Skip to Main Content

Houston Car Accident Lawyers

houston car accident attorney

Were you injured in a car accident in Houston, TX? Was a negligent driver responsible for the crash? Our Undefeated Houston Car Accident Attorneys will make sure that you recover the maximum compensation possible and receive the best medical care available. Call us today at (888) 603-3636

Our undefeated, record-setting legal team has decades of combined experience in personal injury law. We have recovered billions for injured clients throughout Texas, including some of the largest settlements and verdicts in state history.

Contact us to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our Texas car accident attorneys. We are standing by to help.

Our Undefeated Houston Car Accident Attorneys At Zehl & Associates Set Records

Our Undefeated Car Accident Attorneys At Zehl & Associates Set Records

Zehl & Associates is known for winning substantial, record-setting verdicts and settlements for our clients. We focus our practice exclusively on personal injury cases, providing us with the resources to take on the largest insurance companies and legal teams and not only win – but set records.

Our Houston personal injury lawyers have recovered billions in compensation for injured clients and their families. We provide every one of our clients with their own legal team, immediately begin preparing their cases for trial, and refuse to accept settlement offers unless they fully compensate our clients for all their injuries and damages.

We frequently recover seven and eight-figure verdicts in cases involving car, truck, and motor vehicle accidents.

Some of our most recent recoveries include:

  • $32 Million Settlement for clients struck by an 18-wheeler in West Texas.
  • $23.5 Million Settlement for wrongful death case involving a commercial vehicle.
  • $20 Million Settlement for a case involving a fatal truck accident.
  • $12.1 Million Settlement for client injured in a commercial truck accident.
  • $11 Million Settlement for clients injured in a bus collision.
  • $6 Million Settlement for a bus accident victim.

As our track-record confirms, we don’t just win – we set records. To hear what past clients have to say about their experience with our car accident lawyers in Houston, visit our client testimonials page here.  

If you or a loved one were injured in a car or truck accident, contact us at 1-888-603-3636 to schedule a free consultation to see how our undefeated personal injury lawyers can help secure your future.

Table of Contents

Why Should I Hire a Houston Car Accident Lawyer?

Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

A car accident lawyer in Houston is your biggest asset during your personal injury case.

Why? Because no matter how helpful they try to be, the insurance company is not on your side. They will use everything you tell them and post on social media, along with their teams of attorneys, adjusters, and investigators, to dispute, deny, and minimize the value of your case. We’ve seen it over and over again, and we put an end to it.

You need a legal professional with a track record of proven results who can fight and look out for your best interests. Studies have shown that accident victims who hire an injury lawyer receive at least 3x more compensation for their personal injury claim than those who don’t hire a lawyer.  

Zehl & Associates has a 100% success rate in cases involving car accidents. We have won billions against insurance companies and other large corporate defendants, arming us with the experience, skills, and resources to recover the maximum compensation possible for you and your family.

We will increase the value of your case, provide you with access to the best medical care, and ensure you get the maximum compensation you’re entitled to.

Contact us to learn how our record-setting car accident law firm can help.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Car Accident Attorney?

How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Auto Accident Lawyer?

Most car accident attorneys in Houston work on a contingency fee basis. Under this arrangement, you do not pay any upfront fees or retainers to hire your lawyer.

Instead, you only pay attorney fees if your lawyer recovers a car accident injury award or verdict on your behalf. 

If your lawyer is unsuccessful, you will not owe any fees. Contingency fee arrangements provide you with access to the best legal representation without having to come out of pocket for the fees and expenses associated with your case.

During your free consultation, we’ll answer your questions, explain your rights, and make sure you have the information you need to decide what’s best.

Give Zehl & Associates a call to learn how we can help secure your future.

How Much Is My Houston Car Accident Injury Case Worth?

No two cases, crashes, or clients are the same. What your particular case is worth will depend on a variety of different factors, including:

  • The cost of your medical bills (past and future)
  • The income you’ve lost
  • Whether you’ve suffered diminished earning capacity in the future
  • The pain you’ve experienced
  • Available insurance coverage
  • Whether you share fault for the accident
  • Whether the person that caused the crash was driving a commercial or personal vehicle
How Much Is My Case Worth?

The best way to get an idea of your claim’s value is to contact one of our Undefeated Houston Car Accident Lawyers.

Zehl & Associates offers free consultations. We have an unparalleled track-record in catastrophic car accident injury cases and will devote whatever resources are necessary to ensuring you receive the maximum compensation possible.

Contact us to learn more about your options, rights, and how we can win for you.

When Should I Hire a Car Accident Attorney?

