After a car accident, insurance providers may offer you a settlement. These offers are often lowball and made because the company hopes that you agree to it so they can end negotiations.

If an insurance company contacts you and tries to offer a settlement, you should politely tell them that you are currently seeking counsel and cannot accept their offer at this time. At that point, call the Houston auto accident attorneys at Universal Law Group, where we can help you overcome every obstacle and maximize your compensation.

As experienced Houston car accident lawyers, we understand how devastating a car wreck can be. Moreover, we understand how many factors inform the severity of injuries. Oftentimes, it depends on the number of vehicles, weather conditions, speed of the vehicles, and more. 

For lucky victims, they feel better in a matter of days. However, some injuries take time to show their effect. When you experience a motor vehicle collision, it’s essential to seek medical assistance. 

Whether you visit an emergency care center or your personal physician, it’s the only way to know the extent of your injuries. This is due to the shock people tend to feel after such a traumatic event. 

After a car accident, the severity of injuries varies. Treatments range from over-the-counter pain medication to surgery, physical therapy, and a period of rest. Moreover, some injuries alter people’s lives. 

When this happens, victims often live with chronic pain, disability, and other ongoing challenges. If a negligent driver causes you harm, it is imperative that you hold them accountable. At Universal Law Group, our Houston car accident lawyer helps injured Texans seek the justice and compensation they deserve. 

Head and Brain Trauma

One of the most severe forms of injury in an auto accident is a head injury. When you experience a sudden change in direction or an unexpected stop, it causes your head to move and jerk around. 

In more unfortunate cases, it leads to someone’s head slamming against a window or steering wheel. Unfortunately, the more direct the injury is, the more severe it tends to become. One possible injury is a brain hemorrhage, brain bleed. 

Another, more common, occurrence is a concussion. In both cases, the Houston car accident lawyers at Universal Law Group are ready to help you protect your rights. 

Whiplash & Neck Injuries

Oftentimes, the sudden impact of a collision causes your head and neck to move suddenly. This sudden motion leads to whiplash, a sprain in the neck. It also has the potential to cause other neck trauma. 

Lacerations, Cuts, Scrapes

Unsecured objects in the car have the potential to cause lacerations or scrapes. This comes from a broad range of objects, including books, phones, and drinks. When the impact is hard, some objects have the potential to break the skin and cause deep cuts. 

As Houston auto accident lawyers, our legal team has seen a broad spectrum of severity in these injuries. When you travel with dangerous objects in your vehicle or collide with another that does, there’s too much potential for harm. That’s why it’s essential to hold negligent drivers accountable. 

Chest Injuries

Generally speaking, chest injuries take the form of a contusion or bruise. However, more severe injuries leave people with broken ribs and internal issues. Too often, drivers experience a chest injury after an airbag fails and their body collides with the steering wheel.

Arm & Leg Injuries

Similar to whiplash in the neck, sudden impact and motion has the potential to cause sprains and injuries in the arms and legs. Moreover, there’s the potential for your limbs to collide with the console, door, and other parts of the vehicle. 

In some cases, victims’ knees hit the dashboard or another object, causing sprains, bruises, and scrapes. No matter the severity of your injury, trust our Houston car accident lawyers to help you. We strive to maximize your settlement to ensure you have what you need to move on in life. 

Spinal Injuries

The impact of an auto accident has the potential to cause damage to the spinal cord and vertebra. Compression trauma has lasting complications. In some cases, a severe injury paralyzes the victim. 

Soft Tissue Injuries

Our Houston car accident lawyers understand that any injury has the potential to change someone’s life. A soft tissue injury impacts the connective tissue in your body. Overall, this includes tendons, ligaments, and even muscles. 

Unfortunately, this is the most common form of injury in a car accident. This is because these injuries take many forms. Among them, the most common is whiplash, which we mentioned earlier. 

However, it extends to strains and damage throughout your body. For some, recovery is quick. Unfortunately, other injuries are only manageable and continue to impact people’s lives. 

Broken or Fractured Bones

With proper medical attention, these injuries heal well. However, they cause a great deal of pain and take time to heal. Moreover, some have a lasting impact on your mobility and strength. 

As car wreck lawyers, we examine the true impact of these injuries on your future. 

When our Houston car accident lawyers work to resolve your personal injury claim, we strive toward compensation that accounts for an array of changes in your life. 

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

The force of impact occasionally includes a blow to the head. In severe cases, objects even penetrate the skull. When you experience a TBI, the effect varies. 

For some victims, it requires continued management while others suffer long-term cognitive issues. Unfortunately, it also has the potential to cause death. 

Wrongful Death

The most severe outcome of a car accident is a wrongful death. At times, this happens upon impact. However, some lose their lives as a result of their injuries. 

Even with immediate medical attention, some victims succumb to their wounds in the hospital. When a negligent driver causes the death of your loved one, it’s important to remember your rights. Whether you want to hold them accountable or pursue compensation to protect your future, our Houston car accident lawyers have the expertise and experience to help. 

Houston Car Accident Lawyers Who Fight

As Houston car wreck lawyers, we strive to help our clients build a better foundation for their future. After a car wreck, your life may feel upended. Our goal is to attain the compensation you need to find even ground again. 

Schedule a free case evaluation with our personal injury law firm in Houston, TX, today. Share your experience with us. From there, we help you understand your legal options. 

Moreover, our firm accepts personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Car accidents can happen anywhere. It’s always best to be prepared. Know the different types of auto accidents and know your rights; if you have been involved in an accident in or around Houston, Texas, our Houston car accident lawyers are here to help.

At Universal Law Group, we believe that no one should be punished for the negligence of another driver. Insurance companies will try to pay as little as possible, but our Houston car accident lawyers know how to win you the compensation you deserve. 

Don’t allow an insurance company to take advantage of you. Trust Universal Law Group to advocate for your rights. Call 832-767-0339 to schedule a free consultation with our Houston car accident lawyers today.

Rear-End Collisions

Read-end collisions are the most common type of auto accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 29% of all crashes are rear-end collisions. 

This type of accident occurs when the front of one car collides with the back of another. A common cause of this is one car following another too closely and not leaving adequate room between vehicles, a process known as ‘tailgating.’ 

When the leading car slows down (often due to traffic or a stoplight) the driver of the following car does not have time to react. Accidents of this type occur very frequently and can be dangerous for people in both vehicles.

Head-On Collisions

Head-on collisions are widely regarded as the most dangerous type of car wreck. There are two types of head-on collision: those involving other cars and those involving a stationary object. 

Two cars might hit one another head-on if they are driving in opposite directions on the same street. 

When one of the cars ignores road signage and enters the wrong lane, they may impact directly with the other car, causing a head-on collision that is highly dangerous to everyone involved. 

A car might also end up in a head-on collision with a stationary object; for example, swerving off the road and hitting a tree. 

Both of these types of auto accidents are often caused by drunk or distracted drivers. These crashes are often fatal, especially if the car or cars involved are traveling at high speeds.

Side Impact or T-Bone Collisions

Side impact collisions are accidents in which one vehicle crashes into the side of another. This is very dangerous for passengers, as there is little protection on the sides of a vehicle. Passengers on the side of a collision may be badly injured or even killed.

A common type of side-impact collision is called a T-Bone collision. This is a specific type of crash that usually occurs at stoplights. One car runs a red light, causing them to collide perpendicularly with another vehicle in the middle of the intersection. 

T-Bone collisions are notable for their high fatality rate; they are the second most deadly type of auto accident after head-on collisions.

Contact our Houston car accident lawyers to learn more about your legal options.

