What Can I Do When Houston Drivers Fail to Share the Road Responsibly?
Drivers seldom see a sideswipe collision coming until it’s too late. These types of accidents rarely leave drivers time to react. If you’re involved in a sideswipe collision, the close impact can cause you to lose control of your vehicle and crash.
If a reckless driver caused you to sustain injuries in an accident, you should speak to an attorney to determine your eligibility to seek compensation for your damages.
A Houston sideswiped collision lawyer can help you fight for compensation by holding the at-fault parties accountable for their negligence. If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in such an accident, you should contact a Houston law firm as soon as possible to discuss your legal options. One mistake could mean missing out on the money you deserve.
What Defines a Sideswipe Collision?
A sideswipe collision can result in more damage than just a broken mirror or damaged door. Depending upon speed and other factors, the force of the impact may cause serious injuries to everyone involved.
A sideswipe collision occurs when two vehicles—traveling in the same or opposite directions—make side contact.
This type of collision can occur in these situations:
- One vehicle is stationary while another strikes a fixed object, like a median or barrier wall. The impact can cause the reckless driver to lose control and strike another vehicle stopped in traffic.
- A driver may attempt to avoid a rear-end collision by swerving into another lane. Failure to notice a driver stopped in that lane can result in a traumatic accident.
You should not pay for extensive medical costs that result due to the careless actions of another driver. Every Texan and out-of-state visitor has a responsibility to control their vehicles at all times.
If you suffered serious injuries in a sideswipe collision, you should contact a lawyer today. Most Houston car accident law firms offer free case consultations, which can help you determine your eligibility to pursue compensation for your losses.
Common Causes of Sideswipe Collisions
The latest Traffic Scorecard Report from INRIX reports that Houston ranks 8th in the United States for traffic congestion. Houston’s area residents spend an average of 35 hours per year sitting in traffic!
Traffic congestion can lead to frustration and poor driver choices. Consider these examples of driver behaviors and actions that result in negligence:
- Blind spots: Nearly half of the area surrounding a vehicle contains blind spots. Drivers who fail to adjust their mirrors or fail to check them can change lanes without notice, resulting in serious harm for others—especially vulnerable motorcyclists.
- Driving too fast for conditions: Speeding is just one form of aggressive driving that can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles. Poor weather conditions only increase the chance of a reckless driver crashing into you, forever changing your life.
- Drowsy driving: The National Sleep Foundation reports that sleep deprivation leads to mental impairment levels similar to drunkenness. Twenty-four hours of sleep deprivation equates to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10%—higher than the legal limit of 0.08%!
- Texting and driving: According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), sending or reading a text while driving involves all three main forms of distraction: visual, manual, and cognitive. Other examples of distracted driving include programming navigational devices and the distraction of passengers.
- Driving drunk: Countless public safety campaigns and strict laws warn drivers of the dangers involved with drunk driving, yet far too many Texans drink and drive. A driver who chooses to get behind the wheel rather than to seek an alternative ride must face accountability for any resulting damages.
- Road rage: Impatient, stressed, or otherwise irritated drivers sometimes engage in road rage with other drivers. Throwing objects at vehicles and other forms of aggression generally result in serious injuries and sometimes death.
We all take a chance when we get behind the wheel of a vehicle. The Texas driver’s license that we possess is a privilege that we must honor. Traffic rules, regulations, and laws exist for a reason: to keep drivers and their passengers safe!
If another driver failed to grant you the level of care and caution that is expected of all drivers, you should contact a Houston sideswipe collision attorney to discuss your case. Your accident may have resulted in major changes to your life, and you shouldn’t have to bear the financial burden of those changes. A lawyer can help you fight for compensation to cover the full cost of your injuries.
Your Medical Expenses and Other Damages
Serious injuries result in serious medical costs. These costs begin mounting the moment you receive medical transport to a trauma center or hospital. If your injuries required medical transport by an air ambulance, the costs may prove staggering.
Your damages most likely go far beyond your medical expenses and may include:
- Lost wages
- Potential future earnings
- Pain and suffering
Each Houston car accident case differs in terms of details and injuries. While compensation is never guaranteed, it is worth fighting for when you suffer injuries due to the negligent actions of another person.
A sideswipe collision is more than a minor inconvenience. An auto accident like this can end your career and affect your relationships. Luckily Texas law allows you to fight for compensation. However, you must prove the responsible driver was negligent. Hiring a Houston car accident lawyer to assist you with your case takes the stress of the legal process from your shoulders. Removing the stress of your case will enable you to rest easier, knowing someone is on your side.
How a Houston Attorney Can Help You
What you do and say in the time immediately following your accident is critical to your claim and lawsuit. A Houston attorney can provide representation that protects you from accepting less than you deserve.
Insurance adjusters are generally aggressive in their efforts to get accident victims to accept a settlement. If they can reach you before you reach a lawyer does, they can fool you and set up a better outcome for the insurance company.
A settlement offer soon after your accident may seem like the solution to your worries. Mounting medical costs and missed time from work can cause you anxiety. Many accident victims do not realize that there is a catch to accepting such an offer without a lawyer.
The terms of such an agreement typically prevent you from pursuing future compensation. Accepting a settlement offer without the advice of an attorney can leave you without further legal options, should your medical condition worsen.
A Houston attorney can protect your best interests by providing you with representation from start to finish. A free case consultation is an important first step toward pursuing your civil claim and lawsuit options.
Why Time Matters in Civil Cases
Texas law allows two years for filing a Houston car accident lawsuit. The same amount of time applies to cases involving wrongful death. Two years may seem like a long time, but it can pass quickly when your world turns upside down.
Missing the statute of limitations deadline for your civil case is not something you want to happen. The clock for filing your lawsuit starts ticking the moment you become injured, on the date of the accident. The start date for cases involving wrongful death is the date your loved one passed away.
The emotions that follow such events are sometimes overwhelming and can cloud your judgment. Your sense of time becomes a jumbled mess as you strive to remember the day of the week. From physical and psychological pain to intense grief, time can slip away, making it too late to file your lawsuit.
Taking action now can potentially help you later. The future is impossible to predict and there is no way to determine your future medical needs, but a proactive plan for fair compensation can prevent a reactive attempt to secure additional funds later. There is no “later” when it comes to Houston car accidents, wrongful death, and compensation. Time is running out, but a lawyer can help you pursue maximum compensation for your injuries now.
A Free Consultation Leaves You Nothing to Lose
The legal process for civil cases is quite complex and best left to an experienced Houston car accident lawyer.
A lawyer can take these actions while you focus on your recovery or mourn your loss:
- Investigate the accident
- Determine how the sideswipe accident occurred
- Review important evidence
- Interview witnesses
- Examine your medical reports and related expenses
- Negotiate with an insurance company
- Take your case to trial if necessary
Your lawyer can also manage paperwork, make phone calls, and build a strong case for compensation. They can keep you informed every step of the way and answer any questions about your case that you may have.
A free consultation can open the path to a brighter future; however, you must act now. Time is of the essence, and your lawyer needs time to begin work on your claim and strengthen your lawsuit.
Sides-Swipe Collisions Are a Serious Houston Problem
Houston traffic is—at best—challenging. Sharing the streets and highways with dangerous drivers is something we all do, each and every day. If a dangerous driver crashed into you, causing you serious harm or causing you to lose a loved one, you need to contact a lawyer.
A sideswipe collision is a violent impact between two vehicles that can result in life-changing injuries. Such a collision is more than a couple dents and scrapes on car doors—it is a traumatic incident that forever changes your world.
When poor driver choices result in serious harm for you or a loved one, you should contact a law firm immediately to speak to a member of the legal team. The dangerous actions of the negligent driver are unfair, and even if the driver faces criminal charges for those actions, the outcome of that case will have little bearing on your civil case.
No matter how defensively you drive, dangerous drivers surround you every day. It is too late to avoid many Houston area collisions once a negligent driver has sideswiped you. If this happened to you, fight for justice.
Your Sideswipe Collision Injuries Demand Justice
No two vehicles should ever make side-to-side contact that results in serious harm to drivers and their passengers. Unfortunately, you may have suffered injuries an irresponsible driver could have prevented by being careful.
A Houston car accident lawyer can get to work on your behalf, but it helps your case to reach out as soon as possible. The injuries or loss of a close loved one you suffered during this traumatic event leaves you confused and vulnerable to making poor decisions. Predatory insurance companies know this. That’s why they contact accident victims at their weakest moments. A Houston sideswipe accident lawyer can protect you from insurance companies that want to settle quickly and for the least amount possible.
Taking the first step toward justice is easier than you think. Houston car accident attorneys protect the rights of accident victims like you every day. Retain an attorney to handle your sideswipe collision case to ease your mind and allow you to adjust to injuries or loss.
Potential compensation includes more than just money for your medical bills or funeral costs. It can also include compensation for any emotional damage that you continue to suffer due to another driver’s careless actions.
Seek Help Now
The time for filing your lawsuit is short; however, an attorney needs time to piece together the puzzles of your sideswipe collision. You are not alone during this most challenging time.
A free case consultation can help you to better understand your options for moving forward. The statute of limitations clock ticks away precious time as you contemplate your next move. If you suffered serious injuries due to the negligence of another Texas driver, do not waste another precious minute. Reach out to a Houston law firm with experience representing victims of car accidents.
A sideswipe collision is a frightening experience that impacts your life forever. How your case proceeds through the negotiation process and a possible trial determines much about your future. A Houston car accident lawyer will work hard to set you up for success and fight for compensation on your behalf.
Suffering injuries and grief is more than enough; you shouldn’t have to deal with the financial fallout of your accident as well. Give careful thought to contacting a lawyer today for help with your Houston car accident or wrongful death claim and lawsuit. By holding the irresponsible driver responsible, you may just prevent the same type of accident from happening to someone else.
