Houston Car Accident Lawyer Near You

Houston, Texas Car Accident Statistics

• Houston has the most traffic accidents of any Texas city. (75,711 in 2022).
• 1,592 people were seriously injured and 323 people were killed in Houston, Texas car accidents in 2022.
• 37% of Texas traffic deaths involve alcohol or drug impairment.
• Texas has more commercial vehicle-passenger vehicle collisions than any other state.

What To Do After a Car Accident in Texas

When you’re in a car accident in Texas, you must stop, give information and render aid.

If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. Follow operator instructions until help arrives.

As you wait, be aware of your surroundings. Stay away from traffic. Move vehicles from the roadway if you can.

See Texas Transp. Code § 550.021 (injury), § 550.022 (damage), and § 550.024 (unattended vehicle).

Your medical care comes first

Prioritize medical attention for anyone injured. If you can, take photos and video of the accident scene. Get contact information for witnesses, and vehicle, license and insurance information.

Reporting the accident

Texas Transp. Code § 550.026 says that drivers in an accident resulting in injury, death or damage that makes a vehicle inoperable must immediately report the accident to law enforcement. In Houston, that means reporting the accident to the Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, or other appropriate law enforcement agency.

If the police respond, they must complete an accident report if there is injury, death, or apparent damage of $1,000 or more. Law enforcement must complete the report within 10 days. (§ 550.062).

Building your case

Get a copy of the car accident report when it becomes available.

Save the clothes you were wearing and any damaged personal property.

If you or someone in your vehicle is injured, involve an attorney as early as possible.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle

Goldenzweig Law Group handles every type of car accident injury claim, including:

Drunk driving accident injury

Drunk driving accidents are completely avoidable. We can pursue your case whether or not criminal charges have been filed.

Texting and driving

Texting and driving reduces reaction time. Our team investigates whether distracted driving played a role in the accident.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist

15% of drivers on the road are uninsured. Our lawyers explore all possibilities for your compensation for an accident involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist.

Rear-end collisions

Rear-end collisions can result in significant injury. Our attorneys handle claims involving the Texas following too closely law (assured clear distance), § 545.062.

Head-on collisions

Head-on collisions can be especially devastating. We investigate the cause of the accident and details that may have been missed in the police report.

T-bone, side impact

T-bone, or side impact accidents, can occur when one party violates the right of way. § 544.007 requires drivers to observe traffic signals. Our lawyers build your claim for compensation.

Vehicle rollover

When you’re involved in a vehicle rollover, you may have serious injury. Our lawyers investigate contributing factors like road conditions and vehicle design.

Single and multi-vehicle accidents

Our law firm handles claims involving single-vehicle accidents, two vehicles and pile ups. We handle claims where more than one party may have legal fault.

Serious and catastrophic injury

If you or a loved one have suffered a life-changing injury, an attorney is especially important to handle your case. We work in detail to make your case complete.

Wrongful death

If you have lost a loved one in a car accident, our caring team can help. We handle wrongful death claims with compassion. We provide skilled legal representation while you are grieving.

Truck, bus and commercial vehicle

Our law firm takes on the trucking companies. We understand the complex mechanics of commercial vehicle accidents. We fight for you.

Pedestrian, bicycle and scooter

Your rights as a pedestrian or bicyclist are important. We fight for fair compensation.

Our law firm is experienced in a wide range of motor vehicle collision claims, including cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles and more. Whatever your situation, we pursue your case in full.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Here are some common car accident injuries:

• Resulting from soft tissue strain.
• Broken bones. Including ribs, legs, arms, wrists and facial bones.
• Organ damage. Serious injury to vital organs.
• Traumatic brain injury. When injury disrupts normal brain function.
• Cuts and bruises. Cuts and bruises can be painful with risk of infection.
• Burns can result in pain, disfigurement and complications.
• Spinal cord injury. Causing paralysis, tingling, numbness and loss of feeling.

Whatever your injuries, you deserve fair compensation.

Damages You Can Recover in a Car Accident Claim

A car accident claim is about monetary compensation. This means damages. Damages are the losses that the victim has because of the accident.

Losses are both financial and personal. Medical bills, for example, are a monetary loss. You also have physical suffering, which is a personal loss.

Damages you can recover may include:

• Emergency medical care
• Ongoing medical care
• Physical therapy
• Lost income
• Personal care expenses
• Replacement household expenses
• Physical pain
• Emotional anguish, grief
• Scars, disfigurement, disability
• Loss of life expectancy
• Loss of society and personal activities
• Other ways that you are impacted by the accident

Each case is valued individually. An attorney from Goldenzweig Law Group can value your claim.

How Insurance Companies Try to Minimize Your Car Accident Claim

Insurance companies care about their profit margins. When it’s time to pay a claim, they want to pay as little as possible.

The insurance company may ask for more and more information but never make a settlement offer. You may face accusations of fault when you’re not to blame for the accident. They may hope that you don’t know what your claim is worth.

An attorney fights back against the insurance tactics. At Goldenzweig Law Group, we know how insurance companies deny good claims. When you hire us, the insurance company knows that you’re serious. Your attorney communicates with the insurance company, fighting until you have justice.

Determining Fault in a Houston Car Accident

Fault depends on whose actions contributed to the car accident. Negligence, which means not being careful enough, can make someone liable for a crash.