Rollover Accidents

Rollover accidents have many different causes. The most common cause is a driver losing control of their vehicle, either by becoming distracted or by driving carelessly. 

Drifting off the road, especially onto either a guardrail or a hill, can upset the center of balance and cause a car to roll over. This causes significant damage to both the car and the passengers inside.

Other causes of rollover collisions include multi-vehicle accidents and sharp turns at high speeds. When an auto accident occurs, one car may hit another and cause it to tip over. 

If a single car attempts to make sharp turns at unsafe speeds, the friction can cause it to roll over, especially in heavily loaded vehicles such as vans or trucks. Although there is no one cause for rollover accidents and they occur very infrequently, they can be highly dangerous when they do occur.

Sideswipe Collisions

Sideswipe collisions occur when two vehicles are traveling in the same direction side-by-side. One vehicle attempts to merge or to switch lanes, often without checking to make sure the other lane is clear. This causes the sides of both vehicles to strike against one another. 

Although sideswipe collisions are less dangerous than some other types of auto accident and have a very low fatality rate, they can still be harmful to passengers in both vehicles.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Auto Accident Attorneys in Houston, TX

No matter which type of auto accident you were involved in, our attorneys at Universal Law Group can help. Our Houston car accident lawyers are highly experienced and know how to win you the compensation you deserve. 

Call 832-767-0339 to schedule a free consultation today. If you are looking for Houston car wreck lawyers, look no further; Universal Law Group is here to help you.

Generally, it is best to leave communication with other parties to your Houston car accident lawyers. This includes even your own car insurance company.

If you do not anticipate pursuing a personal injury lawsuit within three days of the accident, report the basic details of your claim to the insurance firm. 

Again, it is essential that you do not accept blame or fault in any type of accident. Oftentimes, your biggest opponent in a car accident is the other driver’s insurance company. Insurance firms typically have their own investigators and insurance adjusters who seek to undermine your claim and your case. Additionally, they may offer you an initial settlement in hopes that you won’t attempt to negotiate. 

When you work with the Houston car accident attorneys at Universal Law Group, we are your advocates against these companies. We know when a settlement offer is not in your best interests and are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.

If you believe that you may be at fault in a car accident, lawyers can help you understand the situation. When you hire a Houston car accident attorney, they act as your advocate and investigator, gathering all the facts of the case, including factors you may not be aware of.

Solid legal defense highlights extenuating circumstances and helps mitigate the legal consequences of an accident. Moreover, in Texas, fault can be ascribed to multiple parties based on a percentage of responsibility for the accident.

This may mean that, even when at fault, you are due compensation for your injuries. After collisions occur, hiring Houston car accident lawyers to represent you in your case is a vital first step in protecting your rights.

As Houston auto accident attorneys, we understand the dangers of the road. That’s how we know the unpredictable nature of motor vehicle accidents. What we know for sure, though, is that so long as vehicles are on the road, accidents are sure to happen. 

With this in mind, government agencies like the NHTSA, FMCSA, and the Texas Department of Transportation continue to gather statistics about collisions. Truly, these numbers are sobering. However, the data is helpful as we determine the major causes of accidents. 

For example, we now understand how likely distracted driving is to cause an accident in comparison to adverse weather. Additionally, these organizations compile statistics regarding the types of crashes and the severity of the injuries people sustain in these accidents. 

Unfortunately, there’s no universal formula to determine how much a specific settlement is worth for one victim. However, the figures provide our Houston car accident attorneys with a good deal of information to help our clients calculate a fair settlement. 

If you sustain an injury in a motor vehicle collision caused by a negligent driver, our experienced Houston car accident lawyers fight to maximize your settlement. As your advocates, we want to help you achieve the compensation you deserve. 

The Average Car Accident Settlement

Statistically speaking, the average car accident settlement falls somewhere between $14,000 and $28,000. With this in mind, the median is around $21,000. However, it’s important to remember that this includes relatively minor accidents as well. 

In minor cases, they might only cover a single doctor visit or repairs to a vehicle. When you include severe accidents, the settlement numbers skew much higher. As your advocates, we factor in as many damages as possible to ensure your needs are met. 

• Lost wages 
• Vehicle repairs 
• Medical expenses 
• Reduced earning capacity 
• Pain and suffering 
• Applicable expenses

When we represent an injured Texan after an auto accident, we work diligently and thoroughly to calculate a settlement. We strive to ensure our clients have the funds they need to move on with their life. Whether you need extensive therapy or your injury permanently changes your life, we want to help you stay covered. 

Auto Accident Attorneys and Negotiations

While a settlement is not set in stone, some insurance companies multiply final medical bills to provide our motor vehicle accident attorneys with a general number. This estimate might sound great at first. However, we want to be thorough to ensure you aren’t left in the lurch. 

With that said, we understand that pain and suffering are subjective. We use our experience to look beyond the statistics and numbers to examine the emotional toll of the accident. When you meet us at your free consultation, we want to understand the true impact of the accident. 

There’s no universal account for pain and suffering. As such, we work as your advocates to bring it into reality. We want to help you fight for a better future. 

When the Settlement Offer Isn’t Enough

In some cases, the insurance companies simply do not want to offer everything you need. That’s when you truly require Houston car accident lawyers on your side. 

It’s important for us to calculate your settlement properly. Once you accept an offer, there’s no option to renegotiate. For some people, the initial offer an insurance company makes seems perfect. 

Unfortunately, they later find the impact of the accident was far more severe than they realized. As Houston car accident lawyers, we guide you through the process. When an insurance company refuses to settle with a sufficient offer, we take them to court. 

Why Universal Law Group?

Often, the victims of negligent drivers think a lawyer only helps once they go to court. That simply isn’t true. More than personal injury lawyers, we are your advocates through the claim process. 

For insurance companies, it’s in their best interest to offer the lowest possible settlement. However, it’s in your best interests to maximize your claim. With the auto accident attorneys at Universal Law Group on your side, you have someone to help you negotiate. 

If negotiations fail, we are more than happy to take them to court. As your advocates, we fight to protect your rights and your future. Schedule a free consultation today to see how we can fight for you. 

After a car accident in Houston, you might feel overwhelmed. When a negligent driver’s reckless behavior causes you harm, you have the right to hold them accountable. In personal injury claims, the word “damages” refers to the compensation available to accident victims. 

As Houston car accident lawyers, our team advocates for injured Texans who need help achieving the compensation they deserve. Here, we take a look at the different types of damages as well as steps to help ensure you maximize your claim. 

Compensatory Damages

When we look at Section 41.01 of the Texas Civil Remedies Code, we see the details of the damages available in a motor vehicle collision lawsuit as well as other personal injury claims. As Houston car accident lawyers, we start to build your claim with compensatory damages. 

As the term implies, these damages compensate you for any loss you suffer as a result of your auto accident. This includes both current and future expenses. 

Under the umbrella of compensatory damages, there are two types available: economic and non-economic. 

Economic Damages

When you have questions about damages available to you, our Houston car accident lawyers are happy to explain what you need to know. 

Economic damages refer to the actual costs that result from the auto accident. Here are a few examples. 

• Medical bills: These vary with your condition but include diagnostics, treatment and medications, follow-up visits with your physician, visits to specialists, and physical therapy. Additionally, they include any other medical expenses that you accrue. 
• Property damage: Whether you repair or replace your vehicle, it counts towards your compensation. This also extends to any other noteworthy items you lose in the accident, such as a crushed laptop. 
• Lost wages: This is two-fold. It includes wages you lost from time away from work as well as any reduction to your earning capacity. Often, this results from a long-term disability or permanent impairment. 

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages cover the less tangible losses you experience in an auto accident. When you hear Houston car accident lawyers talk about “pain and suffering,” those are non-economic damages. 