Zehl & Associates legal team

Not every injury case requires help from a lawyer. For example, if your crash involves no injuries and only minor property damage (like a light scratch to the body of your vehicle), you may be able to file a claim on our own.

If you’re injured, however, it’s critical to hire an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible after your crash. Your attorney will:

  • Navigate the personal injury claims process and ensure you don’t make mistakes early on in the legal process that could reduce the value of your case.
  • Provide you with access to the best doctors and medical providers so that you can focus on your recovery.
  • Reconstruction the accident with our team of engineers to prove what happened and how the crash could and should have been prevented
  • Take depositions of the driver and any other parties involved to prove that they were at fault for the crash
  • Send a demand letter to the insurance company that explains the nature and severity of your injuries, why they are responsible for the crash, and how much they need to pay to avoid going to trial.
  • If the insurance company refuses to offer a settlement that fully compensates you for all your injuries and losses, we’ll take the case to trial, where our lawyers remain undefeated.

We have a 100% success rate for accident victims. Contact our Houston, Texas car accident attorneys to schedule your free case review.

Should I Accept an Insurance Company’s Settlement Offer After a Car Crash in Houston?

Should I Accept an Insurance Company’s Settlement Offer?

Not without getting legal advice first. The insurance company wants to deny or settle your claim for as little as possible.

As a result, their offer is, in all likelihood, much less than what your claim is actually worth.

It often takes multiple depositions, rounds of negotiations, and sometimes, a trial, to arrive at a settlement that fully compensates you for all of your losses, both economic and non-economic. Insurance adjusters are trained and skilled negotiators, and they will use whatever tactics available to them to limit their liability and pay you as little as possible. 

That all changes when you hire Zehl & Associates. Having successfully represented thousands of car accident victims across Houston and Texas, we understand how the insurance companies work and what it takes to not only win for our clients – but set records.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Houston?

What Should I Do After A Car Crash?

The moments after a car accident injury can be overwhelming. However, it’s important to remain calm at the scene and avoid doing or saying anything that could damage your potential case.

After a motor vehicle accident, you should take the following actions:

  • Remain near the accident scene and move to safety. Make sure you are safe and out of the way of outcoming traffic. Check yourself for harm and check on the occupants of the other vehicle if possible.
  • Call 911. Texas law requires drivers to report the accident to 911 if it involves injury, death, or significant property damage. When you call 911, a dispatcher will send law enforcement officers and EMS (if necessary for medical care) to the scene. A police officer will complete an investigation and accident report containing details about the crash. This police report is very important and will be used as evidence in your car accident lawsuit.
  • Exchange contact information. Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver while you wait for the investigating officers to arrive on the scene. You will also want the license plate numbers of the cars involved. You will need this information when you file your injury claim. You should also exchange contact information with any witnesses.
  • Do not accept blame for the crash or talk to the other party’s insurance company without consulting a lawyer first.
  • Seek medical attention. It’s a good idea to seek prompt medical attention after your accident — even if you don’t think you are hurt. You may have injuries that don’t seem serious at first, but, if left untreated, could quickly become worse. You can visit the hospital in an ambulance or follow up with your healthcare provider. Seeking quick medical treatment will put you on the path to the quickest recovery and prevent insurance companies from claiming your injuries aren’t serious.
  • Contact our Undefeated Houston Car Accident Lawyers for a free consultation. We’ll answer your questions, explain the process of filing a lawsuit, and provide you with the information you need to do what’s best for you and your family.

Most Common Causes of Car Accidents 

According to statistics from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the following are the most common contributing factors of statewide motor vehicle accidents: 

  • Speeding
  • Distracted driving accident or driver inattention
  • Unsafe lane changes
  • Failing to yield the right of way
  • Following too closely (tailgating)
  • Merging into other lanes of traffic
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (drunk driving)
  • Making an improper or unsafe turn
  • Not paying attention to a stop sign or traffic light
  • Road rage
  • Driver fatigue or falling asleep at the wheel
  • Unsafe passing 
  • Weather conditions
  • Impaired visibility
  • Poorly maintained roads by the city

Distracted and drunk driving account for some of the leading causes of fatalities in Texas collisions.

Is Texas an At-Fault or No-Fault State for Car Accidents?

Is Texas an At-Fault or No-Fault State?

Most states have either “at-fault” or “no-fault” systems for car accidents. 

In a “no-fault” system, those involved in crashes must generally turn to their own insurance coverage for needed compensation. There are exceptions, but usually only for accidents involving serious injuries.

Conversely, in an “at-fault” system, injured motorists can proceed with legal action against the person responsible for their accident (normally, by filing a third-party insurance claim). This can be done regardless of how severe or minor the collision was.

