Types of Auto Accidents, Injuries & Damages
Motor vehicle accidents can occur for various reasons and can lead to severe injuries. While sometimes it’s evident who is at fault, other times an investigation is necessary to determine if the driver was distracted, impaired, or negligent.
We Handle a Wide Range of Auto Accidents in Texas
At Borunda and Fomby PLLC, our experienced Houston car accident lawyers have been helping people recover physically and financially for over 30 years. We have gained invaluable insight into how to handle virtually any car accident case and have secured millions of dollars for our clients.
If you or a loved one has been injured in any of the following car accidents, please don’t hesitate to contact us:
- Head-On Collisions
- Car vs Truck Accidents
- Rear-End Crashes
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Fatal Car Accidents
- Side Impact (T-Bone) Collisions
- SUV Rollover Crashes
- Accidents Involving Bicycles
- Drunk Driving
- Distracted Driving or Texting While Driving
- Dangerous and Defective Roads
- Speeding
- Reckless Driving
- Aggressive Driving
- Work Zones
- Uber or Lyft Accidents
- Teen Driver Accidents
- Car vs Public Transportation
- Accidents Involving Trains
Common Texas Car Accident Injuries
The severity of car accident injuries ultimately determines the value of your claim. Be sure to attend follow-up treatment and record any medical bills, treatment documents, and insurance information.
Here are some of the most common injuries we see after auto collisions:
- Head and Brain Injuries — This involves concussions, skull fractures, or other traumatic brain injuries.
- Neck and Back Injuries — This includes Whiplash, herniated or bulging discs, or spinal injuries.
- Burn Injuries— Whether minor or fatal, burns might leave cause serious disfigurement and require skin grafts.
- Soft Tissue Injuries — Some accidents cause ligaments or muscles to tear causing lasting damage.
- Broken Bones — These injuries require surgery and a long recovery period.
- Spinal Injuries – These are devastating injuries that could alter someone’s life entirely and may result in permanent wheelchair use due to a loss of movement in the lower extremities.
Compensation for Damages & Losses in Car Accident Cases
When someone else is responsible for your injuries, you have the right to pursue compensation. Your final settlement should consider all the ways your life was affected by your accident, including both monetary and non-monetary damages.
Calculating monetary damages is pretty straightforward and easily proven with proper documentation. These damages include:
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Childcare expenses
- Household maintenance fees
- Medical expenses
Non-economic damages are not as easy to value, but should be considered, nonetheless. These damages include:
- Loss of consortium
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Reputational damage
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Punitive damage is also available in car accident cases, but only in extreme situations. Reckless and drunk driving are common examples.
Legal Options
Filing an insurance claim:
Insurance claims are a formal request to your insurance provider for reimbursement against losses covered under your insurance policy. The policyholder must file an insurance claim to receive compensation from their insurer. Once this claim is filed, the insurance company will investigate the claim and determine the amount of compensation that should be paid. However, if the claim is denied or the settlement is inadequate, the policyholder may pursue other options such as filing a lawsuit or appealing the decision with the insurance company. In these cases, it’s important to work with an experienced personal lawyer.
Product Liability Claim
If the car accident was caused by a defective auto part or vehicle design, you may be able to pursue a product liability claim against the manufacturer of the vehicle or auto part.
Uninsured or underinsured motorist claim
If the at fault driver has insufficient or no insurance to cover your damages, you may be able to file an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim with your own insurance company to receive compensation.
Comparative Fault
In some cases, the victim of a car accident may also be partially at fault for the accident. In the state of Texas, a claimant can demand compensation from a defendant as long as that claimant is less than 51% at fault for their injuries and damages.
Evidence Gathering
Gathering evidence following the event of a car accident is critical in building a strong case for compensation. The following are steps involving the gathering of evidence that may be taken by a personal injury lawyer:
- Reviewing police reports which will include information about who was involved in the accident and any arrests made at the scene
- Gathering witness statements which could provide valuable information of what occurred
- Obtaining medical records which can provide the extent and severity of the injuries sustained in the accident
- Reviewing social media and electronic records related to the incident.
- Consulting with accident reconstruction experts to create a detailed model of the accident.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, our dedicated team of Houston car accident lawyers is here to help. At Borunda and Fomby PLLC, we have over 30 years of combined experience helping clients recover physically and financially from all types of auto accidents.
Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn more about your legal options. You can email us at info@txinjuryadvocates.com or call us at (713) 940-4878 or fill out our online contact form to get started.
