HOUSTON PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY

Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyer in Channelview, TX

Ryan A Dehoyos Image | Houston Personal Injury Law Firms | DeHoyos Accident Attorneys

10+

YEARS OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

5-Star

RATING ON
GOOGLE REVIEWS

1,000+

CASES AND
CLIENTS

$20 M

IN SETTLEMENTS & VERDICTS

Car accident & personal injury lawyer Ryan DeHoyos explains Texas car accident laws and everything you need to know if you’ve been injured in a car accident in Channelview, TX.

Even minor car accidents can cause injuries that have a major impact on your life.

Why should you have to suffer even in the short-term, let alone permanently, for someone else’s negligence on the roads?

Nobody can take your injuries, pain, or suffering away but there is help at hand for claiming the damages you deserve.

Personal injury lawyer, Ryan DeHoyos, can provide the support, expertise, and practical advice you need after being injured in a car accident.

Named as one of Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars in 2019, Ryan has over a decade of experience in personal injury cases and will protect your interests both in and out of the courtroom.

At DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, PLLC, we are intimately familiar with the local Channelview courts and the procedures and strategies involved in maximizing your claim.

Why hire a car accident injury lawyer in Channelview?

Ryan DeHoyos is a seasoned personal injury lawyer handling all types of accident and injury cases in Channelview and the Greater Houston area.

If you are the victim of a car accident, he will provide the support you need by:

  • Communicating with the insurance company
  • Negotiating with the insurer for a favorable out-of-court settlement
  • Suing the insurance company if necessary
  • Representing you in court to fight for what you deserve

He is usually able to claim the following types of expenses as part of your claim:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost earnings
  • Property damage
  • “Out of pocket” expenses
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of consortium
  • Funeral expenses (for wrongful death claims)

Whatever the circumstances of your car accident claim, the insurance company of the at-fault party is not going to let you decide how much compensation is fair. Insurance loss adjusters will try every trick in the book to minimize their losses and pay you less.

His years of experience in personal injury cases provides Ryan DeHoyos with good insight into how much your claim is worth. This, together with his familiarity with the Channelview court system, means you can focus on recovery from your injuries while he looks after the legal issues.

Why hire Ryan DeHoyos as your personal injury lawyer in Channelview?

Ryan A Dehoyos Image | Houston Personal Injury Law Firms | DeHoyos Accident Attorneys

Ryan A. DeHoyos has been an established face in the courtrooms of Houston for over a decade. In recent years, he has represented local families affected by personal accident injuries in the city and the surrounding areas.

Ryan went to South Texas School of Law and graduated with a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2009. Upon graduation, Ryan worked for a local law firm and several large businesses to hone his litigation and trial skills, and today he uses this experience and his holistic understanding of legal matters to obtain favorable results for his clients

His knowledge and understanding of the local court system, the associated procedures, and the personnel involved can benefit your case.

When you choose Ryan DeHoyos to manage your personal injury case, you can expect the following:

  • compassionate, friendly, and focused approach.
  • An attorney who is truly focused on your best interests
  • detail-oriented examination of your case
  • Tenacious negotiations with the insurance company of the at-fault party
  • Open and regular communication to keep you informed at every stage of the process
  • No “legalese”, Ryan will explain matters in clear English no matter how complex
  • The expertise of a personal injury lawyer recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers
  • An impressive track record of success in and out of the courtroom

Ryan DeHoyos will fight for your best interests but you still retain control of the ultimate decision: whether to accept a settlement or proceed to a trial. His advice and guidance can prove invaluable when making this decision.

Can you claim for pain and suffering even after a minor car accident?

The injuries sustained in minor car accidents sometimes surprise even the medical professionals who treat the victims.

Bruises, strains, sprains, hairline fractures, stiffness, soft tissue injuries… while none of these may sound particularly burdensome, they can result in considerable pain and suffering, time off work, temporary disability, loss of quality of life, and/or psychological trauma.

In these circumstances, it is not the extent of the car accident that matters but the extent (and effect) of your injuries.

If the insurance company won’t recognize the extent of your pain and suffering through the standard claim procedure, we can file a lawsuit against the at-fault party.

You were just involved in a car accident in Channelview. What should you do?

Although it’s impossible to completely predict or prevent an accident, you can take precautionary measure for what to do afterwards. For example, always keep a copy of your car registration and proof of insurance in the glove box so you’re prepared if you need them. If law enforcement becomes involved, they will ask for these documents, so it’ll save time if they’re easily accessible.

Have a backup plan to record the license plate number, driver’s registration, and insurance information in case your phone is dead or you don’t have it on you..

