Were you hurt in Houston, TX, because of someone else’s actions? If so, you should speak with a Houston personal injury lawyer about your legal rights and options. You might be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and even emotional pain and suffering.
The attorneys at the Simon Law Group have over 250 years of combined experience. We have handled all types of accident cases ranging from minor to severe. Our team of fearless advocates isn’t afraid to stand up for what’s right.
Contact our office to set up a free consultation at (855) 855-8910 and learn more about your legal options.
How The Simon Law Group Can Help After an Accident in Houston
You are probably feeling overwhelmed after your accident in Houston, Texas. Endless doctor appointments and the stress of bills piling up can be taxing on your physical and mental health. The last thing you need is to worry about a lawsuit.
That’s why The Simon Law Group will worry about it for you. We can help you build a legal case while you focus on recovering from your injuries.
Since 2009, we have won over $600 million for our injured clients. Our team of dedicated personal injury lawyers isn’t afraid to stand up for you, even in the toughest cases.
When you hire us after an accident in Houston, we will:
- Investigate the cause of the accident
- Find out who is responsible
- File insurance claims
- Negotiate with insurance companies
- Collect evidence
- Consult with experts
- Review your medical records
- Calculate your case value
- File a personal injury lawsuit
- Fight for you at trial if necessary
Having an experienced Houston personal injury attorney on your side will make it more likely that you will get the money you need to become whole again. Call our office to set up a time to talk about your case in a free consultation.
What Is My Houston Personal Injury Case Worth?
The value of your Houston personal injury case is the total of your damages. Damages is a legal term for the money that you seek in your case.
The amount of money that a plaintiff gets is dependent on the facts of their case. However, in our experience, several factors may impact a case’s worth. Some of these factors include:
- The type and severity of injury
- The length of recovery
- Your physical pain and suffering
- The total cost of medical bills
- The need for ongoing rehabilitation and physical therapy
- The impact of the injury on your ability to work and earn income (in the past and future)
- The impact of the injury on your overall quality of life
- Loss of companionship or a loved one
- The effect of your injury on your mental health
You should always track your damages after an accident so that your attorney can request reimbursement. Your lawyer will ask you about both monetary and non-monetary losses.
Keeping documentation (like bills, invoices, paystubs) and journaling about your experiences may be helpful when it comes time to value your case.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available To Accident Victims?
Personal injury plaintiffs in Houston can usually claim economic damages and non-economic damages. In rare cases, they can request punitive damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are financial losses. These losses are a direct result of the accident or your injury. Economic damages are the most common type of damages awarded in a personal injury case.
This type of financial loss may include:
- Emergency medical bills
- Surgery costs
- Follow up treatment
- Cost of medicine
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Mental health treatment
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning capacity
Economic damages can also include other out-of-pocket expenses. Out-of-pocket expenses are a catch-all term for financial losses that are unique to your case. An example may be in-home nursing care or a home remodel to accommodate a disability caused by an accident.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are every other type of loss. You may have heard this called pain and suffering damages.
This category of damages pays a plaintiff for their emotional suffering and trauma caused by an accident. For example:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Mental illness
- Scarring or permanent disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of relationships
- Permanent disability
Your non-economic damages may be greater than your economic damages, but it can be hard to calculate. A lawyer can help you total your non-economic damages so that you recover full compensation.
Punitive Damages
Only certain plaintiffs can ask for punitive damages. These are awarded as punishment for the defendant, and they are not tied to a plaintiff’s economic or non-economic losses. The purpose is to deter a defendant from future bad behavior.
Under Texas law, you can only get punitive damages if the defendant acted with:
- Fraud
- Malice
- Gross negligence
You must prove this intent by clear and convincing evidence. Furthermore, the jury must unanimously agree on the amount of damages. An experienced trial lawyer can help you win punitive damages if they apply to your case.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Houston Personal Injury Lawyer?
Many of our clients worry about the cost of hiring a Houston personal injury lawyer. It’s normal to think about attorney’s fees, especially when you don’t have extra money to spare.
Luckily, personal injury lawyers charge a contingency fee. This arrangement benefits clients who can’t afford to pay a lawyer.
In a contingency fee arrangement, the lawyer and client agree that the attorney will be paid at the end of the case. Instead of charging a flat fee, or by the hour, the attorney takes a percentage of the damages. The percentage may vary depending on the type and complexity of the case.
If the lawyer loses the case, and there are no damages, then the client doesn’t have to pay for attorney’s fees.
This means that clients can always afford their lawyer since the payment comes from a settlement or jury award. It also means that the lawyer will work hard for their client. After all, their payment depends on winning the case.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for an Accident In Texas?
Yes. In most situations, you can recover compensation if you are being blamed for an accident in Texas. The exception is if you are 51% or more responsible for the accident. In that case, you cannot recover anything.
If you are found to be less than 51% responsible, you can only get damages proportionate to the defendant’s share of responsibility. For example, if the defendant is 75% responsible, you can get 75% of your damages. This is called proportionate responsibility.
A skilled personal injury lawyer can work to minimize the amount of fault you are assigned.
We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries
We are no strangers to helping clients get paid after serious and even catastrophic injuries. Many of our clients have recovered compensation for:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Amputations
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Loss of hearing or eyesight
- Crush injuries
- Poisoning
- Organ damage and internal bleeding
We will review your medical records and consult with doctors on your case. In some situations, we may ask for an expert evaluation. Our personal injury law firm will use this information to help you get as much compensation as possible.
Common Types of Personal Injury Cases in Houston, Texas
Personal injury is a broad category of the law. There are many different types of personal injury cases in the Houston area. Some of the most common are:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Slip and falls
- Product liability
- Medical malpractice
- Dog bites
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Sexual abuse
- Wrongful death
Luckily, our team is composed of diverse lawyers who specialize in many practice areas. While each case is unique, there’s nothing that we can’t handle.
How Do I Prove Negligence After an Accident in Houston?
Most personal injury cases revolve around the theory of negligence.
Negligence is a legal term. To win your case in court, you need to prove that the defendant was negligent. Negligence has four different elements. Each element must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence.
Duty of Care
The plaintiff must prove that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care. Everyone has a duty of care when they are out in public. This duty is to act as a reasonably prudent person. It means being careful to not take unnecessary risks that might hurt someone else.
Breach of Duty
The plaintiff must prove that the defendant breached their duty of care. This means that they acted unreasonably, or carelessly. A defendant doesn’t need to be perfect all of the time. However, they must act as cautiously as an ordinary person would under similar circumstances.
Causation
There is no negligence if the plaintiff does not prove that the negligence caused their injuries. This means that negligence is both the direct and proximate cause. This can be one of the most difficult parts of negligence to prove.
Damages
Every personal injury case is about recovering damages. The plaintiff must prove that they are entitled to damages. This can be through medical bills, records, or even expert testimony.
Contact Our Houston Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Time is of the essence in every personal injury case because of the Texas statute of limitations. Call our Houston personal injury lawyers at The Simon Law Group to schedule a free consultation. This meeting is an opportunity to learn about your legal rights and to learn more about how we can help.
