Houston car accident lawyers
Houston is the most populous city in the State of Texas, and the fourth most populous city in the United States. Due to the size and population of Houston there are numerous vehicles sharing the same roadways, highways and intersections every day. That causes traffic congestions that can lead to serious accidents and collisions.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 3,700 traffic-related deaths in the State of Texas last year and over 13% of all crashes in Texas took place in Houston. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, last year in Texas a crash was reported every minute, one person resulted injured in a car accident every two minutes, and one person was killed in a car accident every two and a half hours.
Best Houston car accident lawyers
Collisions and car accidents can cause severe injuries to the people involved. Even the minor injuries require professional medical examination to assure there are not greater damages that could risk your life. Some on the main injuries caused by car accidents are: whiplash, arm injury, back injury, leg injury, neck injury, broken bones and fractures, chronic pain, hip injury, burns, emotional trauma, head injury, brain injury, face injury, herniated disc, eye injury, spinal cord injury, knee injury, scars, coma, amputation, paralysis, and wrongful death.
What are the most common causes of car accidents in Houston?
Most common causes of car accidents in Houston include:
- Distracted driving. Drivers talking on their cellphones, texting, eating and not paying attention to the road are the main cause of accidents in Houston. People who text while driving increase their chances to cause a car accident, according to a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The Texas Department of Transportation reports that someone is killed or injured in a crash involving alcohol approximately every 20 minutes in the state of Texas. Alcohol and drugs limit your reflexes and your ability to focus on the road. They can also impair your judgment, your vision and your reaction time of response. Alcohol and drugs make you less alert to your surroundings. Last year alone, in the state of Texas, drunk driving represented over 900 deaths.
- Failing to obey street signs, signals, and rules of the road. Ignoring stop signs and running red lights can lead to accidents with fatal outcomes. Improper lane changes and turns, and failing to use your turn signal properly can lead to accidents. Always change lanes carefully. Use your turn signal and look at your mirror and blind spot before changing to the next lane.
- Reckless driving. Careless drivers can cause accidents when they overtake cars and change lanes abruptly. Always drive carefully and if you encounter a reckless driver on your way, keep your distance.
- Speeding. The Texas Department of Transportation statistics shows that in Texas, speeding is one of the most frequent causes of car accidents. The higher the speed, the shorter the reaction time to prevent the impact. Collisions at high speed can be fatal.
- Tailgating. If the car in front of you brakes suddenly, you will not have enough time to react if you are driving to close and you will end up getting involved in a car accident. Always keep a one-car-length distance to the next car.
- Fatigued drivers. Tiredness on the road can be deadly. Exhaustion can lead the driver to fall asleep in front of the wheel. If you feel tired and at risk of falling asleep, pull over and take a short nap before heading to your destination.
The most common types of car accidents in Houston include: single vehicle accidents, rear-end crash accidents, head-on car accidents, rideshare and taxi crashes, car accident involving a bus, car accidents involving a motorcycle, car accidents involving a semi-truck, car accidents involving a drunk driver, and fatal crash accidents.
In most cases, car accidents happen due to driver’s negligence. If you have been injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence on the road, you need to contact a Houston car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Your lawyer will help you get through the claim process and help you understand your rights and they will fight to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages.
The best way to remain safe while traveling Houston roadways is to be a responsible driver. Always keep your eyes on the road and obey traffic laws. But even responsible drivers get involved in car accidents because they cannot control other driver’s behavior behind the wheel, which is why in the events of a car accident, you should hire a Houston car accident lawyer to help you get through this traumatic event.