Moreover, it includes any mental anguish you suffer as well as loss of enjoyment in your life. For instance, when your motor vehicle collision results in an injury that makes you unable to participate in your favorite hobby, it reduces your quality of life. 

Non-economic damages also include any compensation owed due to the loss of companionship your family experiences from a wrongful death. 

For compensatory damages, there are no caps in a Texas car accident claim. The only exception is when the other driver is a government official or an employee of a government entity. In these cases, there’s a cap of $250,000 per person or $500,000 for a single accident. 

Punitive Damages

In rare cases, Houston car accident lawyers seek punitive damages. However, this generally requires extreme circumstances in the accident. 

As an additional form of compensation, punitive damages are a form of punishment. When a liable driver is grossly negligent, reckless, or malicious, a judge might add fees on top of compensatory damages. 

Gross negligence refers to any behavior that exhibits a willful and/or extreme disregard for the health and safety of others. 

• Distracted driving
• Driving under medications that alter someone’s mental or physical functions
• Driving while intoxicated 
• Aggressive driving 
• Excessive speeding 
• Racing 
• Purposefully running red lights

When a judge awards punitive damages, they want to send a message to the at-fault driver as well as others who might ignore their duty of care on the road. Typically, they base the charges on the total amount of losses suffered. 

In Texas car accident claims, there’s a cap on punitive damages that limits them to the greater of $200,000 or twice the amount of economic damages plus the total of non-economic damages up to $750,000. 

For instance, when both economic and non-economic damages are $1 million, the maximum for punitive damages is set at $2,750,000. 

How to Help Us Maximize Your Damages

The actions you take immediately after a motor vehicle accident impact your claim and compensation. As Houston car accident lawyers, we want to help you maximize your settlement. 

Here are a few steps to help improve your odds for better compensation. 

• Report the auto accident to the police immediately. 
• Gather the contact information of all drivers, passengers, and witnesses involved. 
• Document the scene with photos and videos, including damage to your vehicle and your injuries.
• Seek medical attention immediately and be sure to follow your doctor’s treatment plan.
• Resist the urge to accept an immediate settlement offer from the insurance company. 
• Contact our Houston car accident lawyers to discuss your legal options. 

How Our Auto Accident Attorneys Can Help

When you sustain an injury in a motor vehicle accident in Houston or the surrounding areas, don’t hesitate to contact the team at Universal Law Group. Our auto accident attorneys are available to walk you through the damages available in your claim. 

Most importantly, we act as your advocates. Our Houston car accident lawyers bear the burden of your claim so that you have time to focus on healing. Whether compensatory or punitive damages, we seek to maximize your settlement offer. 

Schedule a free consultation with our attorneys today. 

Experienced Houston Car Accident Lawyers Committed to Injured Texans

When you sustain an injury in a car accident in Houston, TX, it’s hard to know what to do next. If a negligent driver causes a car wreck that leaves you hurt, you deserve financial compensation. However, how do you start that process? 

At Universal Law Group, our team of Houston car accident lawyers guides people through this process. Every step of the way, you have an advocate to maximize your settlement and pursue your best interests. 

How to Determine Settlement Demands

Oftentimes, one of the first things people want to know is this. 

How much is my car accident worth?

There are several factors that impact the value of a personal injury claim. This includes the type of injury you sustain. It also depends on the severity of your injuries. Moreover, we have to consider the limits of the negligent driver’s insurance policy. 

As you can see, it becomes complex quickly. Still, while it’s difficult to come up with an exact number, our firm helps you maximize your settlement in your particular situation. With personalized legal representation, we explore every avenue to pursue. 

Economic Damages

Certain losses you suffer in a motor vehicle collision have a specific dollar value. This provides a foundation for your settlement demands. Here are a few examples. 

Medical Expenses

This includes all of your current and future medical bills. These expenses cover a broad spectrum of treatments so long as they relate to the injuries sustained in the car accident. 

• Diagnostic testing 
• Emergency services 
• Hospitalization
• Surgery
• Follow-up appointments 
• Home health aides
• Physical therapy

Lost Wages

As Houston car accident lawyers, we understand how much a collision changes your life. In many cases, serious injuries prevent people from working. When they miss work, it impacts every other aspect of their lives. 

Including lost wages in your settlement helps you recover financially from a significant burden. If a negligent driver keeps you from work, it’s crucial to pursue compensation.

Reduced Earning Capacity

Lost earning capacity refers to your ability to earn income in the future. Oftentimes, this results from a permanent disability that results from the auto accident. With a car accident lawyer, Houston victims have a stronger opportunity to recover what they deserve.

When an accident changes the way you live, it is essential to hold the liable parties accountable for their actions. 

Property Damage

When it comes to auto accidents, this often refers to the repair or replacement of your vehicle. However, it’s possible to include a range of other relevant items. 

• Did you lose a laptop in the wreck? 
• Is your smartphone busted? 
• Do you have to spend money on rideshare services to get around?

With our Houston car accident lawyers on your side, you have someone to uncover and recover the full spectrum of economic damages. 

Noneconomic Damages

Noneconomic damages are a little more difficult to pin down. How do you put a dollar value on your suffering? Can we truly measure the extent of your trauma? 

While it’s not easy, our auto accident attorneys strive to attain the compensation necessary to help you move forward. These damages include the following. 

• Disfigurement 
• Loss of companionship 
• Physical impairment 
• Mental anguish and emotional pain 
• Pain and suffering 
• Loss of enjoyment in life

With our Houston car accident lawyers, you have an advocate to calculate damages. When you need additional treatment or miss additional work, the amount rises over time. From there, our personal injury attorneys demand compensation. 

Car Accident Lawyers Houston Drivers Trust

At our Houston personal injury firm, we understand how to build a strong claim. We prove the extent of your injuries and tie them back to the negligence of another. As your advocates, we review accident reports and medical records. 

Furthermore, we investigate your claim and interview witnesses from the scene. When necessary, we work with experts and specialists to help our team better understand your accident. 

Oftentimes, insurance companies use an array of tactics to limit your payout. Far too often, this results in people gaining less than what they deserve. When insurance companies challenge the severity of your injuries, they only care about their own profits. 

In some cases, they even attempt to shift the blame to the victim of an auto accident. All these tactics help them save money at your expense. That’s why you need an advocate to protect your future. 

With our Houston car accident lawyers, the insurance company sees that you are ready to fight. When they see the potential to go to court, they are more willing to negotiate an appropriate settlement. 

If you sustained an injury from a car wreck in Houston, TX, contact our team today. At your free case evaluation, we help you understand your options. 

As Houston car accident lawyers, we know what it takes to win your case. Whether we settle from negotiations or win in court, it takes solid evidence. In some cases, there’s clear evidence for an open and shut claim. 

For example, say that a driver posts an update to Instagram right before they rear-end your vehicle. Alternatively, perhaps they stumble out of their car reeking of alcohol. In both of these cases, our Houston car accident lawyers have a pretty easy job ahead of them. 

However, not every case is so simple. Oftentimes, it’s more difficult to identify the cause of an auto accident. Attorneys then act as investigators to explore and determine liability. 

As we gather evidence, we work to prove the negligence of the other driver as well as the severity of your injuries. Typically, the sooner we start, the better opportunity we have to protect your future. 

Here are some examples of the evidence we explore in your car accident claim. 

The Scene of the Accident

In many personal injury claims, our lawyers don’t make it to the accident itself. Oftentimes, in the aftermath of a crash, calling our Houston car accident lawyers is not a high priority – rightfully so. 

