Car accidents happen every single day. After an accident, you may be left injured and experiencing financial difficulty. A car accident can have a negative impact on your physical and mental health, and these impacts may last for an extended period of time.
Fortunately, you may be entitled to receive compensation. Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law has experience representing clients after car accidents in Channelview, Texas, and we know how to work through any challenges in the local courts. Our car accident lawyer serving Channelview is ready to provide the legal advice you need to help you receive the financial recovery you deserve.
What To Do After a Car Accident in Channelview, TX
After a collision you may feel shaken and unsure of what to do next. It is important to keep in mind that what you do following your accident can affect your claim.
Call 911
Once you’ve assessed any potential injuries, be sure to call 911 and request police and medical assistance. Police officers dispatch to the scene of the accident to collect information which is eventually compiled into a police report.
Seek Medical Care
If you sustain injuries after your accident, you will receive medical attention right away. However, whether or not you believe you’ve been injured, it is highly recommended you seek medical care.
Oftentimes, you may think you were not injured, but some injuries take time to surface. Medical attention from a healthcare professional may shed some light on your injuries and their severity.
Once you are aware of the extent of your injuries, you can begin treatment. Keep in mind your medical records will also play an important role in your claim.
Gather Information and Evidence
As soon as possible after your accident, try to gather any information possible. This can include:
- Photos and videos at the scene of the accident
- The other driver’s contact and insurance information
- Witness contact information
Document anything you believe may be important and useful for your claim.
Report Your Accident to Your Insurance Company
Car insurance companies expect to be made aware of any pertinent information regarding your vehicle, car accidents included. Contact your insurance company as quickly as possible to inform them of your accident.
Avoid Speaking to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company
After a car accident, you can likely expect the other driver’s insurer to contact you. They will want to ask questions and get your side of the story. You must not speak to them, as they will try to use what you say against you. Insurance companies are always looking for ways to limit their liability and avoid paying—do not give them any information without first talking to your attorney.
Consult with our Car Accident Lawyers in Channelview
Consulting with a car accident lawyer in Channelview can help give you the peace of mind you need. Your lawyer will ask all the right questions, answer any questions you may have, and give you an idea of what your ideal next steps should be.
How a Channelview Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You
We Understand the Channelview Area, Giving Us an Advantage When Representing You
If you find yourself as the victim in a car accident in Channelview, our team has the experience required to work toward the claim outcome you are seeking. When investigating exactly what happened in your crash, our knowledge of the Channelview area helps us find the facts we need to present to the other driver’s insurance company to show that you deserve a settlement.
Channelview sees a lot of vehicular traffic every day, both from local residents and from professional truck drivers. Channelview is only 15 miles from downtown Houston, and it is near Interstate 10, both of which generate significant traffic and challenging driving conditions. Its population was only about 8,000 in the mid-1970s, but it now is home to an estimated 43,000 residents. Such significant growth comes with many more vehicles on the road, resulting in a higher potential for car crashes.
Your Lawyer Will be Your Best Ally
It is common to feel lost and stressed after a car accident. From beginning to end, your attorney will work with you to provide the best legal representation. You can feel confident knowing your lawyer has your best interests at heart.
Your Attorney Will Competently Handle Your Claim
Your lawyer will have many tasks on the path to getting you the most favorable outcome. Some of these important tasks include:
- Thoroughly investigating your claim
- Compiling relevant evidence
- Communicating with the insurance companies
- Engaging in settlement negotiations on your behalf
- Filing a lawsuit, if needed
- Answering your questions and keeping you updated along the way
Your lawyer will go the extra mile to get you the financial compensation you deserve after your accident.
Your Lawyer Will Help Fight for Your Right to Compensation
Along the way, there will likely be pushback and challenges on the route to compensation. Nonetheless, your attorney is experienced and knows how to handle these scenarios. Your Channelview car accident attorney will work diligently to get you the financial recovery you need while you worry about your physical recovery.
