Houston, Texas Car Accident Lawyer and Texas Truck Accident Lawyer
What distinguishes the personal injury lawyers at Fitts Zehl is that, as trial lawyers, we only settle cases when we have received a settlement offer that fully compensates our clients for their injuries. Otherwise, we'll take the case to court and devote whatever resources are necessary to recovering the maximum damages possible.
Our lawyers have successfully resolved hundreds of car and truck accidents cases throughout Texas for clients who were seriously injured through the negligence and carelessness of others. Unlike some other law firms who focus on trying to settle your case immediately for whatever the insurance company will offer, our lawyers immediately take an aggressive approach to establishing liability so that we can obtain the greatest damages for our clients. Many times, our cases will resolve through settlement. When, however, the insurance company offers an inadequate amount of damages for serious injuries, we don't hestitate to file a lawsuit and begin preparing for trial. Because our lawyers regularly try cases in state and federal courts all over Texas, we have the experience necessary to hold defendants and their insurance companies accountable.
Since starting the firm, Bryant Fitts and Ryan Zehl have appeared on CNN, Good Morning America, and in major newspapers all over the world.
The Everyday Dangers of Driving
Although a regular part of our lives, driving can be a dangerous activity with serious, and sometimes fatal, consequences. Even if we are as careful as possible, we can't control the other drivers on the road.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there have been 359,000 auto accidents in Texas between January and November of 2008 alone. Many of these accidents are caused by speeding and roadway departures, and an alarmingly high number have resulted in fatalities.
View a county by county breakdown of the number of car accidents and truck accidents that resulted in fatalities between 2003 and 2007 in Texas. Harris County, the most populated county in Texas, has consistently led the state in the number of car accident and truck accident fatalities, averaging approximately 373 per year from 2003 to 2007. Dallas County is second with an average of 239 fatalities, followed by Tarrant County, Bexar County and Travis County.
The risks increase substantially when alcohol is involved, as it is estimated that over 4 out of 10 motor-vehicle deaths is caused by a drunk driver. Just in Texas, alcohol contributed to almost 900 car-accident fatalities in 2007 alone. View a breakdown of alcohol-related accidents by county in 2008.
Surprisingly, information compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration demonstrates that the number of fatalities involving drunk drivers has remained fairly consistent over the past 5 years.
Visit the Motor Vehicle Accident Data Center
Injuries and Expenses
Car accidents, truck accidents and 18 wheeler accidents can result in injuries ranging from comparatively minor soft-tissue injuries and scarring, to more serious and even life-changing injuries. Often even minor injuries sustained in a car accident result in lingering symptoms for many months and years after the accident. In addition, many who are involved in what they initially thought were minor fender-benders end up developing painful symptoms of injury in the days and weeks following a collision.
Almost all serious car and truck accident injuries involve significant expenses, including medical treatment, loss of employment and earnings, long-term or lifetime medical care, and pain and suffering. Long-term and lifetime medical expenses can sometimes alone run in the tens of millions of dollars. Unfortunately, liability insurance companies will almost never offer an adequate settlement amount to an injured car or truck accident victim who does not have an attorney The auto accident lawyers at the personal injury law firm of Fitts Zehl, LLP are committed to fighting for the rights of motor vehicle accident victims and working to ensure that they are fairly compensated for their injuries.
Non-Traffic Injuries and Fatalities
Not all automobile-related accidents occur on public roads and highways. An alarming number of accidents occur as one-vehicle wrecks on private roads or as collisions with pedestrians or other automobiles on private driveways and in parking lots. According to the Not-in-Traffic Surveillance (NiTS) System operated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), during the year 2007 alone there were 1,159 fatalities and 98,000 injuries stemming from non-traffic crashes nationwide. Click here for a breakdown of Off-Highway Accidents.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car or truck accident, contact a Firm That has Helped Hundreds and Recovered Millions. Call 866-586-8988.
The Accident Lawyers at Fitts Zehl have Succesfully Represented Hundreds of Injured Car & Truck Accident Victims
The auto accident attorneys at Fitts Zehl consult with economists, psychiatrists, health-care planners and medical professionals to develop persuasive and evidence-based estimates of past and future costs incurred as a result of our clients’ injuries. By examining the total current and future financial impact of an injury, we have successfully obtained substantial settlements and verdicts on behalf of clients all over Texas and across the country.
While insurance companies are often willing to settle automobile accident or truck accident claims for small, lump-sum amounts to free themselves of financial liability, they are more reluctant to settle accident claims for amounts that cover medical and nursing care, hospitalization, in-home care, medical equipment, home and vehicle modifications, physical and occupational therapy, future surgeries, lost wages and loss in quality and enjoyment of life. In order to receive full compensation for your injuries and expenses, it is necessary to retain an experienced car accident attorney who can examine the language of the insurance policy and ensure that the insurance company is properly compensating you for your losses.
Often times the insurance adjuster will immediately offer a small amount of money, trying to convince you that you won't be able to recover anything more. This is absolutely false. Contact one of the experienced Texas Accident Lawyers at Fitts Zehl for a free, no-committment consultation. Our lawyers will assess your case, advise you of your remedies, and device a strategy to ensure that you are properly compensated for your losses.
The car and truck accident attorneys at Fitts Zehl have the legal, financial, and technical resources needed to challenge the lawyers, doctors and other experts hired by insurance companies trying to defeat your claim. Our experience with cases involving both complex physical injuries and highly technical products allows us to successfully pursue claims for maximum damages resulting from any type of car or truck accident.
A Few Tips for Filing Your Insurance Claim
- First of all, it is essential that you are familiar with your car insurance policy and the extent of its coverage.
- Immediately following an accident, if at all possible, document vehicle damage and personal injuries with a camera.
- Be sure to contact your insurance company as soon as possible to inform them of the accident and any injuries.
- Keep a detailed record of any expenses related to your claim because it may be possible for you to be reimbursed.
- Keep a record of any conversations with your insurance company. Be sure to include names, phone numbers and job titles of the people you speak with.
- Do not accept any money offered as final payment unless it is an amount that you are happy with. Do not accept anything below the amount you need to cover your damages. Contact an experienced car accident attorney immediately.
- Be aware of any deadlines or time limits for filing a claim that are contained within your policy. Failure to abide by these dates could result in you being unable to file your claim.
- Be wary of the insurance company's initial estimate of damage to your vehicle. If the amount seems low compared to the "Blue Book" value, seek out a second opinion.
- Finally, do not sign anything unless you have consulted an experienced auto accident lawyer first. It is not uncommon for insurance companies to try and trick someone into signing a release or waiver that could severely limit your ability to recover damages.
Contact Our Texas Car Accident Lawyers Today
If you have questions regarding injuries or wrongful death caused by a car or truck accident, contact the Texas car accident attorneys at Fitts Zehl, LLP. We offer free initial consultations and are available for evening and weekend appointments. We also offer financial assistance during legal proceedings and work on a contingency-fee basis, resulting in no out-of-pocket costs to you. Our offices are centrally located in the Galleria Financial Center. To contact us, call 866-586-8988.
The personal injury and accident lawyers at Fitts Zehl represent clients throughout Texas, including Houston, Sugarland, Friendswood, Killeen, Port Arthur, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, Galveston, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, McAllen, Laredo, Brownsville and Amarillo.