Common grounds for fault in a Houston car accident include:

• Speeding – Speed limits vary by type of road and traffic. The speed limit on Interstate 10 is 80 mph in rural areas, but ranges from 60-70 mph in Houston.
• Failure to yield – Failing to follow right of way rules on the thousands of streets in Houston.
• Drunk driving – Driving while intoxicated or otherwise impaired by alcohol or drugs.
• Reckless driving – Operating with a willful disregard of safety, prohibited by Transp. Code § 545.401.
• Vehicle malfunction – Responsible for about 2% of motor vehicle crashes, according to NHTSA.

The cause of an accident can be complex. When you hire Goldenzweig Law Group, we go beyond the police report to investigate grounds for compensation.

Texas Car Accident Laws You Need to Know

Texas car accident laws allow injured victims to seek compensation from any party at fault for the accident. Usually, fault is based on a driving infraction.

Here are some Texas car accident laws that you need to know:

Texas Is an At-Fault State

Texas is an at-fault state for car accidents. That means the responsible party pays.

In no-fault states, minor accident claims are handled through each party’s own insurance, and fault matters only when injuries are severe. There are only 12 no-fault states in the United States.

Because Texas is an at-fault state, you can pursue compensation from those responsible for the accident, regardless of the degree of injury or the amount of damages.

Modified Comparative Negligence – the 51% Rule

Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001 creates a modified comparative negligence system for car accident compensation. Fault is assigned to every responsible party as a percentage. Fault is 0% for someone with no fault at all. Shared fault totals 100% for all parties.

If someone is 50% or less at fault for the accident, they may collect compensation. Compensation is reduced as a percentage of fault. For example, if you’re 25% at fault, you recover 75% of your damages. This is called comparative negligence.

There is a 51% bar to compensation for Texas car accidents. When a party is 51% or more at fault for an accident, they receive no compensation. This is what makes the Texas rule modified comparative negligence.

Remember, the insurance company wants to pay as little as possible. Just because they accuse you of fault doesn’t make it so. A Houston car accident lawyer can assist you.

Texas Minimum Insurance Requirements

Texas requires every vehicle owner to have car insurance. Drivers must have a minimum of:

• $30,000 injury, per person
• $60,000 injury, per accident
• $25,000 property damage, per accident

You may see these minimums referred to as 30/60/25 coverage. Texas does not require uninsured/underinsured coverage.

Insurance is an important part of most Texas car accident claims. Your attorney can help you explore policy limits, collision or comprehensive coverage, uninsured/underinsured coverage, commercial insurance or assets that may pay a claim.

(Texas Transportation Code § 601.072).

Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents in Texas

Most Texas car accident claims in Texas must be filed within two years. This time limit is called a statute of limitations (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003). Missing the statute of limitations means getting no compensation, even if you have a great case.

Sometimes, the statute of limitations is longer or shorter. For example, if the injured person is a minor or legally incompetent, or if the defendant is outside of the State of Texas, the deadline can be longer. When the defendant is a government agency, the time limit can be shorter (180 days for most government agencies, and 90 days for the City of Houston).

Negotiating with the insurance company doesn’t count as filing a case. Don’t wait to contact a lawyer.

For more information about Texas car accident laws, see Texas Transportation Code § 550.001 et. seq., Collisions and Collision Reports.

Car Accident Lawyers Serving All of Texas

The Goldenzweig Law Group headquarters are in Houston. We have four local offices to serve you.

• Houston Car Accident Lawyer – Headquarters – Located at 5847 San Felipe St, near The Galleria and Interstate 610 between I-10 and I-69 in Greater Uptown.
• North Houston Car Accident Lawyer – N Sam Houston Parkway E – near I-45 and George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
• Pasadena, TX, Car Accident Lawyer – On W Southmore Ave, between I-45 and Highway 225 in Pasadena, TX, near South Houston and William P. Hobby Airport.
• Bellaire, TX, Car Accident Lawyer – On W Loop S – Off Interstate 610 between Bissonnet St. and Bellaire Blvd.

Areas We Serve

Acres Home, Addicks / Park Ten, Afton Oaks / River Oaks, Alief, Astrodome Area, Braeburn, Braeswood, Brays Oaks, Briar Forest, Carverdale, Central Northwest, Central Southwest, Clear Lake, Clinton Park / Tri-Community, Denver Harbor / Port Houston, Downtown, East Houston, East Little York / Homestead, Edgebrook, El Dorado / Oates Prairie, Eldridge / West Oaks, Fairbanks / Northwest Crossing, Fondren Gardens, Fort Bend / Houston, Fourth Ward, Golfcrest / Bellfort / Reveille, Greater Eastwood, Greater Fifth Ward, Greater Greenspoint, Greater Heights, Greater Hobby Area, Greater Inwood, Greater OST / South Union, Greater Third Ward, Greater Uptown, Greenway / Upper Kirby, Gulfgate Riverview / Pine Valley, Gulfton, Harrisburg / Manchester, Hidden Valley, Hunterwood, IAH Airport, Independence Heights, Jensen, Kashmere Gardens, Kingwood, Lake Houston, Langwood, Lawndale / Wayside, Lazybrook / Timbergrove, MacGregor, Magnolia Park, Meadowbrook / Allendale, Medical Center, Memorial, Meyerland, Midtown, Mid-West, Minnetex, Museum Park, Neartown / Montrose, Northshore, Northside / Northline, Northside Village, Park Place, Pecan Park, Pleasantville Area, Second Ward, Settegast, Sharpstown, South Acres / Crestmont Park, South Belt / Ellington. South Main, South Park, Spring Branch Central, Spring Branch East, Spring Branch North, Spring Branch West, Sunnyside, Trinity / Houston Gardens, University Place, Washington Avenue Coalition / Memorial Park, Westbranch, Westbury, Westchase, Westwood, Willow Meadows / Willowbend, Willowbrook.