However, we still examine the scene of the accident. Moreover, we look over any photos from you or any witnesses of the collision. Often, this shows us some tell-tale signs of liability that aren’t always clear to other investigators. 

• Damage to the vehicles 
• Angle of the collision 
• Tire marks 
• Road conditions 
• Weather conditions

All of this helps us identify the cause of the auto accident. 

Video – Surveillance, Social Media, and More

Today, there are cameras just about everywhere. They sit outside of businesses, at apartment complexes, in parking lots, and even on some streetlights. 

Additionally, witnesses often capture video evidence when they suspect something bad is about to happen. When you work with our team of Houston car accident lawyers, we seek out video footage. 

If we find any recording, we carefully review the video to gather evidence that proves liability. 

Digital Records

There are other forms of digital evidence that help us prove negligence as well. This is especially true in DWI accidents or distracted driving accidents. For instance, perhaps the other driver posted on social media just before the accident. 

Alternatively, their credit card statement may show a large bill from a bar or restaurant shortly before they get behind the wheel. In both cases, this is often highly persuasive evidence. 

Witness Testimony

When someone witnessed your auto accident, our Houston car accident lawyers may interview them. Often, witnesses provide an additional perspective on an accident. This offers new insight into the cause of the collision. 

For instance, when you suddenly feel a crash happen, it’s hard to know what happened. However, a driver in another lane or another part of an intersection may know exactly what occurred. 

Citations & Convictions

When law enforcement responds to an auto accident, they attempt to determine whether someone broke the law. This includes an array of illegal activities. 

• Aggressive driving
• Distracted driving 
• Drunk driving 
• Running red lights 
• Speeding 
• Tailgating 
• Other violations

In these cases, police may issue a citation at the scene or even arrest the driver. When there’s a conviction, we use that as evidence of negligence. 

Expert Analysis

When our Houston car accident lawyers suspect a defective part of road hazard caused a collision, we work with experts to evaluate your case. For instance, an auto parts expert may determine whether a manufacturer sold someone a defective vehicle or part. 

Additionally, road design experts may testify whether the road itself posed an unreasonable danger to Houston drivers. These experts help us prove liability for your claim. 

Moreover, they help our auto accident attorneys explore additional avenues for compensation.

When you want to calculate damages from a car accident, you need to work with experienced Houston car accident lawyers. With a car wreck attorney on your side, you have someone to review a range of documents. These include repair bills, pay stubs, and more. 

However, Texas law also allows victims of negligent drivers to recover funds for pain and suffering. This refers to how much you suffer as a result of your injuries. But, how do you put a number on something so intangible?

Uncovering Pain and Suffering

When we talk about pain and suffering in personal injury claims, we mean the physical pain you feel as well as any mental trauma the accident caused. If you have to deal with a severe injury, it takes work. There’s a great deal of emotional labor involved in recovery. 

You deserve to recover for both the physical and mental pain you experience. Unfortunately, people don’t always know how to calculate pain and suffering. That’s where a Houston car accident lawyer from Universal Law Group helps. 

How We Help You Calculate Pain & Suffering as Houston Car Accident Lawyers

First, start with how many days you have to deal with your injury. For instance, how long did it take you to heal? If it took around 60 days, and you feel your suffering has a certain amount per day, you might total that and request that level of compensation. 

Alternatively, you might look at the total of your economic damages and compare it to the amount requested for pain and suffering. If your economic damages total $200,000, it’s possible to build an argument for pain and suffering based on those damages. 

Unfortunately, there’s no universal formula or amount for car accident settlements. That’s why it’s a good idea to work with our Houston car accident lawyers. There are many variables to consider and a great deal of variation based on numerous critical factors. 

For example, it’s important to consider the “jury pool.” If your case goes to trial, the average among verdicts for similar cases tends to vary from county to county. That means the settlement value of your accident may be worth more or less in a different county. 

Still, there’s no way for our team to calculate pain and suffering damages without knowing about your case. Schedule a FREE case evaluation with our team. Share your story with a Houston car accident lawyer at Universal Law Group. 

From there, we have the ability to discuss your legal options and help you maximize your settlement. 

Pain and Suffering from an Insurance Provider’s Perspective

After a car accident, the insurance company of a negligent driver acts quickly. They want to reach out to you to get you talking. Why do they do this? 

They hope that you unintentionally make a comment that helps them limit your settlement. For instance, a response to “How are you?” as simple as “I’m fine” is enough to hurt your claim. To you, it’s a simple matter of being polite. 

However, they hear “I don’t have any pain, and my injuries aren’t too serious.” Truly, people respond “fine” regardless of whether they struggle. It happens all the time. 

Schedule a FREE Consultation: No Fees Until We Win

In order to protect your rights, it’s crucial to seek representation from a trusted Houston personal injury law firm. At Universal Law Group, we are your advocates throughout the process. 

From filing your claim to the final resolution, our Houston car accident lawyers have your back. Moreover, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless and until we win your case.

Call our firm to talk to a Houston car accident lawyer today. Share your experience and let us help you explore your options.

As Houston car accident lawyers, we are all too familiar with the frequency of auto collisions in Texas. Across the Lone Star State, a reportable auto accident occurs about once per minute. When this happens, it is essential for victims to establish legal fault. 

In doing so, they have a better chance to receive the compensation they deserve. Still, this process is complex even when limited to two vehicles.

Auto accident attorneys have to consider the weather conditions, hazards on the road, the speed of each vehicle, and more to uncover who is at fault. 

When you need to establish fault in car wrecks that involve more than two vehicles, it makes the process yet more challenging. Below, we discuss some of the most relevant factors to determine fault in a three-car accident. 

Remember, when you work with a Houston car accident lawyer, you have an advocate on your side. As you recover, our auto accident attorneys work to investigate your claim and maximize your settlement. 

What is a chain-reaction collision?

When a collision involves three vehicles, it tends to be a chain reaction crash. This name refers to the most common way in which these accidents happen. Initially, two cars collide. 

Then, the force of the collision leads to further crashes with other motor vehicles. This creates a chain reaction that damages and/or injures multiple parties. 

Here, our focus is on three-car crashes. However, a chain reaction collision has the potential to include any number of vehicles. Oftentimes, news coverage refers to these events as pileups. 

This is an especially common term when the accident involves a large number of vehicles or occurs on a high-traffic roadway. 

No matter the circumstances of your collision, when someone else causes you harm, you have legal rights. Contact our Houston car accident lawyers today to learn more about your options. 

How to Determine Liability in Three-Car Accidents

Due to the complexity of the scene of the accident and the dynamics at play leading up to the collision, it’s no easy feat to establish fault in a multiple-car accident. In some cases, the legal and financial liability falls upon a single driver who acted with negligence. 

However, it’s possible for multiple drivers to share responsibility. 

Proving Negligence in a Pileup

Generally speaking, a successful car accident claim relies on the victim’s ability to establish the negligence of another driver. In order to establish negligence, it is essential to prove the following. 

• The driver at fault owed a duty of care to others on the road. Generally, this duty requires the safe and lawful operation of their vehicle and applies to everyone on the road.
• The negligent driver breached their duty of care. For instance, they drove at excessive speed or followed another car too closely. 
• When the driver breached their duty, the negligence caused the collision as well as subsequent injuries and damage. 

Example Scenarios

When you want to determine fault in a three-car collision, it depends on an array of circumstances. Our Houston car accident lawyers are available to help you understand the particulars of your claim. 

With a car accident lawyer, Houston victims have an advocate on their side to investigate their case. Here are a few common scenarios that occur on Texas roads. 