Call an ambulance

Check on your well being and the well being of others.

  1. Check Yourself for Injuries – Your safety is paramount. After a collision, check for cuts, broken bones, and other injuries. If you need emergency medical treatment, ask someone to call an ambulance or request one yourself.
  2. Check on Your Passengers – If there is more than one injured person in the accident, you are required to provide reasonable assistance to them, including arranging for their transportation to the hospital. Check on the well-being of any occupants in your vehicle and see whether anybody requires medical attention. Request an ambulance for each accident victim.
  3. Get to Safe Location – You should stay at the accident site if there are injuries or death. When it is safe to do so, you should go to a secure location away from busy roadways. If your vehicle has just damage and you are not injured, move it off the road to a safer position.

Report the car accident to The Channelview police

If you sustain an accident that causes injury or death, you should contact a law enforcement agency right away if:

  1. It concerns an accident in which someone was harmed or died,
  2. If you believe that the driver was under the influence of alcohol or
  3. the damaged vehicles are on the road and cannot be removed.

A motor vehicle operator in Channelview, Texas who is injured or involved in a car accident as a result of another motorist’s negligence must:

  • If the other driver involved in the accident looks injured, call an ambulance immediately.
  • Even if the accident isn’t serious, contact the cops immediately. An official accident report is essential if you want to submit an insurance claim later.
  • Wait for the cops to arrive at the scene. Do not depart the location of a vehicle accident before police arrive. If you leave after an automobile collision with an injury, you risk being charged with failure to stop, which is a major felony offense.

To sum up, after you report the car accident to the police, these are the steps you must take:

  • Check to see if anyone has any medical issues that police or paramedics should be aware of. In addition to surveying the damage, be sure to check for any injuries and whether the driver or other vehicle occupants require medical treatment. If any other drivers and/or passengers needs to be transported to a safe place, call an emergency medical service (EMS).
  • Report the accident to the local police department

Assist with any other needs for help until the police and emergency medical services arrive. It is vital to have a police report for your car accident claim. Make sure you are filing the report correctly by giving all pertinent details.

Note things around the scene of the accident

While you wait for the cops to arrive, document the scene of the accident using your phone’s camera. Take photographs of the cars’ positions before they are transported, as well as any damage caused to them. Try capturing images from a variety of angles.

If there were any traffic hazards or road blockages that may have influenced the impact, take photos of them. Once the accident site has been cleared, potential evidence may be destroyed.

Don’t apologize, even if you believe you caused the accident

There are many factors that may have contributed to the accident. It is too soon to know immediately after an accident. Exchange driver’s license information, vehicle registration and identification numbers, and insurance information with all drivers involved in the accident. But avoid discussing the details of the accident with other drivers.

You may be shocked or furious after a collision, naturally. It’s critical to maintain your cool. An angry outburst might exacerbate an already bad situation. Even if you feel you were at blame, don’t accuse the other driver of causing the accident or accept responsibility yourself.

Avoid apologizing or trying to downplay your injuries in front of others at the scene of an accident. It’s common to be unaware of how serious they are immediately after a crash, due to things like adrenaline masking pain. In fact, you may only start feeling soreness and greater discomfort days later. But even if these seem like well-intended comments in the moment, insurance companies could use them against you later on to deny or reduce your claim settlements.

Been injured in a motor vehicle accident in Channelview, TX?

If you have been injured due to another’s negligence, call us at (832) 745-4878 or schedule a free and confidential consultation about your case today.

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What questions should you ask a car accident injury attorney?

The stakes are high with car accidents. You want to hire the right personal injury lawyer and the following questions should help you do that:

  • What similar cases to mine have you represented?
  • Do you have examples of your negotiated settlements with insurance companies?
  • Do you have examples of cases you have won in court?
  • Have you worked in the Channelview courts before?
  • How likely is it that my case will go to court?
  • How much is my case worth, approximately?
  • How will the strategy change if we go to trial?
  • How do you charge for your time?
  • What are my costs if we do not win any compensation?
  • How much time do you have to devote to my case?
  • Will you personally handle my case – or a junior attorney?
  • What will I have to do during the case? How much will it impact my time?
  • How will you communicate with me and provide progress updates?
  • How long will my case take to resolve?

What is my personal injury or accident injury case worth?

The value of a personal injury case will ultimately depend on several factors, including:

Medical Expenses

An accident victim is able to receive compensation for any medical bills that are a direct result of the injuries they got from an accident. This can include costs from before, during, and after treatment.

