Car accidents are a daily occurrence on the roads in Pasadena. While some of these collisions are minor “fender-benders” that result in little more than vehicle dents and scrapes, far too many others result in severe, catastrophic, or even fatal injuries. What’s worse is that most motor vehicle accidents could have been avoided if one or more drivers had been more responsible.
The Pasadena car accident lawyers at Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC could help you seek financial recovery if you were injured in a crash that was someone else’s fault. Our attorneys have more than 30 years of combined experience helping people just like you demand fair compensation in an insurance settlement or court verdict after a collision.
Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you seek maximum compensation from the at-fault party.
How Our Pasadena Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You
Some people think lawyers spend most of their time arguing in courtrooms, but most car accident cases wrap up long before a trial.
Here are just a few of the things our lawyers can do to help you after a crash:
- Provide a free initial consultation so you can get a better idea of what your options are
- Answer any questions you have as your case progresses
- Evaluate the medical treatment you’ve already received and let you know if you may need additional treatment from a specialist
- Review your medical records, crash scene photos, and other evidence to help determine who might be potentially liable for your injuries
- Gather additional evidence to support your case, such as eyewitness accounts, police accident reports, and testimony from expert witnesses
- Handle all interactions with the insurance companies, including settlement negotiations
- File a lawsuit and prepare your case for trial, if necessary
What to Do If You’ve Been Hurt in a Car Accident
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you need to call 911 right away.
Once you’ve alerted the authorities, here are the next steps you need to take:
- Get the other driver’s name, driver’s license number, address, phone number, and insurance information.
- Take as many pictures as you can of the accident scene. Be sure to get photos of the damage to your vehicle, the other car, and any injuries you sustained. Ask someone else to take pictures for you if you’re too badly injured.
- See a doctor right away. If you aren’t taken to a hospital, schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible so they can check you for any internal injuries.
- Hold on to all your medical records and bills. They’re crucial pieces of evidence to help document your injuries and other losses from the crash.
- Don’t talk to any insurance companies. Let your lawyer speak to them so you don’t say anything that could potentially hurt your case.
- Hire a lawyer as soon as possible. There are specific deadlines for filing a car accident injury lawsuit in Texas, so you don’t want to wait too long to speak to an attorney.
Types of Car Accidents
Some of the types of car accidents we frequently see include:
- Rear-end collisions
- Single-vehicle crashes
- T-bone accidents
- Sideswipe accidents
- Low-speed accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Hit-and-run crashes
- Drunk driving accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
- Reckless driving accidents
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Semi-truck accidents
- Speeding accidents
Common Types of Injuries Caused by Car Accidents
A major car accident can cause serious injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Partial or total paralysis
- Back injuries
- Burns
- Abdominal injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Fractures and broken bones
- Disfiguring facial injuries and scarring
- Neck injuries and whiplash
- Knee and other joint injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Other mental and emotional injuries
- Traumatic amputations and loss of limb
- Wrongful death
Causes of Auto Accidents
Some of the most common ways that car accidents occur include:
- Speeding: Speeding drivers have a more challenging time maintaining control of their vehicle, and they can also rear-end or T-bone other vehicles if they speed through a stop sign or other intersection.
- Impaired driving: Alcohol, illegal drugs, and some prescription medicines can negatively affect drivers’ reflexes, judgment, and perception. Severely impaired drivers might pass out behind the wheel and lose control of the vehicle.
- Distracted driving: Talking on the phone or texting and other distractions take a driver’s hands, eyes, and focus off the road in front of them. A driver who isn’t paying attention to their surroundings is more likely to cause an accident.
- Driver fatigue: Severe fatigue affects drivers in many of the same ways as driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol. That includes adverse effects on a driver’s perception, judgment, and reflexes, as well as a chance of falling asleep at the wheel.
- Weaving through traffic: Drivers who are careless as they weave through traffic put themselves and others in danger by making it harder to see what’s happening and maintain control of their vehicle.
- Following too closely: Drivers who tailgate frequently have trouble stopping in time to avoid a rear-end collision, especially if the driver in front of them stops suddenly.
- Mechanical defects: Not all car accidents are the fault of one or more drivers. A sudden, catastrophic failure of a vehicle’s brakes, tires, steering, or other crucial components can lead to an accident.
How Much is My Car Accident Settlement Worth?
Texas law allows car accident victims to seek compensation for many different kinds of losses after a crash, such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Vehicle and property damage
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit?
You have two years from the date of an accident to file a lawsuit against any potentially liable parties. If you wait any longer, your case will most likely be dismissed.
Reach Out to Us as Soon as Possible
The longer you wait to seek legal advice after a car accident, the harder it will be for you to demand compensation from the insurance company. Don’t let that happen to you.
Take action now and contact Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC for your free case review.