Humble Auto Accident Attorney
A serious car wreck is often an unparalleled disaster. The medical bills alone often exceed $100,000. Additionally, victims must deal with other issues, such as a lack of transportation. Health insurance companies often refuse to pay injury-related medical bills, and stingy insurance companies ask victims to get buy with inferior automobiles.
The bottom line is that, if you were hurt in a car wreck, the insurance company is not on your side. That’s why you need the tenacious Humble auto accident attorneys at The West Law Office on your side. Big insurance companies and their posses of lawyers do not intimidate us. We have a righteous cause, and they don’t. We do not stop fighting until accident victims receive fair compensation for their serious injuries.
What Causes Auto Accidents in Humble?
Most vehicle collisions are not “accidents.” People accidentally leave the water running. They do not accidentally drive drunk and cause serious crashes.
In a way, some crashes occur before the tortfeasor (negligent driver) starts the ignition. Common types of driver impairment include:
- Distraction: Hand-held cell phones are just one source of distracted driving. Other sources include hands-free cell phones, eating while driving, and talking to passengers while driving. Many of these activities violate Texas laws.
- Alcohol: Driver intoxication usually requires about three drinks. Driver impairment, on the other hand, begins with the first drink. Evidence of impairment includes erratic driving prior to the crash, statements the tortfeasor made about alcohol consumption, and the tortfeasor’s departure point (i.e. the tortfeasor came from a place that served alcohol).
- Drugs: In many jurisdictions, there are more “drugged” drivers than drunk drivers. That’s especially true in places like Humble, where recreational marijuana is at least quasi-legal. Other impairing drugs include prescription pain pills.
- Fatigue: Alcohol and fatigue have the same effect on the brain and body. Driving after eighteen consecutive awake hours, which is the equivalent of a long day at the office, is like driving with a .05 BAC level.
Traffic violations, such as speeding, failure to yield the right of way, and making an illegal turn also cause a number of vehicle collisions. These violations are especially common in pedestrian accident claims. In Texas, tortfeasors who violate safety laws and cause wrecks might be responsible for damages as a matter of law.
Third Party Liability
Texas has one of the lowest auto insurance minimum requirements in the country. So, many drivers are dangerously underinsured. Fortunately, Texas also has some of the broadest vicarious liability rules in the country. Third party liability gives victims an additional source of recovery.
The respondeat superior doctrine holds employers, such as rideshare companies, liable for their employees’ negligence. Respondeat superior typically applies even if the tortfeasor was technically an independent contractor or owner-operator.
Additionally, because of the negligent entrustment rule, owners are financially responsible for damages if they knowingly allow incompetent driver to use their property and these drivers cause crashes. This theory often applies in U-Haul, Enterprise, and other rented vehicle claims.
Damages in a vehicle collision case usually include compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages might be available as well, in some extreme cases.
Contact an Assertive Texas Auto Accident Attorney
Vehicle collisions often cause serious injuries. For a free consultation with an experienced auto accident attorney in Humble, contact The West Law Office, PLLC. Our main office is conveniently located off the Katy Freeway near Cullen Park.