Why You Should Consult with Our Channelview Car Accident Attorney
Not all Channelview car accident lawyers are the same. At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, we try to set ourselves apart from the competition through our experience, our professionalism, and our compassion.
Because we focus on car accidents and other cases where someone else’s mistake led to injuries for you as the victim, we have an advantage over attorneys who try to dabble in all aspects of the law, but who struggle to gain a high level of experience in any of them.
Our car accident lawyer serving the Channelview area knows the ins and outs of car accident claims. We understand how the court system works with these types of cases. With our team on your side, you never have to worry about your case violating laws and rules in the state of Texas.
We do not back down when insurance companies treat you unfairly. Instead, we double our efforts to try to make the insurer see the facts in the case and why it should agree to the settlement offer we are seeking.
Commonly Asked Questions After a Car Accident
What Type of Compensation Is Available After a Car Accident?
Generally, there are two main categories of damages for car accident cases: compensatory and punitive damages. Compensatory damages aim to compensate you for your losses. They can be economic or non-economic in nature.
Economic damages are those directly related to your accident. They can include:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost wages.
Non-economic damages are also related to your accident but may be a little more difficult to quantify. These include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional distress
- Loss of consortium.
Punitive damages are special damages only assessed in certain cases. These damages are used to punish and deter when a defendant’s extremely negligent behavior caused you harm.
Damages can be challenging to calculate, but your experienced car accident attorney will determine the fairest amount of compensation owed to you.
How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth?
There is no “average” car accident settlement amount. Because every car accident claim is different, there are certain factors used to determine how much your case would be worth.
These factors can include:
- The severity of injuries sustained
- The total cost of medical expenses
- The amount of property damage
- The total amount of lost wages
- Whether your actions contributed to your accident.
These and other details are weighed to determine the worth of your car accident claim.
Will My Case Go to Court?
Not every car accident case goes to court. Your attorney will attempt to settle your claim. However, if a settlement cannot be reached, your lawyer may need to file a lawsuit to help collect compensation on your behalf. If your case cannot be settled, then it may go to trial.
Whether your case settles out of court or goes to trial, your attorney will represent you at all stages.
What If I Am Found to Be Partially at Fault?
Texas operates under a modified comparative fault standard. This law dictates that a person who is more than 50% at fault for their accident cannot recover compensation. However, a person less than 50% at fault is still eligible to recover for their accident. A complete investigation will help determine who is truly responsible for the accident and to what degree.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit?
There is a statute of limitations for car accident claims. A statute of limitations is a law imposing a strict time limit on a person’s ability to file a lawsuit. In Texas, the general statute of limitations applicable to car accidents is two years from the date of the accident (TX C.P.R. §16.003). For the statute of limitations that apply to your potential claim(s), and to find out other critical deadlines, you must always speak directly with an attorney. If you fail to file your lawsuit within the time specified, you will likely lose your right to compensation.
Therefore, the sooner you begin working on your claim, the better.
How Do I Know If I Can Afford a Car Accident Attorney?
Our team of Channelview car accident lawyers works on a contingency fee basis. This means we do not collect any fees at the time you hire us. Instead, our fee comes from a percentage of the final settlement in the case. If we do not win an award for you, you do not pay us anything. This type of fee structure aligns our interests with yours and means you do not have to worry about paying us at the same time you are missing work and seeing medical costs soar.
Don’t Delay—Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers Serving Channelview Today
There are a multitude of reasons to consult with our car accident attorneys in the Channelview, TX area as quickly as you can. Aside from the peace of mind having an attorney will give you, it will also give you the best possible chance at receiving fair compensation.
Contact Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law today at (713) 973-8888 to schedule your free case review.
Attorney Terry Bryant
Terry Bryant is Board Certified in personal injury trial law, which means his extensive knowledge of the law has been recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, setting him apart from many other injury attorneys. The 22 years he spent as a Municipal Judge, Spring Valley Village, TX also provides him keen insight into the Texas court system. That experience also helps shape his perspective on personal injury cases and how they might resolve. This unique insight benefits his clients. [ Attorney Bio ]