• Example One – Vehicles A and B wait at an intersection. Vehicle C approaches B but fails to stop, causing a collision. This causes B to lurch forward, crashing into vehicle A. Here, the driver of Vehicle C is the liable party. 
• Example Two – Vehicle A suddenly halts to avoid a hazard in the road. Prior to this, Vehicle B followed A too closely. The sudden stop causes a rear-end collision. Additionally, Vehicle C was tailgating B, causing another collision. Here, B is liable for the first collision while C is liable for the second. 
• Example Three – Vehicle A cuts off Vehicle B on the freeway. Here, Vehicle B is a commercial truck. The truck driver (B) is unable to slow down in time, causing the truck to collide with A. The force of the collision causes Vehicle A to drift into another lane where it hits Vehicle C. Vehicle A carries the liability for the entirety of the crash because they failed to change lanes properly. 

Unfortunately, there are far too many scenarios that lead to multi-car pileups. While these are some of the most common situations, it’s crucial to work with our Houston car accident lawyers to fully explore your claim. 

Why Work with Our Houston Auto Accident Attorneys?

When you work with the Houston car accident lawyers at Universal Law Group, we act as your advocates. That means we investigate your claim and work to maximize your settlement. We bear the burden of your claim so that you have the time and space you need to heal. 

When Multiple Parties Are Liable for an Auto Accident

As we showed above, it’s possible for multiple parties to share liability in a car accident. When this happens, everyone who plays a role shares fault for the collision. 

This falls under the Modified Comparative Fault System in Texas, which has a 51% bar on recovery. 

What does this mean for you? Let our Houston car accident lawyers explain. 

• The state apportions fault based on how your action or inaction contributes to a collision. The higher percentage you contribute to the accident, the larger your share of the fault becomes. 
• Additionally, so long as someone else shares a larger portion of the blame, you have the potential to recover compensation. However, once your share exceeds 50%, you have no legal recourse to seek damages. 

Sample Scenario

Vehicles A, B, and C experience an accident on a highway in Houston. As our Houston car accident lawyers investigate, we determine the fault breaks down as follows. 

• A carries 10% of the fault 
• B carries 35% 
• C is 55% at fault 

What does this mean under the rules of contributory negligence? 

• A is able to recover 90% of their damages but bears 10% liability for the damages of B and C. 
• B has the option to recover 65% of their damages and is liable for 35% of the damages of A and C. 
• C has no option to recover damages and bears 55% of the liability for damages sustained by A and B. 

Now, let’s make an adjustment. A has 0% of the liability for a collision. On the other hand, B and C share an equal level of fault. What does this mean for them? 

• A has the option to recover 100% of their damages with no financial liability for anyone else’s damages. 
• B and C both have the potential to recover 50% of the value of the damages. However, they are also responsible for 50% of the damages sustained by the others. 

As you can see, multi-vehicle accidents require a precise determination in levels of fault. When you share some fault in an accident, our Houston car accident lawyers are available to help you recover compensation. 

What Causes Chain Reaction Accidents?

As Houston car accident lawyers, we know all too well that there are many causes behind collisions. Like most motor vehicle collisions, three-car accidents tend to result from human error. However, different environmental factors cause them as well. 

Here are some of the most common causes of multi-car pileups. 

• Speeding – When someone drives too fast, it reduces the amount of time they have to react or stop. Moreover, it decreases a driver’s ability to control their vehicle. Unfortunately, this means many chain-reaction collisions result from excessive speeding. 
• Failure to Signal – Your turn signal communicates your intent to move. If you fail to signal before you change lanes or turn, the odds of a collision increase. 
• Following too Closely – Occasionally, multi-car accidents occur because one driver tailgates another driver. When multiple cars travel at high speeds too closely, a sudden stop can cause a chain reaction of collisions. 
• Distracted Driving – Distracted driving is all too common a problem our Houston car accident lawyers see. From eating to talking on the phone, distractions have the potential to lead to a multi-car pileup. Oftentimes, it also pairs with other types of negligence as well. 
• Driving While Intoxicated – Unfortunately, drunk driving is a leading cause in car accidents. When someone drives while intoxicated in a high-traffic area, it increases the chances of a chain-reaction collision. 
• Weather – Fog and heavy rain are all too common in Houston. Moreover, random freezes cause spots of unfamiliar terrain to crop up across the city. These adverse conditions make it harder for drivers to stop in time. 

Personalized Representation from our Houston Car Accident Attorneys

These are just a few of the potential factors that cause three-car accidents and pileups. As Houston car accident lawyers, we understand that accidents occur for many reasons. One of the most common features of these collisions is traffic. 

When cars crowd a roadway, it increases the odds of a wreck involving three or more vehicles. If you experience a three-car accident, call on the expertise of our Houston car accident lawyers. As problem solvers, we help Houstonians recover the compensation necessary to move on in life. 

Schedule a free case evaluation today. 

In a city like Houston, we rely on our vehicles to get us everywhere we need to go on a daily basis. From commutes to and from work to dropping our kids off at school or heading out to meet friends, our cars take us there.

Oftentimes, we don’t think about vehicular problems until something happens. Typically, there are warning signs to let us know something is wrong, too. However, as Houston car accident lawyers, we know all too well that some defects don’t offer a warning.

Unfortunately, this has the potential to cause deadly motor vehicle collisions. Below, we look at some of the more common vehicle defects that cause car wrecks.

In many of these cases, there’s potential to file a personal injury claim against the manufacturer.

To learn more about your car accident claim, schedule a free case evaluation with our auto accident attorneys.

Tire Blowouts

The faster you move, the more pressure your car puts on the tires. Moreover, if you overfill your tires, it increases the pressure even more. When the wall of a tire has a weak point from manufacturing problems, it’s possible for a tire to blow.

This sends your vehicle spinning out of control. In severe cases, this causes multi-car accidents with severe damage and injuries.

When you need to hold a manufacturer accountable for their negligence, our Houston car accident lawyers are the advocates you need.

Brake Failure

Brakes are one of the most crucial components of a vehicle. They make all the difference between safety on the road and severe car accidents.

When brakes fail, it often results in devastating car wrecks. Every year, manufacturers recall thousands of vehicles for some type of brake issue. If your brakes fail and cause an accident, you might be eligible for compensation.

Overheating Engine

Engines heat up. That’s entirely normal. Moreover, it’s why there’s a temperature gauge on your dashboard.

Additionally, that’s why cars have radiators and cooling systems. However, when a manufacturer fails to properly construct an engine, there’s nothing to keep it cool. Then, it overheats.

When an engine overheats, it has the potential to cause a catastrophic system failure. As Houston car accident lawyers, we help injured drivers hold negligent manufacturers accountable.

Misfiring Airbags

Airbags protect us from accidents when they deploy properly. These devices help to protect our upper bodies and heads from injuries. However, if your airbag fails to deploy or misfires, it leaves you vulnerable to severe injuries.

If this is the result of a manufacturing defect, you might be eligible to file a personal injury claim. Contact our Houston car accident lawyers for a thorough review of your case.

Gas Tanks Catching Fire

As you already know, gas is quite flammable. Your engine burns gas to create the power that moves your vehicle. When your gas tank system has a defect, this has the potential to cause sparks or misfires.

The potential there is deadly. When this happens, it can ignite the gas and cause a fire to break out in the vehicle. If this happens, it leaves you and others on the road vulnerable to severe burn injuries and car wrecks.

Sticking Gears

Whether you drive an automatic car or a manual, shifting gears is just part of how you drive. If a gear sticks or slips, it causes the vehicle to become unsteady and uncontrollable.

Often, this results in an accident with potentially severe injuries. While human error happens, the root cause here is often a manufacturer defect in the gear mechanisms.