Texas is an “at-fault” state. That means that after an accident, you have the right to pursue compensation directly from the responsible party’s insurance company. You also have the option of filing a lawsuit against them if they refuse to fully compensate you for your injuries, property damage, and financial losses.

Can I Recover Damages if I Was Partly at Fault for My Houston Car Accident?

Can I Recover Damages If I Was Partly At Fault?

Under the state’s modified comparative negligence law, people who share partial blame are assigned a percentage of fault.

In Texas, if you are less than 51% at fault for causing the crash, you can recover damages from the other driver (and their insurance company). Your recovery, however, will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

For example, assume that the jury awards you $500,000 and decides you’re 40% to blame for an auto accident. Your total damages would be reduced by 40% (or $200,000) for a net recovery of $300,000.

It’s common for insurers and at-fault drivers to try to blame you for the crash, even if they can’t prove it. They do this to minimize the amount of compensation you’re able to recover from them. It’s critical to hire an experienced Houston car accident lawyer as soon after the crash as possible so that your lawyer can go to the scene, obtain all the relevant evidence, and prove exactly how the crash occurred – and why you share no fault in causing it.

Do I Have To Prove Negligence if I File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Houston?

Do I Have To Prove Negligence?

Yes. All car crash lawsuits are based on negligence. A person is negligent when they violate an applicable duty of care by, for example, running a red light and end up injuring someone.

If you file a suit based on negligence, you (as the injured victim) will be the plaintiff in the case. As the plaintiff, you will have to prove the following four elements to win and recover damages:

  • Duty: the defendant owed you a duty of care (everyone must obey state and local driving laws).
  • Breach: the at-fault party failed to act reasonably and breached that duty (they ran a red light or were speeding or driving while distracted).
  • Causation: the defendant’s unsafe actions were the cause of your injuries (you were t-boned at a traffic light because the other driver ran the light).
  • Damages: you were injured and, due to your injuries, incurred medical expenses and lost wages and suffered physical pain, impairment, and other physical and financial damages.

To win your case, you will need to prove each of the four elements of negligence “by a preponderance of the evidence” – which simply requires you to prove that each element is “more likely true than not true.”

Evidence that may be used to prove or support your negligence case include:

  • Medical records
  • Eyewitness testimony
  • Testimony from the investigating police officer
  • The Police Report
  • Expert witness testimony
  • Payroll records from your employer
  • Pictures and video footage of the crash and damage to the vehicles

How Long Do I Have To File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Houston?

How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit?

Texas law typically gives you two years to file a car accident suit, with some exceptions. The clock starts running on the date of the collision (or the date of death if you’re filing a wrongful death claim after losing a loved one in a fatal crash).

We recommend speaking with an experienced Houston car accident attorney as soon as possible. Important evidence, like skid marks and debris at the crash scene, disappears quickly. If you don’t immediately take steps to preserve it and put the at-fault driver on notice of your claim, that evidence will disappear or get destroyed, which will make it substantially more difficult to win your case.

What Types of Damages Are Available After a Car Accident in Texas?

If you have a car accident case in Houston Texas, you’re entitled to various forms of compensation, depending on the circumstances of your collision. The at-fault driver may have to pay for both the financial and non-financial consequences related to your crash, which are referred to as “economic” and “non-economic” damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are financial damages that are directly related to the auto accident and your injuries, such as: 

  • Your medical bills
  • Future medical costs
  • Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
  • Lost income
  • Diminished earning capacity
  • Property damage to your vehicle and personal belongings

They are typically provable using receipts, statements, and other documentation. However, calculating future medical costs and lost wages will require an expert witness, like a life care planner and economist.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are the human physical and emotional losses. These damages aren’t as easily quantifiable because they are highly unique to each person. They include:

  • Mental anguish
  • PTSD
  • Pain and suffering
  • Physical impairment or disability
  • Physical disfigurement
  • Diminished ability to work and quality of life due to your injuries

These damages account for the personal, intangible harms that continue to effect you after an auto accident.

How Do Courts in Texas Evaluate Pain and Suffering Damages?

Pain and suffering damages are an important component of your overall award for your case and one of the major categories of non-economic damages

Because non-economic damages are unique to each person, Texas courts are not required to use any particular method for evaluating them. However, most will likely utilize one of the following two methods:

  • Multiplier Method: With this framework, the court will select a multiplier between 1.5 and up to 25, based on the severity of your injuries. From there, the court will multiply your economic damages number by the chosen figure. 
  • Per Diem (Per Day) Method: Under this approach, a dollar value is selected to represent the pain experienced on an average day, minute, or second. From there, this amount is multiplied by the total number of days, minutes, or seconds that you’ve experienced pain and will continue to be in pain in the future.

