Houston Accident Lawyer

According to the most recent estimates, there are roughly 250 million registered vehicles in the U.S., and another 16 million new vehicles are sold, on average, each year. In Texas alone, there are almost 18 million registered motor vehicles – that's one vehicle for every 1.3 people in the state. With so many vehicles on the road, it is no wonder that car accidents are so common in Texas. In fact, in 2007 one accident was reported every 69 seconds and one person was injured every two minutes in a Texas auto accident. The odds of being involved in a car accident in Texas are substantial.

If you have suffered an injury in a Texas auto accident, you are not alone. In 2007, there were 3,363 traffic fatalities in Texas, and another 89,476 people were injured in traffic crashes. In the same year, there were 232 fatalities and 7,970 injuries in Houston alone. In fact, Harris County has the highest number of traffic fatalities in the state, with nearly 10% of all Texas traffic fatalities. Unfortunately, many auto accident victims never receive the compensation they deserve for their injuries because they accept low settlement offers from insurance companies. Insurance companies will often offer a settlement that is far less than what is needed to cover the losses sustained in an auto accident, leaving Texas accident victims with debts they cannot pay. An experienced Houston car accident attorney can help calculate any past or future lost earnings, medical expenses, unpaid household bills, and property damage to your vehicle to ensure that you are fully compensated for your losses.

Causes of Houston Automobile Accidents

Houston auto accidents are caused by a variety of contributing factors, such as poorly-designed vehicles or substandard component parts. However, the majority of all Houston auto accidents are the result of driver negligence. Negligent driver behavior – such as speeding, red light running, talking on a cell phone, texting while driving, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol – is responsible for a large portion of Houston car accidents each year. The most common driver negligence contributing to Houston auto accidents include the following:

• Excessive speed
• Driver inattention
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Following too closely
• Stop light/sign running
• Unsafe lane changes
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

If you have been injured in a Houston auto accident – no matter what the cause – you should contact an experienced Houston car accident attorney to ensure that you receive full compensation for your injuries. Call an experienced Houston accident lawyer at the Palermo Law Firm today at (713) 623-0499 for a free consultation.

Houston Accident Injuries

Houston auto accident injuries can range anywhere from minor scrapes and bruises to severe brain or spinal cord damage. In the most serious crashes, death may result. If you were injured in an auto accident, you may be suffering extreme physical pain and emotional distress, require surgery, and be unable to return to work for months, or even years, after the accident. The Palermo Law Firm can help ensure that you receive money to pay for all of the losses you incur as a result of your injuries. Mr. Palermo is a Houston personal injury attorney with over 20 years experience handling auto accident injury cases. He will fight to get you the best possible settlement or jury award in your accident case.

Auto accidents commonly result in similar types of injuries. Some are traumatic injuries, which may leave Houston auto accident victims unable to complete even the most mundane daily tasks without assistance after the accident. Other injuries, although they may seem minor, may prevent accident victims from enjoying the same activities they enjoyed before the accident. Below is a brief discussion of the most common types of injuries that often occur in Houston auto accidents:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when the brain is damaged as a result of a sudden physical force, such as the impact experienced in a Houston auto accident. Symptoms of TBI may include, concussion, seizure, headache, dizziness, inability to concentrate, loss of memory, and even anxiety and depression.

• Whiplash: When the joints of the neck are stretched or strained beyond their normal limitations in an automobile collision, they can lose their ability to return to their original length. This is called whiplash. Common symptoms of whiplash are headaches, dizziness, pain in the shoulders, arms, and hands, reduced ability to turn and bend, and lower back stiffness.

• Back Injuries: Many people suffer debilitating back injuries as a result of Houston car accidents. Disks in the spine can become herniated or ruptured, causing severe discomfort and often requiring painful surgery. Some typical symptoms of back injuries that are common to car crashes are weakness in the limbs, shortness of breath, numbness, complete or partial paralysis, tingling in the extremities, and bowel and bladder control issues. In the most serious cases, victims are rendered paraplegic or quadriplegic, losing motor function of their limbs or extremities for the rest of their lives.

• Fractures and Broken Bones: The force of impact in auto accidents often causes fractures and broken bones, which are painful injuries that may result in significant loss of earnings because of time missed from work. These types of injuries may require surgery and weeks or even months of rehabilitation. Even a healed fracture may cause a permanent reduction in motor function, which may prevent accident victims from participating in once-loved activities in the future.

• Fatalities: In the most serious Houston auto accidents, death may result. A wrongful death lawsuit may be appropriate in cases in which the victim dies as a result of his or her injuries. The purpose of a wrongful death suit is to provide relief to family members who have been injured emotionally and financially as a result of a loved one's death.

If you or a loved one has suffered any type of personal injury in an auto accident, contact an experienced Houston accident lawyerat (713) 623-0499 today to discuss your legal options. The Palermo Law Firm handles most cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you owe nothing unless you recover damages in your case.