Lost Wages

If you’re unable to work because of an injury caused by someone else, you may be able to receive lost wages compensation that covers what you would have earned if the accident never happened.

Insurance Coverage

Any good auto accident lawyer will do everything in their power to make sure you, the victim, are fairly compensated for your injuries. To get you the money you deserve, they’ll investigate every possible source of recovery — not just from the at-fault driver’s insurance company but from other places too.

For instance, if that driver only had a low liability policy or no car insurance at all (which is illegal in most states), and you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage as part of your own car insurance policy, then we can go after them instead.

Even your own car insurer may try to give you the runaround though so don’t expect an easy battle ahead.

Litigation

No insurance company wants to run the risk of a massive jury verdict, which is why car accident victims need an experienced lawyer.

Economic and Non-Economic Damages

The two sorts of damages that can be recuperated in a vehicle accident claim are non-economic and economic. Economic losses include future and past medical expenses, as well as lost income. Non-economic losses, on the other hand, are more subjective, such as emotional suffering and physical and mental suffering.

Whether your life has been changed temporarily or forever as a result of a car accident in Channelview, Ryan DeHoyos and his team will provide all the help and support you need.

Accident Injury Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main causes of car accidents in Channelview?

Most car accidents in Channelview are the result of one of the following:

  • Distracted driving: Texting, eating, applying make-up, and adjusting the stereo are all forms of distracted driving
  • Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol: On average, 28 people die in drunk driving-related accidents every day in the US
  • Speeding: Excessive speed is a killer on the roads – and if you are lucky enough to escape death, the injuries may be life-altering
  • Fatigued driving: Drivers not stopping to rest is a huge problem in Texas

Reckless driving, faulty vehicle parts, and poor roadway conditions are also common contributing factors in motor vehicle accidents.

What are the most common types of car accidents?

In the Houston area, we see the following types of accidents most frequently:

  • Head-on collisions
  • Side-impact collisions
  • Rear-ending
  • Low-speed accidents (e.g., in parking lots)
  • Merging accidents
  • Single-vehicle accidents (e.g., hitting a tree)
  • Multi-vehicle crashes (accidents that cause a “domino effect”)

For further information on this, check out our post on the Different Types of Houston Car Accidents.

Is it worth getting a lawyer for a minor car accident?

It may be. Even minor accidents can cause injuries that have a lasting impact. It’s best to discuss your options with a car accident attorney who can assess whether you have a valid claim for compensation during a case evaluation.

What if both parties are at fault?

Texas applies “comparative fault” laws for car accident injuries.

This means that when two or more parties are adjudged to be at-fault for an accident, the amount of compensation due for the injured victim is potentially reduced by the amount of fault apportioned to them.

Provided you were 50 percent or less at-fault for an accident, you can claim compensation from the other party or parties for the remaining portion of the fault.

So, if you were awarded $60,000 in compensation but were considered to be 40 percent at-fault for the accident you would receive $36,000 (which is 60 percent of $60,000).

What is the Statute of Limitations on car accident claims in Texas?

In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of your accident to claim damages caused by your injuries.
It is important to begin proceedings as soon as possible after your accident or it may harm your position when making a claim.

$2,000,000

CAR ACCIDENT SETTLEMENT

$1,130,000

PEDESTRIAN SETTLEMENT

$1,100,000

SPINAL CORD INJURY

$955,000

PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT

$1,300,000

CAR ACCIDENT SETTLEMENT

$980,000

CAR ACCIDENT SETTLEMENT

$960,000

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

$850,000

SLIP & FALL SETTLEMENT

$250,000

LONG-TERM DISABILITY

A personal approach to personal injury in Houston, Texas

“As a client to this Law Firm, I found it to be rewarding base on their work ethics. With there expertise, knowledge, flexibility and being responsive to their client needs. They will see that their client receive the best outcome on there case. There are many people out there that have bad ideas about lawyers, but DeHoyos Accident Attorneys will make sure that you’re not stressed about anything pertaining to your case. I’ll recommend that you seek this Lawyer and Law Firm for any unraveling situation you might face.”

RIDLEY OSBOURNE


“I can’t say enough good things about DeHoyos Accident Attorneys! Mr. Ryan DeHoyos is extremely knowledgeable in his field of Personal Injury. I was injured in a motor vehicle accident last year and Mr. DeHoyos stopped at nothing to get me the compensation I deserved. He kept me updated on my case regularly and guided me to get the medical care I needed. Additionally, his staff is so kind and caring, especially Ashley… Thank you, DeHoyos Accident Attorneys for your professionalism in closing my case…and WINNING big!”

RAVEN DOLBERRY


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