Are you looking for an automotive accident attorney serving Houston? Our team is here to help you. We work with car accident victims to recover compensation for a wide range of factors such as medial bills, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t owe us a dollar until you collect the money from your car accident claim.
Most Common Causes of Car Accidents
Drunk Driving: People make mistakes, and some of those mistakes can cause devastating injuries or even death to victims. Historically, the most publicized type of driver error has been drunk driving, which is responsible for more fatal crashes in the U.S. than any other cause. Anyone who consumes alcohol and then gets behind the wheel can expect to suffer from reduced reaction time and alertness as well as impaired vision and cognitive abilities. Drugged driving has received less publicity but has similar effects. It is important to be aware that, even if a driver is not charged with and convicted of DUI following a crash, you still might be able to hold them liable for your injuries. Civil cases use a much lesser standard of proof and contain different elements from criminal cases.
Distracted Driving: Studies in recent years have reported that distracted driving may have overtaken drunk driving as the leading cause of accidents overall. The most familiar form of distracted driving involves cell phone use behind the wheel, but this is not the only distraction. Drivers also can get distracted by using the GPS or radio, eating or drinking behind the wheel, rubbernecking at roadside sights, or arguing with passengers, among other causes. Trying to handle other tasks while you are driving has an impact comparable to drunk driving, reducing reaction time and concentration. Hazards can arise suddenly on the road, and even the few seconds that it takes to check your phone or take a bite from a sandwich can make the difference between a safe evasive maneuver and a high-speed collision.
Other Types of Driver Errors: Another common but dangerous behavior behind the wheel is speeding. Many people speed routinely, confident in their ability to handle a car. This is especially true of young drivers, who are less experienced and thus more likely to cause a crash. Drivers sometimes do not adjust their speed to poor weather or road conditions, which may require driving at a speed below the posted limit.
Also, drivers need to leave enough room from the car in front of them to avoid a rear-end collision, a common type of car accident. Some people succumb to road rage behind the wheel or engage in forms of aggressive driving like tailgating. This can cause avoidable high-speed crashes.
Micro Sleeps: According to the NHTSA, even a driver who falls asleep for just a few seconds while driving at 55 mph may travel more than 100 yards.
Some people make the mistake of getting behind the wheel when they are too tired to drive. Fatigue plays a major role in accidents involving trucks and other commercial vehicles, which operate according to strict deadlines. Ordinary drivers of passenger cars can make this mistake as well, however, overestimating their ability to stay awake and concentrate. Driver fatigue can make it harder to promptly notice hazards or traffic control devices.
Auto Defects: If a car contains a defect or a defective component, this may result in a malfunction that causes a crash. In this case, the manufacturer and other entities in the chain of distribution of the vehicle or the component may be held liable. A victim could bring a products liability claim against them, which involves elements distinct from an ordinary car accident case.
Road Hazards: Inadequate maintenance of a road may cause a crash. People who are injured as a result of a road hazard might consider suing the entity responsible for construction or maintenance, as well as the owner of the road. These cases may involve shortened deadlines and complex procedural rules. Similar to auto defect claims, they probably benefit from the assistance of an attorney.
Poor Weather: Poor weather conditions may work in tandem with another safety concern, such as speeding, to result in a crash.
A crash involving snow, ice, heavy rain, fog, or other adverse weather conditions may seem unavoidable, such that nobody was at fault. This is not necessarily true. If a driver failed to reduce their speed in poor weather conditions, for example, they may be found negligent and liable for a resulting crash. Or perhaps a vehicle safety component failed to function properly in response to a weather hazard, which might mean that its manufacturer could be sued. You should not assume that nobody was at fault until a crash is thoroughly investigated.
Our team works to reimbursing victims for their losses and won’t back down if insurance adjusters try to deny your claim. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with the top Automotive Accident Attorney Serving Houston.
Spanish Speaking Car Accident Lawyer in Houston, Texas
Spanish-speaking individuals can have a more difficult time seeking justice in their personal injury cases due to language barriers. This causes them to not take action against those who have left them with financial devastation and physical trauma. At the Law Office of Beverly R. Caruthers, our team refuses to let a language barrier affect your right to justice and compensation. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident and is in need of Spanish-speaking legal advice, our team is here for you.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Houston, Texas
If you or someone you love has been involved in a car accident and suffered an injury, experienced loss of income, or are unable to work due to a car accident, you can benefit from the services of a Houston car accident expert in your personal injury case. Whether you missed work due to an injury or due to not having access to a vehicle, Attorney Beverly R. Caruthers can help you!
Beverly R Caruthers Law Office
Address: 4141 Southwest Fwy, Suite 620
Houston, TX 77027
(713) 526-9557
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