As Houston car accident lawyers, we investigate your car wreck to find the true cause. Once we know what caused your accident, we hold the liable accountable.

Breaking Axles

The axle of your vehicle is kind of like the spine of your body. It keeps the wheels aligned and straight. Moreover, it is what offers you better control over the vehicle as you drive.

When an axle suddenly breaks, it can cause the tires to come off the car. Additionally, it has the potential to cause the vehicle to careen out of control. Unfortunately, this often results in severe collisions out on the road.

How Our Houston Car Accident Lawyers Can Help

When you experience a car accident, it’s a difficult situation. If a defect causes your accident, it is essential that you hold the manufacturer accountable for their negligence.

As Houston car accident lawyers, we are your advocates in your time of need. With extensive experience in auto accident claims, we help you understand your options. When you have a claim, we work to maximize your settlement.

Moreover, you pay us nothing until we win your case. To schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer Houston trusts, call our personal injury firm today.

As Houston car accident lawyers, we know how tragic a collision can be. In the worst cases, some car accident victims don’t survive a collision. For others, the extent of their injuries becomes too much for their bodies. 

Unfortunately, these individuals don’t have the opportunity to hold the liable accountable or pursue a car accident claim. However, that does not mean that a negligent driver gets off the hook. It’s still possible for someone to hold them liable for the devastating loss that results from their negligence. 

With our car accident lawyers, Houston families have the opportunity to file a wrongful death claim. This form of personal injury claim helps them recover from the severe financial strain that loss causes. While we understand no amount of money fills the void of a lost loved one, we work to maximize your settlement to ease your family’s financial burden. 

Moreover, we strive to bring you a sense of justice. 

At Universal Law Group, our personal injury attorneys hand wrongful death claims that stem from auto accidents. 

How Wrongful Death Claims Work

When you call on our Houston car accident lawyers to handle your claim, we become advocates for you and your family. Our goal is to bear the weight of your claim so that you can find some peace. Whether you need to heal physically or grieve, we strive to make the claims process as smooth as possible and ease your burden. 

With a car wreck lawyer, Houston families have someone to explain the process. Here, we cover some of the basic requirements. If you want to learn more about your legal options, schedule a free case evaluation. 

The first requirement of a wrongful death claim is the same as any personal injury claim. Someone else’s negligence caused the accident and the death. Then, a qualifying individual has the opportunity to file a wrongful death claim in Texas. 

• Surviving children – including both adopted children and adult children
• The surviving spouse
• Surviving parents – including adoptive parents

These relatives all have the option to file a claim individually. Alternatively, they have the option to file a collective claim. When none of the above family members file the wrongful death claim within three months of the person’s date of death, the executor of their estate or personal representative gains the power to file a claim. 

However, they lose this power when a surviving family member requests that they do not file the claim. 

Wrongful Death & Criminal Charges

When a driver faces criminal charges for someone’s death, it’s important to understand that this does not result in damages. As experienced Houston car accident lawyers, we recommend that families take the initiative and file a claim in civil court. This is a completely separate process and matter. 

Generally speaking, a criminal conviction imposes fines, jail time, and other punitive measures. While this offers a sense of justice, it does not help to protect your family’s future. However, a successful car accident claim results in compensation for surviving family. 

As car wreck lawyers, we work to maximize your settlement to ensure your wrongful death claim helps to establish a foundation for your family to move forward. Criminal and civil cases can happen at the same time or one after the other. 

Moreover, you still have the potential to prevail in your wrongful death claim even when the negligent driver receives no criminal conviction. 

Wrongful Death Damages and Houston Car Accident Lawyers

In any personal injury case, it is difficult to calculate appropriate damages. However, our Houston car accident lawyers understand how to uncover every potential damage and leverage evidence to maximize your claim. 

For a wrongful death case, damages compensate your family and estate for the financial and emotional loss that stems from an untimely death. In Texas, these are the damages available in a wrongful death case. 

• Loss of care, maintenance, support, services, advice, and counsel the lost loved one would provide to the family
• Lost earnings and other financial contributions the deceased made for your family
• The loss of love, comfort, and companionship
• The mental and emotional anguish as well as pain and suffering of the surviving family members
• Lost inheritance, which includes the potential savings left to the family had your loved one reached retirement

When you work with our Houston car accident lawyers, we help you explore every avenue for damages and compensation. In some wrongful death claims, the surviving family has the option to seek exemplary damages. At times, we also refer to these as punitive damages. 

If your car accident claim involves a wrongful death that results from a willful act or omission or due to gross negligence, you have the potential to recover exemplary damages. 

The purpose of punitive damages is not specifically to compensate your family. Instead, the purpose is to punish wrongdoing and send a message to others. While our Houston car accident lawyers have less control over these damages, we help judges recognize instances of gross negligence. 

What Happens to the Settlement

When the court awards damages to a group, family members split damages. This goes according to the proportion of the injury suffered due to the loss. Typically, the court determines how to divide the settlement. 

Statute of Limitations on Wrongful Death Car Accident Claims

When you work with car accident lawyers Houston trusts, you have the guidance you need to protect your future. With a wrongful death claim after a car wreck, you have an opportunity to move forward. However, it’s important to understand the time constraints. 

Moreover, it’s essential that you act quickly. As mentioned above, you have three months from the date of your loved one’s death to file a wrongful death claim. That’s why it is essential to contact our Houston car accident lawyers as soon as possible. 

In Texas, there is also a statute of limitations that covers all personal injury claims. Generally, you have two years from the date of the accident to file your claim. While there are exceptions to this it’s important to act quickly. 

As Houston car accident lawyers and advocates for families, we recognize the importance of the grieving process. In the months following a fatal collision, it’s difficult to know what to do. However, we urge you not to hesitate. 

When you work with our Houston car accident lawyers, we offer the compassion and empathy your family needs. However, we couple that with the aggressive representation necessary to maximize your claim. 

If you have lost a loved one to a car wreck, schedule a free case evaluation with our legal team today. Let us advise you on your rights and options. Then, let us be your advocates through every step of the legal process.

Under federal law, each state in the U.S. has its own set of laws. As citizens of Texas, we abide by the laws set forth by the state. When you experience a car accident in Texas, it’s good to have a general understanding of the laws in place. 

With a better understanding, you know how these laws determine the outcome of personal injury and insurance claims. As Houston car accident lawyers, our attorneys help auto accident victims navigate these laws. 

Below, we cover a few basic laws. However, when you want to understand your situation, hire a car accident lawyer Houston trusts. Ideally, your attorney is your advocate, fighting for your best interests. 

The Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Claims in Texas

Per Sec. 16.003 of the Texas statute of limitations on personal injury and negligence, you have two years following the date of your accident to file a claim or lawsuit for a car accident. The time begins with the date of the accident. 

This applies to injuries related to any type of accident, ranging from pedestrian accidents to motorcycle collisions and bicycle accidents. Moreover, it applies to accidents wherein no one sustains an injury. 

One major exception to this rule is when the accident involves a minor. 

Additionally, this statute of limitation covers other personal injury claims. This includes slip and fall accidents and dog bites to rear-end collisions and truck crashes. In our experience as Houston car accident lawyers, the state is quite strict with these deadlines. 

While certain exceptions are possible, it’s better not to rely on them. That’s why our legal team recommends reaching out to a car accident lawyer soon after the incident occurs. In fact, the sooner you reach out the better. 

When you fail to meet the deadline and try to file a claim after two years, the defense tends to argue that it bars your claim. They cite the statute and say that you waited too long. Moreover, they have the option to motion for the dismissal of the case. 