Punitive Damages

A Texas court may also determine that punitive (or exemplary) damages are warranted in your case. These serve to punish the defendant for particularly malicious or grossly negligent conduct (such as drunk driving, texting, or driving double the speed limit).

Zehl & Associates will always pursue full compensation for each element of damage and loss our clients experience. It’s why we have recovered billions and our firm continues to obtain record-setting verdicts and settlements for our clients.

Contact us for a free consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or by using the contact form on our website.

Types of Car Accident Claims We Handle

Zehl & Associates has successfully represented accident victims in connection with car, bus, and truck accidents across Houston and the State of Texas.

Some of the cases we regularly handle for our clients include:

Rollover Car Accidents

A rollover accident often involves SUVs, trucks, and other top-heavy vehicles. Our Houston rollover accident lawyers will deploy our team of engineers and safety experts to inspect the vehicles and the scene to determine who’s responsible for your damages, whether it’s another driver or the manufacturer of a defectively designed automobile.

Rear-End Car Accidents

Rear-end accidents have the potential to cause severe injuries, especially when high speeds are involved. Most times, these dangerous crashes result from tailgating, distracted driving, or speeding. Our Houston rear-end crash lawyers can help you hold the at-fault driver accountable for your crash.

Fatal Car Accidents

A fatal car crash causes a lifetime of grief, emotional trauma, and financial strain for family members and loved ones. A lawsuit is often the only way to hold the at-fault person accountable and ensure that your family has the financial resources to carry on in your loved one’s absence.

With the largest wrongful death recoveries in history, Zehl & Associates has the experience, track-record, and resources to ensure that the wrongdoer is held responsible and that you and your family are financially secure for the rest of your lives.

Head-On Car Accidents

People involved in head-on collisions often sustain permanent, catastrophic injuries with life-altering effects. If someone else caused your accident, our Houston car wreck lawyers will hold them accountable for the full extent of your damages.

Highway Accidents

Many dangerous highways cross through the city of Houston, including I-10, I-45, and US-290. Accidents on these and other high-speed roads can lead to devastating destruction and harm. Our Houston highway crash lawyers will investigate your collision, prove that the other driver was at fault, and make sure you are fully compensated for all your injuries and losses.

Will My Car Accident Case Go To Trial?

Will My Case Go To Trial?

Many car crash cases settle in mediation, before trial. However, if the insurance company refuses to fully compensate you for all your injuries and financial losses, we won’t hesitate to take your case to trial, where our accident lawyers remain undefeated.

When the insurance company sees that Zehl & Associates is involved, they are going to take your case more seriously, because they know that we regularly go to trial – and not only win, but set records. 

Contact out Undefeated Houston Auto Accident Attorneys to learn more about your legal options after a car crash.

Who Could Be Liable for My Injuries Resulting From a Car Wreck?

In Texas, any party who causes your injuries resulting from a car crash can be held accountable for the resulting financial fallout.

The following parties could be named as defendants in your case: 

  • Drivers
  • Passengers 
  • Bicyclists
  • Pedestrians 
  • Employers of negligent drivers 
  • Transit companies 
  • Trucking companies 
  • City or state governmental agencies
  • Motorcyclists 

Common Car Accident Injuries

Common Types Of Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents can have devastating consequences, including life-altering injuries for pedestrians, motorists, cyclists, and passengers. 

The most common injuries include the following: 

  • Broken bone or bones 
  • Whiplash 
  • Head and neck injuries 
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries 
  • Lacerations 
  • Burn injuries
  • Chest injuries
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Organ damage
  • Amputation
  • Internal bleeding

If you are involved in a car wreck in or around Houston, seek medical care immediately. Doing so can help prevent your condition from worsening and help with a subsequent accident injury claim.  

Our law office has extensive experience handling claims involving all kinds of injuries. We have recovered hundreds of record-setting verdicts and settlements for fatal and catastrophic injury cases. If you’ve been injured in a car crash, contact us for help.

Contact Our Undefeated Houston Car Accident Lawyers Today for a Free Consultation

Contact Our Undefeated Car Accident Lawyers Today for a Free Consultation

If you or a loved one were injured in a Houston car accident, you deserve to be compensated. You also deserve top-notch legal representation that can help you recover the maximum compensation possible.

Our undefeated Houston car accident attorneys have helped our clients recover billions of dollars in compensation, including the #1 largest accident verdicts and settlements in Texas.

All consultations are free, and because we work on a contingent fee, we only get paid if we secure compensation for you.

Contact us today by reaching out online or giving us a call at (888) 603-3636.