Expert Car Accident Lawyers in Houston.
Were you or a loved one injured after a serious car accident? We understand what you’re going through. Car accident victims are often unsure if they should seek, or can even afford, an attorney for their situation. Fortunately, you have options at Williams Hart & Boundas.
Our Houston car accident attorneys are a nationally recognized team with the resources and experience to help you secure the best possible outcome. At the same time, you can focus on recovering without fighting with car accident insurance companies. But, most importantly, you won’t pay us anything unless we win your case. Scheduling a free consultation only takes a few minutes.
Our firm dedicates itself to holding negligent drivers accountable and getting victims maximum compensation.
What Our Clients Say
The compassion and determination with which we’ve served our community for nearly 40 years set us apart from other law firms. More than 200,000 clients have trusted our reputation as an honest and experienced team who will stop at nothing to secure compensation for their suffering. This trust has consistently earned us top-tier recognition as a nationally acclaimed personal injury trial law firm with a proven record of success.
To win the toughest cases, it takes resources, perseverance, and decades of legal experience. We offer 100% free and confidential case evaluations. Fill out a contact form or connect with one of our helpful live chat representatives. Real people. Real help. We are ready to hear your story.
SOME OF OUR VERDICTS
$1,500,000
Jury verdict against an auto auction company for injuries.
$6,110,000
Jury verdict against manufacturer of a toxic product.
$3,700,000
Jury verdict against industrial facility for a wrongful death.
Free Case Evaluation
COMPENSATION YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO
Past and future medical expenses
Lost earning capacity
Mental anguish
Property damage
Lost wages
Physical impairment or disfigurement
Pain and suffering
Loss of consortium
DID YOU KNOW?
Since November 7, 2000
THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST ONE TRAFFIC FATALITY EVERY DAY IN TEXAS.
Texas has not seen a deathless day on its roads in over twenty years–the longest car accident fatality streak in the nation. More than 70,000 people have perished on Texas roads in the last two decades.
While the Texas Transportation Commission hopes to end the streak and eliminate highway fatalities by 2050, Texas’ ever-growing population and increasingly dangerous roads suggest otherwise. Even at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, car accident fatalities continued at the same deadly rate as traffic dropped sharply and businesses shuttered.
A deadly streak
- 7,307 days
- 3,487 average annual deaths over the 20 years
- 3,683 deaths statewide in 2019, down from 3,704 in 2018
- 637 deaths in the Houston region in 2019, up from 590 in 2018
- 266 deaths in Houston in 2019, up from 206 in 2018
Source: Texas Department of Transportation
HOW CAR ACCIDENT LAWSUIT WORK
Recovering from a serious injury after a car accident can feel like an overwhelming task. Losing a loved one to a fatal car accident may seem impossible to endure. However, our Houston car accident attorneys have the compassion and perspective it takes to help you through one of the most challenging times in your life.
Emergency care costs, time lost from work, rehabilitation treatment, and long-term disabilities are incredibly stressful circumstances to face without proper representation. Hiring a car accident lawyer can significantly improve the likelihood of your and your family’s financial security. We are committed to helping individuals and their families get justice after major car accidents, and we want you to recover knowing you are in good hands.
Our cases work on a ‘contingency basis,’ which means we only get paid if we win you money!
We promise you won’t have any out-of-pocket legal expenses during your case with us.
it is entirely free to inquire at Williams Hart & Boundas Law Firm. There is no obligation to sign up with our Houston car accident lawyers until you get your questions answered.
We want to provide the information you need to make the right choice for your family.
when you sign up with our firm, you can expect the following: Our legal team will begin collecting the necessary information about the case. In addition, we communicate on your behalf with all points of contact, such as insurance agencies, law enforcement, and other responsible parties, to get the required evidence.
we will talk with you about our investigation and review your best options for recovery. Every car accident case we handle is unique, and we want to help you get the best possible outcome. Then, after our thorough investigation, you can get the facts and proceed with the best information and representation.
Unlike many attorneys, we aren’t afraid to go to trial if it comes to it. Our Houston car accident lawyers have taken on major corporations and giant insurance companies and won. We know what it takes to see a case through to the end.
NAVIGATING LIABILITY
Our Top rate Law firm helps people process the aftermath of a major accident. Car accident cases can often be handled out of court. In these situations, a lawyer communicates on behalf of the victim with the insurance company. However, a team of qualified legal experts is needed to handle the case in more complex instances. Determining who is liable may not be immediately clear; thus, these cases may need to go to court. Sometimes after a commercial vehicle collision, victims may face pressure from several insurance agencies and legal entities. We are experienced in advocating for car crash victims in these extreme situations. Our Houston car accident lawyers help clients navigate these difficult situations to get the compensation they deserve.
