, it has to be established beyond reasonable doubt that his or her act of negligence was the main cause of the car crash.
- The accident caused compensable damages.The plaintiff has to establish that he or she suffered damages due to the breach of duty by the Defendant. Damages may include physical injury, pain and injury, mental anguish, emotional distress, lost wages, loss of quality of life and/or property damage.
The qualified and experienced Car Accident Attorneys Houston at the Law offices of Shane R. Kadlec possess in depth knowledge and experience to assist a victim and his family to navigate through complex accident laws. Our team of Injury Attorneys Houston Tx relentlessly fights to secure maximum compensation through verdicts and settlements for victims of car accidents in Houston and all across Texas.
STATUTE OF LIMITATION FOR FILING A CAR ACCIDENT CASE IN TEXAS.
There are specific time limits, restrictions and rules for filing a accident claim. An experienced Injury attorney in Houston, TX will ensure that you fully understand the Federal, State and Local laws that might apply to your case.
Texas Statute of Limitations for car accidents is two years after the accident occurred. In general terms, residents of Texas have two years from the date of the accident to initiate a civil lawsuit.
It is in the best interests of the plaintiff to enlist the services of a experienced Car Accident Attorney Houston. Sufficient time is necessary to collect evidence to establish the defendant’s liability. Various witnesses have to be traced and interviewed. Numerous records have to be collected and opinion of experts has to be sought.
Our experienced and efficient office staff files Lawsuits after our Car Accident Attorneys Houston have carried out a thorough and comprehensive review of the evidence.
TEXAS IS AN “AT-FAULT” STATE.
In Texas, the party that is found to be at fault for an accident will be responsible for compensating the injured party for the amount he or she is responsible for.
As payments are generally made by the insurance companies, the state’s status as an “at-fault” state impacts the responsibilities of insurance companies.
If you are involved in a car accident in Houston or anywhere in Texas, insurance companies of all parties involved in the accident are looking out for their own interests, not yours. Insurance companies are never on your side. Let your Car Accident Attorneys Houston deal with them.
One should never discuss who is at fault for the accident with the representatives of insurance companies. Fault is only determined after a detailed investigation and careful evaluation by skilled professionals.
HOW CAR INSURANCE WORKS IN TEXAS?
All drivers in Texas are required by law to have adequate car insurance. Coverage amounts are separated into 3 categories in Texas:
- The coverage amount for each injured person.
- The coverage amount per accident.
- The coverage amount for property damage per accident.
According to Texas Law, drivers in the state need to have a minimum insurance coverages of $30,000 per injured person, up to $60,000 per accident. Additionally, Texas drivers must have a coverage for property damage of at least $25,000. Insurance and legal professionals refer to these coverages as the 30/60/25 coverage.
In Texas, car insurance is proof of financial responsibility. Your insurers send you a proof-of-insurance Card which you must furnish :
- If you have an accident.
- To register your vehicle or renew it’s registration.
- If you are stopped by a police officer.
- To renew driver’s license.
- To have your car inspected.
There is no guarantee though that minimum coverage will address all the costs of recovery and repairs if you are injured in an accident. Our firm’s compassionate Car Accident Attorneys Houston seek to get maximum compensation for the victim of an car accident and help him or her explore other options and alternative ways to seek additional compensation for injuries sustained.
COMPENSATION FOR A VICTIM OF AN CAR ACCIDENT IN HOUSTON.
Our Car Accident Attorneys Houston help victims recover:-
- Medical Bills.
- Lost Wages.
- Damages suffered due to Pain and Suffering.
- Damages suffered due to Emotional Distress.
- Costs of future corrective surgeries.
- Compensation for short-term and long-term loss in productivity.
- Damages for loss of enjoyment of life and breakdown of personal relationships.
“VISION ZERO” PLAN.
An ambitious project aimed at ending traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030 was unveiled by Houston’s Mayor Sylvester Turner in late 2020. This initiative is taken to tackle Houston’s high accident rate through speed reduction, road construction and other measures such as redesigning high-accident and injury-prone locations, and constructing side-walks and bike-ways.
The Mayor said the plan is about ‘prioritizing people over cars”.
WHY HIRE AN BOARD-CERTIFIED LEGAL SPECIALIST?
Car accidents cause injuries. Injuries cost money, time away from work, medical bills, and other serious complications. Before initiating legal action or trying to negotiate a settlement on your own, you should think about talking to a Injuries Attorney in Houston, TX, preferably a board-certified legal specialist to discuss the merits of your case.
Hiring a Board-Certified Attorney is a step that can level the playing field for you against insurance companies and defense counsels, help to protect your legal rights, and put you in the best position for recovering the compensation that you deserve.
An attorney who is Board-certified is among the top 1% of attorneys who practice in that area of speciality. Board-certified lawyers go through a process that ensures they are academically brilliant enough to pass a very hard written test. Board-certified lawyers need a certain amount of trial experience and are peer reviewed by lawyers and judges who attest that they are highly professional.
Less than 2% lawyers in Texas are board-certified. Hiring a board-certified lawyer ensures that your lawyer is proficient in the legal field in which you have a legal need.
Enlisting the services of a board-certified Injury Attorney Houston, TX at our firm wont guarantee that you will win your case, but it can greatly improve and enhance your chances of success. Car Accident Attorney Shane R. Kadlec’s command over accident laws is second to none.
Houston Car Accident Lawyer Shane R. Kadlec earned his certification in personal injury trial law from Texas Board for Legal Specialization in 2003 and his re-certification in 2008, 2013, and 2018 respectively.
CONTACT THE LAW OFFICE OF SHANE R. KADLEC.
All personal injury cases handled by the Law Office of Shane R. Kadlec are taken up on a contingency basis, which means our clients pay nothing unless we win their case or settle it.
Injury Attorneys at the Law Office of Shane R. Kadlec have represented clients in Houston and throughout its surrounding areas of Texas.
Initial consultations are free. Call a experienced Car Accident lawyer at our firm for a free case evaluation right away.
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