One important note is when the accident involves an uninsured or underinsured driver. In this instance, you have 4 years to file your claim. This is because it technically falls under a breach of contract. 

Still, no matter the details, it’s always better to act quickly. If you experienced a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact our Houston car accident lawyers as soon as possible. 

Insurance Requirements in Texas

As far as it concerns car accidents, the statute of limitations applies to civil lawsuits alone. When you need to contact your own insurance company, it does not necessarily apply. In fact, these deadlines are entirely separate. 

When you file a claim with your own insurance provider, many companies require that you do so as quickly as possible. However, the details vary and lie within your insurance agreement. If you need help examining the details of the timeline and process in your contract, our Houston car accident lawyers are available to help you review it. 

Moreover, we are happy to help you file a claim with your own insurance provider to ensure you cover your needs fully. 

Accidents Involving a Death or Personal Injury

Per Texas Transportation Code Sec. 550.021., there are certain requirements to how we respond to an accident. For instance, any person involved in an accident likely to result in an injury or a death must immediately stop the vehicle at or near the scene of the accident. 

If they do not stop at the scene, they must return to it. Once they arrive at the accident, they should determine where anyone involved requires medical attention. Moreover, it’s essential to remain at the scene of the accident. 

Additionally, when someone stops their vehicle, they need to be careful not to obstruct traffic any more than is necessary. A person commits an offense when they do not comply with these requirements.

In fact, it is a second-degree felony when it involves death and a third-degree felony when it involves a serious injury. This is punishable by fines, jail time, or both. More than Houston car accident lawyers, our team consists of criminal lawyers. 

As such, we understand how seriously the state takes auto accidents. That’s why it is essential to respond to an accident appropriately. 

Immediately Reporting an Accident

According to Texas Transportation Code Sec. 550.026., it is critical to communicate that an accident occurred to local law enforcement. While there are specifics as to whether you contact the police or sheriff’s department, the simplest solution is to call 911. 

This is especially true when someone involved requires medical attention. Moreover, it applies whether the accident involves an injury, property damage, or death. 

If you have questions about the laws surrounding accidents, contact our Houston car accident lawyers today. We are your advocates in the worst of times, and our goal is to ensure you receive the care and compensation you deserve. 

To gain a better understanding of your claim, schedule a free consultation with our Houston car accident lawyers as soon as possible.

As Houston car accident lawyers, we understand that dealing with an insurance company feels like a chore. However, it’s something that many people have to do at some point. Oftentimes, one of the first questions we hear after an auto accident is how to get in touch with the right person at an insurance company. 

Is the process different when you’re not at fault? Do I need to tell my insurance company, the other person’s company, or both?

When someone else’s negligence causes your motor vehicle collision, you generally report it to their insurance company. While it’s a good idea to let your insurance company know, you don’t pursue compensation from them in this case. However, there are certain exceptions, such as when the other driver is uninsured. 

At Universal Law Group, our Houston car accident lawyers know how quickly this process overwhelms the average person. When you partner with our firm, we handle all communication with the insurance companies on your behalf. As such, it’s a good idea to schedule a free case evaluation as soon as possible. 

How important is insurance after a car accident?

Every state in the US requires minimum liability insurance for all drivers from car insurance. Even when your policy doesn’t cover your own damages, you have to carry one that covers the injuries of other drivers in the event you cause a collision. When you fail to do so, you face major fines and have to cover the costs out of pocket. 

On the other hand, when a driver hits you and doesn’t have insurance, it’s important to have options to pursue compensation from your own insurance provider. When you know the accident is not your fault, it’s important to work with Houston car accident lawyers to take the proper legal steps.

Should I contact the other driver’s insurance company?

This is important. Do not contact the negligent driver’s insurance company on your own – even when you just want to report the incident. When you have to file a claim against a negligent driver’s insurance policy, your best bet is to work with an auto accident attorney who communicates on your behalf. 

Oftentimes, insurance providers try to avoid lengthy negotiations and trials by getting people to settle early for less than they deserve. Too often, people contact the other driver’s provider only to receive a lowball offer. Generally, they want you to settle and disappear without draining their profit. 

Our Houston car accident lawyers ensure that doesn’t happen. 

Unfortunately, insurance providers rarely prioritize the interests of victims in an accident. Instead, they focus on their policyholders, profits, and shareholders. As such, it is often in your best interest not to accept their initial settlement offer. 

If the negligent driver’s insurance company calls you with questions, direct them to your attorney. Even when they ask how you are, a simple, polite “I’m okay” gets twisted into an accusation that you’re lying about your injuries. 

Everything you say to an insurance company matters. That’s why it is crucial to partner with a team of Houston car accident lawyers who advocate for your best interests. 

Why You Should Partner with an Attorney

When you partner with an auto accident attorney, you have an advocate on your side. Our legal team represents you in all communication with the other person and their insurance provider. 

After a car accident, your priority is your health and your future. It’s important not to let a short-term problem overshadow your future. In other words, we handle the insurance so that you can focus on healing. 

Oftentimes, severe injuries leave people laid up for weeks or months. Dealing with an insurance company only adds unnecessary stress to your life. Still, it’s hard not to worry about the future. 

As medical bills pile up, you start to feel overwhelmed and wonder what to do. For our Houston car accident lawyers, the goal is to alleviate this concern. We strive to maximize your settlement to protect your future. 

With an experienced Houston car accident attorney on your side, you have someone who knows the ins and outs of the process. While you stay on track for recovery, they focus on recovering compensation for you. This saves you the hassle of communicating and negotiating with a team of insurance adjusters. 

How to Negotiate with Insurance Providers

When you partner with our Houston car accident lawyers, we contact the insurance company and file your claim with a demand letter. This letter states the amount of money we want for your compensation. However, the company rarely pays this amount outright. 

Oftentimes, insurance providers use an array of tactics to deny or reduce your settlement. For instance, they might downplay the severity of your injuries. Alternatively, they may claim that you exaggerated the total of your expenses. 

However, you know the truth. The fault lies with the negligent party, and your injuries are as severe as they feel. Furthermore, some injuries change your life and continue to require medical attention. 

Still, the insurance providers attempt to push back on our demands. Eventually, we enter negotiations with the company, and this process length varies. 

It’s important to be patient, though. This often involves collecting and highlighting evidence to prove fault and the extent of your injuries. 

Throughout the process, we keep you informed of new offers. While we advise you at every step, the decision is ultimately yours. You choose when to accept or reject their offer. 

When you partner with our Houston car accident lawyers, you have the power. Our job is to offer advice and fight on your behalf. Moreover, we cannot accept any offer without your approval. 

In some cases, rejecting a settlement means we take your case to litigation and into court. At Universal Law Group, our Houston car accident lawyers are practiced trial attorneys who are never afraid to fight for what’s right.

It’s a scenario our Houston car accident lawyers are all too familiar with. As you head to work or drop the kids off at school, traffic seems to move pretty smoothly. Everything is fine until you look down at the console to check your gas tank. 

As you bring your eyes back to the road, a small car shoots out of a side street. You try to react, but the other driver doesn’t notice you at all. Your tires screech along the pavement as you try to slow and evade a collision. 

However, the next thing you hear is the crunch of the impact. When the airbag goes off, you feel the force of it across your face and chest. Then, you faintly hear the sound of shattering glass. 

You were just in a car accident with a driver that pulled out in front of you. It’s normal, in this situation, to replay the scenario in your head. Moreover, many people wonder who is at fault in this situation. 

Maybe the police see it one way, not favoring you, but they weren’t present. The other driver came out of nowhere, and you know you had the right of way. If someone tries to reroute the liability to you, you need a team of Houston car accident lawyers on your side to advocate for you.