FIRST PARTY LIABILITY
Ordinary negligence is a lack of care. Drivers who violate the duty of care and cause crashes might be liable for damages. Negligence per se is a violation of a statute. Negligent drivers (tortfeasor) who violate safety laws and cause a collision might be liable for damages as a matter of law. The tortfeasor is the legal term for a person who commits a wrongful act that injures another.
Alcohol is a good illustration of the difference between these two concepts. Most people are legally intoxicated after three or four drinks. Even if the tortfeasor “beats” the DWI in criminal court, the negligence per se doctrine usually applies. You should know that alcohol impairment begins with the first drink. Indirect evidence of impairment includes bloodshot eyes, erratic driving, and unsteady balance. In these ordinary negligence cases, the victim/plaintiffs must prove alcohol impairment by the predominance of the evidence (more likely not).
Damages won in a Houston car accident case usually include compensation for economic losses and non-economic loss. Economic losses are any losses suffered in monetary terms. It usually covers medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and any out-of-pocket expenses. Non-economic losses are compensation for any hardships or suffering you experience from the accident. One common example is emotional distress, which is a real injury and deserves financial compensation. Additional punitive damages might be available as well, in some extreme cases.
THIRD-PARTY LIABILITY
A tortfeasor is a legal term for a person who commits a tort (civil wrong) intentionally or through negligence. Frequently, they are not the only party who is financially responsible for damages. There is also vicarious liability, an essential concept in wrongful death and other catastrophic injury claims. You should know that Texas has one of the lowest auto insurance minimum requirements in the country. As a result, many drivers are driving around underinsured, with not enough compensation should they get in an accident.
Texas has a dram shop law. What this means is that Bars, restaurants, and other commercial alcohol providers could be responsible for damages if the patron were:
A Minor: Generally, providers are liable as a matter of law if they sell alcohol to people under the age of twenty-one. Some traditional defenses, like the “s/he looked older” defense, usually do not hold up in court.
Obviously Intoxicated: This means that the average person can see that the person is intoxicated. In short, the person looks and acts drunk. Evidence of obvious intoxication includes some aforesaid circumstantial evidence. Since the burden of proof is low in civil cases, a little evidence goes a long way. In certain situations, social hosts might also be vicariously liable for alcohol-related crash damages. This circumstance falls under the theory of negligent undertaking, meaning a person who has not created a peril is not liable in tort for failing to take action to protect another unless they have some relationship that gives rise to a duty to act.
Respondeat superior theory means that employers are liable for the negligent acts of their employees while carrying out the scope of their employment. Thus, if the tortfeasor were an Uber driver or other commercial operator, this theory would apply. Texas law defines all these keywords and phrases in broad, victim-friendly terms. For example, “employees” are not just workers who receive regular paychecks. The label also applies to owner-operators, independent contractors, and unpaid
volunteers.
Finally, owners of the vehicle can be financially responsible for damages if they knowingly allow incompetent operators to use their cars. Evidence of incompetency includes no valid drivers’ license or poor driving record. Another example is the violation of a drivers’ license restrictions. So, for example, allowing a person with a learner’s permit to drive unsupervised.
Commercial negligent entrustment cases, such as a U-Haul wreck, works a bit differently. The Graves Amendment states that motor vehicle rental companies are not liable for damages or injuries during the rental or lease.
WHAT CAUSES VEHICLE COLLISIONS?
Alcohol
Despite a decades-long crackdown against drunk drivers, alcohol still causes about a third of the fatal vehicle collisions in Texas. In addition, it is a known fact that alcohol adversely affects one’s judgment and motor skills. judgment and motor skills.
Drugs
Prescription pain pills and cannabis are responsible for most of the drugged driving wrecks in Houston. Other impairing substances include some over-the-counter drugs, like Sominex and Nyquil.
Fatigue
Drowsiness impairs motor skills and cognition just as effectively as alcohol does. Driver fatigue can show up in many ways: nodding off, drifting from your lane, experiencing “tunnel vision,” reacting slowly to road conditions and other drivers, and even forgetting the last few miles you drove.
Distraction
There are three types of driver distractions: manual, visual, and cognitive. While hand-held cell phones are the most common, distractions can range from loud music, disruptive passengers, roadside displays, and other drivers on the road.
Medical Condition
Texans who struggle with epilepsy, heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions, which could cause a sudden loss of consciousness, should not drive. If they blackout behind the wheel, the results could be tragic.
Most non-commercial operators have a duty of reasonable care. Therefore, they must drive defensively and avoid crashes when possible. Any one of the impairments listed above makes fulfilling this duty difficult, if not impossible.
Cases We Handle
At Williams Hart & Boundas, we are dedicated to providing high-quality legal representation across various cases. Our experienced attorneys are nationally recognized leaders in Personal Injury, Mass Tort, Commercial Litigation, and First-Party Insurance, ensuring that our clients receive the compensation they deserve when they've suffered harm due to someone else's negligence, dangerous products, or widespread harmful practices.