Home > Car Accidents Written by: TY Gibson and Brett Hill Last Updated : August 25, 2023

Texas Car Accident Lawyers

If you or your loved one suffered an injury in a car accident in Texas, contact Gibson Hill Personal Injury for help. A car crash can lead to severe physical and emotional trauma. If you sustained a serious injury, you might require ongoing medical treatment. Some injury victims end up with a disability or impairment that reduces their quality of life or prevents them from returning to their job.

Our Texas car accident lawyers can help you pursue the maximum compensation available from the negligent driver. We’ll use all our available resources to hold others accountable for their careless actions. You won’t be alone in this fight for justice. We’ll keep your best interest in mind and work diligently to fulfill your specific needs.

We are fully committed to providing our clients with the attentive care and high-value results they deserve. To find out more information about our auto accident attorneys and our services, call us at (713) 659-4000.

Car Accident Claims We Can Handle

At Gibson Hill Personal Injury, we handle car accident claims resulting from any number of situations, including but not limited to:

Auto Accident Laws in Texas

Whether you suffer a minor or severe injury in a car crash, there are laws you should know about that could affect the maximum compensation you’re entitled to from the negligent driver.

Fault System

In Texas, auto insurance follows a fault system. What that means is the at-fault driver becomes financially responsible for the injury victim’s losses. If you suffered any type of injury in the motor vehicle accident, you could file a claim with their insurance company.

Contributory Negligence Rule

If you share any blame for the accident, your maximum compensation will get reduced by the percentage of fault. For example, if you incurred $100,000 in expenses but were 20% to blame, the maximum compensation you would be entitled to is $80,000.

Statute of Limitations

If you want to file a lawsuit, you have to follow a statute of limitations. Every type of personal injury case has a statute that injury victims must follow if they want to pursue legal action against someone else. The statute of limitations for a car accident lawsuit is two years. The deadline is strict, and if you miss it, you’ll lose your right to a financial award.

If you want to file an insurance claim, there are several insurance policies you can choose from to recover compensation.

Liability: Every motorist has a legal requirement to carry liability insurance. If you file a claim with their policy, you can get compensation for your expenses.
UM: Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is available on your insurance policy if the at-fault driver doesn’t hold liability insurance or their coverage isn’t high enough for your expenses.
PIP: Personal injury protection is another coverage option on your policy that provides upfront payment for medical treatment. You can cover the cost of your doctor appointments up to the limit you purchased.

Insurance Policy Definitions

When someone else is responsible for your injuries, you can negotiate a settlement with their insurance company. Liability auto insurance policies contain limits for property damage and bodily injury. The settlement you can receive is up to those limits on the plan.

Bodily Injury

Bodily injury covers the medical expenses and other costs related to the injury you sustained. The damages available may include:

Medical bills
Lost wages
Prescriptions
Out of pocket expenses
Pain and suffering

Pain and suffering can include various factors, such as:

Emotional or psychological trauma
Physical pain
PTSD, depression, and anxiety
Loss of quality of life

Property Damage

Property damage covers the costs of damage to your vehicle and personal property during the car crash. Property damage may include:

Repair expenses
Depreciation of the car’s value
Fair Market Value for a totaled vehicle
Cell phone or another damaged electronic device
Personal property in the vehicle at the time of the accident
Loss of use of the vehicle

The Steps You Take After an Auto Accident Could Affect Your Settlement Offer

To prove the negligent driver caused the accident and ensure you’re able to recover the compensation you need, you should follow the steps below if you sustain an injury that requires medical treatment:

To mitigate the risk of additional injuries, move to a safe place away from traffic, if possible. Call 911 and wait for officers to arrive at the scene. They will perform an initial investigation and write a crash report. When it becomes available, request a copy.
If you can move around, take pictures of the crash site, including debris, skid marks, all vehicles involved, and any other damaged caused by the auto accident.
Talk to people who witnessed what happened. Ask them what they believe the cause of the accident was and write down their names and phone numbers so you can use them as eyewitnesses.
Collect the following information from the negligent driver:

Their name and phone number
The type of car they’re driving
Their auto insurance company and policy number
Their employer’s information if they were performing job-related duties

Go to the doctor for treatment of your injuries. Even if you didn’t sustain a severe injury, you should go to the emergency room or urgent care facility immediately after leaving the accident scene. The doctor will evaluate your injuries and let you know who to follow up with. Continue treating your injuries until your doctors release you from their medical care.
Write down as many details as you can remember about the accident. Recall the date and time it happened, where it happened, and how it happened. Write down the traffic signals or signs around at the time of the accident. If you can remember how many vehicles were involved and what they were doing before the crash, write that information down as well.
Notify your insurance company about the accident to get the insurance claim process started. You can also open a claim with the liability insurance policy if the other motorist didn’t already do so.
Keep a copy of every document related to the accident. Hang on to medical records, medical bills, insurance company forms, and other relevant information.
Hire a Texas car accident lawyer. Seeking legal representation should be one of the first steps you take after getting hurt in an accident. The legal process is complicated, and Gibson Hill Personal Injury will be able to help you through it.

What Not to Do After an Auto Accident

There are some things you should avoid doing, so you don’t ruin your chances of recovering compensation from the auto insurance company.

Don’t tell the insurance adjuster or officer at the crash scene that you think your actions were partly to blame.
Don’t give a recorded statement to the liability auto insurance company. It’s not a legal requirement, and if you say something that you shouldn’t, that could result in a denied insurance claim.
Don’t lie about your medical issues. If you have a preexisting condition, tell your doctor. Be honest with them about your symptoms and the injuries you suffered. They need the full picture to provide proper medical care and notate your records correctly.
Don’t sign any forms unless your accident lawyer says so. The liability insurance carrier might try to trick you into signing away your rights to a fair settlement offer. We’ll review every document to determine whether you need to complete it for the insurance company.

Why You Need Gibson Hill Personal Injury On Your Side

Handling an insurance claim or injury lawsuit alone is stressful. Our Texas car accident lawyers can take care of your case’s legal aspects on your behalf so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. When you hire us, we’ll handle all the following steps:

Complete an investigation into the accident
Request copies of records from your medical treatment
Obtain photos and video footage
Review the liability insurance policy to determine the available coverage
Speak to eyewitnesses and get their statements
Hire medical, financial, and accident reconstruction experts, as needed
File an insurance claim or lawsuit on your behalf
Negotiate a fair settlement
Take your case to trial if we can’t agree to compensation

Quality Legal Services for Your Budget

Gibson Hill Personal Injury doesn’t want to add to the financial burden you’re already facing. When you get hurt in a car crash and can’t work or support your family, it’s devastating. We take cases on contingency, so you don’t have to worry about paying us upfront for our services. We’ll represent you in your case and won’t expect payment unless we recover compensation.

Our Texas car accident lawyers will also meet with you for a free consultation. We care about accident victims and want to give them a fair chance at seeking the justice they deserve. When you come to us, we’ll treat you with respect and compassion at all times. Our legal team is available 24/7, so you can reach us when it’s convenient for you. We have two conveniently located offices in Houston and Austin.

Contact Gibson Hill Personal Injury Today

At Gibson Hill Personal Injury, we strive to provide our clients with reliable legal representation. We’ll stay in constant contact with you, so you always know the status of your case. If you have any questions, we’ll be happy to answer them and walk you through the legal process.

We use aggressive tactics to get the insurance company to settle for the amount they owe you. Your pain and suffering deserve the maximum compensation. We’ll fight to get it for you.

Call us at (713) 659-4000, and we’ll schedule your free consultation with one of our Texas car accident lawyers.