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What to Know About Motor Vehicle Accidents in Houston

Millions of motor vehicle accidents happen each year throughout the United States. During the past decade, at least 3,000 people died on Texas roads each year. In the last reported year, over 17,000 people suffered serious injuries because of automobile accidents in Texas.

Drivers and passengers in Texas are exposed to a serious risk of injury or death from the negligence of others while on the road. If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Houston motor vehicle accident lawyer before giving recorded statements to an insurance company.

If you have been injured or your loved one has been killed in an auto accident, contact the motor vehicle accident attorneys at Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP for your free consultation.

However, even if you have given an insurance company a recorded statement about your accident, a qualified and experienced attorney can still seek maximum recovery on your behalf.

Our Houston motor vehicle accident attorneys have successfully resolved hundreds of motor vehicle accidents. Call us today at (832) 402-6637 for your free, no-obligation case evaluation.

Red Light Accidents

Red light accidents often result in serious injuries to drivers and passengers of motor vehicles. In particular, red light accidents often involve difficult questions of liability and fault. It is not uncommon for each driver to claim that they had the green light.

Houston, Texas is reported to have the highest rate of red light accidents in the country. Insurance companies will typically deny or try to underpay red light accidents if they have an argument that their insured driver was not at fault, even if the police report says otherwise.

Red light accidents in particular are often “swearing matches” between the drivers involved. A skilled attorney will investigate to determine the availability of 911 calls, witness statements, and video recordings to prove their client’s case.

The Houston auto accident attorneys at our law firm know what it takes to successfully resolve red light accidents. These types of cases normally have to be litigated in court in order for the other driver’s insurance company to recognize their driver’s fault.

Unlike many law firms, Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP will take your case all the way to a jury trial if that is what is necessary to obtain justice. We offer free consultations.

Distracted Driver / Reckless Driving

Distracted driving is on the increase in Texas and throughout the country. Due to the prevalence of smartphones and GPS devices, drivers are more likely than ever to be distracted while driving. In 2014 alone, more than 3,000 people died as a result of distracted driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recognized that the rate of visible device usage while driving his highest among drivers between 16 and 24 years of age. However, distracted driving is not an issue restricted to younger drivers. Drivers of all ages cause accidents due to distraction.

At Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP, we seek the cell phone, messaging, and data records of the defendant drivers in all our cases. Our legal team knows that the best results for our clients can only be won by preparing every case for trial.

Texting and Driving

Texting and driving are one of the leading causes of accidents and injuries in Texas and throughout Houston. On June 6, 2017, Texas finally adopted a statewide ban on texting and driving which took effect on September 1, 2017. Nonetheless, these preventable accidents occur on a regular basis, often with devastating consequences.

When an injured client comes to Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP after an automobile accident, we make it our standard practice to use discovery in litigation to obtain the text, call, and data records of the other driver at the time of the accident.

Drunk Driving

Thousands of people die in Texas each year due to driving under the influence. A drunk driver’s responsibility for the accident is rarely in question. As a result, when a person under the influence causes an accident, the primary issue in dispute is normally the amount of damages from a car accident injury. Those damages can be life-changing for the injured person. At Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP, we take on the legal burdens that accompany a serious accident so that you and your loved ones can focus on healing.

Our lawyers will fight tirelessly to obtain fair compensation from the liable party for the full amount of your damages, including the following and more:

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Driver Fatigue

An estimated 1 in 24 adults eighteen or over report having fallen asleep while driving in the last 30 days. An accident caused by driver fatigue can have devastating consequences. In Texas alone, it is estimated that 4,833 accidents were caused by driver fatigue, resulting in 143 fatal crashes. Data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shows that fatigue is a factor in more than one-tenth of commercial truck accidents.

Drowsy and fatigued driving leads to tens of thousands of injuries and hundreds of automobile accidents each year. Young workers, shift workers, and commercial drivers, business travelers, and people with sleep disorders are particularly at risk for drowsy driving.

Drivers can prevent distracted driving by taking common-sense steps such as getting adequate sleep, traveling with a friend or in groups, using rest stops, managing caffeine intake, and driving during the day.

Proving in court that driver fatigue contributed to an accident requires trial skill and experience. Though the majority of cases are still resolved by settlement, the Houston motor vehicle accident lawyers at Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP prepare every case for trial. We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis which means you don’t pay us anything unless we win.

Uber & Lyft Accidents

On May 29, 2017, Texas adopted a statewide framework for rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft, allowing more ordinary citizens to participate as drivers. As a result, rideshare accidents are likely to grow more common in Texas — as well as throughout the country.

When you are involved in an accident with an Uber driver Lyft driver or other ridesharing application, a complex system of insurance is at play. Under Texas law, rideshare companies are required to hold insurance depending on whether the driver is transporting a fare, on the way to pick up a fare, or off duty.

For example, Uber and Lyft each have insurance programs that have a variety of coverages for their drivers. Uber’s car insurance policy holds insurance coverage for its drivers that can pay you, as the passenger, up to $1,000,000 if you are injured.

It can be confusing to determine what coverages apply because the ridesharing companies are unlikely to give details regarding their coverage absent a lawyer getting involved — and even then often not until litigation. To compound the potential confusion, some cases involve drivers of vehicles who are not registered drivers on the rideshare account. Other cases have involved accidents with a vehicle different from the vehicle registered with Uber.

An experienced Houston motor vehicle accident lawyer understands the complexities of the coverages and issues surrounding rideshare accidents. We will gladly provide a free consultation to help you make sense of these complexities.

Dangerous Driving Conditions

Dangerous driving conditions such as rain, ice, and traffic can increase the risks of serious accidents.

If a defendant has the opportunity, they will try to escape responsibility by saying that the accident was due to a “sudden emergency” or was an “unavoidable accident.” Insurance companies will regularly deny motor vehicle accident accident claims based on these reasons even though police and witnesses found the driver at fault. Sometimes auto defects can impact the way your vehicle handles in dangerous conditions.

However, juries understand that when there are dangerous driving conditions, drivers have an obligation to be on an increased lookout for danger given the risk of serious injury.

Our Houston motor vehicle accident law firm is dedicated to preparing each legal case for trial. Preparation is the key to a good car accident settlement. It is also the key to winning at trial. Either way, Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP is ready.

Motorcycle Accidents

Congestion, driver carelessness, and distracted driving have made motorcycle riding dangerous on busy Texas roads. As all motorcyclists know — and fear — the greatest danger to the rider is the inattentive driver. The Texas Department of Transportation estimates that, on average, one motorcyclist dies in Texas every single day.

In 2016, almost 500 motorcycle riders lost their lives in motorcycle accidents, while over 2,000 riders were injured, often because of a driver who was simply not paying proper attention.

In these situations, the defense may try to argue that the motorcyclist was at fault or argue that riding is inherently dangerous.

A skilled personal injury attorney understands how to avoid these distractions and how to keep the jury’s focus on the true cause of the accident.

Contact Our Houston Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys For a Free Consultation

At Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP, our injury attorneys have helped hundreds of Houston car accident victims and we have the experience and professionalism to help you. Contact our law firm online or call (832) 402-6637 today for your free consultation.

Our attorneys have the expertise, experience, and compassion to get you the financial compensation you deserve. Don’t wait, reach out today to schedule a time convenient to you to discuss your case.

$825,000 Recovery for Injured Client

We successfully recovered $825,000 for our client who was seriously injured in a car wreck after the adverse driver failed to yield at an intersection.