Find Out Who Is At Fault

As Houston car accident lawyers, we understand how confusing these situations can be. Often, people feel vulnerable and lost because the fault is clear to them. However, an opportunistic individual might try to convince the police of a different story. 

When the police arrive at the scene, they interview and observe. Then, they come to their own conclusion and put it in a police report. In some cases, they even issue a citation to one or more of the drivers. 

However, citations and police reports are not the final word on fault in an auto accident. Lawyers often investigate on their own and build evidence to prove true liability in collisions. 

It’s not always easy to prove fault in an accident where someone pulls out in front of you. Still, our legal team works to investigate claims and analyze the evidence. Even when blame seems obvious, a thorough investigation might uncover evidence to point the fault at the true cause of the accident.

In many collisions, the authorities jump to conclusions and make snap judgments without taking every aspect of the story into account. As Houston car accident lawyers, we encourage you to avoid phrasing statements in a way that suggests you might have caused the incident. 

Schedule a free case evaluation with an attorney to protect your rights and your future. 

Working to Determine Fault

Our Houston car accident lawyers understand how to find fault in an accident. However, we also know how insurance companies think. Oftentimes, our legal team has to fight to prove even simple claims. 

When someone pulls out in front of you, one overly simple way to determine fault is to treat it as a rear-end collision. 

In this instance, the driver who strikes the other vehicle is typically at fault. However, that driver (in this scenario) might have had the right-of-way. The difference here is that in a rear-end collision, the rear driver has the responsibility to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of them. 

By contrast, when someone pulls out in front of another driver, they might have no notice of the other vehicle. To our Houston car accident lawyers, this shows that the driver pulling out is ignoring the right-of-way and acting in negligence. 

As such, a thorough investigation may connect their liability to your damages and injuries. 

Piecing Together the Puzzle

With a Houston auto accident attorney on your side, you have someone to investigate your claim. As we put together the details of the incident, we work to determine fault. There are many crucial details to examine. 

• Physical evidence of the accident 
• Speed calculations based on any skid marks
• Eyewitness accounts of the incident 
• Roadside sobriety tests

All of this information is essential to your case. Moreover, people interpret it in different ways. Oftentimes, one of the most valuable pieces of evidence in an accident is the damage done to each vehicle. 

For instance, damage to the front of a car indicates who struck who and at what angle. Still, it takes far more evidence to determine liability in the case. For example, if someone runs a stop sign and is hit on the side, there’s a good chance the other driver had no opportunity to take evasive action. 

When you work with our Houston car accident lawyers, we work to investigate your claim. That means we gather as much detail as possible and piece together the puzzle for you.

As Houston car accident lawyers, we know the statistics. It’s more likely that someone experiences an auto accident in their life than not. When a negligent driver causes the collision, it’s important for their insurance company to cover the cost of your damages. 

• Medical costs 
• Vehicle repairs
• Compensation for your suffering

Unfortunately, even with a valid claim, the other driver’s insurance company might refuse to pay. When this happens, you need a car accident lawyer Houston trusts on your side. Your auto accident attorney is your advocate, someone to fight for your future. 

Oftentimes, insurance companies are slow to pay but settle the claim eventually. In other cases, they flat out deny your claim and refuse to cover your costs. Here are a few ways our Houston car accident lawyers motivate them to resolve your claim. 

Present them with Evidence

Many insurance companies are quick to support their policyholder. You might hear a few different things from their representatives. For example, they refuse to examine your car until they hear the other driver’s story. 

If this happens, our car accident attorney contacts them to provide clear evidence that proves negligence. Part of this process is a deconstruction of the other driver’s explanation of the incident. As our legal team presents evidence, we pick apart the other story and link the other driver’s negligence to your injuries.

Aggressive Demands

Oftentimes, insurance companies prioritize profits over people. When the company refuses to pay, it requires aggressive action on the part of our Houston car accident lawyers. As your advocate, our auto accident attorney sets a firm deadline for the settlement. 

In many cases, a firm, clear demand letter from our legal team is enough motivation. This urges them to process the claim quickly and return with a settlement offer. However, when this offer does not meet your needs, your Houston car accident lawyer starts the negotiation process. 

Use Your Insurance Policy

In rare cases, you might turn to your own car insurance policy to receive compensation. Typically, this is not a necessary step unless the other driver has no insurance policy of their own. 

Mediation & Small Claims Court

For smaller claims, our Houston car accident lawyers can take the case to small claims court to seek out a resolution. However, we tend to opt for mediation and negotiation instead in order to ensure you receive the level of compensation that you deserve. 

Take them to Court

When negotiations don’t result in an appropriate settlement offer or they continually refuse to pay, our team can file a lawsuit on your behalf. In Texas, you have 2 years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. 

As this firm deadline approaches, your auto accident attorney prepares the paperwork. At Universal Law Group, our legal team has a great deal of experience in courts throughout Houston and Harris County. We understand what it takes to build a strong case, maximize your settlement, and fight for the compensation you deserve. 

While other Houston car accident lawyers prefer to settle out of court, we use our strategic abilities to pursue your best interests.

When we think about distracted driving, the statistics about texting while driving are enough to stagger anyone. Across the country, at any given time of the day, roughly 660,000 drivers try to use their phones behind the wheel. 

While there have always been things to distract drivers, from food and makeup to tapes and CDs, smartphones allow us to connect to the world immediately. Any Houston car accident lawyer can tell you about the dangers of this constant connection. 

Truly, it imposes serious safety risks for the driver and everyone around them. Moreover, they allow for a broad range of activities to distract drivers. 

• Checking texts, DMs, and emails
• Talking on the phone or video calls 
• Scrolling through social media
• Trying to search for music or a podcast

Our Houston car accident lawyers know all too well that distraction rates from phones are far too high. Additionally, we know the risk they pose to other drivers. 

When you sustain an injury in a collision caused by a distracted driver, you may be eligible for compensation. Call on a car accident attorney from Universal Law Group to discuss your legal options. 

Phone Statistics

• The National Safety Council reports that phone use behind the wheel leads to around 1.6 million collisions every year. 
• Texting while driving leads to accidents that cause almost 400,000 injuries each year. 
• 1 out of 4 auto accidents in the country is the result of texting and driving. 
• Texting while driving has 6x the potential to cause an accident over drunk driving. 
• Responding to a message takes your focus off the road for about 5 seconds. On highways, that’s enough time to move the length of a football field. 
• Texting while driving results in a 400% increase in the amount of time you spend with your eyes off the road. 
• Texting is the most dangerous phone-related activity by far. 
• You are 20 times more likely to cause a car crash texting while driving than not. 

Texting and Driving: The Consequences

When you are the victim of an accident caused by a distracted driver, it’s likely that the responding officer will issue a citation. Luckily, our Houston car accident lawyers are able to use this information to your advantage. 

Texting while driving is a moving violation. The citation counts as evidence in your auto accident claim. Your car accident attorney uses this information to create a firm link between the other driver’s negligent behavior and your damages. 

Additionally, that driver faces financial penalties as well as other possible consequences. 

• Points on their driving record
• License suspension 
• Revocation of license 
• Mandatory safety classes

Additionally, when texting while driving leads to an injury, the negligent driver faces the potential of time in jail or prison. While these standards and penalties vary, commercial drivers face even stricter consequences. 

When you partner a Houston car accident attorney at Universal Law Group, we fight to protect your future. Our goal is to build a strong case for your car accident claim. Then, we fight to maximize your settlement. 

With your best interests in mind, we pursue the best possible outcome of your case. If you sustained an injury in an accident, schedule a free case evaluation with our Houston car accident